Monday 6 July: Freedom of speech can’t be limited to saying things that are inoffensive

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its comments facility (now reinstated, but not as good as ours),
Intelligent, polite, good-humoured debate is welcome, whether on or off topic. Differing opinions are encouraged, but rudeness or personal attacks on other posters will not be tolerated. Posts which – in the opinion of the moderators – make this a less than cordial environment, are likely to be removed, without prior warning.  Persistent offenders will be blacklisted.

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/07/05/letters-freedom-speech-cant-limited-saying-things-inoffensive/

728 thoughts on “Monday 6 July: Freedom of speech can’t be limited to saying things that are inoffensive”

  1. Royal Marines and 20,000 troops cut to make way for space and cyber war in leaked spending review plans. 5 July 2020 • 7:09pm.

    Defence chiefs have drawn up plans to cut 20,000 troops from the military and reduce the size of the Royal Marines, replacing the MoD’s firepower with cyber warfare and space technology.

    Mandarins have suggested the scrapping of RAF air bases and a fleet of Hercules planes and Puma helicopters in a bid to save money, The Sunday Times reported.

    Morning everyone. The Cyber Warfare and Space Technology are simply red herrings. The intention here is to cut. No country can defend itself with lap tops, it is an absurdity. We would be better off hiring some aborigines and pointing the bone. This is just another step on the road to geopolitical oblivion where matters will be decided by those with the means to enforce their wishes.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/07/05/royal-marines-20000-troops-cut-make-way-space-cyber-war-leaked/

    1. Morning Minty. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Cabinet was proposing to form an iFyrd -Service in the iFyrd being of short duration and participants are expected to provide their own iPads and anti-Denial of Service software…..

      1. What a career! Over 30 ships captured.
        I wonder how much the crewmen received as their share of the Prize Money?

    4. We need to beef up our military. (I don’t mean free Bovril three times a day)
      We need three times as many ships. We need slightly larger and more flexible RAF. We need the Army to be maintained. We need our reserves to be highly trained.
      The world is now at least as dangerous as it has ever been, with one additional factor. Things can happen far more quickly now that at any previous time.

      2. Considering so many of them are shared (with the other services, the US and even Qataris), the use of bases is no surprise.

    7. 320949+ up ticks,
      Morning AS,
      Soon there will be no need of overseas troop deployment the next major conflict will surely be on home turf, we have ALL the components for conflict
      in place in-house.
      breitbart,
      Red Guards in Britain: China Ambassador Calls on Chinese Students in UK to ‘Serve the Motherland’
      Plus ALL the chinese take away’s staff serving the peoples of GB.

    8. Well, all those people dossing around until Halloween have got to be paid for somehow.
      Doesn’t all this cyber stuff depend upon a reliable supply of electricity?
      Morning, Minty.

  3. I received this email from the Chairwotsit of Open Morris, on behalf of the Joint Morris Organisation that provides public liability insurance for all morris dancers in England:

    “Dear Open Morris Members,

    We are living through extraordinary times in so many ways. Covid-19 is changing the world unpredictably. Who could have predicted that the 2020 dancing season would be cancelled?

    Another significant worldwide event that has an impact on the Morris world is the Black Lives Matter movement. All public institutions are under scrutiny regarding unintended racism and we cannot stand outside society. This has led the Officers of the Joint Morris Organisations (JMO), comprising Officers of The Morris Federation, The Morris Ring, and Open Morris, to issue the following statement:

    Our traditions do not operate in a vacuum. While no morris dancer wants to cause offence, we must recognise that full face black or other skin tone makeup is a practice that has the potential to cause deep hurt.

    Morris is a living tradition and it is right that it has always adapted and evolved to reflect society. Over the past few years, many morris teams have already proactively taken the decision to stop using full face black makeup to avoid causing offence or hurt. We now believe we must take further steps to ensure the continued relevance and inclusivity of the tradition.

    The Joint Morris Organisations (The Morris Federation, The Morris Ring, and Open Morris) have therefore agreed that each of them will take action to eliminate this practice from their membership. Teams that continue to use full face black or other skin tone make up will find they are no longer part of the mainstream morris community, be covered by JMO public liability insurance, or invited to take part in events organised or sponsored by the JMO.

    Morris is a unique cultural tradition of which we should be rightly proud. We want people from all races and backgrounds to share in this pride and not be made to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable by any element of a performance.

    Joint Morris Organisations, comprising The Morris Federation, The Morris Ring and Open Morris
    3rd July 2020

    The Open Morris Committee believes that these steps are necessary to safeguard the future of the vibrant inclusive Morris culture that we all love so dearly.

    The Open Morris Committee will present a formal motion to bring these measures into effect at our next AGM on Sunday November 29th. In the meantime, we would like to invite teams to engage with us about the issues and we would like to offer practical help and support to those teams and our friends within them who are affected by this decision.

    We believe that this issue will soon be highlighted in the media, and we urge Open Morris members to be aware of the wider issues and use extreme caution when engaging with the press or using social media. There have recently been attempts to use our traditions to further a political agenda, a development we certainly do not support.

    We look forward to opening a dialogue with those affected.

    Kind regards
    Jen
    Chair
    Open Morris”

    I have just replied thus:

    “Dear Jen

    I consider Black Lives Matter to be a gravely racist and offensive gang of fifth columnists, and need to be ejected from our society, rather than their Gangsta worshipped on the knee as if he were Christ. I do consider the statement made by the JMO deeply hurtful and intended to reduce me to a sort of Untermensch and to cause me personally the maximum offence. Yet we must comply with this, and appease their hate. It dismays me, and I am not alone in the morris world believing this.

    Blackface in the Border tradition never had anything to do with race. This was an American belief, founded on American theories that have been forced on me by those claiming the right to redefine our national culture. Border morris was a form of aggressive begging, from the fruit and vegetable workers who had no income in the lean period just after Christmas. People paid them to go away. To avoid being recognised by prospective employers when things picked up in the Spring, they had to disguise themselves by covering their faces. In an English winter, where coal and wood was plentiful, soot from the chimneys was cheap. This is the only reason the faces were black. I have not danced Border in blackface since the 1980s, but I honour Silurian’s wish to observe the tradition as it was rediscovered by Dave Jones after it was all but lost in the march of progress.

    Now, I know this, and you know this, but do the propagandists and those that violate your and my national culture know this?

    We live in an atmosphere of fear from these offensive and racist aggressive invaders, which is why the JMO did what they did, but it hardly addresses the peril we are in, nor alleviates the offence it has personally brought me.

    How are we going to acquire, through dance, the courage to resist and overcome this?

    Best wishes
    Jeremy Morfey”

      1. It’s lovely to hear acoustic drums, rather than the awful “Big Sound” synth drums they put on everything these days.

        1. A group of police officers I once worked with played a trick on their sergeant by writing a spoof letter, on his behalf, to the local troupe of Morris Dancers, asking to join them. The sergeant was utterly perplexed when the ‘Head Bagman’ rang him at home to discuss his recruitment and training.

          I never found out what his revenge was for the culprits.

    2. Push back, not the knee, is the only way to preserve traditions, lifestyle and culture.

      1. Actually the killer Cotswold dance ‘Flowers of Edinburgh’ with its alternating left foot back then right foot back is done on the knee. It is the bane of the overweight elderly fat old morris bloke, who has to get up after each long kneed stretch with the involuntary groan of pain while doing so.

        The trouble with maintaining a tradition over decades is that we do not stay 25 for long.

      1. Indeed, and some of the figures are barely recognisable from medieval Islamic dances performed by the harem when entertaining honoured guests.

        One of the wonders of a tradition is the tortuous route it takes along the way, and is still travelling. My friend Mike Salter wrote a book chronicling the history of Morris since 1975, since the tradition did not stop evolving with Cecil Sharp.

        1. Ah, Cecil Sharp. I used to visit Cecil Sharp house in London regularly when I lived closer.

    5. That attitude is disgusting.
      I hope Silurian and the Bacup Britannia Coconutters keep following their traditions.

    6. Now that is rather amazing. I’m really grateful Jeremy. I had absolutely no idea!

      As for the idiots black looters are mindless brigade – they’re not interested in learning anything. They just want to destroy what others have built.

    7. They will be inventing a new dance where everybody has to take the knee. I find it offensive, too, although I haven’t danced Morris (which, after all, is a corruption of Moorish) since I left university the first time.

  4. British Falklands War hero is shot dead by robbers while protecting his partner during raid on their retreat – as South Africa suffers three farm murders in just two days, including pregnant mother whose throat was slit. Mail 6 July 2020.

    Head of Community Safety at AfriForum civil rights group Ian Cameron confirmed Mr Stobbs had been shot dead during a robbery at their farm in Lanseria.
    He said: ‘They stole everything in the house and it seems they left and then they came back again and went into the bedroom and shot and killed the husband’.

    The attack on Mr Stobbs marked the first of three farm deaths to take place in South Africa this weekend. Afrikaans singer Wynand Breedt, 45, was killed in Worcester on Friday and pregnant woman Zakiyya Ahmedjan, 26, died after an attack in Weenen last night.

    This is ethnic cleansing in slow motion. By remaining in Southern Africa these people make themselves targets of what is a deeply racist society. They would be much better off following their countrymen to Russia which unlike the UK offers succour.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8492223/British-Falklands-War-hero-shot-dead-robbers-protecting-partner.html

    1. Is global apartheid on the way?

      Should all white people in Africa have to leave and settle in Europe and all black people in Europe go and settle in Africa?

      Of course this sounds rather dramatic but it seems that it is not white people who are spouting hatred but the blacks who are spouting hatred against all whites both living and dead.

        1. If all property owned by whites in Africa was given to the incoming blacks and all property owned by blacks in Europe was given to the incoming whites I wonder who would get the better deal?

          And what would the effect be on property prices?

    2. The DfID website & others indicates that UK financial aid of around £19million to SA stopped in 2015. However, in 2017, South Africa received a total of $471 million from the US.
      (A number of US citizens parody desiderata African countries as ‘Wakanda’).

  5. BTL@DTlettters

    Sarah O’Tep
    6 Jul 2020 1:18AM
    Perhaps the ‘black lives matter’ supporters would benefit from some historical perspective — from Enoch Powell!

    “Nothing is more misleading than comparison between the Commonwealth immigrant in Britain and the American Negro. The Negro population of the United States, which was already in existence before the United States became a nation, started literally as slaves and were later given the franchise and other rights of citizenship, to the exercise of which they have only gradually and still incompletely come. The Commonwealth immigrant came to Britain as a full citizen, to a country which knew no discrimination between one citizen and another, and he entered instantly into the possession of the rights of every citizen, from the vote to free treatment under the National Health Service.”

    I see no need, no benefit, and no justification for importing America’s racial grievances into our Country. Leaving aside the anarchic aims of the organisation, there is no basis for even a literal interpretation of the words to be relevant in this Country. Our Police are not killing black people. Black people are killing black people — and that problem is the only one that needs addressing.

    1. Personally, as long as they adhere to sticking it to each other, I’m past caring.
      Good moaning, C1.

  7. SIR – How sad that the initiative and ingenuity shown by restaurant owners, pub landlords and hairdressers in adapting their businesses to allow them to open for trade on Saturday (report, July 3) could not be replicated by our education secretary, MPs, council leaders, or teaching union officials.

    Steve Toone

    Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire

    SIR – I am 72 and survived a major operation for cancer last year. Today I have an appointment for a CT scan. This coincides with the reopening of my village pub.

    I am more worried about going to the hospital than I am about going to the pub on my way home.

    Alan Mottram

    Tarporley, Cheshire

    SIR – Today the House of Lords will vote on changes to alcohol licensing legislation.

    In the rush to restart the economy, however, ministers seem not to have thought through the unintended consequences of their changes: namely, allowing bars to act like off-licences, selling booze to take away until three in the morning.

    Forget continental café culture: all-night street drinking is a recipe for mayhem. One need only look at how police have been attacked while breaking up illicit house parties.

    Avoiding such mayhem is simple. The Government should empower councillors to determine when it’s time for alfresco “last orders” in each of our communities.

    Henry Morris

    London W1

    1. Robert Spowart
      6 Jul 2020 8:34AM
      Henry Morris is fully correct in most of his letter, but should forget the Local Licencing authorities, they are not fit for purpose and should be abolished in favour of a return to the old system where the Local Magistrates made licencing decisions.

