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m-jelly · 1 month ago

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Late night snack - Chapter 5

Vampire Levi x human reader

Levi gives your body some loving. You have a moment with Theodore and Ivor while Levi works.

Ao3

Part 6

Soft pants filled the room along with a deep growl now and then. The noises had been going on for a while now with no sign of stopping. It all started with light touching and teasing, which then became pleasurable touching but it became hard to tame the hunger. So, now Levi was kneeling on the floor in front of your streaming chair with his head between your legs. Your hoodie had been shoved up and rested above your breasts, your shorts and panties removed with only your thigh-high socks on.

Levi’s hair was a mess from you tugging at it and he loved it. His eyes were locked onto you but you were so overwhelmed with pleasure and a bit shy that you were hiding a bit. Your legs were over his shoulders and thighs pressing his head. You were pulling the neck part of your hoodie up over your mouth to hide a bit. He adored how you tasted and reacted to him. He’d been tasting you now for at least an hour.

He dragged his tongue up when you came again against his tongue. “You’re delicious.”

You panted as you felt weak. “Levi.”

“May I drink from you?”

You nodded shyly. “Y-Yes.”

He ran his lips up and down the inside of your thigh, his breath delicate on your sensitive skin. “I could just eat you for hours on end.”

You looked down and felt your whole body heat up when he opened his mouth slowly before chomping on your thigh. You squeaked at the slight pain before mewling in delight. “Mm, hungry kitten.”

Levi dragged his tongue over your wound before kneeling up and kissing you. “I love you so much.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him back. “I love you too.”

“Do you want me?”

You nodded shyly. “I need you.”

He stood up and pulled you with him. “You’re coming with me.”

You squealed as he moved fast before tossing you onto the bed. You shifted so you rested on Levi’s huge comfy bed. You gasped when you felt Levi on top of you. A shiver ran through you when he gripped your wrists together above your head. You cried out when in one swift motion Levi was balls deep inside you. Your eyes rolled back in your head as he pounded in and out of you like a feral beast.

The need to love you deeply and intimately consumed Levi. His hips smacked against your hump so roughly that it filled the room with lewd noises. The more he moved the more your bum was being spanked by his rough movements. Arousal dripped onto the below and coted Levi’s perfect cock. The pleasure between the two of you was so strong and intense that it threatened to burn the city to the ground. Nothing could come in-between you.

You could barely move under your lover because he had you pinned on the spot. You drooled against the bed as your hood covered your head. Your hoodie slowly moved up your body causing your breasts to pop out. You clenched your toes and fists tightly as you felt your mind falling apart as it tried to understand the pleasure that was throbbing through you. You were delirious and weren’t sure what to do or how to move, you just let Levi move against you.

Levi reached down with his other hand and gripped your hip tightly. He panted as he moved as hard and as fast as your human body could take. Although he couldn’t see much of your beautiful body, he thought what he could see was stunning as always. He leaned down and dragged his tongue up your back making you moan differently, it was approving and delighted.

You lifted your hips just a little and whined. “Levi.”

He softly moaned your name. “I’m here.” He slipped his hand under you and moved his fingers against your clit. He leaned down and spoke near your ear. “Cum for me.”

You shook under Levi as you felt a whole-body orgasm go through you. “A-Ah!” You pressed your face against the bed. “Fuck.”

With swift movements, Levi pulled out of you, turned you onto your back, whipped your hoodie off and pinned you in place. “Look at you.”

You mewled at him. “Levi.”

He wrapped his hand around your neck and lightly squeezed. “Hold your legs for me like a good bunny.”

You gripped your legs and held them against your body as instructed. “Y-yes.”

He slammed deep into you and began bucking hard. He reached over to the headboard and gripped it tightly making it groan under his touch. He smiled at how cute it was that you were looking away from him. You were still so sweetly shy after all the things you’d done together. He loved all of you and you were so perfect. The way your bodies reacted together made it clear you were connected on such a deep level.

He leaned down and kissed you roughly. He smirked as you moaned and wiggled under him, desperate to cling to him but you were trying to behave and do as Levi asked. He pulled back a bit and ran his thumb over your bottom lip. He admired how pretty you were, you were always so cute and beautiful no matter what you did, even in a very sexy position. He counted his blessings being with you and having you as his lover. He adored you so much, more than you knew and the things he’d do to keep you as his.

He gripped the headboard tightly. “My good bunny, my good little bunny.”

You turned your head away from him. “Mm.”

“Tell me what you need.” He nuzzled your cheek. “Come on, little bunny.”

“T-Touch you.”

He smiled at how sweet you were. “You wanna touch me?”

You nodded shyly. “Mm.”

“You can touch me.”

You released your legs, but they were trapped against Levi’s tattoo-covered muscular body. You reached up and sweetly caressed his handsome face. “Kitty. My black kitty.”

He purred a little. “Yours and yours alone.”

You admired him a little while his hips were not slamming into you as hard as they had before. “Mine.”

He tapped his forehead against yours. “Are you mine?”

You mewled a little. “Y-Yes. You know I am. Forever yours.”

“Mine.” His hips started moving faster. “Mine.” He growled and gripped the bed by your head. “Mine.”

You gripped his shoulders tightly as he bucked into you and panted. Levi was godly as he worshipped your body. “Levi.”

He leaned up and began playing with your clit. “Cum for me.”

You clenched up as pleasure consumed you. “Mm.” You gripped Levi’s shoulders. “A-Ah.” You leaned your head back and pushed your chest out. “F-Fuck.” You cried out in delight as you felt a blissful orgasm take over you. “Mm.”

Levi wrapped your legs around his hips and pressed himself against you. “I love you.” He crashed his lips against yours. “So much.”

You dragged your nails across his broad back. “I love you.”

He showered your face and neck with kisses. “My love, my life, my world, my everything.”

You tangled your fingers in his hair and softly panted as his body moved passionately against yours. The love that was shared between the two of you was deep and loving. Levi’s body fits yours in all the right places. His thick cock stretched your hot wet pussy so wonderfully. It was clear the two of you were addicted to being intimate with each other. It was hard to keep away from each other.

Levi’s pelvis rubbed against your clit sending electrical pleasure to pulse through you. Levi kissed your neck and grunted when your walls clenched around him, you were snug already and when you clenched it was tight. He reacted to the increase of pleasure and bit down on the crook of your neck. He growled into the bite as your blood pumped into his mouth. Being balls deep inside you with your blood pumping his mouth and your moans in his ears was heavenly.

He released your neck and dragged his tongue over the bite. “Mine.”

