UK's Labour Party’s first transgender councillor elected

This didn't make the mainstream news, which may or may not be a good thing. The good news is another first (for Britain anyway.)

The Labour Party has elected its first openly transgender councillor.

The opposition party took 18 of the 20 available seats on Wolverhampton City Council during last week’s English council elections.

Anwen Dawn Muston was elected in the city’s East Park ward with 1,022 votes – making her the party’s only current elected trans politician anywhere in the UK.

A number of other parties currently have trans councillors, including the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Greens and UKIP – but Ms Muston is the first Labour politician to break through.

She told PinkNews: “I am proud to have been elected, as the first openly out elected transgender politician at any level within the Labour Party.

Ms Muston, who stood unsuccessfully previously in a different ward, added: “I was not selected or elected because I am transgender, nor to tick an equality tick box.

“It’s because of my qualities and experience in dealing with local issues, along with all the hard work I put in during the election campaign – proving that I can do the job required and represent all communities regardless on a range of issues.

Donald Trump backs Brexit

The UK would be "better off without" the European Union, US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has said.

He told Fox News the migration crisis had been a "horrible thing for Europe" and blamed the EU for driving it.

The Republican said he was not making a "recommendation" but his "feeling" was that the UK should vote to sever ties with the EU in its 23 June referendum.

French Euro 2016 team's English anthem criticised

Don't know if this is the right forum, but I couldn't find a French group or forum.

A French minister has criticised the selection of an English song as the official anthem for French supporters at the Euro 2016 championship.

Andre Vallini, Secretary of State for Development and Francofonie, said it was "incomprehensible" for the French team's song to be in English.

Mr Vallini also berated the French entry at the Eurovision song contest, because of its English chorus.

The minister urged Francophones on Twitter to "rise up".

"At a time when we are defending the place of the French language in international institutions, and especially European institutions... it is incomprehensible that for these two big popular events, the French language throws in the towel," Mr Vallini added.


France is hosting the football tournament, which begins next month.

The song, I Was Made for Lovin' You, was originally performed by Kiss and is being performed for the event by French group Skip The Use.

The Eurovision entry, performed by Amir, is called J'ai Cherche (I Have Searched).

Liquid smoke, America's best kept secret?

I have a lot of American cookbooks and liquid smoke is an oft used ingredient. Up until very recently it was unavailable in the UK. Now one supermarket has started stocking it, and it's brilliant.

Calling all neutrals. Do any of you genuinely want Spurs to win the League?

Or, like me are, you rooting for Leicester?