The curious similarity between Mitt Romney and "The Devil"
Has anybody else noticed the similarity between Mitt Romney and The Devil from the E4 series Reaper Are they by chance related Saturday 9th February 2008
11:28 pm
Has anybody else noticed the similarity between Mitt Romney and The Devil from the E4 series Reaper Are they by chance related 
11:13 pm
A mish-mash
Duncan James on Capital / / God only knows / / Heather Mills - determined not to be seen as a "gold digger" 10:54 pm
Opinion Polls Trend Report - Reason to be cheerful
Despite the constant little ups and downs of polls and the usual caveats about different polling organisations and margins of error if you look at a longer trend of the last few months compiled from all polls there has been a steady recovery in the Lib Dem's fortunes. What the trend shows is that our nadir took place in October and we are a full 4% up on the position then. An average of all polls on a monthly basis it reads as follows, with number of polls. August 15.7% ( 9 Polls) September 15.8% (13) October 13.3% (13) November ... 10:20 pm
Archbishop: 'A noble, reckless rebellion' - Guardian
There are 482 members of the General Synod of the Church of England. So having two members, Alison Rouf and Colonel Edward Armitstead, calling for Rowan Williams to resign is a bit like Sir Peter Tapsell and Ian Paisley calling for Gordon Brown to resign. I am in the rather light-headed situation of strongly supporting Dr Williams in what he said. It's a bit like being a member of the Flat Earth 10:09 pm
The fluoride state
As the Government finds more and more ways to curtail our liberties, the Health Secretary chips in with his own brand of interference in the way that we live our lives. The problem, as Ben Goldacre points out in his Guardian Bad Science column, is that there is no evidence that the addition of fluoride to our water supply will have the beneficial effects claimed for it: The reality is that anyone making any confident statement on fluoride speaks way beyond the evidence. In 1999 the Department of Health commissioned the centre for reviews and dissemination at York University to ... 9:34 pm
Stick your foreign games up your ****
Back from Goodison Park, having watched Reading slump to their seventh consecutive defeat and slide inexorably into the relegation places. The Reading fans (officially number 13 on the team sheet) told the Premier League what we thought of the ridiculous plan of playing an extra competitive game each season in America or the Far East by putting new words to the old song. Goodison is a throw 8:53 pm
Huge unexplained crowd in Parliament Square
{Huge crowd in Parliament Square} No placards, no signs, Parliament Square heaving on Saturday - who were those unmasked people 8:31 pm
Nick Clegg: an economic and social liberal
In my role as Head of Communications for The Chartered Institute of Taxation, I attended the CentreForum event this Friday at the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales held in conjunction with the Corporation of London. And if you are still reading this post after all those names, you deserve a prize! At the event, Nick Clegg (leader of the Liberal Democrats) set out his view of the economy in the UK. He opened his speech by saying he was an "economic, as well as a social, liberal". One contributor to Lib Dem voice has written it up ... 7:42 pm
Clegg: Im an economic liberal
Nick Clegg gave his first speech on the economy yesterday, and for those of us who call ourselves “economic liberals” it was an enjoyable occasion. There is much to discuss about the 3500 word speech but I am going to concentrate on the big picture and discuss what it means for the party as a [...] 7:35 pm
A sunny Day out with our Local Press
I spent Friday morning walking around Twerton with two you lady reporters from our local newspaper. The visit was on the spur of the moment and they were both surprised that Twerton was not the place that they had imagined from the recent bad press that it had received. They seemed to be amazed that Twerton spread outside of a small confined village area and had areas of Parks and... 7:01 pm
visited by french students
I welcomed some french students to Bath and the Mayors Parlour. It was lovely to receive a visit from students from Lycee La Nativite, Aix en Provence Which is our twin town, They were between 15-16 years of age and they had a pretty good understanding of English They had a talk on the Mayors Parlour and then they asked some questions and after they were going to... 6:59 pm
Rowan Williams and Spencer Davis
This has to be our Trivial Fact of the Day. According to UK Commentators, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Spencer Davis (as in this blog's favourite band, the Spencer Davis Group) attended the same school - Dynevor in Swansea. 6:57 pm
"Ministers Plan Clampdown" - What A Good Idea
Today's Guardian front page story (and doesn't it look pretty now!) tells us that A legally enforceable cinema-style classification system is to be introduced for video games in an effort to keep children from playing damaging games unsuitable for their age, the Guardian has learned. Under the proposals, it would be illegal for shops to sell classified games to a child below the recommended age 6:42 pm
Bath & Its Intellectuals
