28 October 2026
My apologies for the hiatus in producing my Letter from the North. I have been bogged down with ’flu, writing peer reviews, writing a couple of papers and then having to do a spell overseas. Things are now back to normal, whatever that is in the West Country.
First of all, a disclaimer: Nothing I say in the following piece is to be interpreted, or imply, that I in any way support acts of violence, race hatred, discrimination or exhortation to use anything other than a peaceful expression of one’s views.
One day I will pen a letter which is made up and totally satirical in content. I would defy anyone to make the distinction between the satirical piece and the real letter describing real events.
For the avoidance of doubt the following are all true.
Oxo cubes now have security tags in supermarkets and lollipop crossing ladies are now wearing body cameras.
One in four non EU migrants are claiming benefits in the UK.
Fly tipping is now at epidemic proportions – thought to be connected to extremely high levels of charges for disposal at council-run tips. Offenders can now be arrested without warrant: powers of arrest having been granted to environmental officers. Based on current actions being taken by these officers, this can now apply to dropping cigarette ends on the pavement or pouring left-over coffee down a drain.
David Lammy, a government minister and living proof of the Peter principle, appeared on Radio 4 explaining that the UK had sent tycoons to the gulf to support the Gulf states. Of course it was RAF typhoons that he sent, although given the state of the UK armed forces supplying tycoons might have been more useful.
The Gulf war is now causing a shortage of cricket balls in England.
Two people with connection to Iran were arrested at the nuclear submarine base in Faslane Scotland; we are awaiting updates on this, which happened months ago.
Met. police staff association chief is on corruption charges.
The leader of Britain’s biggest staff association for rank-and-file police officers was arrested this morning over corruption allegations.
Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) chief executive Mukund Krishna was detained by City of London Police on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.
Officers also arrested two other PFEW national board members aged 51 and 55 for the same offence following a major financial investigation over the past year.
Former management consultant Mr Krishna received a total annual remuneration of £701,100 for each of 2024 and 2025, including a 100 per cent bonus for both years.
Detective Superintendent James Halkett, of the City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit, said today: 'The City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit are leading a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud made against three individuals connected to the national Police Federation of England and Wales.
‘A 46-year-old man from Surrey, a 51-year-old man from Wales and a 55-year-old man from Bristol were all arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.’ The force said its unit has been conducting the investigation into allegations of fraud by abuse of position contrary to section four of the Fraud Act 2006.
Source Daily Mail 4 March 2026.
Why is no one surprised by this?
The partner of a Labour MP has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of spying for China along with two others following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.
Detectives arrested the trio earlier today on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services under the National Security Act, the Met Police said.
A 39-year-old man was arrested at an address in London, a 68-year-old man at an address in Powys, Wales and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, Wales, the force added in a statement.
One of those arrested is the partner of a sitting Labour MP, while another is the partner of a former Labour MP, the Guardian has reported.
Speaking in the Commons after the arrests, Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed they related to ‘foreign interference targeting UK democracy’.
He added that the Government ‘stands resolute in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity’ and has been ‘consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom’.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also told MPs that the partner of a Labour MP who was reportedly arrested did not have a pass to access the parliamentary estate. [Phew, that’s OK then. Dr LR.]
Breaking news – The partner of Labour MP Joani Reid has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China along with two others following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.
Source Daily Mail 4 March 2026
At last! – Keir Starmer was deposed by an internal Labour party coup and replaced by the King of the North Andy Burnham, who gave up being the mayor of Manchester to challenge Keir Starmer. This involved him taking advantage of the resignation of a Labour MP in a safe seat so that he could become an MP. The country is now going through a second process of buyer remorse. Unfortunately, the epithet “King of The North” didn’t extend beyond Manchester, as the great cities of Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Hull, York etc do not seem to have benefitted from his reign.
Keir Starmer had also refused the USA access to airfields in the UK and in the Chagos Islands as he and the Attorney General, The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC decided that the American action was in breach of International law. They also persisted on planning to give the Chagos islands to Mauritius, who are politically close to China.
This was defeated by the Lords and was forgotten about. Andy Burnham has resurrected this and proceeded to continue plans to divest the UK of the islands and a strategic military base. This has seriously upset the USA at a time when the Falkland Islands are being threatened by Argentina. The presence of probable large oil fields within the region of the Falklands is thought to have played a small part in America voicing possible support for Argentina. Unfortunately for the Labour party (and Andy Burnham), the Lords again rejected the bill to dispose of the Chagos Islands. At the same time the Chagossians (Yes, they exist, mostly in Croydon) have publicised their right under UN rules to vote on self determination and to enforce their human rights. That is a supreme irony, as the Labour party dare not go against their infatuation with human rights. The Chagossians also harbour an intense dislike of Mauritius.
The Conservative Party’s Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson, said that the UK could intervene under article 51 of the UN charter if they do not grant the right of self-determination to the Chagossians. He is a well-respected lawyer, his practice covering a broad range of commercial law, both in litigation and international arbitration. He also sat as an arbitrator in both domestic and international disputes.
Whilst talking about security issues, MI5 have foiled over 20 plots backed/instigated by the Iranian regime over the past few years. This connection has been revealed in the arrest of alleged plotters involved in activity at Fairford Airfield.
All this has put the UK/USA relations at an all-time low, and President Trump’s response at the time was to say that Sir Keir Starmer “is no Churchill”. (And, of course, Donald Trump is no JF Kennedy.)
I try to write my letters in a timely manner and keep up to date with developments. Unfortunately, we are getting swamped with accusations of sleaze, gross incompetency and general all-round cloth eared ineptitude. I attempt to present a reasonably balanced factual view of things, but the UK is really becoming an unbelievably badly governed nation.
Thank goodness that I am again off soon on a short assignment to that well governed, transparent and incorruptible nation Bangladesh.
Former minister and Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced (in absentia) to four years in prison for corruption charges by a court in Bangladesh, in a process the Labour Party has criticised as unfair.
The court also sentenced Siddiq’s aunt, the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and two other family members to varying prison terms in separate corruption cases.
The four-year sentence comes on top of a two-year sentence for corruption charges handed to Siddiq towards the end of last year.
In December 2025, she was found guilty of influencing her aunt to use “her special power” to secure a plot of land in the outskirts of the capital Dhaka.
Source BBC News 2 February 2026
Oh dear, still it will remind me of the UK when I am there. It seems that wherever I go, I can’t escape sleaze. My previous assignment was in Myanmar. I know, I will return to NZ after the election – surely nothing like this ever happens back home.
