11:56 pm
...predominantly for the Olympics, was question two on Question Time tonight. Well, despite the news over the past couple of days that tourism might suffer in the years around an Olympic Games coming to town, ultimately the real beneficiaries are those who own land in Olympic cities. If Londoners don't pay the greater share, they will benefit disproportionately from the tax donations of other
11:36 pm
In the first few sentences on Question Time tonight David Milliband, whom I generally quite like for a Labour minister, said that there's a debate to be had within the Muslim community, that all the great faiths have had in the past, about whether they side with those who seek co-existence with others or domination over others. He's right of course, this is a debate that has been held by the
11:02 pm
My LibDem Council colleague (and sister in law!) Helen has sent a few photos she took at the Dundee LibDem party last Saturday so I've added them below!
10:53 pm
The obsession of politicians with celebrity reared its head in the chamber yesterday as the South Wales East Conservative, William Graham, gave away a great secret - he has been sneakily watching the World Cup or at least his researcher has: William Graham: You will be aware of the success-or lack of success last night, if you consider the German football team-of German footballer Michael Ballack's anti-smoking campaign in his country. Could you encourage sportswomen and sportsmen in Wales to give a similar anti-drugs and anti-drinking message? What the record of proceedings do not record is that ...
10:47 pm
We went to see Rik Mayall in "The New Statesman" at the Hexagon theatre, Reading this evening. We were laughing from beginning to end. It was the best evening's entertainment we've had for years. The writing from Marks and Gran is excellent. But, of course, Rik Mayall is brilliant. It was wonderful to see him doing such a demanding role. He has to speak very quickly and voluminously. There are a
10:25 pm
Was in London Monday Trading Standards to investigateOvergrown leylandii Controlled Entry problem at some flatsPromise by Waste Management Department to deal with rubbish dumped in Ford's Lane
9:07 pm
Will Howells wonders why there are now so many stretch limos on the streets of Falkirk? The next time he sees one he should see if he can spot how many people are in it. Legally, whatever the size of the vehicle, the maximum capacity of a limo is eight (not including the driver). I learnt this rather obscure part of the traffic law whilst I was working for a public affairs company in Leeds last autumn. One of the more interesting clients was an organisation representing limousine hire companies. They wanted police to enforce this capacity limit and the ...
8:44 pm
I've had a few complaints recently about vandalism in Wyman's Brook. Perhaps the most serious is from Roman Hackle Avenue residents, who are suffering criminal damage from vandals throwing rocks at their houses from the disused railway line that runs along the back of the estate. I'm working with residents and the police to see what can be done: please contact me if you have any experience of vandalism in this area so that I can get a complete picture of the problem.
5:30 pm
Quite. Seriously, I thought his defence on the Anschutz questions was reasonably convincing. The eighteen minute (by my watch) unedited interview on Today this morning admirably answered the question "what is the BBC for?". It also answered the question: "What is John Prescott for?". The answer is, apparently: 'To spend weekends in the USA finding out how cowboys live to see whether it is the same as when he watched Western movies as a lad'. Though he may have trouble convincing taxpayers that they should pay for him to do this, I can quite accept that a "fact finding" visit ...
5:11 pm
Back in May 1994 I posted this anecdote on my anthology blog Serendib. It describes what Sir Anthony Eden did after he resigned as prime minister over Suez. What was then a pleasing trivial connection may be about to become a grand irony or a satisfying closure. An exhausted Eden resigned on January 9 1957 and he and his wife set sail from Tilbury to New Zealand (which had been a staunch ally) on January 18. The ship was the RMS Rangitata and the Edens' cabin steward was John Prescott, who sometimes fought on-deck boxing matches for the entertainment of ...
3:51 pm
There are times when the political tone can be created by a series of media stories and there is nothing much that the politicians can do to alter it. That is how the Tories came unstuck when, after a series of headlines following 'Black Wednesday', their record for economic competence was shot to pieces. After that it was downhill all the way. This morning's Western Mail has made an attempt to perform the same trick. It leads with a story about Labour's Black Wednesday and backs it up with a succession of articles that together paint a very depressing ...
2:18 pm
My flat was flooded in the downpour which hit Catford on Tuesday, so I've been a bit preoccupied with that recently. Details in my personal blog at http://easyjournal.com/andrewmiltonI haven't got my telephones reconnected yet, so the best way to contact me is on my mobile: 07966430722. I can still get e-mails on andrew.milton@btinternet.com but I can't access them from home at present.
1:58 pm
The media circus is round on John Prescott again and Prezza is doing his best impression of US General George Armstrong Custer. His relief from colleagues seems far away and not going to reach Mr Prescott's personal Little Big Horn any time soon. His denial that he is going to resign following the latest allegations over what he did or didn't say with Dome owner Philip Anschutz over 7 different
1:50 pm
An interesting, and long interview of Prescott on Today this morning.I assume he's spent the last 2 days avoiding all broadcast interviews so that he could prepare for this one. And it sounded like it: none of the usual Prescottese that you get when he speaks off the cuff in parliament. But there were whole sentences, with beginnings, middles and ends. That also made some sense!But why, at the end, did he just not come out and say "no, I have not had any other affairs". Instead he went round the houses, and most of the way to Hull and ...
