Crawley Borough Councillor Marcella Head has left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats according to local Lib Dem Councillor Gordon Seekings. The defection means the Tories’ lose their majority on the Council which is now 18 Con, 16 Lab and 3 Lib Dem and becomes NOC with the Lib Dems holding the balance of [...]
I was delighted today to get an invitation from an old family friend, Andy Pope to visit the National Coastwatch Institution at Copt Point Folkestone. The NCI stepped in to take over from the former Coastguard lookout back in 1998 after the original station closed in 1994 thanks to Tory funding cuts (lest certain people think we have forgotten!). The NCI is a voluntary organisation which provides a visual watch along UK shores and provides a vital potentially lifesaving function around the coast close to Folkestone Harbour. It is staffed by fully trained volunteers who work in ...
Another awful day driving on the M20 into Folkestone. Once again Operation Stack has shown what a total nightmare it can be for people wanting to go to Folkestone & Hythe constituency and frankly major parts of East Kent. How many more times? I'm renaming this Operation from this point onwards Operation Strangle because the more that this operation goes on the more likely there will be nothing left economically. It is worse than a siege. It has to go.
Amongst the overwhelmingly good reviews and coverage the new Nintendo wii console has received today, there have been stories of people who pre-ordered months ago being let down by not receiving their orders. The retailers have sought to blame Nintendo, but it is the retailers who should take soul blame. First, let’s look at this in context. Microsoft were criticised heavily last year for failing to provide as many Xbox 360 units as the retailers planned. Many people (like myself) who order months in advance were either left without a console or they got the lowers specification system ...
New Labour seeks to cling on to power by falsely raising the spectre of a Conservative Government.
Monday: London: and the capital remains terrorised by the giant amphibian in the Thames that has become known as NEWT-ZILLA. Meanwhile, famous herpetologist and (between holidaying in Cuba and Venezuela cancelled) part time Mayor of London Mr Len Kivingston is engaging (there's a first time for everything) in a spot of internecine warfare with rival figurehead Mr Philip Trevor. Mr Len says that Mr Philip is using the last ever conference of the Commission for Racial Equality to big up his massive and spread his agenda of fear and divisiveness with inflammatory rhetoric and ethnic dance (i.e. MORRIS DANCING). ...
Crawley is about to spoil Cameron's week. When he should be celebrating a year of achievement as head of the Conservatives (well I say achievement but it was tongue in cheek) I can reveal that the Conservatives have lost control of Crawley Council following the decision of Councillor Marcella Head to defect to the Conservatives. I have from the train (I'm heading to Newcastle now) just spoken to
I was contacted by ITV this afternoon. They are putting together a programme about 2006 to go out on New Year's Eve, made up entirely of amateur film clips. They had seen my August Video Focus on YouTube and want to include the clip of Ming signing the Post Office petition I filmed in the summer. Not being of a shy or retiring disposition, I was very happy to send them the original video files,
I have, finally - and after putting it off for months - got round to updating my blog-roll links, adding a few new categories to create a little more variety. In particular, I've linked to blogs I know link to me, or have highlighted posts I've written. I'm bound to have missed people out; sometimes it will have been an accident... E-mail me if I've unjustly snubbed you. PS: I stupidly deleted
New arrivals must conform to Britain's standards of tolerance, Tony Blair warns in a major speech. Yup - we're very tolerant as long as you do exactly what we say!
I’ve finally got bored of deleting spam comments and added a new security feature to comments - you now have to type in a word that you’ll see in the comments section to have your comment not disappear into the infinitely large black hole of death. If you experience any problems with it, then please [...]
Odd thing when you read about someone you used to know dying in mysterious circumstances in the Sun. When I left school I worked for IT company, IBM for about 13 months with a group of about 40 'pre-university employees' as part of a work experience programme. One of the group was a rather awkward and simultaneously extroverted young man called Mark Blanco who unfortunately was the subject of the article. I wouldn't claim we were friends, Mark was very hard work and had a quite unique talent for saying the wrong thing, nearly as bad as me. But ...
This article has been contributed by John Kerswell.
The War on Wany report about Asda, Tesco and Primark selling goods where the factory workers in impoverished countries are receiving as little as five pence an hour should not come as a shock. I've bough a couple of T-shirts from Primark for as little as four pounds each. I never assumed the workers were earning the UK minimum wage because they wouldn't make a profit on just £4. The fact is that UK shoppers want cheap clothes as an option. What I was confused about was the War on Want wanted consumers to "write to the shops telling them ...
