This is Northumberland Calling 28.3.25

The wheels of justice grind slow edition

Hello America (particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland calling

The wheels of justice do grind slow in the UK but they are finally starting to grind the big fine.

A 7.7 on the Richter scale earthquake has struck Myanmar. I suspect given the poverty in that country, the results are going to be devastating. https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/earthquake-bangkok-thailand-myanmar-today-latest-news-rdchx8t3r

First grinding is the very welcome news about the University of Sussex being fined £585k for their trans and non-binary policy. It is apparently merely a taster as unless other unis alter their policies, they will be receiving even larger fines. The Office for Students only has jurisdiction in England and thus Scottish unis can continue suppressing free speech in this way. Sussex say they will appeal… It is huge vindication for Kathleen Stock but it has taken many years. The process becomes punishment. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/kathleen-stock-case-shows-ofs-means-business-free-speech

This is the Guardian article on the Uni of Sussex appeal. It will be interesting to see what happens and what they are trying to argue. That the trans and non-binary policy was not actually a formal policy even though it was enforced like one? https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/27/university-of-sussex-legal-action-free-speech-fine-sasha-rosenei

Big Ange Rayner is ploughing ahead with her Workers Rights bill which could be very chilling on free speech, because it gives employees the right to sue if they overhear something offensive. Lord Young of Acton (Toby Young as was) made his maiden speech in the House of Lords on this subject. The Free Speech Union which Young founded actively oppose as does UK Hospitality as they do not wish to employ banter police. The EHRC has waded in and said that more research needs to be done. The government says that ‘upsetting remarks’ do not fall under the definition of harassment. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/28/rayners-banter-crackdown-is-threat-to-free-speech-warns-ehr/ or https://archive.ph/0G4Cp

Second grinding: Nigel Farage and NatWest settled for a substantial sum in the debanking row of 2023. Nat West did apologise. The threat of criminal proceedings has been lifted. A good result. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/26/nigel-farage-gets-natwest-payout-over-debanking-row/ or https://archive.ph/SNQxD

The Reform civil war continues with the independent KC saying that there was indeed a case for Rupert Lowe to answer regarding his bullying of female staff. Lowe and indeed the KC objected to the report being released a day early, apparently several names were unredacted. Reform was unrepentant. When does ‘banter’ cross the line? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/25/credible-evidence-reform-rupert-lowe-harassed-women/ or https://archive.ph/y62Yx

Third grinding: A damning report into the NHS Scotland found that it prioritized financial targets over patient safety and care, particularly in Accident and Emergency care. In other words, bureaucracy targeting was the most important aspect. The Scottish government said that this sort of culture was unacceptable and the NHS Scotland was expected to implement the findings in full. The report demonstrates that the consultants were right to complain. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/nhs-scotland-greater-glasgow-clyde-damning-report-8tq0sfbkm or https://archive.ph/eqQIq

Prince Harry quit the charity he founded to support children in Lesotho, citing problems. Apparently the new chair was dictatorial and put the charity into an unsafe financial position. The new chair is now suing for ‘racism’ and suggested the charity was a ‘vanity project’ for Harry and not focused on delivering. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/prince-harry-sentebale-charity-chair-dictatorial-style-lc55f0gpl or https://archive.ph/SFpxF

King Charles was admitted to hospital with regards to his ongoing cancer treatment on Thursday and released early Friday after observation. He continues his recovery in a positive direction, apparently. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/03/27/king-charles-cancels-engagements-taken-to-hospital/ or https://archive.ph/8tcG7

Jeremy Clarkson is now filming the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm. It will feature Prince William in one episode. Apparently Prince George is a fan but thinks Kaleb should learn to mind his language. Kaleb admitted that he does swear too much but is really proud of the multi-generational appeal of the show. Prince William is now patron of a charity which supports farmers’ mental health because running a farm can be a soul destroying business. Most farms in the UK are family run. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/prince-george-clarksons-farm-william-xnllj3xgw or https://archive.ph/0I1Sp

I did spend last Saturday morning filling in my takedown notice for Meta which illegally used some of my books in the training of their AI. They used LibGen, a Russian based pirate site to get their hands on a large quantity of data including academic papers. LibGen has ignored all fines and efforts to shut it down. There are now over 30 lawsuits in relation to the scraping of texts protected by copyright by AI companies seeking to maximise their profit. You can see the latest from the Authors Guild. https://authorsguild.org/advocacy/artificial-intelligence/

Britain will go to British Summer Time on Sunday which is also Mothering Sunday. The UK had a Mother’s Day before the US adopted the second Sunday in May back in 1908 (it was a determined campaign by one woman to honour her mother who happened to be born in May). The UK’s version relates to Lent and when people used to return to their Mother church. They often used it as an excuse to visit their actual mother as well.

Here my latest Secret Princess for the Warrior is now officially out.

A dramatic, enemies-to-lovers Viking tale between a princess and a brooding warrior!

Born to be enemies

Sworn to become lovers?

When Viking Karn finds himself shipwrecked on enemy territory, even his razor-sharp, battle-hardened instincts could never have foreseen being rescued by tantalizing maiden Maer…

Maer is stunned to learn that Karn hails from the kingdom that was once her home. And that his father was responsible for the brutal end to her family’s reign, forcing Maer to become a princess-in-hiding! She should hate Karn but instead finds herself irresistibly drawn to the brooding warrior. He could be the key to her return, but can she trust him with her feelings—and her royal secret?

If anyone in America happens to go into a Barnes and Noble or indeed independent bookstore and sees the book, I’d be grateful for a photo of it in the wild. It is not out in print in the UK because they are only putting Regency in print in the UK. (Needless to say I disagree with the decision).

With my next book, my editor sent me an apology from the Art Dept (a first in 20 years!) as they did not have a male model with corkscrew blonde curls (I had put a photo in with a male model with that sort of hair!) but they are going to do their best to get a cover which speaks to the book. I was very touched to be given an apology. I have to put in a dedication and a Dear Reader note so I suspect that book is now done and dusted (out in Dec 25 apparently).

It is very much spring in Northumberland with four seasons in an hour. The bees have been flying. The daffodils are in bloom and it is currently hailing.

Paddy and Hercules are enjoying being inside. Paddy does not care for hail stones.

Hopefully you enjoy what you read here. I always enjoy the comments as they do make me think.

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