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Huw Edwards: Witch hunt or accountability?

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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Huw Edwards: Witch hunt or accountability?

BBC journalist Huw Edwards has been revealed as the mystery presenter at the centre of yet another scandal to rock the BBC.

The Sun published a story stating that a woman had come forward claiming that her child had been paid £35,000 by an unknown male BBC presenter in exchange for nude photos since 2020 – when the now 20-year-old would have been 17 – and how the money was used to fund their cocaine addiction.

Two days later the BBC confirmed that it had suspended the presenter. The following day the lawyer of the alleged victim said, “Nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish“.

After a second alleged victim came forward, accusing Edwards of sending ‘abusive and menacing’ messages on a dating app, the Metropolitan Police said that “[there was] no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed”.

His wife Vicky, in a statement, named him as the under-fire presenter, citing his hospitalisation for ‘mental health issues’.

Witch hunt or accountability?

With the advent of social media, everyone believes themself to be a journalist. Technology has given everyone the ability to have an opinion and express it openly.

However, in recent times there have been debates about where the line between accountability and harassment is, in regard to under-fire public figures.

Public figures such as Edwards do not exist in a bubble. He is employed by the BBC, which brings a certain level of accountability but also a professional relationship with his colleagues and the company he works for.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine calls out false accusations against him and his colleagues

The BBC is subject to the laws of libel and defamation. If, for example, they were to broadcast a statement against an individual without evidence, they would be liable for a lawsuit for defamation of character, and rightfully so.

The glaring issue that a lot of social media users either don’t know or don’t care that these laws are applicable to individuals also, and not just media companies. Individuals can be sued for libel and defamation too.

You would be forgiven for thinking they’d think twice about openly accusing a person without evidence, risking a potential lawsuit for libel. Instead, the opposite happened.

Of course, due to the nature of the crime that Edwards was accused of, an argument could be made that it was in the public interest to know (which is most likely what The Sun’s defence will be for publishing the story in the first place), but it’s clear that a line was crossed.

Many Twitter users were more than happy to openly accuse various BBC presenters of being the guilty party.

It came across to many as if social media, as a whole, became so impatient for the BBC and police’s investigation, that it started to falsely accuse people to put pressure on the guilty party to come forward.

Due process and the presumption of innocence weren’t in their thinking process or considered. Not even the fear or threat of being sued for libel seemed to be enough of a deterrent for some.

There was a willingness to damage – possibly irreparably – the reputations of several presenters in the name of ‘justice’.

That is a terrifying and damning indication of the mindset of at least a section of modern Britain; a kind of bloodthirsty craving for a form of mob justice.

This begs the question – was it really about holding Edwards accountable?

Solicitor Joshua Rozenburg warns the public that the laws about libel and defamation apply to individuals as well as companies

What now?

Edwards is currently in hospital for mental health reasons and will remain there for the foreseeable future.

Several BBC presenters are considering their legal options after both individuals and media outlets implied or outright accused them of being involved in the scandal.

It’s possible that The Sun could be investigated after its revelation of the scandal could constitute an invasion of privacy.

Although the newspaper claims that it didn’t pay the victim’s mother for the story, and the fact that they didn’t name Edwards when they first released the story to the public, it’s yet to be seen if they have even seen hard evidence of the compromising messages between the victim and Edwards.

The BBC is also facing fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Edwards towards junior members of staff.

Sunak agrees to public sector pay rises of at least 6% without raising budgets

Mike Omoniyi
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Sunak agrees to public sector pay rises of at least 6% without raising budgets

Millions of public sector workers, including teachers, police and junior doctors, are to be offered pay rises between 5%-7%, the government says.

Police and prison officers will receive a 7% pay rise, while teachers and junior doctors will get a 6.5% and 6% rise respectively. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he had accepted recommendations made by the pay review bodies “in full”.

He said the rises would not be funded by borrowing more or increasing taxes. He added that the offer was “final” and further industrial action would not change that decision, saying: “There will be no more talks on pay. We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlements and no amount of strikes will change our decision.”

Following the announcement, the education unions said they would now put the offer to their members with a recommendation to accept the pay award, and said the deal would allow the strikes to be called off. Mr Sunak said the pay awards in the education department would be fully funded, but did not set out details how it would be achieved.

Over the past year, rising prices have prompted public sector workers to ask for pay rises matching or exceeding the rate of inflation which currently stands at 8.7%.

Disputes over salary have led to a series of strikes hitting schools and hospitals.

What pay rises have been offered?

  • Police officers: 7% (England & Wales)
  • Consultants, dentists and GPs: 6% (England)
  • Junior doctors: 6% + £1,250 consolidated increase (England)
  • Prison officers: 7% and more for support grades (England & Wales)
  • Armed forces: 5% + £1,000 consolidated increase (UK)
  • Teachers: 6.5% (England)

In welcome news for No 10, the leaders of the National Education Union, Association of School and College Leaders, National Association of Head Teachers and NASUWT said they hoped to “resume normal relations with government”.

Earlier this week, Jeremy Hunt said delivering “sound money” was the government’s number one focus. In a Mansion House speech, the chancellor said: “That means taking responsible decisions on public finances, including public sector pay, because more borrowing is itself inflationary.

“It means recognising that bringing down inflation puts more money into people’s pockets than any tax cut. And it means recognising that there can be no sustainable growth without eliminating the inflation that deters investment and erodes consumer confidence.”

Sunak was similarly strict about not adding more to the national debt when he was asked about the decision on public sector pay earlier this week.

