One of the more bizarre headlines today was from the BBC, Cabinet 'may go to West Midlands': Gordon Brown will hold his first cabinet meeting after MPs' long summer break outside London - most likely in the West Midlands. A Downing Street spokesman said the gathering was set for 8 September. Ministers will also be taking [...]
Congratulations to John Hemming for establishing that children in care from Birmingham were sent to Jersey. He writes about the subject on his own blog, but the Mail on Sunday has more details: At least five children were illegally placed in care on Jersey by Birmingham social services, which then lost track of them. Four of the youngsters - who are now adults - are still on the island and have been traced by local police. But the whereabouts of the fifth, a male born in the Fifties, remains unknown ...Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, who discovered that his local ...
Well if they is young person reading this who is intrested in joining a political party then continue reading. I have been asked by liberal youth to help promote the lib dems in the north west and to target burnley and pendle. So if you are wanting to join a political party or if you are a young person that needs political answers from a fellow youth then for any information about the lib dems or why they are the best party for the youth in the UK then email me or leave your question as a comment and i ...
The Select Committee looking at the Older People's Strategy heard evidence from Council Officers today on how our Housing Polices are working towards this. As regular readers of this blog will know I am more interested in how policies are working than discussing the strategy, but the committee did spend quite a bit of time looking at the issues. We talked about insulation grants, Housing and...
I was gutted that, due to a complicated set of family circumstances, I had to miss Bishop Gene Robinson preaching at St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow yesterday. He is a man of great grace and humanity. He embodies the sort of tolerance followers of all faiths and none should embrace. His celebration of the Eucharistic prayer brought a tear to my eye. And it was in that modern language rubbish too:-)
Everyone's favorite Tory Iain Dale has done his usual trick of repeating a party's self analysis and foretelling doom again regarding Nick Clegg. I'd just like interject in this prophecy of liberal catastrophe to point out a couple of inaccuracies in what Iain says repeats regarding us not standing against his good mate DD in the by-election. I happen to know on authority I trust that:- - To say Nick made the decision without consultation is incorrect- The local party, regional party and MEP all had advanced knowledge, the PPC unfortunately didn't because DD brought his announcement forward by an ...
Today, Grace and I took Philippa and a friend of hers to Whitstable. Absolutely lovely spot on the North Kent coast. While walking around the harbour I saw some posters saying "Hands off our harbour" and "Ships not shops". Inquisitive as I am I found this website when I got home. There is a real problem with protecting these communities, and not turning them into some giant museum and souvenir
I've been waiting for a public apology from a certain individual who made a generalised falsehood concerning myself in the 17th July 2008 edition of the Folkestone Herald, it's two other editions in Hythe and the Romney Marsh and on the internet. I believe that I have been generous and patient in waiting more than two weeks for a retraction and an apology to appear in a public format (e.g. the Folkestone Herald). The individual concerned had already received a public warning from me that I would investigate taking further action. I have researched the laws of libel and believe ...
Ross Finnie's leadership campaign has in the past few days secured public endorsements from former leader David Steel, deputy leader of Fife Council Elizabeth Riches and immediate past convener Judy Hayman. Also supporting him are MSPs Hugh O'Donnell, Jim Tolson and former education minister Robert Brown, winner of the Queens Park by-election in Glasgow Margot Clark, Cllrs Robert Aldridge and Paul Edie from Edinburgh, former Chief Executive Andy Myles and former MSP for Gordon Nora Radcliffe. And me, of course:-) I have been very encouraged by the amount of support for Ross there has been from the grassroots members. They ...
Here we go again. Lib Dem Voice announces this year's Awards. You have until the end of the month to nominate your favourite blogs in the following categories:Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st August 2007)Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public officeBest use of blogging or social networking by a Liberal DemocratBest posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2007)Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blogLiberal Democrat Blog of the Year This blog was shortlisted for Blog of the Year in 2006 and 2007 but came up short both times. And don't forget you have until 15 ...
Earlier today I attended a speech by Michael Gove at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). Loosely entitled Liberty, Equality, Family? Why Conservative social policy delivers progressive ends, it was in fact a statement of the Conservative view of how policy toward the family, children and education can create a more harmonious society with more social mobility and better outcomes for the most disadvantaged. Coverage in the press has mainly focussed on his attack on the objectification of women in "Lads Mags", notably Nuts and Zoo. He was condemnatory, but it was interesting that he condemned without threatening action: ...
