Hardly Martin Luther and the Diet of Worms, you might think. But amidst the global crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Great Barrington Declaration has caused epic controversy. This scientists’ petition, calling for a different strategy to manage the novel coronavirus, opposes the group-think that has led to a tightening ratchet on citizens’ liberties with consequent economic carnage. Campaigners against … [Read on]
Two days ago, in the town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine on the outskirts of Paris, a 47-year old French teacher of the humanities, Samuel Paty, was decapitated in the street by an Islamist for having dared show his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed as part of a course on freedom of expression. It is no exaggeration to say that France is in a state of shock. Mass demonstrations are … [Read on]
John Lennon is the greatest miracle-worker since Maggie Farnley from Huddersfield who taught tadpoles to fly. Actually, Lennon exceeds her as he contrives to be both eighty years old and dead. If you don’t believe me, just look. It’s there in all the papers: JOHN LENNON AT 80 – singing Imagine in his shroud and either with a peg on … [Read on]
I read this morning on my impeccably liberal MSN/Yahoo news feed – first rule of warfare: know your enemy – in a story entitled ‘Priti Patel criticised for planning to deport homeless people’, by Yahoo staff journalist George Martin (I would say he’s about fourteen judging from his photo), that home secretary Priti Patel is planning new measures to stem … [Read on]
When Edward Colston’s statue was torn down by a mob in central Bristol on the 7th of June, it was clear the gloves had come off. Far from being spontaneous anti-racism action by the British public, it was the confluence of lockdown frustration, activist agitation, cultural groundwork and local-governmental approval. Finally, the simmering contempt for Britain and its history was … [Read on]
‘Mother Bessie’s Scones, two a tenner each,’ a voice growled as I passed my local Co-op. I knew there was nothing on the shelves inside, apart from dry goods like loo rolls and antiseptic wipes which no one wants. I’d used my carbs token to buy rice. I hadn’t tasted wheat for so long that I was tempted by Bessie’s … [Read on]
First they came for Tommy Robinson. Then they came for Brexit activists. And then they came for doctors and nurses at anti-lockdown rallies. Who will be next, in the tightening ratchet on British liberties? There was no outcry by politicians about the police brutality at Trafalgar Square on 26th September, just as in 2018 little concern was expressed about the … [Read on]
David Attenborough: A life on our Planet Having only seen it advertised this morning I rushed to book tickets, a few ‘standard interruptions’ later I was all booked up for this evening. After all, this was one night only. How lucky I was to get a ticket – in the nick of time. Or so I thought. I sprung it … [Read on]
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