I was glancing at twitter, and saw Mummy Helen (who's subtitle looks suspiciously borg-esque to me) saying she'd been to dinner with Daddy Richard, and it struck me that I'll know I've really arrived as a Lib Dem Blogger when I get a spontaneously erupting nickname. Isn't that right, Scary Charlotte, Count Packula, Mortimer-Who-Ate-All-The-Pies, and Gravelly-Voiced Sexpot? ((This post brought to you by gratuitous linkage for no good reason))
Bought for £2 in a remaindered bookshop in Northampton today: RIGSBY: I suppose you come from an old family? PHILIP: Yes. RIGSBY: Yes. Born to it. Same in the war. My old captain - he came from a good family - not like these tu'penny ha'penny gentlemen you get today. He always carried a stick and smoked a pipe. I never saw him ruffled. When Jerry opened up he's just lean on his stick and say, "Where do you think that's coming from, sergeant?" Everyone would leap for cover but not the captain. PHILIP: What happened to him? RIGSBY: (winces) ...
During his appearance on Question Time on Thursday, Nick Griffin revealed that he has, in fact, read some books. These books, we are to believe, support his notion of there being a 17,000-year old "indigenous English race" surviving in the modern population of the British Isles. Actually, I shouldn't say "we are to believe" because I ...
When Tories support it. Wholeheartedly. ... Gosh, that didn't take long, did it? Tagged: electoral reform, Tories
Does that bigoted bouffanted buffoon, Nick Griffin have a sense of irony? I only ask because after all that whingeing to get on QT, he was utterly weedily, rubbishly feeble. When subjected to a mild grilling by an audience of a couple of hundred ...
I did not watch much of Question Time, but then I rarely do. These days, if I am up late on Thursday evening, it is just a way of filling that annoying gap between Newsnight and This Week. From what I saw Nick Griffin came over badly -and his "non-violent Klu Klux Klan" was priceless. But the usual format of the programme was changed because he was there. Yes, many in the audience will have wanted to quiz him on his views. Yes, the other panelists were right to challenge him. His presence even seems to have woken David Dimbleby ...
I am not a happy chappy with the way Question Time on BBC1 played out last night. The program was not billed as a 'BNP Special', but that is exactly what it was. I tuned in to see what I thought would be an animated healthy debate on a RANGE of different issues facing the country this week as usual. However, instead I witnessed a school playground bullying session. I'm not trying to defend the disgusting man that is Nick Griffin. I was happy to see him exposed as a total lightweight last night, but I did not enjoy how ...
I got off the train from London yesterday afternoon and went straight to Gateshead Civic Centre for meetings with my two ward colleagues Marilynn Ord and John McClurey and officers. Very useful and hopefully some progress will be made on the issues we raised. When I got home however, my very elderly cat Freda (nearly 21 years old) was not looking too well. She had had breathing problems on
Gordon Brown recently had trouble naming his favourite biscuit. As a socialist, he should have remembered an observation of Alexei Sayle's: Garibaldi. There's a biscuit named after him. Actually, it's amazing how many biscuits are named after revolutionaries. There's your Garibaldi of course, your Bourbon and your Peak Freans Trotskyite Assortment.
One of the things that I always loved about this country is that the police don't carry guns. It defuses tension and avoids unnecessary danger and escalations. But now someone thinks differently. Or do they? Because alarmingly it looks like armed police has been ordered out but no senior officer or political counterpart was involved ...
The main conclusions of the regulars in the pub were that the audience was pre-selected by the BBC to be as hostile as possible, that Griffin wasn't given enough chance to air his views, and that it was a complete set-up. Of course, the little he DID get to say was packed with lies and half-truths, but that doesn't matter. The perception is that poor ickle Nick was bullied by the nasty BBC and that's a bit of a problem, IMHO.
So Nick Griffin has now decided to call foul on the fact that the audience was against him after his inept performance on Question Time, claiming that London was no longer "British enough" for his message. Ah, and there I was thinking that he'd been trounced by a load of ordinary people from a wide range of ethnic groups, including what he likes to describe as British, who all showed themselves to be his superior both morally and intellectually. Fact is, every political party is aware that Question Time is difficult and tend to put up their best performers to ...
