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Only Working-Class Interns Need Apply — But Who Decides Who Counts in 2025?

A debate reignites in the UK over the definition of “working class” as critics say political parties risk alienating the very voters they claim to champion.

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Working-Class Internship Debate in UK Sparks Clash Over Class Identity
Rod Liddle’s critique of Labour’s working-class internship scheme has reignited a national debate on class identity in modern Britain.

The question of who qualifies as “working class” is once again sparking lively debate in United Kingdom politics. The controversy began after journalist Rod Liddle challenged the Labour Party over a new civil service internship programme seeking candidates “exclusively” from working-class backgrounds.

While such schemes aim to diversify Britain’s corridors of power, critics are questioning not just their fairness — but the very definition of working class in 2025.

Martin Henry, writing from Essex, recalled his father’s journey from a slum quarter of Edinburgh to professional success in medicine and dentistry. His father left school at 14, worked tirelessly, and eventually owned a large home and a smart car. “Did that mean he changed from working class to middle class? More importantly, should it matter?” Henry argued that Sir Keir Starmer should avoid being “patronising” towards the middle class, whose taxes fund support for those less skilled.

Political dissatisfaction is also fuelling a bigger shift, according to Francis Bown from London. He warns that “social engineering” by the civil service won’t dent the entrenched “middle-class liberal hegemony.” Instead, he points to voter frustration over immigration and declining living standards, which is driving support towards the right-wing Reform UK party and the hard-left under Jeremy Corbyn — both of whom, he says, have “no time for the bien pensants.”

Working-Class Internship Debate in UK Sparks Clash Over Class Identity

Others took a lighter approach. Liddle himself joked that an interviewer could hold up an avocado and see if candidates recognised it. Graham Simpson, recalling his days in a Highland regiment, suggested an even simpler litmus test: ask if the applicant lives “in a house with a number” rather than a named estate.

Adam Thomas from Devon proposed that the easiest measure might be whether an applicant’s parents can work from home — a distinction that would automatically include manual labourers, baristas, and care workers in the modern working class. In his view, Labour has largely ignored these groups in favour of white-collar public servants who “labour very little” from home.

Even the industrial trades entered the conversation. Peter Saunders from Salisbury noted that Britain still has active tanning factories, such as Thomas Ware & Sons in Bristol, countering the romanticised image of “urine-reeking” tanners from the past.


Working-Class Internship Debate in UK Sparks Clash Over Class Identity

High Streets Under Pressure

The letters page also highlighted another socio-economic challenge — the decline of British high streets. Stuart Allan from Derbyshire has spent five years volunteering on the Long Eaton town deal, which received £25 million in government funding. While some projects have been worthwhile, he fears the final push to “improve the high street” may miss the mark.

With supermarkets offering “shops within shops,” many traditional services have migrated away from the high street, leaving behind empty units now filled by barbers and vape shops. Another letter, from Chris Kent in Essex, tackled the issue of illegal tobacco sales. While not a smoker himself, Kent argued that the high cost of cigarettes drives the black market and questioned why sellers face product seizures without jail time.


Working-Class Internship Debate in UK Sparks Clash Over Class Identity

Starmer’s Leadership Questioned

The debate wasn’t limited to class and commerce. Some letters addressed Starmer’s control over his Parliamentary Labour Party. Carol Forshaw from Bolton compared losing control of MPs to a teacher losing control of a classroom — a situation, she warns, is rarely recoverable.

Dr Margaret Wakelin from Cheshire was more philosophical, quoting The West Wing TV series: “Democracy is about how we choose who gets the blame.” She suggested that leadership challenges are less about actual policy and more about political theatre.


From Personal Health to Public Memory

Not all contributions were political. Letters ranged from a 77-year-old’s testament to an active lifestyle, to frustrations over Wales’ exclusion from the UK Government’s baby loss certificate scheme, and even to reflections on animal conservation inspired by Gerald Durrell.

The diversity of topics reflects a Britain where debates about identity — whether class-based, political, or personal — are deeply woven into public discourse. And while the Labour internship row may fade, the bigger question of how we define, value, and support different social groups will likely remain.

For now, the battle over what “working class” means in modern Britain is less about avocado tests and more about a fundamental struggle over representation, opportunity, and political trust.

for more news visit www.DailyGlobalDiary.com

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Donald Trump Jr. announces engagement at the White House… “I want to thank Bettina for one word: Yes”

From a quiet Palm Beach romance to a surprise White House moment, Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson make it official

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Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson announce engagement at the White House
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson attend a gala in Palm Beach months before announcing their engagement

In a moment that blended politics, family, and personal celebration, Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson have announced their engagement — and the setting made it even more symbolic.

The news was revealed on December 15 at the White House, with President Donald Trump himself sharing the announcement publicly. A short video of the moment, later circulated on X, captured Donald Trump Jr. struggling — unusually — to find the right words.

“I’m not usually at a loss for words, because I’m usually doing the ranting and raving really well,” Trump Jr. said with a smile. “I want to thank Bettina for that one word: ‘Yes.’”