On Wednesday 6th February I attended a very useful lecture at the BRLSI in Queens Square on one of my predesessors Cedric Chivers who was a Bath local business man and Mayor of Bath 1922-1929 and sadly he died in office. It was told Dr Evelyn Lewis and Ivor Stone and then Mayors Clerk Ann Tipper did a talk on the Mayors Collar There were also some artefacts from this time... 6:42 pm
All Blacks climb off the bottom
Cornish All Blacks climbed off the foo t of the League One table with a well deserved victory over fellow strugglers Pertemps Bees. Although it ended up three tries a piece, the All Blacks converted each of theirs and added a Jon Fabian penalty to ensure the win and deny the Bees a losing bonus point. Although Matt Jess scored a couple of tries, my man of the match was hooker Neil Clarke who made ground on every single carry. Sweetest moment of the day was seeing the losing team in Tescos just now buying beer for the way home. ... 6:02 pm
A right Royal Visit by Duchess of Cornwall
On Tuesday 5th of February I visited The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases where the Duchess of Cornwall was also visiting to open a Young Persons Neuro Rehabilitation service. It was good to have a tour of the Hospital and to be able to see what happens there and to meet many of the staff who work at the Hospital. I found Camilla to be very friendly and caring... 5:51 pm
Excised Manifesto Pledges
For this coming week’s Politalks Lee and I couldn’t agree on this paragraph, but I’d hate to lose it, so for your reading pleasure, a deleted scene in raw word format: "A Brighton County Court case against the Government presented an opportunity for the intellectually redundant right-wing to demonstrate their unique talent for doublethink. During oral [...] 5:49 pm
The interesting case of Seb Green
I don't know about Seb Green other than how his case has been reported in the media, so with that caveat - it looks an interesting story of how someone who has committed a crime paying restitution to the community can be better outcome for all concerned than simply locking them up. This teenager from Weymouth stole a boat in 2003, headed out to sea, ran into trouble, had to be rescued (running up large costs for the emergency services), was prosecuted - and given a supervision order. So far, so normal - and you can easily imagine how this ... 5:43 pm
Children Seeking Sanctuary
It is a frightening consequence of globalisation that thousands of unaccompanied children claim asylum every year in the UK. Many of them are the victims of trafficking, yet our system still f... 5:25 pm
What if we all voted
Jeremy Hardy, on this week’s News Quiz called the American elections 2008 for John McCain, but as a commentor on a thread last week asked… What if we all voted If you fill in your choice of vote, and give your age and sex, the site takes you through to the results so far. Fewer than 600 [...] 
5:17 pm
Aberfeldy ... and damaged sign ...
Made my third visit to the Perth & Kinross Council Highland Ward by-election - this time to Aberfeldy - see right - and judging by others in the town this morning, I wasn't the only Dundee politician there today! Residents have expressed concern about the damage to the sign just west of the Marmalade Pot at the Riverside Drive/Avenue junction (see below) - I have reported this to Ryden, who own it. 5:14 pm
Mum on the run speaks out
The link is to a Daily Mail story about a Mother who is on the run with two children somewhere in Europe. Why the judges and government think this persecution of individuals is acceptable I don't understand. 5:00 pm
West Midlands Liberal Democrat Regional Conference
I have today been at the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Regional Conference in Tamworth. The main highlight was a keynote speech from Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Steve Webb MP. 4:34 pm
Sewing is for girls
I have just launched my second more relaxed informal blog aimed at crafters. It's called Paper Scissors Stone and the url is sewing is for girls. Whilst the thought of MPs and certain male Lib Dem bloggers on here (is that sexist!) reading it is just hilarious, I thought I would advertise it just in case any family members or friends (or indeed you on the quiet!) enjoy crafting and want to share ideas. 4:09 pm
Something for the Weekend: I hear talk
As the Police seem to have forgotten the Wilson doctrine recently, I’ve decided to overlook the Monkhouse doctrine which bans bugging of comedians. As a result, all of the humour in this week’s Something for the Weekend was stolen from Joe Pasquale’s latest script meeting. As a result, this week’s Something for the Weekend is [...] 2:35 pm
2:34 pm
Cobblers fight back to force a draw at Sixfields
Northampton Town: Bunn, Crowe, Jackman, Little, Hughes, Johnson, Holt, Hayes, Gilligan, Hubertz, Burnell. Subs: Gyepes, Coke, Akinfenwa, Henderson, Dunn. Leeds United: Ankergran, Kenton, Marques, Michalik, Sheehan, Prutton, Hughes, Howson, Johnson, Beckford, Kandol. Subs: Heath, Sweeney, Flo, Lucas, Elding. Referee: Steve Tanner. The fast flowing and exiciting first half was dominated by Leeds United who showed some of the determination and confidence they had started the season with but had lost in recent weeks. Northampton Town, a much improved side since their visit to Elland Road on 5th January, took longer to settle down but improved as the half went on. ... 1:49 pm
