An heiress of the Bahlsen biscuit empire in Germany has apologised for claiming her company treated forced labourers "well" during World War II, and said she should learn more about her firm's history. Verena Bahlsen, who owns a quarter of the company, said she "deeply regrets" comments she made about people forced into working at the biscuit factory during the Second World War under Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. "It was a mistake to amplify this debate with thoughtless responses. I apologise for that," she said in a statement on the Bahlsen family's website. "Nothing could be further from my mind than to downplay national socialism or its consequences." The 25-year-old had dived headlong into controversy first with her unashamed claim of being a capitalist who "wants to make money and buy yachts with my dividends". As critics reminded her on Twitter that her company profited from forced labourers during Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, she hit back, telling newspaper Bild that "we paid … [Read more...] about German biscuit heiress apologises for Nazi labour claim
Labour
UK energy network firms rattled by Labour state ownership plan
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s opposition Labour Party intends to take energy networks back into state ownership if elected, prompting infrastructure owners to warn of damage to investment, high taxpayer costs and a slower transition to green energy. FILE PHOTO: Workers paint an electricity pylon near Lymm, northern England February 18, 2015.REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Labour’s shadow business and energy secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, late on Tuesday published party plans via twitter to renationalise the country’s 60-billion-pound energy networks and establish a National Energy Agency. Britain’s energy infrastructure, such as gas pipes and electricity cables, is owned by several firms including SSE, National Grid and Iberdrola’s Scottish Power. All of them criticised the move. “Aside from extensive disruption, paying for state ownership and control of energy networks would require full compensation for owners at great expense to … [Read more...] about UK energy network firms rattled by Labour state ownership plan
Labour and SNP politicians quit over trans rights row
0 Have your say Two politicians have quit their parties in the last 24 hours in the growing row over trans rights. A Scottish peer has left Labour after allegations of transphobia were made against him, while "institutional transphobia" has prompted an SNP councillor to resign from his party.Lord Lewis Moonie, who represented Kirkcaldy as an MP for 18 years, announced last night he had left the Labour Party, before facing a disciplinary hearing about a sharing an image which supported violence against transwomen.The 72-year-old psychiatrist had also been accused of sharing other controversial social media posts relating to transgender issues which resulted in his party membership being suspended.“I’ve resigned from the Labour Party today,” he wrote. “I was accused of transphobia by the usual suspects, and told I must attend a disciplinary hearing. My membership suspended too.“Not really up to fighting it so I’ve saved them the … [Read more...] about Labour and SNP politicians quit over trans rights row
Tory rebels pledge support to Labour in shock council twist
A Labour-led coalition supported by eight ex-Conservative members will bid to lead the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Cllr Neil Moore would lead the potential administration, which includes 14 Labour members and eight councillors including the Vale council's current leader and cabinet, who have walked away from the Conservative group. Four councillors from Llantwit First Independents would also join them. Current council leader John Thomas and his cabinet resigned from the Conservative group together with two other Tory backbenchers after he lost the leadership of the Vale Tories to Cllr Vincent Bailey - who will put forward plans for a minority administration. Cllr Bailey has said the Tory defectors have "betrayed" their voters and should face by-elections. The exodus from the Conservative group leaves the party with just 15 councillors. The next leadership of the authority will be decided by councillors at an annual general meeting on Monday, May 20. Cllr Moore, who led the … [Read more...] about Tory rebels pledge support to Labour in shock council twist
Westminster could legalise abortion in NI: Labour peer
Westminster could legalise abortion in NI: Labour peer BelfastTelegraph.co.uk A Labour peer has said that abortion laws in Northern Ireland can be changed in Westminster as it is a human rights issue. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/westminster-could-legalise-abortion-in-ni-labour-peer-38112119.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article38113356.ece/f6086/AUTOCROP/h342/Health%20NHS%20Doctor.jpg Email A Labour peer has said that abortion laws in Northern Ireland can be changed in Westminster as it is a human rights issue. Lord Alf Dubs said there is an "alternative path" to making legislative changes to strict laws here after a House of Commons committee released a report on abortion. The former Northern Ireland minister was speaking at the 58th plenary of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) in Co Wicklow. It comes after a draft report on the cross-jurisdictional implications of abortion policy was expected to be presented to … [Read more...] about Westminster could legalise abortion in NI: Labour peer