Number 10 welcomes Sybil the cat
At last an official government video I approve of. Does the cat have its own spin doctor? Friday 14th September 2007
11:00 pm
At last an official government video I approve of. Does the cat have its own spin doctor? 
9:44 pm
Rear end analysis from Comment is Free
Okay, let’s get the blindingly obvious out of the way first. The Lib Dems are in trouble. We are floundering in the polls. Lewis Baston has a fair assessment of our woes over on Comment is Free. Sadly, Iain Macwhirter has also decided to have a go. Aside from the blindingly obvious - that our stock isn’t all that high at the moment - it would appear that there is no point so large that Macwhirter isn’t capable of missing. Of course, accusing him of being stupid (which is of course what he calls us) would be unfair, since he ... 9:44 pm
Dynamic Leeds duo make it a magnificent six out of six
Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol shared three goals as United lifted clear of the relegation zone, at least for one day, and made it a magnificent six out of six. Leeds had to endure massive pressure from Bristol Rovers for much of the game but our dynamic twin strikers took their chances well. Bristol Rovers 0 Leeds United 3 9:25 pm
The Guinea Pig
I taped and watched The Guinea Pig, part of Channel 4's answer to the disappointing last week of the BBC season. Contrary to my fears, there was nothing ridiculous about the adult Richard Attenborough playing a schoolboy. In the event he was one of the slighter pupils. His classmates were so mature they looked as though they could step in to run a merchant bank or play wing forward for England at a moment's notice. Clearly, all that rugby puts hairs on your chest. The story, which involved a working-class boy being sent to a public school just before the ... 8:48 pm
Food for thought
There has been some interest recently in a report outlining the findings into research into what people were eating in Britain thousands of years ago. The main focus of attention was on hedgehogs and nettles. There seemed to be a degree of surprise that such foods were eaten, and what's more, they were cooked with other ingredients, not eaten raw. Much of this was turned into a joke by media 8:47 pm
Ming Campbell to refight 1975 referendum
"I look forward to working alongside Jeremey Thorpe, Denis Healey and the late Geoffrey Rippon to make the case for Britain's continued membership of the Common Market."Full text on Lib Dem Voice. My (more considered) views here. 8:10 pm
CentreForum keeps digging
It seems that CentreForum really is determined to put coalition on the Lib Dem agenda. After that paper the other day, its latest publication is Lib-Lab: can Labour and the Liberal Democrats co-operate? by Julian Astle and Alasdair Murray. CentreForum would serve the party better if it worried less about how we should broker power after the next election and more about developing the policies that might help us gain a share of it in the first place. 7:59 pm
Sholto Byrnes stands up for liberalism
From today's New Statesman: Perhaps the seeds of liberalism's downfall as a specific political movement were sown by its very success. After all, it is not democracy itself (a process that can lead to the election of the most illiberal extremists) that we revere today, but liberal democracy.It is liberalism's misfortune that framing, as it does, the constitutional parameters, it struggles to find a distinctive voice against the more boisterous and simplistic creeds that spar within those borders. 7:58 pm
We should have a referendum on whether Britain stays in the European Union
When I first heard it suggested that the UK should hold a referendum on remaining in the EU or not, I was sceptical about the idea. Referendums do have their place, but I don’t generally think they are the best way of making government decisions. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more and more I have come round to the idea that asking the public, basically, whether they want Britain to do the Europe thing or not, is a good idea. Essentially, the case for such a vote is straightforward. There clearly are different views among the British ... 7:36 pm
The Joy of Ramadan
{crescent3.jpg} Fasting is normally associated with self-denial, penance and piety, but in the case of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, there is a large element of celebration as well. Here in Cairo, during the day the streets are much quieter than usual, though by 4pm a definite buzz is building up, punctuated by kids setting off fire-crackers. Older youths set out trestle tables laden with plastic bags full of fruit juice, which will be snapped up when the day’s fasting comes to an end. In the big hotels, some of the outdoor restaurants are turned into ‘iftar tents’, with groaning buffets, traditional ... 
