𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Do not read the following if you are easily distressed. It is graphic and disturbing and details the circumstances in which Thames Valley police officer Andrew Harper lost his life while he was just doing his job in August 2019. Responding to the reported theft of an expensive quad bike outside Reading, Berkshire, Harper, 28, working with a fellow officer spotted three young men with a bike matching the description being attached to a car. As Harper tried to apprehend the criminals his ankles got caught in a rope coming from the back of the car. The car took off at high speed and rather than stop and at least free the officer, the Old Bailey heard one of the gang ensured Harper was “swung side-to-side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him.”

He was dragged to his death through winding country lanes in this fashion for more than a mile and, having been stripped of his police uniform, his virtually naked body was so bloodied and disfigured an eye witness thought it was “the carcass of a dead deer.” The recently married Harper died on the roadside.

Despite the appalling circumstances of this brave officer’s death, last week the Ministry of Justice revealed two of the three people convicted of his killing could be freed from jail under Labour’s contentious early prisoner release scheme.

The two, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were both 17 at the time of the crime and passengers in the car were sentenced to 13 years in jail. But having served just half their term, they were set be freed.

Harper’s widow Lissie said: “It is deplorable to me that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable.”

And PC Harper’s mother is understandably equally distressed and said it made her “feel sick and feels like a slap in the face and an insult.”

Adding further insult is the fact, highlighted by Harper’s mother, that the two have never expressed any remorse for their actions and indeed laughed for much of their time on trial.

And while this case is at the higher end of crimes committed by offenders who could be released, around 6,000 prisoners were to be freed including sex offenders, child groomers, killers and those convicted of serious violent offences.

Clearly aware of the growing fury over this, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shown more street smarts in under a week than Sir Keir Starmer did in two years and demanded the release scheme is paused as he said he needs to “review” the case.

But what on earth is there to review?

At times during the pandemic, sweeping legislation was introduced within FOUR days and while I accept that was for the perceived safety of the nation, doesn’t the memory of a slain emergency worker deserve the same sort of treatment? Or is the MPs’ holiday (sorry, “recess” as they call it) too important to disturb?

Countless reviews, reports and commissions were so beloved of the previous administration, and the public soon saw through that. As he looks back on week one in office, Mr. Burnham would do well to realise that.

Last weekend saw the very definition of argy-bargy as two of Argentina’s national teams took part in separate sports tournaments. In the widely unloved and ill-conceived rugby Nations Championship, the Argentinian team decided on the hugely provocative measure of wearing replica shirts depicting their illegal and cheating ‘Hand of God’ football victory over England in 1986. Already under investigation for shoving the referee at the end of the game, their charge sheet grows.

Meanwhile on the same night the Argentinian football team ‘appeared’ in the World Cup final. You have to say appeared, as they certainly didn’t ‘play’ with their tactics being to kick Spain into submission while mustering one shot on goal. On their delightful defeat, all but one player turned their backs on the ceremony handing medals to their victors.

Joyfully, Argentina LOST both games. And they should know no one, that’s NO ONE, cried for them!

We have something in common, people!

I see Andy Burnham gives speeches in the same way I sing: without notes!

Why do we put up with this?

The utter absurdity of our political system was brilliantly highlighted by the new cabinet posts handed out last week. While some are undoubtedly talented, the way senior ministers are bounced from job to job is plain nuts.

Two years ago, Yvette Cooper was our Home Secretary, last year she was moved to the Foreign Secretary role and last week she was moved again, this time to the health brief. Last month John Healey oversaw defence, now he’s Chancellor! Net zero zealot Ed Miliband, whose views on Donald Trump are less than flattering, is deemed suitable for the foreign secretary job.

No other business could be run like this, and in education the notion the head of physics one year would swap to English the next academic year and to French after that would be risible.

So, why is it tolerated with this mad ministerial merry-go-round?

Didn’t make it in for some reason

RE: that nauseating “What has the BBC ever done for me?” advert.

Try: Glastonbury death chants, Huw Edwards, bogus editing of President Trump and Martin Bashir’s disgraceful delusion of Princess Diana.

Enough now!

Stop with the criticism of Andy Burnham’s wife, Marie-France van Heel, who was unfairly lambasted for her fashion choice on the day her husband arrived at No. 10.

Wives/husbands/partners do not sign up for public life, they are merely trying to be supportive – so don’t hate on them, rather concentrate on the policies from those they love.

Go on, Sean!

If raw emotion can help power a swimmer to victory, Madeleine McCann’s younger brother Sean, 21, will triumph as he competes for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games.

A nation is behind you, young man.