Bored at the Bullring?
Well go and get a coffee and people watch by the beach. Or you could try this? I think I’ll settle for the coffee. Tuesday 17th July 2007
11:58 pm
Well go and get a coffee and people watch by the beach. Or you could try this? I think I’ll settle for the coffee. 11:44 pm
Headline of the Day
And the winner is the BBC's: Anger at Kenya donkey nappy plan 11:05 pm
Will you take a cheque, Tompkins?
Joining the Ancient and Worshipful Order of Bloggers involves swearing a sacred oath that you will never use the phrase "political correctness gone mad". That can present a problem when you come across a story like this one from today's Leicester Mercury: A boy who broke into a primary school and injured himself swinging on a gate was received £5,700 in compensation. The secondary school pupil, who was trespassing at night on school grounds, was hurt when the gate collapsed. Leicestershire County Council had to pay money to the boy because they say they could not prove ... 9:56 pm
Now this just doesn't quite add up
This little note has started to appear stapled onto Tony Lit leaflets in Ealing Southall. Now this seems a bit strange. You pay £4,800 to go to an event. You win an auction for a trip to Atalanta for another £4,000. You have your picture taken with somebody, you have a beaming smile. So how do you defend the claim that you didn't like them? 9:32 pm
Conservative poster campaign in Ealing
Oh dear. Oh deary me. I think you can guess what’s coming… so without further ado, here’s the evidence. Photograph A: illegally flyposted Conservative election posters. Photograph B: illegally flyposted Conservative election posters removed by Ealing Council (insert outrage at hard-pressed local Council Tax payers having to fund the tidying up etc etc). Photograph C and D: the [...] 9:30 pm
Paul Keetch latest
From the Hereford Times: Doctors at the London Chest Hospital have today confirmed that Hereford MP Paul Keetch suffered a ventricular arrhythmia, a rhythm disturbance of the heart, whilst on a transatlantic flight to the USA on Sunday, 8 July. Having undergone a number of tests, doctors are now planning to fit Mr Keetch with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD, which is similar to a pacemaker.While Mr Keetch may never suffer another abnormal heart rhythm again, he will be safe in the knowledge that he has a built in life saver, should he do so, his constituency office said ... 9:25 pm
Sieg Health - no smoking on your own balcony
An interesting Housing meeting tonight. One element of it involved how we, as a tenanted managed group of Council Estates would be impacted by the smoking ban. We are required, under threat of £200 fines to put "no smoking" notices up in stairwells on every third floor (fair enough) and inform our tenants about what the law means. Well it turns out that one thing it means is that our tenants and residents are no longer permitted to smoke on the communal balconies outside their own flats. Yes that's right, if you are a criminal ... 9:16 pm
Mr Smulian's pussy
It is time for a look at Polo's Travels, the website maintained by the cat who looks after my Liberator colleague Mark Smulian. Polo is rather proud of the galleries showing his travels around the world. But I am also fond of his notes on catspam. 8:51 pm
MPs visit Sedgefield
A short video of Chris Huhne, Willie Rennie and Nick Clegg in Sedgefield, filmed yesterday. 8:48 pm
Stop the execution of child offender Sina Paymard in Iran
Iran: Stop the execution of child offender Sina Paymard Amnesty International has just heard of the imminent execution of Sina Paymard, who was sentenced to death in Iran for a crime committed when he was just 16 years old. Sina may be executed within the next few hours. According to reports, he has been moved from Reja'i Shahr prison in Karaj, to Tehran's Evin prison, for his execution to be carried out. Background Sina Paymard, a musician, was due to be executed in September last year for murder. On the gallows, Sina's ... 