Speaking at the Nato summit in Lithuania on Wednesday, the prime minister said: “Everyone knows the economic context we are in and we need to make sure that government decisions, particularly when it comes to not borrowing more, are made responsibly so we don’t fuel inflation, make it worse or last for longer.”

Mortgage defaults jump at fastest rate since 2009

Sharon Adebola
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Mortgage defaults jump at fastest rate since 2009

Mortgage payments reach the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis for those on a two-year fixed deal 

Millions of households are under great financial pressure as the Bank of England increases interest rates in efforts to lower high inflation. 

Mortgage repayments have been affected as rates on two-year fixed deals rise to levels not seen since the financial crash.

The Bank of England (BOE) recently released a financial stability report stating “In the UK, more households are being affected by higher interest rates as fixed-rate mortgage deals expire. The proportion of households with high debt service ratios, after accounting for the higher cost of living, has increased and is expected to continue to do so through 2023. But it is projected to remain some way below the historic peak reached in 2007” 

The BOE projects rates to remain below rates reached in 2007 hoping to lower speculation around mortgage rates. 

The report also states millions of homeowners on new mortgage contracts in the forthcoming years will pay approximately £220 extra per month, which some label a drastic increase that is unaffordable. 

Source: Moneyfacts. Last update: 12 Jul 2023

“Which comes first the economy or the individual?”

Financial journalist Martin Lewis on Good Morning Britain argues mortgage repayments are bound to rise as increased interest rates are “one of the core ways to fight inflation”.

He states this is a “huge bill shock” to millions of homeowners affected as questioning what the government must prioritise, “the economy or the individual”.

Although many speculate that mortgage rates will come down, Lewis suggests there is no guarantee rates will drop back to normal. People may only say so “only and if” rates did come down. 

For future homeowners, concerns grow as they question if they can afford mortgages where renting seems to be a better option. 

Marking boycotts leave students uncertain about their future

Sharon Adebola
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Marking boycotts leave students uncertain about their future

Marking boycotts by academic staff who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) have left many students uncertain if they will receive grades and graduate this summer. 

On the 20th of April 2023, UCU announced plans for a marking boycott that would be ongoing until an agreement on pay and working conditions is made with employers. 

Why is the marking boycott taking place?

The boycott is a response to disputes over pay, working conditions and pensions. UCU argues the value of wage shave depreciated because of rising inflation rates. 

Currently, the inflation rate is around 8.7%, which is definitely above the 2% aim set by the Bank of England. Hence, academic staff argue their wages are insufficient in comparison to their living expenses, which have compounded during the cost of living crisis. 

Photo Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Universities such as King’s College London pledged their commitment to students

“It is possible that a number of students may experience delays in receiving some of their marks and we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on these students” 

“At King’s, the two key principles are that no student should experience any detriment as a result of the boycott, and that academic standards are fully maintained.” 

In a statement released by the university, King’s assured students they sought to minimise impacts on students by upholding their key principles. However, some may question if these principles have been compromised as some students believe they’ve experienced ‘detriment’ as a result of the boycott. 

Courtesy of Roar photographer Elizabeth Grace

We interviewed some students from King’s who responded to the statement:

Soon-to-be law graduate, Blessing says there is “no cohesiveness” between various departments and the university itself. Her peers have been to external markers concerned they may not graduate with a grade. 

“As a final year student, the lack of transparency and clarity has been a cause for a lot of anxiety for many of my peers and it prevents us from looking forward to things like graduation and work”. 

Although sympathetic to the UCU, Blessing expresses the need for universities to be held accountable when mitigating the impact on students, which many students across the UK also believe. 

“They have every right to withdraw their labour”

Opposingly, Gayatri, a 2nd-year Politics student supports the marking boycott stating “they have every right to withdraw their labour”. 

Although not being affected by the strikes “at all” and receiving her grades, Gayatri recognises “more needs to be done to mitigate the impact on students” and calls for “better provision” to support students.

Similarly, Korush, a 2nd-year Politics student urges his peers to “concentrate on why the teachers are doing this” and worries there is a misplaced focus on academic staff being “exploited”.

What could this possibly mean for the future of UK education

Ultimately, the boycott and its impact on students probe many to question whether the UK education system needs reform for both students and academics. 

From a history of events such as A-level results during Covid, the UK education system constantly seems to let down its students, as there are constant feelings of concern and disappointment from students. 

UK charity foundation to abolish itself and give away £130m

Mike Omoniyi
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UK charity foundation to abolish itself and give away £130m

After over 60 years of operating as a charitable grant-making foundation, Lankelly Chase has decided to redistribute all its assets and close within a five-year timeframe.

A major UK charitable foundation, with an endowment fortune of £130m, has announced it is to abolish itself after concluding that traditional philanthropy is a “function of colonial capitalism” and that it had itself become part of the problem.

Lankelly Chase, which gives out about £13m a year in grants to hundreds of charities operating in areas such as social, racial and climate justice, said it wanted to find bold new alternatives to what it called philanthropy’s “cult of benevolence”.

The 60-year-old institution said it would spend the next five years giving away its assets to organisations and networks which are doing “life-affirming social justice work” in communities around the UK.

It is understood Lankelly Chase’s trustee board had become increasingly unable to reconcile its charitable mission to tackle racism, injustice and inequality with its position as a major investor in global capital markets it considers to be rooted in racial and colonial exploitation.

