The Founder September 2022

Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, dies aged 96

ROBYN

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, died on 8th September aged 96, ending the second Elizabethan era. The late monarch died at Balmoral, two days after carrying out her final constitutional duty of appointing Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister, the 15th during her reign. In an address to the nation, the prime minister spoke of the Queen’s “dignity and grace”, along with “a life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories”.

The late Queen’s death means that her eldest son is officially proclaimed as King Charles III, with his wife Camilla becoming Queen Consort. Prince William and his wife Catherine, formally The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, now have the titles of the Prince and Princess of Wales, previously held by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Tributes have been seen both in the United Kingdom, with countless flowers laid outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and St James Park, and across the world, with global monuments such as the Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, and the Brandenburg Gate honouring the late monarch.

New prime minister Liz Truss rules out windfall tax on energy companies

ROBYN SPINK | NEWS EDITOR

Newly appointed prime minister Liz Truss outlined her energy plan in her first Prime Minister’s Questions to tackle rising energy bills. Truss confirmed that from 1st October, household energy bills will be capped at no more than £2,500 for two years. However, critics, including leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer, have raised concerns as to how this will be funded, drawing criticism towards her rejection of an extended windfall tax.

A windfall tax policy was assumed under Boris Johnson’s government in May, which was acknowledged as a 25% Energy Profits Levy. A further windfall tax would be a one-off levy on the energy sector which has benefited from something that they are not responsible for, which in this case is the conflict in Ukraine and the pandemic. However, concerns of a windfall tax have been voiced by politicians, including that there could be consequences for future UK investments, and that it could impact money paid to pensioners by certain pension funds which benefit from energy companies’ profits.

As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent supply concerns, coupled with the impacts of the pandemic, oil and gas companies are experiencing near-record profits due to soaring prices. In addition to this, energy firms, including Shell and BP, have paid nearly no tax in the UK after reducing

no tax in the UK after reducing the amount of tax they pay by decommissioning North Sea oil platforms.

With the prime minister’s energy plan estimated to cost up to £150bn, due to a dismissal of an extended windfall tax, Sir Keir Starmer has argued that ‘the bill will be picked up by working people’. In addition, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey has accused the government of “refusing to properly tax the eye-watering profits of oil and gas companies”.

Pakistan’s deadly floods: bearing the brunt of the climate emergency

NEVE WATSON | CONTENT WRITER

During the course of the summer Pakistan has been exposed to some of the most extreme flooding ever recorded.

The Founder Board

2022 - 2023

Editor in Chief/Deputy Editor

Ali Krausova/Chloe Boulton

Managing Editor

Devesh Sood

Publishing & Creative Designer

Ali Krausova

News Editor

Robyn Spink news@thefounder.co.uk

Features Editor

Daniel Pepin features@thefounder.co.uk

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Joel Davies opinion@thefounder.co.uk

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Molly Ainley lifestyle@thefounder.co.uk

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Iman Ahmed sportseditor@thefounder.co.uk

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Tabitha Turner illustrator@thefounder.co.uk

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Lily Birch arts@thefounder.co.uk

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Viktoria Praczko literaryreview@thefounder.co.uk

Music Editor

Anna Armelin music@thefounder.co.uk

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Jethro Robathan film@thefounder.co.uk

The Founder is the independent student newspaper of Royal Holloway, University of London. This means we are not affiliated to the student union or the college. We pride ourselves on our investigative journalism and aim to keep our readers up to date with news on and off campus. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Editor, particularly of opinion and debate pieces. Every effort has been made to contact the holders of copyright for any material used in this issue, and to ensure the accuracy of its stories.

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Source: BBC News

Between June and September of this year, the country has received nearly 200% more rain than its average. Such unaccustomed monsoon conditions, combined with higher levels of glacial melt following the heat wave earlier in the year, point undeniably to climate change as a cause of such extreme conditions.

Over a third of the country is now submerged beneath water, an area larger than the United Kingdom. Widespread death, injury and displacement has overwhelmed response efforts, and authorities are struggling to reach those in need as vital infrastructure has been damaged by the force of the water. Food production provinces responsible for providing the countries food have experienced unreversible crop damage. The humanitarian crisis has left the future of Pakistan looking bleak, with a high likelihood of thousands being pushed below the poverty line. The government Is currently reaching out for international aid in the form of assistance rather than loans as to not further weaken the financial situation.

This unpresented climate disaster has put to the forefront questions of climate accountability and responsibility, as Pakistan provides an indisputable example of climate inequality. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The country is among numerous poorer nations with small carbon footprints urging superpowers to pay for the damage caused by decades of pollution. There are currently few international funds for climatically vulnerable lowincome countries, as the global North continue to oppose appeals for financial funds to aid poorer countries face the climate emergency. Unmet

targets for the highest polluting countries to reduce emissions, means countries like Pakistan continue to bear the burden of our increasingly extreme climate, with negligeable resources and capacity to respond.

Editor’s note

ALI KRAUSOVA | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Student media are not only important for future prospects, but they also make it distinctly clear how exactly is university meant to shape you. As we move on to another academic year, there is now even a bigger meaning behind free speech, and with that comes balance, I am willing to push further.

The Founder will continue to voice students’ opinions but will also continue to include a whole range of them. The aim of university education is to make you stand before a variety of perspectives and help you construct your own. This is what remains under a constant threat, which is why I value and rely on The Founder and its good intention. I have particularly enjoyed the Opinion and Debate section because it always sparks a good discussion. At the end of the day, if you would not tell your friends about it in a pub, why should be something worth reading about in the first place?

We have been recently awarded the Most Outstanding Independent Newspaper Website by Greater London Enterprise. As the new Editor in Chief, I am happy to say we have been working hard over the summer to get back in print too.

I would like to thank the new editorial team which I have constructed from our previous talented content writers, and to all the new ones. I would also like to thank Abra Heritage, our 2021/22 Editor in Chief, who took me aside and chose me to follow her steps.

If you’d like to write for The Founder, or have any questions regarding pitching or publication, please contact Ali on editor@thefounder.co.uk

The social democrat duality

MAYA SINGHARAY | CONTENT WRITER

Sweden’s welfare system is globally renowned for high levels of education, low unemployment rates and gender equality. However, it has become the gun capital of Europe, with over 321 shootings and 46 gun-related homicides in 2021 alone. The prevalence of armed violence is a product of the illicit drug trade, highly lucrative, was valued at 6.9 billion SEK - approximately £5.6 billion, between 2015-2019.

The suburbs of the major Swedish cities have been historically neglected, compared to the bustling centres, however, today the disparity is drastic due to the refugee crisis crippling the welfare system. Perpetrators and victims alike are predominantly young men of Swedish or immigrant background who are active gang members - mostly under the age of 25, with few bystander causalities.

Sweden has accepted the mo st compared to the rest of Europe. The OEDC estimates 19 percent of the 9.8 million Swedes are foreign born. Furthermore, migrants settled in these suburbs and have not been integrated into Swedish society. One third of migrants cannot speak Swedish and thus remain isolated from the work force, this naturally leading youths to join gangs as a means to generate income, which has transformed suburbs into violent ghettos. With the situation worsening, this correlation between immigration and crime has been politicised by the rightwing parties, like the Swedish Democrats, to push anti-immigration agenda in light of upcoming general elections. For the first time in more than 100 years, the Social Democrats look like they might lose their parliamentary majority which could mean the end of the Welfare State.

Last year, award-winning Swedish rapper, Nils Grönberg, formerly known as ‘Einár’, 19, was one of many young men to lose their lives on the streets of Stockholm to a gang-related shooting.

Source: United States Institute of Peace

Features

Inflation: a dark era for students

ALEXIA VOICU | CONTENT WRITER

Students are facing new challenges as living costs in the UK have surged dramatically. According to Save the Student’s annual accommodation survey, 40 percent of students are staying in private, off-campus accommodation. This means that nearly half of the student body will pay more for heating bills and other utilities, such as internet. Broadband prices may rise more than 25 percent, an increasing concern for students who must purchase their own wi-fi router. The average rent per week rose from £146 to £148, which at first glance looks insignificant. However, it is estimated that students will pay roughly £87 more per year for rent. The consequences are catastrophic, with up to five percent of students being evicted due to unpaid rent (compared to only one percent last year), as provided by the survey.

Source: Wikimedia

The number of students living with their parents grew by three percent. This could lead to more students commuting long distances to get to university, which would take from their study time and therefore have a negative effect on their overall academic performance. People living in facilities across the campus are also impacted by rising accommodation and food costs, with students taking on several jobs and even visiting food banks in order to sustain themselves. Students are trying to find multiple means of income as maintenance loans are not covering the majority of expenses. It is of upmost concern that a large number of students complained that they sacrifice a sizeable amount of their study time to sustain themselves at university. Around 62 percent of students reported having health and mental health issues due to the constant stress they face to afford basic necessities such as accommodation and food. In extreme cases, the severe strain and pressure students deal with to manage their expenses and study life concomitantly plus the inability to pay for their necessities could lead to dropping out of university or taking gap years.

A substantial part of university students are, unfortunately, not financially savvy enough to manage their expenses in an efficient, calculated, and organised manner. Financial illiteracy and surging costs could prove to be a fatal combination and could result in an increase in debt rate amongst students. In desperate efforts to save money, students could also potentially cut off from their leisure expenses, such as eating out, socialising, travel, shopping, holidays, and events, as cited in the survey. Though, this will definitely take out from the beauty and diversity of student experience, leaving students in huge debt, with regrets and a bitter taste at the end of their studies

Vaping, the puzzling new smoking

ALI KRAUSOVA | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Smoking is my thing. I never had any intention of stopping until about two months ago when I got the oddest feeling that something bad is going to happen to me. I messaged my friend in panic, “I am freaking out for no reason”, I said.

