LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Thursday 15th February 2007

Norman Baker "The most hated man in parliament ?" asks the Independent

The Independent has a nice little piece on Norman Baker, in the wake of his questioning revealing MP's travel expenses. The Independent asks how popular he will be with other MP's when they return after the recess. However, the Indie also gives a very fair evaluation of the excellent work Norman Baker has done since being elected, his exposure of scandals, his prime role in Mandelson's fall from grace and his use of the Freedom of Information Act to obtain other important information. There are those who attack Norman Baker for "wasting tax payers money by asking pointless ...

Real politicians infiltrate fictional world

If anyone is in any doubt about the fact that the Internet is really in charge of our lives, check out this post on Wonkette. Yes, that's right - a campaign volunteer from the entirely real John Edwards '08 Presidential campaign has set up an entirely fictional campaign headquarters in the online game Second Life, bringing an entirely new meaning to the phrase e-campaigning. I must say, it's

A wind farm on Lewis?

I think Peter Sanderson, who writes Earthquake Cove, had a less enjoyable time on Lewis than the one I had a few years ago. But he has posted a couple of lovely photographs and I think he is right when he says: I can see that Lewis would be an incredible place for a wind farm ... But some places simply are not meant for development. They are too wild, too elemental. I cannot say that I enjoyed my time on Lewis. It was cold, difficult, dangerous, bleak. But it left me with a a great gift of this experience ...

Fast Response

I sent an e-mail to ITV to complain about a remark Russell Brand made while presenting the Brits. I can just about cope with him going on interminably about his private parts, however unfunny I might find it, but referring to breastfeeding babies as "little perverts" to an audience comprised of a significant number of young people was pretty irresponsible. Yes, I'm a Liberal, and he can say what he likes, and I would never stop him - but I reserve the right to argue with him. I always believe that if you feel strongly enough ...

Off to Conference

Tomorrow we all converge on Aviemore for Scottish Conference. It should be a fantastic event. I'm looking forward to the consultation session on Trident and to the debates on health and early years education and lots of exciting fringe meetings with everyone from Children First to the Society of Podiatrists. It's also a great chance to catch up with everyone. I expect there will be quite a buzz with the elections rapidly approaching. Danny Alexander MP or his extremely persuasive staff will no doubt try to thrust a bundle of leaflets to deliver on each ...

Speed limits - west end Perth Road and Riverside Drive

A longstanding issue for many residents has been whether or not the speed limit on Riverside Drive east of the Marmalade Pot (50 mph) and on the Perth Road west of Invercarse (40 mph) is appropriate; very many residents feel it is too high. Given the lower 40 mph limit at the east end of the City (between Balgillo and Dobbie's Garden Centre) introduced fairly recently, I have raised the issue of the speed limits on Riverside Drive and Perth Road with the Director of Planning & Transportation again. I'll also be asking for residents' views in ...

Day 2235: Well Done, Lord Woolsack!

Tuesday: I have ESP, you know – Elephant Special Powers – more on this story later…[*] It is not often that I get to say something NICE about the Labour – it not often that they get something RIGHT! – so I will seize the opportunity with both fluffy front feet! Lord Blairimort's chum the Lord Woolsack, also known as a proper Charlie, has been doing some GOOD for once, by deciding to stand up for the HUMAN RIGHTS ACT. And he is to be CONGRATULATED for it. He has started with a Blitz ...

Gordon Brown's nightmare

The BBC compares the task facing Gordon Brown with past Prime Ministers who took over in mid-term, such as Harold Macmillan. Brown has apparently studied past transitions to try to avoid some of the obvious pitfalls when he takes over. Historian and journalist Francis Beckett has written a series of 20 biographies of 20th Century prime ministers. He says:"Gordon Brown's living, waking nightmare"

Noel Gallagher lays into Blair...and Cameron

Ten years after famously supping champers with Tony Blair at Number Ten, Noel Gallagher has laid into him: We thought it was going to be John F Kennedy and for a year or two it was. Unfortunately for this Labour government, they are going to be saddled with the Iraq war and nobody can get around that. If anything, Gallagher is more vitriolic about David Cameron, especially about his refusal to

Great philosophy of the man who will be at his own wake

It is well worth reading this from the BBC on-line magazine. Andy Fitchett, 56, has six months to live. He found out he had terminal cancer just as he was planning for a new life in Spain. He is arranging a wake next month, which he will attend. He says: I'm a lucky man and have had a lucky life. Many people don't get a chance to say goodbye to people when they die but I have. Others never