      1. I think licensing is now another committee for councillors to milk for expenses.
        Morning, BoB.

        1. Many councillors do a lot of work for virtually no reward or gratitude, just down to a sense of duty.
          If you run your own business, time spent in endless Council meetings means late night paperwork and even less familytime.
          And then the officers sabotage everything you attempt to improve.

        2. Exactly.
          And their decisions are as concerned with tax revenue as they are for public safety.

      2. “old system”? Oh, Dear. I had an off-licence in London and it was granted by a magistrate. That must have been along time ago.

  9. BBC Radio 4 News this morning. Government to give companies £1000 for every 18 -25 year olds they take on. This will be provided to include items such as teaching them Maths and English. This is a government admission that the teaching in this country is abysmal. Parents, teachers and the government are responsible for this state of affairs.

    1. So they are encouraging slavery? Those poor kiddies. I thought that wasn’t allowed now.

        1. I hope you are pronouncing the word Life properly JM as in the now preferred Liavz. I heard a woman on the TV early, i thought she was talking about public toilets.

    2. 320949+ up ticks,
      Morning C,
      “parents,teachers,and government are responsible for this state of affairs”
      Agreed,
      In the main, the continuing abuse of these Isles is
      supported via the ballot booth & party selection.

    3. £1000 to teach Maths and English? Most 18-25 year olds have been able to read, write and count since they were in primary school.

      If I recall, the main plank of retraining in essential skills, and one which I was offered when unemployed and claiming benefit, was CV writing.

      I think most jobseekers know how to write a CV – my goodness, they’ve had to do it enough times. They don’t need to be guided through the application process, that inevitably proves futile and demoralising. They just want a reasonable prospect of a decent day’s pay for a decent day’s work.

      1. It’s more a question of how well the 18-25 cohort can perform the tasks of reading, writing and doing sums (particularly without a calculator), jeremy.

    4. Will this mean more rubber boats arriving in Kent ?
      I can see an opportunity to make a lot of money here.

    6. I remember the YTS (Youth Training Scheme) of the late seventies, early eighties.

      1. 320949+ up ticks,
        Anne,
        Practising plagiarism perverts copying ogga’s
        post.
        I only purchase the Saturday express for the TV mag & fire lighting, do not even read it.

    2. I suspect you’ll find most of todays younger generation already know enough to go straight into a well paid job. And they wont be able to concentrate enough for 5 years of training.

      1. 320949+ up ticks,
        Morning RE,
        We have surely witnessed many a well paid job evaporate overnight many being given the DCM
        ( don’t come Monday).
        A proper 5 year apprenticeship can prove stable in this very unstable society, shop floor to master
        craftsman always be needed.
        Ps
        Master craftsman, SOD the pcism.

        1. I think you’ll find that a lot of our younger generation don’t like getting their hands dirty ogga.
          There is plenty of money to be earned on building sites.
          But i suspect a great amount of the current earnings don’t return to our home economy.

          1. 320949+ up ticks,
            Re,
            For the proof of that pudding to be judged we must have a governance party ready to set up a bona fide Apprenticeship campaign, we haven’t had one of that ilk for years.
            I was on one site where it was plain to see as in
            a brick wall either side of a corridor one side an old brikkie with all weather hands to match along with roll up in corner of gob & cap, other side a six months wonder , no comparison.
            The lad done the best he was taught and after all said & done it was being plastered over, could say the same with many issues currently.

    3. Isn’t this just a rehash of the same old story that pops up every year. Batten may be talking sense but industry will not invest and apprentices will not stick to the course.

      A shame really, most electricians and plumbers round here are shadowed by an apprentice. Those youngsters appear to be getting a solid grounding in life, not just the speciality.

  11. But we live in a time where only one side get to dictate where the offensive/inoffensive line is drawn.

    There is no centre anymore, only an increasingly silenced majority and a vocal left/liberal minority who get to say any damn thing they want. (This was always the purpose of political correctness)

    1. I do not accept that it is the left/liberal minority that is causing the trouble, but rather a gang of aggressive fifth columnists playing the market (in the time-honoured cynicism of the Right) who are using the Left as a false flag, and genuine liberals being too gullible, naive and stupid to spot what they are up to.

      1. I should have been clearer.

        The left/liberals don’t make the big decisions, they are there to be the public face of elite policy, to give a veneer of popular support. The mainstream ‘left’ and ‘right’ are clearly not running the show.

        A wide range of ‘left’ opinions are allowed to be voiced, a very narrow range of ‘right’ opinions are tolerated, with that range being narrowed all the time. Because things that are left unsaid eventually go unthought. Or at least thats what the people pushing this are hoping.

        1. I agree. Being on the centre-left myself, rather than on the right, it was my vote that swung the Leave vote beyond their modern base from the Conservative Right. It dismays me how my political orientation has been hijacked by those claiming to speak for me, but doing precisely the opposite of many things I hold dear.

          1. What and where is the “Conservative Right” ?

            Surely that disappeared decades ago and was replaced by Nu Labor Blair 2 ?

          2. I was referring to what John Major called “The Bastards”: Christopher Chope, Peter Bone, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Owen Paterson and such like.

            Blair’s New Labour rightwingism was not so much ideological, but based on the old Mandelson edict “nothing wrong with the stinking rich”.

          3. Of course when Mandelson said that, he meant Soros… as is obvious here……..

            https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7883304/The-mystery-of-Lord-Mandelsons-finances.html

            ”The Telegraph has been told, however, that Mr Mandelson had at least one paid interest which he has not declared, or not declared fully. The most important, it is alleged, was with a company called Medley Global Advisors (MGA), founded by Richard Medley, the former chief adviser to the financier George Soros.”

            I expect it was Soros who bankrolled Mandelson’s house.

          4. I apologise Polly, but you’ve got a bit of a thing for Soros.

            Mandelson sat on the board of a bank (might have been Goldman Sachs, I forget) and was the commissar responsible for bringing Greece into the EU. Now, Greece simply wouldn’t have made it. They are, and were a complete basketcase of an economy.

            Yet they got in because Mandelson gave his bank – in a clear and obvious conflict of interest – the work to do so. The EU was happy, Greece was happy, the bank was happy. Only – as always – tax payers footed the massive bill for the whole blatantly corrupt farce.

            mandelscum obviously didn’t care as he took his £8 million and bought a house in London. He’s utterly bent. A thief and a crook. Ass corrupt as they come. he should be flogged, flayed and thrown into the sewer to drown.

  12. ‘Morning All

    May I commend an excellent article by Dalrymple that explains much of the chaos happening today

    https://www.takimag.com/article/bees-with-degrees/

    “It isn’t ignoramuses who are pulling down the statues, but ignoramuses who think that they have been educated.”
    If he’s right (and I think he is) the more universities forced to close the better

  13. The “You couldn’t make it up files” may be busy today…………..

    The Tory government is considering cuts to the armed forces to save £1.9 billion.

    The Tory government has just announced they are to give £1.57 billion to
    the arts sector to keep unproductive luvvies, who hate them, in jobs.

    Subsidised opera and theatre tickets for the wealthy metropolitan elite are more important than defence.

    1. 320949+ up ticks,
      Morning Rik,
      I do believe they in their infinite wisdom have decided
      that having given ALL the known enemas succour ( with pay ) and at long last the Chinese students / take aways
      being put on alert status they can justify cuts in troop deployment abroad, and keep any forthcoming major conflict on home ground.

      It really is going to be of major concern when coming to the next GE just who is the best of the worst.

    2. Don’t worry Rik.

      The country can be garrisoned by EU troops.

      You’ll feel safe with the EU in charge!

    3. Sorry Rik – I disagree with you on that one – musicians in particular (don’t know about luvvies) spend years perfecting their skills and need an audience to hear them – I for one miss our regular concert season. I don’t know if our local music society will be able to function at all next season, it already runs on a showstring. The final concert in March had to be abandoned and we don’t know when or if it can restart.

      1. Forgive my cynicism,I wonder just how much of the lucre will filter down to that level I await reports with interest……..

        1. I don’t know, but our chair – who books most of the concerts as she is in the music business, usually books some very high quality musicians. In the 2018-9 season, she booked a quartet from the Yehudi Menuhin School which included a young girl violinist – she was the winner of the string section in this year’s BBC Young Musicians – she was outstanding.

      2. Somehow I don’t think a bassoonist is going to be much help if we need armed forces to stop an invasion, J.

  14. Well, the good news is that my “URGENT” X-ray, requested on 24 June, will now be done on 22 July (2020 – I believe).

    Just hope I live till then…. And the PALS people, kindly suggested by Stephen, never replied…. Clap the NHS? Clap them in irons.

    1. Don’t give up on PALS just yet. Email them again and see if they can get your referral expedited….

      1. Can’t be arsed, stephen. Life is too short. The woman who spoke to the MR implied that we were lucky to have suck a quick appointment….

        1. It really is strange the way the ‘National’ HS operates. Faced with a similar condition to yours two years ago, I saw my GP who wrote out the X-Ray request form and told me to take it to the local hospital where they provide a walk in chest X-Ray service total time from GP to Radiology about 2 hours – results reported back within 48 hours. I can only assume that is a Post-Covid backlog at present.

          1. That was then, dear boy. Before the plague we had a “walk in” Radiology unit at Cromer – and I would have done what you did.

            Now, with no patients to worry about – they can f*ck you about at will – and pray the plague in aid…..

    2. Not a good place to be eh Bill, but there is always some one worse off, believe me.
      My best mate has been to so many places for scans and ultra sound X-rays examinations including a week in hospital.
      He rang his GP practice more than 14 days after his last semi urgent MRI scan and they had no knowledge of the cans let an lone the results.
      He doesn’t know whether he is Arthur or Martha. Not a good place to be.
      Keep yer spirits up mate 😉

      1. I know – being a bit breathless and coughing a bit is nothing compared to the poor sods whose serious illnesses have been ignored completely – and who are left to die by the “ever so caring” NHS.

        1. From my own recent past experience Front line NHS superb. Since this current pandemic we’ve had a family member die of cancer aged 48 and our son’s best man died of cancer aged 40.
          The old chap diagonally opposite our house, Pneumonia aged 88 (a decent innings) and the mother of our neighbour directly opposite aged 68, cancer.
          I’ll bet they have asked you, as they always seem to, how much alcohol you consume, i believe they think that is the cause of all illnesses.
          Sunshine in every glass.

          1. A friend has been fighting myeloma for years, she now has some difficulty walking so she is receiving another dose of therapy.
            Because of coviscare, her husband is not allowed into the hospital with her so she has to make the agonizing struggle up to the treatment on her own.

          2. Funny you should say that. Dr Stupid didn’t mention alcohol – but did ask if I had smoked. “Not since October 1968” I replied.

            “Ah,” he said, “That could be a contributing factor….”

            52 years on? I think not, Dr Stupid…

          3. “Ah,” he said, “That could be a contributing factor….”
            Anything will do to pass the buck eh.

            I haven’t smoked since the early 70s i just threw half a packet on an open fire. and watched them burn
            I only smoked ‘socially’ anyway, But my parents went at it hammer and tongs, we couldn’t see across the living room some times. first of the day was in the evening.
            But i did work in an industry where there is always lots of dust in the air. We carried out work for the the then MOW (ministry of works) we once spent weeks building Fume cabinets for government laboratories. They were lined with asbestos. I have had very similar problems as you for quite a long time. My radiologist friend once told me, I have scarring in my lungs.
            Upper respiratory infections are a common problem.
            I imagine some of the chaps who cut the sheets of asbestos to size probably are no longer with us due to asbestosis. The company where i worked no longer exists. probably closed down to avoid litigation.
            If you take certain medications it can cause a dry cough. Read the folded gumpf inside the packets Bill.

          7. Seriously. For years – from 13 upwards, I smoked Woodbines – because they were cheap. Then “Ships Woodbines” because my brother was in the Royal Navy and got them cheap. After that – just players though there was a period when we smoked some brand that had vouchers that one could exchange for money(?) or things. Embassy?

            Never touched any other drug to smoke, inhale or inject. Ever. And I stopped smoking cigs on 23 October 1968

          8. Lung cancer took my grandfather in his mid 70’s.

            He had been a life-long (ho ho) smoker of Players Cork Tipped.

            Filthy, smelly things and he chain smoked when he was at work.

          9. My late father likewise. 60 a day until the bitter end. He spent his last nine months living here – and I had to go and buy packets o 200 cigs at a time twice a week.

