Thursday 17 April: The Supreme Court judgment is a clear victory for women’s rights

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its commenting facility (now reinstated, but we prefer 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 banned.

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here.

667 thoughts on “Thursday 17 April: The Supreme Court judgment is a clear victory for women’s rights”

  1. Good morning all.
    A bright, dry but chilly start with a tad over 3°C today.
    No plans to go anywhere until my Dr's appointment at 16:00, so a quiet day of pottering today.

    1. My local is unuaual for Norway – it's got real pub atmosphere, and Fullers London Pride (bottled, admittedly), which is pretty special for a dull wee town on the west side of Norway. The inside looks a bit like your picture, Johnny, without the panelling.

  4. Morning, all.
    Some confusion this morning. Opened Wednesday's site 'cos todays wasn't up yet, and noticed the usual intro was missing, and it's actuallt Tuesdays anyway! The in-page link posted by Geoff was to the D Tel letters, then the page became closed… Thought I'd overslept, or something.
    Still, here now!

    1. Good morning, Herr Oberst. I think I can now claim my five bob postal order, because you are obviously Confused of Colchester – hang on that's me! Lol.

      1. Baffled of Blommenholm, maybe?
        Morning, Elsie. Maybe I was hoving fonger trubble?

  5. Good morning, chums. And thanks, Geoff, for Thursday's new NoTTLe site.

    Wordle 1,398 4/6

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    1. Good morning Elsie ..

      You might enjoy this poem , bearing in mind your busy life .

      Dust If You Must
      by
      Rose Milligan

      Next

      Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
      To paint a picture, or write a letter,
      Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
      Ponder the difference between want and need?

      Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
      With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
      Music to hear, and books to read;
      Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

      Dust if you must, but the world's out there
      With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
      A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
      This day will not come around again.

      Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
      Old age will come and it's not kind.
      And when you go (and go you must)
      You, yourself, will make more dust.

      This poem first appeared in The Lady (September 1998).
      It is now believed to be in the public domain.

      1. Wonderful, Maggie. I think I shall print this out and place it somewhere where I can read it every day. (See also my post towards the end of last night's NoTTLe page re finding myself a "little treasure".)

        1. That is why I found the poem for you Elsie.

          I just wish housework wasn't so demanding . I am trying to Spring clean the house , my 2 younger sisters will be visiting us next month from South Africa .. they are visiting relatives in N Yorkshire and going with them on a Norwegian cruise .

          Three adults live here , working son 56 yrs , Moh and me , and the 2 sisters are 74 and 67yrs , their lifestyle is not like ours ..

          Washing my large kitchen floor is a trial , and changing duvet covers , painful .. and why are there so many fiddly buttons and not poppers . Putting duvet cover on is an exercise in itself , it was bad enough years ago making beds when we had heavy blankets .

          When I was a student nurse and there was such a thing as proper wards .. a thirty bed ward , say fifteen beds on each side .. 2 nurses on each side of the ward making beds , would speed through the process , trolley load of fresh sheets / pillow cases , and the rhythm of bed making had some speed , even when the patient was bed bound !

          1. I'm afraid you allowed them to treat you as a servant for too long.
            You could down tools and let them do more..

          2. I think you should operate on the “good enough “ principle and not obsess about being perfect. You don’t live in Africa (although it might seem like it sometimes) where you have a boy to do things for you. Having typed that, my “”treasure “ is hoovering for me. She’s very good and knows about my health problems.

      3. True story.

        A neighbour of my parents once noticed a layer of dust on the sideboard cupboard in his lounge, so he wrote upon it (in the dust with his finger), "Mucky bugger, Ethel".

        Later he returned to check if it had been dusted only to find, written similarly below his message, "Piss off, Stan!".

    2. Good morning Elsie and all
      Am basking in a lucky guess today!
      Wordle 1,398 2/6

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    1. What is it with some blokes? Absolutely anything to get at women, including pretending to be one and invading women's spaces, and ruining their sport. It should be illegal, never mind heavily criticised.

      1. Do you extend your ire against those men who aspire to live with their children or find employment in schools, offices and increasingly the professions?

        2. No. Why? Said men don't use the Ladies lavatory, changing-room or out-compete them in women's sports as a result of growing up filled with testosterone.

          1. Considering the respective length of queues at the interval, I would have thought a greater problem was women leaving their queues and using the gents. I am not officially disabled (my hearing disability and old blokes’ waterworks does not count) and yet I use the disabled toilet sometimes when it is free.

    3. I can assure Sharron Davies that media outlets referring to a man – dressed in typical male garb who rapes, abuses or murders someone -as a man are NOT our crimes either. The crimes people commit are theirs and theirs alone and not shared by others with whom they have something in common, including the type of clothing they wear.

    1. I like the cartoon, but April Ashley and Wally Stott might disagree with the poster shown in the bottom left hand corner of the cartoon.

      1. Nobody can change sex. It's to do with chromosomes that are part of every cell… you can have some surgeon mould you new genitalia, insert or remove breast padding, grow/cut your hair and the like, but it still doesn't make you a wo/man. It just makes you mutilated.

    3. Shirley a new book from Joanne Rowling would be entitled, Harry Potter and his Reality Check.

  11. My local paper, Aftenposten (www.ap.no) seems to have gone overboard on the Trump Derangement Syndrome, so I just sent the ditor an email about it, that they seem to be virtue signalling rather than reporting, and if there's really no news, then leave white space rather than get all squeaky-voiced about things. I don't expect a reply, but it's very noticeable.

      1. Most are. Just the precious ones, like all parts of the world, think we give a flying one about how awful they think the President of another country is being. Don’t hear the same BS about, ooh, Putin, for example, or Middle East rulers. Bah!

    2. The Left are losing their minds. I challenged a Lefty to explain what Trump was doing. After some blither about 'trade' I said , 'right, but what effect will it have?' He didn't know. They have no idea what is really going on. Then you tell them that the EU has used tariffs this way for decades to make goods and services expensive and they start wailing and squealing that that is different.

      Lefties are idiots.

      1. It's always "different" when Leftards are caught doing something they criticise in others. They are so boring.

      2. The US has to re-finance a large amount of its debt, and foreigners aren't queueing up to buy, apparently. They've got a few more tricks up their sleeve to sell it domestically I think.

      3. The US has to re-finance a large amount of its debt, and foreigners aren't queueing up to buy, apparently. They've got a few more tricks up their sleeve to sell it domestically I think.

    2. Don't tell Starmer. He'll start sending them weapons and Lammy cash, while hectoring about 'climate change' and throwing our money at them.

        1. A clue from yesterday's DT cryptic crossword.
          19 Down. Is it filled with wooden politicians? (7)

  13. Good Morning Folks

    Blue sky sunny start here, no work until Tuesday,
    Looking after Grandson today 20 months old and into everything, especially mobile phone, i-pads and Alexa.

    1. Lucky man! Still waiting in hope for a grandchild, but at present, neither Firstborn nor Second Son are in a relationship.
      🙁

  14. A billion of years of evolution, countless species have evolved and died out, nature through survival of the fittest settled on every species having two genders.
    Yet now we now rely on a supreme court quango of unkowns to decide on the definition of what is a man and a women.
    What was the point of it all?

      1. My younger son has a partner, they are both strong looking great blokes ,nothing pansy about them, no exaggerated mannerisms , capable funny and amiable.

        They object to all the idiot gay rainbow stuff, and the gender bender nonsense and media coverage.

        Nice decent same sex couples just enjoy their own companionship , and all they want are peaceful lives , they don't hate women , in fact women love them , and they have no problems with straight men either because they blend in socially, no camp mannerisms , nothing .

        I feel sad, but am adjusted to their brave decision to have an alternative lifestyle . They are both in their early fifties .. my no1 son is still a bit uncomfortable with his brother's decision , but son 1 works in the construction industry .. male male male orientated .

          2. When I was a child (some 60 years ago) there was a homosexual couple living in a flat downstairs. They were pleasant and nice neighbours, and nobody as far as I know either said or even thought anything of it.

            Now, since the Pride, and Stonewalling and Trans stuff, unfortunately many same-sex male relationships have suffered in the way they are viewed. Entirely the fault of the belligerent ones themselves.

          3. When I was growing up we had one “gay” in the village. We kids were warned to stay away but as far as I know he didn’t cause any trouble. We nicknamed him Pansy.

          4. Too many people trying to make an obscure point. That most people aren’t interested in.

          5. I don’t mind who puts what where as long as I don’t have to “celebrate “ it and pretend it’s “normal “.

    2. A billion of years of evolution, countless species have evolved and died out, nature through survival of the fittest settled on every species having two genderssexes.

  16. I think I was trying to suggest that some men who would have liked to be born as women simply change their men's clothes to women's and go about their lives quietly and peacefully. April was unfortunately crucified by the press and made into front page news, but Wally moved country and lived quietly and successfully in his own field of music.

    1. Apologies, I misunderstood.
      I have nothing against "men who would have liked to be born as women simply change their men's clothes to women's and go about their lives quietly and peacefully", as long as they don't seek, through legal means, to impose their thoughts on others.

    3. This is the fundamental frustration with the trans people. The nutjob Left got hold of them and forced them down everyone's throats, creating a backlash that the Left could then fight – as they need an enemy to blame (much like muslim in that regard).

      I'm sure there are many who just want to live a quiet life with their choices. However in my experience there's an equal number who behave appallingly and push that on their 'being a woman' when no woman would ever behave as they do. They are just egotists who, being obnoxious wasters want another way to be an even more obnoxious waster.

