This is Northumberland Calling 13.10.26
The Friday the 13th glitter bomb edition
Hello America! This is Northumberland calling.
What is a proscribed organization? In the UK, Hamas has been a proscribed terrorist organization since 2021. Certain penalties apply to people who openly support it. The police do have the powers in the UK to shut certain expressions down or to prosecute people. This substack gives a ready reckoner on what it means. It would be useful if the Far Left actually understood its meaning, rather than blithely assuming that they had certain rights to protest and incite violence.
Rachel Reeves who is the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and extremely powerful within the Labour Party reminded the Labour Conference that anyone who believes that Hamas is not a terrorist organization and does not believe Israel has a right to self-defence has no place in the Labour Party. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/10/09/believe-hamas-are-terrorists-be-in-labour-rachel-reeves/ or https://archive.is/VDMBW
Keir Starmer wasglitter bombed just before he gave his speech which was coherent. he was not shaken by the attack but it was a serious lapse in Security. Starmer’s wife is Jewish and some of the extended family live in Israel.
Reeves is the chair of the Labour Friends of Israel who signed a letter of support to the Israeli president along with the Conservative Friends of Israel. In total more than 300 MPs including members of the cabinet signed that letter. Thus both the British government and His Majesty’s loyal opposition stand squarely with Israel in the face of the terrible terrorist attack.
One of the ways Britain is supporting Israel is through its listening station on the Mount Olympus in Cyprus. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/10/uk-intelligence-agencies-spy-hizbollah-lebanon-north-israel/ or https://archive.is/EqvmF
The British Royal family have also issued statements of support to Israel and their hopes for a lasting peace. The Prince and Princess of Wales singled out Hamas as a terrorist organization, something the Duke and Duchess of Sussex failed to do. Spokespeople for the Duke and Duchess claimed it was implied. The King has met privately with the Chief Rabbi. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/10/12/king-meets-chief-rabbi-horrors-israel-hamas/ or https://archive.ph/AYcBV
It would be wrong to say a minority fringe are not causing problems as they seek to impose a Spiral of Silence and a certain narrative. Several Jewish schools in London have closed their doors today because of security fears. However as far as I can tell there have been no reports of this happening elsewhere including in Newcastle which has a sizable Orthodox Jewish population. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/12/jewish-schools-london-close-safety-israel-war-hamas/ or https://archive.ph/zTL78
The BBC look to shame the entire country by their refusal to call Hamas terrorists. Various people have protested including several KCs (King’s Counsel the top of the legal profession) as well as 7 former culture secretaries to OFCOM about the stance. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/10/12/bbc-hamas-terrorists-culture-secretaries-sajid-javid/ or https://archive.is/kMSTM
This op ed from Allison Pearson is good about the shame the BBC are bringing to Britain: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/12/the-bbcs-hamas-terror-cowardice-shames-britain/ or https://archive.is/NLU4u
The leader of the SNP Humza Yousaf has his wife’s extended family trapped in Gaza and is trying to get them out. In the meant time, he is having to deal with MPs defecting from the party. The latest joined the Conservatives on Thursday. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-mp-lisa-cameron-defects-to-the-tories-amid-bullying-row-lxrr37qg5 or https://archive.is/ERybz
The West of Scotland went slip sliding away at the weekend when over 150 mm of rain fell in under 48 hours. Motorists (including my husband and sons who were trying to get to Islay) were trapped between floods and landslides. More than 12,000 tons of rubble crashed down on the A83. My family managed to get out after 24 hours but did not make Islay as the port remained cut off. The experience was slightly surreal for my lot as they ended up in a luxury spa resort in Inveraray (it was better than a camp bed in a pub or the village hall, the other options) but they were fine. For the people in the West Scotland, it means weeks of untold misery. The ferry situation remains dire as well which is not helping matters as the alternative route was blocked because a ferry broke down. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scotland-flooding-weather-landslides-risk-to-life-dn5lnlj8s or https://archive.is/jPtMQ
Britain is getting new coinage. The first coins of King Charles’s reign have been unveiled and have a nature theme rather than a heraldic theme to reflect his interest in conservation. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/king-charles-new-coins-royal-mint-squirrels-puffin-bees/ or https://archive.is/aKB4w
In the Telegraph today was this heart breaking story about one person’s experience when a family member was mistakenly advised to transition. The family member suffered from a number of mental health issues including autism, things which are supposed to be red flags to therapists but were not. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/i-refused-to-play-along-when-sister-switched-gender/ or https://archive.is/Q1GOu
Finally, I sent my latest into my editor yesterday. Sometimes, escaping into my writing is difficult but it does provide solace. In a few weeks’ time my editor will get back to me with her thoughts on how this historical romance set in the Viking era can be made better.
TY, as always, for all the links Michelle.
The situation in Israel just goes to show that people have lost their links to humanity. The BBC. It figures.
I was sorry to "hear" about Your family's troubles with the floods, but glad they got back safe and sound.
And I will say You all have a lotta very pretty coinage.
Finally, SO glad to hear about Your latest book. And can see where it would provide solace. Best o' luck. :-)
Thank God your husband and sons are safe. I can't imagine being in the middle of any kind of flood situation like that.
BBC should be ashamed.
A young man who graduated from my high school last year and joined the IDF is one of the missing. I can't even wrap my mind around what his parents must be feeling.