This is Northumberland Calling

The A small victory for Freedom of Expression edition

Hello American (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling

Last night saw the EGM for the Society of Authors, triggered by a small group of authors calling themselves Books for Palestine. The first two resolutions – one on AI and the other on working to end dependence on fossil fuels passed easily. The third calling for a specific statement on Palestine failed. The vote was close  with 100 votes in it.  But some rationality has been restored. There were allegations that some on the Pally-Ally side had offered to pay for membership to vote for that specific  resolution as well as for the fossil fuel one. Alas there is no photograph of those people’s faces when they discovered they had lost the third resolution, having easily won the 2^nd... Enabling freedom of expression which means institutions not taking stances on political issues held. I understand the novelist Marnie Riches spoke eloquently about the anti-Semitism which is emmeshed in the Books for Palestine BDS movement.  https://www2.societyofauthors.org/2024/05/02/egm-resolutions-and-next-steps/

In the wake of the campus protests, I decided to check on my alma mater –Carleton College which is a traditionally very left leaning liberal arts college, currently ranked #9 over all but #1 in undergraduate teaching and situated in Northfield MN. They are not divesting nor are they stopping the Paradise Israel scholarship. They are simply going to ensure that it is clear the scholarship is open to all. It is very reminiscent of the response given to students for defence disinvestment and South Africa back in the mid-1980s. https://www.carleton.edu/president/news/response-to-carleton-student-association-resolution-for-divestment-from-the-state-of-israel/ 

NB As students the world like nothing better than copying the latest protest, there is now an ‘encampment’ at the University College London.  One lesson I learned at Carleton is that many people like to be non-conformist as long as they do in a conformist manner. It allows them to feel wacky and cool in a safe way. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/03/university-college-london-pro-palestine-tent-camp/  or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/03/university-college-london-pro-palestine-tent-camp/

Over here, the local election results continue to roll in. As expected it was a bad night for the Conservatives. It seems to indicate that the Conservatives will lose the next General Election but then they have not exactly covered themselves in glory during their many years in power. No seat may be safe. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/05/03/local-elections-mayoral-results-live-england-sunak-starmer/

The new dog bites man headline?

One thing the Conservatives have suddenly started turning the tanker on is the capture of government and institutions by extreme gender ideologists. The NHS England announced a consultation on its new constitution where biological sex will become a determining factor.  Loved the headline in the Telegraph on Tuesday. I want to hold off on the GE until they have this about turn completed.  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-constitution-plans-to-strengthen-privacy-dignity-and-safety

Not to be outdone Kemi Badenoch put out a call for evidence with regards to unlawful behaviour regarding the conflation of gender with sex. She gave as an example, the schoolgirls who are suffering urinary tract infections because they do not want to be harassed in the toilets. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/call-for-input-incorrect-guidance-on-single-sex-spaces-and-gender-self-identification

How far this has gone is indicated by the sad story where a private school called social workers on parents who refused to affirm their child. The school had taken advice from LGBT YS in Scotland, an organization with a dubious but which now  ‘advises’ the Scottish government on school matters. LGBT YS said it was nothing to do with them as the school was following government guidance. There is some circular reasoning going on here. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/school-reported-parents-of-trans-child-to-social-services-ngm80gpc5  or https://archive.ph/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/school-reported-parents-of-trans-child-to-social-services-ngm80gpc5

Speaking of not covering themselves in glory. Irish politicians were hoisted by their own petard when they decided to say that they were going to return the asylum seekers to Britain. Some clever bod had already Britain designated as ‘unsafe’ because of the Rwanda programme. They are also talking about putting checkpoints on the border, something forbidden by the Good Friday Agreement. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/03/ireland-rejects-sunak-offer-take-part-rwanda-scheme/  or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/03/ireland-rejects-sunak-offer-take-part-rwanda-scheme/

Now that Yousaf resigned, the SNP look to crown Jon Swinney as the next leader. He comes with a lot of baggage concerning the ferry scandal but Kate Forbes who is only 34 appears to have decided that she wants to wait until after any election (as it is predicted the SNP are going to lose many seats) The interesting thing about Kate Forbes is that she has made it fine to be a strong Christian again in politics. She is unapologetic about her religion (the Free Church). When the noises started up again as she was supposed to stand, it was pointed out that Yousaf had not experienced the same sort of questioning. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/02/kate-forbes-won-victory-for-religion-public-life/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/02/kate-forbes-won-victory-for-religion-public-life/

They have finally charged two men with cutting down the tree at Sycamore Gap last September. It was such an anti-social thing to do. Every time I drive by, the great gap is there. It will take many years and it had become such an iconic landmark. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/30/two-men-charged-over-felling-of-sycamore-gap-tree

Here the apple blossom has come out and it means I need to inspect the bees for the first time this Spring. We are down to one hive, having lost two to mice and starvation this winter.  In a few weeks it will be prime swarming season so hopefully I will be able to manipulate the colony and get a nucleus off in order to increase my hives. The thing is with bees  is that they are a hobby which has a sting. You can read all the books, get loads of expert advice and the bees will still do what they want to because they are bees.  And yes, I do tell the bees all the news as it is supposed to be good luck.

The current manuscript is nearly done (finally) and it is the start of May Bank Holiday weekend.

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