7:31 pm
Haringey Conservative turns UKIP
Well, well, well! William McDougall - ex-Tory councillor on Haringey and their Tottenham candidate in the 2005 general election - has surfaced as a fully-fledged UKIP member. This is his endorsement for the candidate for Sedgefield by-election: "I was the Tory Candidate for Tottenham in the last general election, and previously was both a Conservative on Haringey Council and Chairman of my local Conservative Association. Like Toby I have become fed up with the direction the Party has taken, and have now joined UKIP. "If I wanted to support a social or liberal democratic group there are ... 6:44 pm
Save Bryncoch Farm
It is not only a valuable part of a green wedge, but it is also of historical interest. Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats support the campaign to save Bryncoch Farm. 6:43 pm
Sandwell BNP Councillor speaks out
Councillor Simon Smith, currently suspended for three months from Sandwell Council, had this to say on the decision: (hat-tip to Bob Piper) “I‘ve been suspended for three months. This came has no surprise to me. I’d taken part in the “investigation”, but decided that to be present at a meeting of the standards sub-committee comprising of [...] 6:27 pm
Bad geek humour
I’ve had this joke buzzing around my head all day, and although it isn’t particularly funny and so obscure that possibly only Jerry Seinfeld will understand it, I need to get it off my chest. Two blokes walk into a bar. One is wearing his underpants over his trousers, the other has a bottle with [...] 5:45 pm
Freecycling in Paris
I have just spent two days happily cycling around Paris on the new "Velibs" (freedom bikes) that have just been installed there. Inevitably there were a few teething problems. The first day, a sunny Sunday, it was impossible to find a bike in many parts of Paris. The second day, a wet Monday, it was impossible to find an empty stand to return a borrowed bike to. But globally it's been a huge success. It just goes to show what politicians can do when they put their minds to it. Two years ago the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, ... 
5:37 pm
Paddy Ashdown goes to Crete
A little light holiday reading kept me entertained during the long, hard hours lying by the pool or on the beach in Elounda, Crete. I needed something to take my mind off the unending, unforgiving sun. So I took with me a copy of Paddy Ashdown’s Swords and Ploughshares. Paddy is an interesting writer, though clearly not a great one. He uses the clipped sentences and direct speech of the soldier, yet at times he drifts into mawkish sentimentality (usually when writing about meetings with Bosnian villagers), a habit which the Economist suggests he may have “picked up during ... 5:01 pm
Lib Dems leading the way on Facebook
In a quiet moment in Ealing (no sniggering at the back), I thought it would be interesting to see how much the various parties are using social networking site to support their efforts in the two parliamentary by-elections - and whether my sneaking suspicion that the Liberal Democrats are making the best use of it [...] 4:45 pm
Healthy or what!!
I had a fitness check at work today.. and surprisingly I am a lot fitter and more healthy than I thought I was. Good news for me. But probably now no excuse not to double the amount of leaflets I am delivering! 4:32 pm
A Letter From The Mayor
James Purnell MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is writing to the 16 local authorities that have been 'awarded' the right to issue a casino licence to ask if they still want to g... 3:50 pm
Lord Watson Champions Britain’s Assets
Alan Watson — aka Lord Watson of Richmond — was the guest speaker at today’s Kettner lunch at the National Liberal Club, arguing that one can be a good European and be a trans-atlanticist at the same time. In fact, this thesis goes back to Churchill’s interlocking circles of Europe, America and the Empire — [...] 3:50 pm
Iran about to execute a child prisoner
According to Amnesty, the Iranian government are about to execute a boy who was sixteen at the time he committed the offence of which he was convicted. Iran is the only country in the world which still executes people for crimes committed when they were minors. You can lobby the Iranian government here. If you're blogging rather than campaigning, please do! UPDATE: I did ask Amnesty what he'd been convicted of. Murder, apparently - not that it makes any difference. 3:41 pm
By-election overkill?
