Still a bit stunned: if it all kicks off tomorrow in Formula One, we'll be in the Silverstone paddock as Ferrari/Shell guests to witness it. # is back from a trip into town to buy a camera and dictaphone. I swear the guy in the gadgets shop hasn't aged a jot since I was a schoolboy. # That Dean Macey is one scary bastard: http://bit.ly/3POMwc #
A trip down memory land for 2 reasons. Have been making contact with people who worked with Maggie Clay and today tracked down an old friend that haven't seen for over 20 years. He now works in the public sector so I won't name him, but it was he who gave me so much encouragement, and helped write Focus number 1 nearly 28 years ago. Moral - never underestimate the difference help and support...
"Redacted". It is everywhere today due to the 'publication' of the last four year's worth of MPs' receipted expenditure. I looked at the information for my own MP — Glenda Jackson — and found great big expanses of black where details had been 'redacted'. 'Removed to hide the real information' more like! Thank you to the editor of The Telegraph for publishing the unexpurgated version so that we may see what the MPs were trying to hide. Clearly, whilst our Members of Parliament may wish to not have certain details easily available to the public (even though they are legally ...
On Monday I wrote a letter to our Labour MP about the Government's decision to hold its Iraq War Inquiry in private. It was an open letter. Through it, I have urged the people of Hastings & Rye to write their own letters - writing to Michael Foster as a new member of the Government - to [...]
Apart from providing the title for the greatest ever Eurovision Song Contest winners Abba, thirty five years ago, today is the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. On this day in 1815, the French under Napoleon and Marshall Ney were defeated by a ...
I was pleased to receive an email this evening from Professor Christine Williams, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise) at Reading University in response to my post earlier this week in which I expressed my fears about the difficulties currently facing graduates and school-leavers finding work. Calling my concern "justified" she drew my attention to the fact that this year we are seeing the biggest graduate cohort enter the job market and added "and this in a year when the recession promises grim news for job seekers of all types." Prof Williams wrote to me with details of what Reading University is doing to support students graduating this year. This includes the publication ...
have kicked my bum and made me realise that I've been neglecting blogging for too many months. My dander is up so you'll be hearing a lot more of my opinions in days and weeks to follow. See you all very soon.
Today Blogger is ten years old as a blog post on their Blogger Buzz blog has confirmed and personally I think its great to see that the blogging platform is this old and I hope that it continues to overwhelm the blogging market and stays a leader in the blogging world. Blogger has helped me a lot as it has allowed me to set this blog up for free and then obtain a URL for only $10 and allowed me to blog for near enough free which wouldn't have been the case if I had listened to people who were ...
Branch delegates (ie. those with voting rights) have overwhelmingly voted against the motion of no confidence in Hazel Blears from three ward branches of the CLP. Looks like the local Labour parties are somewhat out of step with the majority of the Labour Party's opinion on Blears. Swinton Labour are apprently particularly angry with Blears. [...]
Well John i am shocked no one had the guts to do the decent thing. One Labour seat down in 2010 all ready. I can see martin bell licking his lips. This really shows Labour for what it is, the people will turn on you with a vengeance.
Thursday rolls around, so once again it's time to join David Dimbleby and a glittering panel of political stars for Question Time. Batting for the Liberal Democrats this week is Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Chair of Campaigns and Communications Edward Davey. The panel will include Labour peer Lord Falconer (since every last member of the cabinet is apparently too frit), Conservative shadow secretary for business and regulatory reform Kenneth Clarke, political commentator Polly Toynbee, and journalist and campaigner Esther Rantzen will be there to explain why a lifetime of interesting shaped fruit qualifies her ...
Well the move went well, and finally I'm back online, a few weeks is a long time in politics, and there is plenty to talk about. I shall be taking the opportunity to talk about the Euro Elections and of course events on Wirral, so watch this space.
Much as I love Simon Hughes, I can't quite see him featuring in Heat magazine at any point in the future, not even as Torso of the Week. Barack Obama is, I think, the only politician to have been given that honour! We all know how hard Simon works on behalf of his constituents so it was good to see this praise on Twitter from Heat magazine tv and reviews editor Boyd Hilton: "MP Simon Hughes on the bus now chatting to his constituents. Officially a Good Bloke. He gets my vote about 2 hours ago from Tweetie" LibDig This! ...
So - Tuesday's two sessions in Bill Committee on the Equality Bill ran about seven hours in two dollops. The key wrangles of the morning were as follows. The Bill has provisions about discrimination against people on the grounds of disability, but that requires a definition as to at what point something is permanent enough or lasting long enough for these provisions to kick in. Having a broken leg is very different from losing permanent use of your leg for example. The Bill currently uses the phrase 'long term' - which means for 12 months or more. If an impairment ...
Two Obama stories in one day, and this one came to my attention via my friend Jamie, but I couldn't resist this one. While meeting health care workers the other day as part of his plan to reform healthcare, Obama offered to write a note to excuse the 10 year old daughter of one of the audience from school. What a moment for that wee girl, who is the same age as my daughter! It took me a while to come round to Obama, but I'm there now! Not only does he have ideas and values I can relate to, ...