I have heard it said that Liberal Democrat MPs represent some of the most beautiful parts of the country. Speaking as a Bude boy I have to say that as long as we have North Cornwall sewn up then we have the most beautiful part sorted. By sheer coinkidinky I seem to have been doing a tour of LibDem constituencies for my holidays over the last few years. Two years ago it was Norman Lamb's stunning
Todays Independent brings back a recollection of the time I spent in this country. We Brits have had to put up with alot of anti-immigrant feeling in the media. Asylum seekers this and that. A political football for right wingers and right backs to kick. The photo shows in the newspaper two Roma children lying dead from drowning. I think a stunt by the authorities for the worlds media to photograph . Stuff for a story. These girls made a living by selling giftware. A meagre one at that. I think its horrific how the Italians can behave towards people ...
It's no secret that I like watching TV. And, rather than be a passive viewer, I like to engage my critical faculties - sometimes to find buried treasures in a programme, sometimes to pull it apart. I do this for pleasure, but some do it for a living. One of these had appeared to be Mr AA Gill, who writes about television for The Sunday Times; after yesterday, I can't honestly use the word "reviews". If you've been watching The Tudors... Well, you've got one up on Mr Gill, as you might just spot if you read his latest "review". ...
I'm not sure where I picked this up, but it really appeals to my inner music lover... Wiley is, apparently, a Grime MC and, if someone could explain this to me, I'd be really quite grateful (look, I'm 43 not 17...). The sample, and this is what really caught my attention, is from a 1991 'release' by DSK called "What Would We Do". Quite brilliant in a kind of seductive kind of way... Now I'm not
I have just done a radio interview alongside Matt Wardman on the subject of Miss Wagstaff's exclusion from Facebook and the mysterious case of Christopher Glamorganshire's dismissal by the Welsh Government. As I was leaving the thought occurred to me that if I knew how to produce podcasts it would have been quite interesting to have posted the piece on this blog. Fortunately, Matt is both technically more accomplished and far-sighted than I am.
I seem to have spent an awful lot of time today thinking about this whole question of narratives; the belated spring clean I'm undertaking is probably to blame for this, as are James Graham and Ros Scott. Either way, I doubt you'll be surprised to learn that I haven't found many answers under the piles of paper. As much as anything this is due to not really knowing what is required. I know that
Writing on Comment is Free, James Graham says: I've been struck by how many people I have spoken to over the past few weeks - candidates, councillors and activists alike - who appear to be either demoralised or disenchanted with Clegg's leadership.I wish I felt more motivated to disagree with him. You will find James more often at Quaequam Blog!
Some photographs from yesterday's Gower Show. Pork scratchings With Kirsty Williams AM and the real leadership contender. Swansea Council Coalition partners Independents@Swansea prove their worth with some very nice homemade Welsh cakes. Where is the fire?
Will is asking for nominations for the LDV blog of the year. Most of the categories are for Lib Dems, but I'm asking my f-list to send in nominations for the ones that interest them even though they might not be Lib Dems themselves - after all, you kow and read at least ONE Lib Dem blog, right? You don't have to nominate me, though; in fact, I think I'm not eligible for all bar two of the categories, and I've done enough to wind up and/or piss off all of the judges on one occasion or another that it's ...
Saturday I was sorry to read of the death of the comic actor Hugh Lloyd: he was one of the Liberal Party's celebrity supporters in the days when such creatures were indeed in short supply. What is now forgotten was that he had his own radio comedy - "Mind My Majority! - in which he played a hard-pressed agent. Many young thespians - Maggie Smith, Albert Finney, Basil Brush, Rodney Bewes - first came to public notice in the show and, in its day, Lloyd's catchphrases "Eeh! I could write a shuttleworth!" and "You'll have the Acting Returning Officer to ...
I have just been completing an questionnaire on YouGov which asked me wher I lived. I scrolled down the list several times assuming I had missed reading East Anglia. However, I was wrong. According to YouGov, East Anglia does not exist, instead presumably I was supposed to click on "South East" (which I assume to be Essex, Kent, East Sussex, etc) or even the East Midlands. Why do people assume the missing out East Anglia is okay. Would they miss out Scotland or London from a list like this ? Of course not. The BBC are just as bad. In ...
