A Most Tragic of Tragedies: Virginia Guiffre
Anyone studying the classics, and in particular Greek mythology for the first time at school might have quite understandably thought that some of the characters and their fate were rather more tragic that they are in real life. However, with the story of Virginia Guiffre, we have had a tragedy that few gods could have imagined, or indeed, delivered. Indeed, until the very end, with the injuries she posted on social media, this was a trail of events that seemed destined to run well beyond the 25 years we have seen to date. Perhaps the worst aspect though, is the personal one, where any mother who takes her life would only do so under the most extreme circumstances. Guiffre leaves all the controversy, the conspiracy theories and the taking of sides behind her. What we are left with is the question of how in this day and age how many questions can go unanswered, and perhaps most importantly of all, there is apparently little to prevent such a trail of events happening again.
Pope Francis Remembered
With a final appearance on Easter Sunday, something which seemed as if it would not happen given the recent frailty of the late Pontiff, world leaders attended the funeral of Pope Francis. In an increasingly less religious age, at least in the West, the level of devotion and attendance from world leaders, as well as the faithful, was perhaps at odds with the year 2025. Given where the Catholic church is and has been in the recent past, battling with historic abuse, the acceleration of woke beliefs, and an increasingly radical Islamic world, it was a show of strength and belief that the People’s Pope received the send off he did. What will be key now, given that Pope Francis arguably did all that was expected during his papacy, is who will succeed him and in what way. Continuity could come from Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state under Pope Francis. But given where the church is, and the ever-changing demographics, a progressive or even radical choice may be due. This would be over and above choosing a successor who is of Asian or African origin. What can be said is that as we move well into the 21st century, the need to be in tune with the attitudes of the faithful is more important than ever.
Reform’s New Donor
Going into the forthcoming local elections on Thursday, the latest opinion polls suggest that Reform and Labour are neck and neck with 25% and the Conservatives at 21%. Just how this will pan out at a council level will presumably depend not only on regional issues, but also from constituency to constituency, given the way that the Reform / Conservative split of the right is very much a moveable feast. Certainly, Farage and friends (also apparently a moveable feast) are riding high, but not as high as before the Rupert Lowe schism, which arguably prevented the party having a runaway move to the upside. This may still happen, and certainly the party has its tale up with the latest news of another large wallet possessing donor defecting from the Conservatives. The Telegraph has taken delight (in a very Guardian like fashion) to tech billionaire Bassim Haidar leaving the Tories for Reform and pledging £1m in addition to £200,000 already ni the kitty. This is after he previously donated £700,000 to the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak. Haidar’s quibble with his former party centres on its attitude to business, Non Doms and inheritance tax. His belief is that Reform is perfectly capable of forming the next government. What was interesting about the Guardian, I mean Telegraph article, was that there was no input from the Conservatives themselves. For instance, was Mr Haidar really a big fish donor, and if so when? Also, why is the Telegraph so big on assuming that 3 / 4 years down the line there will not be a pact between Reform and the Conservatives, especially when their current combined opinion poll rating is at 46%, something which would hammer Labour. Even if Mr Haidar pumps millions into Reform, there is still the issue of it being the Farage Show, and the problem of it even getting close to being a professionally run party. As things stand Reform vs Conservatives simply gives Labour another 5 years, especially given its ongoing strategy of paying for foreign migrant voters to come to this country and gerrymandering the vote. Indeed, even a combined REF / CON alliance will have a tough time against such a backdrop.
Toilet Police
Given how tough the authorities were as far as enforcing COVID rules, apart from at 10 Downing Street, it is almost disappointing that we have bee reassured there will be no toilet police in the wake of the recent Third World style Supreme Court ruling on biological sex. What the “Lawocracy” has to do with such an issue was and is a moot point, but presumably the more our legal friends meddle with personal matters, the more money they make. Luckily for the trans brigade, we have been told by Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, that there will not be any more people hanging around public conveniences than there are now. Interestingly, the government seems to be side-stepping the conclusions of our learned friends, on the basis that being a right of centre conclusion, it does not tie in with its beliefs. Indeed, it has been reported by The Telegraph (Guardian style story) that The NHS will test all children who believe they are transgender for autism. Presumably, just a couple of weeks ago there may have been some (with common sense) who believed that the sting had been taken out of the Transmania epidemic that we have had in recent years. But at least those concerned at the coal face of gender dysphoria will be reassured that the Supreme Court is not as Supreme as it perhaps thinks it is.