7:36 pm
Dave's Big Idea: Zac Goldsmith Backtracks
It doesn't matter how rich your daddy is, you should ALWAYS put an executive summary in your reports. I hope Zac Goldsmith is learning this lesson. If his mammoth enviro-report had an executive summary, he would never have had to backpedal so drastically on Conservative Home. Or perhaps he would. In the ConHome piece, Goldsmith rows away from just about everything in his policy working party's paper that had attracted any media coverage. One can be confident - very confident - that journalists are the last people to actually READ a 529-page policy paper. They did not write their pieces ... 7:29 pm
Mr Butt Philip goes to Brighton
Congratulations to Theo Butt Philip - writer of one of the more short-lived Lib Dem blogs - for proving that no story is too trivial to get into the local papers. Or at least into the Bridgwater Mercury. 7:26 pm
Stupid people
When I listened to the news this morning that Northern Rock had been guaranteed funds by the bank of England to cover its liabilities, my first thought was that they had gone through the threshold set by the Financial Authorities which means they no longer had sufficient finances to cover their debt. But no, it was clear this was not the case. Northern Rock is in a strong financial state. To my mind, the very fact that the Bank of England were prepared to lend the Northern Rock money was a clear sign that they were completely satisfied that the ... 7:20 pm
Cameron's Tories making a comeback in the cities
You know how "Call me Dave" Cameron likes to tell us how well the Tories are doing in the great municipal cities in the North these days ? Perhaps he could explain how his party came seventh (yes 7th) in a by-election in Liverpool yesterday. 7:19 pm
Cameron and Merkin: let’s co-operate in splitting up
After a week during which the Lib Dems wobbled over EU policy, it is nice to have a reminder quite how scarily paranoid the Tory hive mind is regarding the Dark Continent. Pravdale’s mini-me writes this about Cameron’s meeting with Angela Merkin: What has this meeting really achieved for the Conservative Party? It could be argued that it sends a signal to the electorate that Cameron is taken seriously as a potential world leader. But then the counter argument would be that Cameron has to first convince people he’d be a good national leader before he can move onto the ... 6:24 pm
New feature - links to local street map & travel planner
We've put a couple more useful websites under "Local Links" on the right. Can't find a street in Chipping Sodbury and Yate? There's a link to the Standbrook Guides online map. Planning a journey by public transport? There's also a new link to the Traveline South West journey planner. 6:08 pm
I’ve signed my MEP’s letter asking Ming to commit to a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty
I’ve signed my MEP’s letter asking Ming to commit to a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty. (105 competences in the original EU Constitutional Treaty and 105 in the new Treaty; 61 areas of QMV in the original treaty, 62 in the new one, so I don’t buy into this idea that the document has fundamentally changed!) Anyway this is what she wrote: Dear all I am following up on the feedback I got from PPCs, approved candidates and others across the region in the summer regarding a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty. This is clearly an issue that ... 5:23 pm
South Africa: how business is making up for the failings of government in the fight against AIDS
So - arrive back at 6.30am yesterday morning from three extraordinary days in South Africa looking at AIDS projects. I was invited on this trip by a Labour MP, Sally Keeble, who has a long record of work and commitment to Africa and to International Development. Another Labour MP, David Borrow, was also on this trip - as he has been pursing the AIDS issue for some years. Sadly, the Conservative, Mark Lancaster, had to drop out at the last minute because of family illness. The trip was put together by an umbrella organisation (relatively new) Business Action for Africa. ... 5:20 pm
Pissing on their Biased BBC Parade
Various right-wing bloggers, in particular Biased BBC, are getting their knickers in a twist over the BBC Newsround's 9/11 site - specifically, the "Why did they do it?" page - which they claim propagates a distinctly anti-American view in saying the following: "The way America has got involved in conflicts in regions like the Middle East has made some people very angry, including a group called 5:18 pm
Wellesley School building opens
It's been good to see the new Wellesley Primary School building in use from the start of term. The old building will now be demolished and a new sports area put in its place (during the building works the school has been using Dodington Parish Council's Kelston Close playing field) Flashback: Cllr Alan Lawrance and Cllr Kay Crowe visiting the site a year ago. 