Just received this very positive e-mail from one of the West End business owners : "Just had to email you to say that I saw the Christmas tree last night (11pm) as I was leaving the office and it looks fantastic. Well done you guys." Don't think my photo here exactly does it justice (see right!) but the feedback generally about this year's Christmas Tree at Seabraes has been really positive.
It seems odd to think that not many years ago there were no teaching assistants in schools. Each teacher managed 30 to 40 children by themselves, with no support for children with either identified special needs or who just needed extra help. It was hardly the best context for individulised learning. It seems even odder today that the introduction of teaching assistants was greeted...
The South London Press Political Diary unfortunately doesn't appear online, but they're commenting today on some of the Southwark blogs. Pity poor old Mary Foulkes OBE, one of Labour's new Councillor in Livesey since May who apparently "knows the Queen". She started posting on Monday June 26th and gave up without explanation 56 days later on August 13th. Dangerous thing to do, the perception of inactivity doesn't go down well with constituents. Perhaps some Livesey residents know what's been going on?
I was arrested at 12.05 today, put in handcuffs, fingerprinted, photographed, and taken by two policeman into custody. I was let out at 2pm having pleaded guilty to the charges my...
Gordon Brown has shown that he has failed to meet the challenge set by the Stern Report. He could have used his speech to give a new direction to the way in which Britain pays tax, yet all he has done is give Green taxes a bad name. The public are not as stupid as Labour thinks. [...]
Yesterday, got word from the shops on the north side of Perth Road just east of the Sinderins junction that Scottish & Southern Electric (the Hydro) had dug up the pavement near Ritchie's Lane to put in services for the new business and has abandoned the job half done - hole in pavement and fallen barricades. Anyway, contacted Planning & Transportation in the City Council who have chased up SSE who say they'll try to finish the job off this afternoon.Further update on the BT phone boxes. In response to my latest e-mail, the following has arrived, proving their system ...
This weekend promises to be another busy one. The excesses of my Christmas shopping binge last week have left me virtually penniless until pay-day, but I am going to Oxford for my friend’s birthday, which will doubtless mean relying on the generosity of LloydsTSB and their overdraft provisions. Our banks are so generous, only letting me beg for a few weeks for an overdraft facility, that I almost
Running local parties must be one of the least lauded jobs in Britain. Its hard work. There are (rightly) increasing numbers of checks (especially on the money), some with potential legal implications. Its not as glamorous as being a Councillor, and there is no allowance attached. And if you’re a Tory, there’s a high chance that [...]
Next time anyone tells you about the ‘War on Christmas’ while declaiming ‘Political Correctness gone mad’ point them to this article and see what they say afterwards. It’ll probably be ‘well, t’s in The Guardian and they’re part of it, so of course they’ll deny it’s happening’ but at least you tried.
Ken Livingstone’s claims that comments by Roger Evans on his personal website represent Conservative policy are somewhat disingenuous. Anyone reading the full comment can see that Evans speaking in a personal capacity, wasn’t articulating a formal policy and certainly wasn’t speaking in his capacity as Deputy Chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee. However the Mayor’s response [...]
Last Day is a track by obscure indie band Silver Sun, but not the subject of this post. Today is my last day at Napier, my last day working in Edinburgh, and my last day in the library world. (Fear not, the much loved Dewey Decimal posts will continue as infrequently as ever.) As alluded too [...] 
On Wednesday we had a meeting of Southwark Council at which my fellow East Dulwich Lib Dem, Councillor Jonathan Mitchell, moved a motion aimed at saving police stations in the borough from closure. I have previously reported that East Dulwich Police Station is one of those facing closure. We are fighting to ensure that there is a proper police service in the [...]
The Labour Government want us to trust them. They made that very clear during the passage of the Abolition of Parliament Bill. The trouble with introducing regressive and authoritarian laws, though, is that while perhaps we can trust the current government (this is hypothetical; obviously we can’t trust this government), what about the next one? [...]
Last night I went along to Aston Hall to see it by candlelight. Quite a marvelous experience, and not one people will be able to see for over a year as the Hall is being closed for extensive works. The number of candles used is far more than would have been employed during the main periods of occupancy but it still seems very dark! I could hardly make out the guide map. The Hall is open until Saturday 9th, so still time to catch it before closing.
So, Dr Reid, why are ID cards necessary? Without them, the terrorists will be able to sneak past any security and kill us all in our beds. Can you justify the closure of accident and emergency units around the country? It’s our way or the highway. We need to enhance A&E. If we don’t, we will all die. Why [...]