    3. If you make it to July 22nd you are malingering, if you drop off before then, ah well never mind.

      Rather like dunking witches to prove their guilt.

    2. And on and on and on. If the whole piece is not about some oppressed minority, they find a way to introduce one of the downtrodden into the article.

      I remember a news story last year about small businesses having trouble after the latest Alberta fire. Interesting until they interviewed a couple facing the loss of their business. Naturally it was a transgender non binary pair of plonkers who were asked about their sexuality(?).

      Like the BLM circus, when reports first started it wax OK good point, let’s deal with it. Now it is not again, go away and that is before the socialist bias crept in.

      1. Anyone who believed Black Lies Matter was a good point when it first started for more than 30 seconds was very naive.

        1. Anyone who ignored the overt racism in the US was not naive, just blinkered to the truth.

          1. Overt racism, sadly, yes.
            But, as attested to by many Black Americans who disagree with the organisation’s objectives, Black Lies Matter was about more than just that, racism, and Black people killed by the Police, were simply a means to an end.
            And that end was to foment racial unrest by driving wedges between Black and White Americans.

    4. Every single day of my life, without fail, more and more evidence of the progressively increasing stupidity of the human species is presented to me.

      There will be more clear examples tomorrow, even more the day after that, and on it goes …

    2. …escaped from Wuhan lab. Yeah Sir Richard…..got it in one.

      “When China Rules the World” – Martin Jaques – recommended reading

    3. Canada just rattled the China cage again, or at least muttered something uncomplementary.
      Seeing as Canada is a soft touch, instant treats of harmful trade restrictions and embargoes came from the Chinese government (not too high up in their government, we are not that important).it will be interest

      Ing to see how China reacts to this.

      P.S. Visit Canada for your hols, our cheap tat souvenirs are no longer made in China!

  17. Trump campaign aims for Joe Biden’s mental fitness. 6 July 2020.

    In recent months focus has been put relentlessly on Mr Biden’s mental acuity, with the Republican campaign asking not so subtly whether their rival is fading in old age.

    For Trump allies, it is a legitimate question to ask of a man who on numerous occasions trips over his words and would be the oldest person elected to the presidency in US history.

    But for critics, it is a cynical attempt to exploit Mr Biden’s gaffes and lack of fluidity in public speaking – he had a stutter when young – to convince voters he is unfit for office.

    I’m afraid Joe is a couple of cans short of a six pack and Nancy Pelosi has lost them all. They are only being kept in place until after the Presidential Election where both will be retired and replaced by the Woke Brigade.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/05/trump-campaign-aims-joe-bidens-mental-fitness/

    2. HIlary is waiting, to borrow from Henry V, like a greyhound in the slips.

      2. That’ll be Chelsea Clinton.
        I’m sure Mummy and Daddy have trained her very thoroughly.

  18. I’m convinced Mother nature is out to get us….

    “A case of a rare brain-eating amoeba has been confirmed in Florida, according to health officials in the US state.
    The Florida Department of Health (DOH) said one person in Hillsborough County had contracted Naegleria fowleri.
    The microscopic, single-celled amoeba can cause an infection of the brain, and is usually fatal.
    Commonly found in warm freshwater, the amoeba enters the body through the nose.

    Aaargh!

    1. Thank heavens, it’s only the American amoebae that are fatal.

      Our home-grown variety, such as Prince “I’m just a bloody amoeba” Philip is benign, except when driving.

    2. I wonder if other cases will be recorded as Covid?

      Symtoms:

      Generally beginning within two to 15 days of exposure to the amoeba, signs and symptoms of naegleria infection may include: A change in the sense of smell or taste. Fever. Sudden, severe headache.

      };-O

    3. Are you sure it isn’t rampant in Westminster, Whitehall and the various office blocks housing NHS, education and local government apparatchiks?
      Good moaning, Stephenroi.

    4. How does an amoeba eat a brain? It is a single-cell organism, which means it doesn’t have teeth! :•)

      1. It forms pseudopodia (false arms) that surround and engulf it’s prey before pouring digestive juices upon it.

          1. You of all people Grizz should know that cells can contain the most ghastly things….

    1. Good morning Belle! What a depressing picture! I can’t imagine why the report hasn’t been published!
      Are you feeling more positive this morning or did that pic put your blood pressure up? KBO!

        1. Ah Belle! I feel the same some mornings and need to reset my tiny brain to think of the good positive things. Great family, home, garden, countryside around us, friends and animals. Things I can change as opposed to things I can’t. It does take me a couple of espressos, but it works! I can’t change the world, the weather, the politicians or other people, but I can take comfort from what I have. Oh, and you can have a rant on Nottle!

          1. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

          3. It’s the Serenity Prayer. It used to be said regularly when I was a pupil at school (by the time I was teaching, Christianity had gone out of favour for assembly, unfortunately). It’s always stuck with me, like the prayer apparently said at Edge Hill during the Civil War – Lord, if I forget thee today, do not thou forget me.

          4. Thank you again Conway. The jumbled words were floating around in my head but I couldn’t get them together! The words are calming yet inspiring. I thought Belle needed some calm.

          5. Yes, I worry sometimes about Belle. I think she has been adversely affected by project fear and she needs some positivity in her life.

    2. Of that crowd there I would say there are three indigenes only. Was it a majority (democratic) vote?

    3. Who is the chief odium (Front row, centre) in this group of dysfunctional functionaries?

      1. It is he who claims constructive dismissal. I cannot remember his name, but he is one of those types who, when he enters a room, it feels as if someone has left.

  20. Covid conspiracy theory #94:

    Try this – open Google and type any three digit number in the search box, followed by ‘new cases’. A story will come up about Covid.
    Go back to Google, change the three digit number and search again and see what happens, in fact, change the number as many times as you like and there will be a story.

    1. It’s got t’internet abuzz but theres really a quite simple explanation.

      1. Yep, every number between 100 and 999 will have appeared at some point, somewhere in the world.

        Either new cases, cumulative new cases, new deaths or any number of reasons.
        The word cases will almost certainly appear in every article and new could cover a number of uses.

    2. Common sense number 1.
      Google is doing a best fit search and finds two matching words, match that with frequent search patterns and there you are, straight to bug count.

  21. Morning all

    SIR – Your report on David Starkey’s very poor choice of language (July 4), quotes Sir Anthony Seldon: “With freedom of speech goes responsibility. It’s not an absolute right.” He is wrong in this, save in the case of incitement to violence or crime.

    At its core, freedom of speech is the right to say unwelcome, controversial things, the right to disagree with the mainstream and the right to offend. It is a vital liberty, especially at times like this, when one group seeks to force its prescriptive language and view of life on all the rest of us.

    Gregory Shenkman

    London W8

    Burnley’s English goalkeeper Nick Pope wearing a Black Lives Matter badge on his sleeve on Sunday

    Words and deeds: Burnley’s English goalkeeper Nick Pope wearing a Black Lives Matter badge on his sleeve on Sunday CREDIT: JON SUPER /AFP/Getty

    SIR – The FA stopped Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager born in Catalonia, wearing a yellow ribbon for Catalan political prisoners still in jail.

    But the FA allows Black Lives Matter badges, despite BLM’s known political aims of dismantling capitalism.

    These are clearly double standards.

    Gerald Heath

    Corsham, Wiltshire

    SIR – You report that a statue of Emperor Constantine is being “looked at” by York Minster because of his views on slavery (report, June 30).

    In ancient Rome slavery was a way of life. Logically, all statues of Roman emperors should be “looked at”.

    This whole thing is out of hand.

    Charles Puxley

    Easton, Berkshire

    SIR – Are we achieving the impossible in Britain – a zero-tolerance police state ruled by the PC mob?

    Simon Snape

    Elton, Cheshire

    SIR – It will not be long before someone advocates removing Guy Gibson’s Victoria Cross because he had a dog with an unacceptable name.

    Keith Haines

    Belfast

    SIR – Does anyone else think it odd to be lectured about endemic racism in this country (report, July 2) by someone brought up in a palace who has moved to a country where the problem is much greater?

    Ron Butcher

    Great Dunmow, Essex

    SIR – The Washington Redskins American football team will review its name after demands from sponsors (Sport, July 4). How about the Washington Wokes?

    Pat Roberts

    St Martin’s, Shropshire

    SIR – Talk of a statue of the footballer Jack Leslie is a long way behind an initiative in another sport.

    WJ (Billy) Boston, Wigan’s wonderful Welsh winger from Tiger Bay, was the first black rugby league player to tour Australia and New Zealand in 1954. He played 35 times for Great Britain, England or Wales between 1954 and 1962.

    Since 2016 he has had a statue in the middle of Wigan paid for by public donations of £90,000.

    Ian Birchall

    Harrogate, North Yorkshire

    3. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/27d56007e6b201d4811e9e5aa6ecb87b0db7736f65ee7ff330019718b6f93f68.jpg
      Gregory Shenkman, I’m with you all the way. I feel so strongly about my right to free speech that, in March this year, I became a fully paid-up member of Toby Youngs’s Free Speech Union.

      The only way that the State — or anyone else for that matter — will shut me up is to wrap me in a straitjacket, clap me in chains, gag me and throw me into a dungeon.

      1. Wait until someone comes up behind you with a knife against your back. (Or similar against your ribs.) Or against your child’s.

        These vandals and potential murderers should not be allowed to roam the streets. They get off with nothing at all, while someone peeing next to a statue gets imprisonment.

        Let’s face it – the Establishment is against us in a way that hasn’t seen precedent.

        1. If someone comes up to me and places a knife against my back or ribs then one of two things is going to happen. Either I will get stabbed, or he will get stabbed.

          If the first happens, then c’est la vie [or c’est la mort!]. If I am lucky enough to disarm him first then I shall have no compunction —whatsoever — in using the thing on him.

        2. If someone comes up to me and places a knife against my back or ribs then one of two things is going to happen. Either I will get stabbed, or he will get stabbed.

          If the first happens, then c’est la vie [or c’est la mort!]. If I am lucky enough to disarm him first then I shall have no compunction —whatsoever — in using the thing on him.

    4. BTL regarding Black Lies Matter:-

      Robert Spowart
      6 Jul 2020 8:43AM
      Is there any point in even trying to point out how BLM, more accurately named as Black Lies Matter, is built on a tissue of lies and ignorance?

      Of all the societies and civilisations of recorded history, is there one that did not, as some time in it’s history that did not engage in slavery?

      And, out of all those, which was the one that actually abolished slavery?

    6. Gerald Heath must be a slow learner if he’s only just realised that double standards operate!

  22. SIR — I join Michael Deacon (Notes from the New Normal, July 3) in his dislike of noisy eaters on public transport.

    However, another noise that I find disagreeable is to be heard on Radio 4’s Farming Today and On Your Farm: the sound of feet crunching on gravel. I find it sets the teeth on edge.

    Susan Fuller
    Meriden, Warwickshire

    Time to ‘Woman-up’, Susie, and get over your pathological hatred of the sound of feet on gravel paths. You evidently do not realise that having a gravel path to your house is the No 1 burglar deterrent; better, even, than having a dog.

    You see, burglars require to visit your property silently in order to be effective at their craft. A silent approach is impossible on a gravel path.

    [Here endeth Crime Prevention lecture No 22.]

    1. God, I hate the sounds of squelch and splat made by those unable to eat WITH THEIR FØKKING MOUTH SHUT! AARGH! Only surpassed by getting a glimpse of half masticated food going round their mouth, like vomit in a washing machine.
      Sorry:-((
      Triggered by the subject… hope y’all finished breakfast.
      Morning, Grizz, morning, all.

      2. Have you ever tried to eat porridge with an adequate level of volume for creative self-expression?

      3. My pet peeve is people who, when eating crisps, put one in their mouth then crunch on it before closing their mouth. I have a friend who does this and it annoys me no end.

      4. Time zone six hours later than yours, thank you for that epicurean vision at breakfast time.

        Not just kids, parents as well so this is probably a sight that is here to stay.

    2. Th sight of men with food stuck to the corners of their bearded mouths is quite revolting .

      What looks like baked beans or tomato sauce stuck onto the openings of whiskery maws, or froth from tooth cleaning is quite off putting as is nostril hair.

      1. Funny you should mention that, Maggie. I have baked beans hanging from my nostril hairs as I write this!

        Fancy a snog? 🤣

  23. Hong Kong

    SIR – A few years ago I invested a modest amount in a crowdfunded company manufacturing a product for the building industry. Sales increased, but finally, to make the company profitable, manufacturing was transferred to China.

