LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Thursday 5th June 2008

Anniversary of Bobby Kennedy's Death

Today is the 40th anniversary of Bobby Kennedy's death. Hardly seems possible (but I guess that is what all us 50 summats say!). One of those occasions that those of us who were around then will never forget. I got sent this quote from him, which has as much resonance now as it did 42 years ago - Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change. Robert F. Kennedy, in a speech in ...

Lib Dem MEP - 'I feel sorry for Giles'

Politics Home reports Chris Davies, Liberal Democrat MEP, saying; 'I feel sorry for Giles in some ways because it is simply so easy for a members of the European Parliament from the day they arrive to get sucked into bad practice and after a little while what would be regarded as completely unethical by people working in other public organisations starts to become just normal practice.' Two thoughts spring to mind, this doesn't do an awful lot to recommend the European Parliament as an institution and secondly, it looks a bit bad to be defending the disgraced Conservative leader when ...

Tory Leader's Whoops-a-Daisy Moment

The leader of the British Conservatives in the European Parliament, Giles Chichester, has resigned, after informing an alarmed Central Office that he would not be able to justify by 4pm tomorrow apparently paying nearly half a million pounds of pounds of his expenses to a company of which he is a director. The company, founded by his [...]

Another Lib Dems gain from the Tories!

Just got a text from Tim Huggan to let me know that we have gained Red Lodge in Forest Heath from the Tories! Result as follows: Lib Dem 321 - 55.9% Con 230 - 40.1% UKIP 23 - 4% Many many congratulations to new Cllr Pat McCloud! And well done to Tim too. He confessed to me earlier this week that they had given me the hardest part of Red Lodge to telecanvass, yet I had come away thinking we would walk it. Not least because Pat McCloud has clearly been working very hard in the ward and has built ...

Beer! Plus Question Time and the Dumbing Down of Politics.

Firstly, I would like to wish you all a very happy St Boniface's Day. I'm not religious in any way, but I'd like to raise a small glass of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby to the patron saint of brewers. I'm in full agreement with {[info]} el_staplador; St Boniface was British, and is patron saint of a very British profession, and would be far more appropriate than that Palestinian/Turk who almost certainly never set foot in this country as our Patron saint. Secondly, I am, as is my wont on a Thursday Evening, watching Question Time. My major reactions so far? ...

Volunteering - celebrating a success

This is National Recycling Week, National Volunteer Week and World Environment Day, so today was an appropriate time for John to open the new shop The Green House, Brunswick Street, Stockton, of FRADE. This project has been on the go since 1990 - the title is an acronym for Furniture Reclamation & Delivery Enterprise. I was not only very impressed by this enterprise that does so much to...

Zimbabwe's genocide begins

Zimbabwe took a rather disturbing step towards a 'Year Zero' today when the Zimbabwean government ordered the halting of aid work across the country by foreign non governmental organisations (NGOs). This effectively means that Mugabe's henchmen can feed only those that they want to feed whilst the rest of the country, and by that we mean those who support the MDC, will be left to starve. So what Mugabe is doing is systematically starving to death thousands of the citizens of his country. What will the world do whilst this happens ? Are we really going to sit back and ...

Poll shows No majority in Irish Lisbon Treaty referendum

From the Irish Times: The Lisbon Treaty is heading towards a shock defeat with the No side now in the lead, according to the findings of the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll.It will take an unprecedented swing in the last week of the campaign for the Treaty to be carried.The poll shows the number of people intending to vote No has almost doubled to 35 per cent (up 17 points) since the last poll three weeks ago, while the number of the Yes side has declined to 30 per cent (down 5 points).The number of undecided voters is still a ...

Hird Bridge leaflet

Arising out of the recent reopening of the Hird Bridge, if you click on the headline above, you can download the commemorative leaflet. It talks about the Balgay Bridge and, as those of us who have always known it as the Hird Bridge, here's the explanation from the City Council's Leisure & Communities Department : 'At the time of the opening of the bridge it was referred to as the Balgay Bridge. Sometimes it was called Balgay Bridge, sometimes Balgay Hill Bridge. At the time of its original opening, there was correspondence about who was responsible for the design of ...

