News Round-Up

• “Starmer dodges questions on public sector pay” – Keir Starmer, in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg, avoided questions, evaded responsibility and skirted details regarding Labour’s spending and reform plans, reports the Spectator.
• “Labour vs the unions” – The Labour Party is preparing for power and the unions are deciding what role they might play. Can Keir Starmer keep them onboard, asks Katy Balls in the Spectator.
• “Don’t write off Rishi” – It’s different when you’re choosing a Government, says Matthew Harris in the Spectator. Last-minute returnees might not secure victory for the Tories but could rescue them from electoral failure.
• “When mortgage-paying business owners are cancelling holidays, it’s game over for the Tories” – The economy’s a mess, Rishi’s in trouble and Starmer’s got the win unless miracles happen, says Ed Dorrell in CapX.
• “Inside the chaos over Huw Edwards at the BBC” – In the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal, Charlie Walsham points out in the Spectator that longstanding institutional failings over the way the BBC handles serious complaints remain unaddressed.
• “At Nato, America recaptured Europe” – Europe’s hopes for military autonomy and superpower status are firmly on hold, as the new Cold War has turned the EU into a protectorate of the U.S., says Michael Lind in UnHerd.
• “Son of Canadian pastor facing prison for sermon blasts Trudeau before EU Parliament” – The son of a Canadian pastor, who faces jail for preaching to truckers who blocked the U.S.-Canada border last year, received a standing ovation in the EU Parliament as he slammed PM Justin Trudeau for taking “freedom and democracy” away from citizens, reports Fox News.
• “Just Stop Oil protesters cost drivers 14.5 years stuck behind the wheel” – The Department for Transport revealed that 126,894 drivers’ hours have been lost since February 2022 due to Just Stop Oil protesters, reports the Express.
• “How Ulez expansion is ‘strangling’ legendary classic car venue” – Currently, London’s Ace Cafe is just outside of the Ulez boundary, but on August 29th, Mr. Khan’s new tax will cover the majority of the zone within the M25, says the Mail.
• “Tesla fire sparks concern after electric car burst into flames” – A Tesla car has ‘self-combusted’ on a residential street, requiring three fire engines to tackle the blaze, reports the Express.
• “U.K.’s overgrown verges have left motorists fearing for their safety” – Motorists have accused councils of using eco initiatives like No Mow May to cut costs and puts lives in danger from overgrown verges, says the Mail.
• “The CofE’s Net Zero mania” – The Church of England is embracing eco-religious fervour, incorporating climate crisis pledges into confirmation services, says Julian Mann in TCW.
• “Electric vehicle tyres produce 20% more pollution than gas equivalents” – While switching to an electric car no doubt helps lower how much carbon you generate, it actually exacerbates the problem of tyre emissions, says the Mail.
• “Trans prisoners moved out of women’s jails after Isla Bryson scandal” – The Ministry of Justice has tightened rules identifying transgender prisoners as potential risks to protect women, reports the Telegraph.
• “Teachers will have to refer to trans pupils by preferred pronouns” – Official guidance will state that if a school and parents agree with a pupil’s wish to socially transition, children can wear the opposite sex’s uniform, but using toilets of the opposite biological sex will not be allowed, reports the Mail. Preferred pronouns are to be enforced, however.
• “Church of England defends teaching controversial race theory” – Teachers at Church of England schools in Suffolk have been told to teach children lessons on the ‘white supremacy pyramid’ theory, reports the Telegraph.
• “Activist on CPS ‘hate crime’ panel called Kemi Badenoch ‘transphobe’” – A radical activist, who is part of a CPS panel on tackling hate crime, called Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch a “raging transphobe” and agreed that J.K. Rowling should be “taken down from the world”, says the Mail.
• “My vagina is not a ‘bonus hole’” – ‘Trans-inclusive’ language is dehumanising women, says Julie Burchill in Spiked.
• “Martina Navratilova hits back at Megan Rapinoe in trans row” – Martina Navratilova and Riley Gaines hit back at Megan Rapinoe’s comments about welcoming trans athletes into women’s sport, says the Telegraph.
• “West End production of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz in ‘woke’ backlash” – A new West End production of the classic children’s story The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz has been criticised for turning modern capitalism into the villain of the piece, reports the Mail.
• “Gender versus sex – a simple guide from the WHO” – The WHO has enlightened us with an explanation of the difference between gender and sex, says David Craig in TCW.
• “We might not have witch trials anymore, but we live in the atmosphere of one. TERF is another word for witch” – Brendan O’Neill discusses his book, A Heretic’s Manifesto, on Sky Australia.

If you have any tips for inclusion in the round-up, email us here.