I travel so much abroad with my journalism and lecturing that I am reluctant to stray beyond the M25 when I am in England — or outside the validity of my zone 1-6 Oyster card, to be precise. Party conferences are an exception. However, a short-notice request to talk to the Luton 41 Club this [...] 
One of the accusations generally made against the Liberal Democrats by their opponents is that they say one thing in one area only to make the opposite point somewhere else. There may be some truth in the claim but there is no difference with Labour and the Tories. Boris Johnson wrote a piece in today's Telegraph where he openly admitted a two-faced personal attitude to Tesco's, which has recently opened a new store near his home in Islington. After spending most of his article slamming the supermarket for destroying the high street and many other ills in Britain today, he ...
They've been rumbled. The very foundations of the entire house of cards has been exposed. The vast fraud against lower and middle income households that is the financial system, and, ultimately, government has been laid bare. Surely everyone can now see that? No? That doesn't surprise me. Just as there was very little made in this country when former Governor of the Bank of England Eddie George revealed that their commission on independence in 1997 was not just to maintain an inflation target but also to see to it that house prices continued to rise. In my opinion, whatever the ...
I have never been to the Sports and Social Club in Parliament. That was until tonight. I was dragged along by Richard after I finished in the office at 8.30pm. He was meeting his friend Amie Ibbitson, a Labour councillor from Lewisham. I am heading back to the flat now. I need food!---Sent via BlackBerry
This afternoon I got an excited telephone call from my daughter Lara. She was at her local petrol station in Flitwick and 'Fifth Gear' had been asking people about the shocking price of petrol, reminding them it was all the government's fault - and giving everyone £2(?). She had been interviewed but was ringing me to apologise. 'I just got so nervous Mum, when they started talking about the government I wanted to say something about you but I just giggled!' What she would have said about me she didn't know...........maybe, 'what this country needs is my mum as Chancellor' ...
For years now, a small band of Liberal Democrats, this one included, have made the case for cutting public spending and taxes. While Liberal Democrats have been at the forefront of wanting to roll back the frontiers of the state on matters relating to personal freedom, most have been unable to extend this logic to the economic sphere. Despite all the talk of freedom and liberty, when it comes to economics, they have failed to peel themselves away from the post war social democratic settlement which placed a greater emphasis on that socialist aspiration - equality. Writing in his BBC ...
It was poignant that last week, on the same day as I submitted my column about Michael Foster's vote on MPs expenses, I went to Hastings Town Hall after work to listen to the discussion on the Hastings & St Leonards Homelessness Strategy. Whilst it is comprehensive and informative, this document makes for depressing reading [...]
There appears to have been a bit of a flip in the traditional political scene on tax: Conservative leader David Cameron has admitted taxes may have to rise if he becomes prime minister. Nick Clegg told a Journalists lunch today that he'd fight the next election on a 'radical tax cutting programme for people on low and modest incomes' Fascinating. On reading of Nick Clegg's remarks I think I
I've just got in from Full Council, where there was unanimous support for this motion: It is the Council's view that in principle we are opposed to development on garden land.This means that there is a presumption against a speculative development that takes up garden space, and that any applicant who wanted to do so would have to provide justifications. Note - technically...
During my time in Croatia (and there is more time still to come) I had to travel around a fair bit which I enjoyed. There are some great people to work with over there and it has been a privilege meeting so many people and the overwhelming majority have been incredibly kind. I've travelled the length and breadth of Croatia in that time and seen some lovely places through both work and play (Šibenik, Zadar, Senj, Požega, Osijek, Omiš, Mali Lošinj, Trogir, Krk and Cavtat spring to mind as does the centre of Zagreb) but the loveliest place for me ...
I don't know if the Iranian claims in this BBC story are true or not. More than likely it is a load of old bullshit from the Iranian government (after all, they did declare the holocaust did not happen and there are no gay people in Iran). If it is true though, well done to Charlton for making a stand.