Giles Chichester runs aground

It will be of little consolation to Giles Chichester, who has just resigned as leader of the Conservative MEPs after six-figure questions were raised over his expenses, that he is the subject of today's Trivial Fact of the Day. He gains that accolade because he is the son of Sir Francis Chichester who in 1967, and at the age of 65, became the first man to sail around the world single handed. I have vague memories of this event and of Sir Francis as a latter-day New Elizabethan. His son Giles will not be remembered so fondly. In particular, his ...

The A-Z of Politics - I is for Intern

You know you're an intern when... ...you get highly excited by thoughts of a free lunch, or a free drink, or free accommodation, or anything basic and essential that you need for your existence...being free ...you check W4MP more than 5 times a day ...the prospect of the leader of your party dropping by the office is like meeting your favourite band, but you pretend everything's cool. You could have organised that yourself. Even with no work experience. If only they'd give you the opportunity... ...you console yourself every evening with thoughts that the person doing the job you want ...

Planning Bill would speed up big projects

Under the 'Planning Bill' delays would be cut for planning of big projects like airports and nuclear power stations. Well are delays such a bad thing in big projects? You need time to look at the effects. Many labour MP's are saying things will be less accountable and the government looks set to have trouble from another rebellion. We would like an independent Infrastructure Planning Commission which sounds better than ministers making the decision, or the governments new proposal.

DVLA could be swindling millions, and nobody's keeping records

Some time ago I began a battle with the DVLA after they mistakenly sent me a fine for not taxing a car that I'd sold and told them about. They didn't bother updating their records, despite me telling them twice, and so when it wasn't taxed, they fined me. This annoyed me greatly, not least because the only way to appeal the fine was time-consuming and annoying, and didn't allow me any option but to use the post and a long form. So I made a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the facts on these fines. I ...

Liberals in an illiberal world?

What if you're a liberal, but 95% of the people you represent aren't? Alternatively, what if you're not really a liberal, but are pretending to be one, and 95% of the people you represent still aren't? Bernard Salmon (in entertainingly sarcastic mode this evening) alerts me to this blog post by Jayne McCoy about organising a protest [...]

The Turkish headscarf ban

In Turkey there is a headscarf ban at Universities. The AK Party who were re-elected recently with 47% of the popular vote want to ease the ban. However some believe it is against Turkey as a Secular state. The AK Party say the ban stops some women from getting education and is against there freedom. I would instantly agree with them, as it should be a personal freedom. Which I believe is important. The highest court has blocked to plans though saying it's against the Secular establishment. There has even been a battle in court to ban the AK Party ...

Sudanese Regime like the Nazis

The International Courts chief prosecuter spoke to the UN Security Council and likened the Sudanese Government to the Nazis. 'We've seen it before, The Nazi regime invoked its national sovereignty to attack its own population, and then crossed borders to attack people in other countries.' Was it a bit of an extreme attack? Well both commited genocide. Sudan is threatening neighbouring countries like Chad and CAR. And of course there is South Sudan whether or not they'll let the country become independent in 2011. We said never again after the holocaust, we said it after the Rwandan Genocide. But still ...

BBC Question Time: open thread

Lib Dem deputy leader, shadow chancellor and all-round party star Vince Cable is one of the panellists on tonight's Question Time (broadcast on BBC1 and online from 10.35 pm GMT). In fact, dare I say it, it looks like really quite an interesting programme this week, as - alongside Vince - will be sitting the Labour [...]

Ugandan homosexual arrests

Uganda has led the fight against HIV, with some really good progress. Of course there is always further to go and other countries must learn from the successes in Uganda. Recently there were gay rights protesters arrested. This was condemned by Amnesty International. They were protesting about how no investment had been put in place to stop HIV spreading among homosexuals. One placard said, 'Since 1983 up to 2008 zero shillings to HIV prevention for gay Ugandans.' Protesting was peaceful, but they were arrested. Homosexual acts in Uganda are illegal. There is large public opposition to gay rights. It would ...

That Michael Brown donation. Again. (Yawn).

Michael Brown - as Lib Dem Voice readers won't need reminding - gave the party £2.4m before the 2005 general election. His subsequent downfall amid fraud allegations has prompted many an innuendo that the Lib Dems were somehow dishonest in accepting the gift. The news today that a date has been set (8th September) for [...]