According to the Watford Observer, Three Rivers' only BNP councillor feels 'slightly uncomfortable' with Nick Griffin's performance on BBC Question Time last night. Only 'slightly', Cllr Dunne? Most of us felt nauseated, shocked and disturbed at just how hasty Nick appeared in public. What must his views be like when privately expressed? This is a man ...
Constantly Furious: Gordo and Griffin: what's the difference? and The Lay Scientist: Quote Comparison: Nick Griffin vs The Daily Mail (and Jan Moir) on the face of it both appear to suffer from guilt by association fallacy, but they are actually making a great point about who is having the real impact.No Sleep Til Brooklands: Mail now accusing others of racism? FIGHT! on how the paper is
Simon Hughes submitted a proposal to Parliament that all government and public agencies commit to a 10% reduction of their emissions in 2010. According to reports a large number of labour MPs objected to the motion. Whatever the final outcome at national level, Simon is encouraging LibDem led Councils to commit to the 10:10 target. If your Council has committed, please add a comment to this Blog. The aim should not only be to save the 10% within each Council but also to work together to reduce costs and have a greater overall impact.
(This post follows on from the Question Time BNP Bingo post yesterday.)I can officially confirm that the result of Question Time BNP Bingo was 18 points. Well, I say official. I can't bear re-watching it to be honest. I found the whole show an excruciating experience. Particularly Griffin's weird laugh: when deadly serious allegations were being made against him, to be sat there giggling away was
What with the postal strikes and everything, today's Liberal Democrat News may not have reached you yet. Here is part of what you are missing. Crucial Astro Tools At the close of most days in the Commons there is a short debate introduced by a backbencher. They are known as adjournment debates - the idea being that the topic is so urgent that the House should not rise until it has been dealt with. The subjects MPs choose build into a scrapbook of individual enthusiasms and local concerns. In recent days we have heard about power cuts in north-west Kent, ...
I think that it is now worth having a look at the wider issues relating to freedom of speech. Freedom of Speech often gets mixed up with the debates about "no platform" and there are lots of subtleties including the issue about the trafigura injunction.The Lord Chief Justice recently took the view that it was entirely reasonable to have court injunctions that in themselves are secret. This is
The BBC reports the bleak economic news: The UK economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.4% between July and September, according to official figures, meaning the country is still in recession. It is the first time UK gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted for six consecutive quarters, since quarterly figures were first recorded in 1955. Here's what Lib Dem shadow chancellor Vince Cable had to say: For all the hopes of a quick recovery, these figures make it clear we are still in the longest and what could yet become the deepest recession on record. "For all that has been thrown at ...
What could be simpler: five categories, each with five links. And it's Friday. 5 most-read stories on LDV this week 1. Bedford Mayoral Election ... Lib Dems' Dave Hogdson WINS! (30) by Stephen Tall 2. Jan Moir: the dilemma for the PCC (and what you should say in your complaint) (17) by Mark Pack 3. Bedford mayoral election ... Lib Dems' Dave Hodgson ahead on 1st preferences (3) by Stephen Tall 4. +++ Parliamentary authorities clear Lord Rennard of breaking expense rules (28) by Mark Pack 5. The police get a bit of a surprise when they try to stop ...
'A reception at the Cambridge Hall at which 2000 guests are expected, the stage exquisitely embellished with flower, the 50 strong Southport Choral Union and a special programme rendered by the Corporation Band.....'* Well that is what welcomed Asquith in 1909 when he visited Southport for the National Liberal Federation Annual meeting. I wonder how it will compare to welcome given to Chris Huhne when he comes in 2009? *quoted in M.P. Braham's, Southport Liberal Association: the first hundren years page 18
Update 1 : Replacement School Crossing Patroller for Blackness Primary School at Hawkhill - latest from Dundee City Council this afternoon : "Good Afternoon Cllr Macpherson, I am pleased to inform you that we have now been able to arrange for the above SCP to be manned with effect from lunch time on Tue 27 Oct. The individual concerned will be issued with his equipment/clothing on Tuesday morning and will receive the relevant training before taking up his post. I should point out that the new SCP has had previous experience as an SCP, which explains how we can have ...
The concerted campaign by local Lib Dems and residents to save the whole of Gunnersbury Park has been rewarded with a fabulous victory in the last 72 hours. At this week's meeting of Ealing Council, I seconded a motion against building on Gunnersbury Park and all parties on the Council unanimously voted for an amended version including the words, "This Council is committed to improving Gunnersbury Park but rules out selling parts of the park to developers to help pay for it." When I spoke to the Leader and Portfolio Holder subsequently, both confirmed that this meant that the administration ...