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EXCLUSIVE: Blog Of The Year May Be Too Close To Call
The prestigious Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards might be too close to call in several key categories, according to an unofficial spokesman. The awards, set to be presented on Sunday evening, might have presented the judging panel with the difficult task of choosing between up to five strong entries in each category. Cowley Street sources fuelled this speculation by refusing to comment on anything to do with the awards, except to say "I know who won and you don't. Ha ha ha ha ha. HAHAHAHAAA!! I AM INVEEENCIBLE!!!" 5:05 pm
By-Election Results Thursday, 13th September 2007
Brent LBC, Stonebridge Lab 1432 (51.9 -1.6), LD S Wiltshire 864 (31.3 +16.2), Respect 237 (8.6 +8.6), Con 177 (6.4 -13.3), Green 51 (1.8 -5.2), [Ind (0.0 -4.7)]. Majority 568. Turnout 24.03. Lab hold. Last fought 2006. Chelmsford BC, Broomfield and The Walthams LD M Taylor 1198 (56.3 +38.1), Con 742 (34.9 -20.8), Lab 76 (3.6 -4.2), UKIP 57 (2.7 -5.7), Green 53 (2.5 -7.4). Majority 456. Turnout 4:52 pm
If Gordon had any sense...
Well now. Ming has done the right thing. Not that he ever did the wrong thing, as such, but he's made it a bit more apparent than it was last time, in line with the Stephen Tall school of thought. I link to the GU story and not the BBC one because it contains the following fascinating comment from William Hague: William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, was not impressed. "This proposal is a 4:21 pm
Ming on the verge of crying
The picture the BBC are running alongside the EU referendum announcement: Somebody's either holding a gun to his head out of shot or he's just lost his puppy. 4:19 pm
A Liberal approach to a free market NHS?
Grace Goodlad (my wife) posted this comment piece on Liberal Democrat Voice nearly a year ago. Her background is in NHS finance. I am republishing it here to add to the debate on the future of the NHS. Oliver Letwin has hit the headlines again for his “no limits” approach to privatisation of the NHS. This isn’t exactly a huge difference from what Labour are currently doing, with “Private 4:05 pm
Brighton rock
Tomorrow sees the start of the Lib Dem annual Federal Conference, in Brighton. I have already said that I’m not going, and I’m still not. But this bombshell news hasn’t stopped anyone else going, and the last I heard the Conference was going ahead all the same. Bury Lib Dems will be represented by Cllrs Pickstone, D’Albert and Andrew Garner, who will all be taking part in the debates, training sessions and fringe events. And of course, attending the Lib Dem Blog of the Year awards to see if I win in the snappily titled category of ”Best Blog from a ... 3:58 pm
Met back to where it once belonged
The refurbished Metrolink line between Bury and Manchester is back up and running, and only slightly behind schedule. I haven’t had the chance to ride it myself yet, but Cllr Andrew Garner from Sedgley ward has, and he said the quality of ride was much improved. I have heard from local residents that the noise of passing trams is also greatly improved. Which is fantastic news, and a credit to those in charge of delivering this much needed project. Now all we need is cleaner, less crowded, more reliable trams at a price that isn’t likely to bankrupt us mere ... 3:56 pm
MSbP - overdiagnosed according doctors in the USA
There is an article in Psychology Today published Yesterday in the USA that has interesting elements: THE PERFECT STORM HERE IN THE U.S., AWARENESS OF MBP MAY BE RISING ALONG with antagonism between doctors and moms. "I have never known a false case not sparked by conflict between a mother and a doctor," New Hampshire psychologist Eric Mart states. Schreier says powerless mothers are clamoring 3:55 pm
Fixing a Hole
I was delighted to see that the hole in Bury New Road near to Prestwich park Road South has finally been fixed. It was a burst water pipe of some kind, and it had been spewing water out at an alarming rate for a couple of weeks. It was also a big enough hole to be damaging cars. I rang United Utilities to get them to sort it out, only to be told that it was a “Category 3″ leak, and would be fixed “at some point within 10 working days.” Given that it was in the middle of the ... 3:50 pm
Happy New Year to Jewish readers
I would like to wish all Jewish readers of the blog a Happy New Year. At this high holy day time it is wonderful to see so many local Jewish people coming together to celebrate Rosh Hashana. It is great to represent such a diverse ward and I am priveleged to do so. Rick 3:50 pm
Meetings a-plenty
Apologies for quietness on the blogging front in recent days. Busyness is no excuse, but I am going to use it all the same. On wednesday night it was the inaugural meeting of the Local Area Partnership sub-group on Community Development. There were Council representatives from all three Prestwich wards, as well as from Bury Council, the Police, Salix Homes (Salford’s housing management company who manage the houses in Rainsough), and community activists. It was a good turnout and although I had to leave the meeting after an hour it was still enough time to hear about some exciting plans ... 3:46 pm
New Era at No. 10?
