Deborah Coles

Home Office ‘missed opportunities’ to assess asylum seeker who took his own life Leonard Farruku died onboard the Bibby Stockholm in December 2023.

“These harmful policies isolate people from community, support and healthcare, and deny them dignity. Amid racist rhetoric around immigration, we must remember the real human cost.” www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Met plunged into crisis amid fresh claims of misogyny and racism Commissioner Mark Rowley says prejudice has ‘put down deep roots’ within force after BBC Panorama investigation

Racism, misogyny, violence and corruption. Reports, recommendations and promises of change. Policing has proved itself incapable of reform. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Met officers suspended over alleged abuse of suspects and support for Tommy Robinson BBC’s Panorama to broadcast allegations about Charing Cross station after sending evidence to police chiefs

No surprises here then. Racism, misogyny and violence endemic in policing culture, policy and practice. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

A grim week of migrant-bashing, and for what? People will suffer – and Labour will gain absolutely nothing | Diane Taylor British politicians’ rhetoric has become increasingly shouty and hateful. And now the home secretary has joined the chorus, says writer Diane Taylor

“The mismatch between the realities of asylum seekers’ lives and the increasingly hateful rhetoric of shouty politicians, amplified by large sections of the media and social media, has never been greater.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Strong MP turnout for @ianbyrnemp.bsky.social Westminster Hall debate on Hillsborough Law. The Govt must enact a full Hillsborough Law - with a legal duty of candour and equality of arms. It’s not a technicality - it’s a moral imperative.

Watch the full debate www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

this is why they proscribed PA isn’t it

Girl left unwatched by agency worker at psychiatric unit was unlawfully killed, inquest finds Jury finds failings of worker before Ruth Szymankiewicz, 14, took own life amount to gross negligence manslaughter

“It would be easy to be distracted by the failings of one individual. However shocking that conduct might have been, it is paramount that the other wider and more important issues are acknowledged and addressed”. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Chair of Sheku Bayoh inquiry refuses to step down Lord Bracadale has ruled out stepping down after the Scottish Police Federation questioned his impartiality.

Despite the best efforts of the Scottish police federation they fail in their attempts to derail the Inquiry. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Killing of young siblings at Gaza water point shows seeking life’s essentials now a deadly peril Karam al-Ghussain, 9, and Lulu, 10, were fetching water from a nearby distribution station when an Israeli strike hit it, and them

“They have the most advanced technology and know exactly where the missile will fall and who the target is. How could this be a mistake? A ‘mistake’ that killed both of my children!” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Here’s some Indigenous truth-telling: structural police racism had a hand in the death of Kumanjayi Walker | Lorena Allam After the inquest into the Aboriginal teenager’s death, the coroner found constable Zachary Rolfe operated in a system that failed on a number of occasions to ‘rein him in’

“If we are starting to talk about truth telling, here is the truth from where we stand: police racism was a factor in the death of Kumanjayi Walker – not just the racism of an individual officer but the structural racism of the force itself.“ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Sean Brown, father of six and GAA official, was murdered in 1997.

MI5 and the MoD are still refusing to release the files. 28 years on - still no public inquiry.

The ad van has been circling key London sites all week. Day four of five - filmed today at Downing Street. @finucanecentre.bsky.social

Great meeting in Parliament today on the ongoing need for a National Oversight Mechanism.

We urgently need government to set up a new independent body to ensure real change following inquests and public inquiries.

#NoMoreDeaths

Twelve days in Gaza: what happened while the world looked away? One of the consequences of Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran was a drop-off in attention to the war in Gaza, where a terrible humanitarian situation deteriorated even further. This is a timeline of w...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Palestine Action is part of Britain's proud history of protest. Proscribing it is an assault on democracy | Suresh Grover Through decades of anti-racist campaigning, I have seen that peaceful, direct action can be the only way to get results, says campaigner Suresh Grover

“The actions used by Palestine Action are not new. They follow a tradition of protest that has been instrumental to civil rights movements throughout history. Indeed, these actions have shaped modern Britain and enriched democratic participation globally”. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I would like to thank the 166 fellow parliamentarians who have supported my letter today calling on the PM to deliver ‘The Hillsborough Law’ as he promised in the 2022 & 2024 Liverpool party conferences.

