Happy New Year All!

And here's to 2022! It's can't be worse than 2021...can it? But then I recall I asked that question last year!

Normal service will resume on Sunday.

Absent Friends...

As we begin the countdown to say a grateful farewell to the semi-disaster that was 2021 and welcome in a new year full of promise and hopefully finally free of covidbollocks, please raise a glass with me to those we have lost:

Raedwald

Captain Ranty (Blog now sadly gone dark)

Unenlightened Commentary

Anna Raccoon

Dracunculus

Bystander, a sad loss to the world of profession-blogging.

Peter Risdon

Gone, but not forgotten.

Tweet Of The Month

Three contenders, two very seasonal, one not (though it did make it a very Merry Christmas for me watching her downfall...):

 

Post Title Of The Month

Wise words from Al Jahom:

 

Quote Of The Month

DumbJon on Boris Johnson:

"Here's a guy who owes his job to two things. There was the Referendum, when a scratch army of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers beat the smart set, and then there was the 2019 election when regular Joe's across the North told a bunch of carpetbagging Labour MPs to shove it. So, naturally, once he took office he filled his staff with snooty Metro twerps like Allegra Stratton, the Guardianista ex-Beeboid.

Hey, how was he to know that people who've spent years explaining why their votes should count more than yours, would also believe a lockdown only applies to poor people?"

Post Of The Month

It's a double header for the last of these this year! 

Longrider on the idiocy of the Health Department's hastily scrapped covid plans, while LegIron brings some actual science to bear...

See Naples And Die...If You're A Captive Zoo Tiger

In a statement announcing Eko’s arrival to the zoo last February, the zoo called Eko “a great ambassador for his species”.

It added: “When guests see him, we hope they fall in love and want to learn how they can do their part to save his cousins in the wild.”

Well, they can request that trigger-happy Yank cops be kept out of the zoo, and zoo staff be the ones to react to any accident caused by mouthbreathing idiots who decide to stick their hands in the cage. They might just have the sense to reach for a fire extinguisher rather than a gun...

Maybe Now Our Government Will Stop Pretending As Well?

The number of asylum seekers pretending to be children has reached a record high, according to official data.

More than 1,100 migrants who claimed to be under 18 were found to be adults in the 12 months to September.

That's nothing, Priti Patel has been pretending to be a grown up with a grip on this for years....

Migrants who claim to be underage receive better housing and support, a more sympathetic hearing for their asylum claim and are less likely to be detained.

Each lone child migrant looked after by a local authority costs taxpayers £46,000 a year.

Make up your mind, are they 'migrants' or 'asylum seekers'? 

The policy is to give them the benefit of the doubt if they appear to be under 25. Officials can also carry out linguistic analysis as well as assess development.

But this is to change under the Nationality and Borders Bill going through the Houses of Parliament.

An age assessment board will oversee how decisions are made – with new scientific methods used to determine an applicant's real age.

No wonder Labour and the LibDems and all the parasitic fakecharities are fighting this bill tooth and nail... 

Wait, Where Are All The Protests And Vigils..?

A woman was killed after suffering “blunt force trauma”, police said on Tuesday as a man was set to appear in court charged with her Boxing Day murder.

Oh, no! More violence against women and girls? 

Kirsty Louise Ashley, 29, was found dead by officers at a property Earlham Grove, in Newham, after concerns were raised for the welfare of a resident at midday on Sunday.

Gosh, I haven't heard anything from Jess Phillips about this latest case! 

Andrea Simon hasn't been in the news demanding the government do more. Patsy Stevenson hasn't proposed a vigil. 

No one's proposed running a marathon. 

What gives?

Yahya Aboukar, 26, of Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, was set to appear in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with her murder.

Ah... 

"Will Someone Rid Me Of This Turbulent Author..?"

Disclaimer: I'm no fan of Rowling's 'literary talents'. Tried to read one of her books and found it by turns hackneyed, mawkish and boring. The films were marginally better but hey, chuck enough CGI beasties at the screen and I'm happy! 

But one thing I do admire her for is her ability to get right under the skin of Millennial crybullies and make then show themselves up for what they really are, not what they pretend to be. 

And this screed in iO9 is a perfect illustration of that:

Quidditch players from across the globe are ready to deliver a bludger to the name of the sport they so deeply love, thanks in part to You-Know-Who.

No, not Voldemort, but J.K. Rowling, a woman now known for needlessly expressing transphobic views who created the sport for her Harry Potter book series.

Remember when women were encouraged to express their opnions regardless of societal disapproval? Reader, I do... 

Fans began to lose faith in Rowling back in 2017 when, despite damming allegations of abuse against Johnny Depp, she backed the actor who was then starring in her Fantastic Beasts series. (He was later replaced for the third film by Mads Mikkelsen.)

No, 'fans' didn't at all. A tiny and unrepresentative minority did, and did their level best to bring her to heel. But that lady's not for turning. 

And it turned out she was right all along about the messy Depp/Heard allegations. Which is what really rankles, I suspect...  

Things took a huge turn a few years later, though, when Rowling began (and continued to) make it publicly clear she held unabashed transphobic views and was infuriatingly stubborn about it.

She doesn't hold any such views, and if the author of this piece could be honest with his readership for once, he'd have to acknowledge it. 

It’s a truth that has continued in the public eye—up to and including last week. Along the way, Rowling’s leading men much such as Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Redmayne have condemned her actions, while Warner Bros. has remained unconvincingly obtuse as it continues to mine the Harry Potter franchise for all its worth.

Because Warner know what this screed is trying desperately to conceal; most people who lap up the films and books and other merchandise just don't care, and probably share her views too. Because they are mainstream views, and will be for the next twenty or thirty years, at least... 

Variety obtained a statement from Rowling’s representation: “The Quidditch Premier League, U.S. Quidditch and Major League Quidditch have never been endorsed or licensed by J.K. Rowling,” which, of course, is also at the center of the problem here.

Rowling may be saying good riddance, but hopefully, her dismissiveness is enough for all these organizations to cut their ties once and for all.

Why should she be anything but 'dismissive'? She's on the right side of this pathetic little war you're trying to foment. And she knows it.

And if you could be honest for once, you'd admit you know it too... 

We Can But Hope The Other Three...

...are fully aware that it never did and never will. Or we'll never break the seeming stranglehold this 'organisation' has on the politicians.

While only 15% thought the NHS was not coping well with treating coronavirus patients, many more – 41% – believed that it was not coping well with providing other services.

Because it's spending all its time on the first category! A child could see this! 

But maybe it's just 'media perception'?

...it’s not just media reports that change people’s perceptions of the health service, and many people have personal experience of struggling to access their GP or being stuck on a hospital waiting list,” she added.