Potholes and the Highways Agreement

Last night, I attended a meeting for councillors hosted by Gloucestershire Highways. This is a new partnership between Gloucestershire County Council and Atkins (a private sector company) which on 1st April will take over responsibility for road maintenance in Cheltenham from Cheltenham Borough Council. The concern that I (and other Cheltenham Lib Dem councillors) have always had is that Gloucestershire Highways will spend less on Cheltenham's roads and more on the leafy Cotswolds (since Gloucestershire County Council has a Tory majority, and the Tories have a history of favouring their rural strongholds). However, at last night's meeting, the ...

Seen and Hurd

According to single-sourced gossip-mongers Popbitch: Lord Douglas Hurd was seen last week at a foreign policy think-tank seminar near Temple, "trying to get in but unable to work the lift. He didn't seem to know which button to push, or indeed that one had to push a button to make it move at all." Good to remember that this man was for years our Foreign secretary. Let's hope his finger was never

Aga news

Ok, own up, who remembers Lembit and Sian in Hello Magazine posing in front of an Aga in their new Mid Wales home? I have to confess I had managed to erase the image from my mind until a BBC journalist reminded me of it today and showed me this website. Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland has got an Aga too. It seems that no self-respecting Cabinet Member would be without an one. What better way to escape from playing a pivotal role in brokering the Northern Ireland power-sharing agreement than to ...

Where have all the big beasts gone?

Adrian Hamilton makes a fair point in today’s Independent: The New Labour government will soon be 10 years old. But what may well be most remarkable about this administration as it approaches its birthday is not so much its longevity but how little heavyweight talent it has at the end. Think of almost any cabinet since the Second World War and even the weakest of governments - the later Wilson

Less ill, but all's not well...

I am at approximately 60% today, which represents a steep improvement from yesterday and the day before. I was at work all day, spreading infection and coughing lots. It was both distressing and strangely satisfying to note that three of my colleagues have gone down with the same bug. I had a few Tulle Court related dealings today, ahead of the planning committee meeting on the 27th. I have been

Women in politics

It is sometimes surprising what arrives in the mail at an AMs office. Normally, it is correspondence relating to constituent's problems, invitations and a whole host of books and reports. There is not enough hours in the day to read all of these so we have to be very selective. Today, however, there was something, a 2007 ELDR Calendar themed around 'Successful Liberal Women' and containing pictures of twelve female Liberal MEPs from all around Europe. I am sure that it was a good idea at the time but in the cold light of day it was just bizarre. ...

Seriously weird ! Have you ever heard of cargo cults ?

You live and you learn, and today I learnt something new. I had, before today never heard of a "cargo cult", but news about the 50th anniversary of once such cult in Vanuatu has made the BBC website today, and I now know what they are. The BBC has even more information about cargo cults on their H2G2 site HERE. And to think I thought most mainstream religions don't make sense. This has been a public service broadcast. Norfolk Blogger - Educating the world !

Smoking ban enforcement

I was just watching the 6 ‘o’ clock news on BBC one and specifically what was a typical, light, consumer affairs story that would once have been the child of Watchdog not the flagship news programme. Anyway to the point. The feature (won’t call it a news item or story) was about how the government in [...]

Lifts scare me

And I hope it isn't too cold when I get there

South London Shootings

Walking home down Bermondsey Street tonight walked past four Police Officers patrolling just as 3 more drove past on motorbikes. I think our MP, Simon Hughes, has captured all of our sentiments on this. "The extra protection which the Met is putting into south London is very welcome. Children and young people are always the most vulnerable and the most likely to be the victims of violent crime." "There’s one overriding priority - reducing fear amongst young people on the streets and in the estates. The police as well as political and community leaders must do everything ...

The Joys of Self-Employment

I said several days ago that normal service was being resumed. Unfortunately I have been so tied up with running my new business (the Kent Office of West End Training www.westendtraining.co.uk) and campaigning in Folkestone & Hythe that I haven't really had time to keep up my blog! I've recently been busy meeting people though. I visited Folkestone Gateway's offices in what used to be the Glassworks in Mill Bay just behind Tontine Street. The Gateway provides business support services mainly to start up businesses and potential entrepreneurs from deprived or disadvantaged communities in Folkestone. ...