  17. I think I was trying to suggest that some men who would have liked to be born as women simply change their men's clothes to women's and go about their lives quietly and peacefully. April was unfortunately crucified by the press and made into front page news, but Wally moved country and lived quietly and successfully in his own field of music.

  18. 88 pages long. LOL

    The Guardian
    That is an oversimplification of a complex ruling yesterday that was careful to say it did not seek to delegitimise the existence of trans people

    1. Trans people are deluded. They are welcome to their delusion but it doesn't turn a man into a woman or vice versa. For some reason there seem to be fewer of those.

      1. I've wondered if the continual assault on masculinity and men generally – especially white men – has seen those men retreat into something that gets them an identity.

        Yet that itself comes back to egotism, the desperate need to be 'special' rather than just who you are.

      2. Shame the 'they' bowled over all the victorian lunatic asylums.
        Locking them all away would have meant eventual extinction.

        1. I learnt that Essex County Council has "Care in the Community" clients/patients who cost ….. wait for it …. £700,000 per annum EACH to be kept at home.

      3. That's because the man-woman trans are men. And some men tend to be more violent in their expression of beliefs than some women.

  19. So we exclude men from their families and from gainful employment (as has been the expressed intention of women’s groups and the law since the 1970s) because a handful of them have disrespectful habits and cheat at sport.

    1. I'm not sure how you make the step from men in womens toilets and sports to excluding them from society. Maybe I haven't had enough coffee.

      1. The only way it seemed for men to gain acceptability in today’s society with its “women and equalities” attitude, established at Cabinet level and represented by Jess Phillips, that excludes men, is for men to become women. That avenue has now been closed to them, so feminists can push on with their policy of total supremacy.

        Enjoy your coffee!

      1. They are cutting the pay of dustmen in Birmingham in order to further the careers of women there.

        Just because something happens does not make it right or desirable.

        1. That was a bad decision and has led to chaos. The 'dinner ladies' may have been underpaid but the dustmen deserve a bit more.

          1. Salaries are set by the market. While it's a horrible job it requires no skill or talent. Thus the labour pool is broad. The unions simply want more money for nothing – as usual.

            Frankly, the Tories did nothing to unravel appalling union activity and should have.

          2. The Tories did nothing to unravel anything, which is why they never deserve to get into power again.

      1. Are you suggesting that Uncle Bill hails from the land of the Rising Sun, Annie? Lol. (Good moaning, btw.)

    2. I'm hoping the slight breeze will bash some of the moisture out of the washing I've just hung out.

      1. I took the path of least resistance – lit the woodstove and hung the washing on a rack near it.

  21. We do the duvet covers together usually. You haven't trained Moh sufficiently.
    As to the rest of the housework- it gets done occasionally.

  24. We put duvet covers on using two adults. It's so much easier!
    As for tidying, SWMBO and the boys put stuff down, I put it BACK WHERE IT CAME FROM! or IN THE F***ING BIN! Only a tiny bit more effort, and suddenly the dining table stops being a shelf and is transformed into a useful bit of furniture fit to eat off… and the floors can be cleaned easily by running the vacuum over it in just a few minutes. Little, and often, and you barely notice…

  25. We're off to the tip this morning- I did expect it to be wet. Got the 10 bags loaded into the car yesterday afternoon.

  26. I push the top of the cover over the bottom as far as possible, put the duvet corners into the corners of the duvet cover and pick it up and let gravity do the rest. Ours is a super-kingsize and the method works very well.

    1. #ustoo. Then lie it on he bed, hold the duvet & cover at the foot end, and give it a few massive shakes to distribute the feathers more evenly.

      1. I do that too. Our duvet is in two parts, a light summer, a spring/autumn and combined they make a winter one.
        They are silk so don't need very much fluffing.
        Apart from the spring bit, the duvet is too heavy for HG to do so, which is why I tend to make the bed and change the covers.

  27. He's into nursery rhymes, mostly.
    But surprisingly likes the signature tune to BBC News update

  28. Bloody Hell! That got cold!
    The DT did some towels before she went to bed last night so I've just been hanging them up the "garden" and my fingers are freezing as the sun has yet to climb over the shoulder of the hill and the "garden" is still in shaddow.

  30. 404419+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    FACT,

    Gerard Batten
    @gjb2021

    18h

    Oh dear, that will seal their fates. Climate Change Fanatics declare war on pet dogs.

    You can do a lot to the English: import criminals & rape gangs, tell them their history & culture is worthless, arrest them for exercising free speech etc, but …

    … go for their pet dogs & they will fight you to the death.

      1. The vast majority of men absolutely loathe the 'trans' nonsense.
        Particularly those with daughters.

      2. Hello OB
        I have just put 2 links up on here , and message says Hold on, this is waiting to be approved by Not the Telegraph Letters.

        Que?

        2. Perhaps our political classes are investigating comment's people outside of their zone are making about them.

    2. It's far too early. Government will no doubt legislate that men in a dress can go into women's spaces. You can guarantee if they can destroy society, they'll try to.

      3. Yes, there will be special rules for "trans-women" who, it will be emphasised in a very small note in the definitions section of any legislation, are not biological women but who still have "rights". Unlike the rest of us.

    1. When I was in Poland in 1979, I was perplexed by their symbols. One was a circle and the other a triangle. Any idea which is which?

      1. I was in a pub once where the toilets were signed as 'drip dry' and 'shake dry'

        1. Chicago Pizza Pie factory in Hannover Square (I think it was) used to have the signs "Olivia Newton" and "Elton" on the respective doors of their johns.

      2. The circle does seem more female, perhaps the triangle was a space-age representation of meat and two veg.

      1. Cat that adopted us after Jack spaniel died ( aged 16 yrs )

        Cat is a mini Jack in disguise , so cute friendly, laid back and Pip spaniel is quite happy with her !!!

    1. Such as families, schools, offices and increasingly the professions. I wouldn’t mind at all if it were just toilets and the WI, although there was a big stink about Working Men’s Clubs from the “Equality” lobby.

      Being unwelcome is not yet quite the same as being excluded, I concede.

  40. Tellygraff still not sorted out their BTL comments problems.
    Maybe it's a way of closing them down without overtly doing so.

        1. No, it doesn't.
          Some article have reverted to normal.
          I wonder if some bored nerd has been given a clip round the ear and is currently writing a thousand times:
          If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It.

    2. Foot and mouth is not dangerous to humans – the killing of all those cattle in the last outbreak was scandalous, even criminal

    2. Hello and good morning J.

      I think bush meat will cause problems , if effnicks are importing / smuggling lizard meat/ chimp steaks / monkey brains / fried fruit bat / and albino baby meat , well what else can we expect .

      Effnicks need their food source as much as Brits abroad need their baked beans and marmite !

  43. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6725458d41d06199ed87a9304ca8e15f649cf25f52f9299dd43125b597284bce.png
    ‘First hints’ of alien life found on ocean world 124 light years away.

    'This is the closest we have come to finding alien life.'

    AN OCEAN world teeming with alien life may exist 124 light years away from Earth, a study by Cambridge University has hinted.
    The exoplanet K2-18b, which exists in the constellation Leo, appears to have an atmosphere containing huge quantities of dimethyl sulfide, a chemical only produced by living organisms, such as marine phytoplankton. Quantities of the chemical are present at 20 times the biological activity of Earth. The molecule vanishes fairly quickly, suggesting something is continuing to produce it.

    Astrophysicists at the University of Cambridge described the study as a “huge, transformational moment” and the strongest hint yet that life exists elsewhere in the universe. Prof Nikku Madhusudhan, from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy, said: “There is no mechanism that can explain what we are seeing without life. Given what we know about this planet, a world with an ocean teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have. It is transformational. There is no mechanism that can explain what we are seeing without life." He added: “What we are seeing right now are the first hints of an alien world that is possibly inhabited, and this is a revolutionary moment.”

    K2-18b is about 2.6 times the size of Earth and exists in the so-called Goldilocks Zone of its star, where conditions are neither too hot nor too cold for life. It is believed to be a Hycean world, meaning it has a huge liquid water ocean under a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, with a temperature slightly warmer than Earth. Earlier observations had identified methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of K2-18b, which can also be signs of life, but both chemicals are also produced by natural processes, such as volcanic activity.

    Scientists asked for the James Webb Space Telescope to be trained on the planet to look for biomarkers. They said they were “shocked” when the chemical signal appeared and have spent the last year trying to disprove the finding and “make the signal go away”. The chemical could also be dimethyl disulfide, which is also a sign of life, which looks similar. Further observations will help differentiate between the two molecules.
    “It was an incredible realisation seeing the results emerge and remain consistent throughout the extensive independent analyses and robustness tests,” said co-author Mans Holmberg, a researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, USA.

    Prof Madhusudhan said: “We have spent an enormous amount of time… trying all sorts of things to kill the signal. A lot of us do robust science all the time but this is a slightly different flavour when you’re faced with potentially one of the biggest landmarks in the history of science.”
    He added:“to be very frank it was astounding. It’s a shock to the system. I don’t want to be too bullish, but I think frankly this is the closest we have come to a feature that we can attribute to life.”

