Germany’s leading news magazine, Der Spiegel, has risked an international incident by declaring the UK to be a country on life support. In a piece subtitled “Großbritannien in der Krise” (meaning crisis), journalist Jörg Schindler explores the palaces of Westminster and finds it is crumbling into the Thames. “The foundation of Britannia’s democracy is literally rotting away,” he writes, “a perfect symbol for the United Kingdom of today”.
Schindler then visits Blackpool, where he says “even the screeching of the seagulls sounds like a sarcastic commentary” on the town’s decline. With some relish, the piece finishes: “This country was already on its knees before Brexit ... and now, it seems as though it has dialed 999 and is waiting in vain for the paramedics to show up.”
It should do wonders for the famously warm Anglo-German relations.
Marathon man at Number 11
Jeremy Hunt took time off from running the nation’s finances to complete his second London Marathon in seven months yesterday. Last year’s was in autumn due to the pandemic.
The Chancellor ran for his brother Charlie, who has cancer — Hunt himself revealed last year that he has also battled the disease. He finished in under five and half hours, raising over £30,000 towards a new cancer centre for hospital the Royal Surrey. Before the race, he posed with a few MP colleagues also doing 26 miles in the rain. “We’re not competitive … not really,” he wrote online.
Zadie takes on Tufton Street
Day 3 of The Big One ~ Running Out of Time: Check out this day’s livestream at:https://t.co/d3idNTKmHJ#EarthDay #UniteToSurvive #ExtinctionRebellion #TheBigOne
— XRUK Live (@XRUK_Live) April 23, 2023
Zadie Smith giving us the facts on Tufton Street @XrRebel pic.twitter.com/HbwMdz2uVS
Zadie Smith rallied for the environment at an Extinction Rebellion protest on Friday. Speaking on Westminster’s Tufton Street, home to several Right-wing think-tanks, the writer urged policy makers to combat global warming. “Many mornings I wake up in a state of denial myself,” she admitted, but argued that people who make laws that keep fossil fuels burning “must be stopped”.
Rattle bangs the drum for classical music
Conductor Sir Simon Rattle took his battle against cuts in classical music to the Barbican last night. Sir Simon invited the BBC Singers, whose jobs have been at risk, to join his London Symphony Orchestra playing Poulenc. Before the music he urged that orchestras be protected from Arts Council and BBC cuts. “They are not things that can be just reassembled later or brought in from Ikea … not yet, at least,” he quipped.
Prize is worth the pain for Kay
Writer Adam Kay won big at the Bafta Television Craft Awards in the City last night. Kay won Best Writer for medical comedy-drama This Is Going To Hurt, which collected three prizes. Comedian Mel Giedroyc hosted, while guests included actors Lolly Adefope, Layton Williams and Therica-Wilson-Read. Also there was comedian John Bishop, who wore a black tuxedo. Was he hoping to catch the eye of James Bond producers? At the Roundhouse, Stormzy joined author Malorie Blackman for the first Merky Books literature festival, named after his publishing house.
