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17 February 2021

This England: Snow place like home

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

An igloo was listed on a property website, on sale for a cool £250,000. The advert, which was later taken down, said the “one-bedroom house” was on the fictional “North Pole Road” in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

It would be a “great first home” according to the listing, but was “showing signs of damp”. Brady Rackham from estate agents Palmer & Partners said: “We have actually had a few viewing requests.”

BBC Essex (Daragh Brady)

[See also: This England: Don’t get the small stuff]

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Mum knows best

A teenager who filmed himself harassing Professor Chris Whitty in the street has been ordered to apologise by his furious mother.

The 15-year-old was branded “pathetic” by ministers after footage shared on TikTok showed him accusing England’s chief medical officer of “lying” about Covid-19. Now he has been reprimanded by his mum, who told him to make a new video saying sorry to Mr Whitty.

“I was horrified when I saw how rude my son was,” the 47-year-old said. “I have taken away his PlayStation, the thing he loves the most.”
Metro (Amanda Welles)

[See also: 

This England: Pota-toe]

Image is everything

The owner of a digital photo gallery has had pictures of wildlife and buildings blocked by Facebook for supposedly containing “overtly sexual” content.

Examples include a photo of the England cricket team in a huddle and one of a cow standing in a field. Mr Hall said there was “nothing risqué” about any of the 400 images on his business page. Facebook told the BBC it was investigating the issue.
BBC South (James Shepherd)

[See also: This England: Men who Zoom with goats]

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

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This article appears in the 17 Feb 2021 issue of the New Statesman, War against truth

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
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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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