Democracy Day dawns. The first element of democracy is it takes time - so a large pile of bags are packed with all the papers for the day, items needed, and of course we need 2 picnics as no time to come home. People were waiting for us at the Town Hall and around 40 people came in to have a look round, go on Kevin's famous tour, and hopefully learn a bit more about our...
Even with all the work Gordon Brown is doing chasing around the globe saving the World in the end most of the World is waiting for Nov 4th. Never has such an election mattered in our World - not even an American election. I feel it - we all feel it. Yes everybody goes around getting [...]
With the increases in the prices of heating oil and the news that the poorest are paying far too much electricity and gas prices to big energy companies. I have my own reaction to this scandal. My axe! My axe and me get along fine. Its a hearty thud rather than the irritating sound of chainsaw. For me its only fallen stuff I chop up. Heres a poetic celebration for the love of my axe. Written a couple of seasons ago. CHOPPING WOOD Lift a sliver of slate from the earth secure it in your palm and caress the blade ...
I'm very pleased to hear that Gavin Webb, the Liberal Democrat PPC for Burton has finally been reinstated by the Party after enduring two suspensions from Party membership. Details of the going ons can be found on my friend Alex Wilcock's blog. It would seem that, not for the first time, some people have been exceeding their powers within the Party. Unfortunately there is a small "barrack room lawyer" tendency within the Liberal Democrats. This small group of people have instincts at variance with the core values of Liberalism and a creative tendency "to make it up as they go ...
For the first time ever I've voted in a presidential campaign where a candidate has explained just WHAT the President is/does. The framework is clear - To chair the Federal Executive and to oversee the internal management of the Party in a way which ensures consistency of vision and strategy, [...]
The FT reported yesterday that there is talk of a revised Bretton Woods and now politics.co.uk has run this headline: Brown launches Bretton Woods Two. In the whirlwind that has been the global financial crisis it isn't easy to spot trends and predict anything with certainty. But when Peter Mandelson returned to government, I had a feeling that it was part of a Bretton Woods type project.
I filled in my ballot paper for the Lib Dem presidential election today, adding one more to Ros Scott's tally. She will be an effective President, who will really try and reflect the views of grassroots members to the leadership. She will also be a real asset to our campaigning. I hope as many as possible of my fellow Lib Dem members will vote - party democracy doesn't cost you anything and it's your chance to shape the future strategy and organisation of the party.
"Charlotte," people ask, "Why can you not agree that there's room for a little compromise here? Why does it have to be full lassez faire or full Socialism?" In the real world, full lassez faire has never been achieved, and nor do I ever imagine it will be. Getting a Government to stop doing anything is practically impossible. Getting a politician to admit that there are areas of life where they are as impotent as everyone else? That's like getting MPs to vote themselves a pay cut. It's never going to happen. But this blog isn't about practical, sensible, voter ...
What is going on? A Labour Government nationalise the high street banks. It is supported by the Tory opposition. The US President, a right wing Republican to boot, follows suit. The City rallies - the FTSE and Dow Jones record one of their largest single day rises in history. The events of the last two weeks have knocked even my confidence in capitalism and I'm a self confessed free market evangelist. Things are getting so bad, I've started reading the Financial Times and the Economist on a regular basis and guess what: I find that they are even praising our ...
If I post something to this blog it is because I want to discuss it. I have a friends only locked blog for personal stuff, and that I consider a safe space. This? this is public. If your point of view differs from mine, and you can explain this to me, and we can compare reasons why we have come to different conclusions on something, that is a good thing. Even if we can't reach agreement, we can perhaps each understand the other's position better. We learn by being told we are wrong. We learn by being presented with new ...
Here's a quick update on John McCain's sterling efforts to wreck his own brand. To use the lingo, he no longer embodies his narrative - and he's done it all by himself. McCain was the meant to be the straight-talking, non-partisan breath of fresh air. Lately, he's looked more like a risk-taking, negative-campaigning Republican. The original, "good" McCain seemed to turn up for most of the second tv debate. The Washington Post's E.J. Dionne jr. asked: "Who is the real John McCain? Is he the man who used to tout himself as a problem-solver, or is he the desperate candidate ...
And last, but by no means least - Chandila Fernando. Chandila has demonstrated, like his sister, a professional, fresh and sparky approach to campaigning. He is for sure a rising star in the Lib Dem firmament! 1. What motivated you to get involved in politics and does that still motivate you now? Its in our family DNA and totally addictive. My headmaster at junior school said " Mrs Fernando your son is physically present but his mind is on your husband's election campaign.."Politics is a way of life and no matter where I go or what I do it will ...