Mugabe like Burmese military junta

Robert Mugabe is acting a bit like the Burmese military junta. The Government is suspending all field work by NGOs and aid groups. Not just one charity but all of them now. In a country that is so dependent on aid, this will be a disaster. In Harare only the campaign for Mugabe is visible, but not yet for Tsvangirai. The MDC are being banned from having material in State Media.

green fingers

this week i have been down in sussex as part of a btcv conservation project. the aim of the task was to clear laurel that was invasive amongst redwoods amongst others. the week started off with poor weather so there i was hacking away in the drizzle. the sun started to poke its rays out at us yesterday. today the last of the clearance was complete. lots done. had my green stint, fresh air and time to get hands dirty. also healthy dose of sunlight, mud etc Ill see if I can do the odd bit in the future. I ...

An excellent candidate in Henley

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg's just emailed me, letting me know that he thinks that our candidate in the Henley by-election, Stephen Kearney, is 'excellent'. Come to think of it, Elizabeth Shenton was also described as 'an excellent candidate' in Crewe and Nantwich. As was Ben Abbotts in Bromley. Oh, and Willie Rennie in Dunfermline and West Fife. I seem to recall that Parmjit Singh Gill in Leicester South, Jody Dunn in Hartlepool, Nicola Davies in Birmingham Hodge Hill and Sarah Teather in Brent East were all also excellent candidates. In fact, the Lib Dems seem to have had a ...

A Disgrace To A Liberal Party?

I thought this was a liberal party, that supported the right of people to protest. Even when you disagree with them. Especially when you disagree with them. Doesn't seem to be happening here ......

Hotting up in Henley

It's a lovely warm day in Thame today. As the writ for the by-election was being moved in Parliament Nick Clegg was meeting residents with Stephen Kearney in Henley Market. After going on to meet some of the local papers Nick popped in to meet the team here at the HQ in Thame. Several other MPs were out helping today including Chris Huhne and David Howarth who have been out Residents' Surveying with Stephen this evening. The response is uniformly friendly and there is plenty of support. Good to see that Labour are being honest about their chances too. It ...

Zimbabwe: what will it take for Africa to intervene?

Today's news that British and American diplomats have been attacked by Robert Mugabe's thugs and yesterday's that opposition leader Morgan Tsangvirai was detained indicates just how desperate the mad tyrant is to maintain his hold on power in Zimbabwe. This is a man who has run his country into the ground, is starving his own people, kills, tortures and beats political opponents and now attacks foreign diplomats. It is a shame that the Bush/Blair misadventure in Iraq has given such a bad name to the idea of liberal intervention (the idea that humanitarian abuses can justify the use of military ...

Surveillance Britain - Councils admit snooping.

Council officials are accessing the telephone and e-mail records of thousands of people secretly every year new research has suggested. Town halls are routinely using controversial anti-terror measures to obtain private data to assist investigations into suspected offences by residents. The survey for the Daily Mail newspaper found that town halls admitted looking at the private data of 936 people under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act. For example, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council used the Act six times to try to identify and locate a bogus faith healer. Kent County Council conducted 23 checks as it looked into illegal ...

Nick Clegg's Henley roots

Our candidate may not be local, but our leader is. From ThamesNews.net: Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democratic party, spoke fondly of his family connections with the area, when he visited Thame this afternoon.Mr Clegg met local journalists in the Memorial gardens on his way back from a visit to Henley, to show support for his party's candidate, Stephen Kearney.From the age of eleven, Clegg lived near Chinnor and his mother still lives at Wainhill. He said that he often comes to Thame to shop at Waitrose and that it felt strange for him to have to 'switch ...

No respect for the law

The government yesterday announced that everyone over the age of 16 should be prosecuted if they are found in possession of a knife. Personally I agree with this. For anyone to argue that carrying a weapon with the intention to use it is not a criminal offence then they live in a different world. However, this announcement came just a few days after the government again begged judges not to send people to jail because the jails are full. Confused ? Yes, this government yet again shows that it is keen to talk about the laws of the land are ...

UFO filmed over Shropshire

'Could this finally be proof that aliens exist over a Telford housing estate?'asks the commentary on this video from the Shropshire Star website. Judge for yourself.

