Dear IRR News subscriber,

This week the IRR’s Jenny Bourne assesses ‘the cuddlification of Black revolutionaries’ and regular contributor John Grayson analyses David Blunkett’s comments on the Roma in Sheffield. And we have a seasonal article examining the meaning behind a much-loved Christmas carol.

In news from across the UK, the Home Office has deported, on its second attempt, Isa Muaza, a seriously ill Nigerian asylum seeker who had been on hunger strike for over 100 days. A London police officer has admitted racially aggravated common assault on a nightclub doorman; sentencing was adjourned until 23 December. And the inquest jury into the death of Mark Duggan will resume its deliberations in the New Year after failing to reach a verdict after six days.

This will also be our final email for 2013 and we will resume normal service from the week beginning 6 January 2014.

Harmit Athwal

Editor, IRR News