(As predicted in the comments on my last post). The extra ordinary meeting of the Council called by the Lib Dem group to debate what I consider to be one of the most important issues facing Barnet today will not be held until November 4th. Frankly it's a disgrace that when an extraordinary meeting is called that it is not held at the earliest possible time. We don't use the option of calling this type of meeting very often. In fact I can't remember the last time we did so. Members of the Council deserve better and so do the ...
When i see this image, it brings back some memories. To the people reading this who don't know what the Hell that is. It is a picture of the ex office of Sajjad Karim MEP who was my ex employer. The Property is currently empty and the Liberal Democrats sign has been removed from the front of the building, I'm sure it made the building look better with the sign at the front. Saj Karim MEP has put the building on rent with a local estate agent Petty for £18,000 per year. Maybe it will come of rent in June ...
Cardiff Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor Gareth Aubrey makes a compelling case for supporting Kirsty Williams to be Welsh Liberal Democrat leader on his excellent blog. Now if I could only work out how to get the campaign logo onto my sidebar.
Its good to see that there is a £1.7m boost to the Arts in Wales. But is this really the right time? With repossessions, private businesses struggling, redundancies and so on. Anyway there it is. £1m of this money is going to increase the exhibition space of the National Museum. Good to hear that the atrocious plaster casts of the stone monoliths will be going. Its claimed there is going to be 40% more exhibition space on the ground floor. Now the ground floor is not set out in a manner conducive for picture hanging. Contemporary sculpture is not going ...
Boris Johnson has unveiled the first images of the alternative Routemasters that he hopes will replace the bendy bus. I never understood what he had against the bendy bus. Admittedly I'm not a cyclist in central London (who seem to be their biggest critics) but it seems to me that the bendy bus gets people on and off more quickly and are able to get to those parts of the city which the Routemaster can't reach (such as the Kingsway underpass) which means you get round London much more quickly. All the Routemaster does is clog up Oxford Street with ...
Having already posted Ros Scott's answers, here are Lembit's. I have made it clear, despite the siren calls of his detractors, that I am supporting Lembit. I think he has an extraordinary ability not only to connect with our membership but with the wider electorate. If we are to achieve Nick's stated aim of doubling our number of MPs we can't do that without both increasing the membership and engaging with the electorate.. 1. What motivated you to get involved in politics and does that still motivate you now? My family's whole life has been changed by international politics, and ...
I have been saying for some weeks that this is all over. Obama is now posting leads of up to 14% in some polls and is leading polls across the board. Including it would seem the poll they all want to lead; that of 7-Eleven coffee drinkers. Voters simply pick which mug they want their caffeine hit in to register their support; currently Obama is on 59% and McCain 41%. According to the site "7-Election voters have successfully predicted the results of the last two elections; In the 2000 7-Election our George W Bush cup outsold Al Gore's by just ...
Today is Blog Action Day, the day in the year where bloggers are encouraged to post about a specific subject. This year the theme is poverty. Bloggers around the world are today posting earnest comments on poverty, so I thought I'd stick to the theme but give you something different: Pants to Poverty. Here's a bit about these guys: The Pants Story Well, it's been a crazy, beautiful, exciting,
Having charged down to Cardiff on the train after FPC last night, and driven back to Bedford via Llandrindod Wells today......I am a little zonked but inspired about what a beautiful country we live in. The Brecon Beacons, the Malvern Hills, Worcester, Stratford on Avon.........all enhanced with the gold bronze and scarlet of Autumn......aaaaaah! So what we all want is that this is a country enhanced by having a Liberal Democrat government :-) So............our chance to begin to shape that future in choosing our future President. I asked all three candidates to answer 20 questions. I have made my decision, ...
My plan this evening was to email out the final batch of photos taken at conference, sort and upload to the party's Flickr site the photos taken on Monday with the Gurkhas and Joanna Lumley (outside Parliament), send a few off to the MPs who attended and then complete the North East Democrat, the regional email newsletter I produce. Inevitably, the list was not completed. I didn't get to touch
Thanks to The Times' Sam Coates' Red Box blog for drawing attention to this pithy comment from Danny Alexander, the Lib Dems' Manifesto Group chair: In the space of 24 hours we have seen the end of 42-day detention, the scrapping of plans for secret inquests and now the abolition of Key Stage Three tests. Just [...]