A disgrace to a liberal party

When I saw Jayne McCoy's blog entry earlier on today, my initial reaction was exactly the same as Liberal Provocateur's. I thought I'd check out Your High's website before commenting and it seems to sell 'the finest array of herbal highs,bongs, pipes, smoking paraphernalia and other alternative lifestyle accessories.' It seems therefore that the shop is not selling anything illegal. If they were, that would be a matter for the police to enforce, not for political campaigners to poke their noses into. So why the hell are Cllr McCoy and Tom Brake MP campaigning against the shop? Presumably they are ...

Nick Clegg on education

Nick was at IPPR today giving a speech on the future of education - and is that one Ms Linda Jack I hear asking the questions? Indeed it is! This speech is partly reproduced in edited form at Comment is Free. Now, I know you've got dinner to eat and tv to watch but I do recommend [...]

Britain should learn from Switzerland

The ASI blog has a post on what my old residence (Britain) could learn from my current residence (Switzerland).  Worth a read, especially if localism is your thang. Personally I don't agree entirely with it's rosy view of the federation but as I am now in my last few days of life en suisse and I was going to right a large post about life in Switzerland when I leave then I will leave my thoughts until then.  But give the ASI post read and feel free to comment/ask questions anyway.

France deports genocide suspect

France has deported, someone who was responsible for killing about 25,000 in the Rwandan genocide, to the UN tribunal in Tanzania. Who can forget this genocide which killed over 800,000 people and left 2million fleeing into Congo at the end of it. That was when the country had a population of over just 6million. Then the refugee crisis in Congo led the first and the second Congo wars. The second killed over 4million people dragged neighbouring countries in and is often called the African World War. And we could have stopped the genocide with according to Romeo Dallaire with sending ...

Diplomats caught in Zimbabwe's troubles

Mugabe is so desperate to hold onto power. Morgan Tsvangirai was detained for 8 hours, until President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa interviened. UK and US diplomats were investing political violence in the north of the country when police took and detained them for several hours. It's not the first incident, last month 5 diplomats from missions were detained briefly including James McGee, the US Embassador. Zimbabwe is turning lawless as war veterans try to stop the MDC. The fairness of the election is looking very grim.

Obama's extraordinary campaign

This picture from the BBC really puts how extraordinary it is that Obama has got this far, talking of how his father came from a remote village in Kenya.

US Terror Trial in Military Tribunal

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (thought to be the mastermind behind 9/11) and four others are in trial at a Military Tribunal in Guantanamino Bay. He's quite willing to take part, not having to be dragged out of a cell and he is asking to be executed so he can be a marytr. It is thought he planned attacks across the World including against Big Ben and Canary Wharf. The big question, however is why are they being put on trial in a military tribunal. The USA is a democratic government with supposingly an independent judicary process. Military Tribunal's aren't the way ...

Nick Clegg on Education - you heard it here first!

You can listen to Nick's speech this morning on Education and Social Mobility here. I will be putting in my tenpenneth later this evening - you have been warned!

A bit of restraint ...

The leader of the Conservative Euro MPs, Giles Chichester, has resigned over a serious error with his expenses. The leader of our own Euro MPs resigned for making anti-Semitic comments. And then had the cheek to stand for re-election. I suggest we keep very, very quiet about this story.

Who says Parliament isn't living in the modern world?

Here's the official wording used in Parliament today to call the Henley by-election, now confirmed for 26th June: That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant for the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the County Constituency of Henley in the room of Alexander Boris Johnson, Esquire, who since his election for the said County Constituency has accepted the Office of Steward or Bailiff of her Majesty's Manor of Northstead in the County of York.Modern, engaging and de-mystifying don't you think? The Liberal Democrat ...

Conservative leader to quit over expenses scandal

That's the leader of the Conservative MEPs, Giles Chichester. The BBC has more on how an expenses scandal has engulfed him.

Tory MEP quits as leader!

Because he technically broke the rules. Oh, and by the way he was the one setting the standards for the Tory party!

Living with Boris

Well, thankfully not literally but having had a very harrowing last few weeks, it has come to my notice that Boris really did get in. And it's like this: I was really against Boris getting in, not so much because he was a Tory as I don't much like non nuLabour Ken but that I didn't think he was really up to the job. However clever he is (and I do believe he's clever) he lacks the experience to run an £11bn budget and my lovely city. And I'm not convinced by the idea that he will gather a group ...