    For a relatively modest sum of money the Government could encourage the return of manufacturing to Britain, thereby increasing employment and, at the same time, showing China that its recent actions have consequences.

    Tim Reavell

    St Clears, Carmarthenshire

    SIR – David Page (Letters, July 4) has closed the bank account he held for 50 years, in response to HSBC’s cowardly support for China’s repressive measures in Hong Kong. I hope that he has started a new sort of “Me Too” movement, which I am proud to join.

    Timothy St Ather

    London SW13

    SIR – We have to respect the courage of the people of Hong Kong, but are their protests perhaps misguided?

    As our Government evidently still feels some responsibility for their plight, could we not fund an educational programme to explain that the freedom and liberties they have enjoyed, but fear they are losing, are in reality just alien concepts imposed upon them by the United Kingdom’s brutal colonial regime?

    Perhaps we could turn their sorrow into joy, as they celebrate the dawn of Chinese liberation. There must be many eminent persons from our pool of talent in academia and the media who could correct their thinking.

    Stephen Wheatcroft

    Coventry, Warwickshire

  24. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d0c8fadc54148831550784c53aa21b87e578aa5ea4ca68eec502600a0fc7d379.png

    Not my words, but very a very apt and fitting comment, I think.

    “He wears a chain and padlock around his neck to show that he has ancestors who were slaves. Yet he is sponsored by Mercedes, a company which made parts for the gas chambers and used thousands of Jewish slaves.

    
He is also sponsored by Hugo Boss who made Nazi uniforms, again using thousands of Jewish slaves.

    Did you know that in 1944, 46,000 forced labourers were used in Daimler-Benz’s factories to bolster Nazi war efforts. The company later paid $12 million in reparations to the labourers’ families (that’s $260 each!).

    Will the tax-evading Hamilton give all his sponsorship money back or will he remain a hypocrite of the highest order?

    A man of high moral standards, such as Hamilton, will surely hand all of this money back. Or will he just continue to reside in the tax haven of Monaco? Don’t hold your breath.

    Zero payments to HMRC, you and I have paid more tax than this outstanding man of morals and character. If you’re going to dig up the past … make sure you know what you’re talking about, you bell-end.”

    1. My definition of a racialist nowadays is someone whose children are no darker than they are; thus if a light skinned person marries a dark skinned person, the darker spouse is a covert racialist.
      In an open society with social mobility, we are free to choose a life partner; if you breed for lighter children, you are doing so intentionally.
      Hamilton is too canny to risk marriage at the moment, (a prenup would be easier after retirement) but we can wait.
      Although with all that fancy jewellery, I wonder…

    2. Wish I had the resources to fly a ‘banner’ plane over Grand Prix and football venues. Have in mind a message like ‘Get off your knees you spineless b*ggers’, but perhaps fellow Nottlers can think of something more succinct!

    3. Good morning, Grizzly

      Talking of bell-ends I suggested that Lewis Hamilton had Black Lives Matter engraved on one helmet and Jewish Lives Don’t Matter tattooed on the other.

      1. Good morning, Rastus.

        Surely for the second inscription to be effective it would need to be tattooed onto his prepuce.

        1. A rather naughty joke told me by a Jewish friend of mine many years ago:

          What’s the difference between a Morris Dancer and a Jew>

          The Morris Dance is a complete prick!

  25. SIR – Supermarkets are removing coconut products that have been collected by “monkey slaves” in Thailand (report, July 4).

    Are we also going to ban oxen from working in the fields by pulling farm machinery in Third World countries – where tractors are not an option – or go after traditional loggers using heavy horses to pull felled trees out of woodland?

    Maybe someone should ask these workers how they feel about such measures.

    Gail Midworth Dodds

    Lindfield, West Sussex

    SIR – For many years our local milkman used a horse-drawn milk float.

    Should we now remember him as a user of slave labour?

    Jon Summers

    Truro, Cornwall

    1. Does this mean that my local primary school will no longer be able to raise funds for its “Always keep away from children” security with woodlouse racing?

  26. The hunt for Hunt.

    SIR – Jeremy Hunt poses the question: “Why did we not just immediately test the whole population [of Leicester]?” (Commentary, July 2)

    The answer is because, as health secretary, he ignored the findings of the Cygnus Report in 2016. The report was never published, but Exercise Cygnus was a three-day simulation involving government and public health. This report noted the shortage of intensive care beds, the shortage of personal protective equipment, the need to plan for a testing and tracing system and for public education about the likely need for lockdown and quarantine.

    The total lack of planning until the beginning of 2020 is Mr Hunt’s legacy to the NHS. One other failed promise stands out: Mr Hunt’s pledge back in 2016 to make Britain “self-sufficient” in doctors by 2025.

    The countries that were best prepared for this pandemic had all experienced the Sars epidemic and had plans in place. The responsibility for our own failure lies squarely on Mr Hunt’s shoulders. Would that he had the humility to recognise it.

    Hugh N Whitfield FRCS

    Wargrave, Berkshire

    1. It’s a legal requirement for every Norwegian company to have a beredskapsplan – emergency preparedness plan. Surely the Health Services have one?

        1. Surely it would be an aspect of good (risk) management…? or am I deluding myself?
          Risk management: Prevent, Detect, Control, Mitigate.
          Simples.

          1. A plan you say? Not sure the NHS or PHE “do” planning! They seem to be better at spending and moaning!

    2. And in accordance with a Treaty their EU Commission pension is taxed at a rate of approximately 12%.
      I have never been able to calculate the exact percentage rate because it does not appear to be visible on the interweb thingy.
      Also the allowances are complicated.

    3. “Raise the scarlet standard high

      Beneath its folds we’ll live and die

      Though cowards English flinch and traitors taxpayers sneer

      We’ll keep the red flag flying here…”

      1. 320949+ up ticks,
        Morning Anne,
        Very apt, they do portray the true internal political enemas of the state.
        The frightening thing is their ilk ( ALL governance parties) are numerous yet they & party’s still have a following.

    1. Morning Bill, morning all. Glass have mostly subsided here in East Yorkshire.

        1. Quite possibly, upon looking at it again. I rather think that “gales” was what I was trying for.

    2. Antibiotics can have that effect. Something to do with bowel flora.
      How are you feeling?

      1. So so – thank you. The steroids are reducing the discomfort caused by the breathlessness.

          1. Cleary Red Hot Pokers wouldn’t be welcome as at least one English King reputedly found out….

  30. Seeing as everything is changing, there is a way more jobs can be created to replace some of those lost to The Corona.

    Post Covid, or ‘postco’ (as no-one is saying but I have now invented it and expect to hear it in the MSM within three months) the ennaitchess must review the ridiculous amounts of annual leave its staff get. 27 days on appointment rising to 33 days after ten years. Plus bank holidays.
    I have long advocated that those who have the option to work from home should sacrifice two days AL per year. These have usually been the more senior staff but ‘postco’ 🙂 there will be a lot more remote working now that everyone’s woken up to it and there will be a resulting division between the on and off site staff.
    If WFH, one doesn’t need to take a day off if, for example, someone is coming to fix the washing machine, or if one of the little darlings isnt feeling well. Indeed if you yourself aren’t feeling 100%, not well enough to drive 30 miles but well enough to punch at a keyboard you dont need to take sick leave.

    Cleaners, porters etc dont have this option. They can’t wfh, obvs. So, as well as bringing AL allowance into line with the rest of the working world, the in person/ remote divide must be recognised.

    Secondly, if nurses, bus drivers, cinema staff, shop assistants, pilots, petrol station staff, waiters, hotel receptionists,ad infinitum have to work on weekends, why shouldn’t everyone?
    Time to do away with the weekend and have every one work a 5/7 rota and keep all services available seven days a week, so builders, lawyers, secretaries, doctors, accountants, car mechanics,ad infinitum, well, every work place infact is open seven days a week.
    That will create jobs and even out weekend peaks in shopping, travel etc.

    “GROTWE” is henceforth my new call

    1. Yes, yes, yes. As a full time retiree I work at it 7 days a week, if I can do it so can they. Can I suggest you expand your thinking, I am a retiree 52 weeks a year, why are you even considering any holiday at all, if I don’t get any, why should any else? 😉

      1. I didnt say they have to work seven days a week vvof, I said all workplaces should operate seven days a week with full time staff fostered for five days out of seven. This would create more jobs and make services available every day so that people wouldn’t have to take a day off to manage their affairs.

      2. I didnt say they have to work seven days a week vvof, I said all workplaces should operate seven days a week with full time staff fostered for five days out of seven. This would create more jobs and make services available every day so that people wouldn’t have to take a day off to manage their affairs.

  31. There have been 9 new cases of Covid-19 in Scotland, as of yesterday.
    There has been a total of 4155 deaths recorded as Covid-19 (with/from/maybe) and of these 2488 were confirmed by testing since the outbreak began.
    As the average humber of deaths in Scotland is around 55,000 annually this represents an extra 8% or so on the numbers expected. As the recording of causes of death has been haphazard and inconsistent this figure may have been inflated. Of these deaths, half were in care homes, half were in hospitals, and three-quarters were of people aged over 75. (I have rounded the figures for clarity.)
    Of the population of 6m, by inference, around 1000 people have died, some of them in hospital/ care homes possibly, but who are not over 75. The mortality from Covid-19 in Scotland amongst normal healthy people is then 1000 in 6m, or 1 in 6000, or 0.02%, rounded up.
    This is not the Black Death. This is statistically trivial* and we have wrecked our economy across the board for this?
    Moreover, has the NHS done anything that makes any difference? Half those who died were in care homes and written off by the NHS. The other 2000 died in hospital. Did medical intervention save any more than a handful?

    *If my sums are correct.
    https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/
    https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2020/07/coronavirus-covid-19-modelling-epidemic-scotland-issue-no-7/documents/coronavirus-covid-19-modelling-epidemic-scotland-issue-no-7/coronavirus-covid-19-modelling-epidemic-scotland-issue-no-7/govscot%3Adocument/coronavirus-covid-19-modelling-epidemic-scotland-issue-no-7.pdf

    1. And now we are opening up to bluddy tourists – what can possibly go wrong?

        1. The mortality figures in the Islands have not been outwith the five year average.

      2. I would hardly call it opening up, Alec! Masks and SNP loonies on the A1 border, politely telling visitors to “F*** off”!

      3. You’ll need to place a wee blockade across Little Loch Broom. A few torpedo-launches would help.

    2. More have/will die because of government intervention. The lock down started AFTER the peak and not before, far too late and the flights should have been stopped before the lockdown. A complete mess to save the NHS not the people.

    2. Morning Issy

      I am surprised that other exotics don’t find their way into the country via beans from Kenya and sugar peas from China.
      Dover is rather quiet at the moment, perhaps the stormy weather has halted the free ferry service.

      1. 320949+ up ticks,
        Morning TB,
        Lest we forget, the peoples dropped their guard on the 25/6/2016 as in, leave it to the tory’s, look what didn’t happen there,
        The use of submersibles in the past has been known.

          1. 320949+ up ticks,
            Morning ATG,
            I would not put it past the lab/lib/con governance coalition to use submarines to bring in new alien foreign voting units because surely, surely party
            member / voters must be in rapid decline, surely,surely.

          2. Oh come on Ogga. How many submarines does the UK have? It would not be a very efficient route.

          3. 320949+ up ticks,
            Afternoon R,
            My post was merely to point out there is no limit to the height of treachery these governance parties will go to to achieve their aim.
            Depending on who is judging an efficient route is the one that allows say a brace of successful terrorist through.

      2. It’s probably only quiet because Nigel has been prevented from intercepting them so we don’t hear about them.

      3. There is a rumour that the US is quarantining pressure treated wood imports from Canada, cannot let the bug in I suppose.

        This was the excuse given by a builders merchant for lack of supply, it may be true and it may just be another case of the Us trying to interrupt the flow of goods under the free trade deal.

      1. I have my nose & ear hair removed by hot wax at the Turkish Barber. A quick jerk & OUCH!

    4. Dè do bheachd air seo, a Dhonnchaidh?

      Dh ’fhaodadh Gàidhlig na h-Alba bàsachadh ann an deich bliadhna, tha luchd-acadaimigeach a’ toirt rabhadh.

      1. They’ve been warning of the demise of Scots Gaelic for many years, Grizz.

        I think it will take more than a decade to die, if it ever does that is.