At the time of writing, the Lib Dem buttons widget on the left is displaying four different animated buttons advertising the Ealing and Sedgefield by-elections. I thought it was a bit over the top on Sunday when there were just two. Is that really necessary, guys? Less is more perhaps? Share This 3:35 pm
Some of the Best of Boirs from youtube;
a full list is available Here but here are a few of the best Boris' first appearence on Have I Got news For You Boris playing Football - its a shame no-one told him that 3:08 pm
Commercial demands and our heritage
I do not know how this abomination came about but I would suggest that someone needs to look at how they fulfil their role properly. A giant doughnut-brandishing Homer Simpson has been painted onto the hillside above Cerne Abbas next to the giant. Apparently this is a publicity stunt to promote the Simpsons movie which is due to be released later this month. Either the people who did this got permission in which case I would suggest that whoever granted permission should take a step back and think about how best to protect our heritage or they ... 2:59 pm
Written Parliamentary Question 17th July 2007
Health: NHS: Finance Q:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned capital expenditure for the NHS in 2007-08 was in the (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 Budget; and what the reasons are for the difference between the two figures. A:Departmental expenditure limits for the Department and national health service are available in annex C of the Budget 2006 and Budget 2007. As set out in Budget 2:34 pm
On Liberty, Online: Loony candidate backs Lib Dems to win in Ealing Southall?
Well, it's in the bag folks - with this endorsement we surely can't be stopped! I happened to spot this comment by veteran Official Monster Raving Loony candidate John Cartwright on the UK Polling Report blog: "I have a theory that the people in the eastern half of the constituency may be being taken for granted by the main parties, that they are being relied on to vote anyway without needing to be persuaded, and that they will apply the usual mechanics to the psychology of by-elections. The comfortable middle classes of Ealing Common, invisible behind their net curtains ... 2:21 pm
Speke District Centre - Morrisons!
We went to the new Morrisons at Speke district centre the other day. It's not just the supermarket that's new, it's the whole district centre set up - with other new shops and a bus terminus. The development has brought new outlets to Speke, including two clothes shops (well there will be two when the TK Maxx opens up). You can walk from the shops straight to the Parklands main building with the library and one stop shop - and that in turn takes you out towards the swimming pool and adventure playground. There's still work ... 1:33 pm
Prom 4, or “why nothing composed after 1900 is in the slightest bit good”
Last night’s Prom was briefly in danger of being a repeat of Prom 3, because I Do. Not. Like. Modern. Music. Yes, 1969 is modern. There are one or two notable exceptions to this rule - some of Britten’s stuff was alright I suppose, Karl Jenkins doesn’t make me want to cut my ears off, and [...] 1:29 pm
Update on Paul Keetch MP
Doctors at the London Chest Hospital have confirmed that Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, suffered a ventricular arrhythmia, a rhythm disturbance of the heart, whilst on the transatlantic flight to the USA on Sunday, 8 July. 1:25 pm
Thumbs Up in Ealing Southall!
