I'm an opinion writer who isn't sure of their opinions
It goes with the territory. The role of a columnist is to grasp an idea, shake it and see what comes loose, then catch the pieces and arrange them in a new order. You could call them complaints, but I prefer opinions — little thought babies escaped from their mother.
Sometimes I'm asked if it's tiring coming up with so many new opinions. It would be if I was a different kind of commentator. My more combative colleagues will argue the opposite line just to be contrarian, a skill I admire and fear equally. It sounds terribly earnest, but I can only write it if I believe it. The truth is I haven't made up my mind about most things.
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BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Teenage Warwickshire council leader George Finch 'wanted to teach'
George Finch had planned to be at university studying to become a history at the of 19, he has become the youngest council leader in the UK, running Warwickshire County Council with a budget of £ Reform UK councillor still lives at his family home and cannot yet drive. Facts which have led to jibes in public and private from some opposition became the largest party on the previously Conservative-led authority with 23 seats in May's local elections. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, he hit back at criticism about his lack of life and professional experience – labelling those turning their noses up at his appointment as "ageist" and "not relevant".Sitting down in the leader's office, shortly after scraping through a leadership vote at the council's Shire Hall headquarters, Finch called out his said: "All I see is age… I don't care about my age. Would people be questioning if there was a 70-year-old at the helm? Probably not."Joe Biden, Donald Trump, presidents that are older – no-one questions it. But they're questioning someone who is 19." But leading a £2bn organisation is not a typical job for a 19-year-old, and Finch admitted he had had other plans."I wanted to be a history teacher. I loved history and I loved teaching but the problem was the curriculum, especially history. Universities and colleges are a conveyor belt for socialist wokeism."Finch said he had been inspired by Reform and former Conservative MP Lee Anderson, who has previously criticised educational establishments for what he perceives as teachers pushing "dog whistle divisive politics" on April, National Education Union members called for funds to be used to help campaign against Reform UK candidates. The organisation, Britain's biggest teaching union, branded Reform UK "a racist and far right" party. In his time as interim leader, Finch said he had used his new "influence" over education by calling Anjit Samra, CEO of Stowe Valley Multi-Academy Trust, to his office after a row over a union jack dress at Bilton School, in Rugby."I don't have the power to tell him what to do as he's an academy, but I do have that influence. "I asked him simple, I said 'I would like to see, and I think it's in your best interests, if you have a school assembly on the importance of British culture'."Asked what his friends made of his new job, he said: "They love it, when I have to go to the pub I don't have to buy a pint." But why did Reform appeal to him and why is it gaining momentum with some young people?"People can't afford homes, they can't have a car, postgraduate jobs are decreasing. It's getting harder for us to see a good future, a better future. And with Reform UK, that's what gives people that hope."He said he thought his appointment would probably help attract people to the party."It shows that anyone can do anything in this party, if you're up to the task. If you've got that merit-based system - and that's where we've gone wrong for far too long in the private and public sector."He added: "It's 'oh, here's a job because of your skin colour or your creed or your religion'. No, you get the job because you're good at it." A keen rugby player, Finch is used to battling on the pitch. But it was in the corridors of power where he faced his first public fight, in a row with the council's chief executive Monica Fogarty, after he asked for a Progress Pride Flag to be removed from outside Shire Hall in UK leader Nigel Farage even waded into the row calling out what he perceived as "obstructionism" by council officials saying "Warwickshire is a very, very good example".Asked if he could work with the council chief executive and other officers, Finch said: "We have done. We have to have that professional working relationship."Pushed on whether it was professional to publicly call out the council's chief executive, he said: "We're working together, the council is running. I think you're looking too deep into this." Talking about his priorities for Warwickshire over the coming months and years, Finch said having a sister with special educational needs and disabilities meant he had a keen interest in the area which has been labelled a financial threat to the future of the has pledged to cut wasteful spending and improve the efficiency of the councils it runs. But some of its spending decisions have faced criticism, while opponents say there has been little concrete action to reduce Warwickshire, opposition parties have criticised Finch and his party for planning to hire political assistants at a cost of up to £190,000 a year, saying the money should be spent on front-line services contentious area is the potential scrapping of lower-level councils as part of the Labour government's devolution said he wanted to look at these ideas in his county and he would like to see areas such as Nuneaton and Bedworth given their own town councils.
