This is Northumberland Calling 07.06.24

The D Day 80 plus one massive Sunak error edition

Hello American (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling

Yesterday, the 6^th of June was the 80^th anniversary of the D Day landings. It is probably the last significant anniversary of the landing where actual veterans are able to attend. The youngest on D Day are now 98 or so. I suspect many never thought they’d live that long.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/06/d-day-80-veterans-pay-respects-normandy-anniversary/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/06/d-day-80-veterans-pay-respects-normandy-anniversary/

I thought this article about the SAS who parachuted behind Germans lines ahead of D-Day  and were murdered including 3 by lethal injection was fascinating. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/06/murder-sas-heroes-france-dday/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/06/murder-sas-heroes-france-dday/

Today’s Matt cartoon raised  a smile – two obviously ancient veterans walking along a beach. One says ‘Old, frail and forgetful. This could be President Biden’s last D-day anniversary.’ https://x.com/MattCartoonist/status/1798770367948829170

Sunak made a massive political faux pas when he left the ceremony early to give a TV interview, leaving David Cameron as his stand in in the photo op of the Allied leaders. The disrespect he showed the veterans will not go down well. The British people particularly not ‘Whitby Woman’ will not understand or forgive. Almost like he wants to totally destroy the Conservatives. Certainly  it is a huge boost to Farage and Reform. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/07/rishi-sunak-has-disgraced-our-d-day-veterans/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/07/rishi-sunak-has-disgraced-our-d-day-veterans/

Nigel Farage decided to stand for Clacton and retake his mantel as leader of Reform earlier in the week. He is a showman but he does appear to have a basic understanding of the British psyche. Clacton in Essex is 96% white and economically depressed. It has an aging population. Possibly his best chance of obtaining a seat. This article explains about the left behind white working class. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/05/what-clacton-tells-you-about-white-working-class/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/05/what-clacton-tells-you-about-white-working-class/

The Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething  lost a non binding vote of no confidence this week.  He has only been in the job for 78 days and cried when the results of the vote became known. He accepted donations from a known polluter and there were massive conflicts of interests, among other incidents of dodgy behaviour. In other words, a good old fashioned scandal. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/06/fly-tipping-scandal-labour-welsh-leader-vaughan-gething/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/06/fly-tipping-scandal-labour-welsh-leader-vaughan-gething/

Very quietly before the end of Parliament, the education dept issued new statutory guidance with regards to parents being notified if their children are gender questioning. Always except in rare cases. So a massive hooray for that.  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13482315/Teachers-tell-parents-children-question-gender-right-know-unless-pupil-significant-risk-harm-say-new-rules.html

Baillie Gifford decided it had had enough of Fossil Free Books and has ended its sponsorship of all literary festivals. For now it is still sponsoring the major nonfiction book prize. It is not however divesting itself of any of its investments or altering its approach. The real losers are the book festivals which are normally run on a shoe string. I fully expect a number to close as why would any company sponsor something where they are going to be targeted. This is a shame for the readers, for the restaurants and hotels etc which also benefited.  https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/jun/06/baillie-gifford-cancels-all-remaining-sponsorships-of-literary-festivals

I loved the Grizelda cartoon

.

As James Marriott pointed out in the Times, Fossil Free Books targeted book festivals, not video game conventions or indeed comic con. They chose a soft target because they could and it made their virtue look big.  https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/book-festivals-dont-deserve-political-bullying-tbcrwpt8x or https://archive.ph/https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/book-festivals-dont-deserve-political-bullying-tbcrwpt8x

My editor was in touch. They have now titled my latest – Secret Princess for the Warrior. It fits with the story. I look forward to the revisions which should be landing in my inbox soon. The revisions will help make the story stronger…

Paddy and the cats have decided they are now good friends. Paddy, however, is uncertain about being forcibly washed.

Hopefully everyone else’s week was a good one. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.

If you like what you read on here, why not subscribe? It’s free and I don’t have any plans to put in a paywall.