They say Butterflies are the equivalent of the ‘canary in a coal mine’. They provide a measure of the health of our natural environment, and their presence or absence is closely linked to the activities of people and the impact humans have on the natural world.

It is a long time since there have been quite so many butterflies and moths as there are this summer. A multitude of butterflies of every hue and colour, rise up in clouds across fields and gardens.

This abundance of butterflies, along with huge numbers of bugs, bees and other insects, somewhat questions the theory that farmers are destroying the environment by polluting the atmosphere with CO2 emissions, nitrates, methane and other horrors, due to modern day farming.

I would argue the opposite. British farming is way ahead of curve, and our ethical, experienced and well balanced management of the countryside, offsets the damage done in towns and cities where roads are congested and emissions pollute the atmosphere with toxic fumes.

Manufacturing industries, energy providers and waste disposal all create varying degrees of pollution, including damaging waterways and coastlines. They are a necessary evil if we wish to maintain a thriving manufacturing industry. But, it should be noted that the farmers, growers and landowners who manage and maintain the countryside, are the best antidote money can buy.

The Environmental lobbyists, and Eco warriors, one of which gate crashed the Mansion House attempting to disrupt the Chancellor’s speech, and was appropriately man handled by heroic MP Mark Field, should take note.

Mr Field was quick to spot the threat, unlike the official security guys. He should be congratulated rather than being suspended by lame duck Mrs May. It seems all the good guys who are prepared to act decisively or speak their mind, get suspended from the Tory party, while the mealy mouthed, PC brigade are kept on side, propping up the so called top dogs.

It is clear that the BBC, left wing anti-Brexit newspapers, and remain conservative MPs are doing their best to sabotage Boris Johnson’s campaign. They obviously consider Jeremy Hunt with his remain credentials to be more malleable; a man who will probably buckle under pressure from Brussels and his fellow Europhile MPs. As someone who knows Mr Hunt well observed recently, “He is Mrs May in trousers”.

There are many supporters who consider Mr Hunt’s personal attacks upon his opponent to be undignified and unworthy of a future Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson has not attacked any of his rivals. However when it comes to politics and policies he shoots from the hip. He does not tolerate PC piffle, and he has confirmed that he will deliver Brexit by 31st October. Never afraid to say what others are thinking, he does occasionally make himself an open target.

To have a maverick Prime Minister who is an original during these turbulent times, will prove to be a game changer. Boris is the Trump Card, who with a capable hand of determined Brexit colleagues, will turn the tables on Brussels.

Halloween as observed on 31st October, is a celebration on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ day, beginning the three-day observance of Allhallowtide. A time dedicated to remembering the dead, martyrs, and faithful departed.

Let us hope that Halloween 2019 will be remembered as the date when the Prime Minister and his government eventually honoured faithfully the wishes of the 17.2million who voted to depart the dying European Union.
There are plenty putting money on BJ seeking support from Nigel Farrage who knows where the skeletons are buried in the EU. Having spent over twenty years trying to extract the UK, he is invaluable.
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Had Mrs May done so after the Referendum instead of sabotaging her colleague’s efforts, Brexit would have happened in March.

Farmers care deeply about British food. Where is comes from, how it is marketed and labelled, its quality, reputation, distribution and our ability to feed the nation. 
 
Food has the greatest impact upon people’s lives. When five people have died from eating bad food, and critically ill patients being cared for in NHS hospitals, where medical staff are doing their best to restore them to health, are being fed contaminated food, we are naturally deeply concerned.
 
When patients are dying from eating sandwiches contaminated with listeria, it is immaterial to us if the food was infected in the factory where is was prepared, or stored and handled inadequately whilst in the hospital kitchens, we are alarmed that people are dying from eating food.
 
Everyone knows how important it is to feed sick people wholesome, fresh and healthy food, to boost their recovery. Why are seriously ill patients being fed poor quality factory produced sandwiches?
 
This mass produced food no doubt contains preservatives, is made with cheap and quite probably imported products, and certainly lacks nutritional value.
 