    The observations have reached the “three-sigma” level of statistical significance – meaning there is a 0.3 per cent probability that the findings occurred by chance and the team is keen to obtain more data. “Our work is the starting point for all the investigations now needed to confirm and understand the implications of these exciting findings,” said co-author Savvas Constantinou, also from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy.
    The team has applied for more time on the James Webb Space Telescope to help firm up the findings and is hoping to conduct further theoretical and experimental work to determine if the chemical can be produced non-biologically. Subhajit Sarkar, study co-author from Cardiff University, said: “The inference of these biosignature molecules poses profound questions concerning the processes that might be producing them.”
    However the team believes confirmation of life may be just a few years away.

    Prof Madhusudhan said: “This could be the tipping point, where suddenly the fundamental question of whether we’re alone in the universe is one we’re capable of answering.” Dr Ian Whittaker, a space physics specialist from Nottingham Trent University, said: “This study is rigorous… however, just because these molecules are present and the exoplanet might be Hycean, i.e. having the conditions for liquid water and a hydrogen atmosphere, does not necessarily mean life has or can form on the planet.”

    The study results are reported in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

    I would wager that if they do discover advanced and civilised life on this planet, there will not be any trace of the biggest and most dangerous artificial abominations ever concocted: Religion and Politics.

    Advanced beings would surely be intelligent enough to resist this mind-control.

    2. Aliens; climate change; deadly plagues

      The three red herrings dreamed up by the parasite class in the twentieth century with which they thought they could hoodwink people into accepting one world government.
      The WHO agreed to its despotic pandemic treaty this week. Still to be ratified, I think.
      They just won't let aliens go though, despite most people not buying into the story.

    3. The only way our species is going to survive is by getting out into space. Be tha orbital plates, man made habitats or geo-engineering, we must get off this little world and 'out there'.

      However, if we gave muslim a planet of their own they'd still want what others have and ruin space for everyone – thus i suggest massive orbital defences to prevent them getting off their own planet in the first place.

    4. I bet if you travelled the 139,000,000 years to get there, Starmer and co would still be ruining Britain when you got there

      1. Just look at that depiction of the earth (on the above diagram) showing its 7,926 mile diameter.

        Then imagine — on the same scale — that mere 63 miles above its surface the rocket containing six airheads ventured out into 'space', t'other day! It wouldn't be even the thickness of a hair on that map.

      2. Imagine travelling all that way for that many years and the first thing you see is Kilroy was here

      3. Imagine travelling all that way for that many years and the first thing you see is Kilroy was here

    5. Well, if it would take 139 million years to get there by jet aircraft, I guess I can rule it out as a holiday destination.

      1. Don't you like to make plans for your great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandchildren?

          1. Certainly not! No one is going to hold me to any guarantees!

            Just think of the interest at compounds rates by then!

    6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39jj9vkr34o

      "Firstly, this latest detection is not at the standard required to claim a discovery.

      For that, the researchers need to be about 99.99999% sure that their results are correct and not a fluke reading. In scientific jargon that is a five sigma result.

      These latest results are only three sigma, 99.7%. Which sounds a lot, but it is not enough to convince the scientific community."

      A shame that some of our climatologists don't need to meet such rigorous standards to their settled science approach.

    7. Or to (mis)quote Eric Idle from the Universe song in 'The Meaning of Life'

      Just pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space,
      'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth!

      1. That’s why all the telescopes looking for life on planets are pointing away from earth.

    9. If the planet K2-18b's diameter is 2.6 times the average diameter of the Earth, then it's volume would be roughly 17 times the volume. Its gravity, depending on its density of course, would also be far greater than the Earths.

      The article says it's 2.6 times the size of the Earth.

      Someone should probably check my sums.

  45. Given that humans are the greatest producers of waste CO2 perhaps, if Miliband is such a zealot he'd kindly volunteer to bugger the flip off and stop producing his effluent permanently?

  49. Yo and Good Moaning, from a warm and sunny (soon to be sunni, no doubt) C d S.

    Lots of posts here for ealy in the day, well the Dopey Tellylaff did put today's letter page out at 1730 yesterday.

  50. SIR – I can testify to the deluge of jargon and corporate claptrap (Letters, April 16).

    During a meeting at a well-known high-street bank, one participant suggested that customer files needed to be inspected individually rather than relying on computer-generated information. This was met with a rather incredulous response: “Oh – does that mean we will have to manually eyeball every file?”

    Chris Smyth
    Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

    'Eyeball'? Why is that vapid and idiotic Americanese expression now routinely used when people simply peruse, examine, look at, see or view anything?

    Does that mean that we will shortly be extolled to 'earlobe' some music; 'tongue' some recipe; 'fingertip' a texture; or 'nostril' a scent?

      1. Or, Ol' Boot; Wellin'ton; Marlon; Maisie; baby grumplin'; Gladly, my one-eyed bear; Fiscal Yere or BH Calcutta (failed).

  51. Gee… an hour moving wood up one level in the barn, and something has thrown 4 pieces back at me, one glancing off my head.
    Now waiting for Firstborn to come down and tell it to behave! And it's dangerous, too, some of these bits are heavy.

    2. Interesting escapade here the other night around 10pm, Paul. Dog had gone out for final pee, I went out with him but he disappeared (black dog), so I shone torch around….saw this black shape top of garden wondered what the heck dog was doing there..went closer..noticed it had a straight tail (dog's a Patterdale, curved tail). Shape was larger than dog, at first thought a shadow…nope…shadows don't turn and run…..(possibly you just have a tramp bedding down for a couple of nights?)

      1. Around here people have been obsessed for years by "big cats" lurking but never seen well enough for someone with a modern phone to take a decent photo.

        1. I didn’t have my phone on me…just wanted to skedaddle especially after it moved (quickly..)..ran back to house, dog sauntered in five mins later. Been a number of sightings apparently. Not seen rabbits, hares, deers for weeks…thought they were off partaying but maybe not…

      1. I was in Spencers at the time! You have to be careful these days. If you're away from your bridge slot for too long someone else moves in!

      2. Firstborn told it off when it did it to him… now it's gone off to sulk, leaving us alone to work.

    2. Yes, and the idiot Bliar’s massive and unforgivable over reaction! Vile creature.

      1. Blair's action: Anything to control the people, don'tyaknow. He had to make himself important in political office, given that he was such a poor practising barrister.

        2. How he thought slaughtering millions of cattle, and burning them in such a public fashion was supposed to make him look good is unfathomable. Destroying farmers livelihoods and spirits – for a photo-op. Despicable piece of crap that he is.

          1. What really annoyed me was that the Northumberland Report into the F&M outbreaks in the '60s and praised as being an exemplary example of how such a report should be written, was totally ignored by MAFF.

          2. They don’t have a clue, do they? No doubt he thought it made him look decisive and big.

          4. He did it for a purpose, Sue. That's how cold-blooded these people are. If you remember both the farmers (all the country people) and the fuel supply chain were getting uppity and the Evil Emperor was shaken. The F&M charade (show of tyranny and government might) put paid to all that.

      2. It was staged to tell country people to STFU or else ("see how easily the PTB can move in and send the army to slaughter your animals based on the paid idiocy of a hired fake scientist? Just think what we have the capacity to do to you and yours once the gloves come off"). It was also a planned dry run for Covid. Note that they are gearing up for more of the same. Same players, the occasional change in latex mask, but the identical enemy, using our own resources to destroy us and our way of life.

        Note that the US DOGE has exposed the level to which Soros and his ilk have actually been using USAID (American taxpayer's) money to bribe key government figures around the world, whilst his own pockets fill, and fill, and fill with yet more spoils from similar sources.

        This scale of corruption knocks African dictators into a cocked hat.

    3. Correct.
      A pity the Warmwell website has apparently been deleted as it detailed much of what was being done wrong during the outbreak.

  53. "Those who attempt to ship banned European goods into Britain will be seized and destroyed by the UK Border Force, and in "serious cases" could be fined up to £5,000."
    A bit drastic, isn't it? or will the goods be seized?

    1. Do these "seize and destroy + £5,000 fine" directives apply to the shipping of banned gimmigrants from Europe?

    1. Hope young Eddie gets well soon. I wonder what caused a fit young bloke to get pneumonia?

    2. Apparently Chris Packham was upset by the number of children worried about 'climate change'. Well mate, your lot have spent 50 years spewing propaganda designed solely to terrify people into accepting your tax scam. You can't now complain you've provoked a response.

      1. Packham is another biased presenter who should not be allowed to spew his propaganda on a national broadcaster! However, it's the BBC so …

  59. The MR has gone to t'market. I am staying home to make chutney – the stored apples are rotting as you watch. Play nicely.

  60. Morning all 🙂😊
    Lovely sunny day almost double figures already.
    During the past 20 or so years I think that we have found that it's not possible to trust any judgments from the hierarchy. They are far too Wokey now.

    1. From a seaside village in Valencia. Finally a warm sunny day. Grandchildren have gone to the beach.

  61. Good morning!

    US government officials are now warning that parts of Europe are more dangerous than El Salvador, a country notorious for its extremely violent gang warfare. Read ‘ It’s Dangerous’ and let us know what you think.

    In LIB: Lithium Ion Battery, or Lithium Ion Bomb ? We have a true tale of a cordless power tool. of the type most households have. exploding with such force that it wrote off a work boat. We explain why and what to look out for. And in his short but powerful article, LUCY CONNOLLY DENIED ACCESS TO DAUGHTER AGAIN , Paul Sutton rages at the injustice perpetrated against Lucy Connolly by our corrupt and wokely biased judicial system.