GDP figures show we could be in the deepest recession on record - says Shadow Chacellor Vince Cable Commenting on today's GDP figures, which show the economy shrank by 0.4% Between July and September, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "For all the hopes of a quick recovery, these figures make it clear we are still in the longest and what could yet become the deepest recession on record. "For all that has been thrown at the economy to try and stimulate a recovery it is clear that massive structural problems remain, particularly in the banking sector. "This news ...
There is plenty of reaction in the papers and on the blogs on the appearance of Nick Griffin leader of the BNP and MEP on Question Time. I don't feel I need to cover this in-depth. However I'm not going to say nothing here. It clearly went badly for Nick Griffin and I think the audience is only as bias as the general public after all most people know who the BNP really are. But I thought the questions were sometimes chaotic and unhelpful. It often seemed to be spiralling into arguments about who said what or what Nick Griffin ...
Dr Mo Mowlam 1949-2005. The red jumpers of Coatham Primary School pupils stand out amongst the spectators. Pupils from Coatham and Wheatlands Primary schools entertain the crowd. Mo Mowlan's brother and sister with former Councillor Vilma Collins shortly after unveiling the mosaic. Members of the Mo Mowlam tribute Committee admire the finished work. Our Grandson Daniel was more interested in the Fire Engine speeding past.
Paul Davies of the All Wales Directors of NHS Finance stunned the NAW Finance Committee this week with an admission that a fifth (£1billion) of the NHS budget is not being spent efficiently. Kirsty Williams commented "While we acknowledge that this money is being spent on patient care, it is unacceptable that £1 billion is not being used to the maximum effect to benefit patients. This raises very serious questions about the strategic management of our NHS and its ability to deliver value for Welsh taxpayers' money." http://www.libdemcymru.com/
I was really excited to hear earlier in the year that Kingston has been given £1.1 million to spend on improving play equipment in the borough's parks. Although the funding will be spread over two years, the plans are moving ahead quickly now. So next week there are a couple of meetings in the parks to look at plans. Anyone can join in, so go along to Churchfields Recreation Ground Play Area on Monday 26th October between 12pm and 3pm, or to King Edwards Play Area on Wednesday 28th October between11am and 2pm. Next year they will be looking at ...
Commenting on today's GDP figures, which show the economy shrank by 0.4% Between July and September, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "For all the hopes of a quick recovery, these figures make it clear we are still in the longest and what could yet become the deepest recession on record. "For all that has been thrown at the economy to try and stimulate a recovery it is clear that massive structural problems remain, particularly in the banking sector. "This news adds to serious concerns over the realism of Government plans to deal with the burgeoning public debt. It ...
On Monday I reported that a scandal was unfolding concerning Samantha Cameron's "£65 M&S dress" worn at Conservative party conference. On one level, it really doesn't matter what the spouses of party leaders wear, and, within reason, how much they pay for it, particularly since the Camerons are well remunerated for David's parliamentary work, as well as being privately wealthy. On another, when strenuous efforts are made for one thing to appear as something else entirely, that's hypocrisy and it should be exposed. So when, as the Mirror reported last Sunday, strings are pulled to obtain an off-the-shelf dress that ...
The Mirror (which I read today becaus someone bought it in to work) would have us believe today that support for the postal strike is rock solid. This seems at odds with my own experience. I know people still receiving parcels. I myself have received my post for the last two days and plenty of other people tell me that they are also receiving their post. The truth is that there are many in Royal Mail who know that the strikes will inevitably lead to greater job losses. It was pointed out on TV last night by Andrew Neil that ...
Residents who have received their copy of this week's Salford Advertiser will have noticed Labour Salford MP Hazel Blears has a new monthly column. I agree with Conservative Councillor Iain Lindley and Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Norman Owen's views that the timing of this column sets alarm bells ringing. Why now – as Iain Lindley writes - after 12 years as an MP, has she decided to suddenly write a regular column for the Advertiser. Is it perhaps because a general election that Labour will most likely get slaughtered in, is no more than 6 months away? I now ...
KAREN BUCK AND 10:10 I was very pleased to see in the local papers that my local MP Karen Buck had signed up for the 10:10 climate initiative (by which people promise to use 10% less energy than they did in 2009) and therefore very disappointed when she voted against the Lib Dem motion in support ...