        1. I remember taking a holiday on the beautiful Isle of Skye (back in 1996) and every one of the locals in the small hamlet I stayed in (Fernilea) spoke Scots Gaelic as their first language. Long may they continue.

          2. The Talisker distillery, at Carbost, is just a mile away from where I stayed at Fernilea. You have to drive through its premises to get back to Portree.

        1. I read somewhere that the viewing figures we so low it was a bit of an Albatros….

  34. I see the BBC up to its usual tricks, I was listening to a R4 interview this morning about Formula 1.

    Straight out of the traps the interviewer asked why six of the drivers refused to bend a knee to Black Lies Matter – no intention of interviewing every effort instead to denounce, laughable when you consider the BBC had asked a bloke on to the show who knows lots about car engines and the aerodynamics of racing cars but probably never needed to know about micro aggression when he was rummaging through his socket set.

  35. On a slightly lighter note…
    As far as I can tell at the moment neither our Government or that of the USA has any plans to take out China with a massive sudden surprise nuclear strike.
    Nor are there any plans to impose tariffs, or embargoes, nor exclusion of Chinese nationals from our countries. (Although Chinese students returning here after New Year holidays were the likely initial carriers of Covid-19.)
    So I decided to embark on my own little embargo. I require some bits of cookware but do not wish to buy anything made in China.

    I wrote to KitchenCraft est.1850 Birmingham. As follows:
    “Hello,
    I have had a look at your website and the place of manufacture is not shown for products.
    I am prepared to buy products made in Europe.
    I am not prepared to buy any item made in China.
    How can I tell? Please advise me.
    Maybe take note that I am not alone in thinking that we would be daft to buy anything from China after they sent us Covid-19.
    Regards,”

    I received the following reply from Quoc Nguyen, their UK Quality Manager:
    “Thank you for your email and for your enquiry.
    Please note that we design and develop all of our products in the UK but manufacture mainly in China.
    We understand the concern and as a business we have taken all active steps to ensure that all imported goods are safe.
    All shipments take longer than 10 days to arrive from source to our DC and will have been fumigated prior to arrival. There will also be a waiting period in our warehouse before goods are sold.
    If you were hoping to focus more on purchasing only British made goods going forward then perhaps this article would point you in the right direction: https://makeitbritish.co.uk/top-ten/british-made-kitchenware-brands/
    All the best.
    Kind Regards”

    Ho hum. Bringing manufacturing back to the UK will be a very long haul.

  36. Today’s Ponder

    Shirley, the arbiter of the descriptors “Slavery” or “Worker” is the amount of wages paid

    1. I bought the 3rd by V.A. on vinyl when I was in the 6th Form. It was when I started going to concerts every week by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

    2. I bought the 3rd by V.A. on vinyl when I was in the 6th Form. It was when I started going to concerts every week by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

      3. When I was at Blundell’s we had professional musicians into the school to give concerts about three times a year – thus I heard Leon Goosens on the oboe and Valerie Tryon on the piano when they were both at the peak of their careers and I was a spotty adolescent.

        .

      4. The BSO used to come to Gloucester sometimes in the 1950s – first concerts I went to.

    3. As i type, my wife is in the next room plonking away with her home based P and O lessons. 😏

    4. Morning PT, when I was 8 my parents hired a piano teacher to teach me the piano. He was booked for an initial hour session. He left after 20 minutes saying “Your son will never play a note of music in his life”

      2. I learnt the violin as a kid. At one year’s school Eisteddfod I entered the violin solo competition and played Men Of Harlech.
        The music teacher gave ma a house point for trying 🙁

        1. I learned the piano as a child. It came in handy when I needed to perform in Russia (Beethoven Pathétique). I preferred reciting Pushkin’s poem for the end of term bash, though – much less stressful.

      3. You’ve either got t or you aint got it !
        One of our pleasant neighbours asked me to teach him how to play the guitar. I’m no expert, i can play a few tunes and strum a few chords.
        But i lent him one of mine, showed him a few basic chords and lent him some books. Six months year later……….. he never seems to have the time !!!
        His wife brought him a new guitar for his last birthday……..still nothing happening. I had to resort to the cruel truth, “they don’t play themselves David” ! I suspect his she has reiterated that many times.

      4. Is honesty the best policy?

        Face up to the facts so you won’t be disappointed later or keep plugging away until you accept…. teacher knows best.

      5. Is honesty the best policy?

        Face up to the facts so you won’t be disappointed later or keep plugging away until you accept…. teacher knows best.

    6. https://youtu.be/bWlAgksUQyo

      I was actually there at the world premiere of this piano concerto, which was part of a concert that opened the Carinthia Summer Festival in Southern Austria three years ago.

      The story of the first movement was that she had not even started to compose it in February, yet managed to write it, orchestrate and rehearse it to concert standard by July! She explained in an interview “I forgot that it is hard work writing a piano concerto”.

  38. For Nottler astronomy buffs!

    Pluto: Back from the dead. BBC2. 21:00 Tonight.

    1. Gosh – I had a cat called Pluto. She died in 1992. I shall look forward to seeing her again.

      1. New French government to be announced this evening – from 4 pm BST – fixed up by Toy Boy pulling the strings of Mr “Inconnu” – the new Prime Minister.

        1. Unfortunate name – New Frog Prime Minister, M Jean Castex, already has a derogatory nickname – Jean Casse-tête – John Headache.

          1. Il me fait rappeller Raffarin…un autre inconnu qui, même aujourd’hui, reste inconnu!

            The worst prime minister they ever had, apparently. He spoke banalities and meant them!

          5. Well, I can think of one exception – or maybe two (including the War years).

          1. Maybe – but he’ll run for President in 2020 – beat Toy Boy hollow in round one – and beat Marine Le Pen in round two.

            You read it here first. He is not at all stupid – and is a Gaullist at heart.

    3. An improvement on the German cafe with those silly hats. I’m surprised it hasn’t attracted a large number of children wanting to social distance with the teddies.

        1. Just grin and bear it.

          I wonder how many germs those bears pick up in their fur from people sitting next to them.

  41. I see the Ginge & Minge roadshow is p*ssing off the British people again:

    Prince Harry and Meghan: We must acknowledge ‘uncomfortable’ past of the Commonwealth

    Speaking of the “unimaginable suffering” which left an “indelible stain on the history of our world”, he later said that Britain must take responsibility for ensuring the horrors are never forgotten

    Did the dimwit not do History at school, where he would learned that it was the evil British who made slavery illegal? Does he not know that there are far more slaves today than during the period of the Slave Trade?

    2. Didn’t he even have to cheat to get his scrape pass in GCSE Art?

      Instead of criticising his country’s past he should be apologising to the examining board for trying to swindle them.

      Mind you, there is something rather nasty about the Spencer family. His Uncle Charles, the Ninth Earl, is a prize shit who treated his womenfolk – including his sister, Diana, with disdain and cruelty.

      Harry is certainly shaping up to becoming a thoroughly foul piece of excrement.

    3. He is more vocal now that he is a ” private ” person …. becoming a joke.

      1. He’s past a joke – any respect I felt for him after his Army time has long since vanished – he’s a prize idiot!

    4. Today, our grandson was helping MB sort out an overgrown pond. He is a lovely 15 year old who is good company and is incredibly strong and practical. He cleared us out of chocolate Swiss roll and creme fraiche; it was a real grand(son and parent) day.
      I would be really upset – heart broken, in fact – if he criticised our lifetime’s work, particularly in public, from across the sea and at the prompting of a manipulative woman to whom he was spinelessly in lust.
      I feel really sorry for the Queen. She and Prince Philip shielded Harry when his promiscuous mother was killed with her latest paramour. She has always been there for him. Prince Charles went out of his way to help MeGain when her father dropped out of the wedding.
      What despicable couple they are.

    5. Unimagineable… clean water. electricity. medicine. vaguely effective government. schools & universities. Hospitals. Transport. life expectancy to threescore years & ten. enough to eat. All being dialled back now they are independent.
      The man is a total tosser.

    6. I doubt he paid much attention. He also missed that under colonial rule, the countries which are now basket cases since independence (which was granted freely for the most part) were prosperous and well run.

        1. It was the British ones I was thinking of. We were far better at running an Empire than the Frogs, the Krauts, the Ities and the Cloggies 🙂

          3. Look at the mess they left in the Congo. And they were the worst of all for exploiting the resources – ivory, slaves etc. “The horror, the horror”.

  42. The headline should read ‘freedom of speech can’t be limited’.

    If you have a opinion, someone will be offended. Legislating until no one can be offended removes all opinions, all thought bar that of those legislating. Then you have totalitarianism and oppression.

    Far more sensible to provoke and have robust debate. Oh, who am I kidding. The screaming nutters won’t let people speak. Logic is lost on the unintelligent. reason lost on the Left. Human kind is doomed to be controlled by the permoffended, the stupid and the base.

        1. The problem with ‘Mythology’ it’s written after the events.
          Opposition benches and BBC come to mind.

    3. Given her ethnicity, it’s a balanced comment. Like that Paypal woman in Cambridge.

          1. >On 23 June 2020, Gopal tweeted “White lives don’t matter. As white lives” and “Abolish whiteness”, in response to a banner flown over a Premier League football stadium that read “White lives matter Burnley”. She received abusive messages, including death threats, following her tweet. Gopal told the media that her comments were opposing the concept of whiteness – the presumption of white superiority – and challenging the racial basis for lives mattering, adding that it wasn’t whiteness that gave lives their dignity, nor should it be the criteria for lives mattering. Gopal was briefly suspended from Twitter under its ‘hateful content policy’ after sharing some of the messages of the hateful abuse she received following her tweet. The ban was lifted after other users got in touch with Twitter to explain that she was the target of a sustained campaign to have her suspended. Professor Gopal stood by her tweets asserting that her comments were “very clearly speaking to a structure and ideology, not about people”.

            The following day, the University of Cambridge tweeted a blanket defence of its academics’ right to free speech, without explicitly referencing her case. A statement released by the university read: “The University defends the right of its academics to express their own lawful opinions which others might find controversial and deplores in the strongest terms abuse and personal attacks. These attacks are totally unacceptable and must cease”.< That's a disgusting way to behave, surely she must have realised a lot of other people would suffer abuse because of what she said. Our youngest son's lady is of Indian decent and you couldn't meet a nicer more friendly young lady and that goes for the whole family. She looks like a film star and recently has suffered racial abuse from ignorant persons unknown. But I'm afraid when people such as the above mentioned open their stupid vile mouths to attract attention or to vent some invented anger this is bound to happen. I've always had a lot of respect for people of Indian decent, they usually work hard and have succeeded where quite often lazy indigenous people can't be bothered.

          2. My complaint to Cambs police over this matter, although acknowledged, is still unanswered. I have stated that I am offended and its plain to see what was written. They hardly need Miss Marple to help investigate. A follow up must be due at the end of the week after my refresher offshore sailing course (at last).

          4. She was “Dean of Churchill College”? Didn’t she realise she was accepting a position in a college named after a White Racist?!?!?

  44. Well folks after supporting the wonderful NHS for approximately 58 years, i didn’t feel the need to stand on our door step and clap last night.
    I remember an incident around 12 years ago when one of our youngest son was badly injured in a car crash. After the first class initial front line treatment, he needed a transfer to another hospital 12 miles away from where he was. It was out of the nurses hands but the ward manager was in charge of this. It took three days to for transport to become available. I tried to chivvy things up, but the manager was not available either on the phone nor in the office. When i asked to see the manager for the umpteenth time. I was advised by one of the ward people to stand by the most expensive cars in the car park and a manager would turn up sooner or later.

    1. I have refrained from clapping on the Thursday clap times, and refrained again yesterday. I didn’t hear any clapping or banging from the neighbours, either.

      1. Yesterday was alleged to be the “final” clap, to celebrate 72 years of the NHS. Thank God for that, except that I don’t for one minute believe it – we will not be enjoined to “celebrate” again in 3 years’ time?

        3. Shame it took so long for the first clapping session.
          Well done for your post yesterday ✔✔

        4. I’m guessing that refers to the crrent Covid-clap, the next pox that falls upon us wil require its own clap-clap

    2. After my recent experience with Dr.stupid2 I feel your pain.

      I hobbled into my local hospital and was wheelchaired to a
      treatment room. Back to reception in chair where I hobbled to
      exit waiting for lift from a kind neighbour. No walking stick or
      support was offered…

      Apparently the hos. doesn’t offer sticks without prescription!
      When returned they must be sterilised and this is expensive
      so they are thrown away!