With our Superman Prime Minister currently bestriding the globe like a Colossus of financial acuity, it was left to Harriet Harman at today's Question Time to bat for the Government and laud the financial bail-out as Gordon Brown's Dunkirk. It was not her finest hour. Ms Harman struggled to sound on top of her brief [...]
The Lib Dem party presidential election is the first election I have ever voted in. And this is the way I have voted and urge Liberal Democrats to vote this way to. 1. Lembit Opik 2. Ros Scott 3. Chandila Fernado Cant wait for the results!
Well its no doubt happening to Bloggers already whether they are aware of it or not, or choose to acknowledge it or not. But government spying is stepping up a division . The data communication bill has been proposed and both Cardiif Lib Dem M.P. Jenny willott and Peter Black are against it as one may expect from Liberals. Whether it will get through both Houses of Parliament as Mr.Black mentions is doubtful. But if it does expect Rhetoric to be leading a march! Miss Willott said "The idea that the Government could be keeping tabs on everyone's phone and ...
That's of the Liberal Democrats not of the USA, obviously. Well the ballot paper has arrived and its a good moment to sum up my feelings about this, actually rather important, internal election. It is no secret that I have declared for Baroness Ros Scott and will be voting for her number 1. I gave my reasons here a few weeks ago but they can summed up by comment made by "John" to a post on
While some Parents have grown up with Take Out food diets they are hardly likely to be good role models for there children. Schools are seen now as not just having a role teaching the three R 's but in giving and promoting a healthy diet amongst children. There was cross party support for Liberal Democrat Health and finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson in her healthy eating measure for schoolchildren. Mrs Randerson said "I am delighted that Assembly Members have supported this proposed law that would ensure the best possible nutritional standards for our school children. Although we have some time ...
The American Future, a programme that is going to be shown on BBC 2 on Friday has a tone to it that its actually something that needs some looking at, so I thought I would give it a stage. The Programme looks at what the two presidential candidates in the USA have said. Every ones favourite Obama has said that if it was up to him "we wouldn't be in that war, in the first place". A great view, and something that all Lib Dems will agree should have happened at the time when Bush and his donkey Blair thought ...
I have just voted for Ros Scott as first preference to be Party President and, as second preference, for Chandila Fernando as second preference.
Must be a real day of fellowship for Watford's Conservatives ...
I thought today, as the ballot papers landed, would be a good time to give you another snippet from the Bloggers' Interview with Tavish. When asked who he was backing for the Party Presidency, he smiled and said "I hope Ros wins." So, he's joining man of the moment Vince Cable, Party legends Shirley and Paddy and hundreds of activists from around the country in giving Ros public backing. This is very good news for the Ros campaign.... LibDig This!
"Desperate and pathetic" - That's the view from Labour's Alan Stanton on Charles Adje's wretched defence of his conduct over the Ally Pally Licence at Monday's Full Council. It is incredible that he has not been forced to resign. You can read Alan''s full comments on his own site here. Follow the update link at the bottom, but here are some telling pointers: "The Council meeting was his opportunity to give a full and clear account of events... Instead, Cllr Adje chose to blur the issues... I don't know the truth of what happened. But if I'd been chair of ...
Like most members of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, I've been thinking about this leadership contest for quite some time. It's safe to say that nothing in the two Federal leadership races I've experienced could have prepared me for how different this race feels. Those two races were of course fairly abstract for me. In 2006 I was just Chair of Manchester Universities Liberal Democrats so I was
Some odd, exasperating and downright depressing stories stories have caught my attention in the last couple of days. Watching TV yesterday I was surprised to hear School's Minister, Jim Knight, suggesting that schools are not spending enough time telling kids about the whys and wherefores of the clitoris. Not something I ever expected hear from the [...]
This message is purely for members of the Liberal Democrats - please ignore if that doesn't apply to you. My ballot paper for the election for the President of the party has just arrived, and I think I've made it pretty clear that I am supporting Ros Scott. I've written about her energetic campaign before, and I've also indicated (hopefully not too subtly) that I am not...
This is doing the rounds at the moment, but if you haven't seen it, it's well worth a couple of minutes. What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, following the debate,including a three month-old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter? What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law [...]
Nature deals with overpopulation of a species by killing lots of them off, typically by starvation or disease. Nature isn't very nice. Humans are nicer (or so we like to think). We've long since given up putting our babies inside other animals to eat them from inside out, so we're well ahead of parasitoid wasps before we even start. As we struggle to deal with a world population of 6.7 billion and face the prospect of that figure topping 9 billion by the middle of the century, we need to tackle serious problems. Let's suppose that letting a large proportion ...