You cupped Levi’s face and admired him. “Levi.”

He softly moaned your name. “You are so precious to me.” He kissed you over and over. “Mine.” He caressed your cheek. “My everything.” He moved slow and deep within you. He tangled his fingers with yours beside your head. “You’re so…mm.”

You tilted your head a little and leaned up so you lightly kissed Levi. “Claim me.”

He hummed a laugh. “Always, my darling bunny.” He moved a little faster. “I’ll give you everything I’ve got.”

You squeezed Levi’s hand tightly as he rolled his hips just right. “A-ah!” You leaned your head back. “Levi. I want you to look at me when you cum.”

A strong blush filled his cheeks. “I will. I’m yours.” He pressed your hands against the bed and kept moving with deep passion. “I love you.”

You smiled at him. “I love you.” Your legs shook a little around him. “Mm.” You shifted a little under Levi causing the already intense pleasure to increase. “Shit.” You shook under Levi as a euphoric orgasm washed over you like a tidal wave. You panted a bit. Levi.”

He pressed in deep as he bucked a little. He moaned your name as his cock twitched while streams of hot sticky cum filled you. “Mm, ah, ha, ha, ha.” He gazed at you. “Did I do good?”

You nodded as you smiled. “Yes. You’re so handsome when you cum.” You dragged your hands from him and cupped his face. “Only I get to see this, right?”

“Yes. Forever and always.” He nuzzled your hand as you cradled it. “My love and my life.”

You ran your thumb over his bottom lip. “You’re still hard.”

He nipped your thumb. “I am. I keep wanting to make love to you.”

“Give me a little break and I’m all yours.”

He dragged himself out of you and began kissing down your body. “I will worship as I wait.”

You shifted a bit. “Not down there.”

He kissed your stomach and lifted his head. “Too sensitive?”

You nodded. “Mm.”

He kissed up to your breasts. “How about here?”

You lifted your back and took your bra off. “You can play with them as much as you want.”

He massaged your chest and began leaving delicate kisses on each plump breast. He licked and sucked little lovebites on your skin. He purred and nipped your skin allowing him to feed a bit on your delicious blood. As he was enjoying himself you were trying to relax, but it was hard when you had such a handsome and dedicated lover.

Levi pressed your cheek against his lips as he kissed it multiple times. He parted his lips and began nibbling your cheek. “I love you. I love you so much.”

You hummed a laugh. “I love you too.”

He pulled back and sighed. “I promise I won’t be long. Sit here nicely and eat a few things, okay?”

You picked up a menu and looked it over. “Do you and Erwin own this place too?”

“Yes.”

You gazed at Levi. “That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”

He leaned over and kissed you. “You’re the amazing one.” He caressed your cheek. “If you need anything at all, just call my name.”

You nodded. “Promise.”

He let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to leave you.” He pouted a bit. “But Erwin needs me to work. Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

You waved bye to him. “See you soon.”

He cupped your face and wiggled. “Tch, damn it you’re too cute.”

You giggled. “Levi, go.”

He kissed you. “Mm, okay I’m going now.”

You watched him run off making you smile at how cute he was. You picked the menu up again and looked at what was to offer. You ordered a few things and saw the team rush into action, which indicated to you just how important Levi was in this city and being Levi’s girlfriend you were just as important. It was strange getting used to this treatment by others, but you were going to try your best and accept the help and kindness.

A soft shy call of your name made you look up to see Theodore. He blushed a little and referred to the booth seat opposite you. “May I join you?”

You nodded. “Of course!”

He slipped into the seat and shifted. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“Me too! It’s been a few days.” You leaned closer. “You’re not avoiding me, are you?”

“A-Ah! N-no!”

You hummed a laugh. “I’m teasing you.”

He released a long sigh. “Right…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I feel silly.” He lifted his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What for?”

He looked away. “Leaving you alone which caused you to get hurt.”

You stared at him for a bit. “Theodore? Have you been thinking about that all this time?”

He clenched up a bit and spoke softly. “Mm, yes.”

You reached over and held his hands. “It’s not your fault. Those women were going to hurt me no matter what. They wanted to hurt me for being with Levi, they were fans of his online persona Leviathan and a bit delusional about it all. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

He smiled sweetly. “Must be hard for you being a popular streamer.”

“Sometimes.” You squeezed his hands. “I wanna thank you for protecting me and helping me that day. I don’t know what I would have done without you, Henri and Levi.”

Theodore shuffled on the spot. “I did what I could.” He smiled a little. “I just want to make sure you’re happy and safe. You mean a lot to me.” He flinched. “To us.”

You leaned your cheek on your hand as you smirked. “You’re funny.”

The waiter slowly put things down on the table. “Please enjoy. We’ve added a few special dishes for you.”

You felt a bit awkward. “Oh?”

He nodded. “As a thank you to Mr Ackerman.”

You felt your heart race. “You didn’t need to, but thank you. I will enjoy everything.” You waited for him to leave before sighing. “I always feel weird when things like that happen.”

Theodore’s eyes darkened. “Need me to say something?”

You shook your head. “No, no, I’m okay. I mean, it’s sweet but I will always feel weird.” You sipped your drink. “I feel weird when fans give me things. I dunno, I guess I feel like I don’t deserve it.”

“You deserve all the wonderful gifts.”

“You’re too kind.” You huffed a sigh. “Anyway, delicious food.”

Theodore watched you tuck into your food. “You are a joy to watch.”

You paused a moment. “Really? I’m only eating.”

“I’m a pure blood, so I’ve never really eaten normal food before.” He shuffled on his seat and started picking at his hands. “I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be human.” He frowned. “Knowing your life could end so easily…you all don’t worry about it much though.” He glanced at you. “If you were mine, I would have you locked up in a perfect mansion and spoil you all the time. You wouldn’t be allowed to leave because I’d worry you’d die or get sick.”

You licked your lips. “Mm, Levi has those worries but he’s going to make me a vampire after a bit.”

“He’ll turn you?”

You nodded. “Of course, or I’ll grow old and die. I want to spend eternity with him.” You felt your cheeks heat up. “I would also like to have kids with him and I need to be a vampire to do that.”

“You want babies?”

“Who wants babies?” Ivor slammed his hands on the table. “Who is after children!?”

You looked up at Ivor and smiled. “Oh, you’re the grumpy wolf.” You hummed a laugh as he blushed. “How have you been?”

He narrowed his eyes at you. “Wouldn’t you like to know!”

You giggled. “I do, that’s why I asked.”

He grunted and looked away as his blush got worse. “You…you’re…” He huffed. “Move over.”