Thanks to Aberavon and Neath LibDems for flagging up Chris Huhne's launch of the LibDem proposals to tackle youth crime. The main proposals contained in the paper A Life Away From Crime include: The creation of a Youth Volunteer Force, to engage with young people, involve them in community projects and give them skills to benefit them in later life Establish Community Justice Panels across the
I spent an evening canvassing with Andrew Houseley last week. Andrew will be a colleague on the Eastern list for for the Euro elections next year. But at present he is a local election candidate in a by-election contest in a Suffolk Coastal DC ward we didn't contest last time around. Fortunately we do have some good supporters in the area. Not very far from Westerfield station (where this photo was taken) we came across a couple who encouraged us greatly. I didn't even need to knock on the door - Mrs Resident saw me coming and met me at ...
Rumours have reached my ears that someone wasn't paying attention (or couldn't read through their tears). For the record, I returned to the UK from my recent stint working in Croatia on 29th June. I'm back in town and I really don't like what I am hearing. It seems that the usual suspects have been at it again with the pseudo-Communist tactics whilst I've been away these past few months. These times remind me of the famous quotation 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing'. I do not intend to sit ...
I stopped into the Liberal Democrat History Group's meeting at the NLC on Monday evening after work. The topic for discussion was the 77-78 Lib-Lab Pact with David Steel, Tom McNally, and Michael Steed as the speakers and Geoff Tordoff chairing. As is often the case with these things the meeting was half analysis and half anecdote. Lord Tordoff's impression of Clement Freud being a particular 
I've had a rather extended absence from this blog. No posts in the whole of June. No excuse really, just busy. Apologies for those who would have expected to have heard from me over the last few weeks. Been somewhat buried. But I'm now back. What's happened since my last post? Well rather a lot and it's too late to catch up on that now. Although they have fixed that display screen at
The main proposals contained in Chris Huhne's paper, 'A Life Away From Crime', launched yesterday, include: * The creation of a Youth Volunteer Force, to engage with young people, involve them in community projects and give them skills to benefit them in later life * Establish Community Justice Panels across the country, where offenders admit their guilt to the community and agree on a Positive Behaviour Order as a course of action * Create a dedicated PCSO youth officer within every Safer Neighbourhood Team to identify and work with teenagers most at risk of offending * 10,000 more police on ...
If you live on one of the stock transfer estates in Lee Green then this is an important week. The documents which give you details of the improvement programme residents have negotiated with Broomleigh Housing Association will be delivered to you at some point this week. I realise that residents might have questions about the proposals, so I've invited a representative from Broomleigh to attend my advice surgery this Saturday to answer any questions residents might have. My advice surgery takes place on Saturday 19th July from 10am until 11am at the McEwan Centre (portakabin) on Leybridge Court. No appointment ...
Disappointment tonight as the Kings Tavern licence application was...withdrawn. The licensee had applied to extend the pub's opening hours until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. This proposal was understandably very unpopular with residents, notably those living around Montague Street and Victoria Street. In total, 23 objections were received including from both the Newtown and Redlands & University Neighbourhood Action Groups. Local residents feared any extension in the licence would lead to increased noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour. I was all set to speak on their behalf at the hearing, but in the end I didn't get the chance. This ...
Reduce your food waste and win a £50 food voucher. Bath & North East Somerset Council is supporting the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign which has identified that as a nation we throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food every year and over ¾ of this is food that could have been eaten. This waste has a huge impact on our pockets and also on the environment through the energy used...
{The walls as they are now...} Lewisham Homes have written to me to tell me that our bid for funding for the Southbrook Road flats has made the shortlist and is through to the final round of judging. The resident judges will be visiting the flats this Saturday to see the walls and doors for themselves. Unfortunately we don't know exactly what time they'll arrive, but they're going to give me a call when they're on their way so hopefully I and some of the Southbrook Road residents can meet them and explain the background to the bid. Fingers crossed! ...
Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister Lembit Opik has obtained figures which show that the Government is planning to keep nearly £200m of council tenants' rent this year. Every year, the Treasury decides how much local authorities need to spend on new homes and maintaining council houses. Those it deems to take more in rent than they need to spend pay a 'negative subsidy' to the Treasury, which is then redistributed to authorities in greater need. However, this year the Treasury is collecting £195,816,938 more than it is redistributing. This extra money will remain with the exchequer and will not be ...
Vince Cable gives his account on inflation rises. The man does know what he is talking about but the main issue is that is anyone listening. The Lib Dem's always have great campaigns and policies that in the end prove after not being used by the government to be the best way forward. The problem is that the Government rather come out with something that is totally going to fall flat first instead of listening to other Political Parties and coming up with legislation that is beneficial to the Country in the short and long term. Please watch the video ...
As you might be aware from the media, Council workers belonging to the Unite and Unison unions are going on strike tomorrow and Thursday. The Council have said they're expecting a low turnout here in Lewisham, but some services will be disrupted. Locally, the nursery at Hither Green Primary School will be closed, though the rest of the school will be open as usual. As far as I know, the other local schools are open as usual. Thursday is of course bin day in Lee Green, and I'm told there will be a limited refuse and recycling service running - ...
Swindon Borough Council have been all over the news like a rash today. They have been making rumblings about getting rid of speed cameras - the final decision is to be taken in September. The BBC pointed out that the fact that the council no longer receives revenues from the cameras (such funds have recently been re-directed to Westminster) appears to be a motivation behind the considered move.
Is it just because I'm a Lib Dem or are we literally head and shoulders above Labour and the Conservatives. I can barely name a member of the Labour Government any more and the Tory 'front bench' are just another bunch of chinless wonders. You can't help wondering how many of them are in the Shadow Cabinet just because they were some one's fag at Eton. But the Lib Dems. Clegg is six months into the job and it will still need a General Election to bring him to the forefront, but that was once true of Paddy and Charles. ...
I've just returned from almost 3 weeks relaxing in Mallorca and should really get round to doing some serious blogging about events on the Scottish political scene in my absence, but am still too chilled out to think about it. Instead, I am going to tell you all about the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. I had it in the lovely village of Valldemossa in Mallorca, where Chopin once spent a Winter with his lover, who produced a whinging book about how harsh Mallorca was in the Winter. I wonder what she would have made of Winter in ...
LabourMatters has the details of the latest twist in Labour's financial problems. Not having a group of activists and MPs together in one place where they can mutter their unhappiness with Gordon Brown is of course one other effect of cancellation...
Bless him, poor little Doug Henderson. For those of you who don't know him, little Dougie is a top level adviser to nutrition giant and health food restaurant chain operator McDonalds. And in his spare time, he is Labour MP for Newcastle North, a top target for the Lib Dems. Our candidate there is my council colleague Ron Beadle. Labour in Newcastle have not been having a happy time recently. A
Kira Cochrane in the Graun has noticed that there appears to be something of an anti-feminist movement at the moment. I'm with those who take this as encouragement; as it says in the article, you only get resistance when there's something to resist against. Ever wondered why there are so few interesting female characters in movies, and even when there are (Ripley and Sarah Connor being the oft-quoted examples) they still are very dependent on male characters in some way or another? BetaCandy has the skinny. Reading this? Made me want to go out and make films, lots of films, ...
Interesting piece on Nick Robinson's politics blog. According to Nick; 'Nick Clegg told a Journalists lunch today that he'd fight the next election on a 'radical tax cutting programme for people on low and modest incomes' and he's lined up to spell out more detail in a document on Thursday.' Such a programme would, of course, contrast nicely with that of the Conservatives who seem determined to 'not rule out tax rises' but seem determined to cut inheritance tax. Something that is unlikely to benefit low or middle income families though of course the devil will be in the detail ...