Monday 2nd June 2.45pm

PETITIONING AGAINST 'DRUG SHOP' I spent half an hour handing out petitions with local MP Tom Brake to parents outside Bandon Hill School. The school is just around the corner from the 'Your High' shop on Stafford Road and many parents and their children pass it on the way to and from school. Both Tom & I [...]

Sunday 31st May 12 noon

SUTTON ACTIVE CHALLENGE Strictly speaking this wasn't official council business as I attended with my family for the fun of it, however it was a council organised event and I was also showing my support. It was a great idea to offer an activity that the family could do together. Much nicer than standing on the edge [...]

Wallington MP and Councillor are illiberal nimbys

Apparently the Home Secretary isn't being Tough On Drugs enough for Tom Brake (LD MP for Wallington), so he sent a letter questioning why it's legal for shops to sell hookah pipes (which apparently can only be used for drugs like opium or skunk, a... Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Political anorak alert - historic general election BBC coverage re-runs

Last weekend, the BBC Parliament channel re-ran the BBC's coverage of the 1983 general election. In a weird sort of way, I was glued to it. David Dimbleby looked 14 years old, there was Jeremy Paxman conducting what must have been one of his first TV interviews. There were many politicians who are now dead (e.g Peter Shore) but some still living (Cyril Smith and David Steel). There was the

Hiatus

I won't be blogging for a while as I get my thoughts and life together. I may even learn how to operate wordpress to move on from Blogger. Now that would be exciting. I'll be back.

Don't Carry Knives = CARRY KNIVES!!!

See, if you tell teenagers not to carry knives, what happens? I can tell you what happens. Teenagers go, 'screw you!' to Mr Brown, think, 'hmm everyone else is carrying a knive.. I don't want to be the only kid without one' and start carrying knives. This then leads to an increase in knife related incidents and so the need to carry knives increases, creating a vicious and escalating circle. The more you tell someone not to do something, especially young (but adults are not necessarily immune to this) the more it'll itch at the back of their heads until, ...

Dave to Face Barber Copycat Enquiry

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Well witness David Cameron's new hair do yesterday during PMQs, in the middle below. Defined strong centre parting. Clearly a man trying to express that he's balanced and on an even keel. Also rather a youthful but serious and striving forward style if you can carry it off. Wonder where he got that idea from with spending so much time in the

Times: Cameron looks like a prat

The Cameron hairstyle, from left, February 2007, yesterday, March 2007 It's a long time ago. But I remember when I started losing my hair....just. I think the rot started when I was in the sixth form. No radical skull space showed, but I could see I was slowly going the way of my father, grandfathers, uncles, great uncles, great...(you get the picture). So I went the way of many sixth-formers

Come and protest against 'Your High'

We need lots of parents to stage a protest outside the 'Your High' shop on Stafford Road on Monday 9th June at 11.30am. There will be press & a photographer to record our protest. Please come along for half an hour to highlight your concerns about the shop. Please pass the word around. Tom Brake MP & [...]

Encouraging younger citizens

Jo Swinson (LibDem) is one of the sponsors of a parliamentary Bill to lower the voting age to 16. More here. This will not necessarily result in higher percentage turnouts, but is the right thing to do for a group of citizens who are almost certainly better informed than their grandparents were. What would improve the democratic process is for the age limit for membership of community councils to be reduced in line.

Abbey Customer Services: still not serving customers, but doing terribly well with the irony

A brief update on the telephonic Odyssey that is dealing with Abbey Customer Services. Department A: sorry, we can't deal with your issue, you have to talk to Department B. Department B: sorry, we can't deal with your issue, you have to talk to Department A. Neat, artistic, but not exactly helpful.

Cross-party group criticises plans for 42 days detention without trial

In a normal world, having a cross-party groups of experts examine a policy and come up with major criticisms would be reason enough for the government to change course, but I fear that's not going to happen ... for as the BBC reports today: The government has still not done enough to protect individual liberty in its anti-terror plans, an influential committee of MPs and peers says. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith unveiled a series of amendments earlier this week aimed at heading off a Commons defeat. But in a new report the joint committee on human rights said the safeguards ...

