Women in Britain – and in much of the world – are having fewer and fewer babies. It is easy to work out why this will be bad news over the years to come. But why is anyone surprised? Since the second-wave feminists took over Western societies about 40 years ago, babies have become a nuisance to the standard lifestyle. I know men are not really allowed to discuss this, but I am so old that I no longer care about such rules.
The whole thing was brought home to me many years ago during a visit to Germany, where, in an airport lavatory, I encountered a contraceptive machine selling a brand of condom called, with total frankness, and in large red block capitals ‘ANTI-BABY’.
Of course, I had realised before that Western tax systems, welfare states, housing policies and employment rules all worked hard together to force women out of the home and into paid work, egged on by the endless anti-family yelling of women’s magazines.
It was around about then that the word ‘housewife’ turned into a sort of sneer. Oddly, Germany was one of the last places where anyone resisted this. I wonder if anyone there still refers to women who go to work and leave their children to the care of paid strangers as ‘Raven Mothers’, a rather rude expression implying neglect and selfishness?
But this was only in what had been the free West. Communist East Germany had for years marched mothers off to factories and offices, and crammed their children into state nurseries where they could indoctrinate them from the earliest possible age. Sound familiar?
Since the second-wave feminists took over Western societies about 40 years ago, babies have become a nuisance to the standard lifestyle, writes Peter Hitchens
East German family policy from the 1980s wasn’t all that different from the measures adopted by the Tory Party 30 years later, under which the only form of childcare not subsidised was that provided by a stay-at-home parent.
The anti-family, anti-marriage movement proclaimed from the beginning that paid wage-slavery was somehow more fulfilling than the mighty task of raising the next generation. Almost all modern fiction, drama and debate is based on this belief. But it isn’t true.
Young mothers are forced into lives of overwork, sleeplessness, endless hurry and distress at being parted from their small sons and daughters. Why are we surprised that fewer and fewer choose this way of life?
The amazing thing is that so many still try so hard to raise families in our anti-baby society.
Last week Nigel Farage had a hint of what it would be like to be Prime Minister, not least because this is now possible. I did not get the impression he enjoyed his whiff of office. All those I have known who achieved power of any sort have been dismayed to find it narrows their freedom to choose. Suddenly your desires have consequences, many unintended. You may get what you want, then wish you had not asked for it. Only careful preparations can avoid the dangers. Is he making them?
Suranne Jones, left, stars as Abigail, and Julie Delpy as Vivienne, in Netflix series The Hostage
The Netflix series Hostage, starring Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy was an engaging enough drama. It moved a lot faster than HS2. But is this what politics has been reduced to – the NHS, immigration, Right-wing extremists, terrorists and feminism? How dull and narrow.
Never silence us over Letby case again
For very good reasons, there are tough limits about what the media can say about criminal trials with juries – to protect people who have been charged but not convicted.
Under the wonderful, unique laws of England, a heritage which we have lately allowed to rust and rot, the accused is presumed innocent until guilt is proved. So I am still baffled that for many months, I could not write about the case of Lucy Letby. This was because, although already convicted of several murders and attempted murders, she faced a second attempted murder trial as the first jury had failed to reach a verdict. Given no one could have been unaware of her earlier convictions, it is impossible to see how such a trial could have been fair.
I have also never understood the point of it. She had already been sentenced to die in prison without hope of parole. Those of us who campaign for the case to be reopened are ceaselessly told that raking over the matter distresses the parents of the dead or harmed babies. Surely a further trial did this too?
I am still not sure how the imposed silence, from September 2023 to July 2024, served justice. Now we may be threatened with another long silence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has spent two months studying further evidence against Ms Letby, submitted to it by Cheshire Police. On any day, the CPS could announce new charges.
I ask again, what would be the point of this? Even if convicted, she cannot be held for longer.
The only effect would be to hamper efforts to reopen the case. If such charges do go ahead, I hope the media will challenge any attempt to halt this important national debate.
Lethal price of allowing marijuana
Within hours of the Minneapolis murders, it was revealed the shooter had been working at a ‘Marijuana Dispensary’, of the sort campaigners want here too. Cash or debit cards accepted. Kerbside pick-up available, offering an amazing variety of vape cartridges.
This is almost certainly the most important thing you need to know about this unhinged crime and its perpetrator.
Yet it was barely reported. Forty years hence, if we still have media and police, or indeed a civilisation, people will be astounded at the complacent stupidity and indulgence with which we regard this terrifying mind poison.
I refer readers again to the book Attacker Smoked Cannabis, by my friend Ross Grainger, who studied some of the many insanely violent crimes in this country carried out by marijuana users.
