There are serious questions about the way the court system treated the women Russell Brand attacked, with the UK’s top cop saying comments at the trial were ‘getting very close to victim blaming’
Voice of the Mirror has its say…
There was much to be sickened by during Russell Brand’s trial.
While the shamed comedian faces years behind bars, there must now be a lot of soul-searching about the way the court system treated the women he attacked.
On Friday Britain’s top cop, Sir Mark Rowley, said reported comments from the trial were “getting very close to victim blaming”.
Brand’s defence lawyer, Ian Winter KC, said none of the women had “resisted, screamed or even tried to leave”.
This plays on long-standing myths about how rape survivors are expected to behave, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales warned.
Claire Waxman says judges must have a legal obligation to dispel outdated and harmful assumptions during rape trials. And she’s right – the fact that for years so many women have not felt confident in coming forward should shame the country.
Allowing perpetrators and their legal teams to rely on discredited theories to secure an acquittal has no place in the modern justice system.
Welfare reform is a fine line
As the government grapples with welfare reforms, there will always be a temptation to resort to performative cruelty.
In the coming weeks two big reviews will help set out what the government intends to do about getting young and disabled people into work.
Done well, it can be empowering and life-affirming, and it is right that Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden is looking at good practice in other countries.
The Danish ‘fleksjob’ system – a state-funded scheme to give work opportunities – is a start. Let’s hope Mr McFadden picked up helpful ideas rather than punishing those who need support.
Weather warning
After the hottest summer on record, Brits now face snow and frost much earlier than usual.
Experts warn sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) could throw us into disarray, in much the same way as the ‘Beast from the East’ did in 2018.
While this would normally happen at the height of winter, we could be weeks away. So it’s best to start preparing now.