When we finally one day, push through Proportional Representation, Belgium could be one of the arguements amongst conservatives, scared of changing from their precious first-past-the-post shameful system. Belgium suffered 9 months of political deadlock after elections that revealed no clear winner due to Proportional Representation. The coalition of Dutch and French speaking parties was supposed to moving for political reform and to deliver decentralisation. The French speaking parties were worried the decentralisation could disadvantage the Wallonia region which is suffering economically. So the PM is handing in his government's resignation having failed to deliver the reform. It's now the King's ...
St Nicholas Church is fund raising to improve the outdoor environment - they want to enclose the grass area at the side of the building to make it a safer area for children to play. As their contribution, St Nicholas Nursery will be running a fund raising fair on Saturday 26th July from 11am to 3pm. As well as many attractions, they also need people to sell and buy at the table top event, and they hope to include a car boot sale. If you are able to help in any way please ring 07879 680118.
Brown has planned to take his holiday in this country instead of going abroad unlike his predecessor Tony Blair who used to take International Holidays. The Link below has got information on what Holiday's the top three politicians well be taking and where to. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7507065.stm I think Brown is taking a holiday in the UK because they isn't a lot for him to celebrate as he has not really shined since becoming Prime Minister Last year instead of 'shining' he has actually put the country in such a state it will need a strong leader to pull the country through ...
Finally The End of Key Stage Tests results have been officially published today. It just confirmed what we already knew two weeks ago (remember we had received the marked test papers and worked out the individual and cohort results ourselves). This year's results were the best ever. The children, parents, teachers and learning assistants have all worked hard to ensure standards across the 
Dr. Griffin, administrator of Nasa has spoken optimistically of how China could send a man to the moon by 2020. The US is planning of sending a man to moon themselves again by 2020, China are of course the third country to send a man into orbit. China isn't however planning to send a man to the moon. Although a moon landing is an amazing thing, the idea that man can reach so far out there, it's incredible. However I believe it is an utter waste of money. We've already been to the moon, it doesn't have anything special and ...
China has been quick to criticise a Panorama program on how China is fueling the violence in Darfur. It has described it as 'strongly biased'. So what's with all the Chinese trucks and Chinese fighter jets? Doesn't that speak for itself? Well it seems western leaders are happy to let these things happen. Bush, Brown and Sarkozy are going to the Olympics.
A Bristol youth group is going on an exchange visit to Japan and the plan is to reciprocate the visit. All exciting stuff. I'm not going but hopefully the young people involved will have a great time. I'm preparing for a sponsored walk at the start of August to help with fundraising. I'm not sure where my walking boots are. I need to start training as its going to be 10 miles. I can't physically remember the last time I walked that far - perhaps about 10 years ago? mad hey.
I support the idea of housing being built to good environmental standards. I also feel we should do more to help upgrade current homes to have better environmental standards. But these Ecotowns are getting into more and more trouble. People question whether the right infrastructure is being put in place, or whether the towns are going to the right places. Now it's being questioned exactly how environmentally friendly they are. The Government need to sort them selves out. They do things that just contradict themselves and they are tying themselves up.
Dear Michael, Despite the parliamentary time you have spent recently on MPs expenses, I am sure you will be aware of the demands of local government workers across the country for a better pay settlement. And about the UNISON strike action planned for 16 and 17 July. Can I ask you, do you back our claim? I would be [...]
Just so you know, when I was eleven, at prep school, I used to have two knives. One, a "Swiss Army Knife" was a thing of pride - everyone vied to get one with as many different gadgets on as they could. That one I used to carry in my pocket all the time; you just never knew when you would come across a pencil that had not been turned into "pencil cricket" or a desk with a screw that could do with being removed for the delectation of watching the next occupants of it have it collapse on them...:) ...
Three separate items of interest today. Firstly, David Aaronovitch cuts through the knives debate to reminds us how little we know about the statistics. (We are all stabbing blindly at knife crime) Secondly, anyone who has read CentreForum's work on population (see 'From boom to bust? fertility, aging and demographic change' or 'Does Britain need a population policy') will enjoy Dominic Lawson's piece in The Independent today - 'The hypocrisy of the population zealots'. Lawson's stimulus is a report from the Optimum Population Trust, a group that says the Government should set targets to reduce UK population to less than ...