Party leader Ming Campbell and former leader Paddy Ashdown were in Ealing High Street yesterday to give their support to Liberal Democrat candidate Nigel Bakhai in the upcoming Ealing Southall by-election. Voters go to the polls this Thursday in one of the closest contested by elections of recent times. The Liberal Democrats are campaigning hard in the [...] 1:25 pm
Local politics - Shropshire style
From the Shropshire Star: A fight broke out at a Shropshire town council meeting, leaving a 67-year-old councillor needing hospital treatment. Councillor Tony Pound ... suffered cuts to his head, a swollen jaw and bruising and swelling to his neck in the fracas at a Ludlow Town Council meeting last night. He was treated for his injuries in the accident and emergency department of Hereford Hospital. The scuffle broke out at the end of a meeting of Ludlow Town Council’s markets, amenities and cemeteries committee and involved Councillor Pound and town clerk Paul Russell. Police are ... 1:19 pm
Miscellany
Thanks to the New Statesman, Lib Dem Voice and the BritBlog roundup for including me in their weekly blog roundups. Perhaps we should have a roundup of blog roundups… To the people who came to the blog searching for “Marin Alsop+gay”, give it up already. To the person who came searching for “phallic furniture”, I [...] 1:13 pm
Boris slams Polly, Polly slams Boris
First Boris slammed Polly. Then, this morning, Polly slammed Boris. Thanks to Tim Worstall. 1:04 pm
Lisa Rajan condemns Livingstone over Metronet collapse
Cllr Lisa Rajan, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Environment and Transport on Southwark Council, has condemned the Mayor of London for the failure of Metronet, the company which maintains two of the underground lines which serve Southwark. She has claimed that local households could have to pay an extra £196 each on average because of the failure. “Metronet’s collapse is an indictment of the lousy policy of privatising our tube,” said Cllr Lisa Rajan. “As a result of this failure, we will see more station and line closures, higher bills for taxpayers and it may even have ... 12:49 pm
CentreForum: Saturday lessons for poor children
The Times reports: Children from poor families should be given extra lessons on weekdays and Saturdays to provide them with the levels of support enjoyed by pupils at private school, a controversial report will recommend today.That report is Tackling Educational Equality. You can download a .pdf copy from the Centre's website. I wonder if the authors have considered how extra lessons on Saturdays would be received by children from poor families? No doubt the sort of children who grow up to work for think tanks would love them, but I suspect the rest would be further alienated from ... 12:37 pm
Ex-Tory councillor now backing UKIP
Just seen that William MacDougall, formerly a Tory councillor in Highgate and the Tory candidate for Tottenham at the last general election, has now joined UKIP. http://by_elections.blogspot.com/2007/07/ former-tory-candidate-endorses-horton.html Maybe one factor in his defection was his apparent lack of success as a Tory here in Haringey. In 2002 the Lib Dems, led by my colleague and now Leader of the Opposition Cllr Neil Williams, won all three seats in Mr MacDougall's old "conservative stronghold" of Highgate and then retained them in last year's election. And in the general election, he finished third, behind Lib Dem candidate Wayne Hoban. ... 12:28 pm
Responses to eating, not to my meeting
I find it interesting that I write about life as a local councillor pretty much every day for a year, and go months on end without a comment. Yet when I write about getting ripped off in restaurants I get three comments in the space of an hour! I think I have found the level of my readership! Ha ha... Last night was an evening of meetings. First off was a very successful inaugural meeting of the 12:23 pm
Creep, creep
When they tell you that access to ID database information will be strictly controlled and how telephone and internet service provider records will not be accessible to every petty bureaucrat wanting to chase a council tax debt or whatever, remember this: BBC NEWS | Politics | Met given real time C-charge data: Met given real time C-charge data The congestion charge covers central London Police are to be given live access to London's congestion charge cameras - allowing them to track all vehicles entering and leaving the zone. Anti-terror ... 12:12 pm
Some more pics from Sedgefield - Monday 16th July
Norman Lamb and Greg Stone on a walkabout in Newton Aycliffe.Norman and Greg launching the party's NHS petition.Chris Huhne MP and Willie Rennie MP arrive to help out.Greg and Nick Clegg MP outside the Newton Aycliffe police station.And finally, this baby hedgehog wandered past us last night whilst Nick Clegg was being interviewed by the Northern Echo. I liked it so much I have used the pic 11:59 am
Cameron has to do well in Sedgefield as well
The North is an electoral desert for the Conservatives. There is the occasional oasis of support but even these are becoming rarer by the day. Though the North has never had a majority of seats for the Conservatives in recent history, they need votes and seats here to be able to mount a credible challenge and win a general election. The hard reality is that Cameron has to win in the North as well 11:57 am
Russian Poker
Well, eventually the UK has lost its patience with Russia over the Litvinenko affair and expelled four FSB officers in London under diplomatic cover . Many observers consider that a tit-for-tat response is to be expected, in fact Russia will need to consider its options very carefully. As major problems emerge in the logistics of Russian gas supply, the position of the Russian economy looks increasingly fragile. The preponderance of the energy and basic products sectors has supported the Rouble at prices that makes much of the rest of the Russian economy fundamentally uncompetitive. The squeeze on Russian industry ... 11:09 am
Is Britain broken?
