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Clarity Seeker's avatar

Don't bet on Australia getting anything right these days. Covid jailing then extreme jew hatred and now this. Maybe the sun has been blunted by all the sunscreen needed to be used down under.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

I don't bet on Australia getting this right at all. I was just amused about the daft comments made in all seriousness.

The urge to 'be kind' is v strong down under.

Like Ireland with its abortion law, their 2015 sex discrimination act was used a trojan horse. The US had Biden's executive order, plus other measures. It was a close run thing in the UK. I remain v grateful for Kemi Badenoch who really single-handedly took this on once she realised what was going on.

This week showed that Reform still does not really get the depth of anger which women have and how much this is a grassroots movement. The UK SC decision is v popular (except in limited quarters).

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Clarity Seeker's avatar

Not sure if you are aware but here in States the IN THIS HOUSE WE BELIEVE signs replaced by BE KIND signs. Love to have a maga hat wearing man ring that doorbell with a hidden camera to capture the kindness

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Michelle Styles's avatar

It doesn't surprise me.

The mantra 'be kind' is cute authoritarianism on steroids.

It is why I hope the Vance/Lammy friendship gets wide play in the US -- it is possible to find points in common, even if there are disagreements.

Honestly no one in the West should want the sort of totalitarianism the ordinary person endured in Stalin's USSR.

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Running Burning Man's avatar

I'd love to read Boswells "daft comments" or "jaw dropping utterances in court". Unfortunately, I no longer have an X account - it is designed to capture my attention and I got rid of it! Any chance you can repeat some of them in this space.

And, truly, Oz has morphed into an upside down society owe throw past ten years of so,

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Sex is not a binary concept -- the OZ Sex Discrimination Commissioner (the person charged with administering the Sex Discrimination Act.

A person may be of the female sex even if female is not the sex listed on their birth certificate and they have not gone through gender affirming surgery. -- submission to the court

Gender identity includes gender related appearance and mannerism --SDC again

A transwoman may experience direct discrimination because (if) her gender related appearance is not perceived as being sufficiently female SDC (for the hat trick)

Womanhood may be constituted by male discomfort at the male species -- submission to court.

This is Sky News presenter giving some of the background. (for a refreshing change this woman seems to get it) https://youtu.be/HGXiICW_6to?si=jAl0njJ-OQ2TuJa4

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Running Burning Man's avatar

Thanks. Goo0d grief.

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Casey Jones's avatar

Eve Barlow did a piece yesterday on a rally in which approximately 300,000 reportedly showed up in favor of "Palestinians." I'd say they're gone without even having had enough of an invasion to be noted.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Where in the UK? I don't think that many showed up. The Palestine Action rally is supposed to have up to 500.

I do think the H*mas propaganda has been effective. The Egyptian/Jordanian policy of refusing to allow Gazans out has also contributed to the terrible humanitarian crisis.

I also think H*mas should bear the largest portion of blame, but they are a death cult.

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Casey Jones's avatar

Australia!

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Ah, well as I said the propaganda has been v effective.

In the UK, the imports of Israeli produce is up significantly basically doubled. Some will march for Palestine, but heaven forfend if the elite can't get their avocado on toast or whatever.

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Casey Jones's avatar

Were there a micro scintilla of logic, there wouldn't be an issue!

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Bruce Miller's avatar

"Labour has now lost three – Louisa Haigh resigned after her criminal conviction was uncovered, Tulip Siddiq after her alleged corruption and now Rushanara Ali the renters’ champion who evicted tenants."

Quelle surprise......

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Michelle Styles's avatar

I make no comment. I'd be equally amused if it were the Conservatives... Basically I think anyone who wants to go into politics should be disqualified.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

There is a certain oddity to people who do so, I agree, but somebody must. My comment, of course was directed to the followers of the Satanic Verses all well versed in hypocrisy.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

I knew who it was directed at. There is a certain Mughal quality (nearly put Byzantine) quality to much of the politics in that region which has carried over. I do think Labour has been riding a crocodile.