The Government response to the Ofsted Childcare Register consultation contains an excellent example of the Government's Orwellian double-think. Compare these two sentences from adjacent paragraphs, referring to the same proposal in the original consultation 52. Most respondents agreed with the arrangements... 53. 21% of respondents agreed that the requirements strike the right balance. 4% agreed strongly. 27% disagreed with the proposals. 26% disagreed strongly. 16% had no strong opinion. Now, I know mathematical standards are falling, but surely our schools can teach that 27+26=53, and that as such most people disagree with the government's proposal. ... 
A few days ago Cicero met with one of the better known figures in the Libertarian Alliance, Brian Mickelthwait. Brian writes for various blogs that I enjoy reading- including Samizdata. Ahead of our meeting Brain expressed "scepticism" about the Libertarian credentials of the Liberal Democrats: "My charge was that when you meet a Liberal Democrat you never know what he will believe. The one who talks to you is likely to say what you want to hear. But the others will simultaneously be telling other people with quite different views what they want to hear. So don't vote for these ...
Yesterday evening I saw Aston Hall by Candlelight. Aston Hall is unsurprisingly in Aston in Birmingham, it has a great history - some of which we were told about last night such as the Watt's living there and it being used in the Civil War. The Hall is lit only by candles so you can experience what life in the 17th Century would have been like.
Todays Link is here. My favourite so far! It takes you the website for The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. Great story and the best animation of all time.
…I’m thinking of installing a “Catherine Tate catchphrase” box. Yes… I can do that… No Tags
Labour lost what should have been a safe seat - Dawley Magna - last night in Telford and Wrekin last night, their majority over the Conservatives in 2003 was several hundred. I do not know the full story behind this election but it seems quite a surprising result. There was no Liberal Democrat candidate - possibly to assist the Peoples Association.
At the same time as the tornado hit Kensal Rise yesterday, the thunder clapped, the lightening lightened and the skies opened and bucketed down on me and my researcher Mette as I delivered the teacher cut outs by local children from Bounds Green School to 10 Downing Street. As you can see in the picture I am holding two of the cut outs - there were hundreds in paper folders - but I couldn't hold
Toby Horton, former constituency chair in William Hague’s Richmond constituency, has joined UKIP: “There was a Polly Toynbee moment - that was the tipping point”. The Times has the full story. conservatives Opposition watch polly toynbee
It was my local party AGM last night and having got the real business out of the way promptly, we had an enjoyable social evening thereafter. A number of people commented how good the West End Christmas Lights Switch-On was and how nice the tree looks this year. Some time ago (long before this blog started!) a number of West End residents asked me about why there is no bus service to the Gallacher Retail Park - for someone on foot its a fair trek from the City Centre. At that time, City Council officers opened discussions with ...
Dr. David SouthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies in the care of the NHS have required resuscitation as a result of non-therapeutic interventional research managed by Dr David Southall. (John Hemming) A:This information is not collected centrally. (Ivan Lewis, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health)
Just weeks after the publication of the Stern Review into the economics of climate change, the author has quit the Treasury. Sir Nicholas Stern, Second Permanent Secretary and a former head of the Government Economic Service, will leave in March for a new job at the London School of Economics. Sir Nicholas was brought into the Treasury in 2003 as part of an effort to wean Gordon Brown off political advisers. It was hoped that he would add some genuine, impartial economic advice. But this entailed a few too many home truths; Treasury insiders have said that Sir Nicolas’s ...
For those who remember the spat between the Presiding Officer and his Deputy, John Marek, in the Chamber a few weeks ago, Wednesday's Plenary saw a sequel, albeit a less dramatic and more orderly exchange of views: John Marek: Does the Minister remember giving ArvinMeritor money and it then transferring 200 jobs from north Wales to south Wales? Is he aware that he has given money to Seda UK and, with that generous amount of money, the company has now stolen a contract from F Bender Ltd of Wrexham and 50 more jobs are going to go from ...
For some reason journalists continue to be interested in blogging and are continuing to knock on my door for my views. The latest batch are all students at the Cardiff School of Journalism, most of which have an unrealistic view of the time available to politicians and the idea that we will drop everything to meet their deadlines. Much as I like to help it is not always possible so I often end up answering questions by e-mail or giving interviews on the move in the middle of rain storms. The latest set of questions by e-mail intriqued me, especially ...
Black Sabbath are the featured band this week on my LATER than usual Rock Show. It's late this week so I can attend an event earlier in the evening. I'm live between 10pm and Midnight...