Ah. Indeed, it's something everyone seems to have a personal horror story about. So it's not something that can be kept quiet any longer.

Not that the usual suspects aren't going to refuse to draw the obvious conclusions, though! 

Labour said the findings showed the effects of persistent and unaddressed staff shortages.

It doesn't really matter how many staff they have if they are all dealing with just one thing - or at home because a PCR test came back positive - does it?

“None of this is the fault of our heroic health and social care workers, who are getting Britain through this pandemic. For our NHS to be able to provide the care patients expect the workforce needs to be properly valued, strengthened and provided with modern equipment and technology to ensure patients receive quality care quicker,” he added.

'Properly valued'..? 

Why would I value a tradesman - say, a mechanic - who handed me back my car after three days in for a service and said 'I spent all the time on that non-working door light, haven't checked the brakes or suspension or topped off the oil and stuff, that'll be £133 billion, please'..? 

I'm Not So Sure 'Hero' Is The Right Word Here...

A hero Wisconsin mother-of-two died eight days after suffering severe injuries when she saved her four-year-old son from being brutally attacked by the family's pitbull.

Heather Pingel, 35, from Bowler, suffered kidney failure, lung damage and both of her arms had to be amputated after the pitbull viciously attacked her and her son, Damian, on December 8.

...and I don't just mean that it should be 'heroine'.

'I just want people to know she died a hero,' Shannon Pingel, Heather's sister, said. 'I hate that this happened, but I'm thankful she saved my nephew ... she is the best mom. She did everything for her babies.'

Everything except ensure that they were safe from their parents' own killer animal, you mean? But maybe it was one of those 'without warning signs' attacks that pitbulls are so prone to? 

The family dog had shown signs of aggression before, the Sheriff's Office said.

But Shannon said a prior incident had happened more than six years ago and the attack was not directed towards a child.

Ah. Maybe not.  

She added her sister feared the dog would be killed if they'd taken it to a shelter.

Wait, what? 

'She was worried he would get killed if taken to a shelter. He wasn't a scary, aggressive animal. We all were around him, which is why this is all so unbelievable,' Shannon said.

Sadly, it isn't. There's clearly something about these vicious mutts that means owners are not only stupid enough to want one in the first place, they are also stupid enough to value their wretched lives over their own. 

I#m not just talkinh about the Yanks, either; we have these people over here too.

You'd Have To Have A Heart Of Stone...

...luckily, I have: 

Grace's mum Alice Quine broke down as she read out a statement in court: ''My life hasn’t been the same since the day I lost Grace, and it never will be again.

"I lost everything in that moment.'.

Maybe you should have reconsidered your choice of bedmate, then?

Earlier text messages on Jackson's phone revealed he was quick to lose his temper if he was short of cash to buy daily cannabis.

Analysis of Grace's hair showed cannabis had been smoked in the house in the months before November 10.

Lovely!  

The pathologist Dr. Bolton concluded that her head injuries were caused by her being 'stamped on''.

There were four other injuries to her skull, caused by being punched or kicked. Her broken leg was consistent with her leg being bent back and injuries to her abdomen were in line with being punched or kicked.

Jackson had, ''pinched, pulled or grabbed'' Grace's cheeks and body- causing numerous bruises. The post mortem also found, ''old'' bruises and that Grace's ribs had been fractured 1-3 weeks earlier.

Chalk another success up to underclass women and their choices. It's a wonder any of these kids survive long enough to be neglected by the State's agents, isn't it? 

Blood On Their Hands...

Tributes have been paid to a Scottish militaria collector who was killed by a hand grenade, leaving his five sons orphaned.

This is the second tragedy to strike the family in less than a decade after Adam Watts, 55, from Dundee lost his wife to cancer in 2013.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after one of his sons is believed to have seen the explosion.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland told MailOnline: 'Officers received report of a man having been killed in an explosion in Kirkton of Auchterhouse around 1.10pm on Wednesday, December 22.

'Emergency services attended, however, the 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.'

Now, imagine that. 

Wouldn't there be questions to answer from the police and Procurator when it transpired they had handed him the munition for safekeeping? Wouldn't there be utter outrage at a man's life being placed in danger by the authorities? 

But it wasn't an unexploded grenade, of course. Those, like seized knives and guns, are destroyed. It was yet another 'bulldog'. I wonder how the officers who seized that beast and delivered it into the hands of the man it killed enjoyed their Christmas dinner - did they spare a thought for the five children orphaned by their actions?

The comment section on Facebook and news reports are full of mawkish comments about how he died 'doing what he loved' and how he was 'a friend to abused animals'. Very few commenters point out the folly of his actions in accepting the animal, much less the authorities' carelessness in letting the thing live (though they've seen sense and it's now been destroyed - too late, of course).

But you have to wonder at the usually so risk-averse state agents who treat these beasts as 'just another dog', don't you?

It Should Leave Them Furious And Ready To Riot...

Teenagers with autism and Down's syndrome were offered 'Do Not Resuscitate' orders during routine appointments with their GP during the pandemic, it has emerged.

Many parents believe their child has been 'discriminated against' and say they were only asked about the order because of their learning disability.

The DNR orders were reportedly offered following 'concerns about the pressure on the NHS' - but it has left families confused and 'upset'.

I wonder if any of them previously lined their streets and clapped for 'the heroic doctors and nurses of the NHS'..?

NHS England wrote to medics last year as the pandemic struck reminding them of guidance that learning disability should never be a reason for issuing a DNR.

Perhaps none of them could read the handwriting? 

Shocked parents are now worried their child could have agreed to the order because they may have not 'understood the question', according to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph.

Which was why it was offered, of course. They knew what they were doing.  

Jeremy Hunt, chairman of the Commons health committee, said: 'This kind of hidden prejudice must be stamped out.'

It's not hidden at all, Jeremy, is it? It's right out there in the open, and in contravention of direct orders. The NHS is out of control and needs to be brought to heel.  

He's Done It Again...

/applause

A Bit Formal, 'Mail' Headline Writer..?

..have you, like me, been overindulging on 'The Tudors' box set in the run up to Christmas?

Boxing Day Sunday Funnies...

You could say the same about most Nic Cage movies though, couldn't you? 

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Normal service will resume on Boxing Day! When we remember the most glorious festive tradition of all...

No Surprises...

Over the past two years the LSHTM has enjoyed a high-profile role in the global battle against the Covid pandemic. Among its many notable alumni is Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England.

'Notable' you say, 'notorious' thinks most normal people! 

The damning review, published on Monday, found however that the culture and practices at the university “still too often disadvantage people of colour”, that the curriculum is Eurocentric...