    Energy watch 08.30: Demand: 33.8 GW. Total UK Production: 29.04 GW from: Hydrocarbons 29.9%; Wind 16.3%; Imports 16.5%; Biomass 9.4%; Nuclear 13.1%. Solar: 9.9%.

    freespeechbacklash.com

    1. I'm ashamed of China – China, of all flippin' places! – telling women not to be alone and to avoid pakistani and blacks.

      That's a damning indictment of what the Left have done to our country and society.

  62. PS. The High Court decision on women is by no means a triumph. It is an utter disgrace that such a matter was ever brought to court, took years to hear, cost millions and that we are now so bloody abject we allow judges to tell us what a woman is.

  64. Politics is strange , what has happened to the route for the cancelled HS2 project , if that had been thought through properly , people would have had jobs , east/ west travel should have been improved by joined up thinking .

    Loads of companies went down the pan , the distributers of sand and gravel mining companies have had a very tough time , and what about the steel / iron for the railways ..

    Is there now one big gash going through the countryside , all those homes , forests , nice green areas rubbished , for what ?

    Now the twerp Milishit wants to erect more huge pylons and wind farms ..

    Big ideas by little people ..

    Yet all the Kant spoken by politicians and the green lobby , I have been perusing the idea of a water point for this village for over six years , so that people can refill their water bottles at our transport hub .. nope , nothing no money .

    Other towns and seaside venues have them .. but with villages visitors . cyclists . ramblers can die of thirst .

    1. Hammersmith Bus Station has a water point and there really isn't any pressing need there. A small number of people use the bus station during the night when the shops in the arcade attached to it are closed but that's all.

      1. I once travelled back from Hamburg. Water available at their airport for 3 euros a bottle. Anything over 100ml taken off me by security. Nothing available on arrival at Heathrow except security officers and long hostile corridors to scrutinise genuine passengers for attempts at asylum seeking, and letting the authorities off the hook elsewhere. Arrived at Paddington, hoping that at last I could have a drink of water. No, nothing there. Walked around the block since GWR dishonoured their advertised return times forcing me to hang around for two hours. I hoped to find a supermarket selllng water at 30p for 2 litres, but no – the only places in walking distance of Paddington charge £2 for a tiny bottle.

        In the end, I took the tube to my mother in Belsize Park for a cup of tea.

        I suppose in this age of low taxes, we must put up with high charges for essentials.

        2. Perhaps there should be a sign at Hammersmith saying take advantage of the water point here darlings 'cause you'll get sod all at Heathrow.

          1. Schiphol airport has water fountains all over the place. Birmingham airport has one right at the end of the concourse.

          2. Schiphol does (edit: NOT – missed it!) have as many visitors who are likely to pi$$ in them as we do.

        3. Both Mumbai and New Delhi airports have water fountains in the arrivals area. The cabin staff on BA came round in the front of the bus and gave us all a supply of Malvern Water, then warned us under no circumstances to drink from the water fountains. Sadly, I hear Malvern Water is no more. Bad as the family flogging the Morgan Motor company. End of civilization as we know it.

          1. I live near Malvern and regularly top up from the various public springs around the hills.

            Whilst the pretty little Gothic bottling factory in Colwall was pulled down to make a housing estate after Coca-Cola (who had bought out Schweppes) said it was not commercially attractive, Malvern water actually opened up in its original location on the other side of the hill and is marketed as Holywell Spring Water.

            I take a supply of Malvern water with me when visiting Buxton in Derbyshire, a town that is under the delusion that their water is better.

    1. She probably believes both, simultaneously…having her cake and eating it. She has others if you don't like these.

    2. These daft people (she is but one among 650) simply do not understand that the great unwashed REMEMBERS these things.

      1. I think Robert Kennedy addressing these issues, Sue..might be an uphill task, carbs very addictive, a number of Americans obese.

  67. Rats in Brum

    Birmingham’s infestation is only just beginning

    If you replace the word 'rat' with 'politician', the letter would be equally true

      1. It was the fleas on the rats, wasn't it. The fleas carried bubonic plague and were in turn carried by the rats that came into the Port of London by running along the ropes attached to ships arriving from infested places. Fleas bite and so the plague spread.

        2. Chinese marmots are apparently a permanent pool of infection.
          H'mmmm …. a world changing plague from the Middle Kingdom …..
          (Ponders deeply)

        3. There is some uncertainty as to whether only the fleas spread the Yersinia pestis, or other vectors such as lice and bed bugs. I wonder whether pigeon fleas may also have been involved.

        4. There is some uncertainty as to whether only the fleas spread the Yersinia pestis, or other vectors such as lice and bed bugs. I wonder whether pigeon fleas may also have been involved.

        5. And now we have rubber boats dropping the traveller’s off !
          I’m sure that there will be at least bedbugs in the hotels housing them all.

        6. Yes, the parasites on the rats. Rather apposite references to ships and infested places.

        7. Yes, the parasites on the rats. Rather apposite references to ships and infested places.

        1. The girl in the video looks more like Catherine Deneuve than Marianne Faithfull.

          1. That's because it is Catherine Deneuve. Clip from "Repulsion". I think she was 16 at the time. Outrageously beautiful!

      2. In yer Weegie: Skjærtorsdag.
        We call it "Magpie Thursday"; "skjære" meaning "magpie".

        2. It isn't called that because of magpies: "skjær" comes from the old Danish skær meaning "clean" (the word also means magpie) and refers to Jesus washing the disciples' feet at the Last Supper. So it is not actually Magpie Thursday, just that the word for magpie happens to be the same.

          We have many words that are also the same but mean completely different things.

    1. They make a referral to an undertaker instead – and he pays better commission, too.

      When my father died in 1988, the GP who, sitting at my kitchen tble, signed the death cert recommended an undertaker. Jokingly, I asked if he got a commission. He blushed and stammered…!! I told him I didn't care so long as the bloke knew his job. Which he did.

    2. With all their jab bonuses and other bonuses it's no wonder GPs can work part-time and retire early on a gold-plated pension (and it is so gold-plated that GPs used it as an excuse to retire even earlier on the lie that they "couldn't afford to keep on working").

  71. Good grief everyone. Two hours without a post yesterday evening but 201 posts already today. I haven’t even had chance to read the paper yet. Won’t anyone think of the poor working woman?

    1. Putin respects strength and exploits weakness. Battlefield nuclear weapons show strength like nothing else.
      Ponder this before you rant.
      Hamish de Bretton-Gordon was a British Army officer for 23 years. He commanded the UK’s Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment and NATO’s Rapid Reaction Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Battalion

      Heaven save us from people like this

      2. De Cretin-Gordon describes an Orthodox Christian as having the attributes applicable to a Moslem terror group. It's deliberate, isn't it? The need to pretend that the civilised people are no better than the savages.

        1. I might rephrase that slightly, the need to pretend that the savages are no worse than the civilised people.

    2. Quite a few comments on Cretin's article, most mentioning deterrence as a key element. To my mind the deterrence argument misses the key point of credibility. Deterrence has three elements, capability, communication and credibility. Having tactical nuclear weapons provides the capability (which UK does not have at present); communication is interesting as it must be believable which brings the third element- credibility. This centres on political will. Is UK's political leadership willing to sanction the use of nuclear weapons, especially without the US backstop? I doubt it. Even in cold War times, with NATO tripwire strategy no exercise concluded with the release of tactical nuclear weapons without US agreement. Europe does not have anywhere near the political cohesion to create such a decision making structure, in fact it is a decision making vacuum. Without such a structure the whole concept is irrational.

      1. Idiots such as Cretin failed to notice that whilst the UK and Biden were busy arming Ukraine the Russians were themselves rearming and developing new strategic weaponry.

        The Russians are now far more powerful both in manpower and in high performance hypersonic weaponry than any western power.

        Meanwhile Cretin is bogged down in his ancient ill protected Challenger tank. What a fool.

    1. At my father's request, this song was played at his funeral in 1984. Still brings a tear to the eye.

  76. The MR reports that Fakenham Market was extremely busy – long queues at the best stalls. Excellent news.

    Meanwhile, I made enough chutney to fill four 12 oz jars. One can tell that the apples are almost past it – 80 oz of raw materials reduced to 48 oz. Still, better than nowt.

      1. Yesterday, I inspected the apples and saw that they were rotting away. So decided to stay at home and make chutney .

        1. What variety have you got that keeps this long?
          My Bramleys are pretty much toast by Christmas, but my mother's orchard has some longer keeping varieties.

  77. I suppose the thinking behind his appointment was that the Russians would see a cretin who just might act stupidly, so they would agree to mutual disarmament.

    1. Both the NATO Regiment and the Rapid Reaction Regiment were defensive and had nothing to do with holding, targeting or delivery of NBC weapons. The role was to detect and survey NBC contamination and to decontaminate after an attack.

    2. Most women do not have genuine penises but as a last resort they could always try Fakenham. 🤔

      2. My wife has a penis. She married it over 40 years ago… it's not part of her body, however much it might want to be.

    1. I probably didn’t make myself clear, I was referring to battlefield tactical weapons rather than strategic, though I believe the RN weapons could be used as tactical weapons, but an expensive way of doing so!

      1. In BAOR days, units took turns guarding sites which contained "classified material" which we knew were nukes, allocated for UK use but owned and controlled by a US "inner sanctum". Out loading exercises by 5 Heavy Regiment RA were a bit of a giveaway.

        1. SAS (Strategic Arms Stockpile) Guard.
          Near Sennelager if my memory of three stints there does not fail me.
          Main entertainment was killing the cockroaches that infested the kitchen!

