This is Northumberland Calling 7.7.23

Free speech means charities can be criticized editions

In the UK, LGB can organize without the T. Mermaids fails in its attempt to get rival charity LGB Alliance  shut down. Basically they did not have legal standing to bring the case.  The justices decided that as the law did not allow Mermaids to question the Charity Commission’s decision on the basis that they were not  affected, Mermaids had no business bringing the case. This was the latest in a long list of failures for the high-profile Good Law Project which crowd funds to bring cases it considers to have merit. This blog documents its many failures and makes the point that it was the GLP who crowdfunded the case, not Mermaids. https://labourpainsblog.com/2023/07/06/good-law-project-rebel-alliance/

Paragraphs 66 and 73 of the actual judgement are particularly good about free speech and that no charity should expect to be immune from criticism. The era of ‘No Debate’ and screams about bigotry etc for simple mild criticism has well and truly ended. NB: The Mermaids charity remains under investigation from the Charity Commission on a separate matter to do with safeguarding. https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukftt/grc/2023/563

Under orders from the director of the V&A, Tristram Hunt, the Young  V&A (formerly known as the Museum of Childhood) has removed certain age inappropriate books from its giftshop. The Young  V&A caters for those under 14 and the books were aimed at 14 -18. Certain members of the LGBTQI+ lobby are unhappy. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/06/young-v-and-a-removes-age-inappropriate-lgbt-books/ or https://archive.is/X5SSS

It turns out that Biden wants Ursula Von der  Leyen  to be the new head of NATO. Von der Leyen who is currently Head of the EU, famously as the German Defence Minister had the German Army training with broomsticks while she concentrated on opening nurseries. She is also close to those who enacted the German policy of Russian appeasement. Biden is apparently annoyed that Ben Wallace and Britain decided to train Ukrainian pilots on the F16 without his expressed permission. Sometimes Biden forgets that Britain is an ally, not the 51^st state. (NB that sentence could be shortened to Sometimes Biden forgets and left there)  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/06/joe-biden-must-not-want-ukraine-to-win/ or https://archive.is/QEKgz

King Charles and Queen Camilla had their Scottish coronation on Wednesday where they received the ‘Honours of Scotland’. The Scottish crown jewels were rediscovered by Sir Walter Scott in 1818. They had been placed in an oaken trunk, and the room walled up in 1707. Scott got permission from the Prince Regent to see if he could find them and duly did. They are normally displayed at Edinburgh Castle.  The Duchess of Rothesay as the Princess of Wales is known in Scotland wore Saltire blue for the occasion. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/07/05/king-charles-coronation-honour-scotland-live-updates/  or https://archive.is/6hjFm

Vikings resurgent? The Orkney council is exploring if it can break with Scotland and be returned to Norway. The Orkneys famously were part of Margaret of Denmark’s dowry when she married James III of Scotland in 1469.  They do not much care for how Scotland is currently being governed.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/02/orkney-considers-leaving-uk-becoming-norway-territory/  or https://archive.is/9hoEn

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It turns out that despite not finding anything offensive in To the Lighthouse, Woolf’s publishers have decided to put a trigger warning on, noting that the work was written sometime ago and may contain ideas which reflect the times in which Woolf wrote.  I’d rather thought checking the copyright date would be sufficient but obviously I was mistaken. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/01/virginia-woolf-to-the-lighthouse-trigger-warning-vintage/  or https://archive.is/GYOXs

The youngest son of Duke of Northumberland has decided to cash in his inheritance early and is selling a 9,500 acre estate in Northumberland which has been in the family for over 700 years. He wants to move down South and start a career. Many years ago when the present Duke’s brother died, part of the relief was that the present Duke and his Duchess loved Northumberland and wanted to develop it as a destination (they have) but obviously their youngest does not feel this way. Certain locals believe they should have had the opportunity to buy it first.  The estate in question does have some stunning countryside including the Simonside Hills. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/duke-of-northumberland-s-son-puts-entire-9-500-acre-estate-up-for-sale-rc2tg27z3 or https://archive.is/NH6Cq

Jane Austen’s music book has been rediscovered on a distant relation’s bookshelf. It will go on display at Chawton House, Austen’s former home. It had previously been at Chawton in 1978…  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/06/jane-austen-missing-music-book-found-chawton-house/  or https://archive.is/tzIdG

Finally the photo of mystery of three little girls and a doll on the Kindertransport has been solved and all identities of the three evacuees at Liverpool Lime Street Station are now known.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/03/mystery-kindertransport-girls-picture-solved-after-80-years/ or https://archive.is/XiCte