I also think the Conservatives method of choosing their candidates was superior to Labour's. My Labour MP is a white male who grew up in the area, but spent his short working career in the Westminster bubble. He has managed to annoy many of the farmers in the area. It is a rural constituency and most of the population does have some connection to farming.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

How many of the "Labour"ites actually had a job working with their hands? My guess - most are university educated twits who would recoil at the notion.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

This is part of the problem and indeed part of the reason for the rise in things like Reform. Labour is v metropolitan/student union politics centric now. It is interesting to see that despite Labour's love of identity politics, they have always had white males as their leader while the Conservatives have had a slightly difference mix (you can start with Disraeli for ethnic minority Conservative leaders).

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Bruce Miller's avatar

If the Left didn't have hypocrisy, they'd have no animating principles, at all.

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jt's avatar

Hello Northumberland! Good to see You this fine Friday.

I'm looking forward to the guidance by the EHRC. Glad to see they are following the law. And I thought it was interesting they used AI to analyze the responses. I, too, hope Linzi Smith gets a settlement.

Three Labour ministers. It's a shame.

I hope those in the Palestine Action get what's coming to them.

Douglas Murray is great.

I'm glad the muslim teacher lost her suit at the employment tribunal.

Paddy looks great. And I wish You luck on Your writing.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

So pleased to see you as well JT.

I wish the institutions would act before the guidance as Baroness Falkner has said -- the guidance will obey the law and protect single spaces. The need for 'guidance' has been used as a delaying tactic. I think they were hoping things like Haynes (the transwoman pool player now banned from female matches arranged by the English blackball pool federation) would go the other way, but honestly the arguments were incoherent.

I like Linzi and hope she gets a settlement as well. Her win against the Northumberland Police Force continues to have repercussions with yet more police forces pulling out of Pride celebrations.

Pride in Surrey have v belatedly decided to do a review of their safeguarding practices btw. You may recall that their founder was convicted of paedophilia recently. Many of his mates remain in key positions.

Douglas Murray and indeed Michael Gove who is the current editor/publisher of The Speccie are great. They stood firm where many journalists and much mainstream media crumpled.

And from your lips to God's ears re Palestine Action.

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pineappleshark's avatar

Tickle v Giggle has been nuts from the start! I saw Sal say she felt hopeful for the first time in a long while. I really hope she gets a win for herself and Australian women.

Are they still taking a knee at the start of Premier League games? I haven't watched in a couple of years. The vibe shifted, as they say, here in the US and watching people still go through the motions on this silly thing is too embarrassing. I don’t understand why everyone feels the need to copy weird internal American politics. It's kind of sad.

Paddy is just so cute! How nice of your daughter to pay tribute 🤣.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Yes Paddy is thoroughly spoilt. All the children pay tribute when they come home.

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

I learned some stuff today. The labor government seems to be, or I guess was, full of Islamic women. Only one of three formers seems English.

And boy between Muslims taking over and women still having to fight for their spaces both physical and intellectual, it seems a huge exhausting mess

I’ll take central Ohio

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Because of Labour's strongholds in some places and its policy of having 50/50 splits on sexes to increase representation, yes it does have a number of Muslim women. They supported Starmer and were rewarded with cabinet positions. Muslims have traditionally voted Labour. Many Hindus vote Conservative (I believe).

Siddiq and Ali I believe are of Bangladeshi origin. Again it is a huge block vote for Labour. There is a good machine.

Several of the Muslim women in cabinet really held their ground and said -- no to the trans activists. Mahmood who is justice secretary for example. Many Muslim women want single sex care in hospitals, for example.

And indeed women like Sarah Khan are leading the fight against Islamist extremism in the UK. Lots of nuances.

This is where the Vances are apparently staying after they finish with Lammy: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/08/08/the-sprawling-cotswolds-manor-house-hosting-jd-vance/ or https://archive.ph/Q8fYp

He has obviously decided not to holiday in central Ohio, even though I am certain there are many lovely spots to do so.

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

Well chipping Norton certainly seems like a welcoming place.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Chipping Norton is lovely.

Years ago, we used to rent a cottage at Snowshill for our holidays. Lots of lovely gardens and places to visit.

The Cotswolds are a v chocolate box pretty.

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