You shuffled a bit. “Sure. I hope you don’t mind that I’m eating.”

He sat sideways in the booth so he was facing you. He had one leg up on the seat, an arm across the back of the sofa and his elbow on the table as he leaned his cheek on his hand. He stared at you for a bit. “Why are you here? Has your owner dropped you off for a playdate as he works?” He smirked a bit at his words.

Theodore snarled a little. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

Ivor gave him a tired look. “Shut up.” He looked back at you. “Speak, human.”

You gulped down your drink. “First off, say sorry.”

“What?” He frowned a bit and felt confused. “Sorry for what?”

You pocked his chest. “You were very rude to my friend. You don’t people to just shut up. He was being nice because you were rude.”

Ivor flinched a little at what you said. “Uh…sorry…”

You petted his chest. “Good boy.”

Ivor felt pleasure tingle through him. “You really are something, human.”

You said your name. “I have a name, please use it.”

He huffed and looked away a bit as he blushed. He grunted your name. “As I was saying, were you dropped off?”

You nodded. “Levi dropped me off here as he has a meeting.” You locked eyes with him. “Why are you here?”

He stared at you. “What…what do you mean…”

“Well, you asked me why I am here but I wanna know why you’re here.”

He eyed you a bit in your outfit and understood why Levi was obsessed with you, you were a very attractive woman and you were growing on him. “I do a lot of business in places like this, like your lover does.” He took his blood drink from the waiter and downed some. “I’m a powerful man.”

You grabbed a napkin and dabbed the corner of his mouth and chin. “A messy one too.” You pulled back. “There, all clean.” You handed him the napkin. “Here, just in case.” You shuffled and started eating your dessert.

Ivor squeezed the napkin before glancing over at Theodore. “Ha, what an interesting look. If I didn’t know any better, I would say you’re jealous. Poor sweet and weak Theodore.”

You lifted your head. “Ivor, stop being mean.”

He flinched at your words. “I was just.”

You pocked his cheek. “It’s not nice. You’re a powerful vampire, you have an example to set so be nicer.”

He pouted hard and growled. “Fuck! Fine, but you have to say some shit to that sad piece of…” He growled at your look. “You really have to work on that.” He circled his finger around your face.

“That’s just my face. I don’t do anything about my face.”

“You do this thing with it though.” He grabbed your face with one hand and squeezed your cheeks. “You give this look that reminds me of a sweet and innocent rabbit.”

Theodore huffed. “You mean she is cute? Ivor, you think she’s cute and you don’t want to think that because she’s human and you’re stuck up and snobby.”

Ivor glanced at Theodore before staring at you. “You gonna tell him off for how he speaks to me?”

You smiled. “Well, he is a bit right.” You laughed as he squeezed your cheeks more. “You’re getting better though.”

He narrowed his eyes at you. “You know if anyone else said this to me or treated me like this, I would rip them to pieces.” He released your face and caressed your cheek. “You’re…special…”

“And.” Levi slapped his hand down on Ivor’s shoulder and clenched hard. “She’s mine.” He yanked Ivor out of the booth. “Now fuck off.”

You gazed at Levi. “Be nice.”

“Fuck off, please?”

You sighed. “It’s a start.”

He got into the booth and shuffled closer to you. “Hello, bunny. Did you miss me?”

You cuddled up to Levi. “I did. I’m glad you’re here.” You leaned up and kissed him. “I love you.”

He kissed you back with passion. “Mm, I kept thinking about you.”

“Me too.”

Levi wrapped his arms around you and squeezed. “Mm. Mine.”

“Did you get everything sorted?”

“I did.” He looked up and stared. “Ivor, you’re still here.”

Ivor snarled. “Because I was talking to the cute one.”

You gulped hard as the two glared at each other. You looked over at Theodore who seemed very uncomfortable. “Do you pick up on energy from people? Is that a unique thing about your pure blood power?”

Theodore nodded. “Y-Yes.”

You reached over and held his hand. “Does this help you?”

He winced a bit then relaxed. “Yeah, your energy is soothing. Thank you.” You squeezed his hand and then looked at Levi and Ivor. “If you two want to fight take it outside, please. I would prefer it if you didn’t fight. Ivor, I will see you around the city. Levi? Be a good boy.”

Levi’s cheeks went pink. “I’m a good boy.”

Ivor leaned on the table. “I’m a better boy!”

Theodore tugged your hand. “I’m good too, right?”

You felt your heart race. “I uh…didn’t know that vampires liked being called good boys…” You gulped. “Uh…”

Levi grabbed you. “No.” He raced outside with you using his speed. He paused before moving to his car and in a blink of an eye you were strapped in and he was driving. “You call no one a good boy but me.” He gripped the wheel tightly. “Understand?”

You gazed at Levi to see he was a bit shy and nervous. “I promise Levi.” You reached over and squeezed his thigh making him relax. “I love you and only you. Plus, you’re the only good boy there is.”

He smiled softly. “I knew it.”

You giggled. “You’re so cute.”

“Can we cuddle when we get home?”

You kissed his shoulder. “Yes please.”

He smiled softly and pulled up at his place. “Are you still okay with living with me?”

You nodded. “I love it.” You rubbed his thigh. “I don’t ever want to leave. I want to sell my place fast. I mean, I have nothing there anyway because almost all my stuff is with you.” You opened your arms. “Now, speed us up to our home and cuddle me on the sofa.”

Levi dove for you and did as you asked. He stopped as soon as you were on the sofa and squeezed you tightly. “Mm, happy place.” He pouted a bit. “I will admit that Ivor and Theodore made me a bit jealous.”

You played with his hair. “I understand, but remember I am yours forever and always. I love you.”

“I love you so much.”

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fantabulosabasket · 5 years ago

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From the article:

A senior civil servant – and the only Black official – in the Colonial Office (a predecessor of the Foreign Office), Cummings devoted much of his life to serving Black citizens who’d arrived from the Colonial-era Caribbean and African nations.

...Cummings was “a fastidious, elegant man, with a manner reminiscent of Noel Coward – he chain smoked with a long cigarette holder and addressed visitors as ‘dear boy’,” according to a passage in Stephen Bourne’s Mother Country: Britain’s Black Community on the Home Front.

#ivor cummings #black history #gay history #bipoc history #mlm history #lgbt+ history #english history #windrush #20th Century #british history #history of colonialism

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plotwhatplotcast · 4 years ago

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Day 25 of LGBTHM21 and Black History Month goes to Ivor Cummings. Born in 1913 in West Harpool, Ivor lived his life openly as a gay man in a time when being out was more than just taboo, it could land you in jail. This did not keep Ivor from rising in the British civil service.

