'I'm a historian - we must debunk lies about the Bengal Famine'
I'm a historian - we must debunk lies about Winston Churchill's role in the Bengal Famine
OPINION - JAMES HOLLAND: Historical whims and conspiracy theories are everywhere.. but wilful ignorance must be challenged.
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Add us as preferred source Comments By James Holland – Guest Columnist 17:00, Thu, Jun 25, 2026 
It never ceases to amaze me how bad history takes root. Take the death of Hitler. There was a mass of witnesses and plenty of evidence that he took his own life in the Führerbunker in Berlin on April 30, 1945 – from a sizable chunk of his jaw, confirmed by dental X-rays, to a piece of his skull and blood-stains. Moreover, it was inconceivable that someone as megalomaniacal and narcissistic as the Fuhrer could quietly live out their days incognito in South America. Yet barely a week goes by without someone asking me whether he might have survived. These notions, these historical whims and conspiracy theories, somehow develop roots and, like the toughest thistle, are hard to pull out.
The same is true of Winston Churchill’s part in the Bengal Famine of 1943. Earlier this week, in the face of intense criticism from historians, the National Portrait Gallery pulled a video installation by Helen Cammock accusing the wartime PM of the “willful starvation of the Indian population”. I wonder how much research was undertaken by Cammock, or was she merely echoing accusations from those within her echo chamber? It’s quite a thing to accuse anyone of deliberately starving others, let alone Churchill.
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But as a towering twentieth-century figure, he’s an easy target. Churchill saved Britain against the Nazi hordes in 1940; he led the country in the coalition that defeated not only Hitler but the Imperial Japanese too. Because of that, he’s all the more enticing a target. But Cammock is not only calling out Churchill, she’s also provoking those who would naturally leap to his defence. Nonetheless, this vile nonsense deserves to be called out in turn. It’s not good enough to brand the three million who died as victims of unjust imperialism. And it’s all very well saying Churchill could and should have sent more relief, but to do so is to fail to understand how impossible that was in 1943.
The Bengal Famine was caused by a terrible combination of factors. A cyclone in the autumn of 1942 brought three separate tidal waves that had wiped out 450 square miles, badly affected a further 400 square miles and damaged another 3,200 square miles. These ruined or severely damaged the homes and livelihoods of up to 2.5 million Bengalis. A fungus then hit remaining rice stocks, while the misery was heightened by the confiscation of boats earlier in the year when the British had been trying to stem the risk a Japanese invasion of India. Unquestionably a bad decision but one was made in Calcutta and New Delhi, not Downing Street.
And there was a concerted relief effort, not only in terms of food, but also in loans and grants of money for boats and new homes. Most Bengalis lived an extremely precarious existence. Some ten million were utterly dependent on agriculture. There was charity and relief but no social welfare – indeed, there was very little social welfare anywhere at that time.
The state had already been an importer of food for over a decade and most had come from Burma, now closed to India thanks to the Japanese. The Allies never had enough shipping, either. So in August 1943, Churchill was not in a position to suddenly send food. And not all India was facing famine – only Bengal and the north-east. But in 1935, the central government in New Delhi had ceded central powers to the provinces, where the regional governments were democratically elected Indians. In 1942 they had all agreed to introduce trade barriers which now blocked aid.
In the end, British Governor General Lord Wavell forced the issue by threatening legal and even military action, and substantial amounts of grain had finally begun to arrive. It was, however, too little too late to bring a swift end to the humanitarian disaster.
And nor was it the case that Bengal did not receive overseas aid. Only 30,000 tons of grain was sent in 1942 before it was realised how catastrophic the tragedy was likely to be. Yet in 1943, 303,000 tons were sent and 639,000 tons in 1944. It was not enough, but at the height of the war, this was a huge commitment.
Many things can be laid at the feet of Winston Churchill, both good and bad, but the terrible loss of life in the Bengal Famine is not one of them. It is right that the National Gallery has pulled Cammock’s video. Yes, art and history are different, but not art and lies.
- James Holland is author of The Visionaries: The Making of the Post World War II Order in the West, and writes on Substack @james1940
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