Over in the Independent, Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne writes about his experiences on last night's BBC Question Time as a fellow panellist alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin. Here's an excerpt: The key method of Griffin was on display: pretend to be moderate and reasonable in order to garner support which would be revolted if it knew his real agenda. He was confronted with quotes from YouTube, in which he told David Duke of the Ku Klux Klan that the BNP had to move softly because the British people were not yet ready for talk of racial purity, ...
The good news is that the consultant says that the pain which Eric has been experiencing in his chest for the past three weeks is caused by a broken rib. We have no idea how this happened, as we can't remember Eric falling over. Broken ribs are very painful and take quite a few weeks to heal, but are fortunately not serious. However the not so good news is that during his visit to King's College Hospital haematology department this morning, Eric tripped and fell down. In doing so, he broke the top of the femur of his left leg. ...
[IMG: Julia Bricknell and Dr Evan Harris helping to clear the River Stert with a team of local volunteers during the by-election campaign.] There were nine principal council by-elections held on the 22nd October. The Tories held seven seats and gained one from an independent unopposed and the Liberal Democrats held one seat. There were no Parish and Town council election results reported to ALDC. In the Vale Of White Horse DC, Abingdon Dunmore Ward we held the seat seemingly comfortably. The relatively small shift between the Tories and us doesn't really tell the whole story as this ward is ...
The news of Jan Moir's profound homophobia was deeply unshocking. It was not just that another young star has been pilloried by bigots. Through the recent travails and sad ends of the careers of assorted hacks, fans know to expect the usual drivel dipped in poison - particularly if those journalists live a life that is shadowed by dark appetites or fractured by private vice. There are dozens of journalists out there with secret and not-so-secret troubles, or damaging habits both past and present ; we all know who they are. And we are not being ghoulish to anticipate, or ...
You have heard of the Leaders Debate, should it be followed by the Chancellors Debate?
Yesterday evening, I attended my first Scrutiny Committee meeting at Stockport Council (and my third Council meeting of the day, but that's another story). This was the Health Scrutiny Committee and I was there as a substitute for a regular member who couldn't make it. We were there to specifically look at how the different agencies in Stockport (e.g. the Council, the Primary Care Trust and third sector organisations like Age Concern and the Stockport and District Alzheimer's Society) can better work together. As our population ages, dementia (principally, though not exclusively, a disease of the elderly) becomes more and ...
Yet more dire economic news. Perhaps people thought there would be growth in the GDP figures produced today, reflecting the fact the Eurozone has climbed out of recession. Japan is out of recession too. But here in Britain, the figures are still in the negative.The question is, will we continue to hear Gordon Brown claiming he is leading the world out of recession? The answer is probably yes.
Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I've long been critical of the approach taken by the Labour administration in Reading to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour at a neighbourhood level. Officers involved in this area at RBC work hard but they are stymied by diktats from Labour nationally and lack of leadership locally. Labour's approach to community safety has been heavily critcised in recent years and led many residents to stop reporting crime in their areas. This is damaging as it means that many issues in the local area are not getting tackled simply because the authorities don't know about them. I ...
I see that Nick Griffin has said that he faced a 'lynch mob'* last night. Strangely I didn't see him swinging from a tree in the Blue Peter garden so I must assume he doesn't mean literally. He's also complaining that the format of the show changed last night. Well I agree. It gave too much airtime to the opinions of one party, namely his. It didn't really show him up as lacking sensible ideas outside his pet subjects, and even then he didn't do too well on some of those. (Having been asleep at the time of airing I ...
So you've spent years complaining you're the `victim of the system` and `never get airtime` and then you get the prime time viewing slot on the BBC you've so long coveted – what do you do with the opportunity? I know, don't prepare for it properly, don't come up with cogent answers to obvious questions ...
his is the final instalment of the Agent's Manual, for now, and it deals with an important aspect of campaigning, and that is knowing your way around the constituency, and staying in it whilst campaigning. First - Be aware of water hazards. At the Ogmore by-election, in 2002, it was possibly the wettest by-election on record. So, ...
The "Gordon Brown resign" petition which was still in No 1 position for live petitions yesterday has now closed with 72,222 signatures. It is now in the top 10 of all time petitions. As we all know, these petitions generally reflect much wider opinion but I think it is a decent snapshot of those who think for whatever reason that he should no longer be our Prime Minister. Indeed it is notable that despite all his rhetoric, it had been announced today that the UK is still in recession. The only developed economy still to be in that position. This ...
