This is Northumberland Calling 17.7.26
The trying to see the whites of their eyes edition
Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.
This has been Starmer’s last week in office. On Monday Andy Burnham will be sworn as prime minister. When I have time, I will do an article on Britian’s constitutional monarchy v the US as I suspect many are confused. The two systems chime but do not directly mirror each other. It can cause confusion on both sides of the Atlantic. Burnham blames Thatcher for all Britain’s woes, I kid you not. https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-starmer-labour-paris-tories-badenoch-farage-12593360
Starmer has elevated Sadiq Khan to the House of Lords. He will remain mayor of London. It does mean that Khan can’t somehow do an Andy Burnham (stand in by-election to acquire a seat and then unseat the sitting prime minister). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/17/sadiq-khan-terrible-mayor-no-wonder-starmer-lords/
Thankfully Bridget Philipson finally cleared her red box and the EHRC guidance is no longer draft but statutory. All the companies who have claimed that they have been waiting for it because the actual law was too hard to understand will have to implement it because a law carries more weight than guidance. It becomes statutory on 5 August 2026. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/our-work/uk-supreme-court-ruling-meaning-sex-equality-act-our-work
Unfortunately I discovered that my MP was one of the MPs who signed a performative Early Day Motion against the draft guidance (after the government had said that there was no chance of debate by the way). He appears he was unclear that the law as clarified by the Supreme Court stands no matter what the guidance says. This is worrying for a law-maker.
I discovered this because of the Amnesty International report which defamed many GC grassroot groups. Tonia Antionazzi laid an Early Day Motion condemning Amnesty International UK. After I wrote to my MP about the EDM, he wrote back that he rarely signed EDM because they were performative (see above). He has now agreed(after some toing and froing) to a meeting because I want to look him in the eye and ask why because as people will have guessed I am one of the defamed by Amnesty. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. It was a tiny ask and he couldn’t be bothered.
As the Times reports the now withdrawn briefing was not a one-off but rather part of a campaign against AI UK’s perceived political ideological opponents. Amnesty International had intervened on the side of trans woman who possessed a GRC in the FWS case. The Supreme Court disagreed with their argument. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/amnesty-chief-anti-rights-report-jk-rowling-q5mbpljsl
Amnesty International UK have now self-reported to the Charity Commission about the event as it has the potential to severely impact their income. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/16/amnesty-uk-self-reports-to-watchdog-calling-women-centre-anti-rights
The Queen is going to provide every Year 6/P6 schoolchild (so approximately 11 years old) in the UK with a book Fantastical Creatures by Katherine Rundell to celebrate her 79th birthday which is today 17 July. The books will be distributed through schools, libraries and community centres. The Queen is a keen reader and a strong supporter of the National Year of Reading. https://www.gbnews.com/royal/queen-camilla-birthday-photo-announcement
The investigation into the murder of the former MP Ann Widdecombe continues. The man currently under arrest was rearrested on Saturday under terrorism charges. This gives the police an additional seven days to question him. They are currently investigating whether it was linked to a hostile state or if it was LASIT (Leftist Anarchist Single Issue Terrorism). It is an ongoing and fast moving investigation.
The counter-terrorism have arrested someone under suspicion of working for the Iranian intelligence service. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/17/counter-terror-police-charge-spying-iran/ or https://news.sky.com/story/man-charged-with-allegedly-assisting-iran-intelligence-service-met-police-says-13564226
Here:
It is hot and dry. The bees seem to be doing well.
It is spaniel glitter season and Paddy’s ears and tail fill with burrsA
My writing continues but slowly see above.
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.
Please subscribe if you like what I write. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.
I would like to cross-post your UK vs U.S. systems essay on JiP whenever you write it.
Hello Northumberland! Good to see You again this fine Friday.
Burnham and Khan are quite a pair.
I'm glad Phillipson finally got to work.
That's shameful Amnesty defamed You and all the others. That report was truly despicable.
That's nice of the Queen.
I'm sorry about Ann Widdecombe and the terrorist.
That's great the counterterrorism group was successful.
Glad to hear the bees are doing well, and Paddy looks great.
TY, as always, Michelle. Appreciate it.