The detailed figures of the weekend's ICM poll have been posted by Mike Smithson on Political Betting. Mike targets the fact that Harriet Harman has very strong support amongst women. And bears.... What Mike appears not to notice is the massive dislike that men have for Harman and, perhaps more important, the intense diversity between the way the genders view Miliband. The Foreign Secretary polls 28% among men when asked who they would most like to see replace Brown, but just 13% among women. That 28% figure is the strongest showing of all the subsets shown. But Jack Straw polls ...
Everyone's favourite God, helper to Robin Hood, and president of the USA is v v v v v poorly after being in a car accident. Send him your vibes, people. I'd hate not to hear that velvety voice in anything new again. Jo Christie-Smith linked to a thing which led to another link, and then another, and then another and I've been sat here reading up on feminism all evening. Here are some of the things that interested me: - The Male Privilege Checklist. Hint: if you're male, you have it. Don't think I'm picking on you though, I have ...
Gordon Brown is reported to have said that the first cabinet meeting after the summer recess will be held in the West Midlands. There are two possible reason that come to mind for him doing this. 1) The West Midlands is a very big place. If he is quite vague about where the meeting is, perhaps the cabinet won't be able to turn up and tell him he must quit. 2) He wants them all to be out of their comfort zone so as to make them less likely to call for him to go. Either way, it's a gimmick ...
Today is Barack Obama's 47th birthday. I have admired him since, prompted by an article in the FT two years ago, I read 'The Audacity of Hope'. I have never before been captivated by charisma or image in a politician, but there is something about Obama that I find uplifting, exciting and motivating. So I hope upon hope that he will be successful in November. Goodness knows after eight years of 'W' we all need it. * fingers crossed
Last week Lib Dem Voice reported on Shenanigans in Cumbria, and the likely break-up of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition which has run the County Council since 2001 following the dismissal by the Conservative council leader of his Liberal Democrat deputy, Joan Stocker. Well, now, the inevitable has come to pass, and the Lib Dems have [...]
Like a bird on The Wardman Wire.
Just went to see The Dark Knight. I've never been a great fan of Batman films, but this one had me hooked. Lots of great moments, and a wonderful rumbly sound track. It was darker than those I've seen before - not sure how many or even which I've seen. ***possible spoilers below*** Heath Ledger - magnetic. Christian Bale - got a bit fed up with him growling, especially when Aaron Eckhart started doing it too. Aaron Eckhart - yes, OK. Didn't convince when turning bad/slightly insane. Neither did his make up, when it became relevant. It just looked like ...
It was interesting that when Michael Gove was having a go at "Lads' Mags" today, he was also complimentary about women's magazines: Gove told the Institute for Public Policy Research that women's magazines, by contrast, aim to address their readers in a mature and responsible way. I think he is putting himself in a ludicrous position by setting himself as a judge of taste like this. I am
KP still offers no apology for making stupid strokes. "That's the way I play", he says, and much opinion repeats that and says you have to take the bad with the good, that's what he is, and he's never going to change. I say that's rubbish. They used to say exactly the same thing about Eric Cantona. "He's a genius; and that means you have to accept the bad boy antics, because that's all wrapped up with him being a genius. You can't have one without the other." But Eric proved them wrong. After his attack on the Crystal Palace ...
So it's Kevin Pietersen to captain England. Not the first South African we've had captain England. I hope he succeeds but I fear he won't. I have decided that if he does, I will eat my hat, and it will be a joyful duty to undertake. However, if I am to take this commitment seriously, I must have some criteria to decide on whether he has in fact been successful. Two years seems a good time for an assessment, so I have until this time 2010 - or, just to get in a full season,let's say the end of September ...
To (belatedly) celebrate the new version of Lib Dem Blogs, and also because I've actually got something to write about, I've decided to take Liberal Polemic out of it's Summer hibernation and post something. Consequently, I've re-opened it to access. It's just a shame that there isn't a new version of Blogger too! For those of you (singular) who were missing the wit and wisdom (or, more accurately, the long economic monologues) therein, I must caution you that I cannot promise the daily updating that was previously my routine. But I'll try to add something whenever I can. In the ...