Satan’s Spa

Pansy Cradledew bought a new kettle recently. Tempting though it is to use this as an excuse to regale you with my all-encompassing kettle theories – and believe me, you will be impressed – I’d like instead to say a few words about the particular make of kettle Ms Cradledew purchased. There is an egg-shaped window [...]

Government Nuclear Plans declared unlawful by High Court

I have just received an email from Greenpeace, which I thought is easiest to share. Dear Mr Borrowman, I just wanted to drop you a line to share some fantastic news with you. Over the last week Greenpeace has been in court challenging the Government’s decision to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. Well, the High Court verdict is in and we have won our case. Earlier today we

On the TV this Sunday

I'm due to be on the Politics Show this Sunday. Topics to talk about will be the Unicef report saying the UK is failing our children and also gun and knife crime in London.

A Valentine's Appreciation

Okay, I won't make this too slushy, I promise, but I do feel that I should publicly express my appreciation for my husband Bob. Even more so given the exotic and delicious chocolates he brought home for me yesterday. I was a teenager when I met him nearly 20 years ago and he was a divorced man nearly twice my age. He has put up with all sorts over the years, not least playing second fiddle to the Liberal Democrats. All my friends (I was told in no uncertain terms last week that it wasn't, as ...

Mayor continues to threaten high rise in East Dulwich

Labour’s Mayor has again continued to ignore the views of local people and and seek to impose an ‘urban’ planning designation on East Dulwich. Designating the area as ’suburban’ would mean that new developments would be 2-3 storeys high. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, objected to our proposed designation, arguing that the area should be [...]

Children First?

I was quite impressed to read Steve Webb's take on yesterday's report which stated that British kids, despite living in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, did not fare so well in wellbeing - coming bottom of a study of children in 21 industrialised nations. It was good to see a politician recognise the value of raising confident citizens who can fulfil their potential. It is an abomination that so many children are still living in poverty. You would think a Labour government would have done something about it, but yet again they are found wanting. ...

The breath of musical culture from India - and related matters

Always something new to learn - and to appreciate the compex of cultures around us. Apparently one reason for the number of songs in Bollywood films is as a substitute for 'bedroom scenes'. Just watch out for the number of times a pregnancy is part of the plot shortly afterwards. More information on the Metafilter for February 14th on Love, Bollywood Style, together with YouTube clips of notable Bollywood numbers. Another clip linked in this item is of an evocation of the Indian National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' - and here the comments attached to ...

Unicef report may be flawed, but there is still much to worry about

The Unicef report on child well-being in rich countries caused an instinctively sceptical reaction in me, partly because of the known left-wing bias within the UN agencies and partly because of its reliance on relative income measures. As I commented to Cicero earlier today (I have since rectified the typos!): I fail to understand how a poor child in Britain is worse off than an even-poorer child in Slovakia, simply because the British child is able to see a Porsche from her window rather than a clapped out Lada.Having said that, I’ve decided it’s best to read ...

US Vulture Funds - How can we expect the US to stop them when they fund the Republican Party ?

The BBC did an excellent piece on Newsnight about Vulture funds, the system whereby some US companies but up low value foreign debt that is about to be written off then sue the governments for the full amount, plus in some cases winning punitive extra money. Latest example HERE shows that just $4 million of debt has been turned in to $42 million of damages to be paid to a US firm. This is equal to the total debt right of that Zambia received last year and shows that for all the US talk of helping Africa, in America ...

What are we doing to our children?

I think there are two possible mistakes to make in response to the recent report on the welfare of children in the UK. One is a fatalistic 'we're all doomed' approach, which says that 'young people today' are out of control, worse than in previous generations, and there is no hope. Plato wrote something similar a few thousand years ago! The alternative mistake is to be complacent. Doing what I do, I meet enough families and children who are having an exceptionally hard time - whether through poverty, insecure ...

More mayoral stuff

Well as I predicted, the Evening Mail has conveniently ignored Ray Mallon's U-Turn and completely left it out! The report is also contrary to the words of the Editor last night who stated the poll was "just for fun". So to see the headline being based on the outcome of the "fun" is a touch hypocritical. They then manage to overstate the audience by a massive 15%. 82 in the audience (excluding journos) and 5 on the panel. You could maybe get away with rounding up to 90... Then to call 47 to 31 close is also a complete misrepresentation ...

Satan's Reception

I’ve just been placed on hold by a Latvian lawyer, who subjected me to minutes of M People’s Search for the hero inside yourself… on the panpipes. I think I need a drink.

Independent - Not in their name!