I was worried that my fellow North West MEP would manage to appear just a little bit warm and 'cuddly', or even worse that he might emerge as the brave defender of honourable views being bullied by the establishment. But no, to my mind he just looked ridiculous. Is there anyone that the BNP doesn't hate, or fear is out to do down the "English"? (Incidentally, if Griffin so loves England why does he live in Wales?). I don't rule out the idea of a future debate with him in the region we both represent but I doubt that such ...
The latest film from TNT News describes the history of former Ladywood resident Albert Gill, who in October 1916 was awarded the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry that can be presented to British & Commonwealth forces. TNT News reporter Alex presents this report from the cemetery where Albert Gill was buried.
So last night's Question Time had the BNP's Nick Griffin as a guest, I have never been a supporter of a 'No Platform' policy and last night's edition of Question Time showed why it is far better to debate those you disagree with rather than refuse and call them names (hello Mr Hain - I mean you!).
[IMG: parkview] The Council is consulting on a proposed new traffic safety zone and 20mph area art the southern end of Heywood Road. The area covered includes the bottom of Heywood Road, from the Rectory Lane mini-roundabout to the junction with Scholes Lane. It also includes the Park View Road as a 20mph zone, through to its junction with Bury New Road. The scheme includes four sets of "raised cushions" along Heywood Rosd (perhaps similar to those on Whittaker Lane). North of the Rectory Lane roundabout it is proposed to have some speed reduction signage and other features, but not ...
At a time when the recession is biting and spending on vital front line services is being cut, how can this be justified? The Arts Council is to give half a million pounds to a Devon artist to chop off part of an arctic island and tow it round the South West coast on a barge as part of the Cultural Olympiad in 2012. The Cultural Olympiad is a great way to boost tourism and interest in the arts for those parts of the country which are not otherwise directly benefitting from the Olympics. But this seems like an incredible ...
The Liberal Democrats at West Lindsey District Council, dissatisfied with the way serious issues are being handled internally by the ruling group the Conservatives, are calling for a full Corporate Governance Inspection Audit. The Audit commissions web-site states, 'The way public bodies manage themselves is important in determining the quality of the services they provide. The Audit
Birmingham City MBC, Sutton New HallCon 1633 (58.3; -8.8)Lab 505 (18.0; +5.6)UKIP 344 (12.3; +12.3)LD Robert Hardware 319 (11.4; +2.7)[Green (0.0; -3.5)][BNP (0.0; -8.3)]Majority 1128Turnout 15.93%Con holdPercentage change is since May 2008.Party defending seat: Con. Cause: Death. East Lindsey DC, SibseyCon elected unnopposed.Con gain from East Lindsey IndependentParty defending seat: East
I somewhat disagree with Nader about the BBC inviting Nick Griffin on to this week's Question Time. It was delightful to see Mr Griffin tying himself in knots. I thought Chris Huhne was the star of the show, pinning down BNP lies much more effectively than the others did.
The Conservatives who lead Cornwall Council have backed down on a commitment from the Council's Chief Executive to extend the opening hours of Launceston One Stop Shop. Back in June, Chief Exec Kevin Lavery described the One Stop Shops as the vital link between the public and the Council and he pledged to extend the opening hours so that local residents can access services at weekends and in the evenings. At present Launceston One Stop Shop is only open from 8.45am until 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am until 4.30pm on a Friday. The staff there do a fantastic job ...
For me one of the key tenets of liberalism is our commitment to human rights and fairness. This is why I think fighting the fight on immigration is so important. On last night's Question Time, a member of the audience asked whether the rise of the BNP had been down to Labour's failure on immigration. I think there is an element of truth in that, but perhaps not the element of truth that our home affairs spokesman, Chris Huhne, thought. Over the last ten years we have been subjected to Home Office and Immigration policy made to please the xenophobic, ...
We live in a democracy and a key part of democracy is freedom of speech. Everyone is entitled to their own views, you might not like their views and likewise they probably won't like yours - but we all have the freedom to choose what to believe and what to say. Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time last night furthers that point. I detest racism and persecution in all its forms. That belief is mine and living in a democracy, I'm allowed to say it. The BBC made a decision, a decision based on fairness and on the facts. The ...
