The Mayor is not allowed out on his or her own with the regalia, so that poses a bit of a dilemma on Christmas Day. I was booked to visit four places where wonderful volunteers were laying on a full Christmas dinner for people who would otherwise be on their own. But it seemed unfair to take Harry (the Mayor's driver and attendant) away from his own family. The problem was actually...
I am tempted to blog an analysis of Charles Kennedy's performance on the charity "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" programme tonight drawing wider political conclusions, but that would be, well, silly. Suffice to say, if you saw it you'll know what I mean. ;-)
Matthew Parris writes an excellent article here about how the Conservative Party may yet revive it's fortunes north of the border - or indeed west of the border as it's not very impressive total of Welsh MPs might also suggest. I find the Catalan comparator as he explains it very plausible, and I'm prepared to believe that if the Conservative Party adopted some of his strategy then it would enjoy greater success and probably preserve the Union within the wider and looser framework that he suggests. However, like so many pro-union commentators he fails to get down to the nuts ...
I am sure I am not the only person who goes to watch Norwich at Carrow Road who is completely confused by the attendance figures that are read out during the matches. Against Southend on Boxing Day, there were 25,433 fans present, which according to the announcer was "an 86% turnout". This would mean that a 100% turnout would give the ground a capacity of 28,900 people. Yet against QPR on 30th December, there were 25,113 fans at the game, which was according to the announcer "a 90% turnout". This would make the ground capacity 27,600. ...
When Norwich announced in September that they were signing thirty seven year old veteran Dion Dublin, there were hoots of derision from Norwich fans, myself included. So it is about time to put the record straight. In hindsight, the only shame is that we didn't sign two Dion Dublin's. When he plays in defence, he is Norwich's best player, when he plays up front, he is also the best player on the pitch. Perhaps it could be argued that this says more about Norwich this season than anything else, but he is an example to any youngster. He communicates, ...
Apologies to those who have posted comments, for some reason the new version of blogger is preventing my Blackberry putting them on the site. They will therefore duly appear when I can next get to a real computer on New Year's Day when this post will also be deleted.
Tom Papworth commenting on the Saddam Hussein execution on his Liberal Polemic blog: we should accept it with more grace than some liberals appear willing to show Why? Why should accept with grace something that I believe is morally wrong? Why should I accept with grace the martyrdom of Hussein? I am 100% with Nich Starling on this. And none of it is not about being a bleeding heart liberal.
Friday: A Bad Man comes to a Bad End. It’s not exactly the end of JAMES BOND film, is it?
We have been caught in a traffic jam for the last hour on the A1. We have now been diverted off the road near Peterborough by the police who have closed off a whole section of the A1. So goodness knows when we will get to London.It simply briings home the message that travelling by train is so much easier than car for long distances. Though people like to make jokes about trains, on the East
This is always a strange time of year, between Christmas and New Year. Lots of people are off work, there's people to see and things to do - and I'm never sure quite what day of the week it is because it feels like one long weekend. Today I was quite surprised to discover that it actually WAS the weekend. The Christmas break means no leafletting though. In fact, political activities of all kind
It is Saturday afternoon and we are in the car heading to London after a week at home for Xmas. I rarely take the car to London but David is coming down for new year as well. And with Richard also having been up in Gateshead with us, it was easier to use the car. It is of course chucking it down so if it is like this tomorrow evening, my plan for a garden party can kiss itself goodbye. We'll
I was brought up to believe that you should bear the consequences of your own actions, and so have generally been less than friendly to some of the more surreal examples of health and safety policy. Admittedly, we haven't gone quite as mad as Americans have, but as we tend to follow the American trend (law suits, fast food, obesity and mindless reality television being just four which the British
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I'm on the hanging and flogging wing of the Party, although I do have some good friends who might well enjoy that sort of thing. It's just that I wonder what right we have to fuss about the decisions made by a sovereign nation in pursuit of justice and/or retribution. I have become increasingly bored over the years by listening to politicians telling
Unwind as you look forward to 2007, and let this SDP/Liberal Alliance party election broadcast, featuring Weston’s John Cleese, take you back to the general election year of 1987. It was the year that Genesis got political with Land of Confusion, and I began my academic career, at Milton Infant School. But it wasn’t all bad news. New Order’s True Faith and Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al were released, and Reagan ‘fessed up to Iran-Contra. Here you go.
One of the world’s most evil tyrants was executed this morning, in accordance with Iraqi law. We may not like it, but we should accept it with more grace than some liberals appear willing to show. I must take issue with Tim Kent’s conspiracy theory, in particular (another MySpace user, so I can’t reply on his blog). He argues that “[Saddam’s] old friends are protected. Yes, his old mates like Rumsfeld, Bush, Thatcher, Kohl. All of the people who supplied him with weapons, chemicals, materials to carry out his murders and wars. No need for that to come out ...