The chief executive of Public Health England is rightly being hauled before the Commons Select Committee regarding the outbreak. I would suggest he should also check out food and feeding regimes in care homes.
 
Increasing numbers of senior citizens require full time care, many as dementia takes hold. Most arrive reasonably physically fit and agile, but within a relatively short time some become grossly overweight due to over feeding on a poor quality diet of processed food; often against their will.
 
The policy in some homes is to encourage residents to eat all meals, even if they choose not to. They get little exercise, as they no longer walk to the shops, or exercise the dog. The staff are too busy to take them out, and management too risk averse to allow them out of their sight, let alone to wander into the gardens. They spend their days sitting on their back sides.
 
The result is their legs no longer hold them up and they are prone to fall, with obvious consequences. The staff and carers struggle to handle them due to their excessive weight, and often damage their backs whilst doing their best to support them.
 
I am still curious to learn more about the ‘invisible population’ which still does not appear on the official government population data. According to the latest statistics the population of the UK at the time of writing, is 66,942,788. However, according to the combined data from the food industry including major supermarkets, is that they are feeding well over 77million on a daily basis.
 
It is time these statistics are checked out. A succession of Home Secretaries have chosen to ignore these facts, probably recognising this is a stone under which they fear they will find many undesirable and problematic worms.
 
Scott Wightman retired this month after four years as British High Commissioner in Singapore. Interviewed by the BBC last week, he openly criticised the UK for leaving the EU.
 
He implied that Singaporeans are baffled as to why the UK plans to sever ties with the EU, rather than remain part of the ‘federation’.
 
Considering Singapore became self-governing in 1967 and has since thrived, becoming one of Asia’s economic “tigers”, renowned for its independence, conservation and strict local laws, and prides itself on its stability and security, one should ask why they would question the UK’s wish for our independence from the stultifying and corrupt EU.
 
The answer is that Singapore is fed a daily diet of left wing ‘Remain’ propaganda by the BBC, which unfortunately they believe to be accurate. Perhaps now Mr Wightman has returned to the UK, his more intelligent friends will put him right and he will send dispatches back to his Singapore contacts giving a more balanced and accurate view. 

Congratulations to the ‘rain dancing’ farmers, who efforts have brought the much needed rain and continues to fall.
 
Their timing needs perfecting, but such is life. The rain was unhelpful for the South of England Show, and the Wivelsfield Church Fete held at Ote Hall on Saturday, could have done without the morning rain and force 8 gale blowing. On the plus side, the crops are having a jolly good soaking, so badly needed.
 
The D-Day commemorations recalling the events which took place 75 years ago were deeply moving.
 
The veterans who attended, now in their 90s, are part of an extraordinary generation of soldiers, sailors and airmen who responded to the ‘call to arms’ when they went to war, defending King and country, and the wider world.
 
They came from across the globe, from all walks of life, and came as one brotherhood. They put down the tools of their trades, and picked up arms to protect their loved ones, and the sovereignty of their nations.
 
Many had been part of the War effort since 1939. Their final battle was to free the French from the oppression and savagery of the German invasion, and the liberation of Europe. Too many perished, some returned deeply scarred. 
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It is fitting that we continue to remember and thank those who came to fight for our freedom, independence, sovereignty and future generations.
 
How depressing to read reports that many of today’s obese teenagers show the same signs of heart risk as older adults. Their arteries are already stiffened, and it is likely that they will experience heart disease at an early age.
 
During the war years and afterwards when food was rationed, few people died of illnesses associated with overeating and becoming overweight or obese. Diets were frugal as often the shelves were empty, and sugar a lurking poison, was scarce.
 
The comparison between then and now are stark. We are reminded how hard it was for mothers to feed their families, and their men folk were away at War, many never to return.
 
There was little money, and a scarcity of food compared with today’s overflowing supermarket shelves, multitude of food banks, state aid and shocking mountains of wasted food. Our mothers and grandmothers who lived through those years could teach us all a thing or two.
 
It is worth noting that after the War and into the 1950s, 60s and 70s, families spent 30 per cent of weekly income on food; today that figure is less than 10 per cent.
 