In 1948, Ivor was appointed by the British government to welcome the first immigrants from the West Indies coming to England on a ship called the “Empire Windrush,” officially marking the beginning of the mass immigration movement known as the Windrush Generation.

Through his tireless support, newly-immigrated West Indians found housing accommodations, full time work & advocacy in a country that once directed the enslavement of their people. Oft forgotten in the annals of this history, Ivor’s impact in the movement remains to this day.

#ivor cummings #black history month #lgbtq history #BHM #lgbtq

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cleowho · 2 years ago

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“No key will unlock it.”

The Black Orchid - season 19 - 1982

#doctor who #classic doctor who #classic who #fifth doctor #peter davison #the black orchid #sergeant markham #ivor salter #constable cummings #andrew tourell

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watusichris · 3 years ago

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Rock Gunfight in the Antipodes

Listening today to the hot new Grown Up Wrong! comp by Sydney’s Lipstick Killers, whose lone officially released single was produced by Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman, it occurred to me that my old Music Aficionado faux faceoff between Australia’s pioneering bands of the ‘70s (all of which I dearly love) has disappeared into the online ether. It’s time to bring it back.

**********

By Chris Morris

The mid- to late ‘70s were fertile days for rock ‘n’ roll in Australia. Here and there across the vast but not terribly populous island continent, fires were started by several attitude-filled bands bent on doing things their own damn way. They all managed to make their way off the island, but if they hit the American consciousness, it was for little more than a nanosecond during their heyday.

Who were the truest Rock Wizards of Oz? For this Down Under face-off, I’ve selected three contenders: the Saints, Radio Birdman, and the Scientists. All of them had fairly slim discographies; ironically, the act probably least known in the U.S., the Scientists, recorded most prolifically, with their core line-up producing several magnificent albums and singles during a productive four-year stretch in the early ‘80s. But none of these bands ever stayed together long enough to make a deep impression among the Yanks.

So where’s the Birthday Party, you ask? There are a few things to consider. First of all, though the band and its precursor unit the Boys Next Door were in business from 1976 on, they didn’t release their first LP until 1980. Also, Nick Cave is well known enough that more (king) ink needn’t be spilled on him. Finally, I still resent the fact that Cave stole PJ Harvey away from me, so it’s personal.

On with the showdown…

HIT ME LIKE A DEATH RAY, BABY

The Saints, founded 1974 in Brisbane

The prime movers of the Saints were a pair of literal outsiders: vocalist Chris Bailey, born in Kenya to Irish parents, and guitarist Ed Kuepper, raised in Germany. Thus the otherness of their work is no surprise.

With schoolmate Ivor Hay – who over time would play drums, bass, and piano with them – the pair founded a combo originally known as Kid Galahad and the Eternals (borrowing their handle from a 1962 Elvis Presley picture), but they swiftly renamed themselves the Saints and began playing in their hometown on the northeast coast of Australia.

Listening to their records, which were made in something of a cultural vacuum, it’s difficult to get a handle on where the Saints’ distinctive, aggressive sound came from. To be sure they were aware of such homegrown precursors from the ‘60s as the Master’s Apprentices and the Missing Links (whose 1965 single they covered on their debut album). It’s safe to assume they were conversant with the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, and Lenny Kaye’s 1972 garage rock compilation Nuggets. Yet they bred something utterly their own in the ocean air of Brisbane.

With Hay on drums and Kym Bradshaw on bass, Bailey and Kuepper mounted noisy local gigs that swiftly attracted the antipathy of the local constabulary; they wound up turning their own digs into a club to play shows. In 1976, they recorded and issued a self-financed single featuring two originals, “(I’m) Stranded” and “No Time.” These dire, ferocious songs were distinguished by venomous lyrics, unprecedented velocity, and guitar playing by Kuepper that sounded like a (literal) iron curtain being attacked with a chainsaw.

The record died locally, but a copy of its U.K. issue found its way into the hands of a critic at the English music weekly Sounds, which declared it the single of the week. This accolade got the attention of EMI Records, which signed the band and financed the recording of an album, also titled I’m Stranded, in a fast two-day Brisbane session.

The album, which was ultimately released in the U.S. by Sire Records, blew the ears off anyone who heard it, and it landed with a bang in England, where punk rock was lifting off in all its fury in early 1977. It was hurtling, powerful stuff that stood apart from punk in several crucial ways: While some of the songs were clipped and demonic in the standard manner, the Saints proved they could take their time on expansive numbers like the almost Dylanesque “Messin’ With the Kid” and the sprawling, hellriding “Nights in Venice.” And one has to wonder how British p-rockers took to their perverted take on Elvis’ squishy “Kissin’ Cousins.”

Made by musicians who never considered themselves “punks,” and who in fact abhorred the label, (I’m) Stranded is nevertheless one of the definitive statements in the genre, and it has maintained its force to this day.

Settling in England for the duration, the Saints decided to throw a curveball. One could not find a more profoundly alienated album than Eternally Yours (1978), a series of yowling protests, twisted prophecies, and savage put-downs, including the snarling second version of the single “This Perfect Day.” But, though the record was loud and for the most part swift, the group applied the brakes to their sound somewhat, and a couple of songs, including the caustic album opener “Know Your Product,” were dressed by a soul-styled horn section. Punk loyalists ran for cover.

By the time Prehistoric Sounds was issued in late ’78, the dejected Bailey and Kuepper were moving in different directions, and you can hear it in the grooves. The record is slow, almost listless at times, and its logy originals are complemented by incongruous Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin covers with none of the energy of earlier Saints soul-blasts. It is an album primarily for loyalists, and by then there were few in that number.

Kuepper exited the band on the heels of the third album’s release and returned to Australia, where he enjoyed a long career as leader of the Laughing Clowns; Bailey continued to perform under the Saints mantle with a shifting lineup that at last count numbered more than 30 players over the course of 37 years

Bailey and Kuepper reunited for one-off gigs in 2001 (at the ARIA awards ceremony) and 2007 (at Australia’s Queensland Music Festival).

THERE’S GONNA BE A NEW RACE

Radio Birdman, founded 1974 in Sydney

People who toss the “punk” handle around often throw Radio Birdman into the mix, but the sextet from Australia’s Southeast Coast may be best referred as the world’s youngest proto-punk band.

Its mastermind was guitarist, songwriter, and producer Deniz Tek, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who emigrated to Sydney in 1971 to study medicine. As a teen, he got a chance to witness Detroit’s most explosive pre-punk bands – the MC5, the Stooges, and the Rationals; he would later wind up collaborating with important members of all those groups.