I've heard rather a lot from Labour supporting people, that we are now into a new 'Brown' era, and all the bad blood and unpleasantness of the Blair years are behind us. Had a 'Groundhog Day' moment when I watched some of the TUC conference this morning. Speaker after speaker talked of the ongoing attack on trade unions after 10 years of a Labour Government, and after the long Thatcher years which ushered in legislation to curb their rights. They were angry and calling for industrial action. Unfortunately the TUC conference co-incided with Mr Brown inviting Baroness Thatcher to 10 ... 3:31 pm
Ming toes the Stephen Tall line
Finally, a bit of coherence: Sir Menzies says he agrees with the prime minister - but as an ardent pro-European he is “not prepared to allow [Conservative leader] David Cameron to lead the Europhobes and their allies in sections of the media, to distort the debate on Europe without challenge”. The Lib Dem leader, who was expected to face calls to back a treaty vote from some of his own MPs at his party’s conference, said voters should be given a “real choice”. “If there is to be a referendum it shouldn’t be restricted to a comparatively minor treaty. It ... 3:20 pm
Ming saves a roasting. Maybe a light grilling instead?
I am pleased to see quick action from the leadership to try and douse the EU treaty referendum fire ahead of the party Conference next week. I was one of the few people backing Ming’s comments on the treaty referendum (or lack of) last week, although I did make it clear I was in favour of a referendum on the wider issue of Europe when the time was right. What this press release will hopefully do is quieten any negative press coverage that may have come out of Conference. We face a struggle in many seats at the next election ... 3:05 pm
England 0 Germany 0 (Womens World Cup)
A great result for England today, holding red hot tournament favourites Germany to a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the Womens World Cup. The standard in this tournament hasn’t been great up until now. For a great example, watch the first goal of the tournament in this clip, the Argentinian goalkeeper punching the ball into her own net. That set the tone for her team who went on to lose 11-0 in the most one-sided game of football I have seen at any level, ever. However, England v Germany today was a real step up in quality. England’s ... 2:39 pm
Well done Tim!