The Independent carries a story today about 100 scientists, lawyers, church leaders, actors, writers and MPs that are today demanding a halt to the rush by Tony Blair towards a replacement for Britain's Trident nuclear weapon system. Some go further and come out against replacing Trident altogether. A selection of quotes are below:

Tell it how it is!

The UNICEF report into child well-being has acted as a lightning conductor for opinion across the political spectrum. It has also generated headlines that in this one issue say so much about the various newspapers and their editorial stance. A comparison made me smile. If I’d not matched them up, I’m sure you’d have had no trouble guessing! Independent: Our national disease is lack of parental time Independent: If we want to help children, the state has to step in. But will ministers dare advocate this? Times: Blind feminism has hurt our children Guardian: Give our ...

And one more thing...

Before I finally stop playing with my new toy, one more thing. Today is an interesting anniversary in geopolitics... Anyone remember the USS Maine? Thought not! The Maine blew up in harbour in Havana on this day in 1898. Wild speculation that the incident was a terrorist attack by the Spanish prompted the USA to declare war on Spain. By the time the dust settled, Spain's navy was destroyed and its colonies either independent or in American hands. It was the first time America had picked a fight with a European power and won a decisive victory, showing ...

Inside The Brits

As someone said, there aren't many celebrities on the front tables. Well that's only if you don't count Shelly and Sharon Osborne, Louie Walsh from the X factor, Jo Wiley from Radio One, and the...

I am the Christ K part 2

See what I mean? Nothing to do with me, whatsoever. And I'm definitely not using THAT agency again.

Opinion: Conference delegates should vote for 'No new Trident'

Rob Fenwick of libdemvoice.org asked me to write an opinion piece for the site. Below is what I wrote.

The Gas man - he came, he saw, he took money

Steve, the man from British Gas, came this morning. Again. Having lived with a totally useless boiler for too long now, I know the engineers quite well - and their coffee/tea orders. However, Steve is not an engineer. He is the man who has persuaded me to part with a small fortune and kick out the bugger of a boiler I inherited when I moved into Charlton Down four years ago. Steve also has some great political insights. Take the Cameron drugs story. Steve's line is relaxed (very much in line with the findings from Britain's best ...

It's that man again!

Liam Fox is at it again. This hopeless tosser is today whinging that “enormous expense to the taxpayer” (around £20 million) should be considered chief among the reasons why Col. Mendonca and company should not have faced Court Martial. There may well be reasons why the prosecution was ill advised, but to cite this rather suggests that he places economic concerns above the pursuit of justice. As I understand it, five servicemen were acquitted with no case to answer, with proceedings for negligence continuing against two servicemen. The Judge ruled that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence for the ...

18 Doughty Street - Good luck to them

Norfolk Blogger comments that "18 Doughty Street is turning into 18 Tory Street". What is this "turning into"? - it always has been. It is based near the old Spectator HQ (which was at no. 56) in Bloomsbury, and there has never been any attempt to hide its true colours. So now they are running attack ads on Ken Livingstone. Big deal. Let them get on with it. It is a free country and Kenny boy

Greenpeace victory on nuclear power

Apparently Greenpeace has won its High Court bid to make the government rethink its programme to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. The judge ruled that the consultation process before making the decision last year had been "seriously flawed" and "procedurally unfair". Greenpeace complained that there had been a failure to present clear proposals and information on key issues, such as disposal of radioactive waste and building costs. The Trade and Industry Secretary contested the judicial review but Mr Justice Sullivan took a different view. He said "something has gone clearly and radically wrong" He went on ...

You really had to be there...

...to get the joke. But that's the funny thing about Jessica...

And so shall the enemies of Valladares perish!

In Amaranth, it is said that the weather is psychotropic, in that when vengeance is wreaked, the heavens are convulsed with violent electrical storms. And so, this week, to the accompaniment of our castle's seventeenth century organ (Johann Sebastian Bach performed here once), the air has been redolent with schadenfreude as bolts of lightning strike the outermost turrets of our castle... Cue

Netherlands 5, UK 0

It was to be expected. That Britain has been placed at the bottom of Unicef's ranking on child wellbeing was bound to lead to an avalanche of comment. The first big wave hits the papers today - but expect more in the next few days.In The Times Mary Ann Sieghart writes a piece on "Our generation will do all it can to help the children" The Telegraph has a report titled "Crisis point on Britain's disaffected youth" The Guardian has two stabs at the same cherry with Libby Brooks saying its a matter of children's rights ("Its not enough to ...