Just had an email from RedState.com. It may give you an idea of where the Repubicans' heads are at right now (my emphasis): I've heard from many of you who share our concerns that November 4, 2008 has the potential to not be a very good night for Republicans. The race at the head of the ticket is anyone's call at this point, but there are a number of House and Senate races out there in which we are quite likely to succeed. These are races in which contributions from real people–not lobbyists or professional "bundlers"–can make a real difference. ...
So claims the Shropshire Star (hat tip: Jonathan Calder): Sources say Mr Opik has secured the support of only six of the Liberal Democrat MPs - less than a tenth of the total... One insider described Mr Opik as 'a joker'. That latter word for some reason makes me think of a 70s song which had a brief 80s revival. How's this for weirdly appropriate lyrics: Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah Some call me the gangster of love Some people call me maurice Cause I speak of the pompitous of love People talk about me, baby Say ...
Each day, as the clock ticks remorselessly round to 3pm, the butterflies start their daily exercise in my stomach. For 3pm is the time we get to hear who has been evicted from "I'm a Councillor...Get me out of here!" So far, I've survived three evictions. Leaving us this week have been Gill Cartwright and Kate Davies for the Conservatives and Cyndi Hughes for Labour. Now, though, I'm up against
I do feel sorry for the keeper of the home affairs brief these days. Its not the typical kind of pity, sprung from the tug of common humanity, but rather a sadness watching one who has utterly forgotten the meaning of the word. Her policies are irrelevant in the current political landscape to boot. Not only has Jacqui Smith proposed the potential revocation of human dignity and liberty of any Briton (for a maximum of 42 days) and lost, she has also had to try to make a waves with an renewed call to tap EVERY telephone, email and SMS ...
An American friend living in London posted this today, it is also on a view internet forums: Sometimes the best way to see the flaws in an image is to examine its opposite... What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, following the debate, including a three month-old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter? What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard
Once upon a time, the economy was recovering, shares were shooting up and our saviour, the blessed Gordon, was even (it was rumoured) thinking of calling a General Election so the entire population could express their gratitude at the masterly way he'd piloted HMS Great Britain through the icy waters of the failing international economy. Yes, those were the good times. The happy times. They lasted from about 11am on Monday to sometime early yesterday afternoon. Save up those joyful tales for your grandchildren. Wednesday has dawned and it's almost as if I've been transported in time back to the ...
It is said that the seeds of the next war are sown in the decisions made in at the end of the last one. As with wars, so it seems with banking crises. Last week I broadly welcomed the bailout approach adopted by Brown in contrast to the Paulson Plan in the US which was already failing. Not that Brown can take a credit for inventing the approach; a very similar scheme was used in Sweden in the early 90s and very recently by Warren Buffet, the world's most successful investor, to rescue Goldman Sachs so the precedents were clear. ...
It is Blog Action Day today. The theme this year is World Poverty seeing as this blog started with the Make Poverty History March it is like we've come full circle like we did on that glorious summer's day in 2005 but what has changed? Sadly the gap between the world's rich and poor is still gaping. 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. That is one person every three and a half seconds. AIDS kills over 2 million people a year, that's one every 15 seconds with the toll highest in Africa. Despite what some on ...
Blimey! "Michael Portillo, the former Tory minister who chaired the panel of judges, said their decision was "emotionally draining" because they initially split their votes between Adiga and one other on the shortlist of six. The final selection meeting, he said, brought all of the male judges to tears", In The Independent today. And what were the female judges doing when all this angst was going on? And what was the other short listed book that at first split the votes of the Well, I'm happy enough with that! Although my favourite of the Booker Short list was Sea of ...
I missed an important piece of news from earlier in the week. On Monday the Tories announced that Network Rail would lose its monopoly for maintenance work under a future Tory government. Train operators would be invited to bid against the rail infrastructure owner to win contracts to maintain the network. There are shades of a particularly vicious mugger who, having left his victim lying bleeding in the gutter, decides to turn around and administer another beating just for good measure. Rail privatisation has been an unmitigated disaster and the Tories should hang their heads in shame at the debacle ...