Further to my previous post, I’m now trying to work out whether it’s worthwhile trying to influence the Virgin Top 500 next year. I’ve just been listening to the Top 10, and inbetween my bursts of extreme doubt about whether some people should be allowed to listen to music, I’m wavering between the opinion [...]
From the LDYS open forums: Thread: R.I.P. Saddam Hussain Are you seriously mourning for the guy? Are you off your collective rocker? C'mon, it is perfectly possible to oppose the death penalty without shedding tears for a mass murderer.
Slate has published its "10 most outrageous civil liberties violations of 2006". It's a brilliant list, but surely the UK can do better? Some criticised Andrew Lloyd Webber's modern retelling of Jesus Christ Superstar We're up against some pretty stiff competition though: 4. Extraordinary Rendition So, when does it start to become ordinary rendition? This government program has us FedEx-ing
One thing I find interesting to study is how systems change. In theory politics is about "power" and the ability to effect change. However, frequently "politics" is about status and really does not result in that much that changes. Good examples of laws that have not had any real effect is the "banning" of hunting with hounds. The argument about whether it is better for a fox to be shot than
This picture for me confirms every reason why the death penalty is wrong. The thought, the very thought that a man, however, bad he is, is about to be killed by a state is just wrong. I know he is evil, has killed and is responsible for the deaths of millions, I know he deserves the very strongest sanctions available under law. I just think it is awful that in Iraq, a country wracked with death and killing every day, that another has to die whilst we urging a stop to the killings. I'd personally like to see him rot ... 
On train back to London, reading my NME. Interview with Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon about The Good, The Bad & The Queen and Damon talks about one of their tunes, "History Song". He explains the origin of the phrase "hangers-on" - not heard this before, but unless anyone can tell me any different then I believe him. And I always believe Damon anyway, he's one of my heroes, big time. Apparently it's all to do with hangings, so with Saddam's execution this titbit comes at an opportune moment. I can't imagine Saddam had any "hangers-on" though - ...
Today is Eid ul Adha, it was originally expected tomorrow but the word came last week that it would be celebrated today. Eid ul Adha is the festival of sacrifice and remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.
I am not a supporter of the death penalty. It was therefore with a dark sense of foreboding and distaste that I read this morning of the execution of Saddam Hussein. The man was an evil tyrant who persecuted and murdered thousands and for that he should have been locked away for the rest of his life. I do not believe though that we or the Iraqi government had a moral right to take revenge on him in this way. The rush to execution after a less than satisfactory trial process will enhance Saddam's status as a ...
The Honours List rears it ugly head again. Don't get me started. It is a ridiculous sham. Some people, often those who have already been richly rewarded in life, are given an award for doing their job. Others, who deserve one, don't get one. So let us raise an end of year glass to those who have turned down an honour: Dawn French Jennifer Saunders David Bowie Benjamin Zephaniah Alan Bennett
Today's Western Mail asks whether a dusty old eight-track tape found after the sale of a former recording studio is a recording of Jimi Hendrix playing the Welsh national anthem. It is rumoured that Hendrix was there when a band called New Flames recorded some tracks at the old Crouch Hill recording studios in London's Stroud Green in September 1970. At the end of the tape of that session is what is described as 'a wild and emotional arrangement of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, played on a distorted electric guitar'. Efforts are now being made to trace the ...
So the New Year's honours list has been published. I guess Rod Stewart deserves one for his success and it's amusing to think that Zara Phillips will get an award too. However, something irks me about the people's awards. Don't get me wrong, I think they are a good idea in principle, but they do seem somewhat arbitrary. I remember the clerk to Horsford Parish Council in Horsford serving as clerk for seventy years. Every year they parish council put his name forward as a tribute to his unswerving work for the community over decades, yet he never got ...
Seems likely that by the time I wake up in the morning, Saddam Hussein will be dead. Not many people will be crying for him - but what will his death achieve? And what might the consequences be for innocent people in Iraq and the wider world? It reminds me that the death penalty was the issue that first started to get me involved in politics, the original reason I joined Amnesty fifteen years ago.
Happy Missmas - let me explain. My wife and I are what is commonly known as retreads. In other words this is our second marriage and we both have three kids from our previous marriage. Traditionally all six of our kids spend the 25th December with their other parent and so we celebrate Christmas at a different time. Add in the complications of Boxing Day on the 26th, one childs birthday on the 28th, New Years Eve on the 31st and New Years Day on the 1st and we finally settled on the 30th as the best day for our ... | < | December 2006 | > | ||||
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