Charlie Alford

Refuge data reveals 78% rise in tech and economic abuse referrals

Post author:The Canary
Post published:9 July 2026
Post last modified:9 July 2026

Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse charity, has recorded a staggering 78% rise in referrals for cases of technology-facilitated abuse and economic abuse. Of these cases, Refuge’s frontline team has observed a worrying increase in perpetrators exploiting car finance agreements, putting survivors in significant debt. Between April 2025-March 2026, there were 967 referrals to Refuge’s specialist Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment team, compared to 542 referrals in 2024 – 2025. Of the 2025-2026 referrals, 43% (414) survivors reported experiencing some form of economic abuse, compared to 37% (198) of survivors in 2024-2025. Economic abuse can take many forms, all of…

Anti-diversity narrative has apparently become mainstream view with thanks to rise of the far-right

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:8 July 2026
Post last modified:8 July 2026

A new report written by a former government adviser on extremism has raised huge alarm about the “vanishingly small” window for a new PM to be able to take action to curb the growing division and hate in the UK. Sara Khan’s analysis reveals a stark image of the current — and growing — lack of harmony in the UK with the report finding that over half of Brits believe that the country is losing its national identity as a result of diversity. Additionally, it apparently found that 40% of people thought that Muslims are not even capable of integration. According…

‘10,589 percent rise’: UK purchases of Israel arms spiked massively during genocide

Post author:Joe Glenton
Post published:18 June 2026
Post last modified:18 June 2026

The UK bought massive amounts of Israel’s military gear between 2023 and 2025 — the most intense years of the genocide. UN figures show a spike of 10,589 percent in Israeli imports with the British police and military being major recipients. Israel has been found, by the UN, to have committed genocide against Palestinians. Declassified UK reported: Figures from the UN Comtrade database show that UK imports from Israel of arms, ammunition and related parts increased from just £55,000 in 2023 to almost £5.9 million in 2025. That is equivalent to around a 10,589 percent rise during two years in which…

Ireland’s explosive data centre growth triggers shocking rise in electricity bills

Post author:Robert Freeman
Post published:31 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

A new report has revealed the whopping tax levied on households in Ireland due to runaway data centre expansion — a massive €715 million extra on electricity bills from 2015-2023. Not only that, the document published by Friends of the Earth Ireland (FOTEI) projects that between 2025-2034, bill payers are: …set to face an additional €1.43 billion in electricity bills linked to data centre growth. It also highlights how those least able to pay are hit, stating that: …the poorest households in Ireland paid an extra €209 on electricity bills between 2021 and 2023 due to data centre growth. The cost…

Fairer pricing petitions pass 10,000 signatures as bills rise

Post author:The Canary
Post published:29 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

A campaign by fuel poverty and climate campaign groups to “Make Green Fair” is gaining traction. The campaign is aiming for fairer pricing by making sure the cheaper production cost of renewable energy gets passed on to consumers. Petitions by Fuel Poverty Action and 350.org in support of the campaign have now reached a combined total of over 10,000 signatures. Ofgem’s new price cap will see bill rises of 13% from 1 July. To mark the day, Fuel Poverty Action and a coalition of allies will be protesting outside the Department of Energy. Fuel Poverty Action campaigner Stu Bretherton said: Today’s…