This is Northumberland Calling 1.5.26
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves edition
Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.
Happy May Day. Today in 1707, through the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain was created.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has taken the highly unusual step in writing to the Leader of the Green Polanski to warn him that his rhetoric about the police in the Golders Green stabbing risked inflaming tension. Polanski responded by screaming that he suffers from antisemitic abuse every day. Polanski uses the tricks he acquired as a hypnotist. In this case his attempt at deflection from the Golders Green stabbing has resulted in another attempt at deflection. The police have also release body cam footage showing the bravery of the officers in tackling the seriously dangerous individual had previous convictions from stabbing police officers and a dog. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/04/30/met-chief-accuses-polanski-of-inflaming-tensions/ or https://archive.ph/gQQUG
Two Green Party candidates were arrested under charges of stirring up racial hatred for their Jew Hate posts. Others including one in Newcastle have posted vile sentiments regarding Jews. The party which used to be about saving hedgerows and concern for the environment now has a darkness at its heart. The two candidates in question no longer appear on the Green Party website but they remain on the ballot. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/30/polanski-is-a-prisoner-of-his-own-rotten-party/ or https://archive.ph/Bpl4c
To understand the Green Party, watch this clip. The Green Party co Deputy Leader is asked a specific question relating to the persecution of the Jewish community but refuses to answer, going off on a tangent about Rip Off Britain. The answer could have been from the 1930s Germany as the subtle implication was that the Jewish community played some part in Rip Off Britain and brought this on themselves. The Conservative Victoria Atkin’s face of WTAF was my reaction. Shame on the BBC presenter for tacitly supporting the Green Party candidate.
The terror level in the UK has been raised to severe after the attacks. And the counter terrorism adviser Jonathan Hall argued for the temporary ban of the pro-Palestine marches as he said the right to life is more important than the right to protest. The would be assassin has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/golders-green-stabbing-attack-victim-antisemitism-2dbc66xc5 or https://archive.ph/kRRyY
Starmer has promised more will be done. The thing people need to get their head round is that the government has failed all its citizens by failing to curb antisemitism and forcing one section of the population to take extraordinary measures. Britain is a country where there are Jew-Hate marches, where people including political candidates knock on doors asking if they support a boycott on Israel and then take names, where people are targeted because other people believe that their religious preference means they take a specific stance in a foreign war. NB Nothing will happened before 13 May because Parliament is currently in recess due to the local elections. Starmer will do his usual head in the sand impression and sucking of his teeth, offering like more than additional money for security and platitudes. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/30/starmer-branded-traitor-at-scene-of-anti-semitic-attack/ or https://archive.ph/sShPo
This explains about the Jewish enclave which the IRGC and others have targeted. Why should any part of Britain be forced to take such actions? It is really shameful that all Londoners have allowed this situation to happen. British Jews are British citizens. These are attacks (sometimes inspired by a hostile state) on British citizens who only wish to go about their daily lives. That they have been prevented from doing this is shameful and reflects badly on Britain and its so-called values. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/30/10-square-miles-britains-jews-face-anti-semitism/ or https://archive.ph/98f3i
This is good from Jacob Rees-Mogg about why Britain must do more including tossing out the Iranian ambassador who has called for people to rise up against Britain and in support of the IR.
As I am currently reading The Shah’s Party and the Iranian Revolution which followed by Robert Templar, I have been struck by several things. 1. The number of martyrs killed by the Shah and SAVAK which the IR said justified the Revolution was actually 3164 between 1963 -1979 (not the 60 k claimed). The IR has now murdered far more, particularly the 43k in January. By their own measure they should be gone. 2 One of the reasons that terrorism, particularly the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine which split from the PLO was emboldened was the weakness of the Jordian government which allows them to operate as a state within a state. 3. The Shah’s bureaucracy was inept and they tried to cover up the last major outbreak of smallpox to ensure the Party of the Century went ahead. The book is an interesting read which is accessible to ordinary reader but it does hold lessons for today.
This explains what is currently happening in Iran’s prisons. https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/teenagers-death-row-regime-tehran-7vp36lqhw or https://archive.ph/EERtO
Starmer’s weakness on this and other issues is a concern. We shall have to see what 8 May brings.
It is generally thought that the North East, long a bastion of Labour, may fall to Reform. They will not vote Tory in Sunderland, but they may vote Reform. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/30/labour-faces-an-extinction-level-event-heart-of-england/ or https://archive.ph/iMdJy
One would like to think the situation around women’s rights in the UK is getting better, but even mentioning JK Rowling’s name can get you cancelled or force a groveling apology. Scope tried to cancel a choir from singing at the London Marathon on their behalf because they disliked Janet Murray’s Gender Critical beliefs (the author of the piece). Scope had to apologize once they consulted the lawyers but the damage was done. Murray’s choir did sing at the marathon but not for Scope. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/63cfc33a8ffe4b34
Freedom in the Arts launched their report on the new boycott crisis in Britain. The singer Rosin Murphy spoke about her experience which is worth a watch. They have also formulated a toolkit to help venues (includes publishers) withstand attempts at boycotts and cancellation.
https://www.freedominthearts.com/
The king’s state visit to the US resulted in the lowering of tariffs on Scottish whisky. The king succeeded where others failed. https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/charles-rump-tariff-whisky-cut-x9j20zpnx or https://archive.ph/tD7VW
Queen Camilla restored a special relationship when she brought a replacement Roo for the Winnie-the-Pooh collection at the New York Public Library. These are the actual stuffed animals who inspired AA Milne’s stories The original Roo had been lost in an orchard. So Kanga now her Roo back. This is a reel of Roo goingto his new home. Just adorable.
This gives all the activity of the State Visit which went very well. It was good to see both my countries putting on such a splendid show. https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2026-04-28/state-visit-to-the-us
An Old English version of the Caedmon’s Hymn, the first known poem by an Anglo Saxon, in this case a Northumbrian cow herder who dreamt the lines has been rediscovered in Rome. https://archaeologymag.com/2026/04/new-copy-of-earliest-known-english-poem/
Here:
The beekeeping season has started in earnest. Both colonies are smaller than I would like. Hopefully they will now both build quickly as the weather has become fine.
It has been an exceptionally good blossom year.
Paddy is spending a lot of time outside chasing rabbits, but not catching any. Given the rabbit population in the general area, I figure the population of foxes has been severely decreased.
My writing continues. It doesn’t matter how many novels I have written, I always find ways to make mistakes, including forgetting the romance, and providing solid obstacles.
I have no plans to put a paywall on. If you want to buy one of my books to reward me, fabulous. I believe they are good escapist reads, historical romance set in a wide variety of eras such as Rome, Viking and Regency. ‘Simply enchanting’ according to Romance Readers’ Reviews about A Christmas Wedding Wager. ‘Everybody loves Styles’ Vikings’ said the Romantic Times. You can find out more at my website www.michellestyles.co.uk
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It's bad enough for Jews here in the States, but when I look at Europe and the UK, it seems like the closer we get to the 2030's, the closer we get to the 1930's.
"They will not vote Tory in Sunderland, but they may vote Reform" - Sunderland will be voting reform next Thursday. Labour hate us and we want them out.