After apprenticing with and getting bounced from a Sydney band called TV Jones, Tek formed Radio Birdman (its name a corruption of a lyric from the Stooges’ “1970”) with singer Rob Younger; the lineup ultimately solidified with the addition of guitarist (and sometime keyboardist) Chris Masuak, bassist Warwick Gilbert, drummer Ron Keeley, and (on and off and then on again) keyboardist Pip Hoyle.

Rapidly acquiring a fan base made up of some of Sydney’s lowest elements, including members of the local Hell’s Angels, Radio Birdman ultimately took over a bar, re-dubbed (in honor of the Stooges, of course) the Oxford Funhouse, as their base of operations. The band’s severe Tek-designed band logo emanated fascist-style vibes for some; at a co-billed appearance in Sydney, the Saints’ Chris Bailey remarked from the stage, “We’d like to thank the local members of Hitler Youth for their stage props.”

Despite much antipathy and some attendant violence, the band maintained a loyal local following, and in 1976 it issued a strong four-song EP, Burn My Eye, via local studio-cum-independent label Trafalgar. This was succeeded the following year by a full-length debut album, Radios Appear.

Anyone looking for something resembling punk will likely be disappointed by that collection. The band wears its all-American hard rock/proto-punk influences on its dirty sleeve. Radios Appear is dedicated to the Stooges (whose “No Fun” was the lead-off track on the Aussie issue of the LP), and a song co-written by Tek and Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, “Hit Them Again,” was cut during sessions for the record. Tek pays deep homage to MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer with his playing, and blatantly cops a signature lick from the 5’s “Looking at You” at one juncture. The album title was lifted from a Blue Öyster Cult lyric, and the Tek-Masuak guitar-bashing bows to their multi-axe sound. Finally, in both Younger’s sometimes Morrisonian vocalizing and Hoyle’s Ray Manzarek-like ornamentation, homage to the Doors in paid in full. Given that Sydney is a beach town, there’s even a frisson of surf music in the mix.

Bursting with power-packed originals like the apocalyptic “Descent into the Maestrom,” youth-in-revolt anthem “New Race,” the cryptic, insinuating “Man with the Golden Helmet,” and Tek’s autobiographical “Murder City Nights,” Radios Appear was a power-packed set that established Radio Birdman as Oz’s leading rock light.

However, renown did not equal success in Antipodean terms. In 1978, the band cut its second album, Living Eyes, at Rockfield Studio in Wales; it was a solid effort that included remakes of three Burn My Eye numbers (including the wonderful Tek memoir “I-94,” about the Michigan interstate) and excellent new originals like “Hanging On,” “Crying Sun,” and “Alone in the End Zone.” But, with success seemingly within their grasp, Sire Records – their American label, and the Saints’ as well – switched distribution and cut their roster, leaving their new work without a home. Within months of this catastrophe, Radio Birdman disbanded.

The principals scattered, to Younger’s New Christs and Tek and Hoyle’s the Visitors; Tek, Younger, and Warwick Gilbert later joined MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson and the Stooges’ Ron Asheton in the one-off New Race. Tek also later recorded with Wayne Kramer and Scott Morgan of Ann Arbor’s Rationals in Dodge Main.

Radio Birdman’s original lineup reunited for a 1996 tour; in August 2006 – after four of the original sextet regrouped to record a potent new album, Zeno Beach – the band played its first American date ever, at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater. Your correspondent was there, and it was freakin’ incredible.

IN MY HEART THERE’S A PLACE CALLED SWAMPLAND

The Scientists, founded 1978 in Perth

Among the important Aussie bands of the ‘70s, the Scientists were among the first to be directly influenced by the punk explosion in New York.

As guitarist-singer-songwriter Kim Salmon – the lone constant in the Scientists’ lineup during their existence – wrote in 1975, “Reading about a far-off place called CBGB in NYC and its leather-clad denizens, all with names like Johnny Thunders, Richard Hell, and Joey Ramone, got me thinking…I immediately went searching for Punk Rock. What I found were The Modern Lovers and The New York Dolls albums.”

Salmon first dabbled in the new sound with a band bearing the delightfully punk name the Cheap Nasties. Cobbled together in Perth – the Western provincial capital of Australia – from members of such local acts as the Exterminators, the Victims, and Salmon’s the Invaders -- the early Scientists were as derivative as one might imagine. Their early songs, heard on their self-titled LP (the so-called “Pink Album”) and an early single and EP, sport original songs authored by Salmon and drummer-lyricist James Baker, the backbone of shifting Scientific crews through 1980. The tunes range from straight-up Dolls/Heartbreakers rips (“Frantic Romantic,” “Pissed On Another Planet,” “High Noon”) to buzzing romantic pop-punk in a Buzzcocks vein (“That Girl,” “She Said She Loves Me”).

Not terribly promising stuff, but, after the departure of Baker for the Hoodoo Gurus in 1981 and a brief stint in a trio called Louie Louie, Salmon assembled a new Scientists who would prevail for nearly four years. That outfit – Salmon, guitarist Tony Thewlis, bassist Boris Sujdovic, and drummer Brett Rixton – promptly relocated to Sydney and started making the noise they are noted for.

By that time, Salmon had begun cocking an ear to the Birthday Party (and no doubt paid careful attention to the sordid noise on the Melbourne group’s 1982 album Junkyard), had discovered the miasmic voodoo of the Cramps, and started grooving to the dissonant, slide guitar-dominated racket of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. In short order, he would also absorb the bluesy downhome assault of Los Angeles’ roots-punk outfit the Gun Club.

The Sydney-based Scientists hooked up with indie label Au Go Go, which issued a devastating run of careening, mossy records by the band in 1982-83 – the vertiginous singles “This is My Happy Hour”/“Swampland” and the corrosive “We Had Love” (backed by a faithful cover of Beefheart’s “Clear Spot”), and the heart-stopping mini-album Blood Red River, which bore the churning “Set It On Fire,” “Revhead,” and “Burnout.” Others were essaying a similar style, but the Aussie youngsters were beating their elders at their own game.

Eying the big time, the band moved to London in 1984. Some opportunities presented themselves initially: The band got European tour slots with the Gun Club and early Goth act Sisters of Mercy. But their deal with Au Go Go fell apart acrimoniously; while they made a pair of fog-bound albums, You Get What You Deserve (1985) and The Human Jukebox (1987) for Karbon Records (and a set of re-recorded songs, Weird Love, was issued in the U.S. by Big Time Records), they scraped by in Britain.

