Notes on Religion, Media, Culture and Consiracy Theories
From The Spectator, back in December: You’ve probably seen the videos. Kemi Badenoch delivering her Budget response in the form of a rap to a sobbing Rachel Reeves. Keir Starmer as a McDonald’s drive-thru worker. David Lammy as a Spice Girl in a tight dress. Reeves (again) as the Grand High Witch from The Witches. Behind [ ]
Media criticism from Reform UK s Nigel Farage: The details of Ann Widdecombe’s murder revealed in court are horrific. Why will no one report on Joshua Kerry’s political views? The faux-bewilderment is meant to imply a conspiracy to suppress the truth, apparently including media outlets that already pushed the boundaries during the early stages of a [ ]
From the Daily Mail, 13 July: The brutal murder of Ann Widdecombe was last night being treated as a suspected politically motivated terrorist attack. In a dramatic escalation, counter terrorism officers yesterday took over the investigation into the killing of the former Tory minister. It came after the discovery of Russian communist literature and other items [ ]
From BBC News: Police say a 28-year-old man has been arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe. The suspect, who is a white British national, is now in police custody, a statement from Devon and Cornwall Police said. Police had announced as part of their appeal for information on Friday [ ]
As is being widely reported: The Duke of Sussex and six others have lost their High Court privacy case against the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Judge Mr Justice Nicklin said the claimants had failed to prove the allegations of unlawful information gathering. Mr Justice Nicklin refused to make a finding [ ]
From BBC News: A three-year-old boy critically injured in a zoo enclosure was attacked by a crocodile, the BBC understands. Cambridgeshire Police said a 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder had been bailed and was unfit for interview . He reportedly has learning disabilities and had been on a trip to Johnsons of Old [ ]
The i Paper has a useful overview by Lizzie Dearden of how the Keir Starmer rent boy conspiracy theory spread on social media following acts of arson at properties linked to the prime minister: Less than 15 minutes after [Roman] Lavrynovych was arrested, and before the arrest was made public by the police, an account on [ ]
Amended see comments From BBC News: A man has been found guilty of making sexual remarks to a group of girls aged between 12 and 14 in Dundee before grabbing and pushing one of them to the ground. Ilia Belov, 22, claimed he confronted the girls after receiving abusive remarks and said he saw [ ]
Although it hasn t so far made the mainstream news, Ant Middleton has been welcomed by Reform UK at the Makerfield by-election campaign: images on social media show the former soldier and SAS: Who Dares Wins TV presenter posing with local canvassers and with the candidate, Rob Kenyon, as well as with the party s failed Gorton [ ]
From the International Business Times: Protesters across parts of the United Kingdom have begun reviving the take the knee gesture following the murder of Southampton student Henry Nowak and the release of police body-worn camera footage showing officers handcuffing him as he lay fatally injured. Images and videos shared on social media have shown people [ ]