I think we're all aware of Melanie Phillips' rabid views on the Palestine/Israel conflict, but her latest rant in the Spectator demonstrates her complete lack of humanity. She writes: "..The vast majority of Gazans who have been killed were Hamas terrorists" She goes on: "While some civilian casualties are unfortunately inevitable, Israel is clearly attempting to minimise them" Really? Innocent Palestinian children's lives clearly count for very little. How disgusting and callous. Her real target is of course Ed Husain, former member of Hizb ut Tahrir, who she supported when he was critical of Islamist ideology, but now he's made ...
Before the first day of the New Year is out I'd better get around to making my 9 predictions of 2009. 1. There will be a General Election. I expect it around April and not being held of to the same time as the Euro elections in June. Because I don't think Gordon is convinced holding off once polls appear to be in favour too long will do any good.. ...for the party, bugger the country. 2. Liverpool will hold on to win the Premier League for the first time. 3. The Nats will start to drop in the polls ...
I had to write some non-blog stuff yesterday, and today I've got a killer migraine, so this week's Big Finish A Week will be tomorrow after work. In the meantime, a Happy New Year to all of you on the Gregorian, Discordian or ISO calendars, which I suspect is most of you, and apologies for my [...]
A mixture of wishes and predictions for the forthcoming year: 1. There will be a General Election in 2009, most probably in the autumn. The Liberal Demorats will slightly increase their number of MPs, holding on to all four of their Welsh seats. Gordon Brown will emerge from the election with a single figure majority. 2. The Swans will finish comfortably in the top half of the Championship but will miss the play-offs. 3. Rhodri Morgan will resign as Welsh Labour Leader on schedule and will be succeeded by Carwyn Jones. 4. Nick Bourne will survive the year as Welsh ...
2008 was a thoroughly bemusing year for me. I found very little to inspire me politically and I think this blog has suffered as a result. If I began the year with an excess of optimism, the opposite seems to be the case by the end of the year. It was a year where the political class seemed to lurch from one crisis to the next, learning nothing in the process. The Derek Conway debacle has lead to, well, pretty much nothing. The Lisbon Treaty debacle lead to the Lib Dems engaging in stunt politics for almost entirely the wrong ...
I just wanted to take this moment and wish you a Happy New Year. I hope that 2009 brings prosperity and joy to you. I wish you well and much happiness.
Yes, I know. I am over-obsessed with the US Presidency. I just think that we can fart about all we like in politics in the UK, but the US President is the person who really sets the agenda for the world. I sat through the 2000 US election debacle, enduring excruciating pain as I boned up on the hanging, pregnant, dimpled etc chads of the Florida scenario. The election of George Bush, followed by
Carers Partnership Board Meeting The Board needed to decide whether to support a funding bid for an Alzheimers Café project. Debbie Brennan talked about the details and aims of the scheme. Some questions were asked and we learnt that the project would be complementary to the seven-day a week Oakleigh Specialist Dementia Day Care service. Debbie [...]
Visit to Proposed Roundshaw Skatepark Site I met with Malcolm Barker the Beddington & Wallington Lead Locality officer, and Mark Dalzell Head of Parks at Roundshaw Recreation ground to look at the proposed locations for a ramps and wheels play area ('skatepark' used as shorthand for this area which would actually be suitable for bikes [...]
Health & Well Being Scrutiny Committee Agenda Planning and Links Meeting. We held our usual agenda planning meeting first. Having heard about a number of different plans by various health bodies for the Sutton Site I said that I thought it would be useful if we could have an overview of all the different proposals for [...]
Last night was an unusual but enjoyable New Year's Eve for us. We spent the four hours in the run-up to midnight on the M4. I think we passed more rabbits than cars. Radio 1 did a fantastic New Year's Eve hits mix. It really was exceptional. Brilliantly selected tunes, fantastically well mixed. (And no adverts, of course, due to the unique way the BBC is funded...) And a superb sound tapestry at
....A couple of snaps from my trip to my roots in Cornwall over the last few days. The top one is from Widemouth Bay looking down towards Trevose Head at sunset last night. Then there's St Marwenne's Church in Marhamchurch. Beats a bus ad campaign anyday!
I'm awake, honest. I've had enough coffee to get me going again anyway. Doing some tidying up to my LJ, renaming tags, etc. This seems like a good enough reason to rename one of them, plus 2008 has ended so it's time to start a new 'life' tag for this year. Appears I've posted less about what's been going on in my life this year than any other calender year that I've had the LJ. I guess being happy gives me less to write about, right? Completely skint, but there y'go, can't have everything. I don't do new years resolutions, ...
Yes, even I have the odd attack of sarcasm when confronted by an anonymous Tory commenter.
