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  1. Politics
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10 March 2021

This England: Mine, all mine

This column – which, though named after a line in Shakespeare’s Richard II, refers to the whole of Britain – has run in the NS since 1934. 

By New Statesman

A beachcomber’s hopes of keeping a washed-up sea mine have been dashed.

Joe Gray spotted the mine on rocks near Penzance, Cornwall, and rolled it home once coastguards confirmed it was inert. The mine was proudly displayed as a seat, footstool and even coffee table for just under two weeks – until a navy representative claimed it back. They said it had broken free after being tethered to the seabed for a training exercise.

Disappointed Joe said: “I’ll just have to hope another one washes up one day.”

Metro (Daragh Brady)

Rabbit in the headlights

A driver has been fined after police found the van they were driving on the motorway to be overweight by 20 per cent – because of a load of carrots.

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Police said the vehicle caught their attention at Junction 26 on the M62 due to the “number of rabbits on the verge of the motorway watching it pass”.

Yorkshire Evening Post (Michael Meadowcroft)

Small wonder

An ecologist was driving to work on the Somerset Levels when he stopped to photograph thousands of starlings that had flown directly across the road in front of him.

Jamie Kingscott, 26, said: “There were several thousand of them. They were all over the place.”

He said that he often makes a “special effort” to see the stunning winter murmurations, but that the birds coming “to see me on my way to work was quite nice of them. You can’t help but be slightly impressed.”

BBC West (Christopher Rossi)

Each printed entry receives a £5 book token. Entries to comp@newstatesman.co.uk or on a postcard to This England.

[see also: This England: Get into jail free]

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This article appears in the 10 Mar 2021 issue of the New Statesman, Grief nation

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
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  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
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Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
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