1:22 pm
Here’s something that puzzles me: the frequency of stretched limousines on the streets of Falkirk in the early evening during the week. I’ve lived in, worked in and visited many different places, and never have I seen such a preponderence of limos. There may be only two in total (one white, one pink) but, walking home [...]
12:50 pm
Chemmy Alcott, British champion and Olympic skier, is the perfect role model for pupils at Surbiton High. She managed to achieve four A grades at A Level whilst in serious training, and remains a charming and vivacious woman. So it was no surprise that she was asked to open the new school buildings in Surbiton Crescent on Tuesday. The new building is a graceful addition to...
11:20 am
The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) is fighting the decision of the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas that they should publish its findings about how ID Cards could fight ID fraud. It's quite simple really, they want more information from you, but they're not willing to tell you what they're going to do with it. A spokesperson for the DWP said: "What do you mean that's hypocritical?
10:52 am
Have just added the final flourishes to the July edition of Free Radical magazine, which should be winging its way to the printers today (that’s right- it’s not produced on a risograph). As of last week, my term on the LDYS executive is over, so it will be the third and final edition with me as editor. This will also be the first Thursday for about ten months when I haven’t had to compile and distribute the weekly eNews to our info-hungry membership. Which is a small relief. And to celebrate, I’m going to see the Strokes tonight, at the ...
10:48 am
So, John Prescott was on Today this morning, banging the desk in a display of working class rightousness (or something). Most people took that he didn't deny having more affairs, something which I'm not hugely bothered about, apart from any double standards in government, or more seriously, if the rumours are correct, the abuse of power in granting favours to lovers... What struck me is that
10:16 am
As the title of my blog suggests I am a left-leaning member of the Lib Dems, even if the left -right divide is being increasingly little more important than the authoritarian / liberal axis that divides parties. 17 years ago I was a Labour councillor, but that party's authoritarian drift, the illegal war in Iraq, pro-nuclear stance, lukewarm engagement with Europe and paternalism meant they left me as much as I left them. That is not to deny the attractiveness of the Lib Dems : commitment to personal freedom, social justice, progressive taxation and the environment are all ...
10:14 am
Letter to the 'Herald Express' 060706 Nick Bye's outburst directed at what he describes as Lib Dems 'holding back' the resort reported in your paper on July 1 is becoming somethingof a habit for the mayor. Another month, another issue and another 'it'snot my fault' plea from the mayor. It's those 'nasty' Lib Dems againsays Nick. This is becoming something of a regular pantomime dameperformance from the Mayor. I was half expecting a press release from Nick blaming the Lib Dems forEngland's world cup defeat, global warming and the state of the musiccharts this week, but I guess that is still ...
10:13 am
Tonight's Question Time is being co-produced by some of the pupils from Wolverhampton Girls High School after they were one of the winners of the Schools Question Time competition. I wish them lots of luck and will definitely being tuning in, I hope you do too, it will be on at 10.35pm on BBC1.
9:58 am
Oh dear what can the matter be, poor old Jack has had a catastophe. The First Minister said that he hoped to extend the life of the Torness and Hunterston nucleur power stations. Only for the aging reactors to say dear Mr McConnell we really are starting to crack up a should be allowed to retire gracefully. The nucleur safety watchdog has uncovered cracks at six reactors across the UK including
9:05 am
I've been avoiding blogging on the two recent defections from our City Council group. I always got along with the two individuals well on a personal level, and they've always been kind, friendly and pleasant to me. I'm annoyed that they left - both it seems for such trivial reasons - but I didn't see anything to be gained from commenting personally. However, freshly returned from holiday, Stephen has put things brilliantly.
8:00 am
Following Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell's article in the Guardian the Party has launched their new strategy for Iraq. The full document can be downloaded from the party website - www.libdems.org.uk or by emailing me for a copy at colin@colin-ross.org.uk below is a brief summary of what the Liberal Democrats are proposing.
12:29 am
This is a debate that is starting to gather momentum. There are many arguments for Nuclear power, on the surface it may seem to be a clean, efficient, carbon neutral solution to our energy problems. It is true that technology has moved on in the half century since the first power stations were built. There are many arguments against, such as safety, radiation fears for those living nearby and the threat of terrorism, however there are two key arguments that clinch the argument for me. Cost. Firstly our nuclear industry has left us with a massive clean-up bill ...
Wednesday 5th July 2006,
Tuesday 4th July 2006,
Monday 3rd July 2006,
Sunday 2nd July 2006,
Saturday 1st July 2006,
Friday 30th June 2006