I never thought too much about what could happen to me, even after people will have a drink with me for the first time and then ask our mutual friends: ‘does Ali always smoke this much?’.

But I felt off and then I realised that you possibly could romanticise dying in your 20s, but you could not romanticise having a stroke and then worrying for the rest of your life. Three weeks later my dad had a heart attack. Smoking was also his thing.

Somewhere between the “save your life” from a random man at a BP station queuing behind me, my dad’s heart attack and my boyfriend getting angry for smoking at his flat, I have finally given up. Now I am a devoted vaper.

I had never vaped before. I thought it looked silly the way people wake up with a vape in their hand every morning. Now, I am convinced that surely it is so much better than smoking cigarettes, the way I did anyway. But is it really?

The lack of research behind vaping is shocking. The excuse being it is a relatively new thing but when it comes to all the basic questions we ask about smoking cigarettes, there are no answers. If I am on birth control, will it kill me faster? Will my lungs explode because I am uncontrollably puffing on a cloud of crème brulee? And what about cellulite? My teeth might be whiter but do not try to make me outrun you.

Still, somehow it is reassuring we do not know the answers. Vaping has helped many to kick the habit. It has also attracted young children and worsened the environmental crisis. If you want to quit smoking, you may need to choose what your main motivation kick is. For me, it is to honour my dad and never touch cigarettes again. Even if that means I solely rely on not knowing much yet. When all gets discovered, a new vice device might already be introduced. Then the questions start again until it all gets banned by the government. Do not be like me and beg your non-smoker friends for sympathy. Foremost, never start at all.

The Good, the Bad, the Student away from home

ALICIA PRYOR | CONTENT WRITER

Rising from the ashes of American AP and SATs, I was excited to finally live with a sense of independence and freedom. I imagined that I would immediately find my crowd, distract myself from the dread of being thousands of miles away from what I used to know and love. I imagined wrong. Whilst the drinking and partying were some consolations; COVID rampaging through the country and a bone chilling cold I was severely unprepared for made clear my naiveté. The longawaited dream of being an ‘adult’ was replaced by a perpetual misery and loneliness. I slowly discovered that I even hated my nights out, bobbing around in a sea of sweaty freshers, to the beat of tasteless music. I envied my friends only being a train ride away from home. My first Christmas away from the concrete jungle was especially hard as my friends went home to their families. Hong Kong was a bit of a hypochondriac you see; quarantine restrictions meant that I was at the accommodation all by myself. As if I did not have enough lemons already, I had the privilege of becoming a national statistic, catching COVID. In a foreign country. Alone. At the peak of winter. I began to

at the accommodation all by myself. As if I did not have enough lemons already, I had the privilege of becoming a national statistic, catching COVID. In a foreign country. Alone. At the peak of winter. I began to dissociate, staying in my room day-in-day-out, and developed a few bad habits to top it all off. In a moment of cruel irony, I wished more than anything to be back home— where it was cosy and warm… and eating food seasoned with more than salt and pepper. It was only after I started a pub job and fell into a routine that I, keeping with the metaphor, realised I was making lemonade.

I am sure that for most students, their first year is also their first time away from home. I am also sure that my experiences were by no means unique, hopefully resonating with you, whether you’re in a rut now or in the past. What’s the point of this? Are you saying all I need is a routine or to work for minimum wage? Well, my dear reader, the point is to make lemonade. Meet people, do things you wouldn’t normally do, join societies, get a job, see friends regularly. Generic advise I

know, but there’s a hidden silver lining with everything. Though completely different to how I first imagined, I have learnt to embrace this discomfort and uncertainty, and enjoy the little moments.

I leave you my favourite quote from my least favourite character from The Office, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them”. -

Source: First flight to the UK for university by Alicia Pryor

No butts about it, heroin chic is on a dangerous comeback

KATHERINA HOI | CONTENT WRITER

Whether one likes her or not, Kim Kardashian dominates the public cultural conscience. She is an irreplaceable indicator for possible trends. In the 2010s, the Kardashians championed the ‘curvy’ look with their surgical Brazilian butt lifts but this year many have noticed the removal of their ‘BBLs’. The Kardashian sisters are not the only one’s prioritising weight loss and ‘getting fit.’ Since the pandemic, a cultural catalyst and reset, many TikTok users have been reporting and showing off their weight loss and fitness journeys due to trends like ‘Chloe Ting Challenge.’ Now in 2022, Kim Kardashian is sharing her extreme weight loss tips to anyone who will listen, and it is obvious that thinness is back in. As is its dangerous romanticisation.

Beauty ideals for women’s bodies adhere to a cyclical trend. The 1960s and 1970s saw the thin boyish frame popularised by stars like Twiggy while the 1980s had Cindy Crawford. In the 1990s, the ideal was similar to Crawford with itgirl Kate Moss heading the ‘Heroin Chic’ look. In the 2000s, Paris Hilton and lowrise jeans dominated the media. In the 2010s, the ‘Tumblr Girl’ emerged. For those uninitiated, the Tumblr Girl was more of an aesthetic movement than person. Its emphasis was on grungy moody colours, smoking, Arctic Monkeys vinyl and American Apparel advertisements. As Isabelle Truman, Dazed Digital, wrote: ‘with the prevalence of pro-ana (pro-anorexia) content, and the glamorisation of depression and drugs, in many ways the Tumblr girl was just heroin

chic repackaged for teens’. It was the first generation of online ‘pro-ana’ online content that promotes disordered eating activities. This subculture would slink back to obscurity in the years after the Tumblr Girl, but since the pandemic, it is now seemingly impossible to avoid.

starvation, she still is. Our culture stands, yet again, on the precipice of a dangerous trend.

According to Harriet Parsons, Bodywhys, The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, there has been a 110 percent increase in users of online Eating Disorder forums, like MyProAna.

Is this shocking? Not really. After the body positivity movement, the (unfortunate) logical turn in the trend cycle is the return of ‘Tumblr Girl’ and Heroin Chic. It is counterculture to the previous ideal. The idolization of Y2K and ‘wellness’ culture and the glamour that is associated with it has become boring. Too mainstream. The ‘Tumblr Girl’ and Heroin Chic takes generational collected trauma and puts it on display, stating actually ‘I am not well or feeling glamorous at all.’

And this may just be the classic teenage conundrum; working against the grain, edginess to spite The Man, to wear sadness and chaos as an accessory. But it also means that the older generation, who have seen these body trends, have failed those teens. They have seen the repercussions from such aesthetic movements because thinness is not the political stance it can appear to be. Kim Kardashian is not the cause, but she is a catalyst. She draws the everwatchful media’s attention to her extreme diets and while she may not purposefully be promoting her own brand of

The 2022 heatwave and what this means for climate change

LAURA BLOOMFIELD | CONTENT WRITER

Throughout the summer of 2022, the UK experienced three heatwaves. Their severity caused the UK to see recordhigh temperatures on July 19th, with 40°C being exceeded for the first time. Due to the high temperatures, a drought was declared in multiple areas, such as the West Midlands on August 23rd. The droughts were also caused by the lack of rainfall. The Met Office reported that the period between January and June 2022 had the lowest rainfall since 1976. Overall, 2022 has tied with 2018 for having the hottest summer with June, July and August 2022 having an average temperature of 17.1°C. The heatwave was an effect of climate change. This can be seen in the Met Office’s statistics that the UK’s top ten hottest years have all been since 2002, showing how Earth is warming up. Some have mentioned the 1976 heatwave as proof that these consecutive heatwaves are not an issue. However, the 1976

heatwave is very different to the current ones. The 1976 heatwave was a rarity, which explains why people remember it vividly. Whereas now, heatwaves are becoming more common. Additionally, the Met Office stated that the 2022 heatwave was made ten times more likely by climate change.

During the heatwave, weatherforecasters and meteorologists received abuse from some viewers, predominately accusations of fearmongering. BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor said that covering the heatwave was ‘really emotional’ and that ‘our climate has changed, so our reporting and response also has to change. All we're trying to do is bring people the facts.’ This abuse demonstrates that not everyone is accepting of the reality of climate change, which may affect how it gets resolved.

The effects of the heatwave were not seen only in the UK, but across Europe, North Africa, and Asia. More than half of Portugal was on red alert for wildfires. In Tunisia, a heatwave and fires have damaged the country’s grain crop and the capital city, Tunis, had recordbreaking temperatures of 48°C on July 13th. Also, in China, there has been three heatwaves which have affected infrastructure such as the heat melting tar and damaging roof tiles.

Source: Instagram.com/kimkardashian

Source: Visible effects of heatwave in Oxford, Laura Bloomfield

The cost of royal living crisis

DANIEL PEPIN | FEATURES EDITOR

The death of Queen Elizabeth II is, unequivocally, a momentous mark in history. Our nation has maintained a certainty for the past seventy years and now we face a chasm – life without our queen. The queen who has seen Great Britain and the Commonwealth through decades of hardship with her trademark stoicism and won the undying loyalty of millions in the process. Certainly, there is no doubt of the queen’s character nor her popularity however there is the matter of the institution that, until recently, she represented: the monarchy. An institution that is remarkably familiar with scandal, mistrust, and hatred. The mere mention of Charles II conjures up Oliver Cromwell, a people’s rebellion, a lack of Christmas, and yes, Horrible Histories. Of course, the Queen served as an auto-mechanic in World War Two and tried to guide Britain out of its imperial age, yet she still owns stolen colonial jewels (notably the Koh-i-Noor diamond which shall be worn by the Queen Consort during Charles III’s coronation). Diana was the people’s princess, but her brother was the noble ninth earl Spencer. King Charles III’s The Prince’s Trust has proved invaluable for vulnerable young people however his brother, Andrew, has numerous sexual assault allegations against him. It is a tug of war. Something that does and will continue to divide the nation.