My hopes for the year to come are fairly simple, I think. That everyone I care about makes it through without pain or suffering. I know this is unlikely, especially given my nan's current state of health, but I hope for it none-the-less. That Mat and I continue vomit-makingly happy. We have supported each other through a lot of stuff this year (including our first argument!) and a lot of what has happened would have been unbearable without him. That we both learn to plan better. We need to schedule some time each week for tidying, for example. Then we ...
Thu 1st
18:29
Clegg: Seen as "down-to-earth"..."someone I could relate to"...not confused with poshie Cameron and ...
Some interesting research today in the Independent: The research concluded that Mr Clegg was the Liberal Democrats' best asset even though he is unknown to many voters. The party's strategy in the new year will be based on giving him as high a profile as possible. It's the old story. When shown photos and videos of Cleggie, the great British public warm to him. The biggest problem is that they
A very happy new year to all readers. Many thanks indeed for reading this humble weaker-than-water blog over 2008. During last year, I wrote 1022 posts. Many thanks to everyone who commented on posts. There were 1544 comments made. Just over half the posts received at least one comment. The top commented posts were (title followed by number of comments): 1. Davis: A prima donna act & a
Slight detour from politics here to a seasonal story. The mental health charity, Mind, has warned people not to make New Years resolutions that focus on 'physical imperfections' because they can lead to a negative self-image. Paul Farmer, Mind Chief Executive, said; "New Year's resolutions can sometimes focus on our problems or insecurities such as being overweight, feeling unhappy in our jobs or feeling guilty about not devoting enough time to friends and family throughout the year." We chastise ourselves for our perceived shortcomings and set unrealistic goals to change our behaviour, so it's not surprising that when we fail ...
Edit: Back up now We were having too many requests to the site for our shared server to cope and unfortunately caused a poor service for others. If you have the technical knowledge of other hosting solutions and would like to volunteer your services please let me know.
Couldn't really put my thoughts about 2008 into words as it's been such a mixed bag for me personally and politically. I've picked four images that I feel sum up the year. The image below was published in April and still didn't portray the amount of chaos that was to follow in the summer and autumn months. As my one defining memory of the last recession was being in the back of my parents car looking at a row of empty shops it should have come as no big shock that major retailers would fall this time. But it still ...
I enjoy writing my blog, and would probably carry on writing it even if the internet broke and there was no chance that anyone could read it even if they chose to try. Tapping away and spewing forth my numerous frustrations is extremely therapeutic, and will probably delay my inevitable nervous breakdown by at least a few years. I remain supremely confident that one day I'll be found wearing a loincloth at the top of a hill shrieking at the moon, but it's probably going to happen later than it would if I had no outlet like this. And of ...
For those who took part here are the answers to the quiz: 1. Chris Hoy 2. Fern Cotton 3. John Barrowman 4. Rachel Rice 5. Lily Allen 6. Chris Martin 7. Heath Ledger 8. Barack Obama 9. Lewis Hamilton 10. Peter Kay 11. Jeremy Clarkson 12. Paul Newman 13. Heather Mills 14. Kelly Osbourne 15. Tom Chambers 16. Katie Price 17. Boris Johnston 18. Davina McCall 19. Usain Bolt 20. (Robyn) Rihanna (Fenty) 21. Carol Vorderman 22. Melissa Joan Hart 23. Russell Brand 24. Robert Peston 25. Harrison Ford 26. Guy Richie 27. George Sampson 28. Fernando Torres 29. Paris ...
Political schools of thought develop over time. While Hayekian Marxism has yet to be championed it is worth exploring its central tenets. Or rather potential tenets, as it doesn't quite exist at the moment. First though, a brief description of its two architects: Hayek and Marx. Friedrich von Hayek was an Austrian liberal who came to Britain in the 1930s and then after World War Two taught in the United States. In The Constitution of Liberty he describes himself as a Whig rather than a liberal. While he clashed with Keynes, he did concede that at times it might be ...
Vetran anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman has died at the age of 91. I remember Helen as one of the voices who helped to form my political views as a child in the 1970s. She was intelligent and courageous and never backed down, despite insults and hatred of those who ran the country. She was just [...]
Well it is in Upper Eastville (BS5) anyway! I think this is the quietest day of the year, hardly any traffic, very quiet, the air is still, and the trees are barely moving. An opportunity for me to spend the day at home, start to catch up with e-mail and paperwork, and listen to some music. I'd like to thank everyone who has commented on the blog, the many more who have told me they read it, and to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. (I can't believe its the last year of the first decade of the 21st ...