Defections from the ranks commenced in ’85, and by early 1987 the depleted Salmon used money from a housing settlement to move back to Australia, where he founded a new band, the Surrealists.

Still valued among the cognoscenti, Salmon, Thewlis, Sujdovic, and latter-day drummer Leanne Chock appeared, at the invitation of Seattle’s Mudhoney, at London’s All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in 2006. Earlier this year, Chicago-based archival label the Numero Group issued a comprehensive four-disc box of the band’s original recordings.

So, at the end of the day, who is the all-time champeen of ‘70s Oz rock?

Scoring on points, the Saints are tops for Being Punk First with additional wins in the Pure Noise and Weltzschmerz categories, Radio Birdman takes the Technical Ability and Old-School Attitude slots, and the Scientists prevail in the Loud Young Snot and Grunge Thug division.

And the championship belt goes to…the Saints!

Of course, that could all change tomorrow, but that’s rock ‘n’ roll for ya.

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ldnblk · 3 years ago

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ICONS - Black, Queer & British

ICONS – Black, Queer & British

The BLKOUT_UK ICONS range celebrates the queer contribution to Black British history. We have chosen four icons who have also inspired BLKOUT’s work plan for 2021/2 – addressing public policy, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, and health/wellbeing. Ivor Cummings 1919-1992 Ivor Gustavus Cummings (1913 – 1992) was a British civil servant of Sierra Leonean ancestry, in 1941 he became the first…

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askmcsmnextgen · 5 years ago

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First and Second Generation

Jack x Nurm- Tatasciore Family

Jamison (surrogate)

Katherine (surrogate)

Didga (adopted)

Milo x Isa- Meskimen Family

Jennifer

Harrison

(M) Jesse x Nell- Oswalt Family

Justin

Sienna

Mabel x Gloria- Yvette Family

Brooke

Hazel

Travis (adopted)

Magnus x Ellegaard- Feldman Family

Maggie

Boris

Corgan and Patches

Christopher (Soren)

Lukas x Petra- Porter Family

Venus and Ethan

Evelyn

Radar x Stella- Lowenthal Family

Alejandro (Romeo)

Amber (Romeo)

Andrias (Romeo)

Belladonna and Lotus

Athena and Herakles (adopted)

Jaime, Jane, Quinn, Hunter, Octavias, and Radar Jr.

Xara- Stewart Family

Jewelie (adopted)

Ivor x Harper- Reubens Family

Jasper (adopted)

Jasmine (adopted)

Aiden x Maya- Mercer Family

Stone

Hadrian x Mevia- Cummings Family

Flint

Oxblood x Binta- Berger Family

Silverwood

Rusty

Serenity, Willow, and Sparrow

Leontine

Val x Soup- Wahlgren Family

Abby

Sunny

Axel x Olivia- Posehn Family

Maple

Jedrek, Tiger, and Cody

Gabriel x (F) Jesse- Fennoy Family

Blossom

Amora (deceased)

Middleton Family-

Rose

Toby

Garrett Family-

Abel

Logan and Asher

Harrington Family-

Spartacus (surrogate)

Romeo x Xara- Admin Family

Frederick (deceased)

Alice (Radar and Stella)

Annabelle (adopted)

Zofija

Miep and Callun

Flores

Rocco

Alexandra

Xara x (F) Jesse- Oswalt Family

(F) Romeo Jr. (Romeo)

Xena

Scarlett and Violet (deceased/Gordon and Romeo)

Emma and Anais

Dominic (adopted)

Gordon (the warden) x Xara- Patton Family

Eden

Artemis and Diana

Faith

Gordon (the warden) x Soren- Patton Family

Leo (surrogate)

#list #pairing #ship #shipping #mcsm #minecraft story mode #mcsmnextgen #first generation #second generation #next gen #next generation

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dominatees · 4 years ago

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You Can't Scare Me I Work At Walmart I've Seen It All Shirt

You Can’t Scare Me I Work At Walmart I’ve Seen It All Shirt

To save face i can almost see The You Can’t Scare Me I Work At Walmart I’ve Seen It All Shirt back room discussions around this topic it is rather not what u. Can do but what we should doto stay safe and our families it is also not who u r allowed. To c but who u could c without chance cousing everyone drama bbc yes u r no good do some. Research and listen to what ivor cummings has to say and…

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zannyblogging · 7 years ago

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Okay, two questions this time! 1. What's your favorite monster in Minecraft? 2. Who's your favorite villain in MCSM? 3. If you could pick 2 people to travel with you from the MCSM cast, who would they be?

1. What’s your favorite monster in Minecraft?

Practicality, it would have to be the Skeleton, cause of their fucking RANGE, they can fuck your shit up.

But aesthetically it’d have to be the Endermen, they just look spooky and FUCK when they’re pissed they are TERRIFYING

2. Who’s your favorite villain in MCSM?

OH CHRIST *rubs face* I…Have to many…But if i had to pick THREE it would be.

Pama, because it’s a sodding giant AI computer that brainwashes everyone.

The Admin, because holy FUCK his voice is glorious and just so intense in design and I want to know MORE about him!

And finally, GOD, DAMNED, HADRIAN!

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, THIS IS SUCH A GLORIOUS VILLAIN! How he tries to manipulate the player into basically being stuck in his world (Or was it leaving his world, I can’t recall) and just, becoming his bitch is amazing, and how you revolt and fight back, BUT HE’S STILL SO GOD DAMNED COCKY AS SHIT AND HOW HE FUCKING GOT EVERYONE STUCK IN THIS WORLD AND JUST

HOLY SHIT SON HE’S A GREAT VILLAIN

PLUS I GET TO KEEP SCREAMING “I’MMA FUCKING KILL YOU WINNIE THE POOH!” CAUSE HIS VOICE ACTOR IS FUCKING JIM CUMMINGS WHO I LOVE

I SWEAR LOOK AT THIS SMUG BASTARD.

FUCK YOU HADRIAN YOU GLORIOUS BASTARD.

3. If you could pick 2 people to travel with you from the MCSM cast, who would they be?

Seriously you had to ask THIS.

Isn’t it obvious?

Ivor and Lukas obviously.