Rowan Williams on religious hatred: quite silly actually
Before Thursday’s brouhaha about sharia law erupted, I had already intended to read Rowan Williams’ earlier speech about religious hatred laws, following on from the praise that Chris Keating garlanded it with on Monday. I’m afraid I don’t share Chris’ enthusiasm. Let’s get one thing straight from the outset. Academic background or not, Rowan Williams is a politician. He is the leader of a worldwide movement which is happy to roll its sleeves up and get involved in political matters on a daily basis. He is a member of the UK’s legislative assembly. So when he says something, it matters. ... 1:42 pm
More news on Israeli Security complaint
I’ve already complained to Thomsonfly, Lib Dems Friends of Israel etc about my treatment at Tel Aviv airport. Thomsonfly have responded by saying `Naturally I was concerned to learn of your disappointment with certain aspects of our security staff service at Ben-Gurion airport and sincerely apologies for the inconvenience caused. We pride ourselves on the level [...] 1:37 pm
Oven-ready Republicans
All ready the puns are coming thick and fast. Even the Guardian cannot help themselves with this video feature headed "McCain chips away at conservative base". 
1:20 pm
Clegg and Borrowman on politicians and money
Nick Clegg: Electoral Commission needs an overhaul to become a bloodhound sniffing out wrong doing. Duncan Borrowman: a thorough fisking of Derek Conway’s latest public utterances. For example: Let us look at the next few lines of what Mr Conway said to the Bexley Extra (I can’t find this on-line): “The question turned on how many hours he [...] 12:55 pm
Big news - Gender pay gap closes...by 0.03%
The Women and Work Commission has concluded, no wait, this really is huge news, that not enough is being done to close the gender pay gap. Sarah Teather, in a press release yesterday, drew attention to the fact that the gender pay gap is closing. If I had the power this sentence wouldn't even have been written. The change is so small as to be meaningless. 0.03% is utterly ridiculous and shouldn't even have been reported on. Meanwhile, the report from the MPs is even more insulting! The pay gap exists because women are stupid enough to go and get ... 12:10 pm
Say No to Game 39
An update to an earlier post of mine. The Football Supporters Federation have lanched a campaign agianst the ridiculous plans for an extra game for each premiership team to be played around the world. I've signed up. Please do so too. 11:58 am
This is the danger of mandatory sentences
A judge has spoken of his “regret” at having to jail a pensioner for five years for firing a pistol at a neighbour’s car after a long-running feud. The mandatory minimum sentence for possession of a firearm, of 5 years imprisonment, was created by Labour, in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 s. 287. There is a lot of [...] 11:58 am
Dear Network Rail...
There are many gripes that we all have with Network Rail, but commuters in Sou th West London are asking for answers to the empty platforms at Waterloo Station that used to be used by Eurostar but are now redundant since the company moved its operations to St Pancras. The iconic architacture of the platforms remains, and the track and signalling is (as far as we know) still operation and still linked up to all the other lines. Yet while these platforms lie unused, trains back up outside the station every morning and evening and passengers suffer delay after delay ... 11:55 am
Trouble at Conservative Future
This doesn’t seem a happy ship: We have to be honest: Conservative Future is an under-performing, dysfunctional organisation. We don’t have enough members, we don’t communicate effectively, internally or externally, and we are not even remotely influential in mainstream politics. We are letting down the current membership, letting down our Party and, by default, our Country. [...] 11:37 am
The future of the party: we feel it in our Bones
Yesterday was the deadline for making submissions to the Party Reform Commission set up by Nick, in conjunction with the partys President and Chief Executive (Simon Hughes and Chris Rennard). The team actually carrying out the review are Chris Bones (whom I dont really know but has a very impressive management background, as well as a long party history), Duncan Greenland a councillor and as Chair of the partys Federal Finance and Administration Committee probably has a strong claim to be the most powerful person in the party that youve never heard of; Kate Parminter, who I had the pleasure ... 11:35 am
Pay gap between men and women
Important report from the Commons Select Committee just published - details courtesy of the BBC. (Select Committees are made up of MPs from all parties - which gives reports like this more weight as you know their conclusions are ones shared across parties). 11:29 am
Paddick in Twickenham
By some estimates, there are more than 250,000 Poles and other people from the EU accession countries living in London at the moment. All of them could be entitled to vote in May's elections to the GLA. Of course, most of them won't be registered to vote because either they have not yet taken the decision to stay in the UK and so they have no interest in the elections or they haven't got a clue that they are entitled to vote. But it is undoubtedly a huge constituency of people who could have an enormous impact if enthused to ... 11:17 am
