Dear Lush (cc Chelmsford City Council), As a woman who had half a breast removed last year due to cancer, I am writing to raise my concerns about your “Proud of My Stripes” window display. I am also, on behalf of other women who have experienced breast cancer, respectfully requesting its removal. Because mastectomies are not a fashion statement, an identity marker or something to be celebrated. They are something women undergo because they are ill, because they are frightened, because they are trying to stay alive. Around 59,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year. Many will undergo surgery - a mastectomy, lumpectomy or other procedure. Others choose preventive mastectomies because they carry a high-risk BRCA gene mutation. If a woman chooses to have her breasts removed to affirm a gender identity, that is her personal choice. I honestly don’t know the number of women who have elective mastectomies for this reason. What I do know is that it is a tiny number compared with those for whom breast surgery is medically necessary and not something to be celebrated. I think I speak for many women who have experienced breast cancer - and for their families - when I say this: Breast removal surgery is not something I regard as cute, playful or empowering. Nor is it something I believe retailers should be celebrating. For that reason, I am requesting that the display be removed and that @ChelmsCouncil apologise for promoting it on social media. Yours sincerely, Janet Murray

Last year, a video went viral of a scared, 12 year old girl in Dundee. She was waving weapons, shouting at a migrant to leave her alone. Almost immediately, many on the left were calling this girl a liar (and worse). They were saying the “far-right” were whipping up ‘anti-migrant hate’. People like @HumzaYousaf & many more called it ‘bullsh*t’. Many, including people like @jdpoc while calling her a liar & talking about her ‘hatred’, showed pictures of the little girl. Just to make sure everyone knew who the ‘liar’ they were talking about, was. A fundraiser for the girl was mocked, suggesting she’d use the money to buy “machetes and IronBru” She was a child. Their posts were seen by hundreds of thousands of people. She wasn’t ‘hate-filled’, she was scared. Yesterday, her version of events was proven to be true. She was sexually harassed by a migrant and another child physically assaulted too. The man and his sister were prosecuted. How shameful that children need to arm themselves for protection. How shameful that adults will deny their reality. How shameful that some people are so desperate to defend migration into this country, that they will literally mock children who are victims of their crimes. Shame on you all. I’ll be fascinated to see how many of you publicly apologise to the girl, in the same public way that you called her a liar. I won’t hold my breath… I hope this girl is ok. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…