This Friday, I present another crossover between the worlds of pop and politics. Runrig enjoy moderate but sustained success, as top Gaelic rocksters. The band used to argue about politics, and former lead singer Donnie Munro left and stood as a Labour candidate in the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary elections (beaten by the Lib Dems, haha!) Keyboardist Peter Wishart had more luck though, and in 2001 was elected as the (SNP) Member for Perth and North Perthshire. My dad actually took me to see them when I was about 12 - they were pretty good. This is one of their best ...
B3TA has some interesting images from time to time. The above image (which of course is totally unrealistic) shows what can be done with gifs.
Wake up to hear that Ralph Scott has won the heavily contested Kentish Town by-election over in Camden. A very well-deserved result - well done to Ralph, Nick, Ed, Keith and the rest of the team. A good sign that after our big gains in May in Camden, we're still making further progress. The next general election in Camden should be very interesting!
Sunday: The MOST FAMOUS gift from Greeks bearing gifts was a great big wooden horse but you are not supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth and how does THAT work? If you HAD looked the Trojan Horse – which was ACTUALLY a Greek Horse – in the mouth you would have found ODYSSEUS with a BIG SWORD… I’m confused! After yesterday's Robin Hood, this was so much better too. Essentially a two-hander between Naoko Mori as sweet yet driven Tosh and Daniela Denby-Ashe as duplicitous alien entity Mary, both actors are powerfully up to the task ...
Where the Government's new ID database might just take us... http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf Make sure that you have the sound turned up. (hat tip to Iain Dale) ... And for some political balance here's one on the same subject recommended by Labour blogger Recess Monkey http://eclectech.co.uk/clarkeidcards.php
Great news for the Liberal Democrats in the Kentish Town bylection where we came through to victory last night. Two key results: Labour's rout continues in Camden, once a flagship Council; recovering from this will be hard. Secondly, the Greens' candidate Sian Berry is their "national principal speaker" [translation: Leader] - so this makes for a pretty high profile defeat. The full result was: Ralph Scott (Lib Dem) 1093 Green (Sian Berry) 812 Labour (Reverend Sam McBratney - who I last campaigned against when he lost to the Liberal Democrats in the Bunhill ward in Islington earlier this ...
Great news - a Lib Dem blogger has posted what seems to be the confirmed result from today's by-election in Kentish Town. Ralph Scott (Liberal Democrat) - 1,093 Green - 812 Labour - 808 Conservative - 198 (I nicked this news from here: http://andymayer.blogspot.com/ - cheers Andy!) It's always a relief to see the results come in and know that all the hard work wasn't in vain - although for this one I have to confess the only bit I did myself was today's early Good Morning leaflets. This is a brilliant result - remembering that this ...
Ralph Scott has scored an excellent victory in the Kentish Town by-election in Camden, taking a Labour seat and beating the Green candidate - their newly elected principle speaker (equivalent of party leader), Sian Berry - who had told the Camden New Journal hours before the polls closed: “We are ahead”. The result was: Ralph Scott (Lib [...]
Another alleged serious human rights abuse in China. This is truly shocking if it is true. I still hope that one day the death penalty will be abolished throughout the world.
UPDATED: Final result confirmed: LD - 1,093 Grn - 812 Lab 808 Con 198 The result is poor for Labour, showing no public acceptance of their dishonest campaign about service cuts (familiar to us here in Southwark) and putting the formerly safe Parliamentary seat of Holborn & Pancras into play. The result is a disaster for the Greens who put their national spokesperson up as the candidate in a seat in which they had already done well in May. It shows little public appetite for their brand of naive opportunism, even when ...
I've been reading with interest David Cameron's comments on reforming the EU. I find it all fairly laudible stuff and it appears to be apeing much of what Nick Clegg said in the "Orange Book". The trouble is though that for as long as the Tories struggle to define their attitude towards the EU (for God's sake, they have a significant number of Anti-EU MPs and even MEPs!) it is going to be very hard to take anything they say seriously on this issue. Are they really for the EU or against it? Put more eloquently, are they in ...
Christmas - it means so many different things to so many different people. Well, that’s the traditional festive cliché done. To me, it means having to sign 1,600 Christmas cards in the next 10 days; mainly for work. (Though there’s some ‘political’ cards, too. Oh, and I still have a few friends in the real world.) I refuse to use a stamp or pre-printed cards. And I insist on addressing each | < | December 2006 | > | ||||
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