I’ve just been peaking at the Tories’ consultation website, going by the bossy title of Stand up! Speak up! Straighten that tie! (I made the last bit up). On it is a stark video about Britain’s ‘broken society’ illustrating how the UK is such a mess. Some of the statistics are undeniable, and if [...] 11:06 am
Chris Rennard: a re-count in Ealing Southall, challengers to Labour in Sedgefield
Lib Dem chief executive and by-election supremo, Lord Chris Rennard, has posted his thoughts on Lib Dem Voice on the current state of play for Thursday’s by-elections in Ealing Southall and Sedgefield: By-elections can be fast moving in the last two days. I will not issue “final forecasts” here but have often been accurate to within [...] 10:58 am
Ealing 6: Reaping and Sowing
"So, has Iain Dale done anything stupid today?" I asked the man sitting opposite me on the 2236 from Southall last night, having spent a hard afternoon working the guillotine. "No, not today" he replied, a slightly puzzled and dissapointed look flashing across his face before he returned to typing things into his laptop.... Things are continuing to hot up, and it could go either way. The Labour and Lib Dem campaigns are certainly making merry with the fact that a few weeks before becoming the Conservative candidate, Tony Lit was at a Labour Party fundraising bash ... 10:53 am
Watch out for the 'cliff edge'!
I've recently had over a thousand letters and e-mails from women around Britain raising issues with me about their pensions. In the course of reading all of these letters, something suddenly struck me. The state pension changes being introduced on 6th April 2010 would be of huge benefit to many of these women - but they are too old to benefit as most of them will have turned 60 by that date. (In brief, the new rules make it much easier for a woman who has spent time out of paid work bringing up ... 10:17 am
Is there an element of Galtieri in Brown's tough action on Russia?
I was watching Gordon Brown on telly last night about the Russian diplomat expulsions. He looks good when he's being tough. He's no good at the touchy feely stuff like Blair. But he can do the 'rock of Fife act' very well in a crisis. I just wonder if there is perhaps an element of this crisis playing well for Brown underlying the government's actions. As Galtieri found, if you want to look good 10:01 am
Tories to finish fourth?
The word on the street is that the Conservative vote in Sedgefield is tumbling as the Lib Dem squeeze tightens. Though is seeing them finish behind the BNP necessarily a good thing? Here in Darlington we get a constant stream of leaflets to deliver in Hurworth and MSG: over the weekend there were three leaflets and an envelope to every house, and it'll be daily from now on. I loved the leaflet 9:34 am
Full marks to the Royal Marsden
Previous readers know that the charms and failings of NHS Foundation Trusts - as well as the fact that we should all sign up as members anyway - are a particular interest of mine. Although they do all seem to be keen, in one way or another, to engage with their members, some are distinctly [...] 9:28 am
T4 latest bands
More news from the Weston & Somerset Mercury on the latest acts confirmed for T4 on the Beach. It looks set to be another great event - let’s hope the rain holds off! 9:28 am
Peers, parliament and passes
The Times reveals something we've all known about for years. Some peers receive large sums of money to represent interest groups and provide their staff with passes as parliamentary researchers. Lord Berkeley (a Labour creation) argued that he needed someone to help him write his speeches. So I checked. On 18th June the noble lord asked, "Why there is a £10 charge for refunding rail tickets 9:25 am
An expensive spelling mistake
At £300,000, you’d think North Somerset Conservatives could have got the spelling right. 9:11 am
After 10 years of New Labour
The gap between rich and poor is wider than ever. They don't even meet any more. Interviewed on the radio, a man (In the shower I didn't hear the name) commented, "Rich people in London don't think they're rich because they don't mix with any poor people". It's similar in Chard. Poor people here don't think they're poor, because they don't mix with any rich people. 8:57 am
For the Discerning Reader
