News Round-Up
- “Was Starmer’s summit enough to shift the diplomatic dial?” – While Europe’s summit at Lancaster House may have shown unity in supporting Ukraine, the question remains whether it’ll be enough to win over Trump, says James Landale for BBC News.
- “Starmer’s bridging approach is right, but the gulf is ocean-wide” – European leaders must ask themselves whether they are prepared to defend Ukraine without America, writes Charles Moore in the Telegraph.
- “Keir Starmer seeks ‘coalition of the willing’ to bring peace to Ukraine” – The Prime Minister has told European leaders that they must “do the heavy lifting” to end the war with Russia, reports the Sunday Times, promising to put British troops on the ground.
- “This summit was an exercise in wishful thinking” – Pledges to back Ukraine will remain hollow so long as we fail to fix our under-funded and under-resourced armed forces, says Con Coughlin in the Telegraph.
- “The idea that we cannot afford to increase defence spending is a sick joke” – The Telegraph’s Roger Bootle argues that scrimping on defence while splurging on welfare is a sick joke.
- “Rachel Reeves unlocks billions for Ukraine and UK defence” – Rachel Reeves has announced a multibillion-pound funding package to bolster British defence and arm Ukraine as the PM warns we are at a “turning point” in the conflict, reports the Sunday Times.
- “Starmer says Trump’s state visit invite ‘a matter for the King’” – Keir Starmer has pooh-poohed suggestions that Donald Trump’s state visit should be cancelled in the wake of his spat with Volodymyr Zelensky, says the Mail.
- “Zelensky and King Charles snapped beaming side-by-side at Sandringham” – Volodymyr Zelensky and King Charles have been photographed side-by-side at Sandringham after European leaders came together in London to back the Ukrainian leader in the wake of his White House bust-up with Donald Trump, reports the Mail.
- “Did Zelensky call J.D. Vance a ‘b**** f***’ under breath at Oval Office?” – Ukraine’s President Zelensky has sparked suggestions he branded US Vice-President J.D. Vance a “b****” during their explosive White House row, says the Mail.
- “Hundreds of protesters descend on Vermont ski town to ambush J.D. Vance” – Hundreds of protestors have ambushed J.D. Vance as he arrived at a ski resort town following his war of words with President Zelensky, according to the Mail.
- “Mike Myers mocks Elon Musk in comedy sketch of Trump-Zelensky showdown” – The Austin Powers star made his debut as Elon Musk on Saturday Night Live, reports the Mail.
- “Billionaire Elon Musk calls for US to leave both NATO and the UN” – Elon Musk has struck fear into the heart of the European establishment after he spoke out in support for the US leaving both the UN and NATO, says the Mail.
- “Chagos deal ‘to be sealed this week after Trump backing’” – Kemi Badenoch insists the “surrender” of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is not in the UK’s interest, regardless of President Trump’s support, according to the Telegraph.
- “Britain gave Minh Pham asylum. His response? A plot to bomb Heathrow” – In the Sunday Times, Dipesh Gadher reports how Minh Pham, a Vietnamese refugee given asylum by Britain, repaid the kindness by plotting a Christmas suicide bombing with Al-Qaeda at Heathrow.
- “Angela Rayner’s plan to give workers ‘right to switch off’ faces axe” – Angela Rayner is facing humiliation after reports that the “right to switch off” will be dropped, according to the Mail.
- “Shameless Waspi women don’t have a leg to stand on” – Pensioners are hardly overlooked in the era of the unaffordable triple lock, writes Michael Mosbacher in the Telegraph.
- “The Tories cannot recover while ‘One Nation’ grandees continue preaching the politics of yesteryear” – On Substack, Patrick O’Flynn argues that the Tories are doomed to failure if their “One Nation” old guard keeps preaching yesterday’s politics.
- “Labour council targets motorists who park on their own driveways” – Labour-run Lambeth council has been accused of using motorists as “cash cows” after targeting residents “illegally” parking cars on their own drives, reports GB News.
- “British carmakers’ switch to electric has descended into chaos” – Why are we unilaterally destroying our car industry on the altar of Net Zero? asks Liam Halligan in the Telegraph.