CAMERON ORDERS GREEDY TORIES: PAY BACK EXPENSES FIRM: Cameron warned MPs to pay back expenses HYPOCRITE
As the vultures come out, and people call for blood i eagerly await the result. Will Labour have the B—ls to dump Hazel?
I've often wondered why Charles Clarke, the rotund MP for Norwich South, is so very large. Very few MPs seem to be on the obese side of overwight (aside from the obvious Eric Pickles), due to the fact that being an MP is a job that requires you to be constantly on the go. Well according to his expenses, he spends the maximum £400 per month allowance (which is paid without receipts) on food alone. Well, now I know. He was, according to various local media, "unavailable for comment". To be honest, it would have been rude for him to ...
As members of the Parish Council are aware, I notified the Parish Clerk of my intention to put my name forward for possible co-option towards the end of March. Whilst I am a relative newcomer to the village, I feel that the Parish Council needs the support and active involvement of local residents. That said, I need to do more than just think that, and offer myself for consideration by council members. So, why me? What potential skills do I bring to the activities of the Council? What do I see as the priorities for the period until May 2011, ...
You are all welcome to a meeting of concerned Acton residents to discuss how best to save the Priory. It will be held on Sat 20th June at 5pm at 28 Gloucester Road. Here's a picture of me and fellow resident Mandie Smith giving out leaflets and getting petitions signed at Acton Old Town Hall yesterday.
At the Glenrothes by-election, the First Minister made himself look foolish over his "Yes we can" sloganising - the voters there decisively decided "no they can't." Another example of SNP "Yes we can" claims turning out to be little more than hot air has been the nationalists' promise of replacing PPP capital funding for schools building projects. The SNP government has wasted the last two years in inactivity as new school building projects across Scotland have slowed - as LibDem Education Spokesperson in the Scottish Parliament, Margaret Smith MSP, called it "the two-year Hyslop gap and paralysis in planning." Yesterday, ...
Lots of fuss on the blacking out of parts of MPs expenses claims, including addresses of 'second homes'. Some MPs say this is necessary for their personal security, and this might just be the case for one or two of them, such as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Knowing exactly where they live in London could be useful information for violent idiots. Living in London of course when they have (in the words of the official legal declaration they both signed) to 'stay overnight from my only or main home for the purposes of performing my duties as a Member ...
A case where what happens quite frequently (viz made up evidence and misleading reports) became public.The baby, however, was still put up for adoption.
A very civilised anonymous commenter has asked me to state some of the facts surrounding the BNP's performance at the Euro elections. I am happy to oblige. From the BBC website: Nationwide, the BNP got 6.2% of the vote, which was a 1.3 point increase on last time. In terms of absolute votes cast for the BNP, they had 943,598 this time, compared to 808,200 in 2004. Total turnout was 34.48% compared to 38.2% in 2004. In the North-West, where Nick Griffin was elected, the BNP received 8% of the vote, which was a 1.6 point increase. The BNP received ...
Napoleon is meant to have asked whether his Generals were lucky. Well we in Sefton are lucky. First there was the squabbles and back biting in the Tory group. It is interesting how many Tories find the opportunity to tell me embarrassing facts about the behavior of their Leader. I'm sure they do so in the knowledge that I might blog their intelligence and thus annoy her. Added to that we have the Labour Party. Nationally the New Labour coalition is falling apart. Most of the Blairite membership departed long ago locally. What we are witnessing now is the good ...
A much awaited milestone in the Minnesota Senate Race controversy might be reached very soon. But then again, possibly not. After all, it's only seven and a bit months after the voters voted. These things take time.
Clapton and Winwood are currently touring in America. In the Studio has an interview with them (with more to come, apparently) by one Redbeard. Redbeard: How has the music business changed since you first released Blind Faith with Eric Clapton forty years ago?Steve Winwood: Well you see in the old days, the heads of record companies used to be mavericks kind of. They didn't have to please stockholders. They were mavericks. The deals weren't good, but... they would take chances with records. They were music lovers they would listen to music and they would take chances... They were kind of ...
Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, is BBC Question Time day. OK it doesn't scan as well as the Tiswas theme. Anyway, it's that day again and the Live Chat on this blog will start at 10:30pm. The panel will include Labour peer Lord (Charlie) Falconer, Conservative shadow secretary for business and regulatory reform Kenneth Clarke, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey, political commentator and sometime linker to this blog Polly Toynbee, and journalist and campaigner and self publicist and putative MP Esther Rantzen. You can also follow people's comments on Twitter via the #bbcqt hashtag (you can also follow me here ...
While I was away the latest edition was posted by Charles Crawford. Following the recent elections, it has a strong European theme.
