Chris Whiteside's Blog

How many BBC reporters does it take to cover an MP’s statement to the media? TWO. One to press “cut” and the other to press “paste.” (Credit: lifted from the "Cumbria Chronic" website.)

"Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft." Theodore Roosevelt

"The ceasefire in Iran is welcome, and we support it. But it also brings a clear lesson. Energy security matters, and it needs clear-eyed, rational policy that protects our national interest. If stable oil and gas flows matter globally, they matter at home too. Most of the gas used domestically comes from the North Sea, but Ed Miliband is working to shut down the North Sea. Labour would rather leave billions of barrels of oil and gas under the sea bed, than compromise on their Net Zero ideology. Drilling the North Sea boosts our exports, supports British production and sustains jobs. It would bring in new revenue that Conservatives would use to bring down bills - saving a family £200. The lesson is obvious. Back our own energy and support new North Sea licences. Scrap the Energy Profits Levy and get Britain drilling. That is the Conservative plan to get Britain working again." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, Consrvative Leader

Mel Torme's 1969 recording of "Windmills of your mind" as heard at the conclusion of Season 2 of "Severance" in 2025. How good does a performance have to be if the recording is being used at a key point in a major TV series 46 years later? Click on this to find out.

 

"Hungarian history isn't written in Washington or Moscow but by Hungarians, in our villages & towns. We decide our own fate." Péter Magyar , Hungarian opposition leader and Tisza party candidate for PM in Sunday's Hungarian elections.

"Doctors are on strike today for the 15th time since 2023, costing us £3bn in the last 3 years. Starmer promised to sort it, even gave them a 28% pay rise ... it didn't work. Time for serious action. The Conservatives will ban doctors' strikes, like we do for the army and police." Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch on X today

" Each new day is a chance to live with purpose. Easter Monday is not just a continuation of celebration, it is a call to action. Live intentionally and make each moment meaningful." (" Prayerman ," from Inspirational Easter Monday Quotes)

 

Wishing all Christians in the UK and everywhere - and anyone else reading this and celebrating this great festival - a happy and peaceful Easter.

From the late Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Basil Hume;

"It is so easy to be wrong-and to persist in being wrong-when the costs of being wrong are paid by others." Thomas Sowell

On 1st April, the UK Defence Journal website published a satirical article claiming that the Royal Navy was building a new supercarrier to be called " HMS Prince Andrew. "  The obviously tongue-in-cheek article said the carrier would be armed with Cold War-era Harriers or “naval Typhoons” launched via six catapults, and cost the taxpayer a modest £987.6 billion. The author of the original joke piece George Allison said  “ As part of our usual April Fools’ Day tradition, we published a clearly satirical piece about a fictional third aircraft carrier —HMS Prince Andrew— complete with absurd details like ‘go faster stripes’ and ‘crayons’. It was meant to be obviously fake, and it was written to make people laugh. ” However, Allison said the intention of the piece was also to see if outlets “ eager to undermine the UK ” would pick up the story without fact checking it. And boy oh boy, didn't they just. Russian state media outlet RT, formerly Russia Today, republished the st...

 Kemi Badenoch: "A 78 per cent tax rate on UK oil and gas is not a strategy. It is economic vandalism. Mark my words, when investment leaves, jobs go with it. And when production falls, we end up at the mercy of foreign suppliers who do not share our values, our standards or our interests. Labour simply do not get it. Their choices weaken Britain and the consequences are unforgivable. Conservatives will scrap this levy, back British workers and protect our energy security with competence and common sense."

The Gesualdo six perform J. S. Bach's " O sacred head, sore wounded. "

‘ God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ’ Wishing everyone who commemorates today as such a solemn and reflective Good Friday.

 

 

To all who are celebrating the feast of the Passover: Jesus also celebrated Passover just before he was betrayed, and he said of the bread and wine, " Do this as often as you eat it, in remembrance of me. "  May Jesus be with all who celebrate Easter this year. Whether you celebrate Passover, Easter, both or neither, may you have a peaceful and happy time this weekend.

 

There were some very good ones, some a lot better than my little effort. (Yes, of course "Latest U-turns" was an April fool - unfortunately.) I think probably the best one came from Count Binface, who tweeted: " I’m delighted to announce that this morning I have joined Reform UK. Nigel Farage is a principled politician, and his team are ready for government. " A close second was from Brian Spuzuki @BrianSpanner1  who tweeted:· "The office of Prime Minister requires the incumbent to make decisions that must weigh heavily on his conscience. One of the first jobs of every PM is to write a letter to the Captains of the UK nuclear submarine fleet warning them about Joani Reid."

"My message to all British Jews this Passover Why is this year different from all other years? Because in other years we haven’t seen Jews murdered in a synagogue here in the UK. Because in other years we haven’t seen Hatzola ambulances torched in the middle of Golders Green. And because in no other year have I met so many Jews asking me whether it’s safe for them to stay in the UK. This year I can’t write the usual sort of Passover message. I am tired of reading platitudes and warm words, expressions of solidarity which ring hollow when we can all see what is happening around us. I did not learn about Passover from reading the Haggadah or even in church, but from watching The Ten Commandments over and over again. Even as a young child in Nigeria, growing up in a Christian home, the story of liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt – a journey from oppression to freedom, from exile to homeland – was singularly inspiring. It was only as an adult that I learned the deepest message o...

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