"It was hell."

ALISTER: The govt won an appeal to let asylum seekers stay at a hotel in Epping. It’s not perfect but it's better than camps! With over 32,000 people housed in these types of hotels across the country, I couldn’t imagine trying to set up camps for that many overnight. At least hotels provide dignity.

MERIDYTH: Dignity? Have you seen the reports? People sleeping on floors, overcrowded rooms, and we're paying £170 per night per person when dispersed housing costs just £27! It's exploitation of vulnerable humans AND taxpayers.

ALISTER: The costs are mad, £15.3bn over 10 years! The initial budget was £4.5bn. But that's exactly why we need transparency, especially after Clearsprings made nearly £1.3bn last year from migrant housing. It needs proper regulation.

MERIDYTH: That's precisely my point. The owner of Clearsprings has made a billion-dollar fortune while asylum seekers endure "detention-like" settings. With unsafe conditions, lack of privacy, and even higher death rates, it's inhumane profiteering.

ALISTER: But what's the alternative? The Tories tried military barracks, but the Napier barracks were called "squalid" by judges, while Badenoch wants camps, which are even worse. Hotels aren't perfect, but they're better than tents or shipping containers, surely?

MERIDYTH: The alternative is fixing the broken system. We've got an all-time high of 111,000 asylum claims. We need to process them faster without warehousing them like Temu parcels, while taxpayers foot the bill which goes straight into contractors’ wallets.

🚬 Smoke show. Vaping at a bus stop could mean a £1,000 fine! A new crackdown and a potential legal change could make public transport a bit more pleasant for non-vapers. There are no laws around public vaping, but the way things are going that could change!

🪦 To the grave. An unusual advert has appeared in Croydon. Reform UK is looking for a candidate as mayor. The sudden ad comes after the current Reform candidate, from Bradford, has been dead for six months.

🚇 Strikes still on. Avoid the capital, if possible, starting this Friday 5 Sept. A TfL Tube strike will take place for a full week, including a separate DLR strike starting on the 7th. Fingers crossed an agreement over pay and conditions is reached. Selfishly, I’ve got theatre tickets on Friday night… 😬

📋 Flawed. The UK's domestic abuse risk-assessment tool ‘Dash’ has been labelled “flawed” by the Safeguarding Minister. Studies show it missed 90% of high-risk repeat victims, with most flagged as medium or standard risk, and left unsupported. 🤯

GOOD NEWS… for Chinese students wanting an American education after the US made a u-turn to allow 600,000 student visas from the Land of the Dragon. BAD NEWS… for sending post to the US, after countries across the globe have paused deliveries due to tariff madness.

🇫🇷 Between a rock and a hard place. French Prime Minister Bayrou is gambling on a September 8 confidence vote for his debt-reduction plan. If he loses (widely expected), President Macron will face some tough choices - appoint another PM, call another snap election, or endure a destabilising presidency.

🏗️ Delisted. One of the biggest property giants in the world and the second biggest in China has been delisted from the Hong Kong stock exchange. Evergrande was once worth $50bn (USD), now they are paying off liquidators and going bust.

🇵🇹 Strong words. After the US president’s latest attempt to be a mediator in the Ukraine Russia war, the Portuguese president had enough, calling Trump “objectively a soviet asset.”

🇬🇱 “Calm down”. I always find when I’ve made a horrible mistake, telling the victim to calm down works wonders. That’s what the US has done to Denmark, as a top US diplomat was summoned over claims the US is conducting covert ops in Greenland.

🛌 How often are you changing our pillowcases? While we all know you should wash your bedsheets every week (every 2 weeks, if you must), some say that pillowcases should be washed every few days!

🪱 Flesh-eating parasite! The first human case of a flesh-eating screwworm fly larva was found in the U.S. 🤢 Though rare and not contagious, the incident sparked renewed efforts, including sterile fly programs, to protect public health and livestock.

🧴 Today I Learnt (TIL). How does sunscreen work? The BBC have busted a few sunscreen myths. For instance, using sunscreen doesn’t limit your vitamin D intake, so there really isn’t an excuse!

♜ Checkmate. Two 10yr old girls, on two separate continents, took down two chess grandmasters only mere hours apart. Loving girl power, right now!

📱 For Android users. Starting next year, Google will stop Android users from installing apps made by unverified developers. By 2027 worldwide, only apps from developers who prove their identity will work. This means less freedom for users who liked Android for its openness, but more protection against malware.

🎬️… And cut. “I don’t watch movies,” says iconic movie star Denzel Washington, which blew our minds away. After making 50+ films, I guess we’d be tired of them too???

By Alister

This week, I got hooked on the new Netflix show, Hostage. I'm always on the lookout for a gripping series that doesn't demand a huge time commitment. And this one fits the bill perfectly.

It's a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing. The short season means the story doesn't overstay its welcome or drag its feet, which I really appreciated.

I admit, there are a few moments that stretch the bounds of realism. While brief and fleeting, they don’t spoil the overall enjoyment. The ending did feel a bit rushed, leaving me less satisfied than I would’ve liked. However, I'd much rather have a quick conclusion than long and drawn-out, just for the sake of it.

All in all, Hostage is a thrilling ride that delivers on suspense and entertainment. Despite a couple of minor flaws, it’s a show that I thoroughly enjoyed and would happily recommend. It's a perfect midweek binge when you want to get lost in a good story, while escaping the rain this week.

By Alister

Hope everyone enjoyed International Dog Day!

Irish comedian, Justine Stafford, has helped us celebrate. She’s humourously captured the chaotic energy of man’s best friend. “If my dog could talk” is the perfect example of our canine pets always having other plans.

@justinestaffordcomedy

Happy International Dog Day 💜 #foryou #xyzcba #internationaldogday #irish #dog

Short and brilliantly funny. Any dog lover will find this relatable. It’s a perfect reminder of why we love our furry friends, even when they’re causing mayhem.

Whew, you made it!

Schools are back on, bank holidays are over, but one thing hasn’t changed. You can still join us for next week’s squabble.

Alister & Meridyth