Thu 18th
19:30
Lib Dem councillor reveals Lancashire Town hall uses anti-terror laws to snoop on cleaners
The Mirror reports the news: Laws designed to fight terrorists and gangsters have been used by a council to spy on its cleaners. It was revealed yesterday that town hall bosses employed the draconian measures over 500 times, including one occasion to snoop on bus drivers. Lancashire county council's tactics were uncovered by Lib Dem Mark Jewell who branded them "an abuse of power." Using Freedom of Information, he found out county hall chiefs in Preston ordered surveillance on the cleaners to check if they worked the right hours. Mr Jewell discovered they frequently used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers ...
On Monday the BBC Look Est programme had a special report on David Cameron's visit to Norwich, interviews with local Tories, a reporter at the venue of his visit, and it was one of the main headlines. I twittered yesterday wondering what sort of coverage the press would give Nick Clegg for his visit today. Surprise surprise, in line with the BBC's constant reporting of David Cameron opening an envelope and giving him headlines for it and their inability to report anyone in the Lib Dems except Vince Cable, BBC Look East totally failed to mention Nick Clegg's visit to ...
Several of you have said that you will miss my netcasts on LC. Well, PHEAR NOT! Starting today, I shall be doing a replacement feature on here. It'll probably end up being three or four times a week, rather than daily. It will be five link items (blogs or news items or whatever else floats my boat) and one meme. And because I hate the word netcast I shall be calling it something else: The Blood Is The Life!Fresh squeezings from the veins of the internet (Somehow, that just seems so... me!) I'll be making an icon later, but for ...
I've just heard on the news Signor Angelo the chairman of Livingston say that he 'deliberately' failed to pay Scottish Power the electricity bill to teach the fans a less. Now Mister Stephen has travelled with the team from Dumfries to Dingwall and many spots in between, he is not alone. In the 2007-8 season he actually only missed 2 games home or away one because he was home and one as he was working on January 2nd. He'd also attended all the home pre-season games. Is this the type of fan that Signor Angelo wants to teach a lesson, ...
How closely linked are racism and sectarianism? I think they are both excuses for unjustifiable dislike or even hatred of people who happen to be different from ourselves. It's an easy trap to fall into, and we all need to be on our guard against it. When we pray, "Deliver us from evil," it must mean at least as much, "Deliver us from doing evil," as "Protect us from having evil done to us." I'm glad to hear that many people in Northern Ireland are going out of their way to assist the Roumanians who have been subjected to racial ...
The Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London Dear Prime Minister, Inquiry into the Iraq War - Freedom of Information Act Requests Your announcement a few days ago of an independent inquiry into the Iraq War, described on the 10 Downing Street website as an investigation into "the eight year period including the run-up to the conflict and the full period [...]
Thu 18th
18:42
Why the hell should we be interested in what a former second home owner has to say about planning is...
Apparently Amanda Holden, well known actress, adulterer and botoxed judge (apparently) on Britain's Got Talent is opposed to the building of wind turbines in Norfolk. Does she live here ? No. Does she own property here ? No. Is she from Norfolk ? No. Does she even still own a second home in Norfolk ? Apparently not. So what the hell has it got to do with her ? No idea !
A few weeks old, but still worth a view.... The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c Scamalot thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran
I see that Paul McCartney and various other celebrities are urging us all to go vegetarian once a week to reduce livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions. Sounds awfully like a policy I tried to bring in in Camden a while back (Less Meat, Better Meat). There's now a Meat-Free Mondays website to help us on our way. See here for coverage in The Independent and The Guardian . And of course the city of Ghent is aiming to go meat-free once a week for environmental and health reasons. It's time for a review of our meat policy in Camden.
Congratulations to Jeff Reid on his selection as Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Blyth Valley: THE leader of Northumberland County Council has been chosen by the Liberal Democrats as a Parliamentary candidate. Coun Jeff Reid, who leads the minority Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall, will contest the Parliamentary seat of Blyth Valley at the next general election. Coun Reid faces the task of unseating Ronnie Campbell, the former-miner and Labour MP who has represented Blyth Valley in the House of Commons for 22 years, and holds a majority in excess of 8,000. "I'm very excited about the forthcoming election," ...
Mr Prentice has claimed twice for cleaning as the screen print of receipts above shows you. Mr Prentice claims £30 a month but then also claims for cleaning products, why? Is it because he cleans the flat himself and if that is the case then why doesn't he claim everything together. £52.50 for cleaning is what Mr Prentice has been claiming, at least its not the same as what the Prime Minister was paying his brother but still. Cleaning doesn't take a couple of hours a month especially for a man who is living alone so a cleaning bill of ...
Last night Wolverhampton South West Liberal Democrats held their inaugural Crown Green Bowling competition at the Newhampton Inn.
There's a feature in PR Week this week examining this. It's fairly straightforward, with this conclusion on the Lib Dems: The verdict Outside contenders. Good tools for local activists are let down by terrible design and weak integration. Bloggers fare better, especially at a local level, and overall understanding of social media is impressive. Pack's departure leaves some very big shoes to fill. You can find it here.
