All posts tagged: verdict

The Real Mood Inside Party HQs Ahead Of The Biggest Verdict Since The 2024 Landslide

The Real Mood Inside Party HQs Ahead Of The Biggest Verdict Since The 2024 Landslide

Published by Sam Flores

A woman leaves a polling station after voting in 2024 This Thursday will present the largest test of the Labour government – and its rival parties – since the last general election nearly two years ago. Around 5,000 seats across 136 local councils, along with six mayoral contests, are up for election in England. Voters in Scotland and Wales will also go to the polls for elections to Holyrood and the Senedd. Labour are widely expected to suffer a catastrophic night, piling fresh pressure on Keir Starmer. The Tories are expected to endure significant losses too, with the Greens and especially Reform UK on course to make huge gains as voters deliver a damning verdict on the two main parties. Here, HuffPost UK assesses how the main parties are shaping up ahead of the biggest test of public opinion since July, 2024. Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with residents at Newton Leys pavilion to discuss how the government is implementing policies to ease the cost of living as he campaigns ahead of local elections …

The New Scientist Book Club’s verdict on Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson: Mostly great, with a few quibbles

The New Scientist Book Club’s verdict on Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson: Mostly great, with a few quibbles

Published by skeptic

What did the New Scientist Book Club think of Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars? I set the New Scientist Book Club something of a challenge in April: make your way through the 600-plus pages of Red Mars, Kim Stanley Robinson’s doorstopper of a novel, in just 30 days, and then tell us what you thought of it on our lively new Discord channel (and do please show your working). I’ll admit to some self-interest here: I think of Red Mars as one of my all-time favourite books, but I haven’t read it for years. So, when reviewer George Bass wrote me a great piece about how this story of the first 100 astronauts and scientists to live on Mars opens in 2026, I jumped at a reason to revisit it with our community of 25,000 avid readers. I wasn’t disappointed. Robinson brings the vast landscapes and alien beauty of Mars to life with great skill, and I enjoyed the way the story moves between viewpoints. Sometimes we hear from Ann, who is desperate to ensure …

Nick Cave offers pithy three-word verdict on Russell Brand’s conversion to Christianity

Nick Cave offers pithy three-word verdict on Russell Brand’s conversion to Christianity

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Nick Cave has delivered a scathing assessment of Russell Brand’s latest book, How To Become a Christian in 7 Days. The 68-year-old Australian musician, who is well known for dealing with religious themes in his work, was asked about Brand’s book in the latest installment of his Red Hand Files email. He replied simply: “Good for atheism.” Brand has been widely ridiculed online in the past week after the former comedian spent over 90 seconds attempting and failing to find a Bible passage he read in court while promoting his book on Piers Morgan Uncensored. He will face trial later this year over allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him by six women. He denies all the charges, which date from 1999 to 2009. Nick Cave has delivered a pithy three-word verdict on Russell Brand’s ‘How To Become a …

Joanna Lumley reveals fear of vomiting – and verdict on TV love scenes

Joanna Lumley reveals fear of vomiting – and verdict on TV love scenes

Published by Daniella Wilson

Joanna Lumley has discussed emetophobia, which leaves her terrified of seeing people becoming violently ill and vomiting. The 79-year-old actress has spoken exclusively with RadioTimes for next week’s magazine, sharing how she feels about an increase in certain scenes on screen. Unfortunately for her, she’s noticed an increase in shows depicting people becoming sick, and it’s something that’s become an issue when it comes to watching certain shows for her. Speaking exclusively to Ginny Dougary for the next issue of RadioTimes (out on Tuesday), she said: “I think they should give people sick warnings!” Joanna Lumley Lia Toby/Getty Images Lumley also revealed that she has a medical condition called prosopagnosia, which means she’s unable to recognise people’s faces, admitting: “I quite often greet complete strangers as if they’re my dearest friends.” Joanna is currently set to return to our our screens in the BBC’s Amandaland, playing the abrasive mother of Lucy Punch’s titular character. Famed for her comedy roles – most notably the chain-smoking, Bollinger-chugging Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous – Joanna has since gone on to …

Bridgerton star gives verdict on surprise Whistledown season 4 twist

Bridgerton star gives verdict on surprise Whistledown season 4 twist

Published by Daniella Wilson

While the fourth season of Bridgerton was very much concerned with the love story of Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha), there was plenty else going on within the Ton. Now that the fifth season lead’s love story has also been confirmed, fans can continue to ideate about how they think things will unfold – but season 4 also delivered quite the surprise ending. The fourth season of the hit Netflix drama saw Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) retire from being Whistledown after realising that a life in the spotlight wasn’t one she wanted. But in season 4’s final moments, Penelope is writing away at her desk once again. However, she’s not writing Whistledown but a novel of her own, as she tells husband Colin (Luke Newton). Colin is left confused though, handing Penelope a copy of Whistledown before asking her who has written that. What a cliffhanger! Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton in Bridgerton. Liam Daniel/Netflix Asking Coughlan what she made of the Whistledown twist while promoting the second season of …

EastEnders airs exit amid Jasmine Fisher’s trial verdict in early iPlayer release

EastEnders airs exit amid Jasmine Fisher’s trial verdict in early iPlayer release

Published by Sam Flores

EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday’s episode (9 April), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV. EastEnders has revealed the jury’s verdict in Jasmine’s Fisher’s trial for the murder of her biological dad Anthony Trueman. Things haven’t looked too good for Jasmine this week, as despite arguing she killed Anthony in self-defence, damning statements from Patrick and Kat cast doubt on this story. Kat felt bad about faltering on the stand and persuaded Jasmine to stick with her not guilty plea and to give her side of the story. Jasmine faced tough questions from the prosecution though and, afterwards, the jury didn’t take too long to reach a verdict. BBC Related: Best streaming services Viewers were left on a cliffhanger as Jasmine’s fate was left up in the air. But in today’s episode, it was confirmed she’d been found not guilty of murder – to the delight of the Slaters and the horror of the Truemans. Jasmine was officially released from prison and returned to Walford …

Arsenal FC: Gabriel Martinelli learns punishment decision for referee push amid red card verdict

Arsenal FC: Gabriel Martinelli learns punishment decision for referee push amid red card verdict

Published by Sam Flores

Martinelli was booked for his actions but Hackett believes the Arsenal forward should have been sent off. He said: “Referee Sam Barrott awarded a free-kick to Arsenal, Martinelli comes rushing in and he pushes Sam out of the way. “Now I’m sorry, Gabriel Martinelli showed total disrespect for the match official Sam Barrott in that situation. “Although Sam issued a yellow card, for me it’s a red card. You just cannot put your hands on a referee, let alone push him out of the way. Gabriel Martinelli in action for Arsenal against Southampton Arsenal FC via Getty Images “You’ve got to look around the country, up and down, Saturday and Sundays where we have local park referees going out and doing their games. “What message does that send out to our local park referees? “I thought Sam had a good game, he refereed the game well, but I think he let the refereeing community down by not sending off Gabriel Martinelli for pushing him at the award of a free-kick, so he could take the …