The Guardian reports that health secretary, Wes Streeting, speaking at the Institute for Government (IFG), has criticised the centre-left of politics for an "excuses culture" which blames Whitehall and stakeholders for the slow pace of change, saying politicians "are not simply at the mercy of forces outside of our control". The paper says that Streeting's comments will be seen as an attack on complaints by allies of Keir Starmer that change has been constantly delayed by the number of regulations and arm's-length bodies: One of the prime minister's former key aides Paul Ovenden authored a piece earlier this month about ...
I once described the the Great Central Railway - Nottingham as a bit of a mystery to those of us in Leicestershire. Rather like the Eastern Roman Empire. Since then I've visited Constantinople and written three posts about it: Rushcliffe Halt, Above the Brush Works and Ruddington Fields. The GCR in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are separated by 500 yards of missing bridges and embankments at Loughborough. In this video Tim Dunn looks at the project, already well under way, to close that gap. When it's done, there will be an 18-mile heritage railway running from the edge of Leicester to ...
I searched for a video of Eddie McCreadie scoring a goal, only to find that his foul on Billy Bremner in the 1970 FA Cup Final replay is everywhere. So here it is instead. It's here because McCreadie has died at the age of 85. I think that leaves David Webb and Charlie Cooke as the only members of that victorious Cup Final team who are still with us. How old the world has grown. BBC News describes McCreadie's playing career: Former Scotland and Chelsea player Eddie McCreadie, who was once hailed by Tommy Docherty as the best left-back in ...
During his successful campaign for the Liberal Democrat presidency, Josh Barbarinde's supporters emphasised his unparalleled ability to gain media coverage. They always sounded a little optimistic in a world where not even the party leader gets as much attention as he deserves, but Josh is indeed the subject of a substantial article by Rachel Cunliffe on the New Statesman website. Much of the piece is about Josh personally, but then his compelling backstory is part of what attracts the media. And it does eventually get on to Lib Dem strategy:As the Lib Dems gear up for 2026, this is how ...
Tomorrow some young people will die in Iran. Many have already died in what has largely, on their side, been peaceful and joyous demonstrations against the totalitarian theocratic regime which ahs ruled that benighted country since the downfall of the Shah. However, what was peaceful and joyous on their side has been met with thuggery, bullets, and bullying by the regime now fearful for its survival. These young people are not looking for anything special. Just to live their lives as young people in most Westerns, and for that matter Eastern Countries live. They want to dress as they want ...
The plates of British politics are drifting like never before, populism on the right and the left creating a chasm at the heart of the centre ground; now is the time to sprint towards it, claim it, and take the once in a generation opportunity to become the radical centre. Being noticed doesn't need to be the next stunt, great ideas will suffice. In an era defined by uncertainty, Liberal Democrats face a defining challenge: whether to speak plainly and bravely about the issues that most shape people's lives and suggest radical reforms, even when those issues are complex, controversial, ...
One has to wonder why Reform are so scathing about the Tory party as they are rapidly recuiting as many Tories as they can. It is getting to the point where Reform and the Tory Party of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are becoming indistinguishable. The Independent reports that the latest defector has been less than discreet in the past as to what he thinks of Nigel Farage and Reform. Everybody is entitled to change their mind, of course. The paper says that former Tory Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, previously said he would be "frightened" to live in a country run ...