The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘Sharon saved me every day' How Ozzy's wife's devotion never wavered through years of drug addiction hell
OZZY Osbourne once admitted how his loyal wife Sharon Osbourne saved his life "every day" despite his turbulent life. The Black Sabbath star's death comes just weeks after he took to the stage one final time with his band mates at Villa Park in Birmingham. 3 3 3 Ozzy died aged 76, surrounded by his family on Tuesday morning, after bravely battling against Parkinson's disease. But the veteran rocker may not have hit the heights of his stellar career if he did not have his loyal wife Sharon standing by his side during his lowest moments. Ozzy once said of the woman who became his second wife: 'If it weren't for her, without a shadow of a doubt, I would be dead.' Ozzy's volatile behaviour from his drinking and drug abuse saw his life seemingly fall apart and sparked his divorce from his first wife Thelma. He was also sacked from Black Sabbath in 1979 as his life continued to spiral downwards. But everything changed when Sharon Levy turned up at the door that year. Sharon, then 27, was the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden. They'd first met when she was 18 and working as her dad's receptionist. The singer wrote in his autobiography I Am Ozzy: 'I fell for Sharon so badly, man.' And in another interview with Australian music guru Billy Pinnell, Ozzy admitted: "Truly, without my wife at my side, I wouldn't be here – without any doubt. The rocker did not shy away from the subject, adding: "I wouldn't be alive, I wouldn't be singing. "She saved my life every day." When she turned up at his door, Sharon convinced the wreck that he could be a solo star, and that she should be the one to manage him. The pair wed in Hawaii on July 4, 1982. Not only did she become mother to his three children Aimee, Kelly and Jack but she also got things back on track. Debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz, with big numbers like Crazy Train, Suicide Solution and Mr Crowley, appeared in September 1980, and eventually sold more than five million copies. Sharon also amped up his satanic image, encouraging stage antics such as flinging animal entrails into the audience. But while Ozzy's solo career soared, so did his appetite for booze, illegal drugs and prescription pills. He later said: 'I was a beast. Absolutely terrifying.' Ozzy later expressed regret at the toll his much-publicised drug and alcohol abuse had on Sharon. In 1989, he attempted to kill Sharon while high on drugs. Sharon told the Guardian in 2001: 'He was totally insane from all the drink and drugs he was doing, and well, these things happen.' She fought him off and Ozzy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, but Sharon later dropped the charges and he spent three months in rehab. Ozzy's family statement BLACK Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. A statement from his family said: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. "Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." Ozzy was also injured in a quad bike crash at his UK home in 2003, an episode that had a serious impact on his fragile health. Yet there was also redemption for the troubled singer, who relaunched himself as a reality TV star in The Osbournes in the early 2000s, after getting clean from drink and drugs with the help of Sharon. "The crap that I put her through when I was abusing myself - I'd disappear for weeks on end and I'd smack her in the eye and do all these horrible things, and she stuck by me and she got me through all kinds of stuff," Ozzy said. In later years, Ozzy became much more than just a singer. Along with Sharon and his kids, they became global TV sensations through their groundbreaking fly-on-the-wall documentary The Osbournes. It was such a smash hit that it paved the way for similar reality shows featuring Paris Hilton and later The Kardashians. Only three weeks ago, the Prince of Darkness who brought light into so many lives gave us one last hurrah when heavy metal royalty descended on Villa Park, Birmingham, to pay their respects. The Back to the Beginning gig ended with him - seated on a giant black throne because he could not stand - joining his Black Sabbath muckers on the songs that took him to the world stage. Ozzy Osbourne's career The singer first pursued his love of music after hearing The Beatles hit She Loves You in 1963, aged 15. After appearing in a handful of school plays, Ozzy joined Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler in their first group Rare Breed in 