Five things – 28th November 2017

We British take Christmas super seriously. It now begins in the middle of September and 36% of 127% of British families go through at least five Christmas trees each year, with the first going up as early as October 1st. The consumerist festival that is Christmas is so out of control that it is now an even bigger source of rows among the British than Brexit. At Reaction, we’re traditionalists – up to a point – and we have delayed the beginning of our Christmas activities until today, when we launch the Reaction Gift Subscription.

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Below are five things that grabbed me today. It is not essential to know who Lena Dunham is to enjoy the blistering piece about her in the New York Post.

Iain Martin,
Editor and publisher,
Reaction.

1. Good riddance to Lena Dunham. Maureen Callahan. New York Post. 

2. The best history books of 2017. History Today. 

3. Don’t tell me Europe’s kinder to animals. Dominic Lawson. Daily Mail. 

4. MI5 files: Profumo, the Nazi spy and a ‘blackmail’ bid. Ben McIntyre. The Times. 

5. Emily Thornberry defends Israel and says anti-Semites ‘will be drummed out’ of the Labour party. Kevin Schofield. Politics Home.