Good news for residents in Blackridge the Scottish Government has agreed funding for them to have a platform as part of the Bathgate to Airdrie railway reinstatement programme. While the Scotsman may be heaping praise on Fiona Hyslop for this success I'm like to single out independent councillor Stuart Borrowman who actually really got this campaign going and was convener of PlatformBlackridge a group which had all party support. No doubt the council will pass the passing application for the station at a nod now and Blackridge can become better connected than it has been for years.
Well, I got the presidential ballot papers today. Lembit has the better looking and set-out bit of A4 although his pitch seems to be "I can build on my high profile" for the benefit of the party of course but I'm not surely sure he really needs to or needs the position of president to do it. At least he has a realistic membership target: "Achieve positive membership growth by 2010". I seem to recall Simon promising something ridiculous like doubling membership last time. Ros's was the second best A4 although I'm not sure it was really necssary to have ...
For those of you who missed it this morning, here is a quote from today's Thought for the Day by The Rt Rev. James Jones: Tomorrow Daniel enters the Lion's Den up here in Liverpool. The author of the report that recommends ' the rolling up' of the regeneration strategies of the Northern cities is coming to the Anglican Cathedral to face the music! The Dean's arranged for him to debate with the city's leaders and academics. Dr Tim Leunig of the Policy Exchange is an economic historian with radical views. As well as questioning the value of regeneration schemes ...
The Abbott family, Chris, Glynis and daughter Kelly, have cast their votes for Lembit Opik in the election for Party President. The choice wasn't difficult as the other two are totally unknown establishment types and will probably, like current President Simon Hughes, never set foot in Redcar. Lembit last came to support us in Redcar during the 2001 General Election, when he spoke at Stan Wilson's adoption meeting as Parliamentary Candidate. We like Lembit, he is high profile and is a household name. He was identified as being the most Liberal in the Parliamentary Party and like us he defended ...
The Metropolitan Police Authority (on which I served for five years) is having a 'have your say' on policing in London to hear what Londoners think should be policing priorities for 2010/11. Whatever I think about the new management - for those who don't get my nuance - I mean Boris Johnson, who has taken over the chair of the authority (which is why Ian Blair went bye-bye) - it is still an opportunity to say what you want the police to concentrate on in future. The real question is whether contributions will see an affect on outcome as we ...
See what John Cleese thinks about Sarah Palin. "Monty Python could have written this!"
The Friends of Magdalen Green are having another one of their excellent coffee mornings a week on Saturday (25th October) at Dundee West Church on Perth Road. It takes place between 10am and 12 noon - all welcome; admission £1.50. Stalls include cake & candy, cards & crafts and calendars & books.
The manifestos and ballot paper for the LibDem presidential election arrived this morning and in my case, the latter has already been filled in and sent off. I gave (Baroness) Ros Scott my first preference, as I had declared I would do, as I think she has both the proven single-minded dedication and the calm, [...]
The US election has as they say over there "gotten" nasty. While it may have been a joke to say that they only difference between a pitbill and a Hockey mom was the lipstick, I really don't understand why American pitbulls wear lipstick. The bare faced lies that Sarah Palin has been prepared to sell to the American public: that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists" etc. either mark her out as a truly exceptionally stupid woman or they demonstrate a contempt for the American people that is, quite literally, an insult to their intelligence. It is now hardly a ...
Two weeks ago, I published my manifesto for English Candidates Committee, complete with cute picture of my beloved cat, Cincinnati, with my personal Lib Dem ballot box. And then I waited... and waited... and waited for a ballot paper that never came. So, being an curious sort of soul, I rang Cowley Street to see what was happening. Paul Rustad, the friendly administrator of the English Party,
Good News! Just received a very reassuring email from the Halifax which tells me 'Your Halifax Credit Card is always there when you need it'. So that's okay then, panic over.
When my favourite newspaper speaks, you have to listen: The Liberal Democrats' unofficial campaign to stop Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik from becoming party president appears to have succeeded, it was reported today.Sources say Mr Opik has secured the support of only six of the Liberal Democrat MPs - less than a tenth of the total.The view is that Mr Opik's relationships with the weather forecaster Sian Lloyd and Gabriela Irimia, one half of the Cheeky Girls, have embarrassed the party, not least its leader, Nick Clegg.One insider described Mr Opik as 'a joker'.Though the Star calls Ros Scott the favourite, ...
Spider safari....
Meeting to discuss Wallington Station Access Scheme. I met with engineers & officers to see the proposed scheme to be submitted to TfL for funding. We discussed the proposed move of the bus stop closer to the bridge to make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road safely. In light of the concerns expressed at [...]