- “China’s diplomatic coup against Taiwan pushes Trump into a corner” – China’s diplomatic charm offensive has 89 countries backing its Taiwan takeover bid, leaving Trump in a tight spot, reports James Reinl in the Mail.
- “81 year-old suffered anaphylactic reaction after vaccine, court told” – A woman from Bury St Edmunds has died from an anaphylactic reaction caused by her Covid vaccine, says the East Anglian Times.
- “When do vaccine incentives become coercive?” – On the Free Mind Substack, Laura Dodsworth asks when vaccine incentives cross the line into coercion.
- “NHS calls mothers ‘birthing people’ in defiance of Wes Streeting’s anti-woke demands” – The NHS is routinely calling mothers “birthing people” in defiance of Wes Streeting’s anti-woke crackdown, reports the Telegraph.
- “Woke British university tells students not to say ‘a piece of cake’” – Cardiff University has told students not to use colloquial phrases such as “kill two birds with one stone” or “a piece of cake” because they are “very British-English” and won’t be understood by other cultures, says the Mail.
- “How neo-Marxists’ anti-racism destroyed British education – part two” – In TCW, Dr. Frank Palmer recalls warning in 1986 that “anti-racism” would turn British schools into ideological boot camps – 40 years on, the revolution is complete.
- “The new theological politics” – We are in need of Christians who can understand the problems around immigration, or any of the other pathologies of modern British society, and can seriously engage with them, says the Pimlico Journal on Substack.
- “‘Young people not drinking is killing music venues’” – In an interview with York Membery in the Telegraph, Sex Pistols agent John Giddings, the man behind the Isle of Wight Festival, reveals his best and worst financial decisions.
- “Behold! The leader of the free world!” – A video on X of Keir Starmer hitting a punchbag during the General Election campaign fails to inspire confidence…
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“A university has told students not to use colloquial phrases such as ‘kill two birds with one stone’ or ‘a piece of cake’ because they are ‘very British-English’ and won’t be understood by other cultures. Undergraduates at Cardiff University have also been warned to avoid using the word ‘crazy’ as it is a ‘derogatory’ term for mental health,” This is crazy because none of us – very British or otherwise – understand colloquial phrases such as ‘kill two birds with one stone’ or a ‘piece of cake’ until we hear these phrases being used, and only then do we begin to understand what they mean, and they’re part of the enjoyment of the colourfulness of language. I know an Iranian man who only came to live in the UK a few years ago, has married a Northern Irish woman, and with her he has recently started watching Only Fools And Horses, and he absolutely loves it, and goes around now saying phrases such as “lovely jubbly” and ‘cushty’. Teaching students that people from other cultures won’t understand colourful English phrases is not only extremely patronising but also suggests that foreigners are too thick to pick up the meanings of these… Read more »
Your anecdote reminds me of the Asian immigrant hospital porter at my medical school in 1973, who could barely speak English but cheerfully repeated “Nice one, Cyril” at every opportunity.
😂 👍
GOrwell did work at the BBC , maybe he got a vibe of what was to come !
I’ve wondered if he got the idea of Big Brother from the BBC – the Big Brother Corporation.
Idioms are delightful fun. I know one foreign language pretty well and have enjoyed trying to learn how to use as many idioms in it as possible. I talk to loads of people with good English as a foreign language and I deliberately use idioms and explain them – this seems to be appreciated.
Indeed, once explained, you enrich the newly enlightened.
Hundreds of protesters descend on Vermont ski town to ambush J.D. Vance Today, we launch a new column. It’s called ‘Novel Concept’ Today’s novel concept? Let’s find out what the Ukrainians think: Andrey Stavnitser: ‘Emotionally, this (dispute) was incredibly unpleasant. Of course, we are all capable of putting emotions aside, but a conversation that starts with a sarcastic question like “Don’t you own a suit?” is hard to call constructive or respectful. Hennadiy Chyzhykov: ‘international relations are dynamic. Moments of tension often lead to more structured and sustainable agreements in the long run. This is not a breakdown but rather a recalibration of expectations and priorities.The most important thing is that discussions are ongoing, stakeholders are engaged, and there is a shared interest in de-escalation and finding mutually beneficial solutions.’ Arseniy Yatsenyuk: ‘this deal has nothing to do with a real peace process. It is necessary to define the terms of this peace agreement that will meet the demands of Ukraine and international law.’ Igor Liski: ‘There were, unfortunately, no security guarantees in the resources agreement, but it was a step in the right direction. So I was really upset and disappointed. I don’t feel it’s the end. I believe… Read more »
There are only four people in Ukraine?