      The NHS is not the sacred cow we are led to believe….

      1. Couldn’t you hire a wheelchair? Gobowen has that facility (the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital). They’re a bit like supermarket trolleys; when you’ve finished with them and they’re returned you can get your £1 back (or you could – they are probably quarantined now).

  45. David Starkey apologises and says he’s ‘paid heavy price’ for ‘damn blacks’ comments. 6 July2020.

    David Starkey has issued a public apology over his “damn blacks” outburst – calling his comments “clumsy” and a “big mistake”.

    The TV historian, 75, declared slavery cannot be considered genocide because “so many damn blacks” survived in an online interview with conservative commentator Darren Grimes.

    The TV veteran has now issued a lengthy apology, insisting he has paid the price for his “mistake” with “the loss of every distinction and honour acquired in a long career”.

    Well I would have wished that he had not apologised but then I am not paying the price in loss of income and Social Ostracism. The better argument might be that his apology is wasted since forgiveness does not exist in the BLM lexicon. There is also the point that he serves better as an example of what happens to those who transgress than he would as an obedient slave to the Cultural Marxist narrative.

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-david-starkey-apologises-horrific-22309875

    2. He should have clarified his comments straight away i.e. the use of ‘damn’ was used to emphasise numbers, not as a criticism. As it is, any remark like that would be bound to be taken out of context. If he’s looking for ‘rehabilitation’, he can forget it. The people who jumped at his remarks don’t care for the Christian concept of repentance followed by forgiveness – they just see an apology as a sign of weakness and confirmation that they have won the battle.

      2. Hello Plum

        He is one helluva bad tempered ungrateful redhead.. Yep I will call him that, and apols to any Nottler who is a redhead .

        Perhaps he was overindulged as a child ,and learned all the childish spiteful tantrum tricks from his mother Diana and maybe he is not as nice as we assumed him to be.

    2. I’m sure The Queen will be delighted.

      As an organisation working towards harmony and co-operation, The Commonwealth puts the UN and the African Union to shame.

      1. HM is particularly fond of the Commonwealth, so it’ll be like a slap in the face to her.

    4. Probably not – she originally probably saw Harry as the way to money, fame, Royalty. The fact that Harry is such a wuss must just have come as an added bonus, and encouraged her onto this black trip-guilt thing.

      Trash has no moral scruples whatsoever – she is happy to ruin her husband’s and her child’s lives in order to get what she wants. Especially by encouraging him to bring his mother-difficulties to the fore so that she can step in as alma mater for him to “atone” to Meghan for the help that he feels he couldn’t give Diana.Meghan is simply a very disturbed and, unfortunately through that, a disgusting human being.

      1. Imagine being married to either of them – it sounds like an existential vision of hell.

    5. So, it was uncomfortable for some. And?? See, I acknowledge it, but the outcome of the colonies was far, far better than things before being colonised, and after they became independent, too. Just look at Rastus’ Father’s history when he went back to Sudan on a visit. “You should never have left”. Says it all.

      1. When I was there in my teens in Khartoum , I had a school hol job in the office of the Sudan cotton exporting association .. All the big Sudanese cotton landowners used to come in for big meetings .. They looked amazing in their pure white robes and head gear , carrying their fly whisks . Many of the expats and lots of Sudanese staff , ladies and chaps made sure there was always cold water and chilled tea available .

        Those were the days when the Sudan and Egypt were major cotton exporters, of course ideal conditions for growing , watered by the Nile

        I had to make sure there was plenty of carbon paper for the type writers and the Roneo machine.. turning the copier handle was a real pain!

          2. #metoo! And the smell of it! Had to print new restaurant menus every day!

        2. I only visited Khartoum in about 2008. I really liked the place. Fine people, and coffee to die for (under a tree, bought from a Mamma who boiled it there – think extra-strength espresso, with ginger! Real rocket fuel, that was.

    6. Jeeeze how embarrassing.
      What a complete uneducated dick he’s turned out be.

    1. Brash and Trash ‘woke’ one morning and are unlikely to recover, ever.

    4. 320949+ up ticks,
      R,
      He really is a plank.and those varicose grain are something else.

  49. I copied this from TR News (although I am not officially a subscribing member. It concerns Jake Hepple, who flew the “White Lives Matter” banner over Burnley football ground. I have not put on the facility to listen to the interview (I don’t do ipods) but I believe that the hypocrisy of the judicial system is appalling in this case, and I have sent a small donation. I can’t afford much but I do think it important to support the individuals who make a non-violent, and totally justifiable stand.
    All Lives Matter – Does That Include White Lives?

    Jake Hepple had a plane fly over the Etihad stadium with a White Lives Matter banner which drew condemnation from across the UK, but if Black Lives Matter then shouldn’t White Lives Matter also? This is the problem with subversive identity politics, if one group wants to claim they are disproportionally disaffected then so will another group. Jake read reports about the brutal murder of seven-year-old Emily Jones, who was stabbed in the neck by an Albanian Migrant while playing in the park on Mothers day. Jake also read about the Lybian migrant who killed three people in a park shortly after a Black Lives Matter event had taken place. Their deaths had nowhere near the amount of attention the Marxist Black Lives Matter movement generated.

    Whether you like it or not the perception that Black Lives Matter is more important than other lives is real, it’s real, and it’s growing, mainly due to the lies and anti-white hatred espoused by Black Lives Matter activists. Jake, for all that he did, did not deserve to have his life destroyed for merely making a perfectly legal, non-racist political statement. If White Lives Matter is racist, then so must be Black Lives Matter, that’s equality for you!

    It will be interesting to see how much support Jake will get now the woke Marxist cancel culture mob have destroyed his life and career. Jake hasn’t rioted, he hasn’t attacked police, he hasn’t set fire to the Union Jack on the cenotaph, he hasn’t vandalised monuments, he hasn’t disgraced our war dead and he hasn’t hurt anyone physically.

    Jake is guilty of no crime at all, yet his life has been destroyed by a baying mob of pernicious Marxist ideologues and their media enablers.

    Welcome to 21st century Britain.

    Friends of Jake have set up a donate webpage to help him out during these difficult times, feel free to go there and support him on https://www.supportjake.co.uk/

    1. Support Jake Hepple – His Life Matters
      As Burnley football fans and friends of Jake Hepple, we were disgusted to see how the mainstream press and our club treated him. Jake has the right to freedom of speech; he also has the right to counter a divisive and false narrative pushed out by a Marxist organisation – Black Lives Matter.

      We see time and time again how little white lives matter in the UK. If Black Lives Matter then so should White Lives. We want equality; we don’t want preferential treatment, we don’t want favouritism, we want justice, we don’t want people hating each other because of the colour of their skin, we want unity.

      Black Lives Matter as an organisation will not lead us to unity, destroying someone for saying White Lives Matter will not bring unity. As friends of Jake, we ask all of you to help him out in whatever way you can. He lost his job and his career for exercising his freedom of speech, which right now, appears only to swing one way.

      Ditto the white couple in Missouri, who pointed guns at a mob of over 100 people who broke into the grounds of a private estate, and are being charged.
      https://www.breitbart.com/social-justice/2020/07/05/video-hundreds-return-protest-outside-armed-couples-home-st-louis/
      (Breitbart)
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CiIZTVuSUiY
      (Tucker Carlson show)

      Or the pregnant white woman who is also being charged for pointing a gun at a woman and her daughters, who refused to let her leave after an altercation.
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5zBw8NN3tk
      (Officer Tatum)

      It’s all getting very nasty out there, and it’s all coming from the left and their “conservative” enablers, who are too weak to stand up to them.

    4. Pleased to see details of donation website. Unfortunately only a miniscule contribution possible from me.

      1. Thank you, VOM!

        It all helps though – mine was fairly miniscule too.I guess the best thing is to circulate, and hopefully more donations will come in for the brave chap.

  50. OT – apropos my tomato problem – good first trusses, then luxuriant growth, lots of flowers and bugger all fruit – I have discussed this with others in the village
    (keeping my distance, of course…(sarc)…) and several have the same prob. Whether in greenhouse or outside.

    I wonder whether yer Chinese sent something over mid-May to scotch them. One of life’s mysteries.

    1. We don’t have any fruit yet either on our tomato plants. As you say, plenty of growth, and some flowers, but that’s all so far.

    2. Good afternoon your Worship.

      Have you tried using a small paint brush and pollinating the flowers by hand?

      Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better.

      1. Yes. , yes – the MR did that last week with an electric toothbrush – and was followed by bees. You commented amusingly (??) at the time…!!

    3. If they are later than is usual for producing fruit, they may ketch up in a while.

    4. We are the same .. ours are out doors , perhaps a pollination problem or maybe that tomato seeds have been GM’d or something similar?

    7. Cold snap makes the flowers fall off before setting?
      Had that last spring in Firstborn’s orchard. Result: 3 apples. Year before – enough apples to cover the ground & make 60 litres of cider.

        1. Strange….where did you get the seeds or plants from ?

          I suggest that you get in touch with these people
          Rothamsted Research | Global Science, Lasting Benefits
          https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk
          There will also be an opportunity to visit Rothamsted Research’s world class laboratories. 20 Jun 2019. ROTHAMSTED @CEREALS 2019. Join farmers, agronomists and industry professionals on the 12th & 13th June at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire for the arable industry’s leading technical event. 12 Jun – 13 Jun 2019 . SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS CHALLENGE. This is a full-day event, hosted by Impact …

          Contact
          Rothamsted Research West Common Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ. Tel: + 44 …

          1. All grown from seeds bought in January in Italy. Used them for years and years with great success.

            It is a different sort of problem – since others have it, too. Could have been the excessive heat in May? All the surrounding farmland is organic, so no illegal or lethal sprays etc.

            Edit: And my daughter in law in Wiltshire used the same seed with good results.

          2. All the surrounding farmland is organic, so no illegal or lethal sprays etc.

            I didn’t have you down as naive.

          3. Sorry – I know the two farmers. They are belligerently militant against chemicals.

          6. I’ve notice some seeds do not propagate as they use to, it was easy to buy veg and use the seeds to plant on and grow decent crops.

    9. Have you tried pinching out the leader and then leaving the side shoots to flower?

      1. Of course. Lots more flowers. No fruit. The MR is going to try the toothbrush trick tomorrow.

        1. Amex do a black card. Lucky that wasn’t hacked or i would have to rob a bank to replace the losses.

          4. Not really, Minty.

            I expect my card was hacked from a database and then was sold on the dark web.

            My bank picked up on the transaction immediately and flagged my account. No more payments out allowed.
            Which is bothersome.

            My bank gave me the name of the account to report to the authorities. I won’t be bothering with that.

            I researched hacking and it is widespread. Facebook gets hacked almost monthly. There is so much personal data out there that it’s childsplay to steal identities. The only thing stopping the gits is the banks own procedures.

          5. Well you learn something every day! It was my impression that they have to gain physical access to your card to clone it!

          6. If they had had that they could have emptied the account.

            It’s why i use a debit card and keep small amounts on it. If i want to make a larger purchase i transfer the money to the debit. So it’s never there for long.

      2. Sorted. Have to wait for a new card though, dammit.

        An account in the U.S tried to spend 18p on my debit card and my bank froze the account.

        1. So that was a trial run to see if they could get away with it? A bigger spend to follow?

  52. Dominic Raab unveils UK sanctions against human rights abusers. 6 July 2020.

    The measures announced on Monday against individuals in Saudi Arabia, Russia, Myanmar and North Korea include asset freezes and travel bans and represent the first time the UK will alone name and penalise individuals and organisations accused of human rights abuse.
    “This government is committed to the UK being an even stronger force for good in the world,” Raab told parliament as he announced the sanctions. “We will hold to account the perpetrators of the worst human rights abuses.”

    The hypocrisy on show here is absolutely nauseating. There’s no Blair, or Cameron on this list. Two people responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocents. Their supporters and enablers also receive a Get Out of Gaol Free card as well. That the UK is a Police State where the oppression of dissident opinion is a daily occurrence passes without comment. Pah!

    https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/jul/06/dominic-raab-to-annouce-uk-sanctions-against-human-rights-abusers

    2. 320949+ up ticks,
      Afternoon AS,
      lab/lib/con very successful mafia type fronts, murder inc.
      was a prototype and the US numbers racket has nothing on the UK number manipulators fronted by chieftess adder abbot.
      Double Pah then some.