1967. When that band split, the pair reunited in Polka Tulk Blues alongside Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The group later became known as Black Sabbath and went onto shatter the music world with their whining guitar solos, Occult-based lyrics and Ozzy's screeching vocals. In 1970, the group gained a cult following in both the US and UK after releasing their eponymous first album. Black Sabbath saw incredible success with hit tracks such as Paranoid but discord in the group saw most of the original line-up leave. Ozzy himself quit the band in 1978, with a spiral into drug abuse leading to a divorce from first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with. It was then he first met a young Sharon Arden, who Ozzy at first wrote off as he believed she would think he was a "lunatic". But the singer could not be more wrong and the pair married in Hawaii in July 1982 before going on to have three children together, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. With Sharon's encouragement and help from her music manager dad Don, he began to carve out a successful solo career. His seminal first album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980 became a multi-platinum success thanks to Ozzy's howling vocals and macabre laugh on hit Crazy Train. Coupled with the Prince of Darkness' insane tour that saw him bite the head off a live bat, a string of successful tracks followed - cementing Ozzy as a rock legend around the world. In 1992, the singer announced his retirement but four years later created the beloved annual music festival Ozzfest with Sharon. Ozzy returned to Black Sabbath in 1999, with the band winning a Grammy for best metal performance for the song Iron Man. They later earned the same award in 2013 after releasing single God Is Dead? from album 13.
The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
Angry Love Island fans flood Ofcom with complaints over decision to bring back axed star as they spot ‘boss's game plan'
ANGRY Love Island fans have flooded Ofcom with complaints over the decision to bring back an axed star, as they spotted the 'boss's game plan.' Irish stunner Megan and Spanish lad Blu have appeared in a teaser for tomorrow night's episode, as they return for a second chance at love. 4 4 Iain Stirling revealed the incredible comeback and The Sun understands the pair entered the villa last night. The public previously turned on Megan after she dumped Tommy for Conor in her final few days. Now, since Megan's villa exit, Shakira and Conor have grown close. And angry fans have accused bosses of bringing Megan back to jeopardise the romantic connection that Shakira and Conor currently have. One person wrote: 'At this point LI is bullying Shakira… the girl has been going through it, soon as she has a little high they help bring her back down.' A second penned: 'Production clearly has it out for Shakira,' and a third echoed: 'At this point, just say you don't want Shakira to win.' Fans have speculated that Meg's return is all part of a game plan to stop Shakira from winning, by disrupting what she has with Conor. And they also think show bosses are pushing for either Meg or Helena to win the show. And some fans have taken to X to say they've complained to Ofcom about Megan's return as a result, adding 'we voted her off for a reason.' Love Island fans 'work out' the THIRD star to be dumped after cruel twist as they claim girl is doomed One person penned: 'Filed an OFCOM complaint against love island, this show deserves to be cancelled. I'm soooo serious!!!' Someone else penned: 'Submitting my first OFCOM complaint now that they've bought Meg back.' A third echoed: 'Production doing everything to stand in Shakira's way. Filing an IPSO.' Megan said before heading back to Love Island: "I'm excited to go back in, I think I left quite abruptly and I'm going back in for some clarity. "It was an easy decision to make. When you can't speak to people for a couple of weeks and have to watch them on telly every night, you want some answers." The announcement came shortly after Maya Jama returned to dump a couple from the island. Islanders were ordered to line up in their couples as Maya announced the results of the latest public vote for their favourite boy and girl. Maya revealed the bottom three girls were Billykiss, Emma, and Angel and the bottom three boys were Boris, Conor, and Harry. With the fewest votes, Emma and Boris were dumped from the island, ending Casa Amor's most talked-about comeback and Love Island's biggest love triangle. Both Emma and Boris had entered the villa as Casa Amor bombshells.
