The Guardian reports on the comments by the UK equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson that racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, as she warned that young men are being sucked into violent misogyny by the "cesspit" of social media. Phillipson told the Guardians Politics Weekly Podcast that she was increasingly worried about how commonplace misogyny and racism had become, fuelled by online interactions and statements by politicians she said would not have been acceptable a few years ago. They add that she accused senior MPs from Reform and the Conservatives of having made racist statements in recent years, and ...
Shakespeare knew all about the River Trent's fondness for changing its course. Here's Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1: Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here, In quantity equals not one of yours: See how this river comes me cranking in, And cuts me from the best of all my land A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out. I'll have the current in this place damm'd up; And here the smug and silver Trent shall run In a new channel, fair and evenly; It shall not wind with such a deep indent, To rob me of so rich a bottom ...
The latest edition of the email newsletter for my podcast, Political Fictions, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: First Among Equals: the TV version of Jeffrey Archer's novel After last time's novel, this time we're back to TV – with the first episode of the televised version of a novel: Cory and Mark are joined by Shane Whaley of the Spybrary podcast this week. Shane has picked for us to watch First Among Equals, ...
I fancied a train ride today, so I went down to Newport in South Wales. I even managed to cover some track that was new to me - Hereford to Newport. One reason for going there was St Woolos' Cathedral. Ever since I learnt that it isn't the Victorian rebuild I had imagined and has a history dating back to the sixth century, I have wanted to see it. The photo above shows its twelfth-century Romanesque portal and the arches from the same period in the nave. The building is no larger than many parish churches, but it still impresses. ...
What is Defence for? Recent governments seems reluctant to define national security goals. There are needs around the Home Islands, the Falklands, Cyprus, Ascension, Diego Garcia, Gibraltar, the Caribbean, and various nations that the government has given "iron clad" security guarantees. There are also commitments to NATO and the Northern Group, in Europe. For a politician there is a large and vocal demand for defence, but we are told there is no more money. And industry will want certainty - for investment - to start large capital investment and skills pipelines. People around government talk of there being no headroom. ...
Thu 20th
10:52
Getting people off the streets is the easy bit, keeping them in their accommodation is much harder
Earlier this week the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, promised more than £420 million to deal with the problem of street homelessness nationally by Christmas. I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister thinks this is a is a problem and the fact that he is putting new money into the Liverpool City region with £12 million for local use. My first 'job' within the council 51 years ago was to chair a newly formed homelessness committee and I think his plans are doomed to failure unless he thinks through the issues differently. As the Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson in Liverpool, ...
Thu 20th
07:26
Reform councillor who said she 'received no training' sent resignation letter to wrong council
The Independent wins our Headline of the Day Award. After they had announced their verdict, I told the judges I didn't receive any training when I was a councillor all those years ago. They asked if I lived in a shoebox in the middle of the road.
The Independent reports that green campaigners have accused the Conservatives' of "living in fantasy land" after the party laid out plans to ditch net zero and prioritise cheap energy over decarbonising Britain's power grid. They were commenting on plans by the shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho to ditch net zero, insisting that the UK "should focus all our attention on making electricity cheap, and then let consumer choice be king": A report commissioned by the Conservatives, written by Tory-leaning think tank Onward and advisory firm Transira Energy, suggested focusing on cheap power could save families £540 a year from their ...