Anti Semitism

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has issued an alarming report on the rise in anti-semitism in the UK and worldwide.

Unfortunately, they define any criticism of the mass murder of women and children in Gaza as "anti-semitism".

On the one hand, this devalues their argument. On the other hand, they clearly think that the activities of the Israeli Defence Force are not responsible in part for the rise in anti-semitism. They have made no criticism of the slaughter in Gaza and the proposed concentration camp for Palestinians.

Setting up a concentration camp for Palestinians and calling it a humanitarian city is holocaust denial of the worst kind.

A new party?

The argument about alternatives to Labour has been going on for as long as I have been alive. Some think that however revolting the behaviour of the Labour leadership, the party still has a mass base which any alternative cannot reach. 

Trade unions continue to support Labour MPs who vote against workers' interests. However, the trade union leaderships can be pressurised by the rank and file to support only those MPs or candidates who stand up for the working class. It is not too much to ask.

The argument about "splitting the vote" was used when the Labour Party itself was founded because it took votes away from the Liberals. It didn't stop them and it should not stop Socialists now.

By any standard, the government has blood on its hands both for supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza and nearer to home for trying to make the poor pay for the crisis of capitalism.

The opinion of the Socialist Party is here

The Ouija Board

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According to legend, the Ouija board was asked the question, "What shall we call you?" and it came up with "Ouija" which is French and German for "Yes".

As I say, according to legend.

Click here

All Your Stories Anthology June 2025

All of the stories in this volume are entertaining. I would like to make a special mention of Linda Hibbin. Her work is very amusing and reminded me of school dinners - not necessarily in a good way. Her writing captures both the nature of school dinners and the humour of children who had no choice but to eat them.
And at the same time, it shows the way that adults talk to children and do not necessarily tell the exact truth about the past.

The other stories are well worth a look, especially mine obvs!

An Invitation

An invitation

#worthingflash is an online blog run by Durrington writer Derek McMillan with the assistance of 100 other writers. You could become one!

The original aim was to encourage flash fiction in Worthing. Writers from all over the world have now taken part.

There is a competition for 100-word stories which are published in September on http://worthingflash.blogspot.com and the prize will be Derek's new book "The Pernicious Snood" which is also due for publication in September.

The maximum length in other months is 1000 words and many stories are a lot shorter. If you want to get an idea of the kind of stories accepted have a look at the blog. You can Google worthingflash or say "Alexa, find worthing flash" if you prefer.

Over 100,000 people have visited the blog so your writing will have a large audience.

All stories should be sent to worthingflash@gmail.com

All writers are volunteers. It costs nothing to submit but the reward is kudos not cash.

Lady Susan

This is a very amusing and very short story. The epistolatory novel is not in fashion. In fact, towards the end, it ceases to be a collection of letters with the author summarising the situation.

The book was not published in Jane Austen's lifetime. It lacks to subtlety of her later works. It could almost be rough notes for a Jane Austen novel.

Lady Susan is a distinctly awful person. I can think of very few Jane Austen characters who are so venal.

However, I did enjoy reading it.

Flash Phantoms

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Becky Cooper's letter to David Lammy

If one MP can draw attention to the situation in Gaza, so can others.