Do you know who those four people are?
They are Ukrainians who by virtue of their wealth and position haven’t been dragged to the front line to fight for their country.
I fail to see the connection between the quote and the rest of your comment.
“Angela Rayner’s plan to give workers ‘right to switch off’ faces axe” – Angela Rayner is facing humiliation after reports that the “right to switch off” will be dropped…
…Nobrayner switched off. About time too.
😀😀😀
I think the 77th, or a version of them, have been deployed to cement support for direct British involvement in Ukraine. I’ve been watching MSM all leading with the same propaganda and noticed that the comment-type ratio has shifted overwhelming in favour of defence of Ukraine and our involvement in that defence. It’s not very subtle, but it does have the same effect it did during Covid – the appearance of a consensus and a feeling of isolation. Either that, or many people are even more stupid than I thought (which is almost impossible) and are being led by the latest tune of the Pied Piper
False pandemic, climate claptrap and a country in Russia’s backyard – three cheeks of the Pied Piper’s same sphincter.
Standard operating procedure for government nowadays.
But it’s transparent, and once you’ve seen it you can’t unsee it, and I think increasingly people are wise to it.
Don’t forget everywhere and always the collective intelligence of the people is higher than that of their government, and never more so than in 21st century England.
You’ve noted something I’ve been clocking for a while now. A propaganda piece is published in MSM at, say, 7.00am, and simultaneously there are twenty pro-establishment comments. Six hours later, if the comments are still open, they’re overwhelmingly in the opposite direction because Joe Public, rather than 77th, are posting.
It’s very serious if the government wants to take us to war, conscripting our kids to fight and die, on the basis of an entirely spurious consensus. But in today’s climate, what else would they do? If simply lying about the enemy bayoneting babies no longer works, our Nudge Units must do something to combat the malinformation leading to uniform-hesitancy. They will inevitably close the comments routinely, but only after 77th have had their say to sway the peasants into compliance.
The government isn’t going to do anything.
That is why there is now war in Europe.
They’re not very good, are they?
I suppose that given the intelligence level of your average Brit, they don’t need to be, so there is that.
British people stupid? Surely not.
Excellent points!
“Labour council targets motorists who park on their own driveways”
According to the original article, one of the reasons is, “To support resilience to the climate emergency…”
…The planet has been resilient for billions of years. The real emergency is inside the heads of armies of council jobsworths up and down the country seeking diverse ways of creatively financing council deficits.
Some of the reported output from the Council is quite likely spurious, but the issue may be that lots of older houses did not have driveways, so the conversion of their patches of land required the local council to alter the pavements to provide access to them. Then there will be lots of utility firm’s bits & pieces that run along and need to cope with the weight etc. E.g. there is a metre or so of land between my house driveway and the road (which has no separate pavement) under which cables and pipes run. When the power distribution cable was renewed a couple of years ago, the DNO used plastic ducting under the drive entrance, whereas elsewhere it was buried in the soil directly, with no ducting.
As ever, devil in detail. Also as ever, climate claptrap an all-too familiar distraction.
You have to apply for a vehicle crossing, if agreed council contractors come and drop the kerb and adjust existing sidewalk to take account of it. Cost is around £1,500.
“Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband faces the sack in Sir Keir Starmer’s planned reshuffle as the Prime Minister turns his back on “green” policies. The Prime Minister wants to end the focus on net zero and instead commit his government firmly to growing the economy, according to reports.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2021377/keir-starmer-tipped-sack-ed
That would be a start.
D.J. Trump and J.D. Vance planted the seed during K.R. Starmer’s recent trip to Washington. Give it a few weeks to germinate. When push comes to shove, which matters more – Davos or Washington?
The Express article also tips Bridget Phillistine for the chop. The cup would overfloweth.