A mixed night for us here in the North West - but great to see that my work with others `from a distance` (My middle name’s Bette!) payed off for this inspired and popular candidate. Yes I’m talking about the new Cllr Tim Nuttall in Whitewell ward in Rossendale. Good luck in your councillorship! I’ve already recommended where the next scalp should be. 2:28 pm
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Eight episodes in, Richard last night suggested we stop bothering to watch Aaron Sorkin’s much-hyped, soon-cancelled follow-up new show (and we gave Robin Hood the full series). The first two years of The West Wing – those on which Mr Sorkin had the most control – are among the best television anyone has ever produced; this has the same writer, the same producer and many of the same faces. Yet it comes across as a bunch of not very funny people who are terminally up themselves about their own genius, with an underlying suggestion of ‘TV series as multi-million-dollar therapy’. ... 2:28 pm
Nice to be thanked
A week or so ago I had a letter from a lady with a housing problem. I wrote back to her to say that I wasn't a councillor any more, but as she has asked me to help I would write a letter on her behalf. This morning another lady stopped me to turned out to be this (first) lady's sister. It seems there has been some progress and they are both delighted and wanted to say thank you. It is a nice feeling to be able to get somewhere with a problem. 2:25 pm
On Choice (School Dinners revisited)
One of the things which came out of the debate on school dinners recently was the claim that poor people cannot make a choice. Apparently being poor, or living in a deprived area means that the ability to make a choice is beyond you. This is utter rubbish. Its offensive and smacks of the sort of Tory [...] 2:21 pm
Starting with what you have
I've always been interested in promoting transparent and managerially efficient governance in whatever forum I've been operating in - whether as a councillor or in my professional role in charity work - and my vision for London was always going to be informed by that. But it's only as I run around putting together notes and preparing for conference that a related point occurs to me with full force - I realise just how much you can get done with even a skeletal team helping you. Ken Livingstone has built an industry around recruiting his army of advisers. Many of ... 2:17 pm
A Welcome Statement
Ming Campbell appears to have reacted to the backlash within the party to his recent comments by calling for a full-scale referendum on whether Britain should stay in or out of the European Union. 30 years after we joined the EU, you'd hope we wouldn't need one, but an affirmative vote would quiet down the anti-Europeans for a while... until the next treaty that is. Also good to see the BBC 2:12 pm
Back In Your Prams
Ming wants a referendum after all. So, the Lib Dem blogosphere can return to its normal subjects of conversation and stop worrying about Euro-referendums which in my humble opinion are the most. boring. thing. ever. 2:07 pm
Police raid on polling day!
I got to see a real life police raid yesterday, Delivering a good morning leaflet for the by election in Warbreck, I was going down one street at around 7am. I delivered a leaflet to a house with a slightly bashed about door and then walked to the next doorstep. As I came along the road, about eight police officers walked past quietly, turned into the garden I had just come from and ran (again quietly) up the path. They got in(not so quietly) and a few minutes later a man was driven away. Shouldn't think he had a chance ... 2:04 pm
“The Sound of Young Scotland”
A glorious lo-fi treat for Friday - Josef K’s Chance Meeting. The band were another product of Scotland’s fecund indie scene of the early 1980s – and along with Orange Juice and Aztec Camera were signed to Postcard Records, which sounds like the best label ever. This video was filmed around the Athenian acropolis of Edinburgh’s Calton Hill. The southern slopes of the hill house some of the Scottish Government, in St. Andrew's House. Unionists had long-feared that the imposing Doric edifice of the Royal High School, high up on the hill, would become the Scottish Parliament. Indeed, Donald Dewar ... 2:01 pm
Ming speaks out on Euro referendum - “we must have a vote”
The Lib Dems have just issued a press release in which Ming Campbell has demanded in unequivocal terms a referendum on the UK’s position within the European Union. Here’s the full text: Ahead of his Party Conference, which begins tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell, has called for the public to be given a real choice [...] 1:59 pm
Abu Risha dead
Yesterday I blogged about the Rick Rowley film/journalistic thoughts on his experiences in Iraq. In it he mentioned how Abu Risha (held up by Bush, as a saviour for Iraq, and as evidence that the surge is working) was likely to be a bit of a fake Well, he was killed yesterday. The Independent has this as its front page today (14/9). Ming and others in our party must keep asking Gordon Brown the tough hard questions. One thing’s for sure you can’t alter a war’s course by `wing and a prayer pr stunts`. Let’s put it another way `do ... 1:46 pm
Lamb: “rat-arsed drunks” should pay A&E bills
You can’t accuse Norman Lamb, Lib Dem shadow secretary of state for health, of slipping out gently his policy proposal that patients needing emergency NHS treatment after becoming drunk or incapacitated by drugs should be charged: “If you get rat-arsed on a Friday night and get taken to A&E where you are foul and abusive to [...] 1:33 pm
British people must have a real choice on Europe: in or out