(Donald Trump Jr.)
(Donald Trump)

Standing beside him, Anderson appeared visibly emotional as she shared her own reaction.

“This has been the most unforgettable weekend,” she said. “I get to marry the love of my life, and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

From low-key beginnings to center stage

The couple’s relationship first came into public view in August 2024, when they were spotted together at a brunch in Palm Beach, Florida. At the time, the pairing raised eyebrows, as Trump Jr. was still publicly linked to Kimberly Guilfoyle.

By December 2024, sources confirmed that Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle had quietly parted ways, ending an engagement that began in 2020. Shortly afterward, Trump Jr. and Anderson’s relationship became more visible — and increasingly serious.

(Kimberly Guilfoyle)

Anderson joined Trump Jr. for key family moments, including New Year’s Eve at Mar-a-Lago and President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, signaling her growing role within the Trump family circle.

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(Mar-a-Lago)

A new chapter after a long personal journey

Donald Trump Jr., 47, was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he shares five children — Kai, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer, and Chloe. The couple divorced in 2018 after 12 years of marriage.

(Vanessa Trump)

Sources close to the family have described Anderson as a stabilizing presence in Trump Jr.’s life, noting that the relationship developed gradually but with clear intention. One insider previously told PEOPLE that the two “could go the distance.”

Who is Bettina Anderson?

Bettina Anderson is no stranger to high-profile circles, but her public identity extends well beyond society events. She is the daughter of philanthropists Harry Loy Anderson Jr. and Inger Anderson, and is deeply involved in charitable and advocacy work.

(Bettina Anderson )
(Hope for Depression Research Foundation)

She is a prominent supporter of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, founded by Audrey Gruss, and is actively involved in Project Paradise, a Florida-based conservation initiative. Anderson also volunteers weekly with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, reflecting a long-term commitment to education and community development.

What comes next

While no wedding date has been announced, the engagement marks a significant new chapter for both Trump Jr. and Anderson — one that has unfolded under intense public scrutiny but appears grounded in mutual admiration and shared values.

For now, the couple has asked for privacy as they celebrate the milestone. But with a White House announcement and a presidential seal hovering over their engagement story, one thing is certain: this will remain one of the most talked-about political-society unions of the year.

For more Update – DAILYGLOBALDIARY

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“Egg on Their Face”: DOJ’s Failed Trump Revenge Prosecutions Trigger Legal Embarrassment

From dismissed indictments to grand jury rejections, the Justice Department’s attempts to prosecute Trump critics have unraveled in dramatic fashion

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“Egg on Their Face”: DOJ’s Failed Trump Revenge Prosecutions Trigger Legal Embarrassment
The U.S. Department of Justice faces mounting criticism after repeated legal failures in high-profile Trump-linked prosecutions

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is facing growing scrutiny and embarrassment after a string of high-profile failures tied to attempts to prosecute critics of President Donald Trump. What was meant to project strength and accountability has instead exposed deep cracks in federal prosecution strategy, according to legal experts and former prosecutors.

In a sequence of setbacks rarely seen in modern federal law enforcement, the DOJ has suffered dismissed indictments, blocked evidence, and, most strikingly, two federal grand juries refusing to indict one of its key targets — New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The most damaging blow came on December 11, when a second grand jury declined to issue charges against James, just days after another grand jury rejected the same effort. Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, called the outcome “unprecedented,” a sentiment echoed by multiple former federal prosecutors.

“Egg on Their Face”: DOJ’s Failed Trump Revenge Prosecutions Trigger Legal Embarrassment


Earlier indictments against both James and former FBI Director James Comey were thrown out after a federal judge ruled that the special prosecutor who brought the cases, Lindsey Halligan, had been unlawfully appointed. Adding to the DOJ’s woes, a judge also blocked prosecutors from using key evidence against Comey, citing possible constitutional violations.

“This is an embarrassment,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor. “The last thing you want to be as a prosecutor is to be on the defensive — and that’s exactly what’s happening here.”

Trump’s Longstanding Vendettas

Trump’s hostility toward both Comey and James dates back years. He fired Comey in 2017 while the FBI was investigating potential links between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. James later sued Trump in 2022 for civil fraud related to his real estate business, a case that deeply angered the former president.

In a September 20 social media post, Trump openly called for the prosecution of Comey, James, and Sen. Adam Schiff of California. While investigations were launched, results have been deeply underwhelming.

An NBC News report revealed that the DOJ’s investigation into Schiff has stalled entirely, with internal probes reportedly underway to examine how the case was mishandled. The DOJ has declined to comment on its performance in these matters.

Loyalty Over Experience

According to multiple reports, career prosecutors — including the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — had previously concluded the evidence against James and Comey was too weak to sustain charges. Trump publicly criticized and fired the U.S. attorney, later urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint Lindsey Halligan, his former personal lawyer, despite her lack of prosecutorial experience.

Bondi acted swiftly, and Halligan secured indictments against both Comey and James. But the cases quickly collapsed.