#mcsm #minecraft story mode #thethinkingfruit

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scifihorroradventure · 8 years ago

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ALIEN (1979)

As the space freighter Nostromo heads back to Earth, it receives a signal from a nearby planet. Its crew decides to investigate in case somebody needs assistance and Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt), Kane (John Hurt), and Lambert (Veronica Cartwright) follow the signal to a large ship, finding a giant, dead extraterrestrial. Investigating the area further, Kane finds a large amount of egg-like objects. One of these eggs hatches and a small creature latches itself onto Kane's face. Getting back to the Nostromo, Kane is taken to the medical bay, in some sort of coma. Science officer Ash (Ian Holm) tries to cut it off, but finds it impossible due to the animal's acidic blood. Before too long, the creature is found dead and Kane has awoken, seemingly unharmed. But as the crew later sits down to dinner, Kane seizes and falls onto the table, a small creature erupting from his chest. The animal escapes into the ship and the crew do their best to track it down. The alien grows very quickly, however, soon becoming man-sized. One by one, the beast slaughters the crew, until only Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) remains...

For years, movies about monsters from space attacking astronauts had almost always been cheesy B-movies. That all changed with the release of Ridley Scott's Alien, a tense, atmospheric film featuring one of the screen's most iconic monsters. The story by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett is simple - A crew in deep space encounter an extraterrestrial life form and everything goes horribly wrong - but it's all that's needed for the film, and its execution is perfect. The claustrophobic sets of the Nostromo really help sell how isolated and alone the crew is, millions of miles away from anyone who can help. From the various vents and control rooms of the Nostromo to the enormous chambers of the Space Jockey's ship, the sets really help build a convincing world. The effects, while simple, are almost flawless (though there is an unfortunate hiccup involving Ash's severed head) and serve the story rather than the other way around. The film does not rush things, taking its time to properly introduce our characters and the world they inhabit. While this works to the film's advantage for the most part, it also works against the movie at a few key points - Mainly, the Nostromo's self destruct/"searching for Jones" sequence goes on at least twice as long as it needs to. It goes on just long enough to properly build the right amount of tension, but then unfortunately doesn't stop. The music by Jerry Goldsmith is appropriately eerie, particularly the opening credits theme.

Quite possibly the most recognizable of all cinematic space monsters, the Alien (later known as a "Xenomorph") is a strange, frightening beast, completely inhuman in its behavior and motivation. From the spiderlike Facehugger to the bloodstained Chestburster and finally the razortoothed, dome headed final form, the Alien is a striking, unforgettable creation. Originally designed by H.R. Giger, the beast has a striking, sleek, almost biomechanical appearance. Story wise, the Alien went through many changes during the film's inception; Its blood was originally not acidic, but when O'Bannon couldn't figure out why the crew wouldn't simply shoot the monster, concept artist Ron Cobb suggested the idea. Secondly, the Alien was originally going to emerge victorious, killing Ripley and reporting back to Earth using a human voice. Suit actor Bolaji Badejo gives an effective performance as the Alien, never coming across as too human-like in his movements, with its final showdown with Ripley an especially memorable sequence. Here the Alien has an air of mystery to it as well as horror, a vibe that would sadly be lost in sequels as the creature was reduced to a cannon fodder species.

Though it takes a while for her to take center stage, Sigourney Weaver eventually shines as Lt. Ellen Ripley, the only survivor of the Alien's attack and eventual series star. At first she seems to come across as a cold woman, initially unwilling to let Dallas and his crew back on the ship with Kane 'infected' by something. But she soon comes into her own when she discovers Ash's secret plan and deals with the quickly unraveling events that take place shortly after. Thanks to Weaver's performance, you can really feel Ripley's desperation and terror as she tries to escape the self destructing Nostromo and defeat the murderous Alien. Tom Skerritt is good as Captain Dallas, but never really gets anything across other than "the leader." Initially his and Ripley's relationship was to be much more involved in earlier versions of the script, but most of it was removed to make way for the proper story. That said, he does get the most effective scare in the entire movie, surpassed only by the famous Chestburster itself. Ian Holm gives a great performance as Ash, the science officer-cum-secret android. Reserved and logical, Ash keeps making comments to not harm or touch the Alien throughout the film, which seem reasonable at first. But eventually comes the grand reveal, in which Ash is nothing more than a robot with a devious mission planted by Weyland-Yutani (here referred to as just "the company"), sent to protect the Alien at all costs, even if it means the loss of the crew's lives. It's a shocking reveal, but with all great twists, there are plenty of clues to go back and catch during repeat viewings. John Hurt is good as Kane, even though the man severely lacks even the most basic of self preservation skills, coming across an enormous nest of large, alien eggs, then deciding to get closer to investigate. At least he gets the honor of being the first person in the series to receive their very own Chestburster. The scene is intense and horrifying, making it one of the most memorable in all of cinematic history. Veronica Cartwright does alright as Lambert, but all she really brings to the table is being the whiny, panicky one, and somehow she survives for most of the movie. Honestly, the most entertaining thing about Lambert is knowing Cartwright had no idea she was going to be sprayed with blood during the Chestburster scene. Yaphet Kotto and Harry Dean Stanton are amusing enough as Parker and Brett even though they honestly don't add very much to the film, but at least they're more entertaining to watch than Lambert is.

With nearly all of its elements coming together perfectly, Alien emerges as a solid, tense thriller, and one of the genre's best. The Xenomorph quickly became one of horror's most iconic monsters (with its inner mouth and copious amount of drool a source of endless spoofs and rip offs), while Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ellen Ripley would cement her as one of Hollywood's most notable leading ladies. As of 2017, the series is still going strong seven entries later without once being rebooted or remade, including two crossovers with the Predator series.

Rating: ★★★★★

Cast: Tom Skerritt ... Captain Dallas Sigourney Weaver ... Ellen Ripley Ian Holm ... Ash Yaphet Kotto ... Parker John Hurt ... Kane Veronica Cartwright ... Lambert Harry Dean Stanton ... Brett Bolaji Badejo ... The Alien

Director: Ridley Scott. Producer: Gordon Carroll, David Giler, Walter Hill, Ivor Powell (associate producer), and Ronald Shusett (executive producer). Writer: Dan O'Bannon (story and screenplay) and Ronald Shusett (story). Music: Jerry Goldsmith. Special Effects: Nick Allder (supervisor), Alan Bryce (floor effects supervisor), Clinton Cavers (coordinator: 'Alien' effects), Carlo De Marchis (additional 'Alien' mechanics), Roger Dicken (maker: small 'Alien' forms), Guy Hudson (technician), Brian Johnson (supervisor), Phil Knowles (technician), Dennis Lowe (technician), Roger Nichols (technician), Carlo Rambaldi (creator: 'Alien' head effects), Neil Swan (technician), David H. Watkins (technician), David Watling (additional 'Alien' mechanics), Anton Furst (uncredited), Bob Keen (modeller, uncredited), Philip Sharpe (technician, uncredited), Christian Wolf-La'Moy (model maker, uncredited). Dennis Ayling (director of photography: miniature effects), Martin Bower (supervising model maker: miniature effects), Ray Caple (matte artist), Dick Hewitt (electronics and video coordinator: main unit), David Litchfield (operator: miniature effects), Bernard Lodge (special graphic effects), Terry Pearce (focus: miniature effects), Bill Pearson (supervising model maker: miniature effects), Peter Woods (key grip: miniature effects), Alan Buchan (visual effects, uncredited), Jon Sorensen (visual effects miniatures, uncredited), and Rick Cortes (Inferno artist (2003 director's cut re-release), uncredited).