The Lib Dems Campaign for Gender Balance is looking for people who are interested in standing for parliament... if you think you'd be interested get in touch with Vicki Booth on genderbalance {at} libdems.org(.)uk var mailNode = var linkNode = document.createElement('a'); linkNode.setAttribute('href', tNode = document.createTextNode("genderbalance {at} libdems.org(.)uk"); linkNode.appendChild(tNode); linkNode.setAttribute('id', "emob-traqreonynapr@yvoqrzf.bet.hx-83"); mailNode.parentNode.replaceChild(linkNode, mailNode); —- Have you ever wondered what life as an MP is really like? Are you standing, or considering standing, as a candidate and want the opportunity to find out more about the job? As part of our initiative to encourage and support women parliamentary candidates, the ...
The hyper-talented Simon Willison and the team over at the Guardian are asking readers to help them skim through the volumes of redacted MP's expenses that were published today. The groundbreaking project asks people to investigate their MP's expenses. http://mps-expenses.guardian.co.uk/ A really good use of the internet – I strongly suspect it will be the place to go to get comment on expenses. No related posts.
I have been busy working today so have not have much of a chance to look at the expenses released today. However I have read a number of blog posts where others have posted pictures of them and the main thing I have noticed is just how much has been blacked out. In some cases it is virtually the whole receipt. I have to say that the approach taken by the authorities seems to have been, if in doubt redact it which surely goes against the spirit of what this was intended for? I thought it was just supposed to ...
'Unelected toffs in wigs, be they in the Courts or in the House of Lords, have been the defenders of civil liberties in many cases, during the current government,' according to the Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, who was the guest speaker at a lunch given today by the UK Section of the Association of European Journalists at [...]
Browsing in my local second-hand bookshop I came across this wonderful 1960s book: Bridge for Women. I'm not convinced though. OK, I'll admit that most women can probably learn complex things like bridge. And quite possibly a woman can be trained to play bridge like a man; and even play with a man, without embarassing herself too much. But play better than a man? Come on now, girls, let's not get silly about this. At least they got a male editor for the book - otherwise who knows what it would have ended up like. Probably little heart signs over ...
The Guardian splashed this morning on the revelation that Tony Blair was aware of the existence of a secret interrogation policy which effectively led to British citizens, and others, being tortured during counter-terrorism investigations: The policy, devised in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, offered guidance to MI5 and MI6 officers questioning detainees in Afghanistan whom they knew were being mistreated by the US military. British intelligence officers were given written instructions that they could not "be seen to condone" torture and that they must not "engage in any activity yourself that involves inhumane or degrading treatment of prisoners". ...
Source Salford Online Research reveals that that over the last 12 months those who have been hit hardest are those with no skills at all with the sector with the highest rate of unemployment being 'Unskilled' at 28%. The 'Sales and Customer Services' sector saw a 16% increase in unemployment with 'Skilled Trades' (engineers, technicians) [...]
Writing a blog anonymously shouldn't be a problem unless someone makes it one something which the Times newspaper did but what was the real reason for them doing this. The Times said it was for the public interest but I don't think that is the real reason for the naming of Night Jack. I believe that Night Jack was named because the Times was worked up about the fact that their blogger Oliver Kamm didn't win the prize and Night Jack did. Oliver Kamm was long listed for the Orwell award but didn't get shortlisted and because Night Jack won ...
Neal Keeling June 18, 2009 A MAJOR union is urging its members to campaign to get Hazel Blears ousted as an MP. The Salford branch of UNISON, which has thousands of members in the city – many of whom work for the council – issued an official statement today. In it, branch secretary, Ray Walker says: [...]
List of engagements on TV.Public speaking engagements, comment hear and comment there might stand might not? my arse of course he will.
Thu 18th
16:44
Well tonights the night boys and girls shall we all go to the Town Hall to See Hazel get booted out?
Go down tonight and john the demo. i wish i could but it's not PC Personally have labour got the balls to do it, And if they did who do you think they would put in her place?
Well, I suppose it's one way of getting publicity - sending the most powerful man in the world a humane bug killer after he was filmed swatting a fly on tv. Trouble is, most people who read the story will laugh at PETA so when it does come up with something sensible, the credibility of its message will be somewhat diminished. Flies are disease ridden pests. I wouldn't want one flying around my head. PETA really should get over it. This brings to mind a rather expletive filled posting from the charming Mr Eugenides earlier this year. When my daughter's ...
Mr Prentice has been claiming on average £10 a day for food from Parliament and personally I would like to ask the MP what he has been eating. I know this might sound silly but Mr Prentice deserves some credit here, he only charges £10 on average a day for food in London and its not cheap as many will tell you to get something to eat from London. Gordon do you take food from Pendle with you and then cook it in London? Is that your way of saving us money by saving money on food?
More revelations about my local MP Mr Prentice who has a TV in his office for which he claims TV Licence. First of all he and his employees are paid by us to work and he is paid to represent us and our views not watch TV at our expense. So Mr Prentice do you and your staff have so little casework to do that you watch TV? I don't think that is the case...