Well, why wouldn't it? It's in Europe, the cradle of civilisation! 

The report highlighted the LSHTM’s well-documented colonial history. It was founded by the UK government’s colonial office and its current success as a leader in global health and research, the report said, can be attributed in part to its role in British colonialism.

So colonialism is a good thing then, yes? Alas, no, Reader... 

Liam Smeeth, who took over as LSHTM director in August, said: “We understand that these experiences have had very real and painful human consequences. We deeply regret this and apologise sincerely to everyone affected. While the conclusions of the review are difficult to confront, facing up to them is an essential step towards creating an environment where everyone’s contributions and perspectives are valued. We are determined to do better. ”

*sighs* 

They Take Disrespect Seriously In Texas...

A district court judge in Texas was punched and then accidentally tased when he tried to help subdue an unruly defendant who reportedly attacked a bailiff and the prosecutor after he was denied bond, witnesses say.

Hey, at least he didn't sit there impotently, like our judges would have! 

Catarineau addressed the judge disrespectfully and when the female bailiff tried to take him into custody, Catarineau grabbed the bailiff's hair, took her to the ground and began punching her, according to prosecutor Jacob Salinas.

'He was just wailing on her, so I tried to jump in,' Salinas said.

Lacayo came down from his bench and tried to help subdue the defendant, and both traded punches with Catarineau, he said.

Pity it's not televised, like so many US court cases. What was this idiot charged with, anyway? 

He ran into legal trouble after filing a $37 million lien against American Airlines, where he claimed he provided labor, services and materials on 50 airplanes.

However, as a pilot, Catarineau would not have done labor or services for any aircrafts. Several months later, he filed another baseless lien, this time citing services on dozens of other airplanes.

He proclaimed himself a 'sovereign citizen' who did not have to pay federal income tax.

Ah. One of those.  

He now likely faces three counts of assault on a public servant and remains behind bars at the Harris County jail, said senior Harris County prosecutor Sean Teare.

Out here, he'd probably be on bail.  

An Intensive Care Consultant Writes...

My enduring memory of that time was emerging from a fitful sleep to see the nurses who'd been on night-shifts, their weary faces bearing the angry pressure marks of their PPE.

They reminded me of Spitfire pilots returning from battle in World War II — and, certainly, they were engaged in a daily life-or-death struggle.

Funny, I don't remember Pathé newsroll of pilots doing dances in their flight suits while bombers headed for London. 

And I'm pretty sure if Algie and Ginger had been the size of some of our NHS TikTok stars, they'd never have gotten their crates off the ground, what? 

"Tally ho, Algie?" 

"Ooh, hang on, Ginger, those are Heinkels, we're only doing Messerschmitts this month.."

So I think I'll remember the true unsung heroes of the pandemic - the shop staff, power station workers, refuse collection and delivery drivers who kept the country running and fed while the NHS screamed blue murder and closed down to anything but covid.

In Which I Agree With An Animal Rights Loon...

Well, I quite agree...

That's much better! 

What's the issue, anyway?

Animal Aid campaigner Rachel King said: "Christmas should be a joyful time for all, but for reindeer used as 'props' in festive events it can mean increased stress and misery. Kate and William are prominent members of society and are in an excellent position to set a positive example by avoiding events that treat animals as commodities for human entertainment."

Some animals indesputably are just that, though.  

Lazy Policing..? Or Something Else?

A woman who believes she was spiked with a needle has been left ‘disappointed’ by the police’s investigation after she was told CCTV was “too long to look through”.

Lazy cops? Maybe. 

Maybe not... 

The 19-year old had been out celebrating Halloween with friends and she visited: The Brewery Tap, on Ock Street; The Grapes, on High Street; The Kings Head and Bell, on St Helen Street and Crown and Thistle, on Bridge Street.

Miss Hargreaves realised she may have been spiked when she started to feel unwell...

Uh-huh... 

She described being ‘dazed out’ and she was unable to walk the 20 minute journey back to where they live together as she was ‘really wobbly’, so she had to be ‘pushed home in a trolley’.

Isn't that pretty normal for a teenager's pub crawl? 

Miss Hargreaves added she provided the police with a urine sample but it did not get tested as it was too long after the incident.

I rather think you were taking, not giving, love! 

Like...Driving, Zoe?

Zoe Williams is ideologically opposed to, of all things, services like Ocado and Getir:

It’s not the money that bugs me, just the underlying Marxist truism – that if some of us refuse to do any of our own menial tasks, others will end up doing all menial tasks for everyone. Plus, we live next door to a supermarket and I’m not even exaggerating, except by a small amount.

It must be fun in her household, eh? 

Anyway, we have this argument at least twice a day, so it was only a matter of time before we would have it in a cab and I would want to bring the driver into it.

You aren't too worried about distracting him from his 'menial task', then? 

Perhaps It's Wise, Mrs Moulds...

Mrs Moulds has declined to make any comment.

...after all, those speaking out for you aren't exactly helping, are they?

The neighbour added: 'I don't know what happened and in what context but what is now happening to Sarah is horrible. She's terrified of being in her own home in case someone targets her or her kids there.'

She's got children? I wonder how she reacts when they don't do as they are told? Her employer certainly isn't happy to take any more chances! 

'She's well known and respected in equestrian circles...

They should really be a different tense, shouldn't it? 

...and her social media was bombarded with comments from very angry people after the video went viral and she's now had to close it down.'

Oh, boo hoo!  

Her uncle David Kirkham from Bonsall, Derbyshire, insisted: 'She is a very upright person, a fantastic person who absolutely loves her horses.'

Odd way of showing it...

'I've seen the video but we don't know what the horse had been doing and if it was out of control.'

Does it mayyer? Does beating an animal help to get it under control, then? 

'But we know it ran out onto the road and she told it off.'

Errr, no, if she did that to a person, she'd be charged with assault, not 'telling off'. 

'She was reprimanding the horse. There was no malice intended. She is very well thought of and respected.'

Again, wrong tense. 

It's no wonder Moulds herself isn't commenting! 

Cheer Up, Naga, I'll Help!

At first glance, Shamima Begum and I don’t have much in common. She fled Britain when she was a schoolgirl to join Islamic State. I came to the UK from Sri Lanka in 2005 and qualified here as a public and human rights lawyer. I became a British citizen in 2015.

Naga Kandiah, a solicitor at MTC Solicitors is worried.

Like Begum, I too could be stripped of my British citizenship without warning under a proposed rule change quietly added to the nationality and borders bill, thanks to a provision known as clause 9.

Well, Naga, are you planning to flee the country and join a terrorist group? Because if you aren't, I'd say you've got nothing to worry about... 