Very often at the forefront of this debate is the topic of cost. The Royals cost taxpayers an excessive amount. £86.3 million’s worth, according to a Bloomberg report. Taxpayer money that given to the royal family in order to repair their palaces, pay their staff, and fund the sovereign. A sovereign that is not voted in by the people, or necessarily wanted, but a power that seems above all powers and an entity that one must accept as fact, pay their tribute, and move along – muttering into their sleeves. Granted, some of this money shall be allocated to matters in the Britain’s interests but it cannot be ignored that the people do pay for the monarchy’s lives in part – whether they would like to or not. Some subjects are content with this arrangement: famously, a platinum jubilee camper announces she would happily pay double taxes for her queen. But others believe it to be a waste of hard-earned money and wish that their tax money would fund something more practical and less traditional. Keeping the monarchy in the green is an astronomical yearly price tag but how about the cost of a royal funeral? For Britain’s longest reigning monarch. In 2002, the Queen Mother’s funeral came to a £5.4 million bill while Diana’s, in 1997, cost the country £11.8 million – these women, deserving as they are of respect, pale in comparison to the late queen and the funeral cost will match. Despite Buckingham Palace’s reassurances that the funeral will not be entirely tax funded it will still be eye-watering. In the midst of an economic crisis, the unfortunate timing of the funeral will only breed contempt for a corrupted institution but not its figurehead. Her late majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, shall, undoubtedly, remain as popular as ever.

Source: Geograph

DEBATE

The plight of afghan women

HANA NABIZADA | CONTENT WRITER

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the world has seen restrictive policies imposed that detrimentally affect Afghan women. From the banning of girls attending secondary school to the normalisation and justification of violence against women in the most horrific forms, it is no wonder that Afghanistan is facing the worst human rights crisis against women in the world today.

Unsurprisingly, the Taliban have backed out of their promise made to the international community and Afghanistan that women would be able to exercise their rights in alignment with Sharia law. Such basic rights would include financial and legal rights, ability to work and education to name a few. However, the Taliban have removed these in favour of a much more extreme interpretation of Sharia law. This has led to misogynistic and outright violent policies that heavily restrict the attainment rights of Afghan women or completely remove them. Examples we have seen are the banning of travelling without a male chaperone, mandatory face coverings, denying political participation and the dismantling of systems put up to protect women such as refuge centres. Domestic violence is almost never dealt with when alerting authorities as it is a ‘family matter’, and society and the law commonly favours the man. The punishment for fleeing an abusive relationship is certainly met with more violence and in many cases, mutilation, and death. One only needs to look to Bibi Aisha or search #JusticeForElaha on Twitter as

examples of these atrocities.

This systemic genderbased violence against women has led to their erasure in society and public life. Even worse, the lack of accountability and outrage by the international community has reduced Afghan women and Afghanistan’s human rights crisis to a mere statistic. The collective failure of Western countries has enabled Afghanistan to continue existing under this repressive state, and not much is being done to help. An example of UK’s failure to help Afghan women and families is evident in their flawed Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy scheme and their Afghan Citizens Relocation scheme, both of which are dedicated to relocating Afghan nationals to the UK. The ARAP scheme has been criticised as being too restrictive in eligibility and the proceedings being subject to immense delay. Between the beginning of April 2022 to June 13th 2022, decisions were made on only two out of 3,226 applications received. It appears that a peaceful life is not a right but a luxury to Afghans, be it in their home country or abroad.

What, then, can be done to hold the Taliban accountable and have their policies removed?

Pressuring governments to extend the travel ban against the Taliban that expired on August 19th is a start, as is calling on feminist countries, such as France and Sweden, to advocate further for the rights of Afghan women. Though it seems counter-intuitive to have to rely on governments that enabled the Taliban to rise and stay in power, it appears to be one of the only few solutions in an extremely bleak situation. Extreme media censorship, arbitrary arrests and torture, a crippling economy and limited access to basic utilities and rights have made it difficult for Afghan citizens to mobilise successfully against the Taliban.

Besides educating oneself, raising awareness, and pressuring governments to make some positive change, there is little else we can do other than hold out on hope.

Why a Lib-Lab pact is essential to defeating the Tories

THOMAS MCLINDEN | CONTENT WRITER

Source: Afghan women wait in line for money distribution by the World Food Program on November 3rd 2021. Bram Janssen 2021.

A

fter 12 years of Conservative-led government, Britain finds itself with the fourth successive Tory leader. Calls for a General Election have followed Liz Truss through the door of Number 10, with opposition parties wishing to cash in on the current predictions of pollsters. The current outlook in the polls spells a bleak image for the Tories, with Labour expected to replace the Conservatives as the party of Government. It should come as no surprise that the Tories face a dire outcome in the polls, with rampant surges in energy costs and the fallout from ‘party-gate’ being to blame.

The polls however, despite a favourable outlook for Labour, do not confirm a rout of the Conservatives, with Labour only expected to achieve a slim majority. To shore up Labour’s electoral prospects, Keir Starmer should be reaching out to the Liberal Democrats. An agreement between the two parties would make sense for all involved. It would lock the Conservatives out of Number 10 and would help Labour into Downing Street, whilst seeing the Liberal Democrats increase their number of seats in the House of Commons, gaining larger influence over any coalition policy.

There are two scenarios in which the Liberal Democrats could help usher Starmer into Downing Street. The first sees an informal coalition between the two parties. This would see both parties’ step aside for one another in marginal seats. This would increase the anti-Conservative vote share in seats that are crucial to any election victory for this proposed progressive alliance. The second scenario would occur should Labour fall short of any majority needed. This would see the Liberal Democrats and Labour come together to join a formal coalition. However, the first scenario is much the wiser for Labour’s electoral chances and should be utilised by Starmer’s team.

It is simple, Labour should not invest too much in wishing for an election victory outright. Instead, they should do whatever it takes to gain the keys to Downing Street. Failure to capitalise on current leads in the polls would see a fifth successive election defeat for Labour.

A partnership between Labour and the Liberal Democrats would not be anything new. Previous deals have been struck between the parties before. The most notable came in 1997, with Tony Blair and Paddy Ashdown working together with their parties to defeat the Tories. The workings of a Lib-Lab pact

have been seen in recent byelections. It was announced by Ed Davey that a focus would be placed on the Honiton and Tiverton constituency, letting Labour focus on winning Wakefield.

ToriesDespite the obvious benefits to an agreement between both parties, there is of course to be expected, negative press directed towards such an agreement. Could we perhaps see a return to the rhetoric which labelled a rumoured coalition of progressive parties in 2015 a ‘coalition of chaos’. Regardless of any attempts to smear a coalition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, the potential benefits electorally outweigh the criticism aimed by the Conservatives.

Can we Truss(t) in Truss?

OLIVIA SCATTERGOOD | CONTENT WRITER

They say an ill wind blows no good, and Liz Truss has newly blown into Number 10 on the back of a storm (quite literally). Unfortunately for her it is nothing compared to the potential storms she must face. These include the crumbling NHS, cost of living crisis, and the fuel crisis, not to mention the shadow of Vladimir Putin’s war. So, with just a majority of 20,927 votes to call her own, how will the newly appointed Prime Minister approach these issues and what does that mean for us? More importantly, does she care?

The warning signs may be held within her choice of cabinet members, who will have to weather the storms with her. James Cleverly - an old Boris Johnson ally - as Foreign Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor - a long-time ally of Truss in every sense, as well as Suella Braverman as Home Secretary, who seems like she will be more hard-line on immigration than her predecessor,

Priti Patel. It is expected that she will disregard the European Convention of Human Rights (which had previously prevented the deportation flights to Rwanda) and execute the plans laid out by Patel. This could be the start of a slippery slope, setting a precedent for the gradual dismantling of other EU legislation such as the 2010 Equality Act and many worker’s rights.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has also been named as Business Secretary with the responsibility of energy and industrial policy, and with his track record of climate denialism and Euroscepticism, he would likely be at the front of any queue to remove any EU legislation from the statute books. Kit Malthouse has been given the role of Education Secretary, which makes him the fourth one to be assigned in just over two months. As a temporary coordinator for

the response of the heatwaves in July 2022, while Johnson was on holiday, he made the decision to tell schools to remain open which sounds like a great plan when we remember that most school buildings were built in the 1970s, using huge expanses of glass with no AC, creating a health and safety hazard for already stressed teachers to manage.

During her campaign, Truss has made numerous promises, including plans to amend procedures for the Oxbridge application process, ‘so students who get top grades in their A-levels would be automatically invited to apply’. Instead of feeding into the elitist narrative that the only degree worth having is from Oxbridge, Truss should be encouraging UK businesses to assess graduates on their merits rather than the university that they attended.

It may be too early to forecast but Liz Truss and her cabinet

look set to take us back to the 1970s, putting us on the brink of another winter of discontent and facing weakened rights for all. Trussism is shaping up to mean more for the haves, less for the have-nots, but we shall see.

Source: The Telegraph Caption: Starmer and Davey: Architects of a New Progressive Alliance?

Source: PA Media

Social anxiety at university: a brief survival guide

NAJYAH RAHMAN | CONTENT WRITER

Meeting new people is practically unavoidable in any year of university. Some people may view events such as Freshers week, as great opportunities to do just that. For others however, it can be a lot more difficult to participate due to anxiety. The NHS defines social anxiety as ‘an overwhelming fear of social situations’ including meeting or speaking to people. A student with social anxiety might avoid taking part in societies or sports clubs, speaking to course tutors when they need help, even feel uncomfortable in shared accommodations. It is a problem affecting everyday life, but thankfully there are many ways to cope. Here are a few to keep in mind:

Practice relaxation techniques

Breathing and muscle relaxation exercises are sorely overlooked methods, and these two examples are especially helpful in relieving panic. If you can, write down your thoughts which is an effective technique to get quite literally something off your mind.