From the local party's website: After much thought, Mark Young has recently decided to stand down as our Parliamentary Candidate in the Vale of Clwyd. Mark has decided that he wishes to devote more time with his family and with his business. Mark without doubt, has been a stalwart of the local association for a number of years and has worked tirelessly and with success for the party in the Vale of Clwyd. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all our members in the Vale and wish Mark every success and best wishes for the future. Bob ...
Gordon Prentice claimed an o2 Mobile on our costs in his office allowances at £83.33 but the problem is how is an o2 mobile an office cost. Mr Prentice has a Nokia 6230i is that the "o2 Mobile" that he claimed as an office allowance. How is an MP's mobile phone an office cost or the mobile phone of an employee an office cost. We are not meant to pay for the mobile phones of MP's or their employees. Next will we pay for their underpants as office costs?
Gordon Prentice claims local newspapers as an office cost as reported by the receipts on the Parliamentary website and personally I think this is bang out of order. Mr Prentice knows that the letters page of the Nelson Leader doesn't support him all the time but that doesn't mean the letter writers have to pay for Mr Prentice to read the paper. Mr Prentice you can get us to pay for your newspaper but who will pay for ours? No one because we don't get the special treatment that you enjoy as an MP. How is buying a newspaper an ...
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made a u-turn on the Iraq war inquiry by stating that it may become partly public. In my opinion i think it was wrong to go to Iraq in the first place and because it cost the taxpayers so much money. I feel that it ought to be public knowledge. SO that the general public can realise what a farce it really was and how bad Labour are. Full story available at the BBC by clicking here.
According to the receipts on the Parliamentary website Mr Prentice claims £147.62 for the hosting of his website in June 2007 and its an annual cost according to the receipt but I have some queries and questions and I shall raise them in the blog post below. This site on which Mr Prentice is today being criticised costs $10 a year which isn't even a fraction of Mr Prentice's cost. Mr Prentice charges up this much every year for a website that he could set up for $10 or even free if he chose to get an ePolitix site or ...
The Liberal Democrats yesterday became the first major political party to state that they will not support a renewal of Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent system. While Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP has recently called for a scaling back of Britain's nuclear warheads, the Lib Dems do not believe this goes far enough to tackle this crucial issue, and leader Nick Clegg MP, has...
Two Lib Dem MPs have declared who they're supporting in the forthcoming election for the next Speaker of the House of Commons. Sandra Gidley and Alistair Carmichael are co-signatories to a letter published in today's Guardian extolling the virtues of Conservative MP John Bercow: With the standing of parliament at an all time low, the next Speaker will take office in unprecedented circumstances (Speaker candidates call for end to prime minister's questions, 16 June). Reform is desperately needed as the "old" way of doing things does not carry the confidence of those we serve – too many of our traditions, ...
Perusing the MPs' expense claims that have been published today, I see that the censor appears to have blacked out every name and every address. Even the address of the House of Commons' catering department has been cut out. Is this a secret? I am told, however, that there is a restaurant in Malibu called The House of Commons. [...]
The left have never been very good at disguising their intentions for long. And when 'Liberal Conspiracy' emerged, claiming to be a place where the progressive left could; 1. Have a intelligent conversation about liberal-left ideas and values; 2. Campaign for liberal-left policies and causes; and, 3. Help people get organised, I was fairly suspicious. Firstly, given the record of the Government over the past twelve years, liberal is not a word that sits comfortably with the notion of 'Labour supporter', as most of the founders claimed to be. Yes, there were a few liberals I could recognise as such, ...
But it's a very significant one. The Home Office has delayed awarding the big contracts on ID cards until after the next election, the Register (my favourite techie source, reports. (Hat tip Costigan). I wouldn't say, like Costigan, that the battle is over. Far too much can happen between now and then - even the possibility that the Conservatives could get into power and then find a reason for changing their minds. Stranger things have happened than a Conservative government finding a sudden liking for things that centralise power. And stranger things have happened than them saving the necessary cash ...
From Paul Waugh: Cam claims £564 for new pics of himself on his website David Cameron has called for the scrapping of the Communications Allowance - which allows MPs to spend thousands of pounds telling their constituents "how wonderful we are", as he once put it. But what's this buried in his own exes claim today? As recently as March last year, he claimed £564 of taxpayers' money for new photos on the gallery of his website. The gallery as it currently stands is here. There are some excellent photos there.
Three news stories that I've heard today have really hammered home the cumulative effects of Labour policy in the erosion of our democracy. Together they exemplify for me why the Labour party should not be trusted to run a country or be put in charge of protecting freedom, equality and the democratic values of transparency [...]
Gordon Prentice has been claiming a telephone cost as the receipts have told us. Prentice has claimed a lot of money in telephone bills as you can realise by going to his receipts by following the link. First of all I would like to ask Mr Prentice how it has been costing him this much for a phone bill. Gordon Prentice has a Nokia 6230i so why is it costing him so much to call. On one occasion according to the receipts Mr Prentice charged £100 for his phone bill. Even a contract would cost less then with 600 minutes ...
Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust and Aston University are taking part in an electric car trial on the streets of Birmingham. Both are trialling a number of 2-seater Smart Cars, modified to charge using a standard 3-pin electric socket. This could prove a great solution for company car fleet owners and for city dwellers who need to potter around an urban area. But they're not a great deal of use beyond that, with a limited mileage of 70 miles between charges. Of course the argument is for longer journeys you can use a combination of public transport and park ...
Yesterday I opened the Independents and there was an article by Vince Cable. I came home from work did a few things(including some canvassing) and settled down to Newsnight and there he was again. This morning I woke to the Today programme and there he was again. At lunchtime I drove to a appointment with Radio 5 on and there he was again. Amazing. I've heard no other Lib Dem. This reliance on Vince is a little worrying. Clearly we have other economically literate front benchers; even if they are not on the Treasury team it must be right to ...
{china} Hot on the heels of yesterday's protectionism story, the Chinese government are now rolling out their own "Buy Chinese" impositions - in spite of having recently complained bitterly about Obama's scheme, which they labeled "protectionist poison". As in America, the Philippines, Australia and so on, the "Buy Chinese" legislation forces government agencies to favour domestic goods. And such is China's economic position in the world, that this cannot be dismissed as just an unfortunate by-product of "Buy American," but could provoke further protectionism from other governments. As the FT notes, this is "a move that will amplify tensions with ...
Thursday: I am sad to read today that super-humanly strong-stomached Auntie Jennie has finally, thanks to THIS posting, given up on her efforts to make the LABOUR CONSPIRACY website a bit LIBERAL. I do not seem to have written very much in my Fluffy Diary about the sickly Green Party, mainly because, you know, why bother? If you are GENUINELY concerned about the environment then you will find the Liberal Democrats have policies that meet most of your needs; if you are more interested in SHOWING OFF your Holier-than-thou-ness then feel free to POSE. But they ARE quite ANNOYING. Their ...
Now I know this news is a day or so old now but I am so pleased at what Nick Clegg has said about Trident. We absolutely shouldn't be renewing this and its good for a national party leader to say so. I can't quite figure out why Labour want to cling on to this idea, May be its a machismo thing.
The Register is reporting that the Home Office yesterday delayed awarding the contract for making ID cards until after the next General Election. While contracts for the Manchester Airport trial and the database have been awarded, the critical contract to actually produce the millions of ID cards needed for any sort of national rollout has not. This contract will now not be awarded until Autumn 2010, which means it won't happen at all unless Labour hold onto power at the General Election. With Tories and Lib Dems implacably opposed to this whitest of New Labour white elephants and even the ...
Thu 18th
11:37
Campbell "taken aback" by fresh leuchars pharmacy proposal and calls for two year moratorium on such...
{Ming Campbell} North East Fife's MP Sir Menzies Campbell has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, to express his bemusement at the fresh application for a pharmacy in Leuchars just weeks after an identical application was turned down at appeal and has enquired as to the possibilities for such applications to be subject to a two year moratorium. In his letter Sir Menzies states that like his colleague Iain Smith MSP he was "taken aback" at the news of a fresh application in the Leuchars Post Office so soon after a similar proposal was ...
The Evening Standard's Paul Waugh has been doing some digging into the newly-released MPs' expenses claims on the Parliamentary website, and has come up with this 'file-under-you-couldn't-make-it-up' story: Among the tiny fragments of new info available on MPs exes today is this: George Osborne claimed £47 of taxpayer's money for two copies of a DVD of his speech – and the speech was on "value for money".
"My administration is proposing a sweeping overhaul of the financial regulatory system, a transformation on a scale not seen since the reforms that followed the Great Depression." That is what President Obama said about the US system. By contrast Labour Government Minister Alistair Darling said that the UK financial regulatory system did not need to [...]
Fresh from their amazing showing in the local and European elections, Burnley Lib Dems have urged local MP Kitty Ussher – who today quit the government over her expenses claims – to let voters have their say on who should now represent them. Here's the press release issued this morning: "Burnley Labour MP Kitty Ussher should stand down now and allow the people of Burnley to have their say on her replacement" says Burnley's Liberal Democrat Council Leader and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Councillor Gordon Birtwistle following the further twist in the story of the MP's expenses. Gordon added "Kitty has ...
Like, I suspect, most Liberals, my heart sinks whenever I hear Lord Carlile on the subject of the Government's response to terrorism. On many other things - marriage rights for all couples, for example - he's superb, but on 42-day detention he's the most illiberal Liberal around. Shami Chakrabarti rightly called him (and us) out on this when she addressed the Lib Dem Conference in Brighton. So I wasn't over the moon to read his comments regarding the quest for racial balance in stop-and-search. Before listing some of my problems with this, I should also link to his full report ...
Staggering stuff From Conservative Home: Writing in the Local Government Chronicle the outgoing Tory MP, David Curry, concedes that the election of a Tory Government increases the chances of the Union breaking up: "For Cameron now looks like the next prime minister. And if there is one thing [Alex] Salmond wants, it is a Conservative government looking and feeling culturally and politically wholly alien to Scotland. This will be especially so if Cameron feels he must curb the power of Scottish MPs at Westminster, reduce their number and revisit the spending formula that ships cash up to Scotland to fund ...