    2. The RN has run out of WD40 which they need to apply each week so that the Trident missiles can get out of the launch tubes and on their way to target before exploding.

  80. It seems like a recipe for escalation:
    We smash Putin's army, Putin smashes all our major cities.

  81. Outcry as NHS sidesteps ban on puberty blockers
     https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/outcry-as-nhs-sidesteps-ban-on-puberty-blockers/

    Starmer is still adamant in saying that some women do have penises but, as a great concession to common sense, he is prepared to admit than not many women do.

    The BTL comments under this article say that parents should be outraged that still, after the Cass Report, the politicians and some members of the medical community have not stopped messing about with children's gender identity. Most of them hoped that the Report had closed down the matter for good..

    Doctors train to practise everybody would agree
    But I would rather not have doctors practising on me

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3nTjCcBGUQ

    1. I made the point yesterday that the Supreme Court ruling left us "a long way from excluding hairy drag 'artists' from infant schools or preventing the mutilation of pre-pubescent children by disciples of Mengele."

  82. Back from the tip and the doc's surgery. Sunshine……. and a cup of coffee. We had to make a detour to get to the tip as the road was closed.

        1. I read it so often as a child that I practically know it by heart. I much preferred it to Wonderland.

      1. He really does think he represents all religions and has invested considerable time sucking up to all of them.

    2. I'm rather sick of muslim getting mentioned at all. They're a menace, savage. They do not belong here. They are not welcome here. No one wanted this country overrun with brown pollution.

      Why are they sudden;y praised and doted on?

  86. Neil Oliver in great form just now:

    ““Here's my question this week. Are we being annoyed on purpose by those with the means to annoy us? Is enraging us the point now, as far as the powerful and influential are concerned?

    In all seriousness, I ask now, is the latest objective of the would-be totalitarians and their lackeys about deliberately winding us up a hundred times a day, if not more? The reason I ask is it seems to me we've long past the point when the authorities could possibly be behaving as they are while thinking they're getting away with it, without us noticing. Their antics are just too obvious now.

    Two-tiered policing, open discrimination against white people in Britain, jailing people in Britain for social media posts, while dismissing any need to talk about the industrial and wholesale abuse of children up and down the country, sending billions of pounds abroad for war and for assorted nonsense, while denying financial help to people at home, spiteful mischief, like openly celebrating the festivals of other faiths, which is fine in itself, except that we cannot fail to notice the ignoring at the same time of Easter, the most significant Christian festival of the year…”

    From Neil Oliver Podcast: Neil Oliver – Space Travel, Free Speech & Trust, 17 Apr 2025
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/neil-oliver-podcast/id1513737418?i=1000703864753&r=80
    This material may be protected by copyright.

    1. The state only permits discussion that it approves of. Thus the invasion, muslim atrocity, the appalling muslim pakistani paedophile rapists, catastrophic taxation and unemployment legislation, useless Left wing unionism, rechaining us to the hated EU, the utter, obvious failure of the green tax scam, jailing of political dissidents while releasing Labour's children – criminal rapists and murderers – the list goes on and on of how cataclysmically inept the government is. They don't care.

      They just use force more and more to prevent discussion of their hideous malice as Left wing fascists always have

    2. Well let's put it this way; if they were trying to provoke everyone in this country to be angry enough to attack each other and start a civil war, they couldn't be going about it any better than they are.

      1. My young neighbour who’s never been interested in politics has now started to wake up. We had a longish conversation this morning when I was walking the dogs. He is starting to talk about unfairness- never a good sign in an Anglo Saxon.

        1. Very unusually, the occasional political comment is popping up amongst dog walkers.
          Nothing ranty, just a suggestion of dissatisfaction.

    1. We lost so many that last year I made chutney and bottled the rest as stewed apple in the autumn. We’re just eating the last few jars of stewed apple now.

    2. "I don't understand anything about your family".

      "I repeat one last time: my father is the mayor, my aunt is a sister, my cousin is a brother, and my brother is a masseur".

  89. Gosh – the Boys in Blue never stop earning our affection and respect, do they?

    "Metropolitan Police officers at a central counterterrorism and organised crime hub have been criticised after arranging an adults-only Easter egg hunt for staff.

    Officers employed at the 31-storey Empress State building in west London, which houses the main counterterrorism operations centre, were invited to take part in Thursday’s event."

    1. No crime to solve, I take it?

      The fire station around these parts arranged one for children with clues to get them to each point, up and down the fire tower, rolling around the training areas, underneath obstacles (ones they could duck under). The lead fire chap said it was an absolute pain getting permission from health and safety, let alone the nonsense equality larks.

      As it is, a little boy in a wheelchair came along and was piggy backed everywhere leading to lots of others getting them. Those fire fellows are tough!

      It's just statism intentionally holding back kindness in faux pretence of caring.

      1. We don't catch the infection – we are forcibly sneezed, spat and breathed on until we get it.

  90. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/17/dog-anxiety-medication-why-puppy-prozac/

    This is silly. A dog doesn't need ruddy medication, it needs stability, consistency, training and reinforcement. I've taught walking at heel the same way to all my dogs and oftenthey line up – mostly because they'll get a treat but also because they know it's the easiest way to get told they're a good boy/girl and made a fuss of.

    They're quiet, well behaved and calm because they know they're safe. They know where they stand in the pack, when they'll be fed, what to do and who to obey.

    Oh, they're Newfoundland's and stubborn and yes, often believe they know best (and make such clear) and yes, it can be a battle of wills when Mongo decides to sit at the bottom of the stairs and not move but you have to go through him to remind him who he is.

    But giving them drugs? Blastde owners are looking for a problem to their failure.

    1. I agree. Winston is a challenge but we’re getting there. He knows where he sits in the pack (after me and Kadi), he has his own safe space to retreat to and he’s learning to walk to heel. Not bad for 9 weeks and three other owners.

  91. The tosser may think that – but he is Governor of the Church of England. Not sodding slammerland.

  92. Word salad gobbledygook Alert.

    Ms Karin Smyth MP Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care clarifies whether Eddie Izzard armed with gender recognition certificate (GRC) can or cannot pleasure himself in wimmin's changing rooms.

    'Look I think we need to make sure that in this discussion we are following both the law so that is clear for women and for service providers and you know…this varies upon what the provision of those service providers are.

    'Large organisations, smaller organisations, many smaller organisations.'
    'If I remember, the guidance you're alluding to is an appendix to some previous guidance, and one of the issues, as I said earlier, that we are already looking at with the NHS is how they make sure that trans people are treated with privacy and dignity,' I really hope that it does draw a line under it by clarifying what sex means, by clarifying that people have different protected rights under the Equality Act and being very clear to all organisations what that means.'

    Clear as mud.

      1. Why, WHY can we not remove these useless people? They've no value, no utility, no worth.

    4. If some have more rights than others then it isn’t equality- or is that too complicated?

  94. ""I repeat one last time: my father is the mayor, my aunt is a sister nun, my cousin is a brother monk and my brother is a masseur".

    Just clarifying…

        1. Thanks for the explanation.

          I failed my French CSE but i do know how to tell them to fuck off in their own language.

      4. I guess it's a bit like Dave Allen's clock hands: the first hand is the hour hand, the second hand is the minute hand and the third hand is the second hand, kind of thing.

  97. Why do they say Sh1tLibs are naive, stupid and a danger to Western civilisation, society and themselves?

    Kirstie Allsopp
    @KirstieMAllsopp
    I genuinely thought that the modern fashion for very short kids hair, often with extra design elements, was the reason for the increased number of Barbers shops.

  98. Right……..out now to meet a couple of friends for 'afternoon tea' and then do the shopping.

    1. I'm just back from lunch at the community hub where I catch up on the local gossip

  99. https://order-order.com/2025/04/17/yvette-cooper-to-decide-on-tulip-siddiq-extradition-request/

    Oh, that'll be fun. Will Cooper, desperate defender of muslim obey the law and push a muslim crook into the hands of justice – and risk being humilated and accused of nepotism and losing the muslim vote or… will she protect the muslim crook and vote, deny the extradition and disobey international law?

    Ah, of course. She'll protect the muslim and keep the vote Labour relies upon. Utter hypocrites, all of them.

  100. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2025/04/16/no-10-remains-ominously-tight-lipped-about-welcoming-repara/

    I like these people. We should pay them reparations.

    Then send them a bill for every word spoken in English, every pound used in trade. The protection of Britain and the commonwealth. When they're beggared into poverty and we've got a hundred times our money back and the diversity are brought to their knees and reminded who is master then we let them go as the jumped up doggerel they are.

        1. I have never seen the appeal. Why would you want to munch away on nothing for ages? I prefer rugs…

        2. It's actually quite nutritious if you pop your own, without loads of butter or sugar. I try to do without those but sprinkle it with a very small part of warmed olive oil and then with mixed spices.

    1. Very good – except it ought to be "Used you to have one".

      Other than that, even members of this "government" should grasp it.

      1. I don't think they could grasp their own cocks.

        Including Ydiot Cooper and Just Philips.

        Talk about wankers with no grip !

      2. I wonder how many of the used to have ones have their prostate checked? Removing the prostate gland carries a high risk of permanent incontinence so most will still have it and it can be no embarrassment to them to visit a urologist given that both men and women suffer from infections of the urinary tract yet it still seems to be a taboo subject.