Ahead of his Party Conference, which begins tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell, has called for the public to be given a real choice on the European Union. Ming said: “It’s time for the political parties to end the shadow boxing on Europe and enter into an honest debate about the European Union. “We will not know the final shape of the European Reform Treaty until later this year and that is the right time to make the judgement as to whether the changes it proposes necessitate a referendum. My own view is that in its present form the substantial ... 1:23 pm
Negative Article
A fairly negative article on the Liberal Democrats on The Guardian's Comment is Free site by Iain Macwhirter. He focuses mainly on our position in Scotland, but there is still food for thought for the national party. 1:10 pm
The plastic bag battle
I feel the need to write on this subject after reading Jonathan Wallace’s rant about Sainsburys. Specifically, this bit: “I then had a battle to stop him putting my purchases into a new Sainsbury carrier bag. I had to wave the one I had brought with me to make sure I didn’t want another added to the 17 billion free carrier bags stores in this country give away each year.” I have just returned from the Somerfield store across the road from my flat with one 750ml bottle of Cussons Morning Fresh “Zesty Lemon” washing-up liquid. That’s all, nothing else, ... 12:57 pm
Shouldn't the law deal with abusive drunks?
Norman Lamb, Lib Dem Shadow Health Secretary, has today published a spokesperson's paper. This is not a policy paper, but rather Norman's personal contribution to the party's health policy working group. I was interested to read the quote from Norman in the BBC reporting of this launch: "If you go out on a Friday or a Saturday night and get very drunk and you end up in accident and emergency, and 11:32 am
The big question for Londoners – should there be a London-wide levy on shopping bags – or even an outright ban?
London Councils are consulting on a proposal from Lib Dem Sutton Council to introduce a London-wide ban, or levy, on throw away shopping bags. I have seen the succesful plastic bag levy in Ireland, and am a great supporter of it. The consultation actually goes beyond plastic bags to all throw away bags. As London Councils say on their website: It is estimated that reducing the number of 11:22 am
"It Girl" Amanda Skelton is Redcar and Cleveland's new Chief Executive
Redcar and Cleveland Council has appointed South Tyneside Council's Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, Amanda Skelton as the new Chief Executive. She will succeed Colin Moore, who is retiring from the role after completing eight years in the job in December. Residents can no doubt look forward to a range of "it" campaigns, such as "blitz it" "bin it" and "just do it" which seem to have been a feature of Amanda's five years as Executive Director at South Tyneside. Like Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside has moved from a 'fair' authority to 'excellent' and is one one of only ... 10:49 am
Guardian asks, ‘Could Ming bounce?’
A rather bizarre headline distracts from a shrewd, but by no means comfortable, analysis of the Lib Dems’ prospects by Lewis Baston, co-editor of Politico’s Guide to the General Election 2005 and research officer at the Electoral Reform Society, on The Guardian’s CommentIsFree blog. It’s worth reading in full here - but here’s the conclusion: There are [...] 10:28 am
Truro City F C
Last night Planning Referrals considered Truro City's plan to move from their old ground, to a new 6 million pound development in Kenwyn, paid for entirely by their millionaire owner. Last June we managed to push this through Planning against the Officers recomendation, but only after seven hours of consideration, which included site visits and a public meeting. But last night the Committee members were like frightened rabbits, I saw one Tory approaching the Council offices turning and running back to the car park, when she saw the young footballers with their placards, only returning when she had another Tory ... 10:00 am
Liberal Democrats 'Three times as green' as other parties
The Liberal Democrats have been voted the greenest of the three main political parties in an audit by Britain's environmental groups. The Liberal Democrats, regarded as the party with the most long-standing commitment to the environment, come out on top despite efforts by the two biggest parties to catch up. But today's report is bad news for David Cameron, who has made the environment a symbol of his attempt to change the image of the Conservative Party. Despite his efforts, the Tories are rated behind the two other parties. The report scored the parties on a traffic light system. Results: ... 9:30 am
In search of the Great Liberals
William Ewart Gladstone, David Lloyd George, John Maynard Keynes, John Stuart Mill – who is the greatest Liberal of all time? All Lib Dems coming to the autumn party conference will be able to cast a vote. The poll for the greatest British Liberal in history is being run by the Liberal Democrat History Group. In [...] 9:21 am
Last day in office before it all starts
The last day in the office before conference is always a hectic, hair ripping out episode in which everything that needs to be done that hasn't been done needs to be done! My conference diary is only half done, my contribution to a training session the Communications Unit is putting on is not written, I have a mountain of itty bitty jobs to shift for the photo ops we are hosting and I need to 9:02 am
Dismantling EU Arguments
The cerebral James Graham does a good job of dismantling the anti-EU-referendum arguments. Well said that man. 8:35 am
Minister or not?