Julian Corner, the CEO of Lankelly Chase. Photograph: Lankelly Chase

“We have recognised the gravity of the interlocking social, climate and economic global crises we are experiencing today. At the same time, we view the traditional philanthropy model as so entangled with colonial capitalism that it inevitably continues the harms of the past into the present,” it said in a statement.

It added: “We will relinquish control of our assets, including the endowment and all resources, so that money can flow freely to those doing life-affirming social justice work. We will make space to reimagine how wealth, capital and social justice can co-exist in the service of all life, now and for future generations.”

Although rare in the UK, the kind of radical re-imagining of charitable funding announced by Lankelly Chase is more common in the US where, experts say, “decolonising the endowment” is a much more active debate in philanthropic and community circles.

“We know not everyone will agree with this decision, and we are not saying every endowed foundation should follow our direction. However, we believe that the case for profound change is now impossible to ignore, and each of us must find our answer. This is ours,” Lankelly Chase said.

Redistributive Justice

In a foretaste of how it might begin to redistribute its assets, it announced it is to give £8m – around 6% of its total endowment fund – to the Baobab Foundation, a funding body created in 2021 by black funders to grow resources for under-resourced grassroots UK black and African community organisations.

The Lankelly Chase chief executive, Julian Corner, said: “Philanthropy is a function of colonial capitalism, it has been shaped by it, is being driven by it, and yet philosophically it tries to position itself as somehow a cure for the ills of colonial capitalism, and that contradiction needs to stop.”

He said that having taken the decision to redistribute, they would spend the next five years working out how this would work in practice. “It’s going to create a space for a more honest debate in philanthropy about our relevance, and ambitious conversations about whether we [as foundations] are set up right,” he said.

Corner acknowledged there was a risk that simply shifting the capital to a new set of funding gatekeepers and intermediaries could replicate existing power imbalances. He said it would work with future asset holders to explore alternative investment philosophies.

CEO Julian Corner, and Trustees Marai Larasi and Asif Afridi discuss the Transition Pathway decision 

Fellow trustee Marai Larasi said it was “time to compost” Lankelly Chase as an institution and allow new organisations to emerge in its stead. The aim was not to “hold the cult of benevolence in place but to actually dismantle that”, she added.

Lankelly Chase was created from the charitable bequests of entrepreneurs Alfred Allnatt and Ron Diggens, who made millions from north London property development in the middle of the last century. Allnatt was known as an eccentric with a love of race horses, fine art and diamonds.

The foundation said that while its endowment might not appear to have originated in overtly harmful colonising practices, it believed “capital accumulation occurs through ongoing processes of colonial appropriation and exploitation. Our endowment is embedded within the system of what scholars such as Cedric J Robinson have called ‘racial capitalism’.”

Lankelly Chase was the 79th biggest charitable foundation in the UK in 2021, according to the Association of Charitable Foundations, supporting hundreds of charities and community organisations a year. Between them the UK’s top 300 charitable foundations gave out £3.7bn in 2021.

Did Just Stop Oil go too far?

Sharon Adebola
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Did Just Stop Oil go too far?

Was ‘Confettigate’ a legitimate crisis or has civility in modern Britain gone too far?

On Saturday, the 8th of July in Somerset, Guests were left confused when an unknown woman threw orange confetti, at newlyweds, ex-chancellor George Osborne and his former aide Thea Rogers.

Just Stop Oil (JSO) has applauded the unknown protestor but denied that she was a part of their group.

The nonviolent civil resistance group released a statement titled ‘Confettigate’ stating “We
applaud and thank the person concerned”.


The grey-haired woman in a floral dress and pale-coloured jacket emptied a union jack paper bag of confetti over the newlyweds’ shoulders who, in turn, looked puzzled before a security person approached the woman and she left. (Photo: @JustStop_Oil) Photograph:(Twitter)


Just Stop Oil highlighted the unknown protestor’s actions have “helped to recall” Osborne as
responsible for “some of the most egregious climate-denying nonsense ever to darken the
pages of mainstream mass media”.

“More disruption”

Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Sky News, asserted the actions of the protestor were “pathetic and quite tedious”.

She questioned the general actions of Just Stop Oil, adding that “if they want to tackle climate change engage in policy answers” and stop the “needles disruption to people’s lives”. 

Reeves emphasised the ‘counterproductive’ nature of events that unfolded during the weekend as she urged such protestors to “think again” as there are ‘better ways’ of addressing issues linked to climate change. 

“Protests that make an impact have always been annoying”

Contrastingly, Political commentator Owen Jones on Good Morning Britain passionately voiced his support for the protestor stating, “Protests that make an impact have always been annoying” as he likened confetti at Osborne’s wedding to “suffragettes sabotaging the grand national”. 

In a bid to defend the sole protestor as well as JSO, Jones makes a somewhat strenuous comparison between two events that differ in aim and approach and seem to only be compatible based on seeking to make an impact/change.

Moreover, Jones claims “millions of people are going to die” if inadequate actions are taken in an effort to address environmental concerns. 

Political boundaries reconsidered

Whilst many will support and hold similar views to Jones; others may question whether the protestor’s intentions were justification for the “counterproductive” actions to be carried out as Reeves previously stated. 

Such events have highlighted the need for personal boundaries concerning political figures. In a time where political figures have increasingly been targeted/abused by individuals within the public, there is a serious need for effective boundaries to be established to protect the livelihood of these figures and establish a healthier democracy where political representatives are comfortable remaining public figures. 

Report finds Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over ‘partygate’ during COVID lockdown

Mike Omoniyi
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Report finds Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over ‘partygate’ during COVID lockdown

In its highly anticipated investigation, the committee also recommended the former PM serve a 90-day suspension from parliament.