    2. My grandmother had a cock.

      He was a ferocious bantam — who ruled the hen house — called 'Billy Cock', and grandma was the only human he permitted to enter. Anyone else attempting to do so was flown at, in a rage, spurs foremost!

  106. Afternoon all. I have had to give in and rekindle the Rayburn. It may be lovely and sunny outside but it’s still cold.
    A temporary victory for women’s rights until the PTB manipulate what they want.

    1. Spot on. I did warn those who were glad that the government can easily change the legislation to suit the tiny minority of tossers.

  107. It's a play on words. Maire/mère (Mayor/mother). Aunt is a nun/(sister) etc etc.

    You have to be able to spicka da lingo to see the joke.

    1. Of course when a French joke needs explaining it becomes funnier and funnier…yawns…

  109. Glorious afternoon, despite the small Japanese in the air. Going into the garden. Back later.

        2. Well if they didn’t, they were too stupid to realise it would one day come back to bite them on the bum. They may be surprised it was so quickly, though.

  111. I remember visiting Florence with a student group back in 1976 and when one of our party asked some Italian teenagers if they spoke English, they said yes and chorused, "Fuck off!".

  112. 404419+ up ticks,

    This is seemingly a far more important issue than the 700 a day invaders doing what invaders do, INVADE.

    Rupert Lowe sues Nigel Farage for libel amid Reform bullying row
    Great Yarmouth MP brings legal action against party leader, Zia Yusuf and Lee Anderson over alleged ‘smear campaign’

    ALL falls down to Ben Habib now,

          1. There is a non KKK white hooded version in Europe, again, I believe, religious in foundation.

          3. ♬Now, listen you communists and niggas and jews
            Tell all your buddies to spread the news
            Your day of judgement will soon been nigh
            As the Lord in his wisdom looks down from on high
            Will his battle be lost by mixin' the races?
            We want beautiful babies, not ones with brown faces
            Never, never, never, I say
            For the Ku Klux Klan is here to stay
            Never, never, never, I say
            Cause the Ku Klux Klan is here to stay.♬

    2. Historical Context:
      The procession is linked to the "Archconfraternity of the Sanch," which was founded in 1416 to assist and accompany condemned prisoners to their executions.
      Symbolism:
      The procession symbolizes the Stations of the Cross and the Passion of Christ, with penitents participating in a solemn and reflective display of faith.
      Unique Features:
      The procession features penitents dressed in distinctive black and red tunics, "Caperutxa" headpieces, and scapulars, as well as life-size representations of the Stations of the Cross.

  114. UK risks energy crisis as British Gas halts activity at fuel storage site
    The owner of British Gas has stopped filling a crucial fuel storage facility in the North Sea, raising the risk of winter shortages and potentially higher energy prices.
    Rough (Storage site) comprises about half of the UK’s energy storage capacity and is a vital buffer against spells of cold windless weather when demand for gas surges – both to heat homes and for generating electricity.
    Centrica has opened talks with the Government over new financing arrangements. The company met with Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, in March to discuss options for keeping the plant open,
    The UK’s ability to store gas reserves is significantly less than other countries and mainland Europe, with just 12 days of total capacity compared to 89 days in Germany and 103 in France.

    A couple of £billion in brown envelopes from the taxpayer via Millitw*t should see them OK for a year or two.

  116. Pity the poor fox cubs…

    Quote of the day

    Jolyon wrote about the Supreme Court ruling and concluded:

    “I am a King’s Counsel and I have an unblemished professional record and I do not say this lightly. The Supreme Court’s decision has made me ashamed of my profession and ashamed of what our law has become. But we won’t stop fighting.”

    3. Dear Jolyon

      The Supreme Court hasn't said men can't dress as women or women as men. It's what they do when they do that concerned them.

      You are still free to float about in your choice of ladies nightwear.

    4. Jolyon Maughan – Anti-Brixit, Gay supporting friend of Ed Miliband. I'll bet they were very, very close friends.

  117. Five Largest Business Groups Launch Attack on ‘Deeply Damaging’ Rayner Employment Bill

    The UK’s five biggest business groups are this morning staging an intervention against Rayner’s Employment Rights (Union) Bill. The British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry, Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and Make UK say the bill will “damage growth and employment, undermining the government’s own goals.” Rare for them to come together like this…

    The groups add in a letter to the DBT that “our collective position is that… the Bill will have deeply damaging implications for the government’s priority growth mission as well as their admirable focus on tackling rising economic inactivity,” and “taken together, [the policies are] a recipe for damaging, not raising livings standards.” Guido has already spelt out how the bill has been enhanced to boost union powers even further…

    In terms of action they are “calling upon the Lords to fully scrutinise and improve this legislation to ensure it is genuinely both pro-business and pro-worker, and to prevent unnecessary harm to employment and growth.” Better to bin it altogether…

    April 17 2025 @ 10:20

    Rob Ellis
    5h
    The Employment Bill. Written by Unions for Unions. You will find that absolutely no companies in the U.K. approve of this Bill, whether they are good employers or not. And because of this Bill growth in the economy will not happen and strikes will be the norm. Welcome to the Brave new world of the Labour party

    Rogerborg ⬛🟧
    6h
    Business are literally – not figuratively, literally – better off not hiring anyone at all, than hiring someone who will call in sick on day one and then dare you to fire them, or who commences their babyfarming career by moving from taxpayer to corporate benefits.

      2. How many French words are there in English?
        There exists around 7,000 French words in the English language at present.

        Believe it or not, though, there were plenty more English words that came from French (and typically Latin) roots originally – around 10,000, to be exact.

        Do any examples come to mind? At this point, I’m sure you’re desperate to see some examples of English words with French origins…

        Let’s start with 99 (we thought any more might be a bit much!).

        Here are 99 common French words used in English, and their meaning

        https://blog.busuu.com/french-words-in-english/

  120. More examples of how we are being side-lined.
    https://www.standard.co.uk/news/islamic-sharia-council-law-london-marriage-divorce-b1222943.html

    ‘Back-room’ councils which rule on Muslim marriages have been accused of misogyny and exploiting religious freedoms — and they are on the rise on the capital.

    Hasan’s organisation is one of around five such councils in London. Recently, it was stated in the press that there were now so many operating in Britain that we had become “the sharia court capital of the West”.

    3. Our country its culture and social structure has been wrecked.
      Now even Charlie is at it.
      And it stinks. I am saddened for the futures of our innocent grandchildren.

  121. Wordle No. 1,398 3/6

    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨
    🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    Wordle 17 Apr 2025

    A perched Birdie Three?

    1. Well done! Bit annoyed here – didnt think they 'did' past participles, cost me a birdie…..so just a par today!

      Wordle 1,398 4/6

      🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
      🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
      🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    4. Oops late again

      Wordle 1,398 4/6

      🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
      🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

    5. Well done. Late on parade today with a par.

      Wordle 1,398 4/6

      ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
      🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜
      🟩⬜🟩🟩🟨
      🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

  122. I cannot post a link unless it is cleared .

    Hold on, this is waiting to be approved by Not the Telegraph Letters.

    See below a reply to Bill!

    2. It's the same on Spectator, Belle – can't post if a link is included in message. Try saying, eg whateverdotcom instead, and don't use www

  123. The King has praised the ethics of Judaism and the “human instinct” of Islam in his Easter message.

    In a message issued on Maundy Thursday, the King wished the public a “blessed and peaceful Easter”, saying the greatest virtue the world needs is “love”.

    On Thursday, he and the Queen joined the congregation at Durham Cathedral for a service where he will distribute “Maundy Money”, a royal tradition.

    In an Easter message published ahead of the service, the King said: “On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him.

    I am not allowed to post a link ?

  124. For the second time , I am not allowed to post a link

    The King has praised the ethics of Judaism and the “human instinct” of Islam in his Easter message.

    In a message issued on Maundy Thursday, the King wished the public a “blessed and peaceful Easter”, saying the greatest virtue the world needs is “love”.

    On Thursday, he and the Queen joined the congregation at Durham Cathedral for a service where he will distribute “Maundy Money”, a royal tradition.

    In an Easter message published ahead of the service, the King said: “On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him.

      1. Agreed. Presumably, there is no one with the guts to tell him to pull his head in and remember that he is the Governor of the Church of England. I had hoped that his mistress would have some clout. Wrong again.

      1. Perfectly happy for his Christian Nigerian subjects to be slaughtered by his peaceful Muslim adherents.

    4. The Head of the Church of England praises Islam, which explicitly denies the divinity of Christ.

    5. Maggie – has something changed re. your Disqus account?

      Whatever – I've added you to "trusted users", which should solve the problem…

  126. The whole thing made me desperately sad, and destroyed my faith in any colour of government. It was incomprehensible how the common sense was ignored for the idiot Fergusson, and the posturing Bliar.

  127. I'm done in as they say.
    Only the the decking left to paint two coats tomorrow. Then next job, re felt all of the double shed roof. I've just spent at least 5 minutes opening one of my bottles of cider. Five minutes very very slowly letting out the fizz. Needs a desert spoon of honey stirred in.

    2. What I had fogtten to add was I was entertained for at least an hour by a solo blackbird singing it's heart out.
      Wonderful.

      1. I think blackbirds have the largest eye to body ratio of all birds, Eddy? Why they're the first to sing, and the last to sing..light in the eye 🙂

        1. I didn’t know that, how interesting.
          We had one around our garden for at least ten years that whistled the few notes of the song Ain’t Misbehaving.

  128. That's me for today. Chutney made; some gardening done. About to close greenhouse. Then time for a little drinky-poo.