Rhodri Morgan has conducted a joint interview with his Counsel General and 'favoured' successor, Carwyn Jones, to defend charges that he is in breach of the second Government of Wales Act by combining the legal role with that of Leader of the House. My view is that there is a clear breach of the spirit of the Act but that they have most probably done enough to have satisfied the letter of the law. Even so, one is left with the impression that this government is prepared to discard some of the peripheral constraints that are in place on the ... 8:18 am
'Brain dead' Labour?
Let us be clear about this. Contrary to the published views of Labour researcher, David Collins, the Welsh language is not 'brain dead' nor is it a 'dead language'. The fact is that it is very much a living language, spoken in communities throughout Wales and in the National Assembly. The number of Welsh speakers is growing and the demand for Welsh medium education, particularly from monoglot-English parents, is growing. The devolution process has acted as a spur to help revive the language and to make it more relevant than ever. That phenomenon is building on the impact of the ... 8:09 am
The tube: essential public services for lazy people
Victoria Borwick is one of the Conservatives hoping to win the selection as their candidate to take on Ken Livingstone for Mayor of London next year. We all know plenty about Boris Johnson - too much, really - but I hadn't heard of her before so had a quick look at her website yesterday. Basically, she seems to be somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun on the political spectrum. Her plans include a 'zero tolerance policy on even minor crime' and the installation of a 'top US police chief' here in London. Victoria also shows her green credentials ... 7:50 am
Guilty Pleasures #593 - Barry White
...A bit of light relief from World War Three. I am a man who likes to keeping reasonably up-to-date with music (or at least try to pretend to be - which is no doubt embarrassing), normally via being pulled along via my bootstraps by my daughter and wife. I am a great fan of Dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip. Their (his?) latest track "The beat that my heart skipped" is wonderful. So, I am proud of 7:19 am
The Nasty Parties
Since David Cameron became leader of the Conservative Party he has made plain his desire that the British Tories should leave the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament. Although virtually every other right wing party in the EU is a member, Cameron and some of the more anti European elements amongst the Conservatives have considered that the EPP is dangerously socialistic and pro European. Apart from the European Parliament of the European Union there is another Parliamentary Assembly in Europe: that of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is a rather worthy ... 5:26 am
Tickled Pink....
