The votes are in and the winner is Andrew Cowen in The Birmingham Post for: A few weeks ago, Cameron had Brown on the ropes. It was like watching a boxing match between Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Patrick Troughton.
It has been one of those evenings where too many things go wrong. Firstly, the National Express website crashed out on me just as I was about to get to the end of the process of buying a ticket.Then I had to phone my bank about a query on my accound. It was one of those situations where bankers are their own worst enemy. I phoned the number on the back of my debit card. The automated voice asked
A rather superb hit from the Eighties ... from Huey Lewis and the News!
Well, I've got to say, I didn't see that one coming! When I blogged on the possible reshuffle a week or so ago, I didn't think that Brown would do too much, simply rearrange the furniture in a couple of places. Bringing back Mandelson is, if nothing else, a PR masterstroke, capturing the full attention of the media, and making Labour appear more unified. There is some confusion over exactly how Mandelson will be held to account. None of the articles highlighting his return mention whether he is going to make a return to Parliament or not. The Number Ten ...
What on earth is going on? I go away for a day of training and when I get home I discover that some moronic nutter has not only ennobled Peter Mandelson, but they've also made him a government minster. Has Brown gone utterly mad? Has someone slipped some LSD in my coffee? Or have I [...]
Blink and you would have missed the reshuffle. Indeed, reshuffle is much too strong a word for it. Tinkering at the edge would be a better description. But what's this? Peter Mandelson makes a return! What a turnabout for both Brown and Mandy. Both I suspect have had to endure a large feast of humble pie. It will be interesting to see whether Mandy is Once, Twice, Three Times a Quitter.But I am
Great to see Peter Mandelson return to Government and how strange for a Labour Government to appoint a Lord to one of the key jobs in the cabinet. Mandelson is a big hitter who will not only be a competent Secretary of State but will provide Brown with the strategic counsel he needs on the major issues of the day. He also significantly strengthens the voice of business, free trade and de-regulation in Government. It is a shrewd but risky move on Brown's part. At a single stroke, Brown has disarmed any future Blairite coup, unless Mandelson turns assassin. But ...
Commentators have the unfortunate tendency of rushing to judgement. When the Berlin Wall came down we were told that this was the 'end of history'. Now it is being said that the crisis on the financial markets is the end of the American century. David Simon, the brilliant creator of The Wire has been predicting just that, well before the current financial shenanigans. For those who didn't know it, the last hundred years has been the American century. The logic goes that America is an economic powerhouse that dominated the World. After all, once the Soviet Union fell it was, ...
The Slovakian Embassy in Kensington showcased the northwestern town of Skalica this evening, at its annual Taste of Slovakia event. Skalica — close to the border with the Czech Republic — was the first capital of independent Slovakia back in 1918, but it has a much more ancient history, including its time as a free [...]
Receiving a briefing on today's reshuffle from a well known public affairs company, I was told that Hilary Benn had been confirmed as Secretary of State for the slimmed down 'Dept for FA'. I assume it was typo and they had meant to write 'Dept for RA' (Rural Affairs) but their own description seems more apt.
This time the LGBT crowd! Click above - i've reached about 2005 in geekdom now that i've found out how to do a link on here! If you look at the video on this site it's frightening how that school teacher is fearful of her job due to the social pressure in a place with such a [...]
I have spent the last few days in Manchester at my employer's Annual Conference - a short video clip of the rather superb gospel singers at the Institute's Performance Awards Dinner is above. Whilst I was out of town, there's been some discussion in the local press about parking in the West End. Full marks to the Courier today for its article on the matter which, very fairly, pointed out that I believe it is important to ensure that whatever ends up being proposed has to have the support of residents. (You can read the full story by clicking on ...
A sad little message arrives in the Voice inbox from the Facebook House of Commons Ray Khan sent a message to the members of The Facebook House of Commons. ——————– Subject: Candidates Saught We currently have no candidates from following parties: Conservative Plaid cymru SNP ——————–
Perhaps it is not his lordship's most impressive work, but completists will want to read his introduction to the Liberator songbook that was on sale at the Bournemouth Conference last month. You can also read his earlier efforts from 2005, 2006 and 2007 on this blog. Bonkers Hall Rutland Tel: Rutland 7How quickly time slips by! It seems only a year ago that those amusing young people at Liberator magazine asked me to provide a foreword for their songbook.Upon consulting my diary I find that it is only a year, but no matter. As a perusal of the ensuing pages ...
