Here I am with some of the children from Moor Lane and The Mount Schools who took part in the Primary Schools' Reading and Performing Arts Festival last week. I couldn't go, but the Deputy Mayor did. But The Mount staged some of the performances again so that other children and guests could see them, and I was invited along. It was very impressive to see children as young...
Iraq is still the big issue.
Over 500 young people from Kingston have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards this year. Here are some of those who received their bronze or silver awards yesterday. With them are with Halima Moin, the Member of the Youth Parliament for Kingston, and Chris Fullbrook of Kingston Youth Council, who both spoke at the ceremony. The Duke of Edinburgh Awards...
The Guardian today carried a series of attractive cartoon advertisements along the bottom of several pages for a campaign to reform political party funding. These direct you to a website called enoughsenough.org. These national newspaper adverts are not cheap so this begs the question as to who is behind the website. The site itself [...]
Pop over to my other gaff, and you can register your view on the following question: The Government has said (again) it will bring forward proposals to reform the House of Lords (again). What do you think should happen with the second chamber? Should it be…? Wholly elected80% elected, 20% appointed50% elected, 50% appointed20% elected, 80% appointedWholly appointedMy view... Those who make laws
Just a thought having watched England just draw 1-1 with Holland (sorry, The Netherlands). Mark Lawrenson asked, why was Andrew Johnson being played as a winger when he is a striker ? Wasn't this exactly what Sven did as well, insisting that a prolific centre forward is in fact a winger ? It seems to me we haven't moved on in footballing terms since Sven left and we are certainly not a better team than we were. Frank Lampard still can't pass (his given away pass led directly to t he Dutch goal) and he and Gerrard ...
The Guardian sends out a weekly e-mail on politics called The Backbencher. You can subscribe via the paper's website. The latest issue has a good story on the White House's comment on Tony Blair's recent comments on Iraq and the Middle East: You thought Tony had suggested that engaging with Iran, Syria and the Middle East peace process might be the key to sorting out Iraq? How wrong you were. The Backbencher always enjoys the White House's Setting the Record Straight feature, and this week it tackles the misreporting of the PM's speech on Monday. DC-based reporters claimed Tony ...
Anders Hanson has more on his scoop from yesterday.
Welcome to another Liberally minded new blog: David Grace's Disgruntled Radical.
On Radio Five live this morning, Nicky Campbell started an interview with John Reid likening his language to John Wayne with a someone flippant comment which instantly got John Reid in to attack dog made and made Nicky Campbell look slightly daft. This rather clever indignation from John Reid suddenly took the sting out Nicky Campbell and he instead became completely passive and allowed John Reid to blame "the Conservative's and the Liberals" for blocking government legislation. It didn't even occur to Nicky Campbell to suggest that Labour actually have a majority in Parliament ? The Lib Dems ...
Today was The Queen’s Speech. You can read what the Liberal Democrats thought of it here. I am always a fan of the occasion – I like the pomp and ceremony, and it’s one of the few times that Parliament is presented in anything like a dignified fashion. Sadly it didn’t last long, as the “We’re better than you!” “No you’re not!” posturing of the post-speech debate made for what I thought was
Apologies for the lack of blogging in the past couple of days – my internet connection was on the blink. But it has finished being temperamental now (I hope), so here we are again… Yesterday I went to see “Borat,” the film by Sacha Baron Cohen that has caused a bit (but only a bit) of controversy, whilst rocketing to the top of the film charts here and in the USA. The film had the most
Productive West End Community Council meeting last night - was able to update everyone on the progress regarding Magdalen Green and also the West End Christmas Week (the minutes of the latter group can be read on the Community Council website at http://www.wecc.org.uk/Traders.htm). I've had many requests from residents for copies of the new 72 bus service timetable (following mentioning this in my West End FOCUS newsletter) - but a couple of issues raised too. Firstly, on a few occasions the bus has missed Newhall Gardens out the route in error (or, rather, the driver has) since the ...
Its some time since I've closed a bank acct, but I will be doing so as soon as I've dug out the paper work following the announcment of First Direct's charging structure for those who pay in less than £1,500 pm.
O.J Simpson is writing a book about how, hypothetically, he killed his ex-wife and her friend. Truly sick.
Some day the government will start concentrating on enforcing the laws that exist rather than creating new ones.
Libraries across Redcar and Cleveland are hosting information sessions to offer help and advice for keeping warm this winter. The Borough's Warm and Well initiative can undertake benefit checks and home energy efficiency surveys, with the chance of accessing grants for energy efficiency measures and discount insulation schemes. We want to ensure that people who might struggle with their heating bills this winter get all the help and advice available to help them cope. Library dates and times are: Wednesday, November 22 - Marske, 12.30pm-2pm. Thursday, November 23 - Loftus, 2pm-5pm. Friday, November 24 - Saltburn, ...