How does the government define what is in the public interest? Could that include displeasing the government of the day, even if no crime is committed and no law is broken?

Good grief, no! That'd make us like some sort of Third World banana republic, like...well, Sri Lanka, or something.  

The Home Office has said that British citizenship is a privilege, not a right.

Which very, very few people disagree with. Unless they are paid - and no doubt paid well 0 to, of course. 

Psychologically, the rug of our secure lives here is being pulled from under our feet. Those of us among the 5.6 million who are people of colour will sleep less easily in our beds if this clause becomes law.

The rest of us will sleep a lot sounder because of it, however.  

I've Found Him, I've Found Him!

Who, you ask? Why, the Grinch, of course! It is Christmas, after all. 

Step forward, John Northridge, from Derby

Mr Northridge says he visited the high-end Victoria Centre store with his wife on Monday afternoon, December 13, to buy perfume when the incident happened.

Oooh, 'the incident'! Wait, wait! *fetches popcorn*

OK, pray continue! 

The 71 year old said: "My wife bought some Bulgari & Musc Noir, and then moved to the Aqua di Parma counter and I noticed that the salesman was not wearing a mask."

*gasps* Oh no! 

"When I asked him why he responded with glee that he was exempt."

Why did you even ask? 

"My response was countered with you don’t have to buy from me."

Interesting that you don't tell us what your response to that was, isn't it? I wonder why...

"I just think that is a ridiculous response."

I think people will probably agree. Not about the salesman's response, though. 

It is understood that Mr Northridge has submitted a complaint to the retail chain following the incident.

One hopes John Lewis will respond app...

Oh. 

In response to his concerns, a spokesperson for John Lewis added: "We are very sorry that our customer was spoken to in this way - this is unacceptable and we will take this up with the Acqua di Parma concession."

Why? In this case, the customer isn't right.  

"The safety of our customers and Partners remains of paramount importance. We have continued to recommend customers, Partners and concession staff wear a face covering in our shops and in line with Government guidance unless exempt."

Which the salesman was. So what's your problem? 

Ignoring Those Risk Factor Elephants In The Room...

A 'fit and healthy' mother-of-two has died from Covid-19 after ignoring her best friend's pleas to get vaccinated.

Fit and healthy, eh? 

Errr...

Nuria's daughters, both students, said they now feel 'completely lost' as they try to cope with their grief without their father who lives thousands of miles away in Angola, central Africa.

*shrugs* 

Obviously Mayors Are Like Policemen...

...they get younger and younger all the time!

H/T: JohnM via email

That's Impressive, 'Mail', Even For You...

Getting the wrong term for 'jesses' and throwing in a homophone for good measure!

Christmas Sunday Funnies...

As we head for our - perhaps much reduced - festivities, here's a few facts to toss on the table with the after-dinner drinks...

It's Official - The Police And CPS Are Now The Enemy...

A mother who 'nudged' an Insulate Britain road-blocker with her 4x4 as she tried to get her son to school has been...

Given the keys to the City? Knighted? 

...charged with assault.

Of course... 

Sherrilyn Speid, 34, will appear in court in January accused of dangerous driving and assault over the incident on the M25 on October 13 despite the police taking no action against the protester.

Naturally!  

'A mum trying to take her son to school is not the one who should be facing the firm hand of the law,' the mental health specialist said. '

'These Insulate Britain fools want it all their own way. Who is sticking up for normal people here?

'I think it's disgusting that they were stopping working class people from getting to work and their kids to school and now they're trying to prosecute a single mum.

'I could lose my whole livelihood. If I have a criminal record I won't be able to work with children anymore. It's really not fair. All I was trying to do was take my son to school and go to work.

'These Insulate Britain protesters are middle class. They say they care about people and the country - so why would they want a single mum to lose her licence and her job?

'There is no one supporting the working class people who are trying to make an honest living and are working hard.'

It's hard not to agree with her every word. If only instead of being a hard working single mum, she was a coked-up boozed up plastic celebutard with an appalling record, she might have been shown leniency... 

But instead of stuffing her expensive vehicle into a hedge while on a drug shopping trip, she had the temerity to express disapproval with the sloth shown by the state's agents. And that attracts the highest penalty...

An Essex Police spokesman said:'When dealing with these incidents, we police them without fear or favour in a manner to keep everyone at the scene safe and we have consistently said our priority is to keep our county's roads moving.'

Yet you consistently fail to do so. Why is that, then? 

The charges come after seven Insulate Britain activists were spared jail yesterday after a judge handed them suspended sentences for breaching a government injunction to stop protesters blocking roads.

Did any of them get jail? 

Two activists, Dr. Diana Warner, 62, and Dr. Ben Buse, 36, were handed jail sentences. Dr. Warner who yesterday failed to attend court while she blocked a train heading for Drax power station, accepted her guilt and was given a two month prison sentence.

Ah, yes. Because sneering at their powers is the only thing the state's agents care about... 

The Developer's Gravy Train Hits The Buffers...

Plans to buy land for new homes around the controversial Beam Park development and in Rainham have been dropped.

After receiving legal advice and consulting with the planning inspectorate, on December 2 Havering Council decided to withdraw the compulsory purchase order (CPO) it initially made in 2019.

And it all revoles around that important - and often missing - element: infrastructure. Or rather, the lack of it. 

Last month, the council asked the inspectorate to delay the CPO inquiry while the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Department for Transport (DfT) discussed the future of Beam Park Station, which has remained uncertain since September 2021.

However, the planning inspectorate recommended the CPO be dropped until a decision around the proposed station has been made.

Without a nearby station, who'd buy a home there? Given that the GLA and TfL are so hostile to drivers, you'd be mad to, especially if you worked in London. 

Beam Park station was initially included in the council’s 2016 Local Plan before being taken over in 2018 by the GLA, which picked two developers to build up to 9,000 homes around it.

In September, Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas wrote to the DfT seeking assurance after hearing rumours the station had been axed.

On October 6, transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris informed him the department had never given support for the station.

Oops! 

Mr Heaton-Harris has claimed the GLA were told as early as 2017 the business case for the station was “very poor” and the department had made it clear it would not approve the station unless it was held immune “in perpetuity” from financial risk relating to the project.

It's always wise to follow the money, isn't it? 

A spokesperson for the DfT reiterated its position on immunity from financial risk but said it fully supported the housing development in Beam Park.

They said the financial offer proposed by the GLA did not cover the full risk the department believes Beam Park station imports, particularly around operating loss forecasts and revenue abstraction from neighbouring stations.

In other words, they don't think it'll be used enough to justify the build. And that's - presumably - before the covid effect on changing work patterns. 

