There Will Always Be An England?

No, there won't. Not if no one cares about there being an England anymore.

Exhibit A: Gordon Brown's secret negotiations with the Taliban, which he had previously denied. Not exactly Churchillian, innit?

The Prime Minister had denied reports of talks with the Taliban under questioning from David Cameron, the Tory leader, in Parliament.

Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary said: "If this turns out to be untrue the Prime Minister will have some explaining to do to the British public."

It looks like the Prime Minister has some explaining to do to the British public. And to his "allies" in the United States as well.

(JYB Tailwag: Bryan)

Exhibit B: Via LGF, the dreaming spires of Oxford will soon echo with a different sound:

Muslim plans to broadcast a loudspeaker call to prayer from a city centre mosque have been attacked by local residents who say it would turn the area into a "Muslim ghetto".

Dozens of people packed out a council meeting to express their concerns over the plans for a two-minute long call to prayer to be issued three times a day, saying that it could drown out the traditional sound of church bells.

It's down the Cowley road, over the Cherwell from Magdalen, but even so I imagine it will still be quite audible in the glorious May Morning recital from atop Magdalen's tower.

Hey, it's just like church bells, right? Right?