I have my first Op-Ed piece on Lib Dem Voice today, entitled The Granny State. Apparently the mugshot makes me look older than I actually am, and when I heard this I was pleased. I swear there's something wrong with my brain.
The Shropshire Star has the latest from Britain's most dysfunctional local authority: A seat on Ludlow Town Council is up for grabs and there is uncertainty about another seat after two councillors resigned - but now one wants his place back.Last month councillors Mickey Bradley and Graeme Perks resigned but council monitoring officer, Veronica Calderbank, found the letters were not legally sound.She wrote to both councillors informing them of the legal procedure but Councillor Perks was the only one who then tended an official resignation letter.Councillor Bradley then decided he did not wish to officially resign after all.
It feels like 1997 all over again. Well maybe more like 1997 without the sense of optimism and a Prime Minister with a sunny demeanour. But seeing who is in the new cabinet definitely gives the sense of being in a time-warp. To be fair to Gordon Brown, a few of the people that he has [...]
Be there!
Jock Coats, in a comment on my posting yesterday about Barack Obama's lead in the polls, raised the issue of racist voters saying to pollsters that they'll be supporting Obama but then voting against him in the privacy of the polling booths, the so-called Bradley effect. Happily, this posting indicates that might not be such a problem.
Fri 3rd
18:26
The Avengers, The Prince of Darkness, Two Uninspiring Veeps, David Cameron's Missing Plan and a Dash...
A relative quickie today, as (for a change) I'm feeling rather under the weather (for a bigger change, I'm well-wrapped-up). I hope mainly to be asleep this evening, but if you're insomniac BBC4 brings two episodes of The Avengers tonight. At 11.35 there's Silent Dust, a bitter ecological fable with some memorable imagery but an uncertain tone, then at 12.25 the rather better Room Without a View: an entertaining gourmand; Steed enjoying his new job; Emma not enjoying hers; and a thrilling exposé of the unsettling reality behind posh hotels. But what of Sarah Palin, Joe Biden and Peter Mandelson? ...
The Nanny State: what a slogan that's been. No three words have done more to undermine the basic thought processes behind Labour governments. The role of government is to make people fitter, happier and more productive, they say. Leave us alone, we reply. Wherever 'The Greater Good' and 'For Your Own Good' come together, Labour's [...]
My love of sport and my politics collide relatively frequently, so much so that I'm occasionally tempted to start up a sports blog a la He Who Must Not Be Named. This week, however, they seem to be particularly intertwined. Which is fine, except that I'm now an Englishman representing a part of Wales, so some of those collisions can very easily get me into a lot of trouble, particularly where
For those of you who missed last night's Vice-Presidential face-of between the Democrats' Senator Joe Biden and the GOP's Governor Sarah Palin, you can: 1. watch the whole debate on YouTube here; 2. read Lib Dem Voice readers' live-blogging their reactions on our Question Time open thread from here; 3. catch-up with the blogging debate reax at Andrew [...]
We face a new era and new challenges, different from those we faced in 1997, which is why I've decided to bring back into government a bunch of has-beens who faced those other challenges in 1997. We need serious people for serious times, plus Peter Mandelson. We need to reinvent government in these serious times, which is why I'm going to create several new quangos and committees, to give people the impression I've got a Scooby how to get us out of the economic mess I helped create, which of course I don't. None of these new bodies will actually ...
I hear from the BBC that Peter Mandelson has returned to the Cabinet. As Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of parliament how will he be accountable to our elected representatives and in turn to us?
The Muswell Hill and Highgate Pensioners Action Group, has written to all Haringey councillors expressing concern about plans to move Haringey's Civic Centre to Woodside House (see earlier post). They rightly bemoan the lack of consultation and the as-yet-unknown costs to local taxpayers. Here's the bulk of their concerns: Apart from a brief article in the [Haringey] People, residents do not feel informed about the justifications in replacing the existing Civic Centre, that has a good Council Chamber and itself appears to be a good building of its period. Likewise, residents in our areas have not had sufficient access to ...