My hostility to the ideas behind the Fernando bid for the Party Presidency is pretty well known. I am happy to credit him with bringing ideas to the table that have started a debate but giving that credit does not mean that those ideas are automatically entitled to support. Below I talk a little about his plans to radically change our image something that in and of itself may not be a bad thing but the question always has to be what is going to be put in place of our 'brand'. Key criteria should be whether any change is ...
I have received my ballot paper, and I have voted and it is ready to go back. Many of you reading this probably have received it and I urge you to get voting. The Party Presidential job, isn't a joke. We have three candidates out of which two are the leading horses in this race. Lembit is a man of true colours, he has been so loyal to the party, that if he had to get married the party would be the ideal partner for him! Ros Scott is a hard working Campaigner, and she like Lembit is someone who ...
Meeting with Superintendent Warren Shadbolt on the New Domestic Violence Strategy This meeting had been arranged as I had some concerns about the new Domestic Violence Strategy and Superintendent Shadbolt had offered to give me an update on the changes. I was worried that the new proposals meant that there would be less safe refuge places for [...]
I am not sure that everyone is aware of this so this post is really to remind people that the deadline for sending in comments/objections re this planning application is 17th November. I will keep on posting on this subject. Previous posts will either be further down this page or in the earlier pages on this site. The three Lib Dem Councillors for Cressington ward are all actively opposing the application. And a reminder that the website set up by a local resident to help people campaign against the plans can be found here.
Baroness Ros Scott, one of the three Liberal Democrat Presidential hopefuls has written the following for www.colin-ross.org.uk
Last night I went along to help with an event organised by and for young people as part of Local Democracy Week. Using rooms in the Town Hall, there were "table debates " on subjects ranging from bullying through to fundraising. I was one of the councillors (along with Labour's Richard McLinden) on the table debating disability awareness and disability issues. It was a good opportunity to get a lot of views from the young people, some of whom were wheelchair users or who had other disabilities. We talked about hidden disabilities and the reasons why disabled people appeared behind ...
Both Ros and Lembit are strong Candidates, whoever we get from them two can really make a difference to our Party, and they will be a vital key into our success in the next general election, local elections and European Elections. It's a tough race, between Ros and Lembit. Who do you think is going to win?
.. I joined a choir at work yesterday. I haven't read music properly for years but luckily I hadn't entirely forgotten what all those dots and lines stand for. Someone told me that singing is a particularly good way of avoiding stress. I don't know about that but it was certainly good fun.
Further to yesterday's piece about Rhondda Cynon Taf banning sixth formers at Tonypandy Community College from putting sugar in their tea, they have apparently relented. The Council has now lifted the ban and replaced it with a two spoonfuls-only rule. I am not sure which is the worst example of a nanny-state, telling you that you cannot have sugar or rationing it on your behalf.
Steve Bell's brilliant cartoon in the Guardian yesterday captured the end of Thatcherism. Copyright © Steve Bell 2008 At last people are recognising the consequences of an ideology based on individualism and competition. Thatcherism provided a justification for greed, replaced honest investment in business with gambling on stock prices, ousted ethical trading...
Ryedale District Council has proved once again that it continues to ignore young people and stands in the way of opening opportunities to improve their lives. The council has approved plans to go ahead with a government initiative to provide free swimming for the over 60's for two years. In the same breath, it has refused to provide this opportunity for the under 16's. That is not just short- sighted. That is age discrimination. Ryedale is ranked as one of the worst areas in the country for providing swimming facilities. Why, when 'childhood obesity' is a buzzword both at a ...
"Being part of an inclusive, modern monarchy, William and Harry will be delighted that they and their close circle can arouse such strong emotions from Britain's homosexual subjects." Adrian Gillan, quoted in the Telegraph
Ahh, have lost the lead thingy that goes in the sprocket thingy to upload photos from spider safari, see previous blog.. never mind, have just watched two movies on DVD that both had Hugh Jackman in (chosen without realising he was in both) and it occurred to me that he has a chameleon ability to completely submerge into his characters and become unrecognisable. I can recommend both movies if you didn't get to see them at the cinema. 'The Fountain' (Tree of Life/hero quest/eternal searching...that sort of thing - filming slightly obscures the interwoven stories but some damn fine imagery ...
Last week, Leo Hickman at the Guardian observed, was a great time to be burying bad news. Like the governmental go-ahead for expansion at Stansted airport for example: Would he [Geoff Hoon] have dared do so at any other time given that it was just 72 hours ago that the government's committee on climate change, chaired [...]
