When London was brought to a standstill by a herd of rampaging military horses last week, it was perhaps inevitable that talk of portents and omens would quickly take hold. With Big Ben’s clock having stopped at around the same time, there was a degree of excitement about the end being nigh.
Much of that chatter on social media had tongue firmly in cheek. And so far, the sky doesn’t seem to have fallen in – except perhaps for the Scottish National Party and Liverpool FC. Nevertheless, given the chaotic state of Britain in 2024, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the sight of a bloodied grey charger hurtling along Aldwych led some people to wonder – even in jest – what it might presage.
After all, just the day before, Rishi Sunak and Grant Shapps had been in Poland, announcing an increase to defence funding that would put the UK on a “war footing”. Leading a cavalry charge to Shadwell probably isn’t what they had in mind, but perhaps poor Vida and Quaker took them at their word.
This story is from the April 29, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the April 29, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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