"Tory 'sleazebuster' channelled funds to own firm"

Today doesn't bring happy news for Conservative MEP Giles Chichester who, as I blogged about before, has been facing questions over how he spent £500,000 of Parliamentary allowances. As today's Times writes: Tory 'sleazebuster' channelled funds to own firm The Conservative MEP charged by David Cameron with ensuring the probity of expenses claims admitted last night to breaking [...]

Green? moi?

Well stap me vitals and call me a Frenchman. Dave has gone back on his support for higher road tax for bigger cars. Dave's party says this is the wrong time to 'clobber the motorist'. And he is of course right, except he's a Tory and the middle name of every Tory politician is 'cynical'. The Tories steadfastly reject that they are abandoning their 'green agenda' and who would doubt their sincerity? There is one point where I coincide with our blue adversaries on this. I share the view that backdating the higher car tax for bigger cars to those ...

Linkspam for 5-6-2008

The Five Mistakes Clinton Made - TIME Time's analysis of the Clinton campaign failures. Personally, I always thought Barack was a better candidate, but for her cheif strategist to not actually understand how delegates are won? Gah! You can't win if you don't know the rules (tags: elections politics US+Politics hillary+clinton) CHASING BUSH II: Operation Manticore Dubbya's coming to visit. D'you fancy being annoying? I most certainly do. Nice little button in my sidebar coming right up... (tags: george+bush campaigns activism humour) Mark Steel: You want children to learn? Here's how to do it - The Independent Meant to link ...

Dear Prudence...

The OECD - the club of relatively rich states has spoken unusually forthrightly about British government finances. In particular it highlight 'unique risks' that the government now faces: unable to cut taxes in the face of the gathering downturn. After the early years of Brown-Blairism, most of us got pretty sick of the endless mantra of 'prudence', 'prudence with a purpose', and 'an end to boom-bust'. We saw it for the flannel that it was, and understood that much of the so-called prudent margins for error were simply accounting tricks. Meanwhile, by dint of such 'off balance sheet' tricks as ...

Liberalise or die!

The June edition of Prospect magazine includes an article titled Liberalise or Die by Richard Reeves and Philip Collins (no, not that Phil Collins). The authors argue that the Labour Party must abandon its centralising Fabian tradition and become liberal. No mention of the fact that a perfectly acceptable liberal party already exists. The article has already [...]

Henley

So Boris has finally resigned his Parliamentary seat in Henley and we're all gearing up for the by-election on 26th June. If you're interested in how elections work, then have a look at this blog. It's written by the Acting Returning Officer for the Henley by-election, David Buckle. Don't be misled by the term 'Acting' as he's the man who is actually responsible for making...

Tartuffe

Tartuffe at the Rose Theatre is a romp. This production from the Liverpool Playhouse uses a gloriously witty and knowing translation by Roger McGough delivered in clever rhyming couplets. It's performed by a really strong cast - no big stars, but confident characters and perfect comic timing. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm so pleased that I didn't miss it. They've...

World Environment Day

If you're one of those who's not sure about climate change or not sure what to do next, have a look at this site, and be prepared to laugh. There's a drawback of course - you've got to sign up to do something first, but that's painless and they do offer advice on how to keep your pledge. On the other hand, if you really want to see how much Carbon Dioxide your home and lifestyle is responsible

Still waiting for the answer

Tempting as it is to talk about Lembit Öpik's interview with Piers Morgan for GQ magazine there are far more pressing issues to consider than why the two Cheeky Girls share a bed. In particular we are shortly to face a vote to consider whether the period of time somebody can be detained without charge should be extended to 42 days or not. A House of Commons Committee reports today that the case for such a change has not been made. According to the Guardian 19 Labour backbench rebels met at Westminster yesterday and resolved to vote against the proposals ...

Ken Livingstone losing it on You Tube

I was digging around You Tube the other day for Dead Ringers clips to enjoy at home. We are particularly hooked on those Kirsty Wark impressions, which have us in guaranteed hysterics: Hello and welcome to Newsnight with me, Kirsty Wark. I can be blue, I can be brown, I can be anything you want me to be. More on that story later. ....Gets us every time. Anyway, while searching, I found this

That 'back of the net' moment

I made the most of it. Yesterday I was showing a little slip of paper to anyone who would spare me a few seconds of their time. The little slip of paper had this written on it: 14th Feb 2007 Bet placed Barack Obama US Presidential Election 2008 Democratic Nominee Price: 13/5 Deep joy!

