LibDem Blogs - Archived!

It is strange that it is always high culture that rouses the forces of reaction to fury. The last time there was a row comparable to that over Jerry Springer - The Operawas in 1987 when Channel 4 broadcast a poem of Tony Harrison's poem V. This encyclopaedia entry reminds us of what happened then His best-known poem is the fairly long V.(1985), written during the UK miners' strike of 1984-5, and describing a trip to see his parents' grave in a Leeds cemetery "now littered with beer cans and vandalised by obscene graffiti". The

Another rare apple has turned up in a south Shropshire orchard, reports the Shropshire Star. Give it up, please, for the Round Winter Nonsuch. When we noted the rediscovery of the Gipsy King variety a few months ago we gave a plug for the excellent organisation Common Ground, which cares about things like this. Here is another plug for it.

The good news: Bangladesh have won their first test match, beating Zimbabwe by 226 runs at Chittagong. Some have questioned whether they should have been granted test status in the first place, arguing that they are simply not good enough. But we should remember that it took New Zealand around 50 years (from the 1920s to the 1970s) to cease being a pushover at test level. So well done, Bangladesh. The bad news is that the lime tree on the outfield at the St Lawrence ground in Canterbury has blown down. Some may ask why a cricket ground should

Some of the biggest fuss about Jerry Springer the Opera is this a nappy-wearing Jesus confessing he is "a bit gay"Daily MailNow can somebody point out the "nappy" on the picture on the right? You can't. That's because in Act III, Jesus is wearing a loincloth, as per the picture on the left. In Act I, Montel wears a nappy. These are not the same character! And what exactly is so wrong about

Last week, the United Kingdom Independence Party selected their candidate for Woodspring for the General Election. They fielded a candidate last time and I welcome the fact that they have selected a 29 year old candidate this time. Even if I disagree with them on almost every issue - it is is encouraging that parties are prepared these days to endorse younger candidates than ever before.

What wonderful weather we have had these last few days! Not that it has got in the way of our campaigning .... Friday evening I had a meeting with Weston MP Brian Cotter and colleagues to discuss the election campaign across North Somerset and how we can all work more effectively together. Brian has been MP in Weston for eight years now and remains determined to hold the seat for the party and

It seems that the question on most people's lips is 'what is Germaine Greer doing in the Big Brother house?' OK, that may be an exaggeration but it is certainly a talking point amongst the chattering classes, many of whom had idolised her for her intellect and her achievements as a feminist. Apparently, her lecture on 16th Century poetry at the Hay Festival a few years ago is legendary as are, of course, her many written works, particularly 'The Female Eunuch'. I cannot say that I have read any of her books but I did go to one of

Congratulations to Dai Lloyd Evans, the Leader of Ceredigion County Council. He has turned a negative into a positive for his area by inviting Matt Lucas and David Williams of 'Little Britain' fame to Llanddewi Brefi to unveil replacement road signs. The original signs were stolen last month by souvenir hunters seeking to cash in on the new-found fame of the village, which features in the cult show. What better way to underline Ceredigion's new cult status?

Congratulations to the organisers of the tsunami relief concert at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. It now looks as if this will be a sell-out. There is however, a fly in the ointment and in posting this there is a danger that I may start to sound like David Davies. If that is the case then I apologise in advance and state in mitigation that I do sit next to him in the chamber and have to be on constant alert not to let his approach to politics rub off on me. Nevertheless the news that tickets to this relief concert