Paul O'Grady or Richard & Judy

Today's top question in the office. Paul O'Grady or Richard & Judy. Vote now in the poll box on the right!

Is Israel splitting the Jews?

The recent debate on the divergence of opinion within the Jewish community on Israel seems to highlight the ideological resonance of Israel. This is so for Jews and non-Jews alike. The Israel/Palestine conflict is not a conflict any more, but an ideological battle. The issue has become so polarised that it is impossible to ascertain facts and envisage a solution. Any solution will be seen as defeat of one side. Israel’s symbolical significance is now not only confined to the Jewish community, but is echoed in the ideas propagated by opinion formers when discussing the conflict. Israel is seen as ...

"So you're a Conservative really..aren't you?

From Time to time recently I have been invited onto Iain Dale's show on the Conservative blogging TV channel 18 Doughty St. Even though the show is late, I have usually come from work, so I am in my business suit, and yes, I am dressed like an investment banker- well guilty as charged. I think that this may have lulled my Conservative hosts into believing that I am "really" a Conservative. However I joined the old Liberal Party as a teenager, and I have maintained my belief in Liberalism as an ideological approach to politics all my ...

Let's abolish inequality!

Hands up who wants to be the next John Prescott? No, thought not. However the contest to be the next Deputy Leader of the Labour Party is getting warmer and warmer, and throwing off occasional sparks to the media. Naturally, many candidates are trying to position themselves on the sensible left of the Party, where most Labour members (and union members) are. A piece of popularist posturing from Labour Deputy Leadership candidate Peter Hain is today's latest update. Last week, he wanted City bonuses to be donated to charity. This week he wants free bus passes and ...

More on REAL ID

Rather predictably, the big government loving states of New Jersey and California (its not a coincidence these are Democratic strongholds for the most part) have expressed support for the US ID card system, REAL ID. This time the canard which has been trotted out is that it will ease the provision of services. This has been [...]

Lib Dems cut crime

If you haven't seen this bit of Lib Dem propaganda it is worth a peep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUyT05lwOWA

Evening Mail's "Big Debate" on elected mayors

For the last week the BEM has been leading heavily on the issue of the having an elected mayor for Birmingham. The "Big Debate" wasn't nearly as big as expected. I suspect single people voted with their feet, and decided to stay in, while couples were already busy. A whole 82 people attended, with about 10 current cllrs, and 5 or so former cllrs also there (including the legendary Sir Richard Knowles). Anyway the "just for fun" votes went as follows: 1) Does Birmingham need an elected mayor? For 31 - Against 47 2) Should the people of Brum ...

Newsnight plumbs new depths (an impressive feat!)

It was an impressive achievement, but Newsnight managed to plumb new depths last night. Its main article, devoted to questions surrounding companies that buy and sell national debt, repeatedly described them by the far-from-impartial moniker “Vulture Funds” and made no effort to give a balanced view. Rather, there was a disgraceful piece of polemic dressed up as journalism (I prefer my polemic naked). A less charitable viewer of Newsnight might say “business as usual, then”. Third world debt is an emotive issue. Now that the West has largely put famine and pestilence behind is, we find it abhorrent that ...

Most hated?

Today's Independent asks 'Is Norman Baker the most hated man in Westminster?' His crime apparently is to win a two-year battle to obtain a detailed breakdown of how much every MP spent on travel by car, taxi, air, train and even bicycle. The outcome has thrown up some interesting facts: Janet Anderson, the Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen, will not have been relishing exposure as the most enthusiastic motorist in the Commons, submitting a £16,612 mileage claim last year, the equivalent of covering 60,448 miles. She was not returning calls yesterday but another Lancashire MP remarked acidly: ...

Not in Our Name - Trident Debate Hots Up

The Indy has today launched its Anti-Trident campaign Not in Our Name. To those who worry about us passing a unilateralist motion at conference I would say, don't worry, we will be catching the wave which is building and will soon reach a tipping point. Not in Our Name will be the mantra of the majority of British people, let's set the agenda not be moribund by it!

18 Doughty Street is turning in to 18 Tory Street

I've tried hard to give 18 Doughty Street the benefit of the doubt since it started, and I had, on the whole, thought it had done its best to follow some sort of middle way. Quite clearly all the money behind 18 Doughty Street is Tory, and aside from some token "lefties", the main presentation "anchors" are Conservatives too. Now 18 Doughty Street has had some semblance of balance by at least having lots of non-Tory guests, although Tories still outnumber guests from other parties by some distance. However, I've no great problem with that. What I do ...