Various things continue to keep me away from blogging (expect normal service to resume next month sometime) but I can't resist a very belated guffaw at David Davis's very hollow victory in his by-election/vanity crusade. All that being said, I was wandering around Politics Home and was more than a little amused to find on it's afternoon web update two stories about David Cameron; one claiming he was moving further away from Thatcherism and one (directly below it) claiming he was moving deeper into it's dark embrace. Stumbling and Mumbling argues that Cameron's call for a 'US-chapter-11' style bankruptcy law ...
Labour have just announced the cancellation of their spring conference in 2009 saying that they want to: 'put the Party on a long term stable financial footing' (Note the capital 'p'.) I doubt this is the truth. They charge an absolute bomb to any organisation that wants to buy a pass or pitch a stand. Their stated alternative of 'events in your local area' will not draw the same names. Hard hitting organisations won't bother with councillors' meetings hosted by a party that have hardly any councillors. This can only mean one thing: there has been a diaspora of the ...
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is hosting a unique interactive seaside exhibition that will give the public the chance to inspire architects to deliver a scheme geared to regenerate Redcar's seafront. The 'Love it, Hate it' exhibition will be in a marquee on Redcar Esplanade from Wednesday, July 23 to Sunday, July 27, 10am-4pm each day, and hopes to welcome hundreds of visitors to choose what type of design or use of space they would love to see - and what they would hate to see. The exhibition feedback will be included in a briefing document for an exciting design ...
Dmitry Medvedev being a puppet of Putin would imply that Medvedev would do whatever Putin said. But realistically if you had more power, would you let someone lower down boss you around? Even the skills of Putin and the percieved weakness of a Medvedev, wouldn't be enough for him to be a puppet. Instead it seems Putin may have found the perfect copy of himself. Dmitry Medvedev has given a strong speech against the west. He criticised the US missile defence system to be placed in Europe. He described Kosovos independence as illegal he accused the Baltic nations of glorifying ...
This distressing film shows a boy, a Canadian citizen being questioned. Omar Khadr was 16 and complains about medical care as he still has injuries he sustained in Afghanistan, he is obviously in a very stressful situation. He was captured by US troops in Afghanistan in 2002 at the age of 15 (how old I am), accused of throwing a grenade at US troops which killed one. He the only westerner left held at Quantanamo Bay and is now 21. The video shows how degrading the experience must be and to think how young he is too.
The following changes to front line services are being made due to the forthcoming strike action: Refuse & Recycling Collection (domestic wheelie bin, green waste wheelie bin and clear bags for cardboard/plastic) Revised collections as follows: Tuesday 15th - normal collections Wednesday 16th - collected Friday 18th Thursday 17th - collected Saturday 19th Friday 18th - collected Monday 21st Service will resume to normal from Tuesday 22nd Kerbside recycling collections of green box and blue bag will be unaffected as this is delivered by Ward's Recycling Junk Jobs The Council will still take bookings as normal, although the service will ...
The Government has brought forward proposals for the long awaited dualling of the A11 between Barton Mills and Thetford. The proposal is to start work in 2010 on the final stretch to become dual carriageway between Norwich and London. There are currently no proposals to improve the Fiveways roundabout or any of the junctions south of it. Local Lib Dem Councillor Tim Huggan has asked the Highways Agency to urgently consider proposals for the improvemnet of the roundabout and associated junctions. He needs your help if they are to take this matter up. Tim Huggan said ' With a large ...
Liberal Democrats in Hastings and on East Sussex County Council (ESCC) have demanded a proper consultation in respect of the proposal to close three Hastings secondary schools and to open two Academies. Conservative-run ESCC decided, at a meeting of its Cabinet on 8 July, to press ahead with a feasibility study and consultation about the [...]
Iain was, whisper it quietly, once a member of ... the Liberal Party.
