View of history as an imperial war crime

Canterbury and Whitstable MP Sir Julian Brazier is calling for the disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner to be prosecuted for treason. From 2010, Shiner brought more than 3,000 unfounded allegations against British servicemen in the Iraq War, which began in 2003. This was not just allowed to happen, but was actively encouraged by the authorities. Such things arise because it is hard-wired into our national psyche that Britain and, of course, America are the sole sources of all evil, forever guilty for all misery and hardship in the world. All history has been rewritten as an imperial war crime. And so it makes total sense that someone like Phil Shiner – applauded by legal cheerleaders like Baroness Shami Chakrabarti – is granted the money and approval to pursue anything which damages Britain, and especially its military.

What a shame crepe seller Simon Bunce didn’t win his application for a permanent pancake cabin by the little memorial garden in the High Street. Simon has been a faithful servant to this city for a long time, knocking out sweet and savoury crepes in all weathers. He’s there most of the day so a cabin would hardly wreck the look of the area. The garden behind it, meanwhile, has become the central hang-out spot for Canterbury’s legion of Deliveroo cyclists.

Comedian Frank Skinner (whose real name is Chris Collins) recalled that his old West Midlands local newspaper was called The Smethwick Telephone. At a stand-up show once, Skinner pondered why it was so named. An audience member was quick to provide the answer: “Because it’s from Smethwick.”

Fact of the week: The Institute for Fiscal Studies reports that spending on adult care has fallen more than 6% since 2010 – while overseas aid has climbed by 40%.

Phil Shiner