It’s been a good week’s viewing for fans of Wessex history. On Monday the BBC ran a repeat of Michael Wood’s portrait of Alfred the Great, warming up for Neil Oliver on Tuesday, who wove a documentary about the king’s bones and their present whereabouts. If it was supposed to be an exclusive, it didn’tContinue reading "Our Silent, Supine Cities"
The Tyranny of Growth
“The substance of the eminent Socialist gentleman's speech is that making a profit is a sin, but it is my belief that the real sin is taking a loss.” Sir Winston ChurchillWhat if the ‘real sin’ is neither, but to engage in a particular economic activity in the first place? Is it a sin toContinue reading "The Tyranny of Growth"
Wise Men (and Women) From The East?
January’s issue of BBC History Magazine includes an interview with Professor Linda Colley, described by Wikipedia as “a historian of Britain, empire and nationalism”. It’s a very revealing article, to the extent that Colley articulates what are the common, unconscious prejudices of the metropolitan chattering classes – the MCCs – towards the past, present andContinue reading "Wise Men (and Women) From The East?"
Tarzan’s Monkey Cage
Localism. What does it mean? It seems to mean that local communities can decide whatever they like but if they ever make the wrong decision, as judged from London, they will be severely punished for doing so. And will know that they jolly well deserve it too. Who’s a naughty community then? George Osborne announcedContinue reading "Tarzan’s Monkey Cage"
Distant Thunder
"We have just received a document which has been given to the world under the title of a ‘Statement of Certain Scottish Grievances’… The two most important heads of complaint are, that a revenue of £5,764,804, raised in Scotland, is transmitted to England and disbursed for Imperial purposes, and that the representation of Scotland isContinue reading "Distant Thunder"
Receiving The Water Bill
DEFRA – to some cynics the Department for Eliminating Farming and Rural Activity – is piloting a Bill through the Westminster Parliament to change how the water and sewerage industry is regulated. It tells us that “privatisation of the water industry has been successful in attracting over £116 billion of investment… Without this investment, waterContinue reading "Receiving The Water Bill"
Write Lines
Although politicians from the London parties routinely associate the words ‘education’ and ‘choice’, the thing most striking about their policies is that they offer the electorate no choice at all. Would you guess, from following the roll-out of academies and free schools, the constant undermining of local democratic choice, which party was in power? TheContinue reading "Write Lines"
British Balderdash Conspiracy
One reason why our publicity is largely channelled through this blog is that London hacks simply can’t be trusted to tell the unvarnished truth. Wessex is a really straightforward idea with which they really struggle. At the start of this month we gave an interview to the BBC. Their researcher – who is actually fromContinue reading "British Balderdash Conspiracy"
Some Folk With Attitude
The folk of Wessex think of themselves as free, but are slaves to their own poor self-esteem, forever doubting their capacity for self-rule. Nine hundred years after the brutal conquest of their land, they have so little pride left in them that they cheerfully reject at every election the escape route offered by regionalism, preferringContinue reading "Some Folk With Attitude"
The Worker’s Hire
“They hang the man, and flog the woman,Who steals the goose from off the commonBut leave the greater felon looseWho steals the common from the goose. The law demands that we atoneWhen we take things we do not ownBut leaves the lords and ladies fineWho takes things that are yours and mine.The poor and wretched don’t escapeIfContinue reading "The Worker’s Hire"
Wessex Regionalists 