My friend Mike Solomon, who has died aged 52 of cancer, was a clinical psychologist at the Tavistock clinic in London, working with children and young people with social, emotional and mental health problems.He thrived on building relationships and was often to be found having a clinical “session” with young people on a football pitch or at a bus stop. Continue reading…

Allowing decisions to be taken locally gives poorer areas a better chance of prosperityAt the moment “levelling up” is just a slogan, used by government ministers to promote regional growth and devolution in positive, albeit vague, terms. But the government can give it meaning by giving power to people who know what’s best for their towns and cities across England.The UK is both the most regionally divided and the most centralised country in the developed world. Centralisation has meant the Treasury continually stimulates London’s economy with yet more transport investment. But by treating London as the “engine” of the economy, the Treasury actually overlooks the people who call the capital their home – housing costs drive up poverty and inequality in London to the highest levels in the country. Related: Inequality in the north of England is about far more than race | Kenan Malik Continue reading…

Owners of apartments wrapped in dangerous cladding urge PM to release billions in fundingOwners of high-rise apartments wrapped in combustible cladding have demonstrated in Westminster to demand Boris Johnson release billions of pounds to end a national fire safety crisis that continues nearly 1,000 days after the Grenfell Tower disaster.Families with young children, retirees and working couples from tower blocks in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton and Ipswich were among more than 100 residents who travelled to London to rally on Tuesday for an end to their “living nightmare” by announcing a bailout in next month’s budget. Continue reading…

WikiLeaks founder’s lawyers complain of interference after first day of extradition hearingJulian Assange was handcuffed 11 times, stripped naked twice and had his case files confiscated after the first day of his extradition hearing, according to his lawyers, who complained of interference in his ability to take part.Their appeal to the judge overseeing the trial at Woolwich crown court in south-east London was also supported by legal counsel for the US government, who said it was essential the WikiLeaks founder be given a fair trial. Related: Amid the din, Julian Assange struggles to hear case against him Continue reading…

A survivor, featured in a film released in the UK this week, says that, for him, justice is not about sending people to jailNicholas Burton, 52, is a survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire. He and his wife, Pily, were rescued from their 19th-floor flat on 14 June 2017, but she never really recovered and, following a stroke seven months later, became the last of 72 people to die as a result of the disaster.“I’ll fight with everything I’ve got” to get justice for the Grenfell victims, says Burton in a documentary film, Push, about the global housing crisis, released this week in the UK. In it, he talks about being proud to have grown up in North Kensington among a community of all faiths and colours. “But as it became trendy, wealthy people bought up properties as a fantastic investment and the area changed,” he says.There are so many documents showing failings, after failings, after failings, and the arrogance of professionals and what they thought about our community Related: Push review – a whirlwind tour of rocketing rents and personal tragedy Related: Grenfell Tower public inquiry delayed due to witnesses’ demands Continue reading…