Harry Cole's vivid imagination
Now he's done himself no harm by penning a batshit mental piece for his paper which should find favour with immigration officials scouring media types' output to ensure they're simpatico with the MAGA agenda.
Last year Rats in a Sack reported how Harry Cole, the Sun's political editor, was desperate to desert these shores for Trumpland. With his Tory contacts out of power, and not being groomed by News Corp bosses as management material, Carrie Johnson's ex-boyfriend was said to be keen on a transatlantic transfer.
Under the unwieldy headline 'Americans kept asking me 'What the hell is going on in Britain?' – we need to be very worried by the answer', Cole paints a picture of a recent trip Stateside in which everyone – 'from cab-drivers, bellboys, waitresses and strangers to security guards' – was concerned about the state of the UK under Sir Keir Starmer's apparently dystopian rule.
'Complaints ranged from locking people up for things they post on social media, the near-endless stream of protest hate and bile in our cities every Saturday afternoon to the scarring legacy of a generation of kids mutilated by the NHS at the Tavistock gender clinic,' writes Cole, shaking his head at the potpourri of issues his accent had provoked curiously well-informed bellboys and waitresses to bring up with him.
'But most chillingly, there was a repeated fear of ever visiting over concerns they would be mugged or stabbed,' he adds of the inhabitants of notoriously crime-free America (mass shootings in 2025 so far: 91, with 118 dead and 338 wounded).
While conceding that some of this was prompted by 'endless knocking pieces from left-wing US broadsheets' – conjuring up images of cabbies tut-tutting over the New York Times op-ed pages – Cole warns that 'the message is clear: Britain looks totally bonkers at the moment and is serving as a chilling warning for America of what might be'.
In particular Americans were apparently desperate to bring up unprompted with Cole the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt, a woman convicted at Poole Magistrates' Court last week of breaching an abortion clinic protection zone, US bellboys being famously consumers of the website of the Bournemouth Echo.
Such cases were putting off 'the very people we need to welcome with open arms to spend big at our globally loved landmarks', worried Cole, space constraints alas preventing him from noting that inbound travel to the US is now projected to decline by 5.5% this year instead of growing by nearly 9% as had previously been forecast, thanks largely to the conduct of the sainted Donald Trump.
Cole filed this 1,000 words of what our American friends would call baloney on April 6 and has since been forced to spend the best part of a week writing about how his hero has knocked $6.6 trillion off the stock markets. What a sad loss to the British media landscape he'll be once Uncle Sam finally comes calling!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump's 'terrifying' order as National Guard descend on LA amid clashes
Donald Trump has called for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles, with the troops soon descending on the city as violent clashes continue to break out President Donald Trump issued a chilling command as tensions escalated in Los Angeles, posting on his Truth Social page that things were "looking really bad" in the city. The 47th POTUS's remarks have sparked outrage from former Vice President Kamala Harris and political commentators who accuse him of inciting fear amid ongoing protests. As clashes between protesters and ICE agents intensify, Trump has instructed National Guard troops to intervene in LA, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to brand him a "stone cold liar." Trump's alarming call to action was made clear when he took to Truth Social. His comments have been widely criticised. He wrote: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!" He then doubled down with another post demanding: "ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!" Former Vice President Harris has slammed the decision to deploy the National Guard, releasing a statement that criticises Trump's "dangerous escalation" and expresses her dismay at the unrest in her hometown. Harris stated: "Los Angeles is my home. And like so many Americans, I am appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city. Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos." Harris slammed the "recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation," as "part of the Trump Administration's cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division." She concluded her statement by asserting that the president was "stoking fear". Social media reactions to Harris were mixed, with one supporter enthusing: "If you were our PRESIDENT, we would be at peace right now! The future wouldn't be so scary." However, a critic responded: "This is why you and the party you represent lost. Keep 'em coming. We don't mind taking the midterms." Amid tensions, California Governor Gavin Newsom implored Vice President J.D. Vance to stop kindling unrest while Trump and Vance commended the National Guard for their efforts, despite their absence from the scene. Governor Newsom retorted on social media: "You didn't even know when your own National Guard was deployed on the ground. Stop fanning the flames." He pledged to arrest and prosecute "bad actors" but vowed to shield the "many, many peaceful protestors" as they exercise a "fundamental right", stressing: "But Donald Trump needs to pull back. He needs to stand down." Newson pointedly placed responsibility, saying: "Donald Trump is inflaming these conditions. This is Donald. Trump's problem right now. And if he can't solve it, we will." The National Guard and Donald Trump are facing a fierce backlash from the public, with one person taking to X to express their anger, writing: "Donald Trump is a weak leader. He does not know how to govern. Little child boy."