Longer term methods to reduce stress are beneficial for regulating emotion. Do regular physical activity to release those feel-good endorphins. Many people also find yoga or meditation great habits to pick up.

Challenge negative thoughts

Anxiety brings on a stream of negative self-talk that is often unhelpful and false. The first step to tackle these thoughts are being aware of them; Notice not only what you think, but when you think them - could there be any triggers? Once you cultivate self-awareness the next step is to confront them. Look for evidence, are the thoughts fact or fiction? What is the real likelihood of the nasty situation you have created in your head? Lastly remember to practice self-love and gratitude.

Phone a friend

A friend can help in many ways. Tell someone that you trust and feel safe with. If you are having a panic attack, is there someone you can speak to or call? If you are going out with a group of friends, is there someone you feel completely safe with when you experience anxiety?

Alternatively, the Royal Holloway wellbeing advisers are always available through email or daily virtual drop-in sessions.

Rest and recharge

Enjoy your alone time. Today, we can we see what anyone is doing at any time - with social anxiety, it is so easy to feel guilty when you choose to spend time alone. In reality, being in social settings constantly can be draining. Schedule regular alone time, to recharge that social battery. Read a book, listen to new

music, watch a movie, try some skincare, anything that makes you feel happy and relaxed.

Whatever happens this year, enjoy it as much as you can. University is the perfect place to build your confidence around people, and the people you meet might be your friends for life. Take care of yourself.

The reality of university: lifestyle change

Ibelieve nobody can ever prepare for the changes you will experience during university. There are obvious ones but there are also ones which creep in on you, tumble into your life unexpectedly.

As I enter a series to explore these changes, I will start with lifestyle changes!

Changes in sleep:

I believe sleep has been the most impacted by university, even now as I enter third year. I find falling asleep at reasonable times much harder.

I think there is pressure, especially as you grow up, to stay up late and go to parties and only sleep when the sun comes up. Don’t get me wrong, if you can hack that, you go for it. However, I like to be in PJs by 10pm sharp, so I found this unspoken pressure really hard to deal with. While

MOLLY AINLEY | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

everyone else may adore staying up, you have to find what works for you.

When my sleep schedule does begin to slip, I found the following things helpful:

1. Having comforts which replicate a bit of home, whether it be blankets or PJsfamiliarity will help you settle.

2. Trying to not get angry when you can’t fall asleep.

3. Listening to yourself! Finding your symptoms of tiredness or sleep deprivation is helpful.

Changes in eating:

I think that eating can be a sensitive topic, so if you wish to skip this section please do.

Now, with all the added independence of food shopping, budgeting and more: your eating patterns can

change! However, many people can fall into some dangerous and unhealthy habits, such as overeating or undereating.

I think meal planning and trying to enjoy food while remaining healthy in the choices you make is important. So here are tips to keep food easy & fun:

1. Stock up on seasoning and experiment! Honestly, mixed herbs & garlic were the catalyst into my new love for seasoning.

2. If you make spare freeze it, and always keep some easier meals in!

3. If you are struggling with boredom try a new recipe, or cook with friends!

Source: iStockPhoto

Lastly, changes in routine: I think the transition from home life to university life can be quite unsettling. All the things you are used to; all the background noise and the constants have faded. These things can cause a disturbance, so a form of routine is. Here are some things to be considered when building a routine:

1. Studying & workload; I think setting time to these activities is very important. Making clear times when work should be completed is helpful. It also means you can enjoy your leisure time much better! University work will affect your routine, it will be different from your A-level/collage workload, and therefore your routine will have to change! It doesn’t mean you constantly have to be in the library though.

Worried about making friends as a fresher? Here are some tips on how to not be alone

CHLOE PLUMMER | CONTENT WRITER

2. Time with friends: being an adult means you don’t all share the same schedule, so finding time for each other can be hard. It is still heavily important to maintain connections with those at home, they know you the best and you might need that!

3. Selfcare: this one should in theory be easier, you only need yourself. Just make sure amongst everything else you’re giving yourself time to wholly do an activity for just you! Whether it be exploring, or watching a favorite film.

We have all been there before, the first week of a new thing is scary, and university is a whole new world to get your head around. One of the most important things other than deadlines, cooking for yourself and other things, is making friends. Friendships at University are said to be for life, now that is a lot of pressure if like me you are slightly less than willing to put yourself out there as a social butterfly, but hopefully these tips will help you start University with a few good friends by your side.

Tip Two: Societies

At Royal Holloway there really is a society for everyone and if you have a hobby there is more than likely a society that will cater for you. The icebreaker becomes the society. A tip would be to join two or three societies as the memberships can be expensive, but from my experience, extra-curricular groups will be the place you will find your crowd

Tip Five: Keep your door open

This has probably been said before, but it cannot be stressed enough how much an open door can help you socialise with your flat mates. A closed door (even if you do not intend it) suggests you are shut-off. However, if you prop your door open and someone is going out people are more than likely to ask you to tag along.

Tip Three: Study Groups

I hope everyone starting or continuing their studies finds the changes easy to adjust to, and if they become hard do not worry- you are not the only one- and the dust will settle.

Tip One: Use communal spaces. This may sound obvious but there is a reason why Royal Holloway halls have communal spaces such as kitchens or the dining halls. A communal space is perfect for bonding with your peers but is not as intrusive as inviting them into your room. If you can hear someone in the kitchen, go say hello because everyone is in the same boat and making the effort to spend time with your flatmates will make you all feel more comfortable! You could even plan to make dinner together, or play cards. People will always be grateful for a conversation, and it is better than isolating yourself in your bedroom.

This tip is similar to societies, with the same course being taken there is already a mutual interest. Therefore, why not create a study group, whether it is a weekly brainstorm at a campus Café or an essay proofreading group in the library. This one is really a win-win situation, you can prepare for your course while bonding with peers.

Tip Four: Ask people to coffee

Easier said than done, but seriously from experience this is a great way to get to know people. A coffee is a perfect excuse to have a conversation with a new course mate and is less intense than a movie or a meal. An hour chat with someone can really ease a friendship: you never know they may be interested in a society that you wanted to join.

AND CULTURE

The Arts at Windsor Castle

LILY BIRCH | ARTS EDITOR

Since being built in 1070, Windsor Castle has housed some of the most powerful and high-profile monarchs in the world including Henry I, Henry VIII and the late Elizabeth II. Despite the Queen still having resided in the castle at certain points in the year, most of the castle itself has been transformed into a museum for the Queens’ personal archives such as gowns, broaches, and historical artifacts. The variety of possessions and art that is on display is extraordinary, and with the value that these items hold historically, it is a privilege for them to be at arm’s reach. One of the biggest appeals for visiting Windsor Castle is the infamous Doll’s House.

Queen Mary’s Doll’s House was built between 1921 and 1924 by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It includes contributions from over 1,500 of the finest craftsmen, artists, and manufacturers of the early twentieth century. It has a fine balance of cosiness and luxury, and features impressive details such as electricity, running hot and cold water and working lifts. The fact that this doll's house has survived a World War, and is still under intense security, truly shows how valuable and significant this artifact is. ‘It is built to outlast us all. To carry on into the future and different worlds this pattern of our own. It is a serious attempt to express our age and to show forth in dwarf proportions the limbs of our present world’.

Source: The Queen’s doll’s house, Flickr

In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Windsor Castle is hosting a special display commemorating Her Majesty’s Coronation. Here they are displaying Her Majesty's iconic coronation dress and the jewellery she wore alongside it. The dress was designed by the British couturier Sir Norman Hartnell and was produced in ‘the finest white duchesse satin, richly embroidered in a lattice-work effect with an iconographic scheme of national and Commonwealth floral emblems in gold and silver thread and pastel-coloured silks, encrusted with seed pearls, sequins and crystals.’

As well as the dress, also displayed is Her Majesty’s Robe of Estate. This Robe was made by the royal robemakers Ede and Ravenscroft of purple silk velvet. The goldwork embroidery design features wheat ears and olive branches, symbolizing prosperity, and peace. What makes this dress so impressive is the attention to the detail, the tiniest stitching and the specific combinations of satin and pearls which makes it feel luxurious and expensive while seeming dainty and light.

However, this attention to detail was not an easy task; it took 12 embroideresses, using 18 different types of gold thread and over 3,500 hours to complete. Take advantage of the proximity to this famous British castle, and explore all the art and history that it has to offer.

Exploring the Louvre: the real masterpiece of Paris

CHLOE PLUMMER | CONTENT WRITER

Converted into a museum in 1793, The Louvre lies in the heart of Paris and contains some of history’s most exquisite artwork. The site has regal origins, in the twelfth century King Phillip II of France had a fortress located where the iconic glass pyramid now stands. After the fortress,

King Francis I commissioned a royal residency to be built, which effectively housed members of the monarchy for over two-hundred years. However, in the tense and progressive atmosphere of the French Revolution, the building of royal residency was repurposed as a museum. From antiquities dating back to 500 BC to hosting Paris Fashion Week annually, it is not surprising that the versatility and cultural pull of the Louvre attracts on average 9.6 million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum globally. The art that is displayed in this building is divided into five floors and three wings, the Richelieu, the Sully and the Denon wing. Situated on Level -1 the walls remain the defensive brick block walls of the twelfth century fortress; the fact that art is littered between the two walls of antiquity implies the sheer importance of storytelling in the Louvre. Regarding storytelling, each piece of artwork is paired with a brief description of the artist and of what is unfolding in the painting or the sculpture, as well as the period in which the art was created. This description is translated into three languages on the physical description, and in 12 on an informative six-euro audio guide. With over 35,000 pieces of art in the Louvre, the preference of every visitor is met.

