This is Northumberland Calling 2.12.22

Free speech is one of FDR's four freedoms edition

ON free speech Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie comes out swinging and shows Zoe Williams really has no idea about debate. Of course there is freedom speech and the Guardian’s view of what that entails. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/nov/28/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-bbc-reith-lecture-freedom-truth-trans-rights

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0dhrlhm/the-reith-lectures-2022-the-four-freedoms-1-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-freedom-of-speech is her actual speech and people should listen to it and heed its warnings. It is the first of four speeches about the four freedoms which FDR articulated in 1941. The remaining 3 speeches will be released each Wednesday at 9 am and if they are good as this one, will be essential listening for all

This is the BBC article about the speech: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63797087

The former Women’s Officer for the Oxford Union has been made to apologise for her remarks defending the role as they were apparently ‘transphobic’. This is her apology: “The comments I made in the article contribute to a bio-essentialist, narrow-minded narrative of what being a woman is, including the prioritisation of women over minorities. I cannot apologise enough for the damage and hurt I have caused the trans community.” Bio-essentialism is the belief that biology plays a larger role in determining human psychology than social , environmental or economic factors. It used to be called simply biology in case anyone wondered. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3a918a08-70d8-11ed-a188-d2cb771901d6?shareToken=40e37ce0cf79802bb9a95623fe8d8895

The late Queen’s former Head Girl, Lady Susan Hussey has been forcibly retired after she repeatedly questioned a woman from Hackney about where did she really come from during a reception about violence against women. The activist posted an account of the conversation online. Lady Susan Hussey is 83 and had served the royal household for 60 years. The entire mess has blown up and it would appear that various people are trying to widen the debate from one elderly lady being rude and perhaps a bit imperious to a guest who was in African dress to the entire institution. Lady Susan is supposed to have broken by the experience. The other woman has been making the rounds of various television studios, telling her story and continuing to front her charity which is supposed to help Black women only who suffer from domestic violence (apparently originally funded by BLM). https://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/1704197/royal-family-racism-ngozi-fulani-susan-hussey-meghan-comment?s=09#conversation-wrapper

Spectator columnist Petronella Wyatt’s defence of Lady Susan Hussey ( (NB long time courtiers are often ‘retired at the start of a new reign) https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-defence-of-lady-susan-hussey/ 

Scotland continues its insistence on ‘no debate’ with Nicola Sturgeon speaking at a conference on zero tolerance of male violence. People were asked not to bring up the safe space for females issue or indeed the gender self -id bill (ie actual censorship rather than self-censorship) https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-silently-sidelined-by-ban-on-discussing-single-sex-spaces-pwbbm72vm

Nicola Sturgeon denied the UN Representative on Women and Violence had any standing to criticise the gender identity bill. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/un-experts-fears-on-gender-law-reform-brushed-aside-by-sturgeon-nj0tlngnd

Nicola Sturgeon continues to deny any responsibility for the Cal Mac ferry fiasco. No ferries yet delivered. Recently released papers show she should have known more than she claims to. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ferry-contract-needed-work-sturgeon-was-told-tf297pqsq

A Roman villa and spa were uncovered on a Rutland farm. Possibly the oldest known barn conversion and certainly a find of some note. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roman-villa-and-spa-found-on-rutland-farm-thfp0pchg

And finally it has been just announced that Elton John will be 2023’s headliner for Glastonbury. It will be the first time he plays at the iconic festival and his last UK live appearance (apparently). https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elton-john-glastonbury-2023-line-up-headliner-final-uk-show-6bvlfwbj5

I did get my manuscript into my editor. She has promised to get back to me by the 15th. I suspect I shall be doing revisions over the holiday period. Such is the life of a writer.