Blogging is hard work, this is how we calm down...
Was Ian Blair forced out by the Tory Clown Boris or did he go himself? This Question is being asked by many people, but the answer that I can give is I think it was Boris the clown. He might say it wasn't him but, we all know its not easily working for or with Boris that's why members of his own team at city Hall have resigned. I actually think the he Coughs Labour, I mean former Commissioner of the Police did the right thing by resigning, otherwise all the mess ups by Boris on Police would have been ...
This event (details posted below) sounds interesting. ***************** Beyond Capital of Culture - what next for the city of Liverpool? > > > > I am very pleased to invite you to attend a special event, hosted by The > Chartered Institute of Management - in association with the University > of Liverpool, on Thursday 16th October 2008, 5.30 - 7.30 p.m. > > > > Entitled Beyond Capital of Culture - what next for the city of > Liverpool, the event will be chaired by Roger Phillips, BBC Radio > Merseyside; four speakers will offer their opinions on the ...
For very rarefied poilitical anoraks, BBC Parliament is currently showing the full unexpurgated BBC coverage of the 1964 General Election. It's on until 11.30pm. I'm recording it. The programme is anchored by a Dimbleby. No surprise there except it's the Richard (Daddy - left) variant, who you don't often see recordings of these days. I also spotted a very young Bob Worcester. There was also an
I have reduced my header to comply with the Grahamian standard. But I must say that I like Stephen Glenn's header.
The curse of Robinson strikes again. Barely 24 hours after this: BBC News political editor Nick Robinson says the reshuffle will be very limited and not a "dramatic shifting of the chairs at the top table". We've seen the return of a former Cabinet minister who has resigned twice before in disgrace*, the return of a former [...]
I have done my duty. I have watched the Palin v Biden debate (you can see it below). First, a personal admission, which I don't feel proud about. I had to put my hand in front of my face whenever Sarah Palin was on the screen. She was looking at me. Worse still, she was smiling at me for much of the time. I couldn't stand it. Especially after she winked at me. I used my fingers to filter her
Brown is reshuffling the Cabinet like they is no tomorrow. When he won the hearts of Labour Members in Manchester he probably thought to him self I can win the Next Election. That is most likely the main reason for him reshuffling the Cabinet so he can try and fight a tough election against the Snobby Conservatives and try and Cling onto Power. The PM knows its gonna be tough especially with Cameron trying to be Bob the Builder and mend society so we wait and see what this interesting year coming up to the EP election brings, what the ...
Last night's Local Area Partnership was notable for a couple of reasons. A local resident came along last night and raised an issue in the public forum which was very upsetting. His partner is a tenant of Six Town Housing at Sherbourne Court, and her flat is riddled with damp. She has a baby of 1 and another on the way, and the baby's mattress is covered with damp, her clothes are damp, and the entire flat is a health hazard. Complaints have been made and not responded to properly, and when the tenant requested help with a bath, she ...
There will no doubt be much written about the return of Peter Mandelson to government after his stint in Brussels. I guess we will attack the move as a step backwards but I see it as quite clever. Mandelson has ruffled a lot of feathers in Brussels and he has proved himself capable of hitting big in trade negotiations. He has managed to upset the French government countless times, which must be a qualification. Anyone who seeks to wean the agricultural trough snuffling French off their ludicrous subsidies which we are all paying for deserves plaudits. He also managed to ...
Being one of those people who likes to collect stuff (objet trouve, memories....) I couldn't resist the chance (training day at school - child to entertain for a day!)to check out the Kaleidoscope Exhibition at Maidstone Museum & Bentliff Art Gallery which celebrates 150 years of collecting. The exhibit runs till 26th October and features some great and gruesome items from the museum's store cupboards, including a tigerskin from the days of the Raj complete with bullet holes. It also meant we were able to see the newly unveiled statue commemorating the 60th anniversary of the raising of the Queen's ...