Council highways officers and local businesses at the end of September will be leaving the Guildhall at and walking the route to the Lambridge training ground. The purpose of this is to give residents, councillors and businesses an early indication of the proposals, but more importantly to share their concerns over highway and pedestrian safety along this route. The Council have now reconsidered Lambridge as the prefered location for a park and ride site and Mill Lane near Batheaston is now the prefered location, this will deliver 540 more car parking spaces for cheaper, but will of course mean higher ...
Having already given coverage to Iain Dale's Total Politics' Guide to Political Blogging 2008-9 I think it is only right that I should now highlight that the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards are seeking nominations. Yes the first party to award blogging awards at conference is at it again. Recurring categories include Best new Liberal Democrat blog (any started after 1 August 2007 are eligible),
Mon 4th
16:52
My four must reads of the past week, plus an indulgence link (see numbers 6, 32 and 44)
Last week was a good week on the Blogosphere for me and I probably spent far too much time on it, both writing and reading! Here are four great reads from the last week that I commend to you plus one supplementary link from Alas, a great article which supports Penny Red's posting. These are all topics that I did not write on myself, so I'm very glad that all these people did! And so well!!! Andrew Rawnsley wrote an excellent comment piece in the Observer yesterday on David Miliband, which if you didn't get round to reading then I ...
Well the weekend saw the culmination of the week long pride events in Belfast with the Pride Parade through Belfast in light of the hot potato that Iris Robinson has made gay rights in the province over recent months by what she's said it was good to hear that politicians from most parties (the exception being the Democratic Unionist Party) turned up to show their support for this section of the
The Blog of the Year Awards, run in conjunction with Liberal Democrat Voice, are back for their third year. As usual, they'll be awarded in a budget lavish ceremony at the party's autumn conference in Bournemouth. We have retired a few categories from last year and introduced some new ones. This year's awards are: Best new Liberal [...]
With so many accidents occuring on the busy London Road, local residents and ward Councillor David Dixon, are calling for more safety measures to be introduced and for the bus lane to be reconsidered as 24 hours.Cllr David Dixon said, "This stretch of road is becoming very dangerous and the Council must come up with solutions and put them in place. People are having accidents, in some cases very serious ones, due to the lack of visibility and speeding traffic coming along the bus lane. Vehicles are also ignoring the merge at the end of the bus lane near Morrisons ...
China has been warning rebels in Xinjiang could threaten the games with terrorist attacks. Also hinting at that they could be linked to Al-qaeda and Islamic extremism. Xinjiang is a region with a muslim majority and similarly to Tibet the people have traditions they feel are being threatened by Chinese migration and the people want greater autonomy or even independence. When I listened to BBC news the headlines were saying a terrorist attack had happened. But the report makes it sound more like a rebel attack. There's a difference. I expect the Chinese government will exaggerate the threat of the ...
I've written another piece for Comment is Free today, voicing concerns about Nick Clegg's centralising tendencies: I am reminded by the party's stance on Iraq, and how it came about. Will Clegg's COG enable the grassroots to drag the party leadership, kicking and screaming if need be, to where it needs to be, or is it purpose-built to ensure that such things can never happen again? My concern is that Clegg, with his antipathy at letting "a thousand flowers bloom," thinks he can transform the Liberal Democrats into a point-and-click precision machine. We all stand to pay a heavy price ...
Having come back from my week away I found an envelope that had been rudely opened by my mother because she's Mrs. A. Wood and I'm Mr. A. Wood, and she likes to do things quickly without thought, no wonder she's a labour voter. Inside was the All-Members Edition of Liberal Democrat News, the Focus on the West Midlands and some raffle information. Anyone I don't usually get Liberal Democrat News, so it was interesting to see what it's like. I was drawn to a box on page 5 where Chris Rennard was asking "Where will the party be in ...
Like many people in Islington, I've been following the saga of Lillian Ladele and Islington Council with interest. When the news reached the general public that Ladele's appeal against her dismissal had been successful, we were inundated with many offers of support, both from individuals and from organisations such as the Nation Secular Society, amongst others. All viewed the case as being a setback for the acceptance of gay marriage in the UK, not without reason - the Christian Institute, which funded Ladele's suit, is claiming this as legal recognition for religion-based prejudice. We have confirmed that we're appealing the ...