A scathing report from the House of Commons Privileges Committee found that Johnson’s actions and his response to the committee were such a flagrant violation of the rules that they warranted a 90-day suspension from Parliament. While a condemning indictment of the former prime minister’s conduct, the recommendation is largely symbolic because Johnson angrily quit as a lawmaker Friday after the committee informed him of its conclusions.

In the highly anticipated report, published this morning, the committee found that Mr Johnson:

• Misled the house on multiple occasions

• Committed further contempt in his conduct by impugning the committee – thereby undermining the democratic process of the House

• Was complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee

In a further sanction, the committee also recommended that Mr Johnson should not be granted a former member’s pass to parliament following his resignation as an MP. Read Report

UK Cabinet Office

Johnson, 58, described the committee as a “kangaroo court” that conducted a “witch hunt” to drive him out of Parliament. A majority of the panel’s seven members come from Johnson’s Conservative Party.

“The committee now says that I deliberately misled the House, and at the moment I spoke I was consciously concealing from the House my knowledge of illicit events,” Johnson said in a heated statement released in response. “This is rubbish. It is a lie. In order to reach this deranged conclusion, the Committee is obliged to say a series of things that are patently absurd, or contradicted by the facts.”

The report is just the latest episode in the “partygate” scandal that has distracted lawmakers since local news organizations revealed that members of Johnson’s staff held a series of parties in 2020 and 2021 when such gatherings were prohibited by pandemic restrictions. The full House of Commons will now debate the committee’s report and decide whether it concurs with the panel’s findings and recommended sanctions.

The committee also said Johnson should not be granted a pass to Parliament’s grounds.

We need to change the narrative on refugees and asylum seekers

Zohaib Sadiq
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We need to change the narrative on refugees and asylum seekers

The Common Sense Network sat down with Moses Seitler, Founder of Screen Share, a UK based charity focused on repurposing laptops for refugees and asylum seekers, to discuss the role digital inclusion plays in switching the current narrative and empowering refugees and asylum seekers. 

Can you tell us a bit about your motivations for setting up Screen Share?

I set up Screen Share for two very different reasons. The first was because I needed a solution to the problem that my clients were facing. I was supporting dozens of young refugees for Refugee Education UK as they sought to access higher education, and they were all trying to do it off a shared phone or broken laptop. The sector had no clear solution to this problem and yet their support was conditional upon our clients having access to the right device.

The second reason was because I was drawn to this cause because of my family history. Just before my great grandfather arrived in the UK having fled pogroms in Poland, the UK passed the 1905 Aliens Act. This was the first piece of legislation specifically designed to prevent refugees from coming to the UK. That policy was obviously unsuccessful and harmful, as is the new legislation today. More than 100 years on, politicians refuse to accept that policy needs to respond to the movement of people, not the other way around. Anyone who knows anything about migration appreciates that policy is not a real pull-factor.

When it comes to advocating for more humane policies, Screen Share keeps it simple. We are not policy specialists, but we do think that every person seeking sanctuary in the UK has the right to access the support services and arms of state which, in today’s day and age, are fundamentally digital.

How do you hope tech can help refugees and help empower them in society?

British refugee policy since the 20th century can be described simply as ‘fine, if it works for us’. The government does not yet realise that an answer to their policy headache is to include refugees in the policy conversation. For that to happen, they need to be digitally included.  

The path of empowerment is as follows: give refugees the right digital tools and they will use those tools to wrestle back control of their lives. This may be applying for and thriving in education or employment to build their futures. It’s also very present – digitally excluded people cannot work effectively with lawyers to further their case, and they cannot apply for Universal Credit or coordinate with their local council. It’s not rocket science – put your laptop in a cupboard for a week and let me know how much progress you have made.

Children evacuated from Afghanistan disembark from an RAF plane at Brize Norton in August 2021. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Can you tell us how Screen Share and the wider charity sector is responding to the recent Illegal Migration Bill?

The bill is a reflection of the government’s reckless approach to policymaking. The government’s bet is a simple accumulator: being incredibly harsh on refugees will be electorally beneficial AND will dissuade other refugees from seeking sanctuary in the UK.  The fact that the government refuses to issue a policy impact assessment is all the proof we need that this policy is irrelevant to what we really need, which is a fair, evidence-based settlement for an immigration policy which respects the unique moral claims to protect refugees in that context. 

The sector is being represented by the big names who are doing all they can – Refugee Council, Refugee Action and an amalgamation of organisations called Together With Refugees. They’re organised, and we are doing a good job of foregrounding people with lived experience who are bravely advocating for people who are in similar positions to them. The issue is that the government isn’t listening or willing to negotiate. They weren’t listening last year when we spent hours contributing to the consultation on the Nationality and Borders Bill. They haven’t been listening for years. 

What is your vision for Screen Share?

We are trying to build a sustainable, go-to tech organisation for refugees. We want sanctuary seekers who see digital as a route out of their current situation to be able to come to us, receive support and then ultimately have an opportunity to run the organisation themselves. Refugees are more likely to face digital exclusion than any other minority group and do so with greater consequences when they do, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be tomorrow’s leaders. 

In terms of the journey of that growth, we need a few things. We need financial support, so our staff keep pushing and do what they do best. We need volunteers, to process these laptops and keep finding others. And we need to scale, by setting up hubs across the country in which normal people can give up their time to refurbish and deliver devices to those who need them. 