So Peter Mandelson is back in the cabinet. I well remember his first few days as Northern Ireland Secretary very well. Why because he made me repeat work I'd already carried out. The reason being that in his first day briefing he saw the event that the branch I worked in at the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment were holding on the Friday* morning to launch a new BT call centre in Londonderry. He saw this as a good event to follow up a walkabout in Belfast with. So our team had to call back all the local businessmen, ...
Good news: Allied Irish Bank, which is one of those institutions backed by the guarantee of the government of the Republic, provides financial products through UK post offices. Bad news: the government is shutting post offices as fast as it can get away with it.
This autumn the Government wants to push through a Bill allowing police to lock people up for 42 days without charge if they are suspected of a terrorism-related offence. When the Counter-Terrorism Bill comes back to the House of Commons, your MP will have a chance to help defeat it: the Bill only passed by nine votes last time, so it will be close. Allowing police to lock people up for a
Peter Black's blog refers.
Commenting on Gordon Brown's cabinet reshuffle, in which Peter Mandelson is to return to a senior post, Chief of Staff to Nick Clegg, Danny Alexander said: "Gordon Brown is deluded if he thinks that Peter Mandelson can help him convince the British people that his party still has what it takes to govern this country. "Resurrecting ex-ministers from the political graveyard is not going to breathe new life into Gordon Brown's zombie government."
This photo from conference will be wheeled out next time we get some sanctimonious blarb about strippers from Tory spokespeople.
Martin Land has blogged that it is time for Nick Clegg to bring on the big hitters in a reshuffle, and I agree with him. There is a temptation for a new leader to push any possible challengers to one side, and also for the party to present the leader in a presidential manner. But I think one of Charles Kennedy's greatest successes was that other prominent MPs were not invisible. Nick needs to
Blimey - he's gone! It's always a bit of a shock when someone leaves like that - even when you have thought they should go. Ian Blair has been clinging on for dear life virtually since he started. It is to his great credit that despite the errors of judgement he made - and his mistakes have been very big and very public - that he has actually achieved progress in some areas - like neighbourhood policing and diversifying the make-up of our police. His flaws? Too clever by half for one. I think (and I was a member of ...
My verdict on the debate? Biden easily won... BUT. Sarah Palin could have done much worse and the expectations were that she would. She played to the Republican base and made on serious gaffs. Some of the recent move to Obama has been because undecided voters saw her as a disaster in the making, and they are right. But her performance may well swing some back, at least into the undecided column.
... I've clearly offended Stephen Glenn which I'm truly sorry for as it was meant in a light-hearted way and I wasn't singling him out by any means. I set up my little Facebook group (which I haven't invited anyone to join as it was just a mini-rant really) to highlight that some blogger's content is being obscured by obtrusive headers which get in the way of the content. If that is what people want, then fine, but I do find it tiresome to click on a link to a potentially interesting article to be greeted by a massive header ...
Braintree DC, Witham West Con 508 (40.9; +1.2) Lab 373 (30.1; +3.2) LD Joy Reekie 182 (14.7; -2.2) Green 178 (14.3; -2.1) Majority 135 Turnout 24% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2007 Herefordshire UA, Leominster South Ind 515 (41.4; +20.8) Con 397 (31.9; -12.2) Green 200 (16.1; -4.9) LD Matthew Lane 131 (10.5; -3.7) Majority 118 Turnout 28.1% Ind gain from Con Percentage change is since
Danny Finkelstein of the Times (speaking on the BBC) has just likened Mandelson's third stab at Cabinet to the second marriage of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The Liberal Democrats recognise that the whole political system needs an overhaul, and that, "Politics is broken." The Tories say either that there's no such thing as society, or that "society is broken." Today, Gordon Brown's new cabinet with a retro feel seems to be saying, "Ah, what's the use? Let's retreat... Change is broken."
I'm trying to think of the last time anyone had lower expectations of a politician. And failing. Iain Dale, for instance, "expected Sarah Palin's candidacy to self-combust last night"; and since it didn't, he rather generously gives her the win. I admit that, a few weeks ago, I was worried by Palin. I thought she would mobilise the Republican base; she might be an attractive figure for independent women who might have voted for Hillary; she was a huge asset to the maverick, anti-establishment credentials of the McCain campaign; that a fair amount of media criticism would wash off. I ...
