This is Northumberland Calling 24.4.26
The judgement of Starmer edition
Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.
The scandal which is the Mandelson appointment appears to be growing. Various civil servants, including the sacked Olly Robbins who approved the appointment and Cat Little who uncovered the file appeared. Both showed why they are civil servants. Little in particular said as little as she possibly could,, all with a smile on her face and expressions of regret that she couldn’t be more helpful. The chair of the committee, Emily Thornberry hates Mandelson and loathes Starmer. She is Corbynite Labour and was supposed to be Labour’s Attorney General until Starmer appoint his close friend Richard Hermer instead, but she does seem to be enjoying the spectacle of the ‘dead bodies’ floating past, including lobbying a few hand grenades at the water. Next Tuesday will be Sir Philip Barton who had Robbins’ role during the crucial weeks of Mandelson’s appointment and Morgan McSweeney who ran Starmer’s office until he was sacked. McSweeney famously had his telephone stolen and thus all the text messages have disappeared. https://www.thetimes.com/article/28871c79-5789-40af-96b1-14217e3b911f?shareToken=d76abceabd8fddade132ffc254f4010e
Robbins’ testimony had several bombs including that Starmer sought to appoint Matthew Doyle, his former director of communications to an ambassadorship. Doyle was exposed as a friend of convicted sexual pervert. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/04/24/labour-insiders-reveal-inertia-as-starmer-nears-exit/ or https://archive.ph/aMRKN
Starmer has made a third dubious appointment — Richard Hermer to Attorney General. Hermer has never served in parliament but Starmer gave him a peerage so that he could become Attorney General. The Telegraph have been busy revealing what Hermer knew about the Al-Sweady affair which was a fraudulent attempt to get the MoD to settle claims from Iraqis. The disgraced solicitor was convicted of fraud relating to the incident and did jail time. This gives chapter and verse about Phil Shiner and what he did. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Shiner
Hermer was working on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis for the other firm involved. By working on that basis, no cab rank principle was invoked (no one can make a barrister work free, it must be an active choice), thus it was Hermer’s active choice. He also attempted to charge the MoD over the odds for his work. He continued to work on the case even after he knew the case was most likely bogus and he might be ‘professionally embarrassed. He does have questions to answer.
And Starmer who had some early involvement in the case and had to have known of Hermer’s direct participation does have questions to answer about why this man was appointed as Attorney General, given his known hostility to the British Armed Forces and active participation in the case. Hermer was not a member of parliament and Starmer elavated him to the House of Lord so that he could undertake his current role. There is a convention that most of the cabinet is in the House of Commons, i.e. sitting MPs. If they are in the House of Lords, it tends to be because they have lost their seat and their expertise is required. In short what Starmer did with Hermer is unusual, particularly as Labour is supposed to be opposed to cronyism. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/23/revealed-hermers-excessive-fees-for-iraq-witch-hunt/ or https://archive.ph/6gzzI
As a result of the emails, Hermer has been reported to the Bar Standards Board by the Conservatives and the Lords standards commission by Farage. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/23/hermer-misconduct-bar-standards-board-veterans-witch-hunt/ or https://archive.ph/eajfq
Nick Timothy’s letter to the BSB explaining the referral.
Sharron Davies and Tracy Edwards are taking various sporting bodies including Parkrun to court over their refusal to protect the female category. Parkrun which bills itself as a ‘fun run’ does have categories and people are aware of who finishes first etc. No one is saying that trans identifying males should not compete, merely that they should compete in a male category as they are not female. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2026/04/23/sharron-davies-threatens-parkrun-with-legal-action-trans/ or https://archive.ph/2pHeR
Another day, and more convictions for rape by asylum seekers – this case was in Brighton and it was a horrific gang rape. It is a betrayal of hospitality (amongst other things). The Muslim religion emphasizes the importance of hospitality and the obligations it places on guests as well as hosts. https://hibamagazine.com/hospitality-in-islam/ Too often to my mind we speak of the duties of the host country and not enough of the guests. If you have been given shelter in a country, you have a duty to not abuse it through criminal acts. Unsurprisingly most cultures have this rule. Kemi Badenoch said: “There are people who are taking our country for a ride, are coming here trying to claim asylum, which is for genuine refugees, when really they come here to do harm to others.” https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/three-illegal-immigrants-guilty-of-brighton-beach-gang-rape-h03zhh00z or https://archive.ph/Hje80
It was the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth this week. The king put out a video celebrating the life of his late mother. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/04/21/king-charles-queen-elizabeth-100th-birthday-tribute/ or https://archive.ph/zXmOj
It was also Prince Louis’s birthday on the 23rd (which is Shakespeare birthday and St George’s Day) St George’s Day is getting more recognition. Kemi Badenoch released a lovely video extolling the virtues of England.
Here:
Last weekend, I was in Dublin visiting my daughter and attending the Rest is History live lecture on the Titanic. (Yes I have listened to the podcast series but it was great to see Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook live – they did emphasize the point that in the US, it is seen as an act of hubris and in the UK, particularly at the time, it is seen as a glorious failure, namely that people behaved well in dire circumstances). At the lecture, I witnessed an unusual phenomenon – a queue for the men’s and none for the women’s at the interval. I had not thought the gender imbalance was that great but obviously it was. Despite no merchandise stall, the lecture was worth seeing and of course everyone there was a Friend of the Show. If you haven’t listened to the Margaret Thatcher episodes, they are great. There will be more WWI as well as the history of wine, and the Mona Lisa coming. My daughter had bonus points for managing to secure a taxi within a minute of exiting the lecture theatre.
We also went to Powerscourt
which National Geographic named the 3rd best garden in the world. Many films, including Olivier’s Henry V, have been filmed there. The rhododendrons and camellias were out. The pet cemetery was sweet. The tearooms do a good coffee and scone.
My daughter also treated me to afternoon tea at Lord Mayor’s Lounge at the Shelbourne Hotel. https://theshelbourne.com/the-lord-mayors-lounge/ It is an institution (during the Easter Rising, the ladies who take tea braved the police barriers for their cakes and scones.) If you can’t finish the cakes, they will pack them up in a box for you. I had seen the boxes being carried as we arrived and had assumed the women had been to some sort of fancy baby shower but no, it was simply groups of women from the previous sitting. The gender imbalance tilted towards women.
Paddy had a great time with my husband but was pleased to see me on my return. On Monday when I came from dealing with the car’s puncture, he decided to sit on me as if to say – you mustn’t go away again.
My writing continues. I visited Dublinia which is dedicated the Viking and medieval finds from Dublin for inspiration.
It is very much stuck in the late 1970s and early 80s with the mannequins and noises but it does help bring the periods to life.
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
Please subscribe if you like what I write. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.
Hello Northumberland! Good to see You again this very fine Friday morning.
The Mandelson affair won't go away. Sir Keir's time may be short. But will the replacement be worse?
That Shriner sure was shameful. Seems like Hermer and the cronyism is too. I'm glad to see he's been reported to the barrister's watchdog BSB and the House of Lords' standards commissioner.
I'm glad to see the work of Sharron Davies and Tracy Edwards. They're great.
The rape conviction is too little too late, IMV.
Queen Elizabeth II was great too. Kemi's video was also.
I'm glad You got to the Rest is History lecture with Your daughter and Powerscourt and the Lord Mayor's Lounge.
Paddy looks great, as always. Wishing You great luck in the writing. And, as always, TY Michelle. Great post.
The Muslim religion emphasizes the importance of hospitality and the obligations it places on guests as well as hosts.....
Sure before they cut off your head. Or rape you. Let's stop lying about Islam, shall we?