Ben Smoke
Bristol protests: the full story, told by those who were there
#KillTheBill — Last weekend, protests erupted into chaos in the South West of England city over a draconian bill that seeks to increase police powers. Politics Editor Ben Smoke speaks to protestors to find out what really happened.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Power of protest: The policing bill has been delayed
Sisters united — Thanks to Sisters Uncut’s tireless campaigning, an authoritarian bill that intends to crack down on protesting and increase police powers has been delayed until at least the summer, reports Politics Editor Ben Smoke.
Written by: Ben Smoke
‘It‘s a Sin’ taught me I need to confront shame as a gay man
Unhealed wounds — Russell T. Davies’ drama is a potent reminder of the suffocating self-loathing gay men endured during the AIDS crisis. It should also be a call to arms as a new generation of LGBTQ+ people struggle to find acceptance, writes Politics Editor, Ben Smoke.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Inside an NHS hospital at breaking point
‘It‘s relentless‘ — While Covid infection rates may be dropping, the crisis continues unabated inside hospitals. Politics Editor Ben Smoke reports from Homerton Hospital, London, speaking to frontline medical staff about the profound emotional and physical toll they face every single day.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Liberals are wrong: the fight against Trumpism isn't over
The storm ahead — The inauguration of president Joe Biden marked a moment of shared relief. But the threats posed under Trump's presidency are still as urgent as ever, writes Huck's politics editor, Ben Smoke.
Written by: Ben Smoke
The gun rights protest setting the stage for the inauguration
Rolling 4 the 2A — Bolstered by the Capitol riots, this week, pro-gun activists, Boogaloo Boys, and Trump supporters gathered for Lobby Day in Virginia, making clear their intent to keep the outgoing president’s legacy alive.
Written by: Ben Smoke (additional reporting Wil Sands)
'It’s been hell': stories from the NHS frontlines
Breaking point — We hear the stories of NHS staff working tirelessly over the Christmas holiday as the COVID-19 crisis continues to devastate hospitals.
Written by: Ben Smoke
2020: The year in UK activism
People power — We recall month by month what has been a tumultuous year in the fight for social justice.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Heathrow is suffocating Black Londoners
Time to act — After a day of historic verdicts, it's time to take the threat that air pollution poses to people living in London's poorest areas seriously, argues Huck's Politics Editor, Ben Smoke.
Written by: Ben Smoke
How the 2010 student protests radicalised me
A decade of fighting — 10 years on from the tuition fee vote, writer Ben Smoke reflects on the violence and chaos of a day that would shape the future politics of a generation.
Written by: Ben Smoke