Category: UK

Far right in London

Joe and I were trying to go to the Tate yesterday but got caught up in travel cancellations because of the far right march through central London. I should have paid more attention to the news and avoided the area.

As we walked past the walkers trying to find a way, their appearance was what you would have expected.

Clearly white and mostly male. A mixture of of ages but more 40 and 50s. Lots of England football shirts and tins of beer or pints. Lots of union jacks and St George flags to reclaim.

A large crowd which in itself is worrying. A bad day.

BBC radio

A trip to a theatre in Shepherds Bush to watch a pilot of a future BBC radio show ‘The Matt Forde Focus Group’. It’s the first time I have been to such a thing and was interesting to see how these things are done as well as enjoy the comedy and political commentary.

Thanks to Linda and the Perc.

More election news

Claire was the candidate in Spelthorne- the ex seat of Kwasi Kwarteng- the short lived Chancellor who, with the aid of Liz Truss, is credited with ‘crashing the economy’. His majority was 18,000 and the seat was held by the Tories by 1,500.

AP did a lot of work in the streets and got me out the day before the election to help. Good fun in the end knocking on doors and talking to people.

UK election

Of course a bit late. The election took place on Thursday as usual- July 4.

Labour won as was widely expected but with a huge majority.

The results:

And this was the prediction early on on the evening from the exit polls. Thankfully Reform did nit get 13 seats as predicted early on.

I do not feel excited by the change. It was widely expected – though the calling of the election by Sunak at this time was a surprise to nearly all people. I have a sense of relief that the dreadful Tories are gone. Useless, divisive and corrupt.

West London

Back in familiar places.

A week back in town. It was meant to be a controlled arrival but because cancelled flight by EasyJet- a mad dash in the car to Le Shuttle- a 9 hour journey. Reached the Perce at 2am.

The plan to work with some locum days at W7 and time for a bit of social time- AP birthday and a Monty curry.

I will squeeze in a trip to the dentist and some Pilates.

Plus it is election week- all action.

Boxing Day

Today is Boxing Day. We have had a lovely time at our new venue- Dave and Michelle’s house. A relax on a sofa and tv watching followed by BBQ and eating on the sheltered deck.

Yesterday Santa delivered the prezzies- right by the chimney.

A lovely time was spent in Paremata at the new house of Chris and Heather yesterday with their family. That was followed by a video call with IQ and EQ from Glasgow to do the opening of gifts. Great fun- though at the end of our day so a bit ‘tired’.

I am awaiting the full glory of the Pōhutukawa trees. So photos to follow later.

Nantes

(Lost as a draft so posted late).

In the city for the Ireland v Tonga pool match for the RWC2023.

The cemetery has graves of soldiers who died in WW1. They arrived from the front to the hospital. Germans and French and a few assorted others.

The author of the’Magic Roundabout’ is buried there too.

Plus a trip to the botanical gardens.

Mad UK politics

If seems that we can continue to be surprised.

The fifth worst PM in UK history- all of the last five PMs- is back.

The place is in such a bad position that we are boring holes in the bottom of the barrel.

It seems Sunak is finally getting rid of the total crap in his cabinet. Braverman has gone as weeks of agitation and stirring division and encouraging violent right wing action.

David Cameron returns to UK government as foreign secretary

Former PM makes surprise comeback as part of reshuffle in which Suella Braverman replaced by James Cleverly as home secretary

Kiran Stacey Political correspondentMon 13 Nov 2023 10.01 GMTLast modified on Mon 13 Nov 2023 14.34 GMT

David Cameron has returned to government as UK foreign secretary, in a stunning comeback for the former prime minister that highlighted Rishi Sunak’s willingness to take risks as he looks to revive his political fortunes.

Downing Street announced on Monday that Cameron would join the government, accepting a peerage in order to do so, as part of a wider reshuffle in which Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary and replaced by the foreign secretary, James Cleverly.

The man who brought you Brexit, fucked up, legged it, took sly money but now id back to save Rish!

As Simon Jenkins says:

‘When the solution to your problem is David Cameron, you know you’re in deep trouble”

Glasgow trip

A weekend trip to See IQ and EQ before our trip to NZ.

A nice time had, including a trip see see the Glasgow Warriors v the Stormers for me and EQ and a trip to a comedy show for IQ and Shaz.

Plus there was the trip to the tasting restaurant, lunch and the chance to watch a 3 and half hour film. Killers of the Flower Moon has fine reviews and was a good film to watch with a very disturbing an true story. For me somewhat of a marathon.

The light show at the botanical gardens, across the road from our accomodation.