It's something that haunts the mind of all low paid or expendable workers in a society - you're job security only lasts as long as the bubble does. With today's announcement of a large increase in unemployment (standing, I believe, at 5.7% today) this can only mean bad things for those amongst us who are not privileged enough to have jobs that only renew themselves upon mishap or election. I seem to recall mentioning the figure of 28% in this blog in the past. That's the estimated percentage of people in Hyndburn who are, as the Office of National Statistics ...
Commenting on today's Government figures that show unemployment has risen by 164,000 between June and August to 1.79 million, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott said: "These figures come as no surprise and are only likely to get worse over the coming months. The effects of the banking crisis have filtered down to the real economy and are affecting people across the county. "Now the banking rescue package has been agreed, the Government must turn its attention to unemployment and inflation. Real families across Britain are suffering, not just those working in the Square ...
This meme scared me. It only asks two questions, and yet it's got me down to a tee: Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...You Are a Bette! {mm.bette_.jpg} You are a Bette -- "I must be strong" Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective. How to Get Along with Me Stand up for yourself... and me. Be confident, strong, and direct. Don't gossip about me or betray my trust. Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side. Give me space to be alone. ...
How dare you suggest that people should respect female politicians simply for being female, you patronising idiot? Do you just not get that what you are doing is the corollary of and the reinforcement of this kind of attitude? I have no respect for Blears and Harperson and Smith and their ilk because they are the product of positive discrimination, and they illustrate my point that it is awful. They are clearly vastly out of their depth. They are clearly ill-suited to the positions they fill. They toe the party line with fanaticism because they are too fearful or too ...
Alan West yesterday, hurriedly throwing his toys out of the pram following the government's defeat in the Lords on 42 days detention, on the current terrorism threat facing the UK: Some of the measures that we have put into place in the past 15 months have made us safer, but that does not mean that we [...]
Why does the Government have to censor everything we ever do? I don't think it should and most of you reading this Post are thinking the same thing. This Government is really going full out of destroying the civil liberties of people. First the 42 Days which was killed by the Lords on Monday and now they is warnings that the Government should drop the stupid idea they have of wanting to store all phone calls and emails on a large database. The Government cant keep the details of Prisoners safe, how the heck are they meant to keep logs ...
My new friends at the New Statesman have just posted an article by Chris Huhne on the government's defeat over 42 days' detention for terrorist suspects: In reality, the Counter Terrorism Bill was all about making Labour look tough on terrorism by reducing public debate to a number: those in favour of higher numbers are meant to be tougher than those in favour of lower ones. Our opposition will be thrown back in our face in the rhetorical aftermath of an atrocity. When parliament rejected 90 days, Kitty Ussher MP warned that opponents would be left with 'blood on their ...
It seems to me rather strange that her Majesties official opposition has very little to say about how to resolve the current economic situation apart from sitting like nodding dogs waiting for a bone from the table. Or is it that as many people are now telling me that they feel that the Conservatives simply do not have a clue and merely rely on the odd snipe or two where they feel they can get a...
Chandila Fernando, one of the three Liberal Democrat Presidential hopefuls has written the following for www.colin-ross.org.uk
Good stuff in the Guardian: From Diane Abbott and Frank Dobson on the left to David Davis and Dominic Grieve on the right, democratic politicians came together to say "enough is enough". Let the misnamed, misguided "war on terror" that replaced law and ethics with permanent exceptionalism be over. Let a new anti-terror effort begin, based on the values that bind our society together and distinguish it from those where tyranny and terrorism are rife.Make no mistake: their lordships were glorious - the cross-bench independents in particular. The home secretary's statement last night seemed to revive the discredited yah-boo of ...
The Liberal Democrats today called for Government action to shift from bailing out banks towards helping people struggling as a result of the financial crisis. Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable set out proposals to assist families by avoiding repossessions, tackling the social housing backlog and lowering bills through competitive energy...
I'm with Chicky Yog on this: how hard is it to wash your damn hands? I mean, clearly, lots of the people on buses have touched stuff that other passengers have touched, so it's conceivable that they have other people's shit on their hands, rather than their own, but seriously? More than 50% of men in some cities have SHIT ON THEIR HANDS? I am so glad I hadn't eaten my breakfast when I read that. I now have the urge to wear gloves EVERYWHERE. anisiriusmagus and other Cushites might want to check out today's edition of dw_daily. I do ...