    Have a spiffing evening.

    A demain. Good Friday. Potatoes to plant.

  130. Good evening, hello, it's become chillier this afternoon, sadly .

      1. Just a little reminder that spring is unpredictable as always but the sunshine is much appreciated when it appears .

    2. Embracing western culture?

      Has the drinking of cat's piss overtaken real ale in the west?

      1. Apart from our resident know it all about food and drink, who cares what they are consuming?
        It's the music and having fun that's the point of the post

        1. From Wiki:

          European-style beer was not always immediately popular: one Japanese official described the beer presented by Commodore Matthew Perry at Kanagawa as tasting like "bitter horse piss".

          2. Not at all Katherine/Kathleen. 😘 I was just in a formal mood (in fact so formal I nearly wore a tie!).

          5. No worries. Look after yourself Grizz (as my dad would say ‘no other ****** will) :-DDD good old Tommy humour…

          7. Thx…listening to Joni ‘all about the war and the bloody changes’….news always bad these days, easy to feel ‘hopeless and forlorn’ (Dylan)…:-)))

      3. I remember imbibing lots of Kirin Ichybum beer when I got ashore in Japan. It's better than nothing, believe me.
        Bloody expensive too.

        1. Off topic
          Your former picture appeared to have a red flower (rose?) in your hair
          I've recently seen similar with Amy Winehouse
          Does it refer to something or someone specific or is it a very pleasing fashion accessory?
          Perhaps Amy is following your lead!

          1. No deeper meaning than that I love sticking flowers in my hair.

            Not a new thing – even the homeless here hail me as Frida as I grin at them. Even given that Kahlo is an icon, it still impresses me that even those with minimal education recognise an artist here. 🙂

          2. Then glow with the flow

            It's those kinds of reaction that define a country's culture for me.

            I had to look it up, but then I'm a Philistine.

        3. I once knew somebody who had two pianists – they didnt know if they were coming or going….

    5. "here are the Japanese taking Western Culture and embracing it to their hearts."

      They do like a drink, and I'm not being saki.

  132. Doom Gloom Time.. we're dooooomed.
    A British Civil War Is Coming… And Nobody’s Ready (David Betz)

    Can a civil war be averted?
    "No. A lot of people have invested hope in the normal political system. Maybe we hold out to the next election… and get a Reformist govt. whether that's Reform or a revived Tory Party or a new party. That potential.. in my opinion is not plausible. As is pretty amply demonstrated over the last month the Reform Party doesn’t look likely to be particularly anti status quo in its agenda.

    Imagine the London Riots of 2011.. On any given night there were probably about 2000 on the street, and of those about 200 people really wanted to fight and harm people. That almost completely overwhelmed the police and locked down the city. Imagine that scenario every two weeks. And it's not 2,000 people.. it's 20,000 people on street."

    David Betz

    1. If there's a civil war, my money is on the invaders winning.

      They have access to weaponry, they're ruthless and our government will side with them rather than the indigenous
      My only consolation is that when they win they will be stringing the politicians and the woke up on lampposts

      1. Indeed.. the establishment, government, army, police and media will side with ☪️.
        But they will lose.

  133. Doom Gloom Time.. we're dooooomed.
    A British Civil War Is Coming… And Nobody’s Ready (David Betz)

    Can a civil war be averted?
    "No. A lot of people have invested hope in the normal political system. Maybe we hold out to the next election… and get a Reformist govt. whether that's Reform or a revived Tory Party or a new party. That potential.. in my opinion is not plausible. As is pretty amply demonstrated over the last month the Reform Party doesn’t look likely to be particularly anti status quo in its agenda.

    Imagine the London Riots of 2011.. On any given night there were probably about 2000 on the street, and of those about 200 people really wanted to fight and harm people. That almost completely overwhelmed the police and locked down the city. Imagine that scenario every two weeks. And it's not 2,000 people.. it's 20,000 people on street."

    David Betz

  134. Ive found some favorite Thomas Tallis music for Easter of which I'll play tomorrow,
    I do love his sacred music.

    3. My former assistant organist went on to much greater things. As Director of Music at St Mary at Hill, he's a direct descendent of Thomas Tallis…

  137. I'll be brutally honest (and probably a bit racist oooo-errrr!) but I didnt think (for whatever reason) that the Japanese could possibly sing that well – ok ok beat me death with rolled up copies of the Guardian….

    1. I've had a few trips to Japan, and I loved them
      Culture, food and drink, history, it's a fabulous place
      At the weekends and after work I used to thoroughly enjoy wandering the back streets of Tokyo, exploring parks, visiting shrines, visiting the Izakaya bars and trying to immerse myself as far as I could in the Japanese city life
      I was gaijin, but merely being in such a bar on my own aroused curiosity from the locals and the people were very friendly
      The buffoons on the team liked Disneyland

  139. Off topic
    I hope both teams I would normally desire to lose will win, another Champions league place is for grabs for England
    MUFC and Dog'sbreath are still in the mix

  141. Earlier, True Belle posted this:

    Politics is strange , what has happened to the route for the cancelled HS2 project , if that had been thought through properly , people would have had jobs , east/ west travel should have been improved by joined up thinking .

    Loads of companies went down the pan , the distributers of sand and gravel mining companies have had a very tough time , and what about the steel / iron for the railways ..

    Is there now one big gash going through the countryside , all those homes , forests , nice green areas rubbished , for what ?

    Now the twerp Milishit wants to erect more huge pylons and wind farms ..

    There doesn't appear to be much out there about the consequences of the cancellation of the northern leg. I found these two articles published shortly afterwards:
    https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/moving-on-from-hs2-what-happens-to-landowners-now-263505
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjjg5z00l3yo

    Very little work had started. Some of that which had is to be used for the link from Birmingham to the Trent Valley line at Rugeley – yes, HS2 is to be linked to the national network after all.

    1. If the canal builders had been subjected to the enquiries we have now, I suspect that England, Europe and the West, let alone the rest of the world, would still be living in the 18th century.

        1. True, but the modern approach would have killed innovation and progress.
          They were lucky, no Milibands in those days

      2. There was a case for relief railways on the WCML but not HS2. However, even modest, practical and sensible proposals would have run into the bureaucratic spider's web of modern Britain. The saga of the Portishead branch is a good example.

      3. Unless I'm much mistaken, Brunel built the Great Western Railway in seven years. Mostly by workers with picks and shovels.

    2. William , many thanks for reading my comment and providing a couple of good links re the HS2 debacle .

      The BBC news article on the abandoned property , lovely homes in gorgeous villages which now have squatters living in them, and some are even growing cannabis.

      I wonder who are manning the security companies , one can only guess , but it is incredible to read that villages are no longer and the countryside has been scarred and ruined , bereft of trees etc .

      If mthe Tories screwed up on HS2 , what damage will the toothy twerp Miliband inflict on what remains of rural Britain?

  142. Over 2,000 comments in 7 hours in the DT on Chuck praising Islam.
    The total is probably higher but the bots have been busy.
    The spirit of the 1640's appears to be building up.

        1. Not at all, sos. I've met AA, and she's utterly sound. I'm just too lazy to search for the article, eyesight being.. er.. sub-optimal. It went backwards overnight.

          3. "Sir" with a capital "S"?

            HG will inherit the title from her mother. There is no marriage title for me, I remain plain sosraboc.
            It's a peculiarity of the way her title only runs down the female line.
            No male gets a courtesy title, so sir with a capital "S" is out of the question.

            And if that's not discrimination I don't know what is.

            Perhaps I should spend my remaining pennies appealing to the ECHR?

            On the plus side it's yet another anachronism being kicked into touch, a shame for our granddaughters, but with no direct females it ends.

        1. Aargh!

          The eejit presumably means well, but Durham Cathedral is special on multiple levels. To me, at least.

          I attended an "away day", courtesy Choir and Organ magazine many years ago.

          I returned some years later, when my Mum was slipping off this mortal coil in Newcastle General. (That's another story altogether).

          My prayers were answered. Not for the first time.

    3. And when the inevitable civil war does come who will emerge to lead the indigenous Britons?

      2. I disagree. Balls are a symbol of manhood.

        Two tits in the same brassière is more apt!

          1. It wasn’t meant to be deprecating of the ladies, VW.
            It was just a bit like calling a chap a “big girl’s blouse”, which is something that women often utter.

    2. Caring for the stranger?

      Yet another example of Islam stealing from Christianity and Judaism.

      Mohamhead was a warlord with great strategic and tactical skills.
      He sucked Judaism and Christianity into his world view and used it against the rest of the world.

      2. Yo Mo

        use my method of aging:

        The first 50 years are practice.you only count your year from that point.

        I am just 30, my birth date was in 1944

  148. Yes it has Geoff , a couple of days ago everything went haywire , I lost my twitter feed .. I have been on Twitter since it started years ago .. lost my photos contacts etc .. Tries to sign back in but of course my own email I used then is no longer alive, no such thing , so then I tried to get my True_Belle back on line .. no luck , and lost my Disqus access .. and all my contacts on here , so back to the beginning , with my gmail .. I tried to contact you ..

    Does this explain anything .. can't post links , and now my Twitter X has got my gmail and google pic and my name , not True_Belle , I am so cross. X has stupidly accepted my gmail details and name and my photo .. so I am too scared to use it!

    If anyone wants to follow me on the Twitter alternative Blue Sky .. https://bsky.app/profile/earlickerpip.bsky.social

  149. Just a thought;
    If all the cocks in frocks had kept a low profile, visited female loos etc and kept quiet about it, instead of making a big issue, would people have noticed?

