This is Northumberland Calling 4.7.25

The Happy 249th Independence Day edition

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

Happy 249th Independence Day!

It is an ordinary working day in Britain. When we have had parties, people do make remarks. However, I always celebrate, complete with flags which I inherited from my father. He used to festoon his WW2 jeep with them when he went to various football games.

I confidently predict the 250^th celebrations will grow and grow. It did in 1976. The US at that time was recovering from the Vietnam War and Watergate. But the bicentennial became huge. Pageants, pomp and parades with bells ringing out and cannons roaring because Americans, all American are free forever more (name that musical).

A hard left MP has formally left the Labour party intending to start a new hard left party which is pro- Palestine liberation. Sultana claims Jeremy Corbyn will co-lead the party with her. Corbyn poured doubts on that. Reform are rubbing their hands in anticipation. A hard left party would lower Labour’s vote. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/mp-zarah-sultana-quits-labour-to-form-party-with-jeremy-corbyn-gx69tpr8n or https://archive.ph/58mKv

The person who was in charge of the BBC music output during Glastonbury has stepped back while the BEEB continues to investigate why Bob Vylan was allowed a live broadcast in light of his previous remarks. The scheduling of Vylan before Kneecap should also be questioned as Glastonbury wanted to send a certain message. The police continue to investigate. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/03/lisa-nandy-not-satisfied-bbc-response-bob-vylan-glastonbury/ or https://archive.ph/7UKQN

Several supporters of Pascal Foster-Robinson, the front man for Bob Vylan claimed that he was speaking in general terms and it was pearl clutching. Piers Morgan showed the clip which demonstrated to Owen Jones, a vocal pro-Palestinian voice which demonstrated that Foster-Robinson was indeed calling for the death of every Israeli soldier and not using a metaphor. Jones looked unwell and was reduced to gibbering. https://x.com/PiersUncensored/status/1940776920267854142

The 2^nd part of the Sullivan report (read it here 433 pages: https://www.sullivanreview.uk/documents.php ) which looked at how GC academics were silenced force the Bookseller to cover the SEEN in Publishing report. It is clear from the tone that they put clothespins on their collective noses to write the article and then the editorial. However, even the editor had to admit that the Supreme Court’s decision may force a course correction and that the sales figures were far better for the Gender Critical books which had received next to no marketing. The Bookseller had hoped not to cover the SiP report (denying the oxygen of publicity) but were forced to. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/freedom-of-expression-in-publishing-undermined-by-attitudes-towards-those-with-gender-critical-views-report-claims or https://archive.is/bBJsM

The editor’s letter which was obviously written with gritted teeth and does demonstrate some of the issues highlighted. https://www.thebookseller.com/editors-letter/editors-letter/a-new-report-wants-to-be-seen-but-should-we-listen or https://archive.ph/Rc718

Alison Bailey has had a huge win. Her vet practice had refused to look after her dog because she had high profile GC views. The judge has now ruled that it is illegal to refuse goods and services to someone on account of GC views (or indeed any other protected belief). Damages will awarded at a later date. It is a fairly major case which went on under the radar. One major way of silencing those with GC views was to say goods and services should be withheld. The so-called ‘no transphobes here' so beloved of certain literary agencies for example would be deemed unlawful after this ruling. Or indeed the cancelling of booked events due to staff views as has happened to a number of GC women. https://x.com/bluskyeallison/status/1941063658303308106?s=48&t=KdZViYXCj25EVrFQVa1dxg

There is a new book out which examines the role of slavery in the Islamic world which remains ongoing today. This is a newish area of research as most of the research has been on slavery from the American or Caribbean perspective. Of course the numbers of enslaved dwarfs the Trans-Atlantic trade (among other things the time scale was far longer). This article explains about the book and its findings. The article is well worth a read. It is an aspect of history and indeed modern day life which needs to be better understood. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fiction/justin-marozzi-book-shocking-truth-slavery-islamic-world/ or https://archive.ph/31b2y

Here:

If the weather clears up, we will be having a barbeque later. I have already watched 1776 and will play some US patriotic music. The US is a beacon on a hill for many things, including political enfranchisement, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a struggle and that the US government has always been right. The world is a far better place for the US having been founded and fought for imho.

Paddy alert to the possibility of treats

Paddy joins me in wishing everyone a Happy Fourth. He doesn’t mind fireworks unlike our old Border collies who minded deeply.

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