The warm weather this morning has led to the residents of Hertfordshire opening up their convertible car to enjoy the sunshine whilst it's here. On the way in and out of Watford this morning, I noticed 12 cars with their roofs down. But there was something rather strange about the drivers. Seven were men and five women. [...]
I pay a fiver a year for one domain name from Google. So why does any MP (no names no pack drill) need to claim (at £10 a year each) on their communications allowance for five domain names for their website? It seems a bit like overkill to me. Surely one is enough isn't it? Update: Costigan Quist makes a very point on the comments. I have had a look at other MPs and have found: A. No web services claimed for B. No communications allowance claim C. 2 domains claimed for D. 1 domain claimed for and also variations ...
With the reporting on my blog earlier about Kitty Ussher resigning from government and now stepping down at the next general election a campaign has been started to try and get Kitty Ussher to resign and a by election to be called. Imagine if Kitty was to resign and Ali Campbell was to become the candidate the battle would just be phenomenal!
So MPs' expenses have been properly published here. First point: if I go to a website I've never visited before and get prompted to answer a "How are we doing?" questionnaire within the first few seconds, the answer is going to be that you'd do better to stop annoying me and let me get on with what I want to do. OK, onto the MPs' expenses. The first thing you'll notice is just now much is blacked out - seemingly for no good reason. Here's some of the things we're not permitted to see: Catalog numbers on a stationary invoice ...
It was heartening to see fans, and at least half the Iranian national football team protest during the World Cup qualifier against South Korea last night. The players wore green wristbands, and the crowd carried "Down to the Dictator" banners. Pity ...
My first sighting of Jim Devine – the latest Labour MP to be deselected by the party in the wake of the expenses scandal – was on the eve of poll for the 2001 General Election, shortly after I came across to Scotland to live. As the agent he was standing alongside Robin Cook waving from an open top bus as they drove through Stoneyburn on a tour of the constituency; we were eating dinner. Victors in cup finals don't do open bus tours until after the silverware is in their clutches – but such was the certainty of Labour ...
I know, I thought! I'll break my writers block by picking through a local MP's expenses, available online today from the internet. She claims the maximum £400 a month for food and £100 a month for a cleaner for her London flat. It's all fairly prosaic and mundane really. The only unusual expense claim is a training course on how to give good speeches for the princely sum of £250 and she already confessed that to the local rag. Yawn. Break my blogging block this will not. Verdict: She likes her food and doesn't like housework (I know, I know, ...
With Kitty Ussher now a back bench MP and not standing at the next election we need to look at the alternative to Ussher and I have a few ideas. First of all the man who runs Burnley Labour in the father of a Labour MP in the UK who is also a government minister so that needs to be taken into account that Burnley Labour's top dog is a man who will do what ever he wants to achieve his goal. Paul Waugh has suggested that Burnley Labour put up Alastair Campbell as the candidate and personally I think ...
Including today (Thursday) there are now just seven days to get in any letters of objection to the Jack Allen plans for a waste plant on Garston Dock (and right next to houses). If you live near me in Garston and don't want to risk the post you can pop your letter through my door at 75 Canterbury Street (Under the Bridge) by Tuesday 23rd and I will take it in to the Council offices for the deadline day.
The proposed new Garston hospital is being discussed at the planning committee again next week (Tuesday 23rd). This is to do with the appearance of the building as when the planning permission was given the committee said they wanted more details of the materials that would be used. Here is a link to the report for next week's meeting.
After what I said yesterday about the 'producer interest' I think it is worth making it clear that although the view of the British Medical Association on health matters is significant it should not be the deciding factor in the determination of policy. Thus the fact that the BMA have openly criticised the Welsh Conservative's decision to press for the re-introduction of prescription charges is an important intervention but needs to be judged in a wider context. Nevertheless in this particular instance I think they are right. The Welsh Liberal Democrats did argue against the introduction of free prescriptions. Our ...
Open warfare has broken out over Peter Hain's claims that he has discussed postponing a referendum on further powers beyond 2011 with senior Plaid Cymru member. This morning the Plaid Cymru AM, Leanne Wood has waded in to categorically deny that the Secretary of State's version of events. She has challenged Mr. Hain to say who he's talked to and when. Plaid Cymru's National Chair, John Dixon has also written on his blog, saying that he 'simply cannot believe what (mr. Hain) is saying.' Leanne says that the Welsh Secretary is trying to keep his devo-sceptic MPs happy, but risks ...
I'm continually amazed at how much we all fall into stereotyping old people, rather than recognising them as being just like everybody else. As pensioners gradually choose to go online this seems to be changing to me as pensioners are refusing to stick in their designated areas, and are out their challenging our prejudices. This posting, from my amazing great uncle, makes the point brilliantly: From schooling (what there was of it) I became a pilot. And when the war ended I started in medicine (scotched by TB), stage designer, landscape artist, traveller and illustrator, sculptor, writer of books and ...
