This is Northumberland Calling 16.1.26
The Kemi strikes first, Labour imperils democracy edition
Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.
Democracy is under threat in the UK in a very real way. Certain Labour controlled councils (27 in all) are delaying local elections. Some for the second time. Local elections might seem meaningless (sometimes it can be difficult to find anyone to stand for Haydon Bridge’s parish council for example) but they are hugely important as the council decides where money is spent locally. Which pothole is fixed. Who gets priority for social housing etc. Labour has used an obscure law from 2000 to justify the ‘postponement’. Apparently exceptional circumstances exist (what that Labour is about to get wiped out?). Reform (one of the parties which should have benefited from the May election) is to request a judicial review of the situation. It is a real page from the would-be authoritarian playbook ( Mexico and India are recent examples) --- see what people are prepared to tolerate at a local level before transferring it to a national. So add cancelling local elections to the list of things not in Labour’s manifesto (e.g. abolishing jury trials, legalizing assisted suicide; selling of the Chagos islands) NB Northumberland voted last year and thus there are no local elections here in any case. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/01/15/nobody-wants-pointless-local-elections-claims-steve-reed/ or https://archive.ph/9pNHh
This from Basildon which voted not to hold elections because in 27 months they would be abolished (but really the councillors would lose their seats) is instructive, including the denied obscene gestures from a female Labour councillor towards a newly elected Reform one. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/16/obscene-gestures-labour-council-voters-slap-face-basildon/ or https://archive.ph/fAife
Kemi Badenoch showed that she has grown as a leader when she expelled Robert Jenrick from the Conservatives. Jenrick was planning to defect to Reform in the most embarrassing way possible. He was still in the process of negotiating terms (i.e. he wanted a plum position which Farage wasn’t necessarily minded to give him) when he arrogantly left certain papers laying about. Because Kemi has been performing so much better since the Conservative conference in October, Jenrick knew that challenge to her leadership was doomed. What he didn’t realise was that Kemi can be ruthless and is unafraid to act. In other he stupidly forgot that Gove, a practitioner of Dark Arts, was one of Kemi’s early mentors. Jenrick then showed up late to Farage’s press conference reveal which will hardly endear him to Farage. What is certain is that there will be no pact between the Conservatives (centre-right and one of the oldest political parties) and Reform (right and a creation of Farage). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/15/forget-about-tory-reform-pacts-fight-to-death/ or https://archive.ph/7Yp7e
This is Kemi speaking about the fact that the Conservatives under her leadership want to serve the country where as Jenrick wants to serve himself. Kemi Badenoch on X: "We Conservatives are here to serve the country. Robert Jenrick is serving himself. https://t.co/84Ls4wLMe4" / X
Not everyone in Reform is happy that Jenrick defected. Laila Cunningham, Reform’s candidate for London mayor doesn’t think it appropriate. Jenrick as immigration minister under Sunak contributed to the flourishing of migrant hotels. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/01/08/laila-cunningham-i-dont-want-jenrick-in-reform/ or https://archive.ph/UCVPf
The Telegraph’s poll tracker puts Reform on 28.9, Tories on 19.7, Labour on 17.4 , Greens on 14.6, and Lib Dems on 12.9. The polls are misleading in that the parties have certain strongholds ( for example the Lib Dems in the South West or the Greens in Bristol). As it stands it would be a hung parliament with Reform getting 313 seats, not enough to form an overall majority with the Conservatives having the next greatest at 134 and then Labour at 100, Lib Dem on 36 and the Greens only 2. The next general election happens in 2029 (unless Labour decide exceptional circumstances) as Labour have a huge majority from the 2024 election. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/when-next-election-will-reform-win/
Kemi Badenoch made Nick Timothy, the MP who uncovered the West Midlands Police scandal the shadow Justice Minister. It is a solid appointment. Timothy has shown himself to be incredibly able.
That scandal rumbles on with more being uncovered. Stephen Foster, the Cobrynite Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands who refuses to sack Guildford and his own ties to Islamists is coming under the spotlight. He offered the Green Lane mosque which has a history of supporting extremist and antisemitic speakers a blank cheque for unspecified public grants. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/police-commissioner-in-israeli-fan-row-offered-mosque-blank-cheque-739qpcc07 or https://archive.ph/HdgY0
Scotland’s First Minister continues to be clown himself as he refused to say whether he considered evil killers who happen to be trans women to be male or not. (Answer: oh yes they are) They are currently being housed in a female prison. And Swinney is trying to argue it would breach the killers’ human rights if they were moved. (Umm what about the female prisoners’ human rights or the human rights of their murdered victims which they breached) https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/swinney-refuses-to-say-whether-trans-killers-are-men-or-women-v8bm5nrss or https://archive.ph/4BAuQ
The ruling is expected in the Darlington Nurses case today. (I will update when it arrives) but my fingers are massively crossed for common sense.
My prayers remain with the Iranian people fighting the IR. The fact that the internet blackout remains means the regime does not have a handle on the revolution. The information which is trickling out is disturbing. It is a zombie regime but it will take time before they give up. If you have read your Iranian history, you will know that the Pahlavi dynasty built the infrastructure for modern Iran. Reva shah who rose from obscure poverty through the Cossack regiment to become prime minister under the Qajar and then accepted the hereditary kingship was incredibly able but also ruthless. He was a great enabler of building things like railways, roads and dams. Right now the infrastructure has failed through 47 years of mismanagement. Having no food, hyper inflation and intermittent electricity and water has concentrated minds. These sorts of problems do not go away by slaughtering thousands of citizens.
Here:
I slipped on the ice last Saturday and managed to throw the bucket of water which was intended for the duck’s water all over myself. Nothing was hurt except my dignity. Paddy did come over to see if I was alright and having ascertained that I remained alive, he raced off to bark at a random passing dog through the gate.
Paddy and Hercules the cat are friends (he is wary of Persephone who rarely wants to play) and are on bird watching duty in the sun room.
My writing goes alright. Several of my books will be reprinted in Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden in the first six months of this year and that always makes me happy as foreign rights as a gift which keeps on giving. I was particularly pleased to learn that The Warrior’s Viking Bride was going into Sweden ( Vikingadotterns öde or the Fate of the Viking Daughter) as it is a book close to my heart and I do take it as great honour when the Scandinavian countries think my Vikings are worth translating. I also like the title as the heroine’s parentage was important to her.
I have no plans to put a paywall on. If you want to buy one of my books to reward me, fabulous. I believe they are good escapist reads, historical romance set in a wide variety of eras such as Rome, Viking and Regency. They are also often on super special at Amazon.
Please subscribe if you like what I write. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.
And it is a resounding victory for common sense in the Darlington Nurse case: https://christianconcern.com/ccpressreleases/victory-for-darlington-nurses-as-judge-rules-policy-that-allows-men-into-womens-changing-rooms-is-unlawful-harassment-and-discrimination/
Great write up, thank you. I really enjoyed the uniquely British theatrical quality of the defector leaving his speech laying around and Kemi acting immediately to squash him. Very clever of her and I hope she's able to capitalize on it.
Great news about the Darlington nurses! They had good representation who found a clever hidden knife in the "oh and was this alternative changing room in compliance with safety and fire regulations?"
I hope Sandie Peggie is reorganizing and continuing forward. Is one of the problems that she's in Scottish courts and the Darlington nurses are UK?