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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
American President is a Top Trump when it comes to language
Americans, being linguistically conservative, continue to use the word correctly, whereas the relatively slovenly British started to abandon it about the end of the 17th century. Donald Trump is not an elegant orator and freely uses colloquialisms; sometimes even words that the Chambers Dictionary once categorised as 'not in polite use'. However, his speech is syntactically more precise than that of any other prominent politician. Robin Dow, Rothesay. Read more Bus-t up On a recent BBC News at One there was a report about plans to introduce free bus travel down south for young people aged between 16 and 22. The report mentioned that in Scotland we've had free bus travel for 5–22 years olds since 2022. On the follow-up Scottish news there was a report describing how the authorities are considering measures to deal with the anti-social behaviours that plague our buses, and the possibility of bus passes being withdrawn for offenders. Problems have increased dramatically in the past three years due to a minority of young bus users travelling to places quite distant to their home and causing trouble either on the bus or at their destination. A few months ago, there were reports of serious problems on buses in the Kelso area, which regularly led to police involvement. In Edinburgh there have been many cases where bus services have been stopped on certain routes due to anti-social incidents, particularly during the fireworks season. So, England, be aware! Brian Watt, Edinburgh. Centre of attention I am writing a book about Chesters Management Centre, which was located in Bearsden, Glasgow. Part of the University of Strathclyde, it operated from 1955 until 1976. It was a residential management training college, with accommodation for 100 participants. Each year about 1,000 people were attending management courses. I would love to hear from anyone who has memories of Chesters Management Centre. My home is in the village of Aberuthven, near Auchterarder, Perthshire. Please contact me through my personal email, profgordon@ or by telephone, 077-622-76693. If anyone would like a face-to-face meeting, I will be delighted to meet with you. Gordon C. Anderson, Auchterarder, Perthshire. Worrying trend On page eight of Wednesday's Herald there was a photograph of people running through the water at some speed. The caption underneath reads: "Migrant families wade into the sea in an attempt to board a small boat." I studied the picture carefully. Rather than seeing 'families', as the caption suggests, the photo shows over 70 young men. There are only two females and a child, towards the rear of the group. With reportedly more than fifty thousand illegal immigrants landing in the UK since Labour came to power, the proportions in the image are surely typical, and should be a cause for concern. James Martin, Bearsden. Brought to book Libraries gave us power. So goes the first line of 'Design for Life' by Manic Street Preachers. It's a reference to 'Knowledge is Power', the legend carved in stone above a library in Newport, near the Welsh band's home. Here in cosy, soi-disant 'progressive' Scotland, it would be nice to think that we too would embrace this ethos. To be accepting of books or writing, irrespective of whether the content offends, provokes profound disagreement, or sets us on edge. No matter how egregious we deem such content to be, banning or proscribing books is the stuff of totalitarianism. Yet over at the National Library of Scotland, they appear to have a different take, certainly based on the removal of a gender-critical book from an exhibition, at the behest of NLS staff ('Scots National Library accused of 'cowardice' over exclusion of gender critical book', The Herald, August 14). Perhaps the staff didn't feel comfortable with the content, but that's neither here nor there. It's a library, not a protest group. Unless, of course, they are so intolerant of other views, based on seeing life through their ideological prism, that they can't abide to entertain for one second a diversity or difference of opinions. (Such irony.) So now they hold the power over knowledge. Why not go the whole hog and burn the gender-critical book? On which note, a Google search confirms that the NLS keeps a copy of Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' in the building. Assuming this is true, it seems we're now so enlightened in Scotland, and such is the health of public debate, that the staff of our nation's foremost repository of books, writing and knowledge are comfortable working in an institution that protects and preserves a book written by the racist, fascist, instigator of the world's worst conflict and the Holocaust. Yet they can't handle women speaking their mind forcefully on a subject of controversy and heated view points. Wow. Just wow. Colin Montgomery, Edinburgh. Wolfish ways We are informed that Scotland's national library banned a book about feminists' fight against Nicola Sturgeon's gender self-identification law, after staff complained its contents were ''hate speech'' comparable to racism. American President Thomas Jefferson argued that if the facts in a book were false they should be disproved, and if the reasoning was fallacious it should be refuted, concluding: ''But for God's sake let us freely hear both sides''. Unpopular ideas must be given a hearing and criticism encouraged. Without unhampered criticism of public figures and public policy a democracy would soon deteriorate. To quote Jefferson again: ''To demand the censors of public measures to be given up for punishment is to renew the demand of the wolves in the fable that the sheep should give up their dogs as hostages of the peace and confidence established between them.'' Censorship in the National Library of Scotland… for heaven's sakes! Doug Clark, Midlothian. Author Charles Dickens... was he one of the Victorians who had strange ideas? (Image: Rochester Museum) Body bafflement Some people look back on the Victorian era with amusement, if not scorn, for some of the attitudes of the time. For instance, covering up table legs lest they inflame the passions of gentlemen with little self-control. I wonder if, in a century's time (should humanity last that long), people will look back with incredulity at the "Sturgeonian" era in Scotland, when it was thought that women could have male appendages. Brian Johnston, Torrance.