The BBC reports that pagans are outraged by the appearance of Homer Simpson on the hillside next to the Cerne Abbas giant. They don't mention the adventures of Lord Scarman as a young man. On a walking holiday he and and his friends planted poppy seeds in the outline of the giant. Shortly after, the giant turned red so locals burnt out the poppies. The giant turned brown. Then more poppies 8:31 am
Rats
According to an interview with the Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development in last night's South Wales Evening Post, the new Labour-Plaid Cymru Government have decided that fortnightly refuse collections are the way forward in Wales because she believes that they make people recycle more. She is also opposed to the tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay as she thinks that 'the technology is not there'. Utter nonsense. A contrary view on refuse collection appears in this morning's Western Mail from Newport. There we are told that the Council has had an increase of more than 80% in ... 8:20 am
Conservative candidate switches parties
No, it’s not Ealing this time. But rather the 2005 Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Tottenham is backing UKIP in the Sedgefield by-election. The story particularly caught my eye because I slightly know the person - William Macdougall - from when he was a Conservative councillor in Haringey (yes, they used to have some!) up until 2002. We [...] 8:19 am
Letter to the Richmond & Twickenham Times, 17th July 2007
Sir, I note with interest that your publication was quoted on the back page of the leaflet left by Tories campaigning for the erstwhile leader of the council, Tony Arbour, who is, I understand, hoping that the local voters who... 8:12 am
Homer the giant
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Simpsons as much as the next person. And you have to admit that this little bit of vandalism is actually quite witty. Nevertheless, I do lament the way that we allow our heritage to be subverted by trans-Atlantic culture in this way, just to promote a movie. Like the joint Wessex district manager for The Pagan Federation, Ann Bryn-Evans, I have to wonder how they got permission to do something so ridiculous. It is after all an area of scientific interest. At the risk of offending somebody, I ... 7:58 am
We have Charlie in Sedgefield today
Charles Kennedy is our visitor to Sedgefield today. So I should get a good set of photos and video to post up at some point.Ever since Labour were caught on my video camera physically trying to break up our press launch, their thugs have kept a distance from us (it's amazing how camera shy these posturing bullies can be). Charles has always been treated wherever he goes to organised Labour 12:48 am
Not a statistic likely to appear on a Labour leaflet
I guess Tom Watson, Labour's election supremo in Ealing Southall won't be putting this statistic on last minute leaflets. 12:31 am
Homer Simpson at Cerne Abbas
The BBC reports: Pagans have pledged to perform "rain magic" to wash away a cartoon character painted next to their famous fertility symbol - the Cerne Abbas giant.A doughnut-brandishing Homer Simpson now adorns the hillside above Cerne Abbas, Dorset, next to the giant.Well, their rain magic seems to be working well. But I am with Ann Bryn-Evans, "joint Wessex district manager for The Pagan Federation" (though I am sorry to hear that pagans now have managers): "I'm amazed they got permission to do something so ridiculous."Anyway, the BBC website has the picture you all want to see. 12:11 am
It appears I am a dissident
I note I was the dissident voice on The World at One today on Radio 4. To be honest, I was amazed I could do the interview at all given that I had just finished playing football, had been at the hospital the night before, my back was only just holding out, my car alarm started going off halfway through the interview, and about 50 kids were peering at me wondering why I was sat sweating in my car in a football kit in my lunch hour. For the record, I still believe we would do better ... 12:02 am
Constitutional proposals
Recently Prime Minister Gordon Brown outlined his proposals for constitutional reform. The first difference many people would have noticed about this announcement from the Prime Minister was that rather then it being made to journalist at a press conference or through a leak it was made in Parliament without much being disclosed prior to the Prime Ministers appearance in the House of Commons. 