There is an important long term aspect of the Grid's Winter Outlook viz: 144. In terms of the outlook for 2008/09, with a relatively low level of wind generation in the overall generation mix, it is not yet critical to meeting demand even in our 1 in 20 demand levels scenario that we require a significant output from wind. Demand can still be met by other sources of generation and/or imports
Peter Mandelson is an... unusual... political figure. He began his career as an exponent of the blackest of the black political arts. The quintessential back room boy, he was one of the most ruthless of the political spin doctors who jointly founded the New Labour project. Fiercely loyal to Tony Blair, he repressed anti-Labour stories and promoted the New Labour project with a will that one of my friends, who as a Newsnight producer was a regular recipient of Mr. Mandelson's brand of charmless bullying, did not hesitate to describe as "evil". Yet, as a Minister, he was surprisingly clumsy. ...
...without taking. But I sent you away, Oh Mandy! Overheard on Radio 5 live on the way home from my lunch. Someone sounding suspiciously like Alistair Campbell on the subject of Labour protests about The Prince Of Darkness's return to the Cabinet: "These Labour Pygmies... What have they ever achieved, eh? I think it's about time they just shut up and let Labour have A Good Day" When asked whether or Mandy's return spelt the "return" of spin: "I think it's about time people grew up. Some people think spin means lies. Other people think it's about managing your message ...
Sky News currently reporting that David Yelland, former editor of the Sun newspaper will be appointed "Director of Communications" in the new government. This comes at the same time that the Politics Home Index "panel of experts and insiders" are forecasting that the Sun will back the Conservatives at the next election. Any port in a storm...
So its been announced that BERR and Defra are to merge and Ed Miliband will be the new Environment and Energy Secretary. I had thought that Peter Ainsworth (Conservative Environment Spokesperson) would be demoted, and that Alan Duncan (Business Spokesperson) was in danger. I now think they'll both stay where they are, with Jeremy Hunt being the likely occupant of the shadow energy and environment portfolio. Keeping Duncan and Ainsworth where they are would be effectively demoting them both, especially Ainsworth, who would be rural affairs solely, a policy backwater under the latter years of Labour. Mandelson's position is high ...
Ruth Kelly, replaced today as Transport Secretary by Geoff Hoon, has announced that she will step down as MP for Bolton West at the next election. Having already resigned from the cabinet to spend more time with her four young children, Ms Kelly told a meeting of Labour supporters in her constituency that she will not [...]
Rather than lose a lot of replies towards the end of a comment thread, I am posting this reply here. Someone posted concerned that Bennett Road in Garston may have had one side of the road missed off when planning consultation letters were recently sent out. I have looked into this and the mailout will be checked and if parts of the road have been omitted they will get letters.
I admit to never having heard of Emil Nolde until James May named Nolde as his favourite artist. The idea of May having a favourite artist is surreal enough. Then he cited Nolde's crucifixion triptych. You'd never get Jeremy Clarkson saying that. So I had to take a look. I love it. But Hitler apparently did [...]
My week again started on a Sunday, when I left home for Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. This week the European Parliament has been in recess and I often use these occasions to take a delegation of LibDem MEPs somewhere interesting. In view of the recent conflict in Georgia I felt it would be useful to repeat a visit I made 30 months ago to three Southern Caucasus countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. The Azerbaijani President decided, just a couple of days before we left, to call an unscheduled three-day public holiday to coincide with the end of Ramadan. ...
These three young men have received grants from Young Kingston to enable them to attend the Special Olympics National Games in Leicester next year. They will be representing South East region in Ten Pin Bowling. Alec, Michael and Alan all train with Special Olympics Surrey (which includes Kingston). This was set up last year by one of our local heroes, Sue Frett, who has...
That was my first thought when I saw that Ian Blair had resigned as Metropolitan Police Commissioner. I might have lots of other things to be critical of Boris Johnson about, but this isn't one of them. The reaction from the Labour Government probably also shows he was right.
