This is Northumberland Calling 16.2.24

The You need to be able to call out Islamist extremism edition

Hello America (particularly Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling

On Wednesday, the SNP had what is called an Opposition Day where they are in control of the motions put before the House of Commons. The object of the exercise is to generally humiliate the other larger parties, particularly as an election looms. In this case the SNP chose as their weapon a very general motion on a ceasefire in Gaza. The convention is that if the government puts forward an amendment that one is the one chosen to be debated, not one of the other parties, particularly not the largest opposition party.

The SNP’s purpose in triggering this debate was not to get the UK to support a ceasefire, but rather to humiliate Labour as they face deep divisions on the subject.  The Conservatives were rubbing their hands with glee. However, the Speaker of the House who used to be a Labour MP had conversations with Starmer, and ignoring advice from the Clerk of the Commons who keeps the rulebook, decided to break with decades of precedent and allow a Labour amendment on the subject as well.  (NB Speakers of the House are supposed to be impartial and always stand as an Independent at any General Election and the convention is that they are re-elected unopposed)

This was a blatant attempt to save the Labour leadership. Cue a mass uproar. Sir Lindsay Hoyle has now apologised for his actions, stating that he put MPs safety above the rules of the House of Commons. In stating this, he made matters worse imho because he has openly implied that Extremist Islamists now control what is and what is not debated in the House of Commons. By all means put the proper safeguards in place, but don’t curtail debates because of threats. As the current Home Secretary said this morning – the only thing MPs should fear is the ballot box.

There have been calls for Hoyle’s  resignation but thus far he is standing firm. Sunak criticized the Speaker’s actions but did not call for him to resign. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/02/22/rishi-sunak-lee-anderson-lindsay-hoyle-gaza-vote-labour/  or https://archive.is/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/02/22/rishi-sunak-lee-anderson-lindsay-hoyle-gaza-vote-labour/

Also on Wednesday evening, someone projected the generally accepted to be a call for the destruction of Israel  – ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free’ on to the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben. The police are apparently investigating as it is illegal to project on anything on the Crown Estate without prior permission after standing by and just allowing it to happen. Several of the MPs have stated (with good cause) that the projection was an attempt to intimidate and influence the vote with the police standing idly by. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/22/police-stood-by-palestine-slogan-projected-on-parliament/ or https://archive.is/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/22/police-stood-by-palestine-slogan-projected-on-parliament/

Suella Braverman the former Home Secretary who was sacked because of her stance about extremists Islamists being given a soft ride has written an op-ed in the Telegraph about the gravity of the situation.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/22/islamists-are-bullying-britain-into-submission/ or https://archive.is/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/22/islamists-are-bullying-britain-into-submission/

If we can’t name the nature of the threat or attempt to obscure it by focussing on something else, there will be no chance of tackling it. Something William Shawcross who did a report on the subject for the government last year  made clear earlier this week. 75% of MI5 cases now have to do with Islamist Extremism… https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/21/islamist-extremism-not-being-effectively-tackled/ or https://archive.is/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/21/islamist-extremism-not-being-effectively-tackled/

Because I live in a rural area, I found this interview with the soon to be ex president of National Farmers Union instructive. Minnette Batters was the first woman president and went into farming to prove she could. Personally I have never quite understood the narrative that women can’t be farmers as there are so many examples of women being farmers in US history and widows running farms but it seems to be a narrative in the UK, despite the history of the Land Girls and of course generations of women running farms in difficult circumstances. <eyeroll>  She makes very good points about the problems with farming as well as putting a case against rewilding etc (without seeming to understand  that is not an either or choice and that previous subsidies required farmers to do something to the land, rather than allowing marginally productive land to be used for ‘environmental purposes) .  Sometimes it feels like both sides are talking over each other. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/minette-batters-nfu-farming-union-rishi-sunak-interview-8ztg62zhx or https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/minette-batters-nfu-farming-union-rishi-sunak-interview-8ztg62zhx

Stanford released research this week showing that there are subtle differences between male and female brains. They are not saying when these differences occurred, merely that they are observable. It is hoped that it might help unlock the puzzle over why such a higher percentage of women get Alzheimer’s. It is also one more nail in the coffin of the Bikini Medicine Assumption. AI was used to help discern the very subtle differences. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/02/men-women-brain-organization-patterns.html

There is a row in the UK about trans identified men breastfeeding (after taking many drugs to do it). The study cited is based on one man and has a multitude of problems. Mili Hill is leading the charge to get UK media to actually report the situation accurately, rather than to blindly accept assurances that this is fine and should be encouraged. As she has pointed out “The key thing that people need to know is this: of the five studies cited in the NHS letter that allegedly supported the idea that ‘trans milk was just as good as women’s milk’, ONLY ONE study was on male milk. ALL the other studies were on lactation in females. And the one study on male milk was on ONE man, and the samples he provided were unsupervised.” Mary Wakefield in the Spectator has done a good piece on the subject. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/when-trans-rights-trump-babies-rights/ or https://archive.ph/2v26b

John Lewis facing a go woke, go broke moment has axed its planned exhibition on its LGBTQI+ employees. John Lewis which also runs Waitrose is a store where middle Britain shops (think Target or Macys). No one wants them to be edgy. They just really want to be able to buy households in peace without having contentious political beliefs being shoved down their throats. Or indeed having charities which are currently being investigated for child abuse and have been implicated in the GIDS scandal being promoted.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/19/john-lewis-axes-controversial-lgbt-exhibition-to-protect-st/ or https://archive.is/ptMig

Paddy with his beloved elephant (now minus a ear and a leg)

Here, Paddy had an excellent class  -- managed to walk to heel (off lead) for half a lap. Progress. He also decided that he liked going in the tunnel while he was doing the blind retrieve (the dummy was actually on the other side of the tunnel). Unfortunately he indulged in spaniel humour when a lab was attempting to do his blind retrieve – pulled the lead out of my relaxed hand and sprinted down to the tunnel which he went through and poked his nose out at the lab in a sort of ‘Ta Da!’ moment. The lab barked his annoyance, jumped over the tunnel and returned the dummy to his owner. Shamefaced, I collected Paddy but he appeared unrepentant .  At home, he has worked out – inside means time to go in the house. He has finally figured out that he can play ball out back as well as out front. Spaniels are very contextual.

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