You can read more about Screen Share here: Screen-Share.co.uk

The charity was also featured on the BBC’s We Are England, Education: From Conflict to Classroom here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001c9tn/we-are-england-education-from-conflict-to-classroom

Zohaib Sadiq is a wirter and dedicated individual; an alumni from The University of Manchester (where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and was an Official International Ambassador in Paris and London), he currently writes thoughtful pieces on social, political and economic issues for The Common Sense Network. Zohaib is motivated by the power of speaking the truth to create impactful narratives and the sternly held conviction that the pen is mightier than the sword.

Labour Party on track to win a 140-seat majority at the next election

Mike Omoniyi
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Labour Party on track to win a 140-seat majority at the next election

Labour would win 470 seats to just 129 for the Tories and 26 for the SNP.

The Labour Party is on track to win a 140-seat majority at the next election, with Keir Starmer set to be Prime Minister a new poll shows.

The poll, carried out for campaign group Best For Britain, suggests that were a general election to be held tomorrow, Labour would win 470 seats to just 129 for the Tories and 26 for the SNP.

The MRP analysis is the first to take into account new boundary changes at the next general election and shows that Labour would win 35% of the vote while the Conservatives would win 23%, according to the poll conducted by Focaldata.

The research carried out for Best for Britain also found that 206 of 632 seats in Britain are marginal, with Labour either in first or second place in 197 of these narrowly held constituencies.

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer MP on visit to Manchester and Oldham.

However, polling experts urged caution and warned that there could still be a hung parliament if right-wing party Reform UK stands aside in Tory marginal seats and if a large group of undecided voters opt for the Tories.

Naomi Smith, the CEO of Best for Britain, told a press conference in London: “Our analysis of that data is that actually Labour could more plausibly be looking at 370 seats, and even that might be at the high end that we’re predicting, with the Conservatives on 232.

“Neither of those scenarios has to happen independently of one another. They can both happen at the same time. And if they do, if a lot of those undecided voters break back to the Conservatives and we see Reform UK pulling candidates, then we’re back in hung Parliament territory.”

Naomi Smith also said that while Labour’s lead “looks healthy”, their margins are “falling everywhere” and their lead is smaller than their last poll conducted in Autumn 2022.

She also said that Rishi Sunak had won back some voters disaffected by Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-budget.

But even in a worst-case scenario for Labour, it would still be the biggest party in a hung parliament, according to the analysis.

The survey asked 10,140 people in Great Britain between April 20 and May 9 which party they would vote for if a general election were held tomorrow.

Dive into the Deep: The Future is AI

Keir Thompson
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Dive into the Deep: The Future is AI

A brief explainer on AI: what it is, where did it come from and why is it surfacing now?

In 1996, IBM’s Deep Blue computer made history by becoming the first artificial intelligence (AI) system to defeat Kasparov, the world chess champion. Cut to 25 years later; ChatGPT is released. It broke records, quickly becoming the fastest-adopted technology in history, reaching one million users in five days and 100 million users in two months.

To put that into perspective, just to hit 1 million users, it took Facebook 10 months and Spotify five. As many in the industry are calling it a ‘Google-level event’ we could all learn a little more. I have dived into the issue so that you don’t have to, here is what I found. 

What is Artificial Intelligence?

At its core, artificial intelligence refers to machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human-like thinking processes. These can include learning from experiences, understanding language and context, recognising patterns or objects, and problem-solving. 

It’s important to note that today’s explainer mostly focuses on ‘narrow AI’. The AI straight out of sci-fi is called ‘General AI’ (also known as strong or true AI) which represents a more advanced form of artificial intelligence. It envisions machines possessing cognitive abilities similar to humans – being able to learn from experience, independently, without any pre-programming. However, despite significant progress in recent years most estimations seem to suggest that this level remains pretty far from reality (at the time of writing).

Robot Kid reading his book (Unsplash)

Why now?

Put simply; it just started to get good. It became comparable to humans in desirable tasks; chess is one thing but creating art, processing concepts, and comprehension of language is quite another. This has led to further funding which has led to greater development. As time has gone on, processors have become better, improving our ability to train AI, and leading to better outputs. The reality is that this has been built on for decades; Deep Blue sparked conversations in the late 90s but there is a history going back far further than that. 

AI’s journey has been marked by milestones of innovation. Despite its complex nature, understanding AI’s historical timeline can shed light on its future potential. The first real breakthroughs were in the 1940s and 1950s with Alan Turing and the breaking of the Enigma code. But developments continued up until the late 60s before the AI “winter” which paused most development due to high expectations and limited technology. 

In 1995, the chatbot Alice was developed and IBM completed their development of Deep Blue. In 1996, Deep Blue went to play Kasparov and the rest is history. There was a rematch in ’97 and Deep Blue beat him again. 

From there, the focus shifted towards neural networks, which attempt to copy living brains by merging human and machine ways of thinking. This gave rise to deep learning which involves multiple layers of neural networks, optimising the learning process. This led directly to investment from major companies, which is why we have AI-powered assistants like Siri and Alexa. 

In 2021, OpenAI’s GPT-3 demonstrated advanced language understanding, capable of generating human-like text based on given prompts. Then in 2022 AI exploded and ChatGPT’s release in December was just the beginning. AI has been there all along, but ChatGPT changed the game.  

A conversation on AI with some of our writers at Common Sense

From big business to open source

In early May 2023, a leaked memo from Google warned that it, and other companies, have already lost the AI race. It states that the company is falling behind in the development of language models, particularly in comparison to the rapid progress being made in the world of open-source which is utilising Facebook’s LLaMA model, leaked earlier in the year. 