Located in the Richelieu wing, the sculptures of France are a sight that everyone should experience. When visitors turn the corner from the stairway, the light and pure stillness is stunning. The sculptures lie under a glass skylight which tell the story of where the statues were once situated, paired with trees planted amongst the exhibition. A standout sculpture amongst the French collection is the Marly Horses; these two rearing horses originally guarded the palace of Marly, the royal residence of King Louis XV.

A copy of the original can also be seen at the Place de Bastille, highlighting the importance of chivalry, war, and nobility to the people of France.

In the Denon wing, there is a collection of paintings of France, including Delacroix’s powerful painting titled Liberty Leading the People. Though this impressive painting is hung amongst several others, it draws focus due to the immense size and the striking colour choice. The dark colours are a perfect juxtaposition to the lone heroine, front and centre holding a French flag. This painting was a commemorative piece to celebrate the French revolution in July 1830. It still harks true to today, the feeling of liberation, strength and standing up to adversity.

Exploring the Louvre is a memorable, educational, and enjoyable trip that cannot be recommended enough.

Source: Chloe Plummer

Mexican Geniuses: the New Digitalised Way of Experiencing Art?

KAYLEIGH TAYLOR | CONTENT WRITER

Readers may have noticed the advertisement for Fever’s Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. However, Fever’s newer exhibition – Mexican Geniuses: A Frida and Diego Immersive Experience – will undoubtedly be outshining those advertisements soon. The experience, housed in Dock X of Canada Water, allows viewers to dive into the work of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, their marriage, and their influences after death. The exhibition is split into three sections, the first being a traditional gallery highlighting the history of Frida and Diego as both individual artists as well as their married life. The Fever exhibitions have never been subtle in their indepth exploration of artists, and Mexican Geniuses is no different, with there being many discussions of their dual involvement within feminist and minority movements. Viewers are presented with a variety of sources, such as wall murals, sculptures, paintings, even a board game where players collect facts in the game. With so much to do, it is easy to get lost in learning with strangers who share this interest. The main gallery – perhaps the area that most influences the art enthusiast to attend the exhibit – is where paintings are expanded, digitally enhanced, and brought to life. With hundreds of different slides decorating the walls, the exhibit allows you to stand, sit or simply pick a view of the artistic world Frida and Diego created. As part of the experience, the voices of the pair are heard narrating over

Who is Vewn?

LILY BIRCH | ARTS EDITOR

their art, acting as the genial host to their own work and immersing viewers further into the paintings. This is where viewers will spend most of their time, within four surfaces of artwork, and is a brilliant way of engaging with the collection. It can be said, then, that many people are enjoying these new mediums of engaging with the arts, especially since COVID-19. Many are looking at new ways of experiencing the traditional form of art and theatres, so digitalisation could well become the new normal. With this exhibit, the digitalisation of Frida and Diego’s lives as well as the inclusion of the Mexican government within the making of the exhibition, emphasises the democratisation of art which Frida worked in. Viewers can immerse themselves whilst not ignoring the growing issues of ownership and cultural redemption within museums and galleries. The VR experience is the last section; it entails Frida and Diego wandering with viewers through their home and to the afterlife. Not only does this act as a beautiful way of ending the experience but furthers this connection to Mexican core cultural beliefs that the two had. As per her culture, Frida Kahlo believed that death is not the end and viewers at the Mexican Geniuses exhibit leave with the voice of the pair in their minds: ‘I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you’. We are reminded that art surrounds us, and the new digital form gaining popularity amongst the art sector is only elevating that.

If you are interested in animation, cartoons or short films but struggle to find ones that suit a more mature audience, then this channel could be your cup of tea. Vewn is a YouTube channel created by Victoria Vincent where she posts her own short, animated stories that have a mature yet youthful feeling. Filled with bright colours and sketched line drawings, her animation style feels unique and personal, making her work feel comforting, while her narratives are introspective and complex. Since being created in September 2015, the channel has garnered 1.14 million subscribers with 17 videos. The success of Vewn’s art can be explained by her individual animation style and her immersive storytelling abilities, which make a twominute video feel like a full-length film. The narratives of these stories, despite the animation style being reminiscent of joyful children’s cartoons, usually take place in unstable worlds where characters struggle to keep their heads above water.

Despite the world’s she creates being surreal, places where cats can be hairdressers, the things that these characters deal with resonate with the audience. Themes of depression, anxiety and addiction which can be disturbing, feel lighter and easier with bright and comforting drawings. The most popular video of her channel currently sitting at 13M views, is called Bobo the Monkey. The three-minute video tells the story of a monkey in a zoo who attempts to escape by playing dead. With the narrative beginning with a dead monkey being dragged out of the zoo, it sets a gloomy foreboding scene. In the end, the monkey escapes to freedom, and a whole story is told in under 4 minutes. Vewn’s animations contain some dialogue, but the story is told mostly through the visual form. Vewn pays close attention to detail and leaves behind Easter eggs to further engage the viewer in the story. The small details that are embedded into each video often reference her other animations, creating the feeling of a Vewn-universe, a world where all these characters can coexist and reference one another. Vewn has created a community of supporters for her videos. Fans are engaged in her world and though it is easy to lose track of the channel, with her random uploading schedule, whenever she does post, the same audience return to enjoy a new offshoot of this world. This modern way of distributing art on a platform used by millions and how successful she has become is inspiring for young creators who want to put their work out into the world but are unsure where to start. The creator has the control and can choose to distribute their work to their liking. There is never enough art in the world and Vewns’ success is just one story. Others are producing their own art style whether it be animation, short films or short stories, and there is a place for everyone to show off their creativity and even make a living from it, showing that a niche can be taken anywhere.

Source: Vewn’s YouTube profile picture

Middle England by Jonathan Coe

VIKTORIA PRACZKO | LITERARY REVIEW EDITOR

‘So as well as hating you, they also hate them – whoever they are – these faceless people who are sitting in judgement over them somewhere, legislating on what they can and can’t say out loud.’

Jonathan Coe’s 2018 novel, Middle England, displays the increasingly clashing politics and evolving social values of England in the height of the Brexit Referendum. Coe’s humorous approach to everyday life conflicts with the ongoing political tensions, creating an undeniable parallel between the absurdity of English reality and the persistency of hope within the nation.

Middle England’s narrative begins in 2010 and uses a variety of alternating perspectives to highlight the power of humanity during a time of crisis. Coe’s multi-generational cast of characters are collectively representative of nearly a decade of English life and history. Using the contrasting experiences of different households and cultures within England, Coe documents one of the most significant events of the decade and its impact on British national identity.

Whilst the novel is unarguably founded on the Brexit Referendum, Middle England also explores the strength of unity within a population and the interconnectedness of human relationships. Through the character of Benjamin Trotter and those around him, one gets an insight into some of the most prevalent elements of reality: marriage, separation, love, grief, teenage rebellion, sexuality, and racial prejudice. Coe’s flowing narrative of different voices both aims to teach the readers to embrace their differences and demonstrates the necessity of harmony for universal happiness.

Coe’s often praised Centrist prose is seen to relentlessly generate empathy and understanding for both those that voted for England to Remain, and those who voted to Leave the European Union. By maintaining a politically neutral approach, Middle England simultaneously remains optimistic, painting the possibility of a peaceful future and creates a sense of ongoing fear and powerlessness. Coe does not only use the division between the North and South of England, but the extreme split within the class system and the growing antipathy amongst the Labour and Conservative parties. His address of increased immigration displays the clashing of the old and the new, further reiterating the inevitability of social change and the potential chaos which may accompany it.

Middle England utilises England’s changing politics to both educate and entertain the reader with the country’s absurd state. Coe’s calm tone forms an almost unnoticeable Brexit debate between those for and against it, showing both the overpowering notion of home and a nation’s aim to democratically function through major disagreements.

Middle England does not only represent a relatable and truthful England, but is a captivating piece of literature that draws readers in from the beginning till the end.

Source: The Telegraph

Our Wives Under The Sea

– Waiting for the Ocean to End

HARRISON PITTS | CONTENT WRITER

Wives Under the Sea, by Julia Armfield, is a novel about ghosts. Not whitesheeted spectres or misty apparitions but the very real ghosts that memories of loved ones lost leave us teeming with. Armfield gives readers an artful examination of how lives can change, and more importantly, the excruciating ways they stay the same, after a loss.

Our

After a routine, three-week submarine voyage is delayed without contact for six months, Miri is forced to assume that her wife, Leah, is dead. As she begins mourning however, Leah is returned to her without explanation or ceremony and Miri is expected to return to life as normal with a wife she cannot help but feel is vastly different from the one who left. The small oddities and discrepancies in her character are easy to write off, at first, as a response to the trauma. After all, side effects after spending so long at the bottom of the ocean are to be expected. But as the symptoms fail to fade and instead become increasingly disturbing, the

simple explanations seem to pale before an answer far more eldritch.

Interspersed between Miri’s struggles are entries from Leah’s diary while on the illfated voyage. Mere moments after they slip beneath the surface, a quiet disaster strikes. The radio goes silent, and the lights sputter out. Nothing seems mechanically broken and yet the submarine remains stubbornly out of their control as they fall indefinitely far from the sun. What follows is a deeply claustrophobic horror mystery as Leah grapples with an immutable fate below the sea. How has the craft failed in such a specific way as to keep the crew alive but unable to resurface? And why was so much food stocked for what was supposed to be a short three-week trip? From the opening pages, any moments of levity readers are afforded are already in the distant past. The forays into a remembered life of connection and tenderness only serve to further juxtapose the drowning, silent loneliness of the present. Armfield, a Royal

Holloway graduate, writes with an elegiac lyricism, lamenting loss with a beautiful bluntness that never fails to give you chill to the bone. The novel moves slowly, almost begrudgingly, through the motions of grief and, unlike most romances, here there is no great fanfare or climactic confession but an inexhaustible march to the end that can be expected from the moment the cover is opened. However, as with all endings, its inevitability does nothing to make it any more bearable.

