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This England: Badly Drawn Boy

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 town councillor has resigned due to ongoing allegations that he is the artist Banksy.

Cllr William Gannon, of Pembroke Dock’s Bufferland Ward, is stepping down with immediate effect due to rumours that he is secretly the cult street artist, whose net worth has been estimated to be $50m. Cllr Gannon said the claims are undermining his ability to work on the council.
The National (Kate McIntosh)

Our location? It’s up in the air

Air passengers have been left panicked and confused after a “Welcome to Luton” sign appeared near Gatwick Airport. The 60m sign is visible on the approach to Gatwick, which is about 60 miles south of Luton.

The stunt has been claimed by the YouTube prankster Max Fosh, who apologised if “anyone has been seriously thrown”.
BBC News (Daragh Brady)

Sour puss

A sign has been put up in a hotel window to reassure passers-by that a “screaming” cat is happy and well looked after. Arya loudly yowls for attention from Harlington Hotel in King’s Cross.

The cat was rescued from a dumpster in southern Italy by her owner Giulia Ranu. Pet lovers have been stopping into the hotel asking about Arya’s welfare because of her unusual meowing timbre.

“She’s very vocal and she likes to talk,” said Ms Ranu, who works in the hotel. “I had to put out the sign because people were coming in asking if I was torturing her.”
Camden New Journal (Amanda Welles)

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This article appears in the 01 Jun 2022 issue of the New Statesman, Platinum Jubilee Special