Gemma Bristow

Incidentally, I don't know his life but according to his Wikipedia page he grew up in rural Shropshire and did not go to university in Birmingham.

So, will Mr Jenrick be aiding the cause of 'integration' by moving to Handsworth? Or is that not how it's meant to work.

Sandra in The Swish of the Curtain is also Susan-like and has a similar name.

A long shot: does anyone have an image of Iseult Gonne’s signature?

I acquired a 1930s book signed “Iseult” on the flyleaf and, as it’s an uncommon name, wondered if it had been hers.

Restored Hogarth murals at London hospital open to public for first time St Bartholomew’s hopes 18th-century satirist’s two large-scale paintings will become a must-see for art fans They had remained almost unseen for 300 years, but now two of William Hogarth’s masterpiece murals are available to the public for the first time. The North Wing at St Bartholomew’s hospital in London, which contains The Pool of Bethesda and The Good Samaritan – two large-scale murals by the British painter – has opened after a £9.5m restoration project. Continue reading...

Restored Hogarth murals at London hospital open to public for first time

Reform poised to raise Kent council tax as Musk-inspired attack on costs falters ANNA GROSS - KENT Kent's local authority will probably raise council tax rates next year as Reform UK strugglesto find big savings under an Elon Musk-inspired cost-cutting drive. Kent was one of 10 councils that Nigel Farage's rightwing populist party seized in a swath of local election victories in May. He vowed to save "a lot of money" by abolishing "wasteful" spending. But Diane Morton, Reform's cabinet member for adult social care on Kent county council, told the Financial Times that services were already "down to the bare bones". "We've got more demand than ever before and it's growing." she said, stressing she did not believe access to those services should be limited. "We just want more money." As with many local authorities in England, the bulk of declined to say whether council tax Kent's budget went on adult and chil- would be raised but other Reform coun- dren's social care, as well as on children cillors said they wanted to avoid hitting with special educational needs, which the full 5 percent. together accounted for about 50 per Reform's experience highlights some cent of its £2.5bn annual expenditure. of the obstacles it may face in national All councils have a legal duty to bal- government if it won the next general ance their books and will set next year's election and pursued its pledge to slash budgets in February or March. Ahead of taxes and spending. "Everyone thought that, most councils in England are we d come in and there were going to be expected to increase council tax by 5 per these huge costs we could cut away but cent, the maximum allowed. there just aren't," said a third senior "I think it's going to be 5 per cent," Reform cabinet member in Kent. Morton said of where Kent would land Farage has set up a Reform Depart- on tax rises, adding that every 1 per cent ment of Government Efficiency team - increase equated to an extra E10mn. modelled on Musk's "Doge" i…

Anyone remember Reform promising to go into their new councils with DOGE-style units to slash “waste” and stop taxes from rising? Yeah, it went exactly as you’d expect if you put people in charge who have no idea how anything works.

I can't claim to know how councils work internally, but you'd have to be living on Rockall not to know that they've been cash-strapped for years.

An 'AI' will try to answer a question even if the question is nonsensical, essentially mashing together bits of information in its memory bank to create a false assertion.

Pamphlet - They did not pass : 300,000 workers say no to Mosley. A souvenir of the East London workers' victory over fascism, produced by the Independent Labour Party. Wiener Holocaust Library collections.

At the Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 1936, at least 100,000 people, including Jewish residents, Irish dock workers, Communists and Labour Party members prevented a march by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) from passing through the East End...

Some things heal themselves. Some don't. My autoimmune condition won't get better by itself, because it's the body's own defence systems that are responsible.

Both medicine and 'witchcraft' can have a mind-over-matter effect, but the difference is that that's not the *only* effect of medicine.

The Commander in Chief Is Not Okay Trump put on a disturbing show for America’s generals and admirals.

The commander-in-chief is not ok.
read @radiofreetom.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

A searchable works list has been released to identify the authors’ works that were stolen by US Corporation Anthropic, to train its AI models. It includes UK authors whose works were copied without their permission or payment.