The Guardian is shedding many tears over the demise of Sir Ian Blair this morning. It is absolutely true that his dispatch at the hands of a Conservative mayor is unfortunate however all this tells us is that there is deficit when it comes to democratic accountability for the police. Whether he was a "true progressive within the police" is a contention that can be debated. Leaving aside the highly contentious response to the Stockwell shooting for one second; Blair has stepped-out in defence of highly controversial measures to detain terror suspects without charge for longer than 28 days and ...
Nick Robinson assured us all yesterday that the reshuffle would merely be minor tinkering and finding someone to replace Ruth Kelly. Nice one Nick. Your reputation is safe. Hat-tip Gavin Whenman
And so goodbye Sir Ian, and thanks for everything. The politicisation of the Metropolitan Police, spin, an inability to accept responsibility, yes, I will probably sleep more soundly in my bed knowing that he's gone. It is nice to see David Blunkett's commentary though. "This is rule by autocracy and a dangerous precedent, politicising the police force in Britain." Such a pity he didn't
Nick, it's time to go to DEFCON 4. The Shadow Cabinet you appointed after your election as leader is all very well, but now with what is probably Brown's last reshuffle, it's time to get into General Election mode. And, frankly, that means bringing back the big beasts - and making sure they come back ready to fight. Keeping Vince at the Treasury is a no-brainer, but we need Ming on Foreign Affairs, Charles Kennedy at the Home Office, Chris Huhne back on the Environment and Steve Webb and David Laws need to be in places that truly match their ...
Ok, so he didn't actually say that. But having to turn back to the old guard, including the uber-Blairite Peter Mandelson, cannot really be read any other way. Some will see this reshuffle as shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic. My view is that he wants to prove that the overall situation is so bad that it is not his fault that the Economy is going down the tubes. By bringing in the likes of Beckett and Mandelson he is aiming to show that even the Blairites could do no better. One question is - did he try to convince ...
James Graham has set up a Facebook group against big pictures in people's headers, citing my blog as one of his examples. Harping on about bandwidth etc, any other blogger writers will know that this pic unlike those in your posts do not have the size adjustment facilities as easily accessible. Well I've found where I stored the pic and now am asking what should I do. So I've set up a new poll to ask you my readers what should I do about it. Update: James has offered a peace offering which the blog is trying on for size, ...
Last year Gordon Brown promised an end to spin. This year he brings Peter Mandelson back into government. That is all you need to know about the bankruptcy of Brown's government.
Gordon Brown's cabinet reshuffle is underway today, with the unexpected return of some old faces: The biggest surprise is that Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner since 2004, returns to the cabinet for a third time, this time as Business Secretary. Margaret Beckett is also back, in the new role of "Cabinet Enforcer." John Hutton will replace [...]
Liberal Democrats have won the Kirkleatham Ward By Election for Redcar and Cleveland Council putting control on a knife edge. The Labour/Independent Coaliton have now lost their majority on the 59 seat Council. Lib Dem Candidate, John Hannon (pictured front/centre), stormed to victory, by taking the seat from Labour with a majority of 545 votes. The full result is as follows: John Hannon (Lib Dem) - 1031 Paul Dixon (Lab)............... 486 Brian Mundy (Con)............ 204 Dawn Castle BNP............. 106 Turnout 36.8% Composition of the Council now is: Labour 27 (with by election on 16th October in Labour ward). Lib Dem ...
Just got the news through now of a stunning Lib Dem gain from Labour in the Kirkleatham by-election in Redcar, Teeside, in the North East. By-election held yesterday. Here's the result: John Hannon (Lib Dem) 1031 Paul Dixon (Lab) 486 Brian Mundy (Con) 204 Dawn Castle (BNP) 106 Well done our colleagues in Redcar and Cleveland.
Fascinating developments this morning as Gordon Brown re-shapes his Government. The good news is from what we can tell there is to be a new Department dealing with Energy and Climate Change. At long last! The Lib Dems got there first (yours truly!) by merging the energy portfolio with the DEFRA job, as it's pretty hard to talk about energy policy sensibly without thinking about the implications for climate change. It will be interesting to see if the new department takes over the remaining stages of the Climate Change Bill and accepts our amendment to toughen it up. Perhaps at ...