Opinion: Conference delegates should vote for 'No new Trident'

To me the answer is simple - the answer is no. No to Trident, No to son of Trident and No to any so called Independent Nuclear Deterrent. Last year I went on behalf of the party to Pakistan and tried to engage with politicians there as to why it was wrong for Iran or any [...]

Feminism & the family

Feminism is much more pro-family than 'traditional society'. The problem is that nobody has bothered to listened. Oliver James on the Times this morning rightly identifies the benefits of flexible working practices. However, he fails to understand feminism entirely. Feminists have been campaigning for flexible working and ‘fatherhood’ for over twenty years. Whilst James would like to see “men becoming much more involved in caring for their small children”, he assigns the main responsibility of childrearing to the mother. There is no rational basis for this except a prescriptive differentiation of roles that has excluded women from society for ...

Sort it out

This is becoming a complete and utter farce from a so called professional football club. Apparently the Leeds Chief Executive Shaun Harvey has stated that the club do not know which player leaked team news to Crystal Palace before Saturday's league game. Shaun Harvey said "While we know it happened, we do not know which Leeds United player it was. There are people at the club who know but they have not told us as yet." He needs to have a word with Ken Bates pretty smartish and ensure that Dennis Wise informs him who the culprit is so that ...

Bede and the BNP

As there are no West Midlands by-elections today I thought I would take the opportunity to reflect on last week's in Bede (Bedworth). Labour held the seat, the BNP came second, the Conservatives third and Alice Field and the Liberal Democrats fourth. I had predicted (both here and on vote-2007.co.uk) Labour would lose and that either the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats would win - so how did I get it so wrong (and it was a genuine prediction rather than spin!). I am told that both Labour and the Conservatives were surprised by the result too.

Lies, darned statistics and UNICEF

Another post questioning the statistical basis of the UNICEF report but going into more detail (I skimmed the report).

Daily Express finally loses its temper! - Polish road signs

The Daily Express has finally lost its temper. It has set up a phone line poll with the question: "Has Britain gone to the dogs?" prompted by its anger after the erection of a couple of Polish road signs on the Cheshire/Shropshire border. "Uwaga!" Say the signs. Neil Anderton, of the Cheshire County Council highways department, said: “Just a few weeks ago we had to stop work and let some Poles

The Loveliness of Me

Since the departure of a certain blog, there's been a gap in the market for self-congratulatory posts about the bliss of being in love, how wonderful one's partner is, and so on. This is a gap I intend not to fill. However, I do think everyone should be jealous of the Valentines' card I received yesterday. Almost as good as shoes and chocolate - high praise indeed! If anyone likes this card and wants to make the loved one in their life feel valued next year, you can find more like it at http://www.edwardmonkton.com - I can ...

I am the Christ K

Somewhat spooked on my way into work this morning. There's a statue of George V opposite the Houses of Parliament. Someone had graffittied onto the plinth the words "I AM THE CHRIST K". Westminister Council, if you're reading this, I can officially deny this was anything to do with the guerilla marketing campaign I've organised to get people reading this blog. Firstly, I'm Chris K, not Christ K. Secondly, it didn't even mention the URL... Photographic proof later on!

Triple-counting signatures

Much has been made of the 1.3m (and counting) signatures on the N.10 E-petition website against road charging. I'm not a techie, but one reason for this might just be that when you sign up for a petition (once) you get 3 replies from the website that you need to click to confirm - possibly triggering 3 signatures? I was signing up to a petition against ID cards http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/IDcards/

What do we do about youths using buses to cause trouble?

The Bexley News Shopper has a story this week about youths travelling around on buses and causing trouble. This is a problem in both Bexley and Bromley boroughs. What the various people commenting on the story confuse is what the problem is. It isn't particularly youths causing problems ON buses - it is using buses to travel around and cause trouble when they get off. I have witnessed this around

The night they drove old Dixie down

I have just watched this Top Gear clip courtesy of Duncan Borrowman *NB As far as I can see, the whole piece at the petrol station was fabricated. Note that we never actually hear any threats, or see anyone acting in any sort of threatening manner. The pickup full of "red-necks" with a dog that arrived was actually a bunch of Mexicans. The woman at the petrol station was actually trying to

Thursday 15th February 2007

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