Think You Answered Your Own Question There...

Once one of the most peaceful countries in Europe, Sweden is plagued by the worst rates of deadly gun violence in Europe, 10 times higher than Germany.

...

As Sweden searches for solutions to its surge in gangland violence, an obvious question emerges: how did one of the world’s most open societies incubate such a vicious subculture?

Gosh, I don't know! Are there any clues? 

Hjällbo’s young gang recruits exist in an environment of exclusion; failing schools, joblessness and poverty. Integration into mainstream Swedish society appears minimal at best.

Hjällbo’s 9,000 residents are almost all immigrants: nearly three-quarters of them were born abroad.

Well, well, well... 

Hjällbo is the turf of the Ali Khan criminal network, Gothenburg’s most ruthless gang. Originating in Lebanon, the clan has fostered a reputation for retaliation. Murder, extortion and extreme violence are linked to family members.

Looks like diversity isn't a strangth after all, eh? But of course, to put the icing on the cake, you also need lax laws biased in favour of those dedicated to breaking them. And would you believe it, Sweden also has those in abundance: 

Sweden’s famed openness still presents barriers to policing. Issues such as privacy override calls for increased investigative powers. Nord’s detectives are denied ready access to the CCTV network, along with ANPR (automatic number-plate recognition) technology and even access to traffic cameras. Only recently have they been able to tap phones.

It's a perfect storm; floods of people from a strange land with a lawbreaking culture in a country ripe for ravaging.  

Happy Christmas, Boris!

And hopefully, you'll be the next goose well and truly cooked this Yuletide...

North Shropshire had previously only had Tory MPs in its modern incarnation and was the party's 76th safest seat.

It also backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum. But they lost it with one of the largest by-election swings (34 per cent) in British electoral history to Ms Morgan, who finished a distant third in the 2019 general election.

Even now, Starmer's unpalatable. That should tell both parties something. 

At Least Oliver's Was Hot...

A school that served a tiny piece of turkey and stuffing in a bap with a single pig in blanket and mini roll for their £3.50 Christmas lunch has apologised after parents complained it was like 'something from Oliver Twist'.

Oh, come on, surely it's not that bad..?

Oh...

Can they blame the crisis du jour? Reader, you bet! 

The school has now apologised and offered a refund to students, blaming supply chain issues and Covid-related staff shortages as pupils called the offering 'rubbish' and 'gross, cold and soggy'.

Bingo! 

It Might Be 'Important To The Community'...

...but it was a deathtrap:

A parishioner died and 31 others fell seriously ill after they were struck down with food poisoning at a harvest supper.

Elizabeth Neuman, 92, was violently sick after eating the contaminated shepherd’s pie served at a village pub near her church. She was taken to hospital but suffered an internal haemorrhage and could not be saved.

How did this happen, then? 

...the meat from the shepherd’s pie was ‘not cooked properly’ the night before by the pub’s then head chef and was placed in a pan of iced water, before being wrapped in cling film and put in a fridge overnight.

The next day the meat was cooked again and warm potato mash added, but its temperature was not checked before it was served. The court heard how the chef was ‘rushed’ and ‘had to leave’ the night before.

All the things you shouldn't do. An open and shut case. Better make an example of this establishment, then? 

John Croucher, the former head chef of the Crewe Arms in Hinton-in-the-Hedges, near Brackley, Northamptonshire, admitted contravening food regulations.

He said: ‘I really hate to say it but I think I was rushed. I was rushing. Remorse is an understatement. This is something I will never forget. Because of it, I am a better chef and it is just a shame the cost of it had to be what it was.’

...

...

Wait, seriously?!? Was he a new, young, unqualified chef, then? Reader, he was not...

Croucher, 40, was given a four-month suspended jail sentence yesterday at Reading Crown Court.

*speechless* 

Judge Sarah Campbell said: ‘A healthy and well person died of a gastrointestinal haemorrhage induced from vomiting. No sentence I can pass can reflect the loss caused to the family.’

She added: ‘The Crewe Arms is an important pub to the local community. I have read many references from members of the community, who all say Mr Billingham worked hard to maintain the support of the community, including Mrs Neuman’s daughter.’

Personally, I wouldn't set foot inside it if it was the olny establishment for miles... 

The court heard that the pub had a one-star food hygiene rating at the time of the tragedy but had since gained the maximum five stars.

Nope, not even now. 

They Aren't Like Buses After All...

...they are more regular than that. 

Barely a week has passed since the last abysmal child protection failure by the State's agents, and another one rolls up to the curb:

Five times social services were contacted by family and friends. Five times their concerns were dismissed. The police were involved in one of those five interventions and, on a sixth, they were contacted independently of social services.

It has all the hallmarks of the previous case, including the rat leaving the sinking ship ahead of the verdict... 

...ordinary members of the public will struggle to understand why Frankie Smith and Savannah Brockhill were given the benefit of the doubt time and time again.

Really? I think you might find they won't, since it appears to happen time and time again. 

With one - or two - unique wrinkles in this case: 

Not for the first time political correctness, it seems, played a part in all this. Social workers, the jury heard, accepted Smith’s story that the complaints were ‘malicious’ and down to relatives not approving of their same-sex relationship or Brockhill’s traveller background.

If only it wasn't the case that they accept excuses regularly from non-favoured groups, I might agree. But they do, so I don't. 

"I got ninety-nine problems..."

"...but a bitch ain't one."*

Nearly 100 backbenchers defied the party whip to vote against the Government on Tuesday, with almost half of the Prime Minister's MPs voting against the introduction of compulsory Covid passes in nightclubs and large venues in England.

The mutiny is thought to be the second biggest any sitting Tory prime minister has ever faced, after 118 backbenchers defeated Theresa May's Brexit deal in 2019 – and greater than the biggest rebellions faced by David Cameron, Sir John Major and Margaret Thatcher.

Johnson has to go. But who'd replace him? 

* Well, actually, yes, she is!

Another One Off The Streets...

A "dangerous sexual offender" who raped two strangers within six months has been jailed.

Janath Jabarkhail, 21, attacked a 19-year-old woman in a park in Liverpool in July 2019.

He then raped a 24-year-old woman in the back doorway of a bar in the city centre in January 2020.

Jabarkhail, of Walton, was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of two counts of rape and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

...but how many more are arriving by boat every day?

...Jabarkhail, who is an asylum seeker from Afghanistan...

There's no mention of when he arrived here, or how. Which strikes me as a little suspicious. 

When he was interviewed by the police, he claimed not to understand what was happening, despite having a solicitor and an interpreter, the CPS said.