  151. Inaya Folarin Iman
    Britain is now the heartland of Islamic extremism
    We have a lot to learn from countries like Egypt and the UAE

    In recent weeks, something extraordinary has happened in Gaza. Ordinary Palestinians have taken to the streets to protest against Hamas.

    These are not abstract calls for regime change but acts of courage in the face of real danger. One man, Uday Al Rabbay, was reportedly butchered and had his body dumped outside his parents’ home for taking part in the protest.

    Yet, despite the risk, many Gazans are beginning to voice what has long been unspeakable – Hamas is not their saviour. It is their oppressor.

    They live under a regime that hides weapons in schools and hospitals, diverts foreign aid, indoctrinates children, and rules by terror. For those under the rule of Hamas, brutality is neither distant nor theoretical. The revolution that many Gazans long for is not exclusively against Israel; it is also against the death cult that governs them.

    Now compare that to Britain. Over the past eighteen months, including on October 7 itself, British streets have filled with protesters who celebrate the massacre of Israeli civilians as an act of “resistance”. In London, chants of “Zionists, out, out!” have been shouted in Arabic. These are not cries for justice. They signal allegiance to an ideology of annihilation.

    The irony of this could not be more stark. As parts of the Muslim world turn away from Islamist extremism, Britain appears to be incubating it.

    Saudi Arabia is quietly pursuing normalisation with Israel. Egypt, long familiar with the threat posed by Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, has sealed its border with Gaza; the Muslim Brotherhood is banned in both Egypt and the UAE.

    The UAE has also blacklisted several British-based charities linked to Islamist networks. Jordan has taken a firm stance against Islamist extremism, actively curbed radical preaching and maintained diplomatic ties with Israel, even in the face of domestic pressure.

    Yet here in Britain, Islamist ideology continues to be indulged. Islamist preachers operate with impunity. Prisons have become recruitment grounds. A sitting MP, Sir David Amess, was murdered by an Islamist terrorist and the political response was subdued. Even a Saudi religious leader has recently warned that Britain’s failure to tackle Islamist radicalism risks becoming a national security threat.

    This problem has deep roots. In 1989, the Ayatollah of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the murder of Salman Rushdie over his novel The Satanic Verses. Rather than a united defence of free expression, many in Britain wavered.

    Then Labour MP Keith Vaz joined a demonstration calling for the book to be banned. The Archbishop of Canterbury suggested that publishing it had been a mistake. Bookshops were attacked. Protesters burned the novel in Bradford. Some British Muslims marched not in solidarity with Rushdie but in support of the fatwa. It was the moment that exposed how vulnerable our liberal values were when confronted by religious intimidation.

    More than thirty years later, has anything really changed? In 2022, Rushdie was nearly killed in a knife attack in New York. Too many people still hesitate to say what is obvious: Islamist extremism is not just an alternative viewpoint; it is a threat to the foundations of our free society.

    What is worse, this ideology is increasingly being enabled by liberal and progressive Britons who mistake moral posturing for solidarity. In their understandable eagerness to support Palestinians, they refuse to condemn the terrorists who oppress them. In doing so, these progressives provide cover for those who hate the very freedoms that they claim to support.

    The new strongholds of Islamist extremism are not just in faraway training camps, but are to be found in British universities, online influencers, and naive street protesters. Unless we confront this honestly, Britain risks becoming not a bulwark against extremism but its heartland.

    Jean Reid
    22 min ago
    Would King Woke when sending a message to Islam mention Christianity & our holy days such as Easter & Christmas-NO he would'nt dare they would take it as an insult but thinks it O K to insult Christians.

    Reply by Leah White.

    LW

    Leah White
    19 min ago
    I hope people start to make their feelings known about the Islamic King we've been saddled with.

    Reply by Suzy Wong.

    SW

    Suzy Wong
    13 min ago
    He's sailing very close to the wind.

    I have noticed that the goodwill he inherited when taking the throne is starting to wilt.

    It's what all rich people do.

    They love the poor but not white, Christian poor.

    They think that there is no such thing as white, Christian poor.

    Suzy Wong
    27 min ago
    Many, many years ago we were warned that one day the law of Islam will rule over Westminster. We ignored it then and continue to do so.

    The irony is that fundamental Islam is ultra, ultra Conservative, as far right as possible, but because it is practised by a (for now) minority, the idiotic left support it. How many lefties are shouting out against the subjugation of women and the punishment of gays? How would they react if these policies were promoted by a right-wing party?

    The Islamists are doing what they do to gain the influence and the power base that they need. They are simply carrying out their ambitions.

    The real danger, the real traitors are their facilitators.

    Those who allow this dreadful cult to take hold.

    The ideological, misguided fools who will sacrifice our freedoms in order to feel 'virtuous'.

    I reserve my most disgust for them

    2. Much of that reflects my feelings also, looking in from outside.
      Lets hope it's a start of real pushback.

  153. Blimey, that was a hell of a game! United 2-0 up, then 2-4 down, then a 5-4 win!!

  154. Why is Keir Starmer meeting a leader demanding trillions from Britain?

    The Prime Minister welcomed Barbados's Mia Mottley, who has said Britain owes her country £3.9 trillion

    Dia Chakravarty • 16 April 2025 10:00am BST

    It was back in February when the Telegraph, citing Caribbean sources, reported that the Foreign Office was to open talks on slavery reparations with Caribbean officials, who were demanding trillions of pounds from the UK in compensation for its role in the slave trade.

    In his piece, my colleague Craig Simpson reported that members of the Reparations Commission of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), a political grouping of 15 states who have led on calls for compensation from former colonial powers, were planning a visit to London in April with a specific aim to restate demands for payments.

    We were even told that the "trip has been overseen by Mia Mottley, Barbados's prime minister," who famously pushed for reparations to be on the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Samoa last year.

    To say the demands are ambitious would be an understatement. In no conceivable way could the nation's taxpayers and its finances afford the bill.

    "Ms Mottley has stated that Britain owes her country £3.9 trillion," this paper had reported, "while a 2023 report put the figure owed to former Caribbean colonies overall at £18 trillion."

    A Foreign Office spokesman at that time had denied that there were any plans for a ministerial summit, claiming no date had been set for a UK-Caricom meeting.

    Imagine my surprise then to come across a press release on 4th April – issued not by the Foreign Office but by No 10 – that Sir Keir had welcomed Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados to Downing Street that morning.

    When was this meeting scheduled, I asked the Downing Street Press Office. Were any payments to Barbados discussed at the meeting? My questions were refused, with the spokesman instead directing me back to the rather bare-boned press release, which would only provide the following information:

    "The leaders reflected on the strength of the relationship between the UK and Barbados, and the shared challenges faced by the two countries, including growth, climate change and global instability. The Prime Minister also thanked Prime Minister Mottley for the action taken by Barbados against the Russian shadow fleet."

    A standard news agency report on the meeting offered some interesting details. "We've known each other many, many years as good colleagues and now as leaders who work together, think alike", Sir Keir said of his guest, a fellow King's Counsel who was educated at the London School of Economics. In her response, Ms Mottley said, "[w]e've had the opportunity to meet a number of times since you've assumed office."

    We know that at least one of those times – at the Commonwealth Head of Governments summit – the matter of reparations has certainly been discussed. How many other discussions have there been on the subject, given Ms Mottley's focused, high profile and long-running campaign for compensation?

    There are other reasons to be wary of a ruinous bill being presented to Parliament as a fait accompli, much in the same way as the Mauritius payment, not the least because it is the same international judge from Jamaica who ruled against the UK on the Chagos Islands who has called for Britain to pay more than £18 trillion in reparations for slavery, declaring even that amount to be an "underestimation" of the damage caused.

    While calls for reparations are longstanding, in recent years they have been reportedly gaining momentum worldwide, "particularly among Caricom [of which Ms Mottley is the current Chair] and the African Union", whose joint theme for 2025 is "Justice for Africans and the People of African Descent through reparations."

    These organisations enjoy the support of both the European Union and the United Nations leadership – indeed, Ms Mottley is widely viewed as a potential candidate to succeed Antonio Guterres as the next UN secretary-general – who appear to be increasingly willing to entertain compensation claims.

    Speakers at a session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on African Descent in New York declared only yesterday that "the calls for reparatory justice can no longer be ignored". These calls at the Forum are being led by Ms Mottley's Caricom colleague, Dr Hilary Brown.

    International campaigners are also encouraged by what they view as a British government sympathetic to their cause after 14 years of Conservative-led refusal to discuss compensation claims. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Attorney General Lord Hermer have both previously voiced their support for reparations, hitherto a political position only championed by edgier backbenchers such as Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Dawn Butler.

    While the Government has steadfastly refused to allow the word reparations to enter its formal communiqué, it has been more comfortable using expressions such as addressing "wrongs of the past" when discussing payments to former colonies, as we've seen in the case of the Mauritius deal.

    In the case of Barbados and other Caribbean nations, if Ms Mottley is successful in her campaign, the bill presented to the taxpayer would likely be framed as payments towards the climate crisis, rather than reparations.

    But reparation by any other name is still reparation. As, of course, is bankruptcy.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2025/04/16/no-10-remains-ominously-tight-lipped-about-welcoming-repara

  157. Well, chums, it's well past my bedtime. So Good Night all, sleep well, and see you all in the morning.

Comments are closed.