Green deputy apologises for ‘hate’ tweet
THE DEPUTY Leader of the Green Party apologised after tweeting a picture that appeared to blame Jews for bloodshed in countries including Libya, Ukraine and Iraq, saying she “abhors antisemitism in all its forms”.
Amelia Womack, who has served as the party’s deputy leader in England and Wales since 2014, tweeted a cartoon last week of the grim reaper shrouded in an American flag and carrying a scythe dripping with blood.
The figure, depicted as having entered and exited doors marked “Iraq”, “Libya”, “Syria” and “Ukraine” leaving pools of blood in its wake, could be seen knocking on a door marked “Venezuela”.
A closer examination of the scythe revealed a Star of David, with the blade possibly intended to represent
Apology: Amelia Womack an Israeli flag. Ms Womack tweeted the picture with the caption: “When a picture paints a thousand words.” After anger from Twitter users, including members of the Green Party, Ms Womack deleted her tweet, initially making no further reference to it other than writing: “That’ll teach me for sharing things just as my battery dies on a train.”
However, on Friday morning the Green politician tweeted: “Yesterday I tweeted a picture which, in my ignorance, I thought was satirising US imperialism. It wasn’t, it was in fact antisemitic and I apologise wholeheartedly for tweeting it.
“I abhor antisemitism in all forms. There is no excuse for what I did and I’m truly sorry.” Marie van der Zyl, resident of the Board of Deputies, said: “This is a nasty conspiratorial image from someone senior enough in politics to know better. Amelia Womack was correct to apologise.”
SAM ALMOND is not your average 92-year-old, nor is he usually a betting man, but he has put a bet on himself living to be 105 because he is sure his healthy lifestyle and exercise routine will stand him in good stead.
Mr Almond, who lives in Eastbourne, gets up at 6am to swim 30 lengths every morning and is currently the UK 90 to 95 year group swimming champion.
He plans to plans to live to be 105 and hopes to be the first 100-year-old to write a book about living to his own centenary and how others can do it too.
“I like to think of myself as a longevity expert,” he says.
The 92-year-old is a motivational speaker and gives talks on how to live longer.
“I am writing a book about how to do it and I want to be the first 100-year-old author to have written a guide on how it can be done.”
The former RAF pilot, who was born in Manchester in 1926, was shortlisted for the 1948 British Olympic swimming team in the 3m springboard section but was unable to compete because he could not afford to travel to the training.
Mr Arnold, who lives with his wife Hazel, also swims in the sea from May to August. The key to living longer, he says, is having discipline, love and good habits. “Love is extremely important for longevity. It fortifies you and gives you strength. I love being married.”