All provided by the poor long-suffering taxpayer. 

H/T: Melindi Scott via Twitther

All The Hallmarks...

Armed police descended on a street after a woman was savaged by her own bulldogs today.

An address in St Helens, Merseyside, was the centre of a large emergency response scene, including two police cars, police dogs, an ambulance and a fire engine.

Merseyside Police said a woman was seriously injured and rushed to hospital after her four dogs attacked her inside her home.

Woman. Bulldogs. Armed police. Liverpool.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: 'The woman sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

'The dogs have been seized by Merseyside Police.'

They should have all been despatched at the scene. When will we ever learn? 

UK Police Farces: "We Surrender!"

Britain’s most senior police leaders are considering making a public admission that their forces are institutionally racist, the Guardian has learned.

High-level discussions began on Thursday and come as their special adviser on race says the declaration is needed if promises of radical reform are to be believed by black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

Because they all think alike..? 

Policing has been engulfed in a race crisis with a series of controversies over stop and search and use of force, leaving black people’s confidence lower than white people’s.

Why would that be, exactly? Who do they think weapons like these are going to be used on, if not other black people - mainly teenagers? 

Last year the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, denied policing was institutionally racist, telling MPs it was “not a label I find helpful”. She said: “I don’t think we’re collectively failing. I don’t think [racism] is a massive systemic problem, I don’t think it’s institutionalised, and more to the point I think we have come such a very, very, very long way.”

Damn you to hell, Abimbola Johnson, for making me agree with The Dick, of all people...

Just Why Do They Call It A 'Justice System' anyway?

Police say a 40-year-old man from the Bristol area was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on conditional bail.

How on earth can you be bailed when you've apparently flagged down a complete stranger in a remote country area and beaten him to death?

Once Again, Matt Asks...

...the existential questions of our time.
 

Unfortunate Story Placement

"Something familiar about that, Mavis, but I just can't put my finger on it..."

H/T: Dave Ward via email

Sunday Funnies...

All those who say 'Boy, I'm glad spiders don't have wings!', look away now...

You Just Can't Square This Circle...

...no matter how hard you try:

The Law Commission set out proposals including measures that would lead to tougher sentences for stirring up hatred against transgender people.

The Government’s official advisers on legal reform also proposed granting special protection from prosecution for those who express ‘gender critical’ views, such as feminists voicing doubts that a man can change his sex to female.

But the most vocal of trans activists consider that very belief to be 'stirring up hatred'. So if you think they are going to sit down and finally shut up, you're very much mistaken...

Judges should be given the power to hand longer sentences to offenders who target transgender people in crimes such as assault, its 545-page report added.

Once more, the punishment will depend on what's in your mind, and not on what violence you actually carried out. It's a recipe for disaster.  

The Law Commission’s proposals will now be considered by ministers, who will decide whether to implement them.

Anyone want to take bets on whether the Tories will finally show some moral courage? 

Ten Ticking Timebombs Out There...

Chief Superintendent Mark Hobrough said on Friday: "This is an extremely challenging case and a very traumatic and emotive incident, one that has understandably and correctly caused concern within the community, because this is not something that should happen."

This in response to claims the thing sired 'at least ten puppies' before killing a child. 

Where are those puppies now? Is Mark asking himself that question? Shouldn't he be?

"Obviously I have concerns over the nature of the dog. It would be impossible for me to say I'm not highly concerned over the nature of that dog. It was a danger to wider society.

"That is why it was dealt with the way it was at the scene and why this incident is receiving dedicated attention."

Why do I detect a hint of apology and regret there that they had to ventilate Fido at the scene? 

Is it because those are genuine emotions (in which case he shouldn't be a policeman) or is it because he's parroting what he thinks the locals want to hear (in which case etc, etc)?  

"We continue to gather evidence in relation to the background and history of the dog and its ownership. This will assist us with official identification of the dog which I need to stress takes time."

Once upon a time the presense of a large dangerous dog in the neighbourhood would have been noticed by the local bobby on the beat. Thank goodness such old-fashioned concepts have been abandoned in favour of 'modern policing methods', eh? 

"Obviously the transference of any dog should be done responsibly. Responsible ownership is paramount and to make sure you have sound control of your dog is vitally important."

Yes, of course, the inbred underclass scum who breed these killing machines aren't responsible owners, are they? And never will be. 

Try Not To Make A Noise Like A Fish!

A man attacked by a pack of [redacted] in a Singapore park has said that he thought he was going to die during the ordeal.

Wild dogs? Rampaging water buffalo?

Errr....not exactly:

A man attacked by a pack of otters in a Singapore park has said that he thought he was going to die during the ordeal.

*blinks*

Graham George Spencer, a British citizen living in Singapore, said he was chased, pinned down and bitten “26 times in 10 seconds” by a family of otters while out for an early morning walk in the botanic gardens.

How on earth do they manage that?  

He said they lunged at him, biting his ankles, legs and buttocks and causing him to fall over.

“I actually thought I was going to die – they were going to kill me,” he added.

Nature, you scary! 

What Was She 'Dedicated' To...Apart From Selfies?

Oh, and killing herself:

Aoife Mcmanus, a “dedicated” student at the University of Brighton, died at the city’s Royal Sussex County Hospital on June 12.

The 23-year-old had been found hanging and unconscious in her bedroom by her mother Lyn in the early hours of June 4.

What was she studying? Glad you asked. To be....wait for it...a paramedic! 

While Aoife had a history of depression and anxiety, Coroner Alicia Keen recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure

Wait, what? 

A statement from Margaret Mckeon, advanced nurse practitioner at Bird in Eye Surgery in Uckfield, said Aoife was diagnosed with depression in 2015 and had self-harmed.

In 2019, she reported having “dark thoughts” and contemplated driving to Beachy Head after the break-up of a five-year relationship.

An airheaded selfie-obsessed teen with mental issues. Just the sort of person you want turning up to an incident... but back to that coroner: 

In her conclusion, Coroner Keen said she did not see anything that led her to believe Aoife intended to take her own life, although it was a likely outcome of her actions.

She said: “Aoife said she didn’t want to take her own life and she had too much to live for and that describes someone who was able to recognise the way ahead.”

I don't know how someone can be so wilfully blind to reality. Do they teach it at coroner school?

Challenged To What, Maureen?

Barking and Dagenham's cabinet member for health described the borough's Covid vaccine take-up rates as "horrible" and said people who have not had their jab need to be challenged.

If it's an eating contest with you, they'll lose: 

 More chins than the Chinese telephone directory...

"We have to get the message out there to our community - this hasn't gone away, it's dangerous.

"Our NHS won't cope this winter if we don't take proactive action in keeping ourselves, our family and our community safe."