Gender Balance - A lot of fuss about nothing
I see gender balance is once again in the news. Apparently MPs are urging the government to take more of an effort to eliminate the UK's gender pay gap. Playing devils advocate just for one moment isnt low pay often cancelled out by other influences Let me explain what I mean. Insurance companies employ mathematicians, called actuaries, who study and compile statistical data about exposure units and risks. This data forms the basis for the mortality (death) and morbidity (sickness) tables that are used to predict probable future losses due to sickness and death. Generally, an applicant can expect to ... 11:10 am
Scottish Tories - Prudes or lacking in a sense of humour
Looking at this story on Dizzy Thinks blog makes me ask the question are the Tories prudes or do they have no sense of humour Either way, I agree with Dizzy that is is hardly a resigning matter, but it speaks volumes about the Tory party. 10:58 am
Say no to the Premier League's plans to sell out English Football
The Premier League this week mad the first steps wowards turning the Premiership in to a Franchise system. It's plans for a 39th game each year to be played overseas is the thin end of the wedge. What will be next now this door has been opened and with som many english teams owned by investors rather than fans What will happen when forwign owners want to have a second ground, overseas, what happens when a team wants to uproot completely and move to another coty or country Adn thses arguments igore the simple fact that the 39th game each ... 10:49 am
Exciting meeting alert!
After six months as an LEA appointed school governor at a local primary school I feel I am now starting to swim in what felt like quite a rough large scary ocean. Two weeks ago I attended my first committee meeting in addition to the main bi-termly full governor meetings we all have. It took all my recently-discovered confidence to put myself forward for the curriculum committee, but I've been rewarded with what could only be described as a truly fascinating discussion on the definitions of gifted, talented and highly able children. I was captivated from the moment I walked ... 10:44 am
Busy researchers!
Sir George Young, the chairman of the commons standards committee, has announced that the Conway affair has led to a dramatic increase in complaints against MPs. It seems a lot of people can name an MP who has employed someone quite close to them as a member of staff who hasn't really done enough work to warrant their salary. He must be a very busy man! 10:35 am
Orientalism Rules, OK
I would like to sound the death knell for Orientalism, the Western practice of studying the Islamic world, then defining it in our terms as the ‘barbarous Other’, before setting about dominating it, on the grounds that this is in the Islamic world’s best interest. But alas, Orientalism is alive and well. As Edward Said [...] 10:20 am
The Archbishop: No longer possible for a rational debate in the UK
I have not written anything about the Archbishop of Canterbury's speech, because even I've been rather taken aback by the ferocious backlash. Today he fights back, trying hard to explain what he really meant. Like all sensible people from a Muslim background, I've been dismayed by the unleashing of negative and anti-Muslim comments, and frankly in some instance, the hysterical response for his desire for a 'debate' It seems to me that there is so much negativity and misunderstanding about Muslims in British society today that it is impossible to have a sensible debate. Most 'Sun' readers must be convinced ... 9:59 am
Waste - The Truth
Here in Bath and NE Somerset the Conservative group have mastered spin and deceit into an art form. Recycling in our authority is one of the best in the Country thanks to years of hard work by the Liberal Democrats. The Tories won control last May on the back of two deceitful campaigns. They said we were planning to move to fortnightly waste collections simply on the basis that we hadn't said we... 9:28 am
The Archbishop clarifies what he said
One of the things that they teach you in press relations courses is to put out short press releases. Just a sentence or a couple of sentences. That way, the press, if they cover the story, will use what you have chosen to say in your press release. You have some control over what quotes are attributed to you. The same goes for media interviews: keep it brief. The alternative extreme is to issue 9:28 am
FT interview with Clegg: LibDems could back Conservatives
Due to my self-denying ordinance, I missed this one on the tickertape machine when it came through: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg last night offered to form a coalition with David Cameron after the next election. Just two months into his leadership, Mr Clegg suggested his party would strike a deal with a minority Tory Government in the event of a hung parliament. He set out conditions for 9:26 am
Clegg promises to tax middle and lower-income families less