A watered-down replacement will not be accepted nor befitting to be called ‘Hillsborough Law'.

PM told 'do not betray Hillsborough families' in powerful letter Exclusive: A huge number of Parliamentarians from different party have banded together to tell the government not to replace promised Hillsborough Law with 'toothless' replacement

“The legislation is ready to go. It’s just a question of political will. If the Prime Minister doesn’t enact the Hillsborough Law in full, it will be seen as another betrayal of Hillsborough families, survivors and victims of other state cover-ups.” www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Starmer’s PIP disability cuts could see claimants lose £10,000 a year, MPs warn More than 100 Labour MPs could vote against Sir Keir Starmer’s welfare cuts

“The evidence is clear: these cuts will deepen inequality and force people further into crisis. We urge the government to listen to those most affected and change course immediately.” www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Liverpool Labour MPs Grow Restless Over Hillsborough Law Delay The government faces a growing backlash among Labour MPs over the continued delay to the Hillsborough Law.

“There are vested interests in this country within state institutions who don't want that cultural change, and that's what we're coming up against.” www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Liverpool Labour MPs Grow Restless Over Hillsborough Law Delay The government faces a growing backlash among Labour MPs over the continued delay to the Hillsborough Law.

“There are vested interests in this country within state institutions who don't want that cultural change, and that's what we're coming up against.” #hillsboroughlawnow www.politicshome.com/news/article...

“Reem’s death was a tragedy foretold; her children’s loss a grief that could have been prevented.”
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

Police actions worsened medical crisis that led to black man’s death, inquest finds Godrick Osei had acute behavioural disturbance when police dragged him across a bathroom floor by his collar

“Godrick’s death highlights a deeply embedded culture within policing: one that defaults to violence rather than compassion.” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Death of autistic care leaver two weeks after 18th birthday highlights catastrophic failure of corporate parenting Lack of information sharing between multiple agencies contributed to tragedy, coroner finds

“It is vital that when care leavers die while still effectively in the care of the state, there is proper scrutiny to prevent future deaths.

The fact it took two NGOs to secure this level of scrutiny reflects a system that too often sees these deaths as inevitable."

- @debcoles13.bsky.social

5 years on from the police killing of George Floyd, police and state killings remain a serious global issue. Anti racist solidarity and resistance vital in face of increasing authoritarianism.

‘It’s a scandal’: Prisoners on IPP jail terms excluded from recall release scheme Exclusive: Seven in ten recalled IPP prisoners have committed no further crime but are held for more than two years on average. Releasing them would free up a prison, but they have been left out of th...

“This is not only inhumane and unjust, it's morally wrong and a waste of taxpayers’ money”. bsky.app/profile/ungr... www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...

YouTube video by Peeps 'Island of strangers?': Michael Rosen performs new poem for SIr Keir Starmer

This says it all from the wonderful @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social youtu.be/ih0Wdvc296c?...

Housing Committee calls for independent national oversight mechanism to ensure Grenfell inquiry recommendations are implemented - Committees - UK Parliament The Government should introduce an independent national oversight mechanism and not be‘left marking its own homework’ when implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, s...

We are pleased to see the Housing, Communities & Local Govt. Committee call for an independent National Oversight Mechanism to ensure Grenfell inquiry recommendations are fully implemented and that ‘the Government is held to account... and is not left marking its own homework.'

➡️ bit.ly/456FfuD

Lovely to read about your Granddad, sounds a very special man. X

New Study Reveals Record Numbers are Dying in Scottish Prisons - SCCJR A major new research study has found the number of people dying in prison has surged to a record number […]

Important new research on deaths in custody and detention in Scotland. Fundamental concerns about investigations, learning & accountability and lack of support for bereaved people. @thesccjr.bsky.social.
://www.sccjr.ac.uk/news_item/new-study-reveals-record-numbers-are-dying-in-scottish-prisons/

Stun guns won’t bring an end to violence in prisons | Letters Letters: Readers respond to an article by former prison officer Alex South, in which she says the weapons might keep staff and inmates safe

Claiming stun guns will make prisons safer is perverse. A debate about violence and safety must include state violence against prisoners and the shocking death rate in prisons, up to 399 deaths in the year to March 2025, an increase of 37%. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

…we must demand the government address the root causes of harm by diverting investment from prisons and punishment to community services. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/self...