September 5th, 2023
The UK really is becoming depressing, with Rishi Sunak constantly demonstrating that even though he has a brain the size of a planet, he doesn’t understand the planet that we live on. He continuously comes across as aloof and distanced.
Last week my little town was host to Radio 4s Any Questions programme, with an interesting panel comprising Carla Denyer, joint leader of the Greens; Alice Thomson, journalist with the Times; John Glen, Cabinet minister and chief secretary to the Treasury; Luke Pollard, shadow Armed Forces Minister.
It was a good spread of views, with Carla Denyer being the only one too verbose and almost robotically reading their manifesto in response to every question. It was an interesting discussion with a vocal audience not afraid to vent their responses. John Glen, the Conservative minister, had a poor hand to defend and was subject to extensive boos, as he couldn’t really defend the Government’s views. This was in a strongly Conservative voting constituency. I was going to devote this letter to that broadcast but there is so much happening in broken Britain that I though I would just highlight a few of the depressing incidents that are becoming common place in the UK (or as Katie Hopkins calls it in her own colourful way “Batshit-bonkers Britain”).
Today the largest local government body in Europe declared bankruptcy. One of the major causes being a debt of £760 million to pay equal-pay deficiencies. They had previously paid out over £1 billion over a similar claim. They declared a section 114 notice stating that the expected expenditure is likely to exceed its resources. Yes, you’re right: it’s a Labour-controlled entity. Birmingham City Council is officially bust.
Disinformation correspondent and senior journalist in the BBC’s new fact-checking department, Marianna Spring, lied on her CV, stating experience that she hadn’t had.
It was reported Ms Spring claimed to have worked alongside BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford covering the ‘perception of Russia’, when it appears she had not.
In true BBC fashion, it made no comment, but a senior journalist leapt to her defence.
The BBC refused to comment on the claims but this morning Radio 4 and Sounds head of communications, Philly Spurr, told one X (Twitter) user who had called for Ms Spring to be sacked: “You’ve sent five consecutive tweets saying this now.
“How is ‘Be kind to each other!’ on your profile working out for you?”
Daily Mail
I seem to remember being kind used by someone else recently.
So it’s OK for a senior in the fact-checking department to tell fibs on her CV (although not the one submitted to the BBC, but to news site Coda Story a few years ago)?
The Met Police is in the early days of trying to alter its procedures so that the Chief Constable has the right to fire recalcitrant officers without going through endless tribunals and appeals. This as another of its officers appeared in court on rape and other assault charges.
Talking of the Met, they have been involved in a manhunt for Daniel Khalife, an ex-squaddy who was thrown out of the army after being accused of treason, espionage and anything else they could throw in. He was being held on remand in Wandsworth Prison until his trial, scheduled for November. He disappeared! Wandsworth is a category B prison and questions are being asked why he was sent there and not to a category A top security prison, such as Belmarsh, which is more in keeping with the charges levelled against him. He was working in the kitchen, which is a job reserved for the most trustworthy of prisoners, not someone who is charged with serious offences against the state.
As more details emerge, it seems that he strapped himself underneath a food delivery truck and was driven out into Wandsworth. Police have found the strap that he used and a witness has come forward stating that they saw him emerge from under the truck at Wandsworth roundabout before disappearing into Wandsworth town centre. Police say that they are pursuing several lines of inquiry, such as he received assistance from within the prison, or it was planned externally by the nation which he is alleged to be spying for (Iran as it happens). The search has ended with Khalife found on the 9th and back behind bars.
Rishi Sunak is promoting the energy bill to provide regulations and compliance guidelines for homeowners to achieve net zero. Without going into detail (it’s 379 pages long with 144 amendments) it contains clause 248, titled Sanctions.
Under section two there are civil penalties, up to £15,000 for not doing the right thing on net zero.
It’s even worse in clause and subsection three – energy performance regulations may provide for criminal offences with imprisonment for up to 12 months.
GB News
This energy bill has the support of Labour, but Sunak is facing revolt from the Conservatives, with nearly 200 MPs, including some heavyweights, vehemently opposing the draconian measures. This again emphasises Rishi Sunak’s lack of political understanding and ability to read the room. He really is out of touch.
The whole country seems to be slipping out of control and I haven’t even started on the economy, along with associated issues such as immigration, inflation and interest rates. Katie Hopkins’s phrase becomes more relevant as the days pass – “Batshit-crazy Britain”.