Welcome to Daily View. Happy birthday to Delia Smith CBE. Today is also Autistic Pride Day. 2 Big Stories And it's good news for Burnley Liberal Democrats as sub-editors across the spectrum studiously avoid the headline "The Fall of the House of Ussher" Miss Ussher said that she was leaving the Government "with the greatest regret" but would remain as MP for Burnley until the coming election, when she will stand down from Parliament "for family reasons". Burnley PPC Gordon Birtwhistle, who has steered the party through taking outright control of the borough council last year, and gaining five of ...
I was with other liberal Democrat Councillors from Bath & North East Somerset on the Councils dedicated bike to work breakfast, It was a shame that Councillors from other parties failed to turn up with any real bikes in the Abbey Church yard. Thank you to Avon Cycles who carried out a free repair on my bike, It now works well. Pics below
I have been known to mention this Shropshire mineral railway from time to time, so here are a couple of my own photos of its remains. Both are taken at the Snailbeach end of the line. They show the former engine shed and the tracks disappearing into the undergrowth.
Bath & North East Somerset Bike to work Day 17th June. We were there where were you. Liberal Democrat Councillors turned out on mass on their bikes yesterday for the Bath & North East Somerset Council Bike to work Breakfast in Abbey Churchyard along with other residents. But Guess what not a conservative councillor cyclist with a real bike in site. Pic below of Liberal...
This post relates directly to the charming gem that is Postman's Park in the City of London. The park has amazing charm and is so peacefull and it draws on a Victorian Philanthropic tradition that feels like it has passed away in public institutions but still survives in human nature. The Park is not in the local area nor any direct or indirect connection with Hampstead and Kilburn - bar there are four of the memorial plaques there that relate to 'locals'. Henry Sisley of Kilburn Aged 10 drowned in attempting to save his brother after he himself had just ...
No it's not yet another 20 questions: meme - a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes. I'm talking about a more insidious meme. It is the idea that we need metaphorical "rock stars" in government. It is particularly dangerous as those infected with this meme will vote more for style than substance. And yes, as far as this meme is concerned "it all started in America" with the potent mix of their presidential system, Hollywood and celebrity worshipping culture. It is undeniable that British elections have become far more ...
I had a phone call yesterday from National Express. Paul Cook from The Northern Echo, having read my post a couple of days ago about the latest plans to install permament "gatelines" at Darlington Bank Top Station, is planning on running another story, following up on the ones I also inspired last year about people being unfairly refused access to the station platform to say goodbye to their
WTF? Am awake and it's barely 6am. Not Want! # RT @ElrikMerlin @billt:http://twitpic.com/7lyr7 – Pizza with radius "z" & thickness "a" has volume pi*z*z*a ! [Oh bloody hell that's bad...] # RT @girlonetrack INCREDIBLE hi-res photos by Boston Globe of gov't violence post #iranelection http://is.gd/13o9W [via @Swerdloff] # One door closes, another opens – Renault cancel their F1 factory tour but Shell/Ferrari confirm their British Grand Prix garage tour... # Dealing with insomnia by tackling some of the 470 blog posts left uncategorised when they were imported from DeadJournal to WordPress. #
There has been a lot of talk in recent times in Westminster about adopting some form of recall system that could be triggered by an electorate if their MP has been found guilty of breaking Parliamentary code. However, as with Dr Ian Gibson in Norwich North there is the now talk of the possibility that Jim Devine in Livingston may well stand down forcing a by election. The possibility of him standing independently making it effectively his own recall. It is possible that he would stand himself as an Independent in any such by election (as he disbarred from standing ...
{cameron-and-blair} Ok I am confused... The Times on-line front page reports that David Cameron will give Tony Blair a free run if he tries to become the EU's first president. It goes on to say "The Conservative leader has told senior colleagues that they should do nothing to oppose a Blair candidacy if the Lisbon treaty, which creates the role, is ratified later this year" Then William Hague pops up on Sky News saying "..We are not in favour of an EU president at all....but I can tell you we have not spent ten years opposing Tony Blair as Prime ...
A Millionaire Tory MP, Brian Binley broke parliamentary rules by claiming more than £50,000 to rent a flat that his company owned. It is against the rules to rent properties owned by the individual or their company. Full story available at the Daily Telegraph website here.
... is a website which searches for your given search term across several search engines, along with positive, negative, or ambivalent phrases. You can try it for yourself here. It doesn't return any results for me :( However: lib dems: 89.1% negativeThe Liberal Democrats: 76.1% positiveThe conservative party: 78.1 positiveThe Labour party: 87.9 positiveThe Tories: 88.5 positiveThis has made me giggle. Especially the first one. This blog is proudly sponsored by
According to a report published by the Daily Telegraph, on their website on the 8th May 2009. Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has claimed "£2,262 for items bought at John Lewis, including a £749 television, £649 fridge freezer and various furniture for London flat on top of £900-a-month mortgage" I have in my previous post stated my interest of politics within the North West, and i thought that Gordon was squeeky clean, but i guess not? Daily Telegraph article available to view here. (This provides information on quite a number of MPs.)