Our Wives Under the Sea is a must-read masterclass in learning to let go. Dive in.

Source: Unsplash

Treacle Walker: Garner’s telling of time and history

SEB GARDINER | CONTENT WRITER

Alan Garner’s debut novel, a young-adult story named The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, was published in 1960. The novel, just shy of 300 pages, leads readers into a world of magic and friendship, the narrative of which spans centuries, and remains a popular read for anyone old enough to pick up a book. The relationship between past and present, young and old, is unmistakably Garner. 61 years and eight novels later, Alan Garner becomes the oldest person ever nominated for the Man Booker Prize, with his new, compact novel Treacle Walker

The story follows a boy named Joseph Coppock and a mysterious traveller named Treacle Walker, who arrives at his doorstep one day and helps him to realise the world around him. Joseph buys medicine from Treacle Walker to heal his lazy eye, and subsequently sees into new dimensions, between times. Time has been central to Garner’s work for six decades‘time is not simply a clock,’ as he says. The novel’s epigraph, ‘Time Is Ignorance,’ from the physicist Carlo Rovelli, frames the story as one that explores the connection between young and old, as Brisingamen did, refusing to adhere to our linear understanding of time. Joseph and Treacle Walker contrast each other as Garner’s potential childhood self and potential older self, had his life not turned out the way it had done. Joseph would have been Garner had he not had the education he had, and Treacle Walker had he not dropped out of Oxford and left academia when he did.

Throughout the story, fragments of Joseph’s imagination come to life and illustrate Garner’s fascination with memory and history. When some events are only passed down orally, who is to say what really happened decades ago? Cartoon characters jump out of comics and terrifying figures rise from bogs to illustrate a confused and anxious boy navigating the mysteries of his childhood, attempting to give meaning to everything he sees.

Garner has frequently suggested that we are all telling ‘one story’ - equalling his shortest novel Boneland at 160 pages, Treacle Walker is the most compact and clear telling of this story. The use of childhood phrases - whose meanings are clear only to Garner - and the fearless combination of rural middle England and the mythical shows the story as one that is unmistakably connected to its author's earliest works.

Garner has said he fears dying before he finishes a book, but as he enters his sixth decade of storytelling, he shows us another side to his versatile interpretation of history and time.

Little Women: which march sister are you?

ANNIKA SWANSBURY | CONTENT WRITER

Louisa May Alcott’s

landmark novel, Little Women, has for decades presented readers with four instantly recognisable characters who keep the pages they reside in alight with not only wit and charm but flaws and struggles. It starts from the very first page where we meet the four sisters dotted around the living room; Meg and Amy on the sofa, Beth in a corner where only the ‘hearth brush and kettle-holder’ can hear her, and Jo laid out upon the rug. All four faces are illuminated by firelight as they grumble about their troubles and behave in ways only sisters could. The scene continues in a manner that perfectly displays each sister’s character. Meg is their pseudo-mother, years before she becomes a mother herself, reminding her younger sisters to be moral and remember their duty to those at war. Jo and Amy squabble as their personalities and opinions clash, something that is set to continue throughout the novel. Finally, Beth tucked in the corner is content with her family, but her place just outside the group foreshadows her untimely death.

Each of these young women carve out their place in the novel and demand to be heard, even if they are not always by those around them. Jo March may be Alcott’s heroine but her sisters all stand in a spotlight of their own. There is a reason there are countless March sister personality quizzes online; Alcott writes each of them so distinctively and with such care for their quirks and characters that it becomes impossible to not search for traces of each of them in yourself. A reader may align themselves with Meg for being the eldest or Amy for being the middle child, with Jo for their love of reading, or with Beth because they find joy in playing music. Or a reader may treasure Beth’s gentle nature, relate to Meg’s deep love for those she cares for, and marvel at Amy’s ability to navigate new environments, or desire Jo’s headstrong resilience. All these more positive qualities are not marred by the flaws Alcott gives her little women, only emphasised, rounding out each sister until she becomes lifelike, someone a reader could feasibly meet tomorrow, in their regular life.

Over time opinions change and a flaw that upon first reading may be irritating, after the second or third may become endearing and far more tolerable, perhaps understandable. Even if readers wind up resenting Jo for eventually marrying or have a particular distaste for Amy’s childlike habit of ‘always getting out of the hard parts of life’ there is bound to be some aspect of the novel that they can connect with. The familial bonds, the desire for something more out of life, wanting to be great or nothing, or simply the pleasure of good company, good music, and adolescent bliss are just some of the tangible threads a reader can pull from the novel and align carefully over their own life.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

EMILIE WILLIAMS | CONTENT WRITER

Alice Sebold’s 2001 novel, The Lovely Bones, is a gripping fictional thriller that follows the aftermath of 14-year-old Susie Salmon’s murder from her perspective in the afterlife. Set in early 1970s Pennsylvania, the novel depicts the fear and apprehension that followed the upsurge in media coverage of serial killers at the time. Unlike most psychological murder thrillers that build up to the climax of murder, Sebold’s narrator, Susie, describes the day of her assault and murder at the hands of her neighbour, Mr Harvey, in the first few pages of the text. Both the reader and the protagonist thus become observers who watch over the other characters as they fail to spot the clues to Susie’s disappearance.

Sebold’s exploration of the family’s grief is gritty and raw as she exhibits characters rav aged by an unexpected loss, follows their journeys toward peace, and describes the cop ing mechanisms they construct along the way. Susie’s father, Jack, a devoted and sensi tive man, dedicates himself to solving his daughter’s murder whilst Susie’s reserved mother, Abigail, struggles to cope with her grief, and leaves the family to seek comfort in an affair. Susie’s adolescent omnisci ent narrative voice provides an innocent perspective to the violence she experiences and demonstrates the powerless ness of a child subjected to adult evil, much like Emma Donoghue’s young narrator, Jack, in her novel Room

Susie’s experience of the afterlife provides a refreshing escape from the pain and secrecy that occurs in the physical world. The supernatural elements of her afterlife allow her to connect to the physical world through flickering candles and whispers that encourage her grieving father to persevere with her murder investigation. The afterlife also provides Susie with the peaceful environment needed to heal her trauma and release her hold from the physical world, ultimately leading to her emotional meeting with Mr Harvey’s previous victims. As time passes and the Salmon family struggle to gather clues to Susie’s disappearance, her murderer hides the evidence of his involvement.

The Lovely Bones is a tender story of ill-fated death, acceptance, grief, and the evil that lurks in communities. Some may label the novel as ‘too violent’ or ‘upsetting’, but The Lovely Bones’ depiction of nightmarish circumstances also encourages the discussion of taboo and uncomfortable topics. It inspires the appreciation of the beauty of life and its impermanence whilst embodying the unfortunate reality of many unsolved murder investigations and sexual assault cases.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

CHLOE BOULTON | DEPUTY EDITOR

Sally Rooney’s second novel, Normal People, was and in many ways still is, inescapable. Its success brought to Rooney a cult-like following, and with that, great expectations were placed on the shoulders of her third novel. Rooney has divided opinions since entering the arena of popular culture, with some readers delighted to dole out praise in her direction, whilst others critique her prose style and the inherent millennial-ness of her work.

Beautiful World, Where Are You was released with all eyes watching. Very easily could Rooney have followed the same formula of her debut Conversations with Friends, and Normal People; she could have rehashed what so clearly works for her, in another tale of university romance between individuals who cannot stop hurting each other. It is very clear though, from the first few pages of Beautiful World that we are not in Trinity College anymore.

In the novel, Alice and Eileen are best friends in their late twenties. They send each other long emails back and forth where they discuss heavy topics such as the commodification of art, the collapse of society and civilisation as we know it, amongst brief and purposefully vague descriptions of their day-to-day lives.

Eileen is a classic Rooney character – a variant of that which we have seen in her previous novels, to an extent – she earns terrible money working for a literary magazine in Dublin, and has a complex relationship with Simon, a childhood friend of hers.

Alice could conceivably be modelled off Rooney herself. She’s a young author who has reached unimaginable heights of literary success with her two novels (she struggles to write a third, claiming to have only had two good ideas) and is now coping – or not coping – with the aftermath of her newfound, but very much unwanted, fame. Alice’s relationship with Felix, a man she meets on Tinder, reveals the depths of her issues brought on by her new life.

Source: @iamthebooktrovert, Instagram

The novel follows these four characters falling in and out of love with one another. We learn the excruciatingly human details of each of their lives; Simon being so moral he is difficult to approach, and Felix’s often brutal honesty about himself and his feelings.

A hallmark of Beautiful World is self-awareness; this is seen in each of the four main characters, and Rooney herself. Throughout the novel, there is a constant discussion over literary matters: the place of the novel in the twenty-first century, the morality of writing in the world we live in and the place of the author. Eileen agrees with Alice in her views on these matters, so there is no real debate, giving readers the sense that Rooney is using Alice as a device through which she can share her insight into her newfound fame.

If it ever was Rooney’s view, as it was Alice’s, that she only ever had two good ideas, then we readers must delight in her having had a third, for this may have been her best one yet.

Continued from front page:

The high regard for the late monarch across the globe has been seen as world leaders have sent their condolences, with US President Joe Biden remembering the Queen as “more than a monarch – she defined an era”, and French President Emmanuel Macron describing her as “a friend of France”. Many Commonwealth leaders have paid tribute, including Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau highlighting her “obvious deep and abiding love for Canadians”.

It has been confirmed that the State Funeral will take place on 19th September at Westminster Abbey. Prior to the State Funeral Service, members of the public can visit Westminster Hall to pay respects during the Lying-in-State in the Palace of Westminster.