Just think about it would you like to pay more money to the Government so Alistair Darling can have more Luxury? Well that is what the Government want to do. Yes Green Tax's do help to bring down the co2 emissions but the plans by the Government only are going to make them better off and it will not effect the levels of emissions. SO think about it when you are on the Ballot do you want to give the Chancellor a Pay rise of not? If the Answer is NO then make sure you don't Vote Labour or the ...
There's been so much written lauding Solzhenitzyn as the archetypal dissident. I loved Ivan Denislovich but this praise has been driving me mad. He was a reactionary, Tzarist, anti-semitic, pan-slavist who supported the insane LDP in post Soviet Russia. He was our enemy's enemy, but certainly not a natural friend. We shouldn't forget it. Read William Harrison's article for more detail.
Another year, another tired build up to the Edinburgh Festival. Another series of self-indulgent reports on BBC2, another chance for the Today programme to try to be even cleverer than it normally tries to be (usually missing the target by a few hundred miles). Another chance for James Naughtie to be all knowingly Scottish in that gut wrenching way he has. Another chance for Kirstie Wark to be all arty farty as only she can (I find her professional Scottishness easier to bear - perhaps because she isn't a complete imbecile like Dim Jim). Another chance for all the broadsheets ...
Chris Dillow, who any regular reader of this blog should know is my favourite blogger, has written a post on Michael Gove's speech about educational inequality. Read it. I left a comment, but I think I'll reproduce it here. I want to see what you think. Here it is: Educational inequalities are of course hugely important. Unfortunately, as you rightly state, targeted spending alone will not address this problem. Education inequalities exist because good schools are in good areas and bad schools are in bad areas (excuse the assault on the english language by these mass generalisations) and by the ...
Holy censorship Batman! The Villainous Passportiser is attacking us again with "Do You Know Who I Am" press release gun. Apparently, people have been shocked to discover that the new Batman film isn't for kiddies. A year's worth of advertising centering around the horrifically disfigured villain, plus the fact that it is a sequel to the already dark Batman Begins, wasn't enough of a clue. Vaz has a brilliant line in logic here: "The BBFC should realise there are scenes of gratuitous violence in The Dark Knight to which I would certainly not take my 11-year-old daughter", said Mr Vaz. ...
With the Olympics opening this week, there are finally blue skies over Beijing as the anti-pollution measures begin to take effect. These are drastic - and temporary - including banning use of cars, and closing factories, as well as more sustainable solutions like planting trees. It's likely that the smog will return as soon as [...]
Sixteen Chinese policemen have been killed in the western Muslim Xinjiang region days before the opening ceremony at the other end of the country in Beijing. The attack on a border outpost in Kashgar, Kashi in Chinese, is close to the Turkmenistan border and is the latest terrorist act after a series of incidents claimed by the Turkmen Islamic Party in the past month. The Chinese repression of
I thought the Conservative party were opposed to the 'top down' intellectual dictatorship of the national curriculum. They say they are happy teachers to have greater freedom to imbue their teaching with their own diverse academic knowledge. Strange that Cameron-central has given ambitious Tories a reading list, so minions might better imagine the mind of the Great Leader-in-waiting. Next he'll be telling them all what to think. (The list in full)
Via tyrell comes the news that another piece of my childhood has slipped away. I looked at this post, and those were the books I grew up with. THAT edition of LotR. THOSE Narnia books. THAT Watership Down. The art in the Narnia books, in particular, is simple and beautiful and clear and seeps straight into the memory, to stick there for always. Who can think of Mr Tumnus without seeing the picture of he and Lucy walking away arm-in-arm? The kind of talent which draws art THAT iconic isn't easy to come by, and should be celebrated. RIP, Pauline ...