What is this 'community' of which you speak, Maureen? 

The Children Would Be Better Off Learning Crime Doesn't Pay...

A benefits cheat spared jail despite falsely claiming almost £100,000 has been ordered to refund the taxpayer...

Well, good! 

...just £11 a month – meaning it would take her 686 years to pay it all back.

*sighs* 

We'll never recoup the full amount, and the State will expend yet more resources employing people to deal with her.

Claire Finney, 41, enjoyed five-star holidays as she pocketed extra child tax credits, universal credit, housing benefit and income support by falsely claiming she was a single parent, a court heard. Along with her four children and long-time partner Joseph Perry – who she falsely described in one claim as their grandfather – she enjoyed a string of stays at luxury resorts in Cyprus. Mr Perry was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Why not? Are we expected to believe he knew nothing about it? She was, after all, yet another habitual criminal: 

... despite having a previous benefit fraud conviction, she walked free from court with a suspended sentence after a judge said it would be her children who suffered if he jailed her.

It would probably be the making of them. With a mother like this, what possible chance do they have to grow up to be responsible, law-abiding adults? 

License To Drive Kill...

Older drivers should not be prosecuted if they run red lights, drive too slowly or go in the wrong motorway lane, experts say.

Well, why the hell not? Of course, it's a new government proposal, you can tell by the way the 'experts' are suggesting something cretinous: 

The Older Drivers Task Force said in a report that assessments of driving skills should be offered to all motorists aged 70 and above who are caught committing offences.

Drivers are assessed by specially qualified occupational therapists and driving instructors.

When someone is found to be unsafe behind the wheel, a report is sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency who considers whether to revoke their licence.

Rather than prosecuting them in the courts, like everyone else?  

Rolling out Fitness to Drive assessments across the UK would help to reduce deaths and serious injuries among older drivers, the report stated.

Would it help to reduce the deaths and serious injuries they cause, though? Shouldn't that be the main concern? 

The report stated that older drivers do not pose a 'significant risk' to other road users but their 'relative frailty' means they are over-represented in serious crashes.

I wonder if Chris Thorold would agree with that assessment by the 'experts'?

An Everyday Story Of Bus Travel...

A man who stabbed a father in front of his teenage son after a row broke out over loud music he was playing on a bus has waked (sic) free from court.

Errr, how? 

Marwan Alhassan, 36, was using a portable speaker at high volume while singing along on the top deck of a service from North Tyneside to Newcastle in May last year.

Several other passengers ‘remonstrated with’ him but he continued to disturb them, a court heard.

One furious passenger approached him ‘at very close quarters’ and subjected him to ‘vile and threatening abuse’, threats and racist comments before getting off.

And that, in the eyes of the pathetic excuse for our justice system, immediately turned a nuisance into a victim. Even when he subsequently went on to knife a totally different man! 

Having only seen the end of the confrontation, the father, who has not been named, then scolded Alhassan and went to get off the bus with his son.

Judge Julie Clemitson said Alhassan, in his own mind, ‘linked him with the racist man who had just got off’.

She said: ‘When he went downstairs you spat at him, which, not surprisingly, resulted in him not being pleased and coming back to reprimand you for that.’ A ‘scuffle’ then broke out between the pair, while the victim’s son went to alert the bus driver.

One wonders why the bus driver wasn't already fully aware... 

It was only after they got off that he noticed his dad was bleeding from a stab wound to the stomach.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch said Alhassan had knifed him using a ‘vicious implement’ consisting of two magnetic knives that could be attached together to form a single weapon.

Doesn't carrying a knife hold a heavy sentence these days? Reader, it does. But in this case, the judge delivered the lightest sentence she possibly could.:  

He was handed a 21-month suspended sentence, having spent six months in custody on remand, as well as orders to attend rehabilitation and carry out 240 hours’ unpaid work.

I'm only surprised she didn't award him some money from the poor box too... 

The judge said he poses a low risk of committing further offences, has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and has mental health difficulties.

Doesn't the last part of that sentence risk cancelling out the first part? For normal people, it would. I guess we haven't been subject to the 'training' judges get...

What 'mental health issues', anyway?

Vic Laffey, defending, said Alhassan has witnessed atrocities and been exposed to trauma during his life and has been left with post traumatic stress disorder.

Here? Or...somewhere else?  

Mr Laffey said Alhassan, who has never been in trouble before, plans to live in London after his release.

Well, that's OK. I expect if he tries the same trick here, we'll see a replay of this famous scene:

 

H/T: Old Holborn via Twitter

'Waiter, There's Some Free Speech In My Soup!'

BBC News presenter Tina Daheley published a letter she wrote to an unnamed restaurant on Twitter on Wednesday in the hopes the establishment can take action after...

She was served cold soup? The waiter spilled some on her? 

...a fellow diner repeatedly used a racist slur in her presence.

Wait, seriously? You expect restaurants to police their customers' conversation now? 

The journalist went on to explain that a 'white, middle-aged man repeatedly used an extremely offensive racist word starting with the letter P' when discussing cricketer Azeem Rafiq's recent testimony about the racism he experienced within the sport.

Oh no! Well, thank goodness he wasn't repeating the cricketer's antisemitism and letching instead. But maybe she'd have had no problem with that? 

Tina added: 'I considered confronting them, but was so upset I couldn't bring myself to it. Perhaps he was doing it to provoke me, (I'm a BBC news presenter), perhaps he was annoyed that he was sitting next to two women of colour, perhaps he didn't even consider us.'

So you think it should be 'stood up to'. Why didn't you, then? 

'After weeks of thinking about it and feeling powerless to do anything about it, I'm bringing it to your attention in the hope that you can take action.'

Ah, I see. You think it should be someone else's job.  

Tina concluded: 'I don't think this behaviour should go unchallenged. In 2021 there is no place for it.'

What's up, sweetie, Naga getting all the publicity and you think you should have a bite at that cake too? 

Lost: Sense Of Proportion. If Found, Return To The British Justice System.

Two police officers who took pictures of the bodies of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman have been jailed for two years and nine months each.

You're kidding..? 

The women's mother, Mina Smallman, said the officers' actions were a 'betrayal of catastrophic proportions' and a 'sacrilegious act'.

The OED defines sacrilege as 'violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred'. I didn't realise these two women were so highly regarded...

Meanwhile, elsewhere:

An actress who assaulted the manager of an upmarket fish and chip restaurant and returned two months later to attack the owner has avoided a jail term.

Jonathan Bryan, prosecuting, said Gatacre called Mr Ahmed a dirty Bangladeshi man’ during the incident. He said Gatacre was ‘screaming at the top of her lungs’ as she said: ‘You don’t belong here, this is my country. I can do what I like.’