As you may know, there is a strike of local government workers on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. This will have an impact on local schools. The following schools in Bury will be fully closed tomorrow and Thursday due to strike action unless otherwise stated: All Saints C of E Primary School Cams Lane Primary School - part closed Chantlers Primary School. Chesham Primary School closing at 12noon each day Christchurch Ainsworth C of E Primary School. East Ward Community Primary School Elton Community Primary school - part closed Green Hill Primary School Greenmount Primary School. Heaton Park Primary ...
A video of an interrogation of the child Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr has been released HERE. Zachary Katznelson of Reprieve is interviewed by the BBC HERE.
It has been brought to my attention that Breewood Scout Hut in Staffordshire is under threat from the County Council. A website has been set up at http://www.savebrewoodscouts.org
Unfortunately, when you are the owner of a group of increasingly aged cats, the prospect of their demise becomes ever closer. Having already lost Victoria earlier this year to cancer, I had become concerned about Franklin's health. At nearly 17½, or 85 in 'human years', he was becoming something of a geriatric. And yet the fitting of a catflap gave him a new lease on life. He prowled the garden,
Pendle is a great place to live but not work. I have said 'not work' because of the fact that finding a job in Pendle is increasingly becoming harder and harder. A young man who i was talking to has been applying for jobs since he left school and it has been over a year and yet he has not been given a job and the reason employer's give him for not accepting his application is 'not enough experience'. Well how is he meant to have experience if the only work he has ever done in his life is work ...
Check out THIS WEBSITE over the next few days. I was directly involved for a short while with the Offscreen Education Programme, and its a brilliant organisation. It originally emerged from the travels of some UK artists to the middle east and they art they produced along the way. Now Offscreen are hosting and publishing the expedition of eight young artists from the middle east, travelling in the UK in order to express their impressions of Britain. Also, read the BBC coverage HERE.
I was led to this shocking report in Sunday's Observer. It led me to wonder are we still living in the dark ages of the 80s over HIV and more to the point why? The first shocking thing is that schools in Hertfordshire and Lancashire are able to turn away children looking for new schools after it was revealed that they were HIV+. Not only is this shocking but since 2005 under the Disability
As I am on holiday (this posting comes to you from Enterprise House, Bishop's Castle) I shall let other bloggers write for me. Sex Stephen Tall complains that Lembit Opik's love life gets more publicity than a scandal he has uncovered in his role as Lib Dem shadow housing minister. But Paul Walter points out that this is largely Lembit's own fault. That is the frustrating thing about Lembit. Deep down - very deep down - you suspect there is a serious politician trying to get out. Drugs Last month some of us were rather disconcerted to see that a ...
Quite a terse and revealing exchange in Parliament for all you written question sceptics: Sports: Finance Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards the Government's target of securing £20 million per year of funding for elite sport from private sponsorship. [218384] Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department continues to work with UK Sport and others in the development of proposals to secure funding from the private sector. Er, so not enough then?
South Glos Council is considering building wind farms on seven council-owned sites in the area. Some sites would only take one wind turbine, but four sites could accommodate up to four turbines each, so that's about twenty turbines in all. The turbines would be connected to the electricity grid, and each could earn up to £25,000 a year (note the 'up to'). The sites have been identified by a 'desktop planning' exercise - looking at sites more than 450 metres from the nearest house, not actually visiting sites or telling occupiers yet. We presume they've picked sites with reasonable wind ...
The link is to a story about an autistic child in Bedfordshire. What is interesting about this story is the interrelationship between potentially care proceedings (although having seen the video they talk about S20 which is not a care order) and the activities of the Local Education Authority. It has been argued that the care system is being made to act in the interests of the LEA as a result
Interested in student funding? A big change in taxation policy? The backbone of our next Manifesto? Or just a bit of gossip? Well, the Liberal Democrat Federal Policy Committee met last week to make final - and not so final - decisions on some of the principal policies coming soon to Conference debates. Some of it's readable, too. Now, as you try to prevent your overpriced, underdone hot dog slithering into your lap while you settle in front of this year's Summer blockbuster, you won't be seeing a thrilling, explosive trailer for our thrilling, explosive new policies up for debate ...