Gay ......? Then here's a good reason to feel Pride!!!! 4:12 am
The state of learning: universities teach "three Rs"
The new man at the helm of Universities UK, the "trade body" for university vice-chancellors, is saying that universities ought to be teaching remedial English lessons to students who arrive at university not being able to communicate very well in written English: Universities 'must offer basic grammar classes' - Telegraph: By Graeme Paton, Education Editor Last Updated: 1:48am BST 14/09/2007 Rick Trainor, the president of Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, said that universities should do more to ensure graduates are properly prepared for the world of work. Employers have already criticised the standards of basic skills among teenagers, saying too ... 3:15 am
Ahhhh, That Explains It..... Now I Understand
President Bush has outlined his defence of leaving the Iraq quagmire for whichever one of the Democrats becomes the next President to resolve, - as he had always intended. - (Here is Speaker Pelosi's response until I find Hillary's.) In the interim, the so called liberal New York Times' Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas L Friedman explains what he thinks the US strategy in Iraq was all about. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has released a 'fact check' of Bush's speech... Hillary still silent! 3:04 am
Jeremy Hargreaves and Paul Walter get in a muddle…
Okay. It’s late, I’m tired, and so I’ll try to be as brief as I can. First of all Paul Walter: So please tell me which provisions of the proposed EU Treaty result in transfers of sovereignty from the UK to the EU significant enough to warrant a national referendum and to justify the title “constitution”. Please list those provisions. Quite simply, by massively extending the scope of co-decision to an extra 51 areas of EU policy, and by establishing legal personality to the EU - enabling it to sign international treaties on our behalf. I’m not against these rules ... 2:21 am
Tooth Review: 1554 (obligatory spoiler warning)
{Prog 1554} Spoilers below… (more…) Share This 1:17 am
Things I don't understand: chewing gum disposal
The Guardian today reports that boffins from Bristol have invented a Non-stick gum [that] could slash £150m street cleaning costs Ian Sample, science correspondent The Guardian Friday September 14 2007 Non-stick chewing gum which can be washed off streets and degrades naturally in the environment has been developed by a team of British scientists. This is great news, for as the photo shows, it can be a really dirty problem. I will never understand why people think it is acceptable to spit out or drop gum on the floor. Or why people don't regularly get caught and fined £85 or ... 12:26 am
A Brotherhood - a People Linked Together
The last 3 years has seen me work towards trying to bridge divides between Muslim and Jewish communities both here in the UK and within Palestine and Israel. This task has moved me, made my heart grow heavy with the pain that I have seen, allowed me to see the beauty that is possible (as the sun shone on the Dome of the Rock and the light rays reflected off Jerusalem - Al Quds!) All three faiths of Islam, Christianity and Judaism together physically , yet cracks against this cohesion are always under the surface. My heart has grown heavy ... 12:08 am
Day 2444: America Declares Victory (and prepares to scarper)
Tuesday: UNLIKE the Grand Old Duke of York, then, Mr General Patraeus has left his unfortunate troops in a hole in Iraq while he marched HIMSELF to the top of the Hill. If it didn't involve a DEVASTATED Middle Eastern country, this whole business would be entirely PANTOMIME. The "surge" is working, says the Monkey in Chief. "Oh no it isn't!" say the people of Iraq. "Oh yes it is!" says the General. "Oh no it isn't!" say the Democrat Senators. "He's BEHIND YOU! (in the opinion polls)" says EVERYONE… Anticipation is high that – after weeks of US Generals ... 12:01 am
Book review: Taking Liberties
This review appears in today's Liberal Democrat News. Those who want to know more about the Taking Liberties project can find the film on the IMDB and the DVD and book on Amazon UK. Taking Liberties Chris Atkins, Sarah Bee and Fiona Button Revolver Books, 2007, £7.99 Taking Liberties was a spirited British attempt at making a popular political documentary of the sort pioneered by Michael Moore - the beardy American film director in the baseball cap, not the Liberal Democrat shadow foreign secretary. Shown at a limited number of venues over the summer, it deployed a combination of humour ... 12:01 am
Day 2443: Vicki Pollard versus God
Monday: We might call this theft of intellectual property but the church calls it breaking the Seventh Commandment! A no-doubt very RIGHTEOUS religious organisation "Christian Publishing and Outreach" have decided to prove how DOWN WITH THE KIDS the LORD is these days by using popular catchphrases from today's top comedy stars, including DOCTOR WHO STAR Catherine Tate's "Am I bovvered" and "How Very Dare You", and other quotes from Matt Lucas and David Walliams of "Little Brittain". TRAGICALLY, though, they appear to have not bovvered forgotten to ask the stars' permission before commercially exploiting their material at £25 a poster ... 