The death of Eddie Thompson has been announced by Dundee United FC this morning. The people of Dundee, whatever football team they support will learn of the news with great sadness. Eddie Thompson made an immense contribution to the sporting and business life of the City and he will be very sadly missed. Here is the statement issued by Dundee United FC this morning : It is with great sadness that Dundee United announce the death of Chairman Eddie Thompson, who died today after a long illness borne with great fortitude, much bravery and a dogged determination to carry out ...
Redcar and Cleveland Council has invested in a licence to thrill for its spectacular Fireworks Night display on The Stray at Redcar on Wednesday, November 5. The display, featuring 15,000 aerial fireworks, will be fired off in a secure area on The Stray car park, starting at 7.30pm, against a background of eight James Bond film music scores. Organiser Steve Illidge, director of Highlight Pyrotechnics, explained: "In the opening sequence, we've got several litres of petrol ejected into the air on fire, creating large rolling balls of flame fired in time to the 007 theme. "When we play From Russia ...
New figures released by the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that over half the children in Redcar constituency are growing up in poverty. Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Redcar, Ian Swales said "these figures are a disgrace. Nine years after Tony Blair pledged to end child poverty in a generation things seem to be going in the other direction. Studies show that children who grow up in poverty are likely to become poor adults. Social mobility is getting worse through Labour policy decisions. For example the introduction of student tuition fees means fewer children from poorer backgrounds are now ...
Here at 10 Cambridge Avenue, just off the Kilburn High Road, we have the Animals War Memorial Dispensary of the RSPCA. http://www.rspca.org.uk/ It's a great building and dates to the early 1930's. Formally opened in March 1931 it treated over 6,000 animals in its first year. The dispensary is still incredibly busy today and consisted when opened of a surgery and waiting room, kennels and glass-fronted cattery. I don't think the animal holding facility is still operational today. The front of the building has a large bronze plaque above the door as a memorial to animals killed in the first ...
Lord Carlile of Berriew is much maligned by some Liberal Democrats for his role as the independent reviewer of anti-terrorist laws, however this article in the Independent demonstrates that he remains a liberal to the core. Alex Carlile has condemned government plans to create a giant "Big Brother" database holding information about every phone call, email and internet visit made in the UK. He said the "raw idea" of the database was "awful" and called for controls to stop government agencies using it to conduct fishing expeditions into the private lives of the public. He is not alone in his ...
The "I told you so" game continues over at the Times, whose list of the prescient includes an astrologer, two websites and a Russian Marxist economist executed in 1938. Only two UK politicians feature on the list and they are, of course, Vince Cable and Lord Oakeshott (the latter by dint of his warnings about [...]
...and a few matches from my season (that's just for starters). It has come to the attention of several Lib Dem Bloggers that there is speculation in the Evening Standard that Gordon Brown may be going to use his boost from Economic crisis to go again with the snap general election. This could turn the Glenrothes date from a by election into a General Election and send us all scurrying back to our own seats. "Feverish speculation is sweeping Westminster that the PM could well go to the country to seek a mandate in the midst of the current financial ...
Following rumours in the Evening Standard and Financial Times the blogosphere is suddenly all-a-flutter with rumours that Gordon Brown will call a general election in the next few days, making polling day 6th November. Bollocks will he. It's a fun rumour (Irfan Ahmed even goes as far to suggest that, now the rumour exists, Brown will be bottling it if he doesn't call an election, which seems a little harsh). But I have to agree with Darrel Goodliffe on this one. For Brown to call an election would be absurd. Has anyone noticed what time of year it is? Yes, ...
I've just read that as the SNP head for their conference in Perth Alex Salmond is still churning out the same unaltered mantra: "We have the talent, energy and ambition to match the success of neighbouring, independent nations - indeed, independence is the natural state for nations like our own." Just which neighbour is he looking at. To the North West we have Iceland still struggling on the verge of insolvency but being greatly aided by many countries, its Scandinavian cousins and the UK in the form of finances and business like Philip Green looking to buy up companies. So ...
Tonight I am really thrilled to hear of yet another demonstration of just how exceptional this man is. Until last week I had no idea of the critical role Lembit Opik had played in the Northern Ireland peace process. Later this week he will be telling colleagues in Northern Ireland "The success of the peace process in Northern Ireland can inform our work as we attempt to tackle the terror of guns, knives, bombs and physical aggression n our increasingly violent society" He is meeting with them to discuss the successes and the lessons from the peace process with a ...
