Word from Bromley...
Just had a text from a contact, word from Bromley is might be worth staying up. We shall...
Thursday 29th June 2006
11:55 pm
11:25 pm
Final CCTV Locations
I decided to go down fighting on the Hyde Park CCTV scheme. In the end they delayed the original decision, held another committee meeting, got the officers to prepare a proper report and then.... reconfirmed the original decision. You win some and you lose some. However if nothing else I have proved the point that you can't table sloppy reports and there is such a thing as due process. The good news is that because of an underspend we may well get a third camera anyway. I'll be pressing for quick installation of the two chosen sites which are ...
11:02 pm
Time to go, Ms Graffy
You will remember the furore caused by comments from an American diplomat suggesting that three suicides at Guantanamo Bay were "a good PR move to attract attention". You may even remember that the diplomat in question is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (oops, no that doesn't mean making crass, insensitive or tasteless remarks, but perhaps it does in the Bush
10:50 pm
Area Committee
The charmingly named Inner North West Area committee met tonight and set a new record at 3 hours and 40 minutes. Its technically a full council committee but being hip liberals we have turned it into a public meeting. It was emotional through out and bad tempered at times. The most charitable explaination was that we are suffering indegestion. We have taken far to many initiatives, we have over worked the area management office and two years into the Joint Administration we are suffering a "Delivery Gap". The less charitable view would be that we had the first hints ...
10:35 pm
Not The World Cup Final
For those Lib Dem Bloggers who are in the Sheffield area, we are running an event on the evening of Saturday 8th July called Not The World Cup Final, where there will be an opportunity to watch the penultimate game of the World Cup (the 3rd/4th place playoff) and chat with some local Lib Dems. (For those non-Lib Dem readers of this blog, you may make your jokes about the Lib Dems' interest in
9:41 pm
They're back...
For those of you who missed the rather inexplicable feud between the infamous Darbyshires and this blog the first time around... they're back and posting at great length in my comments box. So I thought I'd drop a quick post to draw your attention to the *rematch*, as it were. As a quick recap - LibertyCat was mildly cutting when the Darbyshires first became required cult reading with a mention
7:38 pm
West End Issues.
A large number of issues in the West End tackled this week including: Following complaints, I have raised the concerns about the high shruberry on the roundabout at Riverside Drive/Avenue (near Marmalade Pot) - very difficult for drivers coming roundabout to see pedestrians - have raised this concern with the Planning I am progressing these with the City Council.Any resident wishing to raise a
6:37 pm
Two more bites of Big Brother
Another Statutory Instrument - but this time in committee and about extra powers being given to a variety of agencies with regard to intercept and communications data, and also about powers for covert surveillance and so on. Too complicated to relate now – but together the two do rather sum up what politics – and Labour’s approach – is heavily about at the moment.
6:13 pm
Lapdancing and Lapdogs: Political games at the Town Hall
The first item of business in last night's Council Meeting was a deputation from the London Bridge coalition against a Lap Dancing Club on Tooley Street. The main issue behind this is about residents reasonable opposition to an adult entertainment club appearing on one of Southwark's busiest roads next to tourist attractions, residential areas and a children's Theatre. All parties support their objections. Indeed the only people supporting the club's application can be counted on one hand, and that hand is probably engaging in something unworthy. There is no pro-lapdancing party or councillor. However despite nobody wanting the ...
5:55 pm
US Supreme Court says Guantanemo tribunals are illegal
At long last the US Supreme Court has ruled, as reported by the BBC, that the trial of Guantanemo detainees by military tribunal is illegal. George Bush had said that, in his "judgement", tribunals should be used and some had started. This ruling is cause for great celebration in my view. However, I am not greatly surprised. The whole Gauntanemo/tribunal idea was a stupid idea from a stupid
5:52 pm
Battle of the Somme - Lest we forget
I once looked up a few facts about the Battle of the Somme when replying to a letter in the press. The 90th anniversary of the battle is coming up on Saturday. The first thing, of which my fact-checking reminded me, is how long the battle was. Many people think it took just a day or a few days. In fact it went on for four and a half months. It is difficult to visualise 1.2 million people. It
5:15 pm
Simon Hughes: “Yes”, I am bisexual
My eye was caught today by a press release from Simon Hughes which contained the quote: “I welcome another serious publication for and about gay and lesbian people and issues that matter to them.” Muttering under my breath “I’m pretty sure you mean ‘us’, Simon” I found myself reflecting on how Simon handled his coming out - [...]
2:17 pm
Quote of the Day
It comes, appropriately enough, from the Bridgnorth Journal: Because of the huge interest in the issue, the council has advised the public that space in the council chamber will be limited.Well, I think I know what they mean.
1:46 pm
In a lane near Abdon Burf
A couple of days ago I was walking along a narrow lane near Abdon when I met a Shropshire Star van coming the other way. I stepped on to the verge, the driver slowed and waved, and all was well. But it did strike me that, if we had both been thinking of other things, this could have been a bitterly ironic way for me to die. A. E. Housman adds: Wenlock Edge was umbered, And bright was Abdon Burf, And warm between them slumbered The smooth green miles of ...
1:24 pm
The Irony of the A-List
In the Conservatives do badly in today's Bromley election, either not winning or not winning by much, there will be a lot of debate about the local party's decision to reject the much-touted celebrity A-List. I have no doubt that...
1:23 pm
For politicians to play on their hip-to-the-street iPods
Here’s an idea for making the goings-on in Parliament more accessible: podcast them. Questions to ministers would be a good session to use it for. Set up an automated system to record the half-hour/hour long sessions of question times for the various different departments, encode them into MP3 files and make them available online. Set them [...]