In Comey’s case, Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick described a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps,” including possible violations of the Fourth Amendment. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, a Clinton appointee, ultimately dismissed all charges after ruling Halligan’s appointment unlawful.

“The prosecutions haven’t amounted to much in court,” said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. “Except to harass them — which may have been the point.”

Grand Jury Rejections: A Rare Humiliation

Perhaps the most humiliating moment for the DOJ came when two separate grand juries rejected efforts to re-indict Letitia James. Legal experts stress how extraordinary this is.

Former federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner said he sought hundreds of indictments in his career and failed only once. “To go before two grand juries in a week and fail both times is humiliating and a repudiation of the prosecution,” he said.

Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney under President Barack Obama, was even more blunt:
“When prosecutors are selected based on loyalty rather than experience and integrity, this is the sort of garbage we can expect.”

“Egg on Their Face”: DOJ’s Failed Trump Revenge Prosecutions Trigger Legal Embarrassment


Comey Case Still on Shaky Ground

The DOJ has suggested it may try to re-indict Comey, but significant hurdles remain. A federal judge has temporarily blocked prosecutors from using key evidence obtained during a separate 2017 investigation, ruling it may have been seized unconstitutionally.

Even if that hurdle is cleared, prosecutors face another problem: time. The original indictment was issued just days before the statute of limitations expired. Comey’s defense team argues that because the indictment was void, the government cannot rely on the usual six-month extension for refiling charges.

“The DOJ — and Halligan in particular — have egg on their face,” Rahmani said. “These are massive failures by the Justice Department.”

A Pattern of Collapse

What emerges from this saga is not just a legal defeat, but a broader institutional reckoning. From judicial rebukes to grand jury resistance, the DOJ’s efforts against Trump’s perceived enemies have collapsed under scrutiny.

Instead of delivering accountability, the prosecutions have raised uncomfortable questions about politicization, competence, and abuse of power — questions that now hang heavily over the Justice Department itself.

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Bill Maher Sparks Fiery Clash With Ana Kasparian on Israel as Question About ‘That Dress’ Escalates Debate

“Where would you live in the Middle East… in that dress?” Bill Maher’s question turns tense as Ana Kasparian pushes back on his assumptions.

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Bill Maher and Ana Kasparian’s Heated Israel Debate Goes Viral on Club Random
Bill Maher and Ana Kasparian during their heated debate on Club Random, where a question about the Middle East suddenly turned personal.

A casual, free-flowing podcast conversation quickly morphed into a heated geopolitical debate when comedian and commentator Bill Maher clashed with Ana Kasparian of The Young Turks during her recent appearance on his show, Club Random.

What began as a typical Maher-style discussion — part politics, part humor, part provocation — took a sharper turn when the topic shifted to the Middle East and whether a Western woman would feel comfortable living there.

Maher, who often stresses that he is not formally aligned with any political organization, posed a hypothetical question to Kasparian:

“Ana, you’ve got to go live in the Middle East… where would you live?”

He began listing countries one by one — Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria — adding commentary that blended sarcasm with dark humor. Kasparian immediately challenged his characterization of Syria, pointing out that parts of the country are still controlled by extremist groups.

ALSO READ : Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet Steal the Spotlight in Matching Orange Looks at Marty Supreme Premiere

But Maher barreled on, even referencing Yemen “under Houthi rule,” before pivoting to Israel.

Tel Aviv or the West Bank — Ramallah is wonderful in the fall, it gets lovely,” Maher said. What followed, however, pushed the discussion into far more personal territory.

Looking directly at Kasparian’s outfit, Maher asked:
“What city would you live in? What do you think you’d be comfortable in that dress?”

The remark noticeably shifted the tone of the conversation. Kasparian, known for her direct style on The Young Turks, pushed back firmly, suggesting Maher was oversimplifying deeply complex cultures and ignoring regional differences in laws, norms and women’s rights.

Maher defended his approach, insisting he was speaking about general realities in the region, not making personal judgments. But by this point, the exchange had clearly escalated beyond a casual hypothetical.

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A Debate That Mirrors a Larger Global Divide

The tense moment reflected a broader, ongoing debate playing out across social media and political circles: How does the West talk about the Middle East without flattening its complexity?

Kasparian argued that sweeping generalizations — especially about women’s freedoms — feed into stereotypes that oversimplify lived experiences. Maher countered that refusing to acknowledge differences in legal and cultural realities is equally misleading.

As clips of the exchange circulated online, reactions were predictably polarized. Supporters of Maher praised him for “saying the uncomfortable truth,” while fans of Kasparian applauded her for challenging what they viewed as reductive framing.

Why This Exchange Matters

Both Maher and Kasparian command large online audiences. Maher hosts the long-running HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, while Kasparian reaches millions through TYT’s digital platforms. Their confrontation — part humor, part philosophy, part geopolitics — reflects how discussions about Israel, women’s rights, and Middle Eastern politics have become flashpoints in Western media.

It also highlights something deeper: When conversations about geopolitics intersect with identity and personal appearance, the tension is almost inevitable.

And on Club Random, tension is something Maher rarely shies away from.

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