Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-7-2024 — News of The World

5th July, 2024: News of the World.

It’s officially official: it’s Friday.

And the day after the election.

Britain now has a Labour government: as the party won a landslide in yesterday’s election.

Personally?   I’m just glad that — here in Brentwood*? — the extremely right of centre Reform party came second.

Thankfully!

And, whilst I really didn’t want the local MP to regain his seat … ?

I couldn’t be happier with a result that left a Tory in charge.

It meant not having a Reform MP!

~≈X≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga†, Mum‡ and Debbi§ putting in their answers: with Olga scoring five out of five, and Debbi and Mum on four.


 Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        5th July saw the first daily news bulletin broadcast by the BBC.   On what: TV or radio?

Q2)        The broadcast was in which year of the 1950s?

Q3)        Who was that first news reader: Richard Baker, Robert Dougall or Kenneth Kendall?

Q4)        Currently?   Clive Myrie, Fiona Bruce, Reeta Chakrabarti and Sophie Rayworth are the main presenters of the BBC News at what: One, Six or Ten?

Q5)        And finally?   How long did the bulletin last for: ten minutes, twenty minutes or thirty minutes?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        4th July, 2024, the date of the UK’s latest General Election.   Who is the Prime Minister that ordered this election: Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Theresa May or Boris Johnson?

A1)        Rishi Sunak.

Q2)        The Election is being held on which day of the week?

A2)        Thursday.

Q3)        UK general elections were first held on that day in which year: 1935, 1936 or 1937?

A3)        1935.   You can read more about it, here … 

Q4)        The pre-election period is known as ‘purdah’. It usually lasts for how many weeks: six, seven or eight?

A4)        Six weeks.   (The term is generally frowned upon, these days: given its historical associations.   However, I heard it used in some news broadcast in this election.   Mostly followed by someone pointing out That the term was frowned on.)

Q5)        Finally … ?   Which parliamentary figure is usually unopposed at UK elections: the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Speaker or Black Rod?

A5)        The Speaker of the House of Commons.   At the time of writing?   The Speakership was held by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, before the election: he’s retained his parliamentary seat.   Retaining the Speakership is another matter.   Neither Black Rod nor the Lord Speaker, are elected to the Commons in the General election: Black Rod is an employee of the House of Lords, whilst the Lord Speaker is a member of the Lords.

Here’s a thought …

“This is a start on something we regard as extremely significant for the future”.

Then Director General, Sir Ian Jacob.

And a song …


Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        The Greens, the party I voted for, ended up in fifth place: with 1,770 votes.   Nationally, they’ve ended up with four MPs.

†        I knew about the term being out of favour, Olga: although a couple of BBC journalists used it, early on.   Usually?   Whoever they were talking to made the same point you did.

        I think the best thing I could do for that charity is advertise them on the blog: or, at least, do a post or two telling people they can sign up for it at their local Job Centre or library.   Or possibly from their social workers or council.   I suspect the latter two options were the ones referring people in Basildon.

        You’re right: George Orwell would be rolling his eyes!

‡        Hello, Mum!

§        Fit is probably putting it mildly, Debbi!

        I know that — in Politics and the English Language — he says “If you use ready-made phrases, you not only don’t have to hunt about for words: you also don’t have to bother with the rhythms of your sentences”.   I think he had “categorical pledge” on his list of ready-mades.

        He’d probably be eyeing up some of the victory speeches, as well: very cynically.