Séamas O'Reilly: England's far-right metastasises nostalgia into anger

"For the past decade, a surge in patriotic populism has seized the UK’s government and popular press, weaponising itself against every grievance; Europe, immigrants, the environmental protesters, the environment, unions, LGBT people, and human rights."

Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London. Pic: Jordan Pettit/PA

On Wednesday, Big Ben failed to ring at 10am, with the clockface on the Elizabeth Tower remaining frozen at 9.

At 10:06, eleven bongs rang out, conjuring imagery of someone on staff — hopefully a beefeater in full garb — clumsily attempting to do it themselves.