Key innovations that have emerged from the world of open-source include the ability to run major models on personal devices, the creation of scalable personal artificial intelligence, and the emergence of art and text models without restrictions. While Google’s models still hold a minor edge in terms of quality, the memo reported that this gap is rapidly closing. The memo also suggests that Google needs to prioritise collaboration with these developers; who will soon be able to do the same work for a fraction of the cost. 

The Rise of Generative AI

Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, has emerged as an upcoming and promising field of artificial intelligence. It leverages machine learning algorithms that can generate new outputs (such as images, texts, or sounds) based on input data. This ability to create novel content without explicit human direction sets generative AI apart from other forms.

Fears Associated with Generative AI

Obviously, there are several concerns surrounding AI and its development. Among these fears is that it may replace human labour in various fields – leading to job displacement and increasing social inequality.

In the near term, there are worries about the accuracy of AI. Mistakes, dubbed ‘hallucinations’, are still a key issue requiring a user to check the efficacy of the information. While many are concerned with the licensing of the words, pictures and sounds that generative AI scrapes from the wider internet.

Furthermore, fears that AI will be used by bad actors have raised ethical concerns. This has largely been picked up in conversations relating to misinformation and disinformation with anxieties ranging from the creation of deep fake videos by foreign powers; to worries that lazy outlets will not verify content before it hits the reader. Without regulation and consumer protection, AI could pose severe risks to safety and clean news flows in the near to immediate future.

Potential Benefits Realized by Generative AI Technology

Despite these concerns, it’s essential not to overlook the numerous benefits offered by generative artificial intelligence systems when harnessed responsibly. The creative capabilities enabled by this technology can revolutionise industries from art to professional services and finance.

Additionally, for businesses, automated processes powered by AI can result in increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved public services. These advancements could help tackle complex global problems affecting us now and into the future like climate change, poverty, and combatting disease.

Ultimately, if managed correctly, AI may bring forth immense societal and economic progress whilst mitigating the potential risks associated with the misuse of the technology.

Navigating the high seas of AI

This conversation about the most recent AI revolution is different from the one about Deep Blue in 1996. The rise of generative AI is truly an exploration into new and uncharted waters. We must understand the benefits and fears and think about the potential consequences for society as a whole. It is here to stay; even this piece is AI-assisted. But the best way to learn is by being curious and trying it out, even just asking it dumb questions to see what it’ll do.

Sites like Futurepedia add new AI tools to their directory every day; ChatGPT is soon to release its 4th iteration and has an official phone app. OpenAI’s playground gives further options to mess with the systems involved and Google’s AI test kitchen’s MusicLM can be an interesting experiment just to start.

AI represents a change at the trunk of the decision-making tree for businesses and private individuals alike. While not perfect; it’s moving fast and there is far more to know than I could include here. The possibilities seem to be endless and the immeasurability of this change is scary as it is exciting. It will soon begin to deeply change our lives. If we understand it; we may get to influence decide how to change them for the better.

Meet The London’s Lonely Girls Club

Lucy Tudor
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Meet The London’s Lonely Girls Club

Isolation and the feeling of loneliness can play a huge factor in our well-being and mental health. It is also said that living within a city can make it feel more challenging to develop a feeling of community and a support network around you. 

According to the Reconceptualising Loneliness in London report, Londoners are more likely than others in the UK to be affected by severe forms of loneliness. 700,000 individuals within the city felt they experienced feelings of loneliness  ‘mostly’ or ‘all of the time’. That works out as about 1 in 12 of us. 

But there are people out there trying to make London that little bit less lonely. 

London’s Lonely Girls Club is a community of over 40,000 women set up to provide a safe space in London to create friendships and explore the city together. They run very regular monthly meet-ups which are both in person and online, from bank holiday picnics in Victoria Park to making your own boob clay pots- there really is something for everyone! 

I got in touch with Holly Cooke who is the The Founder of London Lonely Girls Club to find out more about why she felt the club was needed;  

Credit: London’s Lonely Girls Club website

Why did you feel there was a need for the London Lonely Girls Club?

I moved to London from my hometown of Stoke On Trent when I was 22 and I didn’t know anyone in the city. Although it had always been my dream to live and work in London, the reality was a little different when you were alone. I tried a couple of different apps when it came to meeting new people and making friends and through these quickly realised that I wasn’t alone in how I was feeling and there were so many others out there. From this the idea came to create a community and space, both physically and online, to help people connect in person and build friendships.

What advice would you give to women who feel isolated in London? 

Due to the fast-paced nature of London, and how transient it can feel with people constantly coming and going, it can feel particularly isolating. Especially if you don’t know many people or those you do know are in different life stages or have different interests from you.

For myself, when struggling with feelings of loneliness or isolation, I try and get out of the house and do something I enjoy, whether this is going to a food market or to the theatre. Learning to be alone and enjoy my own company and space was really difficult at first but was one of the most important things that helped me when it came to feeling lonely. The other is to connect with others! Whether this is through joining a community like The London Lonely Girls Club, or going along to something like a sports team or craft club, although scary, put yourself out there and meet new people. You never know who you might meet or the wonderful impact they could have on your life.

How have those who have joined found the experience?

We have incredible feedback from our members, and always love hearing their stories of the wonderful friendships and connections they’ve made! From meeting housemates to travel buddies, members forming book and walking clubs, to one person describing her experience as having met her “lifelong bestie”.

What words of wisdom would you give to women who are wanting to find their happiest selves? 