    3. “We will hold to account the perpetrators of the worst human rights abuses.”

      But obviously not the human rights abuse of the pale skinned young females, the child abusers of Rotherham and Sheffield Oxford and the many other towns of England.

    4. What about China? The harvesting of organs from still living members of Falun Gong? The treatment of the Uighurs? the crushing of dissent in Tibet? Forced sterilisation?

        1. I just received a shipment of Canadian printer cartridges. It is Canadian all the way through the wrapping until you get to the actual cartridge which of course is made in China. Is nothing made outside China any more?

    5. Setting ourselves up as moral guardians according to the left wing rule book. What could possibly go wrong? Fools.

  54. 320949+ up ticks,
    May one ask, all this funding for the arts by Mr johnson & co they seemed to have omitted or rather cut back on one of the main arts that being the art of WAR.
    Seeing as the voting pattern submissive pcism & appeasement is leading these Isles down the mosqueo road it does seem to me the politico’s have their priorities @rse about face in regards to funding with keeping in mind the imans don’t like music, and the chinese are on an alert stance.

  57. Lewis Hamilton determined the fight against racism does not die a silent death. 5 July 2020 • 9:04pm.

    Lewis Hamilton could continue to “take a knee” at Formula One races saying he does not want the fight against racism to die a silent death.
    Hamilton was among the 14 drivers who knelt before the opening grand prix in Austria. Six, including Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen remained standing. All of them wore ‘End Racism’ t-shirts, however, apart from Hamilton who wore a Black Lives Matter top.

    One of the things that particularly narks me about all these prating Social Justice Warriors is that I don’t belong to any of their tribes so I’m unable to register my disapproval by leaving and taking my custom elsewhere.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2020/07/05/lewis-hamilton-determined-fight-against-racism-does-not-die/

    2. The six drivers who did not kneel have shown that it is possible to resist this stupidity. Hopefully other drivers will join them at the next Grand Prix, where Hamilton will undoubtedly attempt to perpetuate this nonsense. It’s a pity that no Premier League footballer or match official had the courage to stand up (literally) for what they thought is right.

  58. Plenty of rollicking good comments BTL:

    Brendan O’Neill
    Keir Starmer’s bizarre Black Lives Matter re-education
    6 July 2020, 3:06pm

    So now we know what happens if you criticise Black Lives Matter. You’ll be packed off for re-education. You will be sent to have your mind cleansed of foul, dissenting thoughts. You will be reminded of the First Commandment of the strange year of 2020: Thou Shalt Not Question BLM.

    That’s the lesson of Keir Starmer’s bizarre confession this morning that he will submit himself for unconscious bias training after he dared, ever so mildly, to criticise a few aspects of the BLM worldview.

    Last week Starmer referred to the BLM protests of the past few weeks as a ‘moment’. That was crime No. 1. In reducing this movement to a moment, Starmer, according to the warriors against anti-BLM blasphemy, was being dismissive of the incredibly important events that have taken place since the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

    Worse, Starmer said the idea of defunding the police, which has become a rallying cry of BLM supporters, is ‘nonsense’. This outraged some, which is bizarre: did they think a former Director of Public Prosecutions and generally middle-of-the-road politician was going to line up behind an anti-police worldview?

    And yet, Starmer has now said that he will make amends for his words. In an interview with LBC this morning he declared that he would take part in unconscious bias training, partly for his alleged moral error of being overly dismissive of BLM.

    A Labour Party member called Sharon phoned in to LBC and asked Starmer about his BLM comments. She challenged him to undergo unconscious bias training. Starmer said he would, and in fact he plans to introduce such training for the entire Labour Party, just in case there are any other Labourites out there who deviate even a tiny bit from the BLM worldview.

    This is bizarre on so many levels. Firstly, why can’t we criticise BLM? It’s a political movement. It’s an ideological grouping. Its policy agenda includes not only challenging police brutality (great) but also dismantling the nuclear family and overthrowing capitalism. Guess what — loads of people disagree with those stances! And yet if a public figure raises a peep of concern about BLM, he’ll be mauled.

    Look at Dominic Raab, who was slammed for days when he said he wouldn’t take the knee for BLM. Or Stu Peters, a radio host on the Isle of Man, who was suspended after he questioned BLM and the idea of white privilege (he has since been reinstated). Or the Welsh journalist Martin Shipton, who was forced to stand down as a judge for the Wales Book of the Year when he criticised BLM protests that were taking place during lockdown.

    None of these people said or did anything racist. They simply made political points. And yet that isn’t allowed, it seems. The culture of conformism around BLM has become stifling. Aside from a tiny handful of racist idiots, everyone agrees that black lives matter as much as every other life. But that shouldn’t mean we have to agree with Black Lives Matter the movement.

    The second mad thing about Starmer’s self-re-education is the use of the phrase ‘unconscious bias’. If we are calling criticism of BLM a case of ‘unconscious bias’, then we are seriously running the risk of pathologising perfectly legitimate political viewpoints.

    There are many people, white and black, who are made uncomfortable by some of BLM’s demands and by the behaviour of some BLM activists. Are they all unconsciously biased? There is something borderline totalitarian in this urge to depict dissenting or difficult views as a kind of mental malaise, an unconscious failing, a sickness of the mind that requires, in Starmer’s case, training and erasure.

    Not only does this slyly delegitimise certain views — it also risks diluting the seriousness of racism where it does exist.

    Racism is not some unconscious bias or social faux pas. It is a nasty ideology that views certain groups of people as being inferior to others. We should tackle racism where it rears its ugly head, rather than branding anyone who says something critical or iffy as a racist. The fashion for seeing racism everywhere actually undermines the task of tackling racism where it does still linger. We can’t see the prejudiced wood for the virtue-signalling trees.

    Starmer is making a mistake. Isn’t Labour meant to be thinking about how to win back the armies of working-class voters it lost to Boris Johnson in December? If Starmer thinks he can do that by playing PC games and buckling under pressure from woke warriors who demand that he repent for his speechcrimes, he’s in for a surprise.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/keir-starmer-s-bizarre-black-lives-matter-re-education#

    1. Don’t think non-subscribers can see Spectator BTL. Any chance of a flavour of some of it please?

      1. petaJ • 2 hours ago
        My bias against BLM isn’t remotely subconscious, it is fully conscious and deliberate. BLM is a nasty, manipulative organisation dedicated to using the race issue to undermine society and achieve its own, totalitarian ends. It is also not in the least bit interested in saving black lives. If it were it would not want to abolish the police who do what they can to stop black people from killing each other.

        Ricky • 2 hours ago
        I am a retired psychotherapist and was required to attend ‘unconscious bias training’ in 1991. Within minutes, I remember challenging the trainers on their ridiculous assertion that everyone in the room who was white was automatically racist. That is not the definition of racism that I agree with. I reminded the group that Dr Martin Luther King Jr famously said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character” This is the one that launched the Civils Rights movement in the 1960s. It is the one I recognise and the only one that rings true. Critical Race Theory contradicts this, and is based on postmodern nonsense, a movement created to cover up the collapse of socialism in the last century. By turning the world on its head, it aims to indoctrinate, coerce and seduce its way to power. Don’t be fooled…I walked out of the indoctrination ‘unconscious bias training’ class, telling the trainers that they would do best addressing their own ‘hate’ issues than exporting their bias onto the rest of us!

        David Allen • 3 hours ago
        What ‘brutal killing’! Somehow, this event manifests a huge lie almost as if one has to prostrate oneself before a flawed belief to seek qualification to comment. If you want to see a brutal killing go to Saudi Arabia, or Iran, checkout some war footage and remind yourself of Cambodia, Mao Stalin etc. The choice is phenominally wide. If that’s too hard try to remember Lee Rigby. Now that’s a brutal killing. Floyd died of a heart condition well after his justified restraint. He resisted arrest, high on drugs and was clearly a threat to the police, so forceful restraint was necessary.
        When, as I expect, the officer is acquitted of murder and after the usual huffing and puffing some of these lazy and ill judged statements will look very silly. There are those of us who may well provide regular reminders.

        UmUmUmUmUmUm • 3 hours ago
        It’s more than borderline totalitarianism. It is full on totalitarianism. It is the Marxist concept of false consciousness under another name. So this is what Britain has sunk to. We looked on this kind of evil with disbelief in Maoist China during The Cultural Revolution, an event by the way that led to a death toll estimated at up to 20 million. Now we see this evil raising it’s foul head in the the birthplace of modern mass democracy. And we see the leader of “Her Majesties Loyal Opposition”, limply acquiescing in this obscenity and committing his party to co-operate in totalitarian indoctrination. I want to weep in disbelief. And all the while this crime is being instigated, that fat clammy liberal ensconced in no 10 sits on his flabby hands and does nothing to defend our constitution or our democracy from this process. Serene in the knowledge that when his term in office is over he can sail off into the sunset and leave us to cope with a full on tyranny of Orwellian proportions.

        Dominic Allkins • 2 hours ago
        In 1957 Atlas Shrugged was published. The following quote from the book has always stuck with me, and this is the world we live in now:

        “There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for me to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed or enforced nor objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt.”

        ‘Unconscious bias’ is a way of making all of us guilty men (& women, etc…). Having seen the tests there is basically no way you can pass. Even MLK would come out of the tests having unconscious bias FFS!!

        2. When, as I expect, the officer is acquitted of murder and after the usual huffing and puffing some of these lazy and ill judged statements will look very silly. ”
          David Allen couldn’t be more wrong. Acquittal will be followed by the most amazing street violence, in the USA and the Uk, and elsewhere… and for that reason, I expect that he will be convicted, for reasons of expediency, not truth or justice.

          1. I believe the charge was second degree murder, so there is probably some wriggle room of getting a conviction whatever the hard evidence.

          3. It’s the US, time for a quick plea bargain. Plead guilty to manslaughter (whatever they call it over there), serve six months probation then move to a new state and carry on as before.

            Riots in England will carry on as before because it is summertime and they have nothing else to do.

        3. When, as I expect, the officer is acquitted of murder and after the usual huffing and puffing some of these lazy and ill judged statements will look very silly. ”
          David Allen couldn’t be more wrong. Acquittal will be followed by the most amazing street violence, in the USA and the Uk, and elsewhere… and for that reason, I expect that he will be convicted, for reasons of expediency, not truth or justice.

        4. If the officer is acquitted it will be hat eating time.

          AND, if he IS acquitted, get the Hell out of Dodge City, ‘cos it will EXPLODE.

    2. My criticism of this piece is that Floyd was killed. He may not have been, i.e., initial autopsy said that he’d died of a heart attack, brought on by a cocktail of drugs, and heart disease. It may or may not come out during the trial.

      1. That’s the advantage of an old fashioned Black Maria: out of sight, out of mind.
        The real tragedy of the Floyd incident is that yet again a young child will be brought up without a father.

        1. Like the father who was shot dead in broad daylight whilst crossing the road with his daughter. She no longer has a father, and there’s very little being said about it.

    2. Well they cannot call it black death this time can they?

      The conspirators will be sitting there planning their next move –No not the coughing disease, how about a nice little death of colour to scare them?.

  60. Coming to a town near you:

    Bus driver in Bayonne (France) left brain dead after refusing to allow a group of passengers to board because they refused to wear masks.

    They beat him – in effect – to death. One man in custody – others bent their knees in running away.

      1. Yer French don’t mention his – they leave it to the reader to guess…

      1. When I lived in Cap d’Ail – and regularly took the 100 bus to and from Nice and Menton, whenever the inspectors boarded at least one bleck would have no ticket.

  61. Excellent news. Our smaller ginger & white cat, who was missing since Tuesday last week, has come home! Jubilation! We thought he was a goner.

    1. Trebles all round.

      They do that, you know. Pluto (see below) went missing for a week. We had given up – then, one evening, opening the door to let the dog out, there she was!

    3. Little Cat? So glad he’s come home! That’s a long time to be missing – is he ok?

      1. Seems so. SWMBO just called – I am away from home, to say he turned up, yowling, and very hungry.
        Big Cat had gone into decline (lost interest in doing anything, didn’t care about food – not even the expensive wet food) over the loss of Little, and was absolutely delighted to see him again.
        That’s a relief. We had visions of him shut in someone’s house whilst they were away for 3 weeks vacation… Now I must cancel all the “Cat Missing” adverts I put out.
        :-D)

          1. Indeed. Whilst he is rather pesky (like a dog – he licks people!), he’s a very lovable small cat (at 5kg, not too small)

    4. Great news Obers! We had a glorious ginger who went missing for a week and come home starving and filthy! We thought he’d been stuck in a foxhole or something. What a joy for Big Cat!

