Tag: United Kingdom

  • ‘This is no Enoch Powell situation’: Braverman defended over speech predicting ‘hurricane’ of migration

    Home secretary Suella Braverman’s rhetoric in her speech yesterday was “certainly no Enoch Powell situation”, cabinet minister Grant Shapps has insisted this morning.

    The defence secretary was asked to give his view on Braverman’s comments that the UK faces a “hurricane” of mass migration.

    Grant Shapps told Times Radio: “She makes the absolutely correct point we’ve already seen a lot of movement… we could see a lot more, a hurricane, as she describes it, of people moving.”

    When asked about comparisons which have been made to Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech, Shapps said: “So many people are from immigrant backgrounds in this country. I think I’m third generation myself… Suella’s first generation, her parents came over in the 60s. So this is certainly no Enoch Powell situation, is it, to make the very obvious point.”

    In her speech yesterday, Braverman railed against immigration, identity politics and what she called the “luxury beliefs” of progressives.

    She said: “One of the most powerful forces reshaping our world is unprecedented mass migration”

    “The wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe in the 20th century was a mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming.”

    Last week, Braverman came under fire for a speech in Washington in which she argued that being gay or being a woman was not a sufficient reason to claim asylum.

    The home secretary questioned whether courts have redefined asylum to be granted for people suffering “discrimination” instead of “persecution” — especially in the context of someone who is gay or a woman.

    “Where individuals are being persecuted, it is right that we offer sanctuary”, she said.

    “But we will not be able to sustain an asylum system if in effect, simply being gay, or a woman, and fearful of discrimination in your country of origin, is sufficient to qualify for protection.”

    Source

  • Rishi Sunak: ‘I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project’

    The PM has labelled HS2 “the ultimate example of the old consensus” in his speech to Conservative Party conference, and hit out at the soaring costs and long delays.

    “I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project”, he declared

    He explained the government will instead reinvest the savings — £36bn — in “hundreds of new transport projects in the North and the Midlands, and across the country”.

    Sunak said the “facts have changed” and the “right thing to do is to change direction”.

    In place of HS2, the PM outlined what he is calling the “Network North”.

    “Every region outside of London will receive the same or more government investment than they would have done under HS2 with quicker results”, he said.

    “No government has ever developed a more ambitious scheme for northern transport, than our new Network North.”

    Also in his speech to Conservative Party conference, Rishi Sunak said that since he became prime minister in October last year the government has “done good things in that time, we have made progress on our five priorities”.

    He added that there is a feeling that “politics just doesn’t work the way it should” in this country”, and he said that feeling is right.

    He argues vested interests stand in the way of change, and the political system is “too focussed on short-term advantage” — but “I won’t be this way”.

    “Our mission is to fundamentally change our country”, he declared, adding that only the Conservatives can deliver change to Britain’s structural challenges.

    He said: “Where a consensus is false, we will challenge it. Where a vested interest is placing itself above the needs of the people, we will stop it. And where common sense is under attack from an organised assault, we will defend it”.

    The PM began his speech by thanking his wife, Akshata Murthy, joking that she is “truly the best long-term decision for a brighter future I ever made”.

    It came after Ms Murthy gave a very personal speech to introduce her husband.

    She called the prime minister “fun, thoughtful, compassionate, with an incredible zest for life… with a strong understanding of right and wrong”.

    The last time a prime minister’s spouse addressed a party conference was Sarah Brown’s 2009 address to the Labour party conference.

    Source

  • Hospital probed for corporate manslaughter after Lucy Letby murders

    …Lucy Letby was sentenced to a whole life order after being found guilty of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six other at Countess of Chester Hospital

    Police have launched a corporate manslaughter investigation at Countess of Chester Hospital after former nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others.

    Letby, 33, was sentenced to a whole life order after she was convicted of the heinous crimes in August. The murders took place on the neonatal unit of the hospital, between 2015 and 2016.

    It has now been confirmed that Cheshire Constabulary is undertaking an investigation into corporate manslaughter at Countess of Chester Hospital.

    Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell said: “The investigation will focus on the indictment period of the charges for Lucy Letby, from June 2015 to June 2016, and consider areas including senior leadership and decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place.

    “At this stage we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.

    “The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to go into any further details or answer specific questions at this time.

    “We recognise that this investigation will have a significant impact on a number of different stakeholders including the families in this case and we are continuing to work alongside and support them during this process.

    “You will be notified of any further updates in due course.”

    Source: Halifax Courier

  • There are only two genders – British Prime Minister

    There are only two genders – British Prime Minister

    By Frank Ulom

    British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has said there are only two genders, male (man) and female (woman).

    In a session at Manchester on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Sunak said it is common sense for one to know that a man is a man and a woman is a woman.

    He said: “Patients should know when hospitals are talking about men or women…

    “…and we shouldn’t get bullied into believing that ‘people can be any sex they want to be’, they can’t.

    “A man is a man, and a woman is a woman, that’s just common sense.”

    READ ALSO: There’s a Huge Partisan Gap Between Republicans and Democrats Who Plan to Get Covid ‘Boosters’

    The Prime Minister said the Conservative Party is investing in children and has done a lot for families.

    “We’re going to change this country and that means ‘life means life’…that shouldn’t be a controversial position.

    “The vast majority of hardworking people agree with it, and it all shouldn’t be controversial for parents to know what their children are being taught in school, about relationships…

    “We should also never be afraid to talk about the thing that matters most in most of us; family.