Tory Shadow education secretary Michael Gove today hit out at men's magazines for promoting a negative image of women and encouraging bad behaviour amongst young men: ... I believe we need to ask tough questions about the instant-hit hedonism celebrated by the modern men's magazines targeted at younger males. Titles such as Nuts and Zoo paint [...]ShareThis
Since this topic has once again been raised by Jack Straw, who has by all accounts become obsessed with trying to complete something that has for all accounts being going on for over a hundred years. Now not being the first person to write about this, and I probably won't be the last, I'm just going to follow what other people have said - coz it worked so well for my dissertation. So first some background. The House of Lords was the first chamber of Parliament to be created, and it dates back to the thirteenth century, where it served ...
Wednesday sees the anniversary of the birth in 1916 of Richard Hoftstadter, American historian and thinker who, perhaps more than many others, gave shape to the liberal centerist critique of American affluence and its politics in the post-war world. Brilliant and engaging, his writing on a wide variety of themes (party politics, radicalism, political paranoia and populism, academic freedom and social darwinism to name a few) influenced a generation shaped by totalitarian conflict on the one hand and political conceit and self-satisfaction on the other. I first read him in my teens and thought the pure unfussy cadences of the ...
Now that school holidays have begun and the summer just might have arrived (or passed), it is time to think about what to do... A useful starting point is www.birmingham.gov.uk/summer, which contains links to events and activities, including libraries, museums and leisure facilities. The Council's Selly Oak Constituency Office has also produced a handy calendar showing some of the local events
The proposal by John Osmond of the Institute of Welsh Affairs that we should have a directly-elected mayor to run the South Wales Valleys has a lot to commend it, but only if you are into messianic leadership figures and the erosion of accountable and transparent democracy. Don't we have enough gimmicks in local government, without adding another one? And what role is envisaged for the Welsh Assembly Government in this? They are after all the elected and accountable body responsible for regenerating and energising valley communities. It may be argued that the Welsh Government is failing in this role ...
A group of Back Bench's from the Labour Party are going to start making their own policies and are going to try and distinguish them self from Cameron and the snobby Conservatives. According to what i have read i think this group of MP's who are going to make their own policies are people who are against the current Government and Brown. According to what i think Pendle Based MP Gordon Prentice is among them MP's who are going to make their own Policies. Do you think Pendle Based MP Gordon Prentice is among this group of MP's?
The Conservatives if in Power would ban lad magazines as they blame them for promoting irresponsible behaviour and they make women look negative. The Conservatives are also going to blame the magazines for destroying family life. So people who read these magazines will not be able to most likely by them under a conservative Government. I don't read these magazines and i hope i never become a reader but if the conservatives where to pass their plans when they come into power it will be taking away a freedom from people which i don't think a government should be allowed ...
You can read the latest update on this from today's Courier by clicking on the headline above.
Great post on Junkfoodscience. Thanks to seph_hazard for the link.
James Schneider has a piece over at Schneiderhome on the difference in how we have reacted to Pietersen and Collingwood on 94. I was writing a comment, but it got so long that I turned it into a blog instead. The lesson James draws is to do with our reactions to agency and guilt, or, I would say, responsibility, and the role chance plays - the difference between a hero and a fool is often just a couple of inches. But I think the example chosen doesn't do the job. Pietersen and Collingwood each, on 94, tried to reach 100 ...
Something very puzzling is happening just outside my front door. Early this morning Southern Gas Networks started a six week project to replace all the gas pipes in my road. The letter from them refers to 'reinstatement of roads and footpaths'. But the Council replaced almost all the pavements in Clayton Road only a month ago! When anything by is done by gas,...
BAAS Construction Ltd are commencing work soon on re-roofing many of the houses on the Polefield Estate. Re-roofing works to include new soffits, fascias, rainwater pipes, guttering, renewal of slate tiles and roof insulation. Here are the details: Commencement Date/Site Set-up - 25th August 2008 Completion date - 13 week contract Site Foreman - Andy Jordan Tenant Liaison Officer - BAAS - Helen Cooper Capital Project Officer - Joanne McCabe Emergency telephone number - Bradley Fold 0161 253 6606 BAAS Emergency Out Of Hours 0800 294 4770 Site Compound - corner of Polefield Hall Road/Polefield Circle Site Office - 12 ...
Another victory for common sense as it was revealed today that the government has effectively issued a 'blank cheque' to the owners of Sellafield to clean up after any future security incident. As everyone knows, the government says that any new nuclear power stations will not be subsidised in any way by the government so there's no chance of any being built. Right?