      1. We had a cat that went walkabout as soon as a for sale sign went up on the house . When we moved out two months later, the cat was still missing so all we could do was tell the new owners of the house. Being kind souls, they terrorised the neighbourhood for a month or so, any moggie that strayed into the garden was cornered and we received a phone call that our cat was back.

        In the end after about six months, her majesty strolled back into our lives and carried on as if she had never ben away.

        1. They do that very well! And then look at you as if to say “What?”

      1. Blimey, Belle, steady on. I don’t get chicken & pra…Ah! Now I understand!

    6. There is more rejoicing over one that is lost, but has been found, than over the other 99 (you did say you had a lot of cats, didn’t you?) that never went astray 🙂

  62. Russia meddled in 2014 Scottish independence referendum, explosive new book claims. 6 July 2020.

    Russia did attempt to meddle in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence and its aftermath, an explosive new book has claimed.

    It has long been suspected that operatives working on behalf of Vladimir Putin ‘s government helped spread false information across social media around the time of the landmark vote – claims strongly denied by Russia.

    Luke Harding, a former Moscow correspondent, has now backed that theory in a new book, Shadow State. He cites the 2014 Indy Ref as just one example of Russian meddling in Western elections over the last decade.

    Lol! Luke (It Woz Vlad) Harding again. Perceptive observers will have noted that these accusations of Russian meddling never extend to progressive causes. Black Lives Matter for example has caused chaos in the Anglosphere but not a word appears that this “success” might be put down to Russia or even China. Why is this? Well the PTB (the Real PTB) don’t want their projects sullying with accusations that they might not be as pure and innocent as they appear and thus lose their ground support among the Great Unwashed. This applies to almost every political cause you can think of. Extinction Rebellion, Remain, the Democratic Party, they are all there untouched by Russian perfidy. The rest, Vote Leave, Vote Conservative, Vote Trump they are all the result of Vlad’s evil machinations. Lol!

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/russia-meddled-2014-scottish-independence-22308246

    1. This confirms my long-held suspicions that Wee Krankie is a Russian FSB operative.

      She has the type of face only normally seen in the corridors of the Lubyanka or the guardrooms of a gulag.

      3. Actually, I am tending towards the view of the post-War Labour Party that Scotland might be better off run by Russians. West Fife had a communist MP until 1950, and the last communist councillor in Fife, Willie Clarke retired in four years ago.

    2. Oh heck. When will FSB agents visit Edinburgh to view the Scott Memorial? (60 meters)

  63. On a slightly lighter note…
    As far as I can tell at the moment neither our Government or that of the USA has any plans to take out China with a massive sudden surprise nuclear strike.
    Nor are there any plans to impose tariffs, or embargoes, nor exclusion of Chinese nationals from our countries. (Although Chinese students returning here after New Year holidays were the likely initial carriers of Covid-19.)
    So I decided to embark on my own little embargo. I require some bits of cookware but do not wish to buy anything made in China.

    I wrote to KitchenCraft est.1850 Birmingham. As follows:
    “Hello,
    I have had a look at your website and the place of manufacture is not shown for products.
    I am prepared to buy products made in Europe.
    I am not prepared to buy any item made in China.
    How can I tell? Please advise me.
    Maybe take note that I am not alone in thinking that we would be daft to buy anything from China after they sent us Covid-19.
    Regards,”

    I received the following reply from Quoc Nguyen, their UK Quality Manager:
    “Thank you for your email and for your enquiry.
    Please note that we design and develop all of our products in the UK but manufacture mainly in China.
    We understand the concern and as a business we have taken all active steps to ensure that all imported goods are safe.
    All shipments take longer than 10 days to arrive from source to our DC and will have been fumigated prior to arrival. There will also be a waiting period in our warehouse before goods are sold.
    If you were hoping to focus more on purchasing only British made goods going forward then perhaps this article would point you in the right direction: https://makeitbritish.co.uk/top-ten/british-made-kitchenware-brands/
    All the best.
    Kind Regards”

    Ho hum. Bringing manufacturing back to the UK will be a very long haul.

      1. I discovered my Charles Tyrwhitt shirts are made in Vietnam. They are good quality – a pity they aren’t made in Britain.

        1. I’m a Thomas Pink man ( as in “Hunting Pink”) myself. Pink’s shop is across the road on Jermyn Street from Tyrwhitt’s place.

          Do you know if Pink’s shirts are still made in the UK?

          1. According to Wiki:
            Thomas Pink Limited is a British shirt-maker that was established in London in 1984 by three Irish brothers – James, Peter and John Mullen. Since 1999 it has been part of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy group. In 2018 it lost £23.5 million; in 2019 it changed its brand name to Pink Shirtmaker.

            According to the FT:

            “These most English of shirts aren’t actually made in Britain”.

          3. I tried for you grizz, but had this auto reply.

            Thank you for getting in touch.

            We
            are receiving more emails and calls than normal at the moment, so
            please bear with us. Your email is now in a queue and we kindly ask you
            not to send additional emails. We
            are doing our best to get back to everyone as soon as possible.

            We hope that you and your family are staying safe and well, and thank you in advance for your patience.

            Pink Shirtmaker Team

          5. I like Thos Pink’s shirts, too. I haven’t bought any recently to see where the label states they are made.

        2. Yes – but anywhere is preferable to China. It’s time more stuff was made here.

  64. Bojo putting his foot in it again by claiming care homes ‘did not prepare for the return of elderly patients from hospitals’, without acknowledging there was insufficient PPE for them to do so.

    1. And without acknowledging that it was PHE who were clearing out the hospitals and not testing the old folks first.

    2. Most of the problems faced by Boris and Hancock have their origins in the failure of Jeremy Hunt to implement measures following warnings when health secretary under Cameron and May.

    3. Most care homes would probably not be able to keep their residents isolated properly. They’re not hospitals with isolation rooms, and the staff are not trained in infection control….and frankly, neither are most ward staff, which is how MRSA contamination happens, and 20% of CV19 patients were infected in hospital.

        1. Un peu de salope? One wonders where he finds the time after servicing Maman.

    1. That was Lovely PT,………. something like that happened to me when i was 18 years old. It brought back so many memories. I’ll get me tissue.

        1. She was a lovely girl looked a bit like the one in the video, from Warwickshire. I met in Norfolk on my first ‘solo’ holiday with my mates in. I was 17 when we first met on Yarmouth pier, she was 19. We made trips back and forth for weekend visits and lot of pennies piled up for red phone box calls.
          Sadly I was too immature for her, on they way back to catch her train to from London to Snow Hill, she dumped me at Warren Street underground. It would be nice to know if she was still alive.
          As you suggest…..Beautiful beautiful things come when you don’t look for them,….. just to apologise, but 1964 is long gone.

      1. A pathetic, sick joke.

        Now she has got her baby neither he nor she will have any need of his testicles.

    3. That is so funny……and she doesn’t have to bribe him with sweeties, on it’s way around the world.

  71. Email update from the Speccie 06/07/20 15:21 hrs.

    Research: Covid-19 by genre

    The spread of Covid-19, and the lockdowns that followed, has taken its toll on everyone. But are some people coping with it better than others? According to a study produced by psychologists at several universities, including the University of Chicago, ‘fans of horror films exhibited greater resilience during the pandemic’ than those who don’t enjoy the genre. As well, ‘fans of prepper genres (zombie, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, and alien invasion) were significantly more prepared for the pandemic’, reporting fewer perceived negative impacts to their life during the Covid-19 crisis. The psychologists argue that one reason fans of horror films might feel more mentally prepared for a pandemic is that their film-going experience has allowed them to ‘(grapple) with negative emotions in a safe setting’.

    ***********************************************************************

    Isn’t it wonderful what a modest grant to a group of starving and worthy charlatans in a university research department can yield?

    Bill T’s tomato problem might well have arisen because he was playing the wrong sort of music to them….. a £25,000 donation to UEA would soon resolve the ishoo.

    1. Or perhaps the gamers are so intent on playing that they don’t notice the fact that there is a pandemic. After all, addicts like that self-quarantine and don’t go out anywhere, anyway.

      1. My thought exactly. They don’t have a social life as we who go out and meet friends in real time understand it.

      1. At first it sounded like Charlie Drake;s “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back”.

  73. https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/covid-19-death-data-in-england-update-5th-july/
    NHS England releases data at 2 pm each day and reports daily count up to the previous day as well as a total figure. We wrote about the problems with reconciling the different data here:

    Today’s reported figure is 18 deaths in England; 13 in the last week. 7 deaths were more than 7 days ago.
    These are just NHS deaths, and don’t include those outside hospital.

    Nonetheless, why is the country still acting as if it’s still a full-on pandemic??

    1. If you can continue to control the majority of the public you can control them all. Keep them terrified and they’re like putty in your hands.

      1. I agree. I think the whole lockdown episode is an deliberate attempt at measuring the gullibility of the population and the ease with which the populace can be manipulated. It is all about control as you infer.

  74. Good night all.

    Just watched an interesting programme on BBC4 about Beethoven.

  75. Just chatting about the ludicrous safe distancing measure of 2 metres. We think this distance is to better enable face recognition camera equipment.

    The plot against our country is now well advanced. Russia and China wish to divide us and BLM is another deliberate ploy to set us against each other. This seems obvious to me.

        1. She just has to do it different from Boris. Whatever he says, she will do something else.

          1. She has also brainwashed half of Scots to believe that there is a border between Scotland and England. The Glaswegian branch of the SNP are already deployed holding signs telling the English to F**k Off.

            This is all part of a plan to divide us. The SNP viewed in this light are merely ‘useful idiots’.

      2. Blimey, has it? I thought it was still 2m and only 1m when that wasn’t possible.

    2. In the UK, distances were not metricated, therefore when I see poor quality signage indicating something about ‘2m’ I assume that the quislings mean ‘2 miles’. Once I might have quietly respected six feet, but now we have entered Went-the-Day-Well territory.

  76. Evening, all. I haven’t been watching TV at all this evening. I did attend a Zoom meeting, but then we ran out of time and when an attempt was made to restart and log in again, I couldn’t do it. I presume they all managed to finish without me! I’ve also just logged in to Disqus, only to find I needed to log in again, but as soon as I clicked on log in, I was logged in! It’s been a weird day.

    1. I gave my apols for our last Zoom meeting , it is something I will have to get used to eventually.

      Feel quite reluctant really.

      1. We don’t meet in August, so I’m hoping that by September normality (or what passes for it in these socially distanced times) will have returned and we’ll be able to have a proper meeting, even if we all have to sit three feet away from each other (we have the space to do that).

  78. That’s me for the day. Was able to sit in the sunshine for an hour this arvo. Nice change.

    I am off to see the Changing of the Government in yer France.

    A demain.

  81. Prince Harry has told a discussion group that the Commonwealth needs to confront and “right those wrongs” of its past.

    He’s far to young and far to detached from reality to have known that people just got along in the past. Basically because no particular group of people were bashing every one else over their heads with the left over chips on their shoulders.
    I’m off night all.

    1. Why stop at the Commonwealth, which was created in its modern form in 1926? How about all the countries that still practice slavery today?

  82. Just in case anyone has questions about what the statue destroyers stand for:
    Just down the road from us in Rochester New York a statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass was ripped from its plinth and damaged. Back in 1852 Douglass made a speech opposing slavery and questioning the meaning of Independence Day to a slave.

    https://apnews.com/6e65d7d503caf114b6878a48288c190c

    Oh and the statue of Churchill in Halifax was defaced this weekend as was our statue of Sir John A Macdonald. But Douglass, come on he worked for everything that the scum profess to stand for.

    2. Not only the scum, but the handwringers have been having a feast. On the telly this evening, we had Clive Myrie again , the BBC’s black reporter/ newsreader, who is the go -to stooge, when ever someone black is needed, going over his family history.
      Then on the regional news from Bristol we had Sabet Chaudary (regular presenter – Indian heritage, public school educated) interviewing a woman who had discovered some long-lost uncle several times removed was a slave owner who had received massive compensation payments when slavery was abolished. The fact he’d spent it building Bristol and Bath was by the by.

      Actually I quite like both of these presenters normally, but they’ve really been overdoing it lately.

  83. I was very impressed with the immaculately clad & coiffured Rushanara Ali, MP, on Newsnight …

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