I thought the courts frowned on this sort of thing? Yet actual, physical, racially aggravated assault gets no real sentence at all, while taking photos of people who are dead gets you near on three years in chokey... 

"...it's 'not something that I feel I have to speak about publicly'..."

Goodness me! Has Lewis Hamilton finally run out of things to pontificate about?

The world Formula One champion has disowned his team Mercedes' sponsorship deal with Kingspan, which made combustible insulation for the tower block – but the firm's logo was still emblazoned on his car during the race.

Hamilton initially refused to answer questions on the matter at a press conference ahead of the race in Jeddah saying it was 'not something that I feel I have to speak about publicly'.

But for once, the journalists did their job: 

But when pushed he said: 'It was news to me when I heard this week.

'We know there has been a huge outcry and an amazing amount of support by people in the community.

'It is really nothing to do with me and I know Toto (Wolff, the team principal) is sorting it. Unfortunately my name is associated with it because it has been on my car, but whether that remains the same, we will see.'

Now, personally, I couldn't care less. It's another case of cancel culture, that I should be hoping fails. But isn't it nice to see Hamilton squirm, for once?  

"We have to be very careful, it's a very sensitive time and it's very easy to offend people."

The fashion chain Zara, on male encroachment into female changing rooms:

'As a general rule, if people are carrying women's clothes to try on then they can use the changing rooms on the women's floor.'

I ask another staff member if she knew the policy and she says the same thing: 'Our managers tell us to let people into the women's changing rooms if they are carrying women's clothes', she said.

Of course! God forbid anyone challenge them! 

And how does that work if there are women in the changing room from more conservative cultures?

Ooooh, good one! 

'Yes, that is a problem in our Marble Arch branch,' the manager concedes. That area is home to a large Arabic community.

'Our decisions also have to depend on the ethnic profile of the other customers in the room at the time. Different branches have different problems, and it's something that has been cropping up for two or three years now.'

Who knew being a salesgirl in retail clothing would require the diplomatic skills of a UN Secretary General..? 

Well, 'Mail', Don't Just Leave Us Hanging..?!

Maybe they fired him before completing the headline?

H/T: Longrider via email

It's Not Even A Homophone!

 

...unless it's transcribing a report in the Texas accent..?

H/T: Dave Ward via email

Sunday Funnies...

It pleases me that Great Britain is once again at No 1...

'Transforming The World' Isn't A Vote Winner...

...because we've seen what you want to transform it into, and it's not going to happen, love!

Maya Goodfellow, writer and academic, and also utter idiot, writing in the 'Guardisn':

He (Kier Starmer) made a statement about the current “crisis” in the Channel, attacking the government for not reducing the number of people trying to make the journey, and criticising cuts to international aid and Priti Patel’s inability to secure a “strong” agreement with France to stop people making this journey.

Two days later, the shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, was repeating much the same messages on the Sunday morning TV rounds.

Yes, and..? 

The government is suggesting that people seeking asylum belong elsewhere. In response Labour is opposing some of the most draconian proposals, but isn’t disagreeing with the premise of the overall approach.

Because it wants to win votes to get itself into power. 

Presumably, Labour is trying to appear “sensible” and say what it thinks the electorate wants to hear.

Trust me, Maya, outside of your tiny, totally unrepresentative circle, it is what the voters want to hear" 

There are alternatives, and Labour should promote those instead.

The prison scholar Ruth Wilson Gilmore encourages us to think of reforms that would open up an avenue to transform the world altogether, rather than just tweak the current system.

People who want to 'transform the world' are often lunatics and would-be genocidal despots. I don't fancy her chances much. 

But give me an example of where her ravings might be relevant here? 

Here, that means creating a world where everyone has both the right to move and the right to stay.

Ha ha ha ha! You're just another Open Borders dreamer. No thanks. 

Maybe It's Time You Stopped Talking About 'Learning Lessons' And Actually Learned Them..?

Although further contact was made with Hughes by social workers after the photos were received, there was no more engagement with the family by the authorities.

Two separate referrals had been made at the same time by Arthur’s paternal grandmother; one to West Midlands police, and one to social services, with the latter relating to “unexplained” bruising to Arthur’s back.

It turns out West Midlands Police proved every bit as effective as the Met in the Baby P case. In fact, this case has startling echos of that case. 

“It’s certainly the worst [child abuse case] I’ve had to investigate,” said DI Laura Harrison from West Midlands police, who led the case. “We don’t often see what goes on behind closed doors, but on this occasion we did.”

Sadly, it was after the fact. Because despite the supposed 'tightening up' after Baby P, it's always too little, too late...and here come the expected case reviews: 

A review of the role of social services is under way, while an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is expected to report back shortly.

Which will no doubt exonerate all involved, and blame covid, despite the fact that the only interest the police showed in holding anyone to account was when they got heavy with the relatives trying to get them to do thair job:

Arthur died on June 16, 2020 after suffering an 'unsurvivable head injury'. These are the four key chances the authorities missed to avert the tragedy:

ONE - Arthur's grandmother, Joanne Hughes, called social services on April 16 to say she had seen the youngster covered in bruises. However, social workers failed to spot them during a visit to his home.

TWO - On April 20, Joanne also told Arthur's school what she had seen. A member of staff called social services but was told the bruises had been caused by 'play'.

THREE - Arthur's uncle, Daniel Hughes, reports his concerns to police but is threatened with arrest if he tries to go back to the youngster's home.

FOUR - John Dutton, Emma Tustin's stepfather, makes an anonymous call to social services weeks before Arthur's death.

Having no doubt learned that contacting the police makes you the target... 

Solihull's £122,294 Director of Children's Services at the time, Louise Rees, 60, left in August before the trial began. Rees' LinkedIn profile boasts that she is now 'retired and loving it'.

Well, of course she is. She's a serial bolter, after all, as we now learn: 

The career civil servant also left her previous job at Stoke City Council, where she was the £140,000-a-year director of children and family services, a week before it too was lambasted for serious failings.

It's deja vu all over again, isn't it? 

One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing!

Hmmm. Perhaps the MoD should concentrate a bit more on flight mechanics and less on 'trans issues'?

Regular contributor i.r.jackson writes:

'...the BBC quotes the MOD stated price of £92M - this was bare bones - i.e. no electronics etc, so is likely 50% low (as usual), ignoring our contribution to the development, but maybe that is why it couldn't keep flying - hand signals only!

You really would think they would be more careful with such rare items (we did have 8). At this rate, we really will be able to call it The aircraft carrier.'

Indeed!