Last night I went to Toynbee Hall in Tower Hamlets for the first time for 20 years — since I attended Quaker Meeting there, in fact. The late John Profumo was still working there at the time. A lot of things have changed since then and perhaps the most positive novelty is Arts Admin, which now puts [...]
Here's a summary of the key runners and rides in the race to succeed Sir Ian Blair, who jumped before he was pushed resigned yesterday: Sir Hugh Orde, Chief constable, Police Service of Trumpton A favourite for the Met top job. Generally regarded as a safe pair of hands, Orde has walked a fine line in Trumpton, [...]
53) Richard Holloway, Godless Morality: Keeping Religion Out of Ethics (Edinburgh: Canongate 2004, ISBN 1841955787). Richard Holloway is a retired Episcopalian Bishop of Edinburgh who here sets out how he thinks morality should be handled in the public sphere in a multi-cultural society. His basic premise, which I agree with, is that there should be no appeal to religious doctrine or belief as an authority in that context; however people have arrived at their view on the morality of a given issue, in the public sphere they must defend it by reference to common values rather than particular ones. In ...
You sit down to watch Question Time. Tune in, see who's on the show: Jacqui Smith Michael Heseltine Charles Kennedy And, to cap it all off Janet Street Porter. You could see the car crash from two miles away. It's been a bad week for Gordon Brown, again. Smith is responcible for the most unpopular legislature of this government - ID Cards and 42 Days - and now they've managed to drag Heseltine in to beat her with a stick. Now, Heseltine is a Tory, granted. But he can really make a good point in a debate, and when he ...
BBC are reporting Mandy is moving to Business Secretary BERR! I don't know if its a gift or a curse. Gordon has moved someone with no popularity amongst Labour members to the Government post most reviled by Labour members. Its a perfect fit! Seems I was right about Hutton then, though not about Miliband I concede ('HUTTON AND ON?')
As Mrs Quist arrived home, soaked in the all-too-seasonal weather, after dropping the little Quistlets off to school, a pleasant surprise awaited her. A new version of her favourite piece of software, Gimp 2.6, had been released. Gimp, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open source package for creating and editing images, including photos. It's feature-set rivals the better-known Photoshop and it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. If you're already familiar with Photoshop, you'll find switching to Gimp a little confusing at first: pretty much everything's there but it looks different (the "where the bloody hell ...
Good news. Contrary to my deductions of yesterday, Jonny Wright has not been eaten by the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. He is alive and blogging at Hug a Hoodie.
Fri 3rd
07:43
Liberal Democrats win one, Independents win one - Tories lost two in Marches by-elections
Following the Conservatives slim hold in Pimhill by just 10 votes they have gone on to lose two seats in yesterday's by-elections in the Marches. So much for the Tories being the next Government!
Ruth Kelly is not only leaving the cabinet: she is giving up her seat in Parliament at the next election. More on the Guardian site. Editor's note: The Labour majority in Bolton West is 2064.
Kathleen Marshall Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People has slammed the SNP's Sexual Offence's Bill asking for it to be postponed while further evidence to the effect was gathered. The bill which would make it a crime for 13 to 15 year olds girls from having sex with those of the same age she says could well deter underage girls seeking medical advise of assistance if they were also facing criminal proceedings when requiring medical advice. When the Nats proposed the equality measure in June it was counter to the Scottish Law Commission call to decriminalise young teenagers from ...
The Guardian, not a pro-Republican rag, thinks Palin held her own in last night's debate against Biden. I haven't watched the debate yet, but hope it confirms my suspicion that Palin isn't dumb, she's just scared and ill-informed. I agree that maybe running for VP isn't the best time to learn, but if she isn't dumb, she can learn policies. The thing she can't learn is a small-town American
I was walking to my office in the Assembly yesterday morning only to be stopped in my tracks by the reappearance of a full size cardboard cutout of Tory leader Nick Bourne. It was standing inside Tory AM, Angela Burns' open office and has been fully restored to health after the incident last year when it lost its head at the ITV Politician of the Year Awards. The only thing that the effigy was missing was a black eye and a plaster on its forehead. That may seem to be an unnecessarily personal comment and normally I would not have ...