Finding yourself, who you are and what you love is so vital to happiness and contentment. Not forcing yourself to fit a specific box, stereotype or standard, but giving yourself the space and time to find and be who you really are is so key! 

We should all be concerned about the Online Safety Bill

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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We should all be concerned about the Online Safety Bill
  • WhatsApp, along with rival Signal, have united against the proposed Online Safety Bill (OSB) by the UK government, which they say could undermine the average UK citizen’s privacy and security.
  • In an open letter, they said,”…if implemented as written, [the OSB] could empower Ofcom to try to force the proactive scanning of private messages on end-to-end encrypted communication services, nullifying the purpose of end-to-end encryption as a result and compromising the privacy of all users.”
  • The OSB was proposed to try and improve internet safety, with many concerned about harmful content and its effects such as unfiltered access to adult sites by children, hate speech and internet fraud.
  • However, many have also expressed concern about the effects it could have on free speech. The OSB proposes to ‘restrain the publication of lawful but hateful speech’, which would effectively create a new form of censorship.
  • The OSB also does not provide explicit protection for end-to-end encryption – a technology that prevents anyone from seeing a message except the intended recipient – which could theoretically allow Ofcom free and unlimited scanning and monitoring of private messages whenever they deem it necessary.

Censorship by proxy

The OSB, whilst well-intentioned, should never be allowed to pass in Parliament.

It represents, fundamentally, the death of online privacy and an increase in censorship under the guise of ‘safety’.

This issue, compounded by further controversy about the limits of protest – which many believe to be an attack on the right to protest itself – is clearly indicative of the current government’s train of thought which, at worst, is not unlike dictatorships and authoritarian regimes in the past and present.

It would, in theory, be a ‘soft’ version of the Chinese political model, whereby the state knows all at all times and clamps down on dissent against it immediately.

The only difference would be the justification of having those powers.

The UK’s justification for wanting to curtail certain online liberties is in the name of safety. In other words, because crimes may occur online, nobody should have total digital autonomy.

It may seem logical and reasonable, but both recent and older history should remind us of the consequences of trusting governments blindly.

This is not to suggest that pro-privacy activists are advocating for unrestrained anarchy and lawlessness online but, unfortunately, the sad reality of this situation is that it opens the floodgates for mass surveillance.

Once states have unlimited access to its citizens’ private digital lives, society effectively becomes a Big Brother-like police state.

It runs the risk of those powers being abused by the authorities. The justification for surveillance would broaden from legitimate issues (such as organised crimes) into anything that the government deems to be ‘a risk’.

Then, all the government would have to do is weaponise the legislation against certain protests and political lobbies that it does not like. It would become farcical at best and authoritarian at worst.

At its core, the OSB is incompatible with liberal democracies. Any legislation that can be used to restrict (without moral or ethical justification) or entirely remove rights such as free speech and privacy simply cannot be allowed to pass in Parliament.

Director of ‘Academy of Ideas’ Claire Fox is strongly opposed to the OSB

What now?

Of course, these aren’t the only issues that the OSB will bring. Citizens would be at the mercy of the state’s interpretation of media, messages and information.

Many online companies who refuse to comply with it could be forced to remove its services from the UK entirely, which would have effects on the economy, academia, art, media and other industries.

An example of this is that Wikipedia could become inaccessible to UK users if issues with the OSB arise, according to The Guardian.

WhatsApp does not look to be calling the UK’s bluff and will uphold their threat to withdraw their services, which would be a political disaster for MPs, who use it as their main source of communication.

Public scrutiny could also be a factor as the perception of the OSB seems to be illiberal and impractical, having no purpose but to waste the time of policymakers and law enforcement whilst undermining certain freedoms.

The OSB is expected to come into force by 2024, with campaigns against it becoming more frequent and intense.

George Soros: An influential figure shaping global politics and philanthropy

Mike Omoniyi
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George Soros: An influential figure shaping global politics and philanthropy

An attack from the Twitter CEO has resulted in increased interest in George Soros’ work and interest.

The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League condemned Elon Musk’s comparison of Soros to Magneto — a Marvel villain who opposes humanity

Elon Musk made a series of attacks on George Soros overnight, tweeting that the Jewish-born investor and liberal philanthropist, who often is subject to virulent antisemitic conspiracy theories, hate humanity and “wants to erode the very fabric of civilization.”

Musk, who has overseen an increase in antisemitism and other hate speech on Twitter since he bought the social media platform last year, did not give a reason for singling out Soros. But he made his comments three days after Soros’s investment fund reported that it had sold all its stock in Tesla, the electric carmaker that Musk also runs.

Who is George Soros?

George Soros, a Hungarian-American billionaire, is a name that resonates in the worlds of finance, philanthropy, and politics. With a complex background and a vast fortune at his disposal, Soros has become one of the most influential individuals of our time. His impact spans continents, as he actively supports causes and organisations that promote human rights, democracy, and social justice. However, Soros’s influence is not without controversy, with critics questioning his motives and political agenda. This article delves into who George Soros is, his philanthropic endeavours, his political activities, and the reasons behind his significant global influence.

Early Life and Success in Finance

George Soros in 1992 JOHN GILES/GETTY IMAGES

Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1930, George Soros survived the Nazi occupation during World War II and eventually emigrated to the United States. He attended the London School of Economics, where he studied philosophy and developed an interest in economics. Soros went on to establish his own hedge fund, Soros Fund Management, which propelled him to great financial success.

