Arriving back from the G7 summit in Japan, Rishi Sunak wanted to make a serious statement to the Commons about Ukraine and Russia, the £18billion trade deal with Japan, the agreement to build fighter jets in Rome and Tokyo and the minerals partnerships with Canada and Australia.
The response from so many in the house was ‘Yes, but what about Suella’s speeding ticket?’ No doubt the PM was more than frustrated by this orchestration, and concerns at a conspiracy in the civil service at suddenly exposing the ‘story’.
The Home Secretary has repeatedly stated ‘I paid the fine and I took the penalty. At no point did I attempt to evade sanction’.
I have attended a speed awareness course not once but twice. The inconvenience of attending for half a day is part of the punishment. The humiliation for a minister might be deemed excessive and intrusive. One can suggest that a minister of the crown has better ways of spending her time. The PM consulted his ethics advisor and is satisfied that the ministerial code was not broken – for a change.
That should be an end to it. No need for an expensive and time consuming inquiry. The Government and the Commons (and the civil servants) should get on with the important issues of the day. If you think this will affect Suella’s attitude, you’re a braver man than I!
Justified celebrations…on Tyneside and beyond as Newcastle United gained a vital point from a goalless draw against Leicester City. This guaranteed qualification for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and some real success for the fiercely loyal and enthusiastic supporters.
Some of the media were typically grudging in referring to Newcastle ‘edging over the line’ without scoring, ignoring the statistics of 77% possession, 17 shots compared with 1 by Leicester and hitting the woodwork three times. Undeniably a fantastic atmosphere and a great season. Well done Eddie Howe and the whole squad. This gives the city a great boost.
You may share with me frustration at the increasingly torpid clichés, jargon, fillers and slang used in the media and particularly by politicians and others in positions of responsibility when being interviewed.
Lexicographer, word swot and Countdown star Susie Dent asked her more than 1 million Twitter followers which phrases or expressions they would like banished from the dictionary.
Susie produced her unscientific analysis. The top phrase to be banned was ‘going forward’ followed by ‘No disrespect, but’ and or ‘basically’ as a filler, or starting every answer with ‘Look’ or ‘So’.
Others are too numerous to mention so just continue to groan at – direction of travel/it is what it is/we are delivering/getting on the same page/ reaching out/getting the ducks in a row/it’s a no brainier, and so on…Or, ‘with all due respect’, meaning with no respect at all! Like!
The benefits of a university education are varied, including the opportunity to study subjects in depth, obtain a valuable qualification for career development and to share, exchange and develop ideas.
The growing trend to treat students as needing protection from opinions contrary to his, her or their own, seems lamentable. A group within the Oxford university Union seeks to ‘cancel’ philosopher Dr Kathleen Stock and ban her from speaking in a debate.
The philosopher’s ‘crime’ is to argue that the biological difference between men and women is immutable. She does stress that transgender people are entitled to respect and have legal recognition to safeguard their interests.
Her view is one which English law (in the Forstater case) has recognised as one which people are entitled to hold and be protected from discrimination for doing so.
However, the toxicity of trans opposition resulted in Dr Stock being hounded from her post at Sussex University in 2021.
Students at Oxford are trying to ban the university debating society for inviting her and threaten mass demonstrations and ‘heated interactions’. These students clearly have no respect for free speech or any understanding of what universities are for.
University authorities should not cravenly surrender to bullying activists. By doing so they are infantilising students who should be at university to grow up and learn to confront adverse views and opinions. What prospect of them practising tolerance and justice in a civilised grown-up world?
John Stuart Mills wrote: ‘He who knows only his own side of the case (argument) knows little of that!’.
On a lighter note, I recommend ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton. A redemptive film based upon the novel by Rachel Joyce. No spoilers but excellent glimpses of the North East.
barryspeker@hotmail.com