I will pay good money to the person who can tell me where I can buy the New Yorker in Westminster. Why? One simple reason: this cover: It's caused, you know, a bit of controversy.
Darlington Snooker Club on Northgate is to be turned into flats. Earlier this year it was announced that Derek White, the owner of the building, was to appeal against the decision of Darlington Council Planning Applications Committee to refuse him permission to demolish his motorcycle shop, above which sits the snooker club, and build a block of flats there instead. Quite rightly, since
The Government has today announced which post office services it wants to close in the North Cornwall area. Shockingly, there are 22 planned for cuts. Of these, 11 will be in the Launceston area. The branch at Newport in Launceston will close completely. The Post Office at Tregadillett will close and be replaced with a mobile service. The services for Coads Green, Yeolmbridge, Lawhitton, North Petherwin, Egloskerry and Altarnun will also be cut as will many more used by local people. Since Labour took office in 1997, 4000 Post Office Branches have been closed. Before that, the Conservatives closed 3500. ...
The government have responded to my question about Oil Price Contingency Planning. They have a BERR Page with forecast oil prices. Extracting from that table the following prices in USD per blue barrel for each year and assumption are: YearLowCentralHigh'High High'20077373737320104565851072015456890150 They dont 'feel the need to build contingency plans specifically for peak oil'. Well we
Famous Yorkshireman and retired Test cricket umpire Dickie Bird has appealed to Redcar and Cleveland residents to help celebrate Yorkshire Day on Friday, August 1. Dickie, the star attraction at a sportsman's dinner, explained: 'I am pleased to be part of the celebrations at Redcar and Cleveland and hope residents will follow my enthusiasm and join in on the day.' Council Leader George Dunning said: 'It's an honour for Redcar and Cleveland to have been chosen by the Yorkshire Society to host this annual event for the first time. And it's great that Dickie can be part of the celebrations.' ...
The Daily Express reports on Swindon Council's decision to stop spending money on speed cameras but instead put the cash into designing out speed on its roads. They estimate that this will release up to £400,000 for road safety measures that will deter drivers putting their foot down in built-up areas. Options include improving road designs, particularly on bad bends, easing cambers and assessing speed limits and training for new drivers. As sensible as this sounds I do not think that it is quite that straightforward. In reality the Council will need to do all of this and maintain speed ...
It's quite clear from Today Prog this morning that Cameron will only be quite strongly interviewed and when it comes to his answers are very theoretical. The answer is always about NOT saying anything tough nor put forward any radical suggestions. He's basically Blair Mark II - none of what he said today couldn't have been [...]
As if to add to the confusion of what exactly they are for the All Wales Convention emerged from their first meeting yesterday and said that it was not their intention to campaign for a referendum on greater law-making powers for the Assembly. Instead they are going to talk to the people or, in the words of Sir Emyr Jones Parry, their priority is to communicate the potential the Assembly already has to make "massive" changes. It would be possible to engage a public relations firm to carry out that task and still get substantial change from the cost of ...
It is the question that everybody asks themselves at some stage or another: how much do I tip the person serving me at the local restaurant? Personally, I always aim for a minimum of 10% and add more if I think the service deserves it. However, as is pointed out in the Independent today, I am aware that the money does not always reach those who it is intended for, especially if it is added onto the bill and paid with a credit or debit card. That is why I always try to tip with cash, the restauranteur has no ...
If you go down Glasgow East today you'd better go in disguise. If you go down Glasgow East today you may have a big surprise. For Cabinet Ministers that aren't media shy Are hiding there only Gordon knows why. Today may be the day a cabinet Minister comes to Glasgow. To be read in a David Attenborough voice: Here in the East End of Glasgow we are witnessing the emergence of a new political
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