Soros gained widespread attention in 1992 when he famously bet against the British pound, earning him over a billion dollars and the nickname “the man who broke the Bank of England.” This achievement cemented his reputation as one of the most successful and influential investors in the world.

Philanthropic Ventures

Soros has dedicated a significant portion of his wealth to philanthropy. Through his Open Society Foundations (OSF), he supports numerous initiatives aimed at promoting democracy, human rights, and social justice worldwide. The OSF operates in over 100 countries and provides funding for organisations and projects that champion civil liberties, education, healthcare, and economic development.

One of Soros’s primary goals is to support democratic transitions and facilitate open societies in countries with repressive regimes. He played a pivotal role in Central and Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, providing financial assistance to promote democratic institutions and civil society organisations in the region.

Critics of Soros often accuse him of using his philanthropic activities to further his own political agenda. Nevertheless, the impact of his contributions cannot be ignored. From funding scholarships for marginalised students to supporting independent media outlets, his foundations have made a substantial difference in promoting human rights and social change.

Financier and philanthropist George Soros and his wife Tamiko Bolton attend the official opening of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC). Getty Images

Political Activities and Controversy

George Soros’s political activities have sparked controversy and fuelled conspiracy theories. He has openly expressed his opposition to populist movements and has funded organisations that advocate for progressive causes and policies. Soros has supported campaigns promoting criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental protection.

His support for political candidates, particularly in the United States, has drawn criticism from those who see his involvement as undue influence. Critics argue that Soros uses his financial resources to manipulate elections and shape political outcomes to align with his personal beliefs.

The controversy surrounding Soros has also fuelled anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Baseless claims and false narratives have circulated, often portraying him as a shadowy figure controlling global events. These conspiracies not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also divert attention from valid criticisms of his political activities.

Soros’s influence extends beyond his financial contributions. He has been actively involved in think tanks and policy organisations, engaging in debates on issues such as economic reform, globalisation, and human rights. His books and articles provide insights into his political philosophy and ideas on how societies can better promote equality and justice.

George Soros’s influence on the world stage is undeniable. Through his philanthropic ventures, he has championed causes that aim to improve the lives of marginalised communities and promote democratic principles. While critics question his motives and political agenda, his contributions have had a tangible impact on human rights, civil liberties, and social justice across the globe.

The police’s handling of the protestors during Coronation was unfair

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt
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The police’s handling of the protestors during Coronation was unfair
  • Head of Republic campaign group calls for inquiry into officers’ conduct after those arrested later released without charge
  • Head of the anti-monarchy group Republic, Graham Smith, is considering legal action against the police
  • The Met announced it had arrested 64 people during the Coronation, including members of women’s safety groups handing out rape alarms
  • Ken Marsh, the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said police acted “without fear or favour”
  • Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in response to the backlash, said, “The police are operationally independent of government, they’ll make these decisions based on what they think is best”
  • The Metropolitan police have defended the arrest of anti-monarchy protesters during the coronation despite announcing that no charges will be brought against them.

A backlash was inevitable

The police’s handling of these protestors was fundamentally wrong. Their arrests represented naive policing at best, and a sign of more sinister things to come at worst.

Irrespective of an individual’s opinions on certain topics and/or political movements, the right to speak and protest must be upheld at all costs. Failure to safeguard these fundamental rights will descend into a slippery slope towards authoritarianism and fascism.

This case does, however, highlight the potential consequences of constantly pushing the boundaries of what constitutes free speech. Even the most open-minded liberal person would concede that political zealotism is not always the appropriate solution to issues.

In the last few years, protestors have become increasingly brazen, performing more outrageous stunts without fear of repercussions.

Anti-monarchist group Graham Smith voices his concerns about future peaceful protests

Examples include glueing themselves to roads (causing traffic for miles), defacing and vandalising public and private properties, stopping newspapers being delivered via van, climbing on top of London Underground carriages and even attempting to stop live air traffic at airports by flying drones into restricted airspace, all under the guise of free speech. This was never going to be sustainable long-term.

In fact, if reports are to be believed, the government received intelligence that certain protestors had ‘planned to disrupt the occasion [King’s Coronation] by creating a stampede of horses and covering the ceremonial procession in paint’.

It is possible, therefore, that police became too heavy-handed and arrested anybody they deemed to be a security risk or who posed a threat to the smooth operation of the day’s events.

This is a key issue with the Public Order Act 2023 (POA) is that it irks many people. It essentially gives the police the power to identify and deem any political movement as ‘disruptive’, which has the potential to be weaponised against certain groups.

Practically, it also makes it harder to distinguish political groups from one another, meaning innocent people can be arrested despite having committed no crime.

Labour MP Clive Lewis voices his concern about the Public Order Act 2023

Former Greater Manchester police chief Sir Peter Fahy gave evidence in Parliament that the new law was “poorly defined and far too broad”.

“This law could affect all sorts of protests in your local community, and this legislation could be used against you, and the police would be under pressure”, he said.

The cruel irony of this case has been laid bare for all to see. When political zealots push the boundaries under the guise of free speech, a resulting backlash will be inevitable, leaving society at large with less rights than they began with.

Like Covid, we have ended up with a medicine that will turn out to be worse than the disease.

What now?

It’s yet to be seen if Graham Smith, of Republic, will take legal action against the police. The Met has since expressed regret for the arrests but Mr Smith has rejected their apology.

The backlash against the police due to the arrests of the protestors is becoming more severe. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana tweeted, “Whatever you think of the monarchy, the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to democracy. This is a chilling violation of that right.”

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