This is a welcome re-iteration of our policy: Nick Clegg has promised fiscally "responsible" Liberal Democrat policies with no overall tax increases. The Lib Dem leader used a major speech on the economy on Friday to say that his party would not seek to raise spending at the next election but would shift the burden of tax onto pollution. Backing the economic policy path pursued by his Treasury 9:23 am
Urban Planning in the absence of a Land Value Tax
In the rarefied atmosphere of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), planning is generally considered to be a rude word. The patron saint of the IEA wrote his most famous book attacking economic planning and the IEA has generally adopted a libertarian position on most things since then. Yet few would argue that towns could exist without planning. So Wednesdays panel debate on Urban Planning was an unusual affair in which the speakers generally accepted that planning was necessary, but sought to root it in market principles and so enable it to work more successfully. The problem cannot be denied. ... 9:22 am
Culture Secretary: I have never used masscara
The BBC got looks of comments after Andy Burnham, Culture Secretary, appeared on Question Time. Here's one: What's with the makeup Pink lipstick, pastel eye-shadow, eyeliner and mascara. Another added: He looked like a doll. Apparantly it is his natural beauty - he's had snide remarks about it since school. Burnham said: I can only say, hand on heart, that I have never ever worn mascara. 9:17 am
One big happy family
Another kiss and tell story in the papers, with a rejected partner revealing all. Who’s described as a “very hard person to work with” Who is a “lightweight”, “a ditherer” and “tormented” Who “did … cannabis” And who’s doing the hatchet job All is revealed here. 9:14 am
Now another MP embarrasses himself with the Cheeky Girls
Oh dear. Stephen Pound MP dressed up in Spandex Hot Pants to perform with the Cheeky Girls. Oh well, it was all for charidee. 9:09 am
One good thing to come out of "Archbishop Burkhagate"
One of the good things to come out of the furore over the Archbishop of Canterbury's remarks is that they have been warmly welcomed by the Muslim Council of Britain: The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it was grateful for the Archbishop's "thoughtful intervention" on the discussion of the place of Islam and Muslims in modern Britain. A spokesman said: "The MCB observes, with some sadness, 9:00 am
Poll shows a quarter of UK Population strongly oppose ID Cards
The number of people strongly opposed to the introduction of a national identity card scheme has risen sharply, according to the results of an ICM poll. The poll shows that 25% of the public are deeply opposed to the idea, raising the prospect that the potential number of those likely to refuse to register for the card has risen. Overall, 50% of people are against the idea of ID cards and 47% are in favour. The survey also shows that the majority British people say they are "uncomfortable" with the idea that personal data provided to the Government for one ... 8:55 am
Climate change: 60% is not enough
We are at a crucial stage in the Parliamentary process for campaigners who want to see the UK sign up to realistic targets on climate change, and a new Facebook campaign has been launched to muster support. The Government’s Climate Change Bill, which proposes a statutory target of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, [...] 12:53 am
Does anybody remember seing this gesture
I thought not, and I don't expect to see it either over the next few weeks. True it should be seen all of the time. But ir is ignored, which I think is a great loss to the game. 12:14 am
Nicol Stephen MSP
Here's Nicol's letter to Scottish LibDem party members, issued yesterday : As you will no doubt be aware a busy week in the Scottish Parliament saw the Scottish Governments budget for 2008-09 approved. The budget was passed with the full support of the Conservatives. Our biggest problem with the budget is that the SNPs sums did not add up before the election in May and they dont add up now. They over-promised and have had to backtrack and drop many manifesto promises such as writing off student debt. Every party in the parliament is a minority and therefore there is ... 12:03 am
The Union
I am the first to admit that I am the 'original unionist' - highly supportive of Scotland's continuing role as a vital part of the UK, within a federal arrangement, to allow the devolution of power to the countries and communities within the UK. It is interesting to note the views of Tory supporting newspapers over the past few days : · Scottish Daily Mail, comment: The position of the Scottish Tories is extraordinary. They voted with the party that is pledged to break up the United Kingdom. They did so after being bought off with a promise of 500 ... 12:01 am
Day 2593: Will Nobody Rid Me of this Turbulent Beardy Weirdy!
Thursday: Looks like it is the week for tossing out our traditions of British Justice, Liberal Democracy and the Rule of Law. Now the Archpillock of Canterbury is having a go! This has caused quite some considerable discussion already, and a few brief words from my Daddy Alex. The Archpillock's suggestion is that rather than one law applying to everyone, we might like to try having different groups of people and by different groups he means religions running their own brands of laws in a sort of competition to control most souls. Let's start with the BIGGIE: this is ILLEGAL. ... 
