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Columnist sacked over racist tweet about Sussex baby

Columnist sacked over racist tweet about Sussex baby

A COLUMNIST has been fired over a racist tweet she wrote about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby girl.

Julie Burchill, a columnist for The Sunday Telegraph, claimed she was “sacked” a day after tweeting about the name of the baby, Lilibet.


“I’ve been sacked by the Telegraph – it’s been a lovely five years, and I’ll always be grateful to them for ending my wilderness years,” the Brighton-based writer wrote on Facebook on Tuesday (8).

After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the arrival of their second child on Sunday (6), Burchil tweeted, “What a missed opportunity! They could have called it Georgina Floydina!”

London-based barrister Joanna Toch, 59, who responded to her now-deleted tweet with racist comments, is also reported to have been suspended from her legal practice firm.

Toch tweeted “No Doria? Don't black names matter?” to which Burchill tweeted back, “I was hoping for Doria Oprah, the racist rotters”.

The tweets prompted a backlash on social media, where their views were described as “disgusting racism” and “despicable”.

Last year, Markle spoke about George Floyd, a black man who was killed in US police custody and other victims of police brutality in a graduation address shortly after the 46-year-old's death sparked the Black Lives Matter protests worldwide.

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Falklands sovereignty row erupts days before King Charles meets Trump

No 10 was quick to respond, with the prime minister's spokesman saying the government "could not be clearer" on its stance

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Falklands sovereignty row erupts days before King Charles meets Trump

Highlights

  • A Pentagon email reported by Reuters suggested the US was considering reviewing its support for UK sovereignty over the Falklands.
  • Downing Street said sovereignty "rests with the UK" and the islanders' right to self-determination is "paramount".
  • Report emerged just three days before King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to meet Trump at the White House.
A report suggesting the US may be rethinking its position on the Falkland Islands has sparked a strong response from Downing Street, coming just days before King Charles and Queen Camilla head to Washington to meet president Donald Trump.
An internal Pentagon email, reported by Reuters, suggested the US was looking at ways to put pressure on Nato allies it felt had not supported its war in Iran.
One of the options discussed was a review of American backing for British sovereignty over the Falklands.
No 10 was quick to respond, with the prime minister's spokesman saying the government "could not be clearer" on its stance.
"Sovereignty rests with the UK and the islanders' right to self-determination is paramount," he told BBC, adding that this had been "expressed clearly and consistently to successive US administrations."
He was firm that "nothing is going to change that."
The Falkland Islands government backed London's position, saying it had "complete confidence" in the UK's commitment to defending its right to self-determination.
Previous US administrations have recognised Britain's administration of the islands but have stopped short of formally backing its sovereignty claim.

Political reaction grows

The report triggered sharp reactions from across British politics. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the reported US position "absolute nonsense", adding: "We need to make sure that we back the Falklands.

They are British territory." Reform UK's Nigel Farage said the matter was "utterly non-negotiable" and confirmed he would raise it with Argentina's president Javier Milei when they meet later this year.

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