According to the 'leaked' memo from Tony Blair from September, Gordon Brown has 'dissed' the government's record, which was a fatal strategic error, in Tone's oh-so-humble opinion. Well, putting aside the failure to reform the constitution when he had a massive majority in 1997, his obsession with style over substance, his inability to address the fundamentals of the health service, instead seeking only to throw money at the problem so that it partially went away, his complete failure to deal with the steadily worsening transport disaster in this country and, of course, the monumentally catastrophic, short-sighted and unbelievably damaging decision ...
Residents in Brent failing to recycle face council fines of up to £1,000 or a fixed penalty notice from today. Its a strong measure which will make it quite clear that failing to recycle when the facilities are widely available is antisocial. Yet the means must be readily available at all times and I hope the poverty of many of the residents in Brent will be taken into account in individual cases. Furthermore, I find it absurd that a citizen in a very deprived and overlooked area can receive such an extreme reprimand, while papers, tin and anything picked up ...
In the Times Boris Johnson says he will approach David Cameron with his "own blueprint for Britain". "If the Conservatives are going to be coming into power next time around, then let's share ideas and let's work something up together." I think people underestimate his ambition. He has already demonstrated his capacity for the sort of unilateral diplomacy that Ken was famous for when prematurely backed Obama. Cameron followed suit but he can't have been pleased, the move is extremely foolish for a party with strong prospects for power. I doubt Cameron can fail now, but if he does, Johnson ...
I am currently on the train heading to London. This ticket cost me an arm and a leg as it is an open ticket. I suppose this is the return leg. Ho ho! Anyway, I am on a National Express service on which nothing has gone wrong. That in itself is newsworthy. And so to the weekend of Labour's divisions. Milliband's article last week has been taken as the launch of his leadership bid. Despite his
Are they Nuts? Would they censor lads' mags? Of course, not. This is another policy-lite lecture about "feckless fathers" from a bunch of middle-aged millionaires. If only there could be another Cecil Parkinson-type scandal involving a current Tory. That would be entertainining.
I write this in the shadow (well, almost) of the White Tower in Thessalonika, built on the orders of the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century on the site of an earlier Byzantine structure. The tower houses a Byzantine museum, which is currently closed for restoration. LIke the Tower of London, the White [...]
The Conservatives have obviously decided that young (and not quite so young) men are not their target audience. Michael Gove is set to claim that magazines such as Nuts and Zoo encourage 'instant-hit hedonism' and relationship breakdown. I always thought that these magazines were pretty much the embodiment of Thatcherism. They spell out a freedom loving, do what you want agenda that sits perfectly happily, in my view, with the Conservatives of the 80s. Of course, there has to be some psephology behind this move by Gove. Not only is he reaching out to his base of older, more traditional, ...
All this week, Lib Dem Voice will be publishing the results of our first ever survey of party members. Some 135 of you accessed the survey via our private members' forum. We don't pretend it's a representative sample, but that doesn't mean it's without value either. We hope you, LDV's readers, find it interesting. Perhaps [...]
Hugely entertaining silly season story in today's Guardian about how Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi has had the painting of a semi-nude woman covered up so as not to distract voters from the content of his press conferences: Over the table at which Berlusconi holds press conferences in Palazzo Chigi, Italy's equivalent of No 10 Downing Street, hangs a huge copy of a painting by the 18th-century Venetian master Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It was selected by Berlusconi himself. Slap in the middle of the painting is a neat, round female breast. During press conferences, as a commentator writing for the ...
The lad from Dunblane Mister Andy has won his first Master's Series Event in Cincinnati. Yes this may be the city that once had Jerry Springer as mayor but this is no Jerry Springer story. First Herr Roger fell, then Senor Rafa fell to Gospodin Novak in the semi-finals. It didn't degrade the final that is was a Djokovic v Murray final, these two 21 year-olds are fast becoming the next tier
Is this the best hedge topiary in town? It's pretty much of a wow and clearly lovingly tended on an ongoing basis... And sure enough there is a page on the oracle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topiary This one is hiding in Agamemnon Road and is surely a prize effort. Competition for the best suggested name? Ideas in this team have been: OscarClementineAndreas the amazing animal hedgeFirazAugust is clearly here...