Source: @faberforwaterstones, Instagram

The Venice Film Festival

KAYLA TOMLINSON | CONTENT WRITER

The 31st August marked the start of arguably one of the most prestigious events in cinema: the Venice Film Festival. Lasting for a little longer than a week, it is the ultimate celebration of film, with many flocking to the city to watch world premieres and see the most anticipated new releases. This year was no different and, with the festival coming to a close, here are what films audiences should be most excited to see once they finally arrive on our screens.

The first notable release is Noah Baumbach’s White Noise Centring around a college professor, the film depicts the physical and emotional fallout a town goes through after a devastating train crash. White Noise is an adaption of Don DeLillo’s novel and while it is the first of the director’s features to not have an original story of its own, it does hold all the trademark characteristics of a typical Baumbach film: namely, the recurring casting of Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver. The comedy premiered on the festival's opening day to mixed reviews, with many unsure of Baumbach’s first venture into cinematic horror. To see the film audiences will have to wait for the worldwide release on Netflix on the 30th December.

Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, which premiered on the 3rd September, was another highly anticipated release. Driven by public attention following leading man Brendan Fraser, The Whale saw a return to form from Fraser, who only recently has begun returning to our screens after the ‘#MeToo’ movement empowered him to come forward about the blackballing and abuse he suffered from Hollywood.

His performance has been highly praised, often being dubbed the ‘Brenaissance’ by fans, alongside calls for Oscar nominations. Releasing on the 9th December, those who wish to watch The Whale will be treated to the evocative tale of a father trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Sadie Sink.

The Venice Film Festival cannot be discussed without the mention of its winner of the Best Director award, Bones & All, by Luca Guadagnino. Starring leads Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell, Bones & All is a touching story about cannibalism, queerness, and trauma. If that is not eye-catching enough, it also doubles as a roadtrip feature throughout eighties-era America, with Chalamet taking on a punkesque persona in his role as Lee. Taylor Russell is the real breakout here though, previously seen in A24’s film Waves (2019) and has been highly praised for both performances. It is no surprise that they too, like Fraser, already have calls for Oscar nominations and (hopefully) wins.

Other films that premiered at the festival include Ti West’s Pearl, a prequel to last year's A24 hit X. Tar, which features Cate Blanchett, received a sixminute standing ovation and finally there is Olivia Wilde’s sophomore film, Don’t Worry Darling, which is drenched in backstage drama. If audiences missed the Venice Film Festival and would like a chance to see some of these films, the BFI Festival takes place at the end of September, and tickets are available to buy online.

HBO Max & the tragedy of Batgirl

DEVESH SOOD | MANAGING EDITOR

In late 2020, after the announcement of a sameday release strategy for films in theatres and home, director Christopher Nolan had this to say; ‘Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theatres and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing’. Well, given the events of the last few weeks, if they were merely dismantling the machine at the time, to learn what they have been doing to it now is truly scary.

Having merged with Discovery earlier this year, the new CEO, David Zaslav, made sure everyone knew this would be a new era. Throughout the month of August, there was no sacred ground; any project, no matter if it had been filmed and completed, or simply existed in the back of some lonely executive's mind, could be gone forever. Over 30 projects, primarily streaming-originals and animation, have been cancelled. This included the second season of Chad, which had been completed and was mere days away from airing; Batman: Caped Crusader, the spiritual successor to the beloved Batman: The Animated Series from Matt Reeves, Bruce Tim, and JJ Abrams; and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, the sequel to one of the few pandemic success stories.

However, none were more shocking than the cancellation of Batgirl, a film by Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi, who had just come from directing some of the strongest episodes of the Ms. Marvel series. The film was to star the likes of Brendan Fraser and JK Simmons, and the long-awaited return of Michael Keaton as Batman would finally be seen. With the protagonist being played by Leslie Grace, who had just come from the acclaimed musical adaption of In The Heights, this had seemed to be a bright spot amongst the continuing messiness of what is the DC Universe, especially when placed next to the ever-increasing real-life drama surrounding Ezra Miller and Amber Heard. Yet, with the obsession to create a cinematic-universe, it was the tax write-off that killed the beast.

On top of this, Zaslav has readjusted the main board of WB Discovery, opting for a group that is more ‘white-male’ oriented, and announced the upcoming plans to merge the two streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+. To suggest the activity going on at WB is unprecedented would be an understatement. Despite claims that many of these cancellations were aiming to reduce costs, the firm still lost $3.4 billion in Q2 2022: these financial woes have also meant only two more releases this year, Black Adam alongside Don’t Worry Darling, as they reportedly cannot afford to release any more.

While there have been a few bright spots, such as news of the Joker sequel and Matt Reeves’ Batman series, it is likely that the activity over the last month will have severe long-term repercussions. Why would any creative want to approach Warner Bros, if the chance their work could be scrapped at any given moment

exists? Maybe there is a plan, one that will soon show a light at the end of this tunnel but, as of now, that remains to be seen.

Source: The cast of The Whale at Venice Film Festival, Instagram

The Bingelist: three recs for your winter watchlist

JETHRO ROBATHAN | FILM EDITOR

Choosing your next shameless Netflix/Prime/Apple TV/‘insert-streaming-servicehere’-binge has become quite the task with the plethora of options available. For those of us who tend to hibernate as we approach the winter months of hot drinks and hoodies, here are three bingeable recs for your consideration:

1. The Expanse (Amazon Prime née Syfy, Sci-Fi, 6 Seasons, 2015-2022)

When James Holden sees a button, he pushes it. What happens next is anyone’s guess but if there is one thing you can be sure of, it is going to be great. The Expanse has a rocky life story: mid-life cancellation followed by a second-wind courtesy of the Amazon production juggernaut. January 2022 saw the release of the final season and the finale is near flawless. It almost makes up for their decidedly unsanctimonious practices. Almost.

This series is rooted in a nearfuture sci-fi setting, yet it is so much more than the standard, sigh-inducing fare of space battles and aliens. The Expanse is at once political thriller, action thriller, family thriller, romance thriller, thriller thriller…

In the interests of objectivity, I should add in the disclaimer about the opening episodes. The pacing until episode four may be slightly arduous. The dense worldbuilding you endure does pay dividends, resulting in a superbly executed layering of sub-plots, characterization and one-liners. Final cherry on top: the cast are absolutely gorgeous, with eye-candy aplenty for any and all sexualities. Okay, you get the message. Watch it. Not enough people do.

2. This Way Up (Channel 4/Hulu, Comedy-Drama, 2 Seasons, 2019-2021)

Aisling Bea’s This Way Up is much more digestible than The Expanse for those who are pressed for time – two seasons, twelves episodes, twentyish minutes apiece. Easy. There is no need to even get an extension for your three deadlines this term to fit this one in.

This Way Up follows the trials and tribulations of Aine, a single, Irish, ESL teacher paving her way in London. Bea, who both writes and stars as Aine, accomplishes what many fail to: a sensitive, real account of the everyday struggles with mental health (and life in general) without getting bogged down in dreary political correctness and/or performative misanthropy.

Aine flourishes in the peak awkward moments on screen, a relentless string of tangible second-hand embarrassment is inevitable for viewers. Perhaps it’s her background in standup? The constant exposure to awkward experiences no doubt provides ample source material for Bea to draw upon, and boy does she draw. She paints, complimented by a small, but recurring, crew of supporting characters. Not unlike life itself.

3. The Last Kingdom (Netflix (née BBC), Historical Drama, 5 Seasons, 2015-2022)

The fifth and final season of The Last Kingdom finally arrived this year and my longawaited giddiness was amply rewarded. Based on Bernard Cornwell’s book series The Saxon Stories, this Netflix

exclusive maps out the bloody, sexy and funny moments that led to the founding of England. Any English or Drama students may recognise a few familiar faces amongst the cast, rich in theatrical talent –David Dawson’s King Alfred I carries the early seasons particularly hard.

The Last Kingdom is definitely the most plot-driven series in this mini-list (not to say the other titles are lacking in any way) but if any fellow degenerate bingers find themselves fiending for a story that flows effortlessly, this one goes out to you. Beard lovers and long-haired students will also find abundant inspiration too: method-acting Vikings and all that business.

Participating in the Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Pageant is a rite of passage for every young woman to make something of themselves. When asked why she is competing in the pageant, one of the contestants answers, ‘If you’re 17, and you’re not a total fry, it’s just what you do.”’

Drop Dead Gorgeous is a satirical mockumentary which highlights the pure absurdity of beauty pageants and smalltown life. Audiences follow the contestants as they prepare for the pageant by learning dance routines and practicing their talents. The girls aim to prove they have what it takes to be the next Miss Teen American Princess. The film focuses in on the underdog contestant of Amber Atkins (played by Kirsten Dunst) who sees the pageant as her means to leave Mount Rose and become a television journalist. The other front runner is Rebecca (Denise Richards),

For your consideration: Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

the daughter of a previous Miss Teen Princess winner and the wealthiest man in town. However, as the pageant nears, the bodies start to pile up and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to ensure that their girl will be the winner.

is the sole shot they have to escape the repetitive lives of their parents. Each young woman has her own dreams and interests, and the film allows us to get to know them as they progress in their journey. Some aspects have aged poorly, such as the mentally disabled brother of one of the judges who is less of a person and more of a walking punchline. However, the film shines most when it focuses on the contestants themselves, bringing forth the wackiness of life in a small town as it compounds with the intricacies of teenage girlhood.

ASHTON KESSLER | CONTENT WRITER

In the eternal words of Becky Ann Leeman: ‘Jesus Loves Winners. That’s why no matter what I do, I aim to win.’ This the ethos of Michael Patrick Jann’s 1999 feature Drop Dead Gorgeous, a black comedy set in the small Minnesota town of Mount Rose.

While Drop Dead Gorgeous flopped at the box office after its release in 1999, it has since gained a cult following of fans who adored its dark humour and depiction of the absurdity of beauty pageants. The fictional town of Mount Rose and its depiction of small-town America strikes at the holier than thou attitude of those in power, as well as these young women destroying themselves (and each other) for a simple crown.