#sci fi horror adventure #alien #ridley scott #xenomorphs #aliens #robots #outer space #1970s

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fuckivor · 8 years ago

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IVORS CUM HAS THE CONSISTENCY OF MAYONAISE

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you-had-me-at-e-flat-major · 8 years ago

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Fairly lively pieces that are around 2 minutes long?

good luck finding anything that’s that short in classical music but here’s what i managed to find that’s anywhere below 3 and a half minutes:

Bach: B Minor Mass: Cum sancto spirituWagner: Lohengrin: Vorspiel to Akt IIIBrahms: Hungarian Dance no. 5Dvorák: Slavonic Dance op. 72 no. 7Elgar: Enigma Variations: Troyte, G.R.S.Holst: First Suite in E-flat: March, Second Suite in F: Song of the Blacksmith, Fantasia on the Dargason, St. Paul’s Suite: JigStravinsky: Pétrouchka: Danse russeGrainger: Lincolnshire Posy: Lost Lady FoundOrff: Carmina Burana: In taberna quando sumusWilliams: The MissionIvor Slaney: Non-Stop

#anon

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dailynewswebsite · 4 years ago

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Why it matters that so many senior civil servants are quitting under Boris Johnson

A current spate of exits on the high stage of the British civil service is greater than a matter of personnel change. It’s the results of a worrying shift in pondering inside the authorities.

Mark Sedwill, the cupboard secretary and head of the civil service, resigned in June after he turned the goal for hostile nameless briefings and poisonous social media. Jonathan Slater, everlasting secretary on the Division for Training, can also be to step down following the examination outcomes debacle of this summer season. Gavin Williamson, the minister in command of his division, in the meantime, seems to be dealing with no penalties in anyway.

Slater is just one of a sequence of everlasting secretaries who’ve left their posts over the previous six months. The House Workplace, the International and Commonwealth Workplace, the Ministry of Justice and Housing and Native Authorities have all seen their most senior civil servants depart.

The connection between the Boris Johnson administration and its senior civil servants was poor from the beginning however has quickly deteriorated. It’s now most likely the worst it has ever been. Tensions are predicted to worsen and it’s attainable that the senior civil service won’t ever be the identical once more. At occasions it seems as if the UK is heading in the direction of the American mannequin the place essentially the most senior advisers are introduced in with every new authorities.

The civil service has lengthy operated round the concept that civil servants advise however ministers resolve – and due to this fact take accountability when issues go mistaken. That modified considerably, like a lot else, underneath Margaret Thatcher.

In The Blunders of our Governments Anthony King and Ivor Crew, two of the UK’s most distinguished political scientists, canter although a cornucopia of presidency cock-ups of the previous 40 years. Additionally they hint the origin of a change in relations between ministers and civil servants again to Thatcher. They be aware that she had a private desire for proactive, ideological ministers who took agency management of their departments. In so doing, she recast the function of civil servants. They have been now not there to supply neutral recommendation as equal companions within the supply of excellent authorities however have been to be enthusiastic deliverers of no matter coverage concepts or ideology her strong-minded ministers delivered to the desk.

King and Crowe additionally reveal how this altering relationship persevered all through the next administrations of New Labour, the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition and the Conservatives. Ministers, even these chargeable for essentially the most severe and serial blunders, are seldom sacked and virtually by no means resign.

Rise of the SpAds

Now, we see one senior civil servant after one other being compelled out. There had all the time been the odd involuntary resignation prior to now however, if a civil servant fell out with a robust minister, extra usually they’d be moved away from that minister to a different division or authorities company. So what has modified?

One key issue has been the rise of the particular advisers (SpAds) to new heights of energy and affect. Below Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s chief adviser, SpAds sit on the very centre of presidency and wield unprecedented energy.

SpAds are political appointees that give occasion political recommendation, and their major curiosity is their minister, his or her pursuits, his or her occasion and his or her political agenda. They don’t act within the public curiosity or give neutral recommendation as is predicted of civil servants. They’ll attempt to affect coverage improvement and advise on how coverage proposals will play with voters for political ends. They’re unlikely to push again or essentially problem their ministers’ ambitions.

First launched in 1964, particular advisers have been usually recruited for his or her experience specifically coverage areas and have been often connected to what Whitehall calls the foremost supply departments, corresponding to well being, schooling or the House Workplace. In these roles they often labored constructively and collaboratively with the civil servants offering different views and experience welcomed by the departments. They have been more and more accompanied by media advisers and communication specialists corresponding to Bernard Ingham and Alistair Campbell, who primarily influenced the presentation of presidency coverage and pursuits.

When Johnson was elected, Cummings moved quickly to consolidate and centralise energy as quickly as he was appointed, taking direct management of all SpAds throughout Whitehall. Cummings is a long-term critic of the civil service, calling it “an thought for the historical past books” and has been significantly scathing in regards to the function of its everlasting secretaries. He has a private imaginative and prescient of what he believes the federal government needs to be doing and he pursues it with an virtually evangelical zeal.

Sedwill reportedly had a tough relationship with Cummings and his departure is seen as a victory for the PM’s adviser. His successor, Simon Case is a 41-year-old who has labored prior to now as personal secretary to former prime minister David Cameron, and was a part of the Brexit negotiations. Having left in 2018 to turn into Prince William’s personal secretary, he returned to Quantity 10 earlier this 12 months to assist with the federal government’s coronavirus response.

The shift in energy is palpable. The senior civil servants who’re supposed to supply neutral recommendation and “converse reality to energy” are the clear losers. So is public discourse, democratic authorities and the general public curiosity.

Peter Murphy was a Senior Civil Servant between 2000 and 2009. He served in 4 Whitehall Departments.

from Growth News https://growthnews.in/why-it-matters-that-so-many-senior-civil-servants-are-quitting-under-boris-johnson/ via https://growthnews.in

#Growth News

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