Cicero should have been consulted before Blair drew up his proposals for his valedictory speech. And Nick Clegg shows how Labour are addicted above all to the idea of new legislation.
The news that First Direct is to get rid of is free banking services is bound to be watched clsoely by ther banks who are keen to raise introduce charges for customers. It is also an opportunity for customers to hurt First Direct by closing account and to send a clear message tothe banking industry. Let's face it, UK banks are hardly known for their small profits and it's not like they are in desperate financial straights. What First Direct are doing though is acting as a trail blazer for the rest of the HSBC group. If this succeeds, ...
It should have been the perfect day. The opposition had voted down the Business Statement yesterday so as to force the First Minister to come to the chamber and explain how the new Government of Wales Act will work in relation to primary legislation. Their concern had arisen following comments from the Secretary of State for Wales that he will effectively block Orders in Council that allow the Assembly to do things he does not like. The example he gave was a Bill to introduce fair voting for local Council elections. Today the Government had to bring back an amended ... 
Following yesterday’s post, I have now found copies of the articles about Edwina Currie’s “bar brawl” with Doug Haw, which I appear to have faithfully stored away. I suppose it wasn’t often that Staffordshire University appeared on the front page of two national newspapers (both the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph covered the [...]
Could it be the environmental purity of the new chamber that is getting members excited or is it just the closeness of Christmas? Either way, the debate on the Business Statement get quite passionate yesterday and no more so than the Business Minister herself. She had obviously been enthused by the First Minister's performance in questions earlier: The Business Minister (Jane Hutt): It is interesting, Ieuan, Lisa and Kirsty, to see how excited you get about political speeches. I get most excited by the First Minister’s political speeches; not only did the First Minister, a few weeks ...
1. “My first query is what your complaint with the "theo-cons" is” I’m afraid I thought it was quite clear when I said that the ‘battle’ is not between religious and non-religious but between liberal and illiberal. Why this question? It feels a bit like being told that if one is religious one should have quite a bit in common with the theo-cons. Anyway, aside from their insane obsession with
The debate on the location of Adult Neurosurgery took place yesterday and there were 22 votes across party in favour of locating the new merged unit in Morriston Hospital. Although the motion and the amendment to throw out the Health Commission Wales recommendations were rejected the strength of feeling in South West Wales was made very clear. The Health Minister has asked HCW to revisit the proposals to take account of additional issues but there is still a long way to go if we are to win this battle. There is a view that Cardiff has been acting as ...
Fun Lib Dem TV u.s.a.
went off to the NEC arena last night to see Muse on their first of two nights there. I reckon its 16 years (nearly 1/2 a lifetime!) since I was last there, and that was to see Iron Maiden (that involved driving after School to Northampton, then train and then the return journey with dropping people off in various villages). Anyway, back to the present. The lighting/video and sound production was absolutely fantastic. As I'd expect it was earshatteringly loud, but with no loss of hearing in the morning. The stage and lighting had an asymmetric design to it, with ...
Queen's Speech today. I have never seen such an (over the top) security screen around parliament in my 8 years working in Westminster (and nearly 25 years of coming here regularly to cover politics for broadcasters). The road barriers, erected all year round, were removed a couple of days ago so the road is closed - with resultant ensuing chaos. Walking in from Victoria this morning, the road
"My lords and members of the House of Commons, my government will pursue policies aimed at making fundamental changes to the system and conduct of government in the United Kingdom, reducing the power of the state and decentralising political decision making to the lowest appropriate level. It will seek to reduce the regulatory burden on citizens and on business and will promote personal freedom as its highest cause. The dangerous culture of secrecy concerning government decisions at the highest level has eroded public trust in the very institutions of British democracy, accordingly a new bill enshrining a presumption that government ...
Something which slipped my attention until I was on the Cabinet Office website today: the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill became an Act of Parliament last week (8th November). The full text of the Act can be found here. The Save Parliament blog seems happy with the amendments made by Parliament to what was originally the Abolition of Parliament Bill in all but name: "In the words of
At least 42 new bills have just been announced in the Queens Speech. The Climate Change Bill is welcome, the absense of a Marine (protection) Bill is not. Knee jerk reaction before proper... 
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Menzies Campbell has accused the Government of ‘statutory addiction’ and commented that this Queen’s Speech was ‘remarkably similar to those which have gone before’. Menzies Campbell said: “After nearly ten years in office the government and the Prime Minister are still chasing the same elusive goals and the same elusive headlines. “This is [...]