Metro
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
BBC Breakfast's Nina Warhurst returns to show after family death
BBC Breakfast presenter Nina Warhurst was back on the sofa this morning after a few weeks off following her father's death. The 44-year-old media personality was joined by her co-host Ben Thompson on this morning's show as the pair covered the day's biggest news, lifestyle and entertainment topics, including 'phubbing' (the act of snubbing someone by looking at your phone). In early July, the BBC News at One host shared the sad news of her father's death after he was diagnosed with mixed dementia (Alzheimer's and vascular dementia) in 2022. Alongside a black and white image of herself holding her dad's hand, she shared a heartfelt post with followers paying tribute to her late father. 'My Dad died on Wednesday night. From Sunday me, my Mum and sisters spent precious time with him around the clock….singing, crying, laughing, sharing memories 'On his last day we had nursing home afternoon tea, chippy chips and wine together. 'He drifted away gently with me and Amy holding him and telling him to 'go on ahead. We'll see you there soon.' And he did. I had my hand on his heart as the ripples softened and stopped. 'A gentle end to a gentle life. So much love and laughter and sunshine across days I'll never forget 'He is in my mind all the time now as we adjust to a world without him in it. I can't quite accept that's real yet,' she wrote at the time. 'But we think it's really important for anyone going through this to know that the end can be peaceful and beautiful.' Although the mum-of-three still occasionally appears on BBC Breakfast, in April she made a shift to a permanent role on BBC News at One after seven years on the morning news show. During her last episode as Money & Work presenter in April, her former co-presenter Jon Kay penned a farewell to her on social media. More Trending 'I just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been to work with her since I joined Brekkie. 'She's one of the most talented, dedicated, versatile, fun and fearless people I know. She commits 100% to any story or issue she's covering. She always puts the audience first. And she's exactly the same off-air as she is on the sofa. 'Much as we'll miss her energy and smiles at 0445, we're all delighted for her that she can now have a little more sleep – and a bit more time at home with her wonderful family in the mornings. She'll be amazing at lunchtime x,' he praised at the time. View More » BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC News presenter issues withering response to sexist criticism from viewer
BBC News presenter Nina Warhurst has shared a withering response to criticism from a viewer on social media. Warhurst, 44, currently works as the lead presenter of BBC News at One, having previously served as business and consumer presenter on BBC Breakfast. On Instagram, the TV host shared a comment directed at her on social media, which made reference to her age, her attire, and her accent. "Just wondering if @NinaWarhurst has an opinion on what constitutes TOO short a skirt for a 44-year-old,' the original post read. 'Anyway, it's pleasing there's a very positive move towards 'received' pronunciation.' Received Pronunciation, also known as RP or the Queen's or King's English, is the Southern British accent historically regarded as the 'standard'. In the past, presenters on the BBC all spoke with RP accents, although evolving social sensibilities have rendered this approach outdated and largely condemned in recent years. In an Instagram story, Warhurst shared the comment from the X/Twitter user, alongside her own response. 'When you briefly check back in with Twitter/X… because surely it can't be the stream of uninvited feedback from men that you remember, and….. Oh hi there,' she wrote. '(Translation: if you're gonna look like an old trout, it's more acceptable if you don't sound as Mancunian. Noted).' Warhurst has appeared on News at One since April, departing her previous role at BBC Breakfast. Announcing the change on social media at the time, the presenter shared a photo of herself at the start of her stint on Breakfast, writing: 'I'll be hanging up the high-viz and hairnet for a wee while as I join the BBC's News at One. 'The second photo was almost exactly seven (! ) years ago. I was heavily pregnant, very nervous, and unbelievably excited to be offered a few shifts on the national broadcast treasure that is @bbcbreakfast ... @stephlunch took time to show me the ropes and help me feel at home.' BBC News at One airs at 1pm on BBC One, and has been a fixture of the channel since 1986.