We have received the following message from Kirsty Williams, the new leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats: The Christmas break has been a chance to recover from what have been a whirlwind couple of weeks for me. Since the leadership election, it's been non-stop. I scarcely had time to draw breath after the election on the Monday, before my first 'First Minister's Questions' time as leader the next day. A key debate on the UK Government's Legislative Programme followed on the Wednesday, and then the announcement of the new Assembly team on Thursday. The next week was equally hectic, with ...
Liberal Democrat Voice has a story from the Guardian that top civil servants are looking forward to the probable result of the next general election.
Congratulations to Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Works and Pensions, Jenny Willott for starting off 2009 as we mean to go on by focussing on the poor deal available to pensioners in today's Western Mail. She has used the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the first state pensions by a Liberal Government to call for an increase for all pensioners: Currently, pensioners aged 70 and over who qualify for the state benefit receive £90.70 a week. This rises to £124 per week if they are eligible for the top-up Pension Credit payout. But Jenny Willott, the Liberal Democrats' ...
2008 has wound to its sluggish close, and brings 2009 crashing in! There was a lot I could have blogged about, but I thought it'd be good to talk about our youth movement, CSLD, and youth in general. Everywhere, we hear about 'disengaged' and 'disinterested' youth. Which makes me angry. It is true that many young people I go to university with, and went to school with, have (and had) an instinctive revulsion to "Politics". That is, politics with the big p. Politics with the dull middle-aged men in middle-aged suits with Middle-Age antiquated traditions. I don't think young people ...
Here's hoping for a good year for everyone in 2009. The last year was a tough one so I've been looking forward to the New Year for some time. So far, so good as incipient flu meant very little drinking last night so I am in a better state than usual for January 1st.
Thu 1st
12:19
Why we can't afford to ignore making sure the UK has sustainable independent, green power generation...
I was depressed to read on the BBC site that the gas pipelines were shut by Russia to the the Ukraine. Apparently the two countries have failed to agree their new supply contracts but, as usual, it won't be those at the top of these corporations that suffer but the consumer/householder who has no control over who supplies them their gas and is now left, presumably, wondering how long before their heat runs out. Temps in the Ukraine at the moment are around -8C. The UK should never be in the position where our power supply is subject to the ...
New Year used to be celebrated by banging dustbin lids. It's not the same now we have wheely bins. And we didn't hear anyone banging saucepans either. Something to do with ready meals?
Seems the New Year has started with a couple of interesting Lib Dem stories appearing in the media. This one is from The Independent. It says that although Clegg is 'invisible' and 'unknown' that private polling for the Liberal Democrats has found that voters warm to Clegg when they are actually aware who he is; which may hint that our main problem is recognition. It says; "Mr Clegg's biggest problem is that voters simply do not know him and "cannot put a face to his name". However, they liked him when they were shown photographs of him and a DVD ...
The Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet will meet the top civil servants at Whitehall to discuss policies as the Country looks forward to a hung government, this has been reported by the Guardian! The politicians in the Conservative and Lib Dem huts know that the next general election will lead to a hung parliament, hence the talking starts. Personally I think Nick Clegg and Cameron will make a coalition if its a hung government and the cabinet will be mixed Lib Dem and Tory and Cameron will have a crack at Prime Minister. You may ask why I use the word ...
Wow - what a year that was! Career wise, 2008 definitely had its ups and downs. Those who work closely with me know what the main issue was for me in 2008 :-) 2008 started with the commencement of the London GLA and Mayoral campaigns with Brian Paddick as the London Liberal Democrats Mayoral candidate and an array of candidates across London for the GLA Constituency and List. The election campaign pushed me to the limits on many levels, I learnt a tremendous amount and it made me view some things both politically and career wise slightly differently. The result ...
Its that time of year again. Normally I don't comment much about local issues on my weblog as we issue leaflets to residents in Yardley. However, I will do this on this occasion (as I did last year). Casework and the office The last case reference of 2008 was 9836 the last of 2007 was 7763 (and 2006) 5597. This continues to run at about 2,000 cases. Casework is very important as not only can
I meant to put this in my review of last year and then forgot. It's clearly going to take more than the dawn of a new year to resolve my scattiness issues. Anyway, I've spent more time in the blogosphere this year than ever before and I have some firm favourites. For inimitable insight combined with just the right amount of geekiness, there's no rival to Stephen. For Victor Meldrew chic, where better to turn than my tribute blog? I hope that he returns to full time blogging in the New Year. If I want to read something sensible about ...
Ros Scott's first message as President (oh, how good does that sound) is here as a reminder that hard work really does pay off. It's great to see her plans for the future and to have confidence that she will be a full time president who will devote her time to growing the party and supporting campaigns and activists. One telling thought from her earlier post. Apparently her 3 week stay at home over Christmas is the longest she will have been there since the Summer of 2007, which shows the personal sacrifice she has made for her campaign. LibDig ...