That said, to some of the film’s contestants, this is the sole shot they have to escape the repetitive lives of their parents.

Ultimately, this film is one to watch if you’re in the mood to laugh at both the absurdity of small-town America and pure late 90’s fashion.

The invigorating Māori disco-pop of Marlon Williams’, ‘My Boy’

ESTELLE ALLEN | CONTENT WRITER

Upcoming music sensation, Marlon Williams from Christchurch, New Zealand, returned on the 9th September 2022 with his first studio album since Make Way for Love, which was released in 2018. Readers who attended singer-songwriter, Lorde’s Solar Power tour in the summer may have been introduced to the lesserknown Williams, who was opened her shows in Europe. During this opening act, Williams performed a repertoire of his older pieces and covers, as well as invigorating audiences with his new, feel-good hit, the eponymous, My Boy. The title track instantly lifts the energy and mood of the listener, the guitar’s Māori strum style and lighthearted lyricism making for an easy and enjoyable listen.

The album promises a shift in Williams’ style and lyricism, transforming from his solemn, bluegrass ballads and crooning of previous tracks, to the invigorating, playful discopop exhibited in the prereleased hits, Easy Does It and River Rival. Williams’ heady and feel-good third solo album demonstrates the artist’s absolute versatility and dynamism, from what Williams calls ‘simple songs and tunes that tempt you into over-complication’, to those already released in the album which are narrative-driven and almost philosophical in tone.

The new romantic influences of the album are blended with a tropical pedal steel, chordal nods to Paul Simon and Duran Duran, as well as a dominant Māori influence throughout. Williams, who is of Ngāi Tahu and Ngai Tai descent, has recurringly emphasised the importance of his heritage to his musicmaking, both in his lyrics and the tonality of his music. Williams wrote the My Boy album during the pandemic, when the singer-songwriter, following some difficulty, managed to move from Melbourne to be with his family in Christchurch. The lofty and escapist nature of this upcoming album might then be attributed to this feeling of Williams,’ and subsequently of listeners, in longing for eventually ‘finding yourself back home where things are easygoing’. The album, which Williams has expressed was made ‘with earnest love without cynicism’, promises to be a feel-good track for the difficult months ahead, reminding us of the fun and playful side of music.

Chris Martin, the lead vocalist of the group, spoke of three main principles for the initiative. Firstly, to reduce, by limiting their consumption and move to recycle as much as possible, whilst also aiming to cut their CO2 emissions by 50%. In their second principle to reinvent, they aimed to support new green technologies and to develop new sustainable, super-low carbon touring methods.

Thirdly they aimed to restore, by funding a portfolio of nature and technology-based projects to make the tour as environmentally beneficial as possible.

‘We’re very conscious that the planet is facing a climate crisis,’ the band wrote when they launched the tour on their Twitter page. ‘So we’ve spent the last two years consulting with environmental experts to make this tour as sustainable as possible, and, just as importantly, to harness the tour’s potential to push things forward.’

The Global Citizen veterans and champions for the environment announced their long-anticipated return to the global stage back in October 2021, after taking a hiatus from touring until they could identify ways to make their next tour as sustainable as possible. The tour proved hugely successful when it travelled across the globe this summer, inciting environmental attitudes and consciousness across its audiences. In an effort to make the ethos of the tour as interactive as possible, the band introduced kinetic dance floors to generate energy to power the following shows through the audience’s movements. As well as this, they placed stationary bikes at the back of the stadiums for viewers to cycle and generate electricity, helping to cut mainstream electricity usage down even further.

Music tours in their traditional form can be detrimental to the environment in many ways. One study found that in the UK alone, live concerts and performances generate 405,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year. Despite receiving some backlash that the global tour requires air travel, Chris Martin explained that the band can only do their best and work toward becoming even better. The band have aligned their goals with current climate action and advocacy, matching the targets set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Race to Zero campaign. This campaign was launched a year ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to encourage nations to reduce global emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Sustainability in the music industry – Coldplay’s Initiative

ANNA ARMELIN | MUSIC EDITOR

In a pivotal innovation for the music industry, Grammy Award-winning band Coldplay pledged to make their 2022 Music of The Spheres Tour as sustainable and low-carbon as possible.

This success in the creation of a sustainable and lowcarbon tour is a new venture for the music industry. The use of innovative new live entertainment technology focused entirely on sustainability is something to be adopted by many artists and creators in order to protect the future of today’s climate and environment.

Could this season's triple header of athletics be the making of team GB?

ALANA STODDART | CONTENT WRITER

We were treated to an athletics-packed calendar this summer kicking off with the World Championships in Oregon beginning on July 15th. This was closely followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (the athletics began on the 30th of July) and the European Championships in Munich which began midAugust. Such a season, whilst demanding for the athletes, introduces the possibility of creating immense forward momentum in the sport.

The first of these three games, taking place in Oregon, saw some stand-out performances, particularly from our middle-distance runners; Keely Hodgkinson took Women’s 800m Silver and Jake Wightman outran Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a mighty race that left us all gobsmacked and delighted in equal measure. Team GB came away having made a decent performance, but with a relatively small haul of medals.

Two weeks later, and the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham roars into action as the athletics of the Commonwealth Games begins. Here, British athletes compete under their home nations but among a far less competitive field in comparison to the sporting greats that were present at the World Championships. England comes away with seven golds, 15 silvers, and 12 bronzes, and Scotland and Wales also take away some Commonwealth titles.

Source: The 1500m men on one of many laps around the Oregon stadium at this year’s World Championships, Wikimedia

This Commonwealth Games was a mighty one. We saw storming performances from our male and female 4x100m relay teams, Eilish McColgan taking her first (and long-time coming) gold in the 10,000m with a phenomenal final kick, and even an English one, two, three, with Hannah Cockroft, Karen Adenegan, and Fabienne André all taking a medal in the T34 Paralympic 100m race.

Paralympic events were scheduled to take place here in Birmingham, alongside the able-bodied events, creating a bigger buzz around these paralympic athletes and a more thorough and effective inclusion of their events into the championship. Coupled with a thrilled home crowd, these events all became electric.

The triple header of athletics action was rounded out by the European Championships, which saw yet more outstanding performances from Team GB. We finished a very close second on the medal table, losing out only to Germany who hosted the games.

Here, standout performances came from Lawrence Okoye, who took an emotional bronze in the men’s discus throw after a long sabbatical from the sport, Hodgkinson who took a gold in the 800m to improve on her Commonwealth silver, and the men’s relay teams who won both the 4x100m and 4x400m in a dominant fashion. It was an incredible European Championships for Team GB.

The wealth of major championships that we have seen this season is a result of the pandemic postponing games. They have, since then, come thick and fast; the importance of this cannot be underestimated. Good performances and, crucially, consistent performances this season will act as a springboard off which athletes can launch their training programmes heading into next season and the all-important Paris 2024 Olympics. It has given the lesser known, less experienced athletes confidence having now competed on the international stage and, by having experienced home games at the Commonwealths, likely invigorated their desire to compete all the more.

Is this the end of F1 for Daniel Ricciardo?

IMAN AHMED | SPORTS EDITOR

The ruthlessness of Formula 1 has been apparent not only to its fans, but worldwide. Prowess, podiums, and passion have been the driving forces of drivers within the sport in maintaining their seat.

But for Daniel Ricciardo, despite 8 wins, and 32 podiums as Formula 1 driver so far, with his most recent win being with McLaren in Monza last season, his personality overshadowed it all.

This season should have provided athletes with a powerful combination of further experience, confidence from going head-to-head with the world’s best, and motivation from being part of home games. Here’s hoping Team GB can capitalise on such a great, packed season and make it count in the near future.

Ricciardo allure has made him become a fan favourite, with his impact within the sport being immeasurably valuable having arguably attracted more interest towards it. His charisma’s impact further altered the shift within the whole sport towards the now selling of Formula 1 drivers, with more of a desire in understanding what is underneath their helmets, contrasting to the way in which drivers had previously shown their personality in limited capacity.

This change can be marked through the Formula 1 Netflix documentary series, Drive to Survive, a reality show highlighting the behind-the-scenes of the drivers, their races and the turmoil surrounding the fight to win the Formula 1 championship.

Ricciardo’s influence can be seen in the show, with his playful, enchanting, and optimistic personality shinning throughout it, arguably making him one of the most charismatic figures within the sport.

However, despite his impact and charm, Ricciardo has announced that he will be rescinding his contract and leaving his current team, McLaren, at the end of this season. His contract with McLaren was originally to be terminated at the end of the 2023 season, with Ricciardo stating earlier this year that he was committed to them until the end of his contract, after speculation over his position there. Conversely, this was no longer to be.

Source: Wikimedia

Yet, his departure has been one in which that has been anticipated by some. Doubts were present throughout this year, to now being solidified by his soon to be absence within McLaren as a result of his performance. Ricciardo has arguably been underperforming, particularly in comparison to his team-mate, Lando Norris, having not scored many points throughout his last and current season as that was expected so greatly of him by not his team principal, but also globally.

Rumours have now been circulating as to what will now be for the future of Ricciardo in Formula 1, with no confirmed seat for the next season. Reports of him being a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2023 have been discussed, though Ricciardo has jokingly denied as such. Assumptions of a move to Alpine has also been assumed due to an unconfirmed seat within the team. Such speculations have been further amplified through a surfaced video of Ricciardo suggesting the idea of taking a break for the next season and coming back in 2024 with another driver.

Nevertheless, many fans fear that this could be the end of his career within Formula 1 due to the callousness and demand of the sport. As for now, the future of Ricciardo’s Formula 1 is unknown, signifying that despite the value of popularity, results within a business come first.