Powys County Times
10 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Nigel Farage calls for ‘re-industrialisation' of Wales
Nigel Farage has said his party wants to restart Port Talbot's blast furnaces and 're-industrialise Wales'. On a visit to South Wales, the leader of Reform UK said the resumption of traditional steelmaking and coal production is the party's long-term ambition if it comes to power. The speech came one year ahead of the Senedd elections in May next year, where the party is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination. Addressing reporters, Mr Farage acknowledged that plans to open a traditional furnace could take years and cost 'in the low billions'. The GMB Union has branded the plans 'more lies from an opportunistic chancer'. Port Talbot's remaining blast furnaces were shut down in September, with a new electric arc furnace being built in their place. Tata Steel, the owner of the plant, said the closure of the furnaces was necessary, with the steelworks losing £1m a day. 'Our ambition is to re-industrialise Wales,' Mr Farage said. 'We are going to be using more steel over the next few years than we have probably ever used. 'As we increase military spending and as we attempt a house building programme in Wales, and even more so in England, of massive proportions, just to catch up with the population explosion over the last 20 years, we are going to need a lot of steel.' The Reform leader said 'specific types of coal' are needed in the UK, particularly for a new blast furnace. 'I'm not saying let's open all of the pits,' he said. 'What I am saying is coal, specific types of coal for certain uses that we still need in this country – and we certainly will need for the blast furnaces here – we should be producing ourselves rather than importing.' While he acknowledged 'mining is dangerous', Mr Farage said the industry could provide well-paying jobs. The Reform leader acknowledged the plan to open a new furnace would cost 'in the low billions' and would be 'no easy thing'. 'It's a massive, expensive job to reopen blast furnaces, we're going to need cheaper energy, we're going to need much cheaper coal, we are going to need private business partners prepared to come into a joint venture,' he said. Responding to the GMB Union allegations that his party's plans were 'lies', Mr Farage said the union was tied to the Labour Party as one of its biggest funders. He said: 'They see us as a challenge, and therefore, they'll be rude about us. 'What you will find is that increasingly, GMB members are going to vote for us, and the more GMB members vote for us, the more upset GMB officials and leaders will become. 'Frankly, the trade unions have done nothing to protect British workers through open borders over the last 20-25 years.' During his speech, Mr Farage said he doubted that the electric arc furnace, which is due to come online in 2028, 'will ever, ever be switched on'. Challenged on what evidence he had, he argued that with British energy prices being so high, it would be producing 'very, very expensive secondary steel'. He added: 'I hope I'm wrong, an electric arc furnace is not the real deal, but it's better than nothing.' Mr Farage said the party's campaign for the Senedd election next May 'starts today', but would not say when Reform would announce a leader in Wales. Regional officer Ruth Brady, speaking at the GMB's annual conference in Brighton, said: 'The people of Port Talbot will see this for what it is – more lies from this opportunistic chancer. 'Nigel Farage was happy to let British Steel go to the wall. He'll trot out any line when the cameras are rolling. He doesn't care about steel communities or steel workers.' Ms Brady said the plans to shut the blast furnaces were made by the last Tory government and the union wanted Labour to 'make good on their promises to our members in Port Talbot'. Political opponents hit out at Reform's plans, with a Welsh Labour spokesperson saying the people of Wales would 'see through' Mr Farage's false hopes and promises. 'His answer is to bring back the mines. The only thing Nigel Farage is trying to mine is votes from communities that have already gone through tough times,' they said. 'Nigel Farage has today brought his fantasy politics and magic money tree to Port Talbot. He's gambling with real people's livelihoods.' Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, accused Mr Farage of making 'wild promises' without speaking to Tata. Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick argued mining was Wales' past, not its future. 'My relatives in South Wales worked hard to ensure that their children and grandchildren wouldn't have to do the dangerous work of going down the pits and for future generations to have better opportunities in life,' he said. 'The fact that Nigel Farage doesn't see this shows how poorly he understands Welsh communities.' Heledd Fychan, speaking for Plaid Cymru, accused Mr Farage of 'taking advantage' after the industry said reopening the existing furnaces would be 'impossible.' 'You can imagine my surprise at his calls to reopen the coal mines in Wales, especially considering the actions taken by his political hero, Margaret Thatcher,' she said. 'Reform clearly have no interest in actually improving the lives of the people of Wales, they can only come up with unrealistic and unsubstantiated headlines that will be of no material benefit to the people of Port Talbot or Wales. Greenpeace also hit out at the plans, saying bringing back British coal 'has about as much chance of success as resurrecting dinosaurs'.
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘They're about stoking fear': Harris rips Trump administration over Los Angeles crackdown
Former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has accused the Trump administration of escalating the situation in Los Angeles 'to provoke chaos'. Harris criticized the decision to send in the National Guard to tackle activists opposing arrests being made by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents as part of an effort to round-up and deport undocumented migrants. She also claimed that the protesters who have taken to the streets of Los Angeles to demonstrate against Trump 's crackdown were 'overwhelmingly peaceful'. Protesters have clashed with police officers for the last three days in opposition to ICE's latest raids, resulting in violent scenes as the authorities retaliate with tear gas and flash grenades in an attempt to maintain order. 'Los Angeles is my home,' Harris, the state's former attorney general, said in a statement posted to social media. 'And like so many Americans, I am appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city. Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos.' She characterized ICE's actions as 'part of the Trump administration's cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division.' Harris continued: 'This administration's actions are not about public safety – they are about stoking fear. Fear of a community demanding dignity and due process.' She went on to express her support for the activists taking part, noting that protest is 'a power tool – essential in the fight for justice.' 'I continue to support the millions of Americans who are standing up to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms,' Harris concluded. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been the most vocal public figure opposing the president's intervention in the unrest so far, accusing Trump of 'manufacturing a crisis' and behaving like a dictator. The Democrats also challenged Trump's 'tough guy' border czar Tom Homan to arrest him. The first of the 2,000 federalized members of the National Guard entered the fray on Sunday and Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a late-night press conference that 27 new arrests had been made that day, warning that the clashes were 'getting increasingly worse and more violent.' ICE operations across Los Angeles County since Friday have so far resulted in the arrest of 118 accused illegal immigrants despite the local resistance agents have encountered, the Department of Homeland Security has said. The episode is the latest obstacle encountered by the Trump administration as part of its effort to orchestrate the largest mass deportation push in American history, which has seen the president invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand his authority. Harris has largely kept out of the public eye since losing last November's presidential election to Trump but did make a surprise appearance at the Met Gala a month ago. That came a week after she accused the Republican of 'abandoning American ideals' and setting the U.S. on the path to recession through his chaotic tariff policy in a speech in San Francisco in April, predicting the coming storm would amount to the 'greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history.'