Why Obama would be insane to have Hillary as Veep running mate

It's all beautifully summed up here by Kelly McParland: Barack Obama can't possibly be bright enough to capture the Democratic presidential nomination and dumb enough to immediately undermine it by offering second spot on the ticket to Hillary Clinton. Hat-tip to Justin Webb, who puts it nicely: ...it's not just the perceived gracelessness of her demeanour in recent hours: it's the simple fact

Tsvangirai Held in Zimbabwe

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested and held yesterday for 8 hours while on his way to address an election rally for the rerun Presidential Election. The Movement for Democratic Change leaders arrest highlight not just the need for democratic change but the need for democracy in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF supporters are still hounding, beating, and killing MDC supporters in

Do schools kill creativity?

In this post, I ask the question - do schools kill creativity in children? In this talk by Sir Ken Robinson, we see that yes - schools do kill creativity in children, and that not only does this negatively impact on their futures, but it can also lead to an increase in 'poor' behavior, and even on the sustainability of the very education system itself. Why don't we get the best out of people? Sir Ken argues that it's because we've been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies - far from ...

MoD helicopter dithering beggars belief - Harvey

Commenting on yesterday's [Wednesday] NAO report on airworthiness problems with Britain's Chinook helicopters, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: 'Even by the usual standards of MoD procurement sagas, this report really beggars belief. 'It is scandalous that while our troops are desperate for helicopters in Afghanistan, eight Chinooks have been left on the tarmac back in Britain. 'This is a dismal tale of dithering, bad planning, and the gross waste of public funds. It is incredible that millions can be frittered away on bad decisions and yet penny pinching on other MoD equipment has cost the lives of ...

Woah - this guy is so amazing it made me cry! - Kris Moyse

I recently came accross a load of videos on You Tube, by a guy named Kris Moyse. Kris is a self-taught singer and musician from Bognor Regis, England covering various songs by well-known artists and performing them on acoustic guitar and keyboard. His campaign of musical triumph started with his Youtube channel and then progressed to his MySpace page. Now Kris Moyse has his own fansite. First of all, he released covers, and they were what I came accross first. I thought they were amazing, and in some cases, better than the originals. I then came accross his own material, ...

What do we really know about the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa?

I recently caught this lecture and for me, it was a real eye opener, particularly when I consider the directions that our governments are taking in an effort to combat HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. For me, it really questioned some things that I really thought were facts about HIV/AIDS. How wrong I was! To help you understand a bit more about HIV/AIDS, and the talk, check out some of the following links: Wikipedia article of HIV Wikipedia Article on AIDS An NHS introduction to what HIV/AIDS is, its symptoms, available treatments, and preventative steps A BBC news article about Bush ...

Why we know less than ever about the world

With what's going on in the world, and as we become an increasingly globalized in our economy, in our society, and in almost every other aspect of our lives - isn't this more than a little bit frightening?

It's a small, Liberal, world

So as many of you will be aware, I recently did an interview with Han of Euranna.net notoriety, about blogging. Now Han, as far as I'm aware isn't a Liberal, but to be honest, I don't really know, because I don't recall ever having had a conversation about politics with her in the short time we've known eachother, and, furthermore, she lives half way accross the country from me. As you'll also be aware, I cover a large range of topics on my blog - from politics and recent events, to technology and science, and some of you will also ...

US to stay in Iraq 'indefinitely'

Today's Independent carries reports of a secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad to perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely. Under it US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law. America would retain the long-term use of more than 50 bases in Iraq. The report calls into question constant US denials that it wants permanent bases in Iraq. Opposition to the 'strategic alliance' is however likely to be strong; Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is believed to be personally opposed to the terms of the new pact but feels his ...

Remembering Tiananmen Square

Last evening, I joined several other writers and a large group of human rights activists at a rally outside the Chinese Embassy in London, in commemoration of the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The Mistress of Ceremonies was the journalist and former newspaper editor, Rosie Boycott, and there were speakers from both of the [...]

Thursday 5th June 2008

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