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9 December 2020updated 03 Feb 2021 3:52pm

This England: Don’t get the small stuff

This column – which, though named after a line in Shakespeare’s “Richard II”, refers to the whole of Britain – has run in the NS since 1934.

By New Statesman

A grandmother fears Christmas dinner could be ruined for millions after Tesco counted each of her two kilos of Brussels sprouts individually – taking her over the 95-item online shopping limit.

Sandra Greenwood was forced to go without her festive favourites while ordering via click and collect from a store in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Despite only adding 18 products to her basket, the 66-year-old was baffled when she was warned she had exceeded her allowance.

The following day, she realised Tesco had counted her sprouts as individual items, pushing her well over the limit. Greenwood was forced to checkout without her beloved veggies and worries others could face a dinner without all the trimmings this Christmas.

Daily Mail (Janet Mansfield)

[See also: Whether you’re feeding one or 12 this Christmas, it’s a year to be kind to yourself]

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Destination: devolution

British Airways has apologised after upsetting Welsh rugby fans by wishing England luck in last weekend’s fixture between the two sides. The tweet, which was subsequently deleted, read: “Good luck to the England Rugby team against Wales today”. In response, the Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, tweeted: “Good way to annoy 3m+ potential customers”.

The Observer (Daragh Brady)

[See also: This England: Given up the goose]

Welease Dawwen

A crook told police who arrested him that his name was Biggus Diggus. Darren Hyde, 35, said he used the alias in tribute to character Biggus Dickus in Monty Python’s Life of Brian but couldn’t spell it.

Daily Mirror  (Amanda Welles)

Each printed entry receives a £5 book token. Entries to comp@newstatesman.co.uk or on a postcard to This England.

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This article appears in the 08 Dec 2020 issue of the New Statesman, Christmas special