Hello America (particularly Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling
The somewhat horrific news this week was the growth of antisemitism in the UK. Two Labour prospective MPs were suspended for remarks made. A Tory mayor was also suspended for making the same sorts of remarks. The number of anti-Semitic incidents have been rising steadily. Lots of hand- wringing but hardly anything done. They still protested outside a MP’s home this week. Someone put up anti-Semitic posters on bus shelters in Wes Streeting’s constituency – ‘vote genocide, vote Labour.’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/antisemitism-uk-anti-jewish-incidents-britain-james-cleverly-k5lcgjbx7 or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/antisemitism-uk-anti-jewish-incidents-britain-james-cleverly-k5lcgjbx7
The Conservatives lost two more seats in by-elections. Sunak will cling on as it is so close to a General Election, but the signs are not good for the Conservatives. They have been in power too long and have presided over a huge mess. The Reform party is Nigel Farage’s old party btw. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tilting-to-reform-wont-save-the-tories-after-crippling-defeats-gh33hztsm or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tilting-to-reform-wont-save-the-tories-after-crippling-defeats-gh33hztsm
Labour continues to do U-turns and doesn’t seem to have a real coherent policy. This may not matter as people are just heartly sick of the Conservatives promising to do things but being unwilling or unable to affect real change. People sometimes forget that it was Labour in coalition with a certain section of the Tory party which fought WW2. Although some parts of Labour are very anti-war, the vast bulk remains quietly patriotic and believes in public service, including serving in the military. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/azhar-ali-latest-rochdale-labour-comments-keir-starmer-antisemitism-zqgn26cfd or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/azhar-ali-latest-rochdale-labour-comments-keir-starmer-antisemitism-zqgn26cfd
In case of fiddling while Rome burns, London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced the re-naming of various overground lines at a cost of £6.3 million. A pointless exercise to the altar of multiculturalism. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/15/sadiq-khan-renames-london-overground-after-lioness-windrush/ or https://archive.is/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/15/sadiq-khan-renames-london-overground-after-lioness-windrush/
A bright note was the appointment of Simon Fanshawe as Rector for the University of Endinburgh. The election was uncontested but when the appointment was announced, various groups objected loudly. Simon who is a very nice and generous person is openly GC as well as being gay. He thinks single sex attraction means biological sex attraction , not gender. He helped found Stonewall but broke with them over this issue. His idea of diversity is diversity of ideas and everyone welcome. He will be a great boon for the university if the administration ignores the very vocal minority who could not be bothered to put a candidate. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/simon-fanshawe-selected-for-top-job-at-edinburgh-university-ztx0ggqzr or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/simon-fanshawe-selected-for-top-job-at-edinburgh-university-ztx0ggqzr
Operation Steadfast Defender is happening in the Baltic and it is the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War. Britain is moving to a pre-war footing. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/will-nato-go-to-war-russia-uk-conflict-cv0hxgbq0 or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/will-nato-go-to-war-russia-uk-conflict-cv0hxgbq0
One of the big people in Russian defence and a close ally of Putin’s Rustam Minnikhanov paid a visit to Tehran to discuss further Russo-Iranian cooperation. See the latest Institute of War Iran update https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-15-2024
But Britain’s defence is dangerously underfunded. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-armed-forces-budget-defence-of-the-realm-029blbczr or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-armed-forces-budget-defence-of-the-realm-029blbczr
In my own little corner of the world, there are signs of Spring and the garden starting to reawaken. My partial has been delivered on time to my editor. I am working on something else while I wait for her thoughts. Paddy had a good class last Sunday. He is learning moving touch. Touch is a great command by the way. You start with a treat between your fingers and give the command touch. If the dog obeys, you give another treat from the other hand. Sometimes you have to believe that Spring will come.
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Good morning and happy Friday! Encouraged to read about Fanshawe. May we hear more good news soon.
“Touch” is a great checking-in command. What other commands has Paddy mastered?
Hello Northumberland!
Glad to "hear" You submitted Your partial. Hope Your editor loves it.
Another great roundup of articles, tho sorry to hear about a lotta it. The antisemitism from the left is really rather startling. To me anyway, former Democrat. Sorry to hear about Your Conservatives poor prospects.
Speaking of prospects, prospects of war are frightening. We're so unprepared, in the so-called free world.
But that was great news about Simon Fanshawe's appointment as rector. A bright spot, like Your flowers. Glad to hear about Paddy's class, too.
Thank You, as always, Michelle. Always appreciate it.