The Independent has news today telling readers that people who discover Nick Clegg find him "nice-looking, presentable, personable and like able" (that's the women) and the men "down-to-earth" and "someone I could relate to". Now these are interesting comments about the Lib Dem leader but the same problem has been identified by the Independent, Nick Clegg is a political nobody. Many people just don't know who he is! This is a problem a lot of Lib Dem leaders have, even Charles Kennedy was unknown until he fought a general election. Nick needs to boost his image to the general public, ...
I should have done this last night, but was distracted by an invitation to visit some real people, which you should never turn down. We had great fun with Stevie and the girls, his brother Kevin, brother-in-law Ally and his girlfriend Kay. I don't think I have ever heard such ecstacy in my whole life as when Stevie finally worked out how to score a goal in Football on the Wii. The extra time alone was 3 times more than the match had been, and the resulting celebrations made the stuff that goes on in a real football pitch seem ...
This Blog has rolled into its second year alive, it started in 2008 and today it continues to post in 2009, I hope it can serve its readers for more years to come! 2009 is going to be an interested year. In June 2009 we are all faced with the European and County elections and we might even see a general election, so I only have one message for Lib Dems which is get on the campaigning train and lets increase our vote across the UK!
The photographs below highlight the mindless graffiti vandalism at and near to Magdalen Green that I highlighted yesterday in the "Evening Telegraph" (click on headline above to view). Vandals have defaced the newer notice board on the Green and the walk-bridge between the Green and the playing fields at Riverside Drive. Following complaints from residents and from the Friends of Magdalen Green, I contacted the City Council's Head of Waste Management asking that the Council's Rapid Response Team remove the graffiti and have also brought the matter to the attention of Tayside Police. Residents are rightly extremely annoyed at this ...
Harry Brighouse, on Crooked Timber, asks why Mike Brearley has not yet been knighted. A good campaign for 2009.
It's far from being all over. Happy New Year, and happy (or, often, emotionally mangling) New Adventures! The 1963 Pilot episode's TV premiere and the wildly creative Battlefield novelisation both suggest new beginnings, and Virgin starts publishing Doctor Who's most cohesive and inspiring continuation between 1989 and 2005. A linked theme of the villainous 'Timewyrm' runs through such books as Terrance Dicks' Nazis-and-time-warlords novel Exodus and... Doctor Who: The New Adventures - Timewyrm: Revelation "You mean I'm dead?" "...Oxygen starvation, brought about from finding yourself on the moon having believed the place to be Norfolk. I do believe that's unique." ...
Interesting piece in The Guardian this morning; it reports that senior members of Nick Clegg's frontbench team will meet with Whithall officials to discuss the Liberal Democrat manifesto. The prospect of a hung-parliament is taken that seriously that it reports officials are 'dusting down the tomes' from February 1974 when Ted Heath stubbornly clung onto power despite having four seats less than Harold Wilson. A Whitehall source is quoted as saying; "You take the Liberal manifesto seriously not because you think it is going to be the government's programme. But there could be a hung parliament and deals around constitutional ...
The Czech Republic took over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union today — an absurd system of regional political lesadership, which would have been reformed by the Lisbon Treaty. Alas, we are unlikely to see any progress on that front from Prague, as the Czech Republic is one of three EU member states [...]
Two things I forgot to say earlier: Congratulations Ros on the start of your term as party President - I still get a little frisson of delight at seeing that result and it was enhanced by hearing one of your opponents on radio 4 earlier this evening. Secondly - it is with some trepidation and pleasure that I can announce that my term as Convener of the Ochil Liberal Democrat Local Party commenced about an hour ago. Wish me luck folks. The poor sods don't know what they've let themselves in for! Actually there is a third thing I wanted ...
The sky is alight across Leeds...Happy New Year to all my readers and all the best for 2009 :)
Firstly, I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year, and hope that you enjoyed the Christmas break in the company of family, friends and loved ones. For me, the year starts with a new job, a key one in building a stronger, more vibrant, more successful Party, and I'm really looking forward to the next two years as your President. I've spent the past two months planning and organising, meeting with key Party officials and leadership figures, and talking to some of my distinguished predecessors to gain an insight as to their perspective on the job. ...
... and all the best for 2009!
My Ninth Birthday: Hooray, I am NINE! [R: He is eight; we have this every year...] Today we will be mainly playing JAMES BOND using my NEW Hi-Tech device... Maybe THIS will help me keep up with my Diary! {Posted by Picasa} PS: Happy New Year Everyone! .
Happy Leap Second!