1:21 pm
Bromley By-election Today
Bromley West Fife the Tories did fairly well at the May local elections, althought their performance was far from sweeping and there was a lot of churn in seats between all 3 main parties and several smaller ones too. Historically, the Lib Dems do not fair well in byelections where the Opposition is incumbent. Romsey and Bermondsey are the few recent examples where they have won. The Tories have
12:55 pm
Almost a Year Since Gleneagles...
...how is Tony Blair Getting on. Well Save the Children have unearthed this memo. So still a lot to do on making healthcare free in Africa. HIV treatment target of 2010 needs some work on if this is going to be acheived. Although debt in the 28 poorest countries of the world has almost now be cancelled. Tony cannot be losing his direction or purpose as some of his own people are saying.
12:42 pm
Vote Neill and You May Have to Vote Again Later
This morning the Bromley Times carried a warning for voters in today's by-election. The front page story says that if the Conservative candidate Bob Neill is elected in today's election the people of Bromley and Chislehurst may find themselves returning to a poll if another election is called due to irregularities on his nomination papers. The message could be summed up as Vote Blue, Vote Again.
11:40 am
New Drinks in Sheffield
Joe Otten has set up a new Liberal Drinks in Sheffield. It will be taking place on Tuesday 18 July from 8pm at the Rising Sun, 471 Fulwood Rd, Sheffield, S10 3QA.
11:11 am
Where can the Liberal in America turn to?
One of my pet annoyances is the way that the socialistic left in the US has taken the term Liberal and applied it to themselves. This leads many to look upon Liberalism as a branch of socialism. This has led me to wonder, who can the real Liberal in the US turn to? The Democrats are most identified with the term Liberalism in the US, and they share many of the socially liberal views in terms of
11:06 am
A is for Abbotts
For those that believe that being near to the top of the ballot improves your chances on polling day, behold: - Candidates for Bromley and Chislehurst By-Election: 1. Ben Abbotts (Liberal Democrat) 2. Anne Belsey (Money Reform Party) 3. John Cartwright (Monster Raving Loony Party) 4. Nigel Farage (UK Independence Party) 5. Ann Garrett (Green) 6. Nick Hadziannis (Independent) 7. John
10:45 am
X-Men 3 - The Last Stand
Last night I went with Caroline to see X-Men 3, it is one of the many films I missed due to the local elections and the trips to Pakistan and Japan. Having enjoyed X-Men and X-Men 2 I was really looking forward to the third and final installment and was not disappointed.
10:31 am
Judge quashes six Control Orders
Last night a High Court Judge quashed a six Control Orders, the Judge, Justice Sullivan, said the the Home Secretary "had no power to make them under human rights law". Justice Sullivan said the Control Orders were incompatible with the European Human Rights Convention.
10:07 am
Bromley & Chistlehurst: Today's the day
Today's the day - Bromley & Chistlehurst by-election - I shall be on tender hooks waiting for the results tonight. It looks like it will be VERY CLOSE - a real shock to David Cameron. Not had time to post much this week - I've spent the last few evenings over there (felt a bit guilty I haven't been able to spend more time helping). The campaign HQ is a hive of activity with bods piling in from all over. People I've not seen for months and in some cases years. The mood is very buoyant. So many ...
9:38 am
Hope from Norfolk for World Food Production
Too often, scientific advancements in agriculture are treated with alarm by the media and politicians, and scepticism by the public. However, today the Eastern Daily Press reports on research undertaken at the John Innes Centre in Colney which offers hope both to the environment and to revolutionise food production across the world.
9:31 am
And congratulations to Parklands
Yesterday's Daily Post lead story was all about spare places in secondary schools. Apparently there are surpluses at quite a few, including Parklands (although some parents make their applications quite late so the situation may change). But the good news about Parklands was hidden away inside the paper, which is a shame as its quite a feather in the school's cap. parklands is in the top ten schools in the country (not in the region.. in the country) for "value added" which is surely one of the key things that matters in education. It's also ...
9:23 am
School event
I had an invitation to the Open Day at Garston C of E School, which took place last night. Went along after a day in the Municipal Buildings. There'd obviously been a huge amount of work put into the event - lots of displays and children giving demonstrations. Remembering that I only started learning French when I was 11, I was particularly impressed to see the youngsters speaking and singing in French (and it looks as if there's a school trip planned too). Ricky Tomlinson was there for the opening of the Library and to help ...
9:01 am
What a WAG!
Nice little piece in today's Western Mail based on a completely inconsequential comparison of acronyms: Do you suffer confusion when bombarded with information about the WAG (Welsh Assembly Government) and WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends of England players)? Our handy guide can help you: The WAG acronym came into being in May 1999 when the first Assembly Ministers were elected. The WAGs have been around for longer - well, some of them. But the acronym has only stuck during the current World Cup. The WAG spends its time talking, sitting in committees and making policies. The WAGs ...
8:35 am
The astounding arrogance of turncoats
The Oxford Mail today reports that a Second Councillor Quits Lib Dems: Sajjad Malik has thrown Oxford City Council's ruling Liberal Democrat group into chaos after becoming the second councillor to quit the party in six weeks. My first reaction on hearing the news yesterday is probably unprintable, but after seeing the Mail's report today and Malik's statement that: "I don't owe them anything, they owe me everything I am the man who made them alive in East Oxford. They were dead and buried before I joined them. ...I nearly drowned on my morning mug of ...