Finally the Autumn has come to London- the leaves have started to turn. It seems a very late start to the season- with Christmas now only five weeks away. However the dark and the cold is now upon us in earnest. Autumn always seems a melancholy season- Keats "Ode to Autumn" or Yeats "Wild Swans at Coole" seem the most appropriate backdrop. I like watching the changing seasons- but although it is pleasant to see the turning trees in Hyde Park, I find the pleasures of an autumn in London diminished compared to the hills of the north. There Autumn ...
Hampshire County Council has just announced that the new southern Park Ride will be built on the "Tarmac" site alongside the M3. This is a complete change from their previous recommendation that it should be built off of the Bushfield roundabout. Strong views expressed by local residents during the consultation process seem to have tipped the balance. I welcome this decision and now look forward
Just for a bit of fun, I've added a little quiz about Haringey and myself to my website - have a go at www.lynnefeatherstone.org/quiz.htm and see how you do!
One point that is often made by those in favour of more surveillance is: "If you're innocent, what have you got to hide?" I'm struggling to think of examples of things people would want to hide from the state qua state, but the state consists of people, and plenty of these are things that you'd want to hide from other people. Businesses want to hide their marketing strategies and their business plans from competitors. In any negotiation, both sides - whether that's management and unions or one company and another, or a supplier and a purchaser, or whatever ...
…it’s my birthday. No, hang on, that was the other month… …it’s the state opening of Parliament. My workplace overlooks the Mall, and I never fail to be tickled by the choice of the Queen’s band when warming up - last year we had ABBA’s greatest hits. The Star Wars theme is also a great hit with the tourists: Many [...]
The latest installment from DPM's diary. Monday Historic day. The first summit of world leaders to be held in a council works depot. Also the first time world leaders, George Bush included, have had to talk to a group of wheelie bins.Dave says the bins, now with intelligence beyond our comprehension, probably regard us in the same way we regard plants. I’ve always felt that way about Bush. Tuesday Project board review meeting for Automated Recycling Support Environment. The world as we know it may well be about to end, but that does ...
Grangetown Primary School wants your support today (wed) in a text vote to win a £50,000 Big Lottery Fund prize to give its 70-year-old playground a facelift with the introduction of new sports facilities, shelters, displays and an innovative learning environment. The school is one of two organisations shortlisted for the cash prize as part of the Big Lottery Fund?s People?s Millions contest to be shown as part of Wednesday's Tyne Tees news bulletin from 6pm. Voting opens at 9am and closes at midnight. How to vote: Text TTTV 2 to 63330 or phone 0870 243 4702. ...
According to The Nation moves may be afoot to remove Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic passport. According to the article Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has recommended the revocation of Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic passport as Bangkok was becoming increasingly nervous about the activities of the former premier and his wife Pojaman. Surayud was also said to be annoyed by the reception that Thailand's consulate in Hong Kong had given to Thaksin indicating that there are still Thaksin supporters in overseas embassies. Thaksin is said to be on his way to Singapore via Bali.
Monday: You probably remember me telling you all about "The Evil of the Daleks" a little while ago: well, now for news of ANOTHER adventure for Dr Who where the BBC threw away some of the recordings! This time it is the turn of Dr Who's OTHER famous foes – the rather rubbish CYBERMEN in "The Invasion". Unlike "Evil of the Daleks", which only has Episode Two left, six out of "The Invasion's" eight episodes remain – in telefilm recording form – kept in the BBC's archive/bunker/disguised volcano base. These have been cleaned up ...
Sunday: There is one word for this one: "Eww!" It was especially cool when the dinosaur fought the cyberwoman. Mr Stripy and I have been playing that all day with Daddy Alex's action figures! This one seems to have divided opinions quite sharply: those who think it was a terrific base under siege action piece and those who think it was a poorly scripted run-around that literally goes in a big circle and ends up back at the start. For the record, I'm with the former: yes, it might be a bit rubbish when you analyse it, but ...
Saturday: We have had a bit of a Cyber-weekend at my flat, obtaining the very excellent "The Invasion" on DVD, listening to Big Fish's "The Gathering" on CD and then staying up late to watch "Torchwood" from under the duvet without Daddy knowing. But first, you are going to have to put up with Robbin' Hoodie again. I did! Comparison with Shakespeare probably isn't immediately obvious for this very 2006 series of "Robin Hood", but this week we have an outbreak of one of the most Shakespearean of traits. Yes, it's "I can't see your breasts, madam" week. ...
I meant to pick up on this from Sunday's Observer - The Chancellor's got his eye on a new best friend Jasper Gerard says that: David Cameron should place a bug on BA's shuttle to Edinburgh. For with the filthy Chilean sauvignon, dry roasted peanuts and sundried delights from the All Day Deli Counter, Gordon Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell, returning to their constituencies for the weekend, could be making a light snack of the Conservative party. Half-decent sources tell me that Brown has, at the least, made tentative overtures to the Liberal Democrat leader about what ... | < | November 2006 | > | ||||
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