My son recently found a swastika drawn on the pavement at... The Manchester attack didn't come as a shock. The only surprise is it hasn’t happened sooner

I wrote a short piece for the Observer on the attacks in Manchester.

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Screenshot of a letter to Kemi Badenoch, the full text is linked in the subsequent post

Screenshot of a letter to Kemi Badenoch, the full text is linked in the subsequent post

Today I've joined parliamentarians from across the political spectrum in calling on Kemi Badenoch to rethink her dangerous position on the climate and net zero - a position which puts Britain's economic strength, national security, and environmental leadership at risk.

Good spots! I thought about Starmer (and Wellington becoming PM, as well), though there's maybe a more direct bridge between their pre-parliamentary and political careers.

Can't be many people who've become the top bod in two entirely different professions.

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female leader of the Church of England as Downing Street announced the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year on from Justin Welby’s resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal. This is the first time an archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014. Continue reading...

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

Wow. Was not expecting that. Congratulations, your Grace!

Those look so cool.

Large wire model of a globe, holding multiple candles.

Solidarity with the Jewish people of Britain and the right of all of us in this unsettled country to live, work and worship (or be irreligious) in security and happiness.

If there's an alternative timeline in which NI voted Leave, maybe there's another one in which Brexit never happened? I envy the people living in that one.

Opening section and abstract of RHS blog post: 'The value and provision of history and the humanities: it’s time for a political response': "This week the government’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, announced the return of maintenance grants for students in greatest need. While we welcome recognition of the financial pressures and impediments many student face, it’s clear that this is a policy with nothing for the arts and humanities, including history. However, as Lucy Noakes, President of the Royal Historical Society, explains here, these pressures are equally acute for students in the arts and humanities. Moreover, as a new British Academy report on ‘Cold Spots’ shows, choice—in subjects including history—is being further eroded for many as the provision of higher education contorts to the financial crisis facing UK higher education. If the government is serious about choice, social mobility and access to education it needs to appreciate that provision of many degree subjects is now at considerable risk in a growing number of regions across the UK. For students to have greater choice and access we need the environments in which choices are made to be fair, balanced and accurate. For this we require political leadership to help us address structural failings and false narratives."

This week the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, announced the return of maintenance grants for students in greatest need.

In a new blog post, RHS President Lucy Noakes considers the state of access to history and the humanities in UK HE bit.ly/3KP5WMe #Skystorians

@artsandhums.bsky.social

One more awful thought: most Jews won't know about this yet. It's only lapsed ones like me who are on our phones. A lot of people will find out in a few hours once the fast goes out. They'll be an outpouring of grief (but not much surprise). If you feel like caveating it, don't.

To everyone in Britain's Jewish Community: you are not alone. We will not let hate or those who spread it win. We stand with you.

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.

As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.

At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

Hwæt! 🐉

Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English?

#NationalPoetryDay

Thanks, yes, have seen that reported. Awful.

The Climate Fiction Prize celebrates the most inspiring novels tackling the climate crisis.

I will be one of this judges this year and would love to read your work.

The £10,000 prize is awarded annually to a single novel. Submissions now open.

Link here climatefictionprize.co.uk

Please share :)

Manchester synagogue attack latest: police say suspect shot after four people injured by vehicle and stabbings Police say they are responding to an incident in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Police said a suspect has been shot and four people have suffered injuries caused by a vehicle and stabbings at a synagogue in Crumpsall north of the city. The force said: Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and one man had been stabbed. GMP declared PLATO and a major incident at 9.37am. Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender. Continue reading...

Manchester synagogue attack latest: police say suspect shot after four people injured by vehicle and stabbings

Terrible news. Hope the injuries are not life-threatening.

A critique of pure stupidity: understanding Trump 2.0 If the first term of Donald Trump provoked anxiety over the fate of objective knowledge, the second has led to claims we live in a world-historical age of stupid, accelerated by big tech. But might th...

'The escalation from Trump One to Trump Two has seen irrationality spread from the deliberative public sphere to flood the veins of government.'
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/oc...