Today the result of a plentiful supply of cheap mass produced and over processed food, is a population engulfed by an epidemic of people of all ages who are overweight, obese and inactive. An escalating problem resulting in many dying relatively young.
 
The government seems unable to grasp how best to deal with this mounting problem. Healthy eating and more exercise must be encouraged to curb this plague costing multiple  lives, and the National Health Service £billions. It would be revolutionary, divisive and unpopular but could food rationing be the answer?
 
Ian Birrell has reported on famine in East Africa and poverty on three continents. He was commissioned by the Mail on Sunday to see if starving children really do stalk the streets of the UK as stated by the UN’s Special Rapporteur, Dame Emma Thompson and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
 
He has found that the definition of ‘food insecurity’ is very elastic, stretching from grinding starvation through to simply eating too few vegetables.
 
The figure of 2.5 million children living in ‘food insecure’ households relies on questionable 2014 data – yet was used by the Food Foundation report recently launched by Dame Emma Thompson, who attacked ‘positively Dickensian’ levels of child poverty.
 
Ian Birrell’s conclusion is that these and other reports are little more than politically motivated fiction.
here to edit.

There are rumours that ministers are planning to send prisoners to fill the gaps vacated by EU fruit and vegetable pickers. Could they be treated like Chinese prisoners who are reportedly forced to work in labour camps?
 
Will they work unpaid for up to 14 hours a day? No of course not, they will probably receive at least the minimum wage, regular tea and lunch breaks, protective clothing, and no doubt counselling as many will never have done a day’s work before. Some could well find the experience deeply traumatic.
 
It is an interesting idea which could possibly take off and help farmers. Making practical use of prisoners, and teaching them skills, is surely better than sitting in their ‘rooms’ watching TV.
 
The vision of old fashioned ‘chain gangs’ is appealing, but perhaps in the 21st Century would be considered somewhat primitive. However, we can hope they are decked out in highly identifiable clothing and tagged.
 
The story highlighted in the Sunday papers regarding M & S selling peeled garlic sourced from China, and sold in disposable plastic pots from Belgium, is shocking. When plastic packaging and food miles are under scrutiny, this is not wise. It seems Marks & Spencer are widely off message.
 
As has been pointed out, garlic is grown in the UK, and no doubt production could be increased to satisfy demand. They say the public want garlic 12 months of year which is why it is imported from China. It is worth noting that the M & S garlic has been frozen and is 24 months old by the time it reaches their shelves!
 
To buy peeled and packaged garlic is unnecessary, just as bananas are often sold in plastic bags. Most fruit and vegetables have their own packaging, commonly known as skin.
 
It is depressing to see the ever increasing line up of MPs who believe they are capable of becoming Prime Minister. Most are unknown to the public, some ruled themselves out months ago, and few have what it takes to be Prime Minister.
 
Clearly they have learnt little from watching the incompetence of Mrs May. With support from the spineless cabinet, and the 1922 committee, both of which failed to sack her after the General Election or when they had the opportunity during the vote of no confidence, they stood by and let her destroy the Conservative party, while doing her best to bring the UK to its knees, as directed from Brussels. For neither crime has she so far apologised.
 
Boris Johnson is still the favourite to win the Tory leadership race, but only if he survives the culling of all but two candidates by his fellow MPs. I am told that his future lies in the hands of certain political women.
 
Fortunately he has fallen out with the ambitious Ms Rudd, whose anti Brexit, duplicitous ‘support’ would be the kiss of death for his opportunity of stepping over the threshold of No 10.
 
Another nemeses is his current girlfriend. I suppose the question for MPs would be how they may feel when greeted by her at number 10, and whether this may have an impact on his election chances. It is a known fact that the significant ‘other’ have a big role to play in today’s politics.
 
What a pity Boris’s water cannon were sold for scrap by Sadiq Khan, following Home Secretary Mrs May’s decision to ban their use, much to the disappointment of the Metropolitan Police.
 
They would have proved very useful when Greta Thunberg and her chums brought London to a standstill. And this week they should be used to dampen the resolve of demonstrators during the visit of the President of the United States of America, who we should welcome as our friend and greatest ally.