I rather think it is the McSweeney effect. McSweeney views Reform, rightly, as a massive threat, and he is pivoting Starmer’s govt to full on Blue Labour to counter it.
Sounds plausible.
Sadly, no matter who is sacked their replacements will flow from the same Davos Dalek factory.
We can but hope. Now if it was, Milliband, Philips, Lammy and Reeves, that would be glorious. Mind you, what’s left to choose from?
“Woke British university tells students not to say ‘a piece of cake’”
In other news, NHS midwives are being instructed to tell new parents to teach their children only pidgin English for the same reason.
More retardedness from the retard department. Ignore.
Just as Britain’s Royal Air Force command and control (C2) proved decisive during the Battle of Britain, exactly the same thing is now happening in Ukraine.
Both sides have finally woken up to the fact that C2 is critical to success.
In a sense, developments in drone technology and warfare mimic, in miniature, the development of air warfare and close air support in WW1.
Just as coordinated (by C2) air superiority, close air support and counter battery fire provided the necessary pre-conditions for the destruction of the German Army at the Battle of Amiens in 1918 by armoured formations, so similar scenes are being played out in miniature around Pokrovsk today.
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/trump-putin-and-the-most-important-meeting-in-half-a-century/
An interesting article hi-lighting the possibility that the International Monetary System might be returning to a gold base. Common sense at last?
Yes, very interesting.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14453017/Zelensky-touches-meet-King-Charles-Sandringham-European-leaders-came-Ukrainian-leader-wake-White-House-bust-up.html
How much more firkin stupid can Chuckles the half-wit become? This treasonous friggin idiot needs a 17th century does of reality.
I think Starmer made the king invite Nasty Zelensky to tea, to bolster Starmer’s attempt to distract public attention away from the 500 Third World Men of Military Age who crossed the English Channel on the same day.
It’s astonishing how politicians use the same playbook every time to draw attention away from their own failed domestic policies: drag the people into yet another Foreign War.
Men of military age? Send them to the Ukraine. That should both stop them coming and give them an opportunity to earn their right to call themselves British.
Absolutely! Send ALL of them to the Ukraine instead of British troops.
And then send them to their own ancestral homelands.
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/rachel-reeves-defence-spend-labour-9f56b6l7f
Did she find the money in the infamous black hole?
Lying bitch.
As far as Ukraine is concerned I agree with Simon Webb, the only choices are:
1: Forever war
2: Negotiate peace
3: Start world war 3
Starmer and Europe seem to think option 1 is the best choice, let the meat grinder continue and we’ll carry on paying for it.
Trump wants option 2!
I know who I back, f@ck Europe
Those Swiss accounts won’t fill themselves.
More war!
(And champagne)
“Behold! The leader of the free world!” by — Retard Finder (@IfindRetards)
That really made my day, and “Retard Finder” must win a prize for best name! 🙂
And in honour of the Retard Finder, here are two Italian Retards in today’s news from the University of Ferrara, which ought to give them both the sack: Dr. Silvia Ghirotto and her supervisor Prof. Guido Barbujani.
Britons ‘were mostly black 5,000 years ago’, new study suggests
Lol. They didn’t have soap 5,000 years ago.
🙂
If you believe “out of Africa” theory of human origins then we were all black, once. But we’re not any more!
I, too, was deceived into believing that ridiculous theory, and the Evolution Hoax, and the Global Warming Hoax, and the Whites Must Help the Planet by Not Having Babies Hoax, and many other hoaxes, but have slowly been awakened to the truth.
Why would China objectively want Taiwan, other than for populist goals? Anything Taiwan can make, China can make as well, and if China invaded Taiwan, this would probably disrupt trade and leave Taiwan crippled.
Is this a scare scenario by any chance?
May I just congratulate our own Lord Toby on the fantastic news in the Monthly newsletter that he has not only organized and established a new “Free Speech Union International”, but also inspired and helped set up Free Speech Unions in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Switzerland! And there are also possible new FSUs being set up in three other countries, which I’ve forgotten just now.
I hope the Daily Sceptic will have an occasional update about these new groups for those who don’t get the monthly newsletter. Well done to all concerned in this pioneering new development!