    “Whenever you want to talk about family, someone whispers, ‘Is that why he is the Prime Minister?’

    “You will be accused of promoting a one-sided view but in this Conservative Party, the party that legislated for ‘same sex’ marriage and is investing record amounts in child care, we know that what matters is the love cascade down the generations,” Sunak said.

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  • Ekumeku War: How Igbos resisted Britain

    By Maazi Ogbonnaya

    Aside the indirect rule system of the British the Igbo resisted and gave them headache, Ekumeku resistance is a war over land resources the Igbo fought the British for over 31 years.

    The resolutions of the Berlin conference of 1884-1885, gave European nations the rights to lay claim to lands and resources in Africa.

    Britain, who had engaged in the trade with coastal cities before and during the 19th century, made bold their intentions to covet resources and rule over indigenous nations all over Africa. The Igbo were the first to resist the British invaders, and this led to protracted war. They put up fight against the superior fire power of the suppressive British.

    The Ekuemeku Movement was the name of Igbo army, that held the British at bay and fought them for 31 years.

    The Ekumeku Movement consisted of a great number of attacks and uprising by the Anioma people of Igbo land, against the British, from 1893-1914.

    The Ekumeku warriors were bound by a secret oath, and meticulously utilized guerrilla tactics to attack the British Royal company, who were determined to penetrate Igbo land. The Ekumeku warriors were drawn from thousands of Anioma youths from all parts of Anioma land.

    As the war rages on, the Ekumeku warriors defended their rights to live peacefully without foreign interjection, while the British used heavy armaments. They destroyed homes, farms, and roads, by bombardment.

    The British invaded Ndoni in 1870 and bombarded Onicha-Ado (Onicha) on November 2nd, 1897, from River Niger. This set the tempo for the rest of the war. The Royal Niger Company was commanded by Major Festing. They engaged the Anioma people of Igbouzo in 1898.

    The battle was so severe in Owa/Okwunzu, in 1904, that the commander W.E.B Crawford requested for more arms from the British headquarters to crush the Western Anioma communities.

    The people of Owa again in 1906 engaged the British in a gruesome battle that consumed the life of the British commander S. O. Crewe.

    Ogwashi-Ukwu faced the British on the 2nd of November 1909, and dealt a heavy blow to the British, who sustained many casualties, with the death of H. C. Chapman.

    The Ekumeku became a formidable force in Igbo land and was a great source of nationalism for the Anioma people. It also served as a uniting cord that held together various towns who were independent of each other in the past.

    The Igbos were a republican people and each town had a leadership that was drawn from its oldest of men and families.

    The war would have lasted longer, and possibly ended in a British defeat, if the Anioma people had equivalent fire power, and had more allies from other great Igbo kingdoms and towns. But even at that point, other tribes were facing the British on their own.

    After almost 20 years of battle, British decided to strike with great force. In December 1902, they sent a powerful expedition to Anioma.

    A great number of towns were destroyed. Civilians and soldiers alike were killed; their leaders were arrested and imprisoned.

    After this, the British were sure that they had suppressed the Ekumeku military cult, and that victory was theirs.

    The British officers boasted: “the Ekumeku and other secret societies have been completely broken.”

    To their greatest surprise, two years later, in 1904, the fearless Ekumeku rose again. The Igbo are a proud and egalitarian people. They don’t go down that easily.

    When the Ekumeku started their renewed campaign, they changed tactics, and abandoned the guerrilla warfare style of 1989, for individual defense of each town.

    The last battle began in 1909. There was a succession dispute in Ogwashi-ukwu, the British tried to remove the rightful king& enthrone someone else. Nzekwe, the son of the last Obi, sensed the plot of the British and went to war with them to fight for his inheritance.

    On November 2nd 1909, the British sent an expedition to Ogwashi-ukwu to capture him, but they failed. No amount of fire power at that point could defeat or quench the sympathy and dedication of the people towards the Ekumeku.

    In Asaba, the sympathy for the Ekumeku was so high that the people had a disposition to throw off the already British government in certain parts.

    At the time, the acting Lieutenant-governor of the Southern provinces sent an agitated telegram to Lagos. It read: “Whole country is above are… is the state of rebellion.”

    After this, reinforcements were sent from Lokoja, for another confrontation at Akegbe.

    The war raged on, till 1914, when the Ekumeku movement was defeated. That was the same year, the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria were joined as one country in 1914. The day Nigeria was formed.

    Some of the heroes of that 31-year war included Dunwku Isus of Onicha-Olona, Nwabuzo Iyogolo of Ogwashi-Ukwu, Awuno Ugbo, Obi of Akumazi, Aggambu Oshue of Igbouzo, the Idabọ of Isele-Uku, Ochei Aghaeze of Onicha-olona, Abuzu of Idumuje-Uno, Idegwu Otokpoike of Ubulu-Ukwu.

    These men are remembered in Anioma land till date.

    The Ekumeku war remains one of most bravely fought wars and campaign against British rule and plundering. It later inspired other rebellions around Africa, such as the Mau Mau of Kenya.

    The Ekumeku have long been defeated, but no matter how far we travel in time, history always remembers that a brave tribe defended their ancestry, heritage and legacy against the tyranny of Wilberforce.

    Till date, in Nigeria, the Igbo remains one of the few tribes that still resist British rule over them and their resources. Have you seen why the British supported Nigeria to wipe away Igbo during 1967—1970 genocide? Have you seen why they supplied arms to Nigeria?