The link is to this case on Bailli. When I first saw the headline I thought it related to an Oldham case of medical misdiagnosis where the rules of court prevented the parents from obtaining a second opinion without permission - a real contravention of a fair trial that is systematic in the Family Division. It, however, refers to the question of having an effective remedy. This issue is not
OK, so some of this stuff was posted BEFORE I was drunk, but that's no excuse! Felicity Lawrence has a scary food thing in the Grauniad that got me all steamed up before I went out, but since I have now had PIE and BEER it seems less important. I'm sure it will regain import in the morning. For Charlotte: Palin-ky and McCain. AWESOME picture of the republican ticket as cartoon characters. Dave Godfrey did Gina's book meme, and did SKIENCE! And I have actually read one of them! YAY! Alix Mortimer posted something very witty and observant about David ...
A select group of Lib Dems (and one normal person) met tonight at the Old Ship in Brighouse. There was me and Mat, burkesworks, Charlotte Gore, Brendan the area co-ordinatey guy, Sarah my ex-lodger she was the normal person), Jim from Bailiff Bridge, and Martin the old time Liberal. There was beer, and there were pies (£2.50 for pie and peas! Woo-hoo!), and Mark and Katie (pub landlordy types) had put so e nuts and biscuity things for nibbles on the tables, and later there was brandy, and there was some talk of politics and half-hearted attempts to recruit Sarah ...
Speaking to Mother just now (Atlanta), she told me that a US TV crew went to visit the part of Alaska you can see Russia from. Hardly anyone they interviewed knew who Sarah Palin was and she has never visited. Managed to track the video down on YouTube: I love that the McCain spokesperson has to look down at her paper to remember who the other Governor turned President was. I need to visit that island sometime soon.
Over on failblog. I have been reading failblog for too long this evening. There might well end up being a posting with a dozen linkies in later on. Ah, what the hell, I've got your attention now, here are the linkies straight away. How can I have missed all this failblog previously when it's from the same stable as my old friends the lolcats? Be polite. Dairy Queen Ad placement. Shit FM Adopt this dog Emergency cock Fairy fail (it's the way the wand bounces that does it for me...) Poster placement Orange juice BBQ Sign fail
Yes, I'll hold.Yes, I'll pay for it.Yes, I'll wait.Yes, I'll shut up. Yes, I'll queue.Yes, I'll stop doing that.Yes, I'll carry an ID card.Yes, you can lock me up for 42 days without charge.Yes, I'll do what I'm told.Yes, I'll support that war.Yes, I'd like more CCTV.Yes, I'm happy to pay more.Yes, I'll do that. Yes. Do what you want. You know best. Only selfish people think about themselves before others. Only criminals are afraid of the Government. Only Terrorists fear detention without charge. You protect me. You save me from myself. Yes, I'll vote for you. Broken Society? Broken ...
Thursday: A Church group has launched a COMPETITION to tell the story of CHRISTMAS in thirty seconds or less. So here goes: "Once upon a time, there probably was a person called Jesus who said some good and wise things. But the Church thought that that wasn't MAGICAL enough to convince ignorant poor people, so they made up a FABULOUS story about parthenogenesis, comets, astrologers, inadequate motel accommodation, and the alien abduction of sheep."Mind you, it's not REALLY a fair question because even the Bible has TWO goes at it and manages to get different versions that don't agree. Mr ...
Fri 3rd
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Day 2830: Did the Turkeys Just Vote for Christmas? Or will the Dead Cat-Monster Keep Bouncing?
Tuesday: It was quite a SHARP INTAKE of BREATH moment when the American Congress voted to reject the multi-billion dollar "Bankers' Unaccountable Rescue Plan" (or BURP) put to them by the Monkey-in-Chief and Secretary Hank "trust me I'm a banker" Paulson. Now, the Senators of Americaland have accepted the Monkey-in-Chief's revised BURP (now with added slap-on-the-wrist and time-on-the-naughty step). But will the Congressmen choose to follow their lead or are they going to remain focused on hanging onto their slender majorities the righteous anger of their constituents at a plan that lets the bankers get away with ruining the economy? ...