This report from NHS West Midlands shows that the number of people with flu-like illness is increasing across the region.Key MessagesAcross the West Midlands there has been an increase in patients presenting at primary care centres with influenza-like symptoms, this is not impacting on normal service delivery. The number of people with swine flu admitted to hospitals in West Midlands has
Last night was the regular meeting of the Governors of Prestwich Arts College on Heys Road. This is one of the two schools on which I serve as a school governor. Last night there were two main issues that the Governors discussed: Building Work There are two really exciting building projects happening at PAC this year. Firstly a new dining room is being built, the school was the only high school in Bury without a dining room, so this is long overdue; secondly a new Arts Auditorium is being built in the land below Glebelands Road, and the former arts ...
A curious long term trend from Google: looking at the number of mentions of God and the Devil in online news stories worldwide over the last five years, you can see that the number of mentions of the Devil (red) has stayed static whilst the number of mentions of God (blue) has steadily risen: [IMG: God versus Devil Google news search results]
Jan Moir's recent homophobic column in the Daily Mail about the death of Stephen Gately was awful and I have previously blogged about it, you can read it here. Well, it does appear that Jan Moir is trying to apologise in her latest column, titled "The truth about my views on the tragic death of Stephen Gately." Initially as you read it you feel there may actually be a genuine change of heart, although there are some lines it that make me feel otherwise. I have spent a lot of time since Jan Moir's first column reading some of her ...
[IMG: http://www.wikio.co.uk] [IMG: David Sutton Loses seat] A local resident recently pointed me in the direction of the hapless Reading East Labour candidates "blog" - where this week she 'tackles' the subject of anti-social behaviour. Of cause, she seems to believe that simply talking about a subject is some how real action. After listing Labours failed schemes to tackle ASB she added: They may have been criticised by some 'liberals', but I would like to see how these critics would cope with the kind of constant harassment and intimidation that the new measures have relieved. Of cause, being from Peterborough ...
I've just been to a preview ( very much a preview given that things were still being put in place) of a great exhibition and series of events at the Bluecoat from today until 29th. It's on themes of health and wellbeing and looking at the programme there are loads of opportunities for people to join in and have their say. You can get the programme e mailed to you if you e mail ideasbank@liverpoolpct.nhs.uk
So that was the Question Time that was. There is copious assessment of Nick Griffin's performance, linked to here on LDV. My views are straightforward. First, Nick Griffin came over badly, but that is immaterial: those who are BNP-inclined will likely have seen him as the victim of a liberal, metropolitan, media stitch-up; and those who despise the BNP will have had their view confirmed. Secondly, my over-riding sense was of relief that the BNP don't have a more slick, plausible leader. The moment is ripe for a truly charismatic, attractive, anti-politician to play the demagogue: Nick Griffin is decidedly ...
Here's the click-through of posts published on the Lib Dem blogs in response to last night's BBC1 Question Time, with Nick Griffin. If we've missed your post, or you write something later on, please post your link in the comments thread: Nick Griffen's grin (Lynne Featherstone); This week, dancing the military goosestep, it's Nick and Eva! (John Ault); So #bbcqt – what a laugh, eh? (Jennie Rigg); Is the BNP a repository of the psychologically unstable? (Liberal Revolution); Nick Griffin on BBC Question Time – the verdict, #bbcqt (Mark Thompson); Nick Griffin – pretending to be reasonable while still a ...
Well the show went on as they say. No doubt whether it should or shouldn't have will be long debated. But it was clear last night that the persistent challenging of the BNP by the other panelists on their much publiscised right wing views did start to get to the heart of the matter. Griffin struggled to explain past quotes and failed to explain their policies. Policies that until now they had publicly dressed up in a cloak of moderation and nationalism were becoming exposed as rascist, bigoted, homophobic, islamaphobic, divisive, illiberal and intolerant. In fact against everything Britain stands ...
This may strike aspiring agents as being obvious, but this is an important aspect of any campaign HQ. Two incidents stand out from the Eddisbury campaign: First - make sure there is a lock. The present MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron, having been out on a canvassing session returned to the HQ in need of ...
now that we have all outcompeted each other for showing how much we all hate Nick Griffin, boring Mr Wilkes moves back onto the stuff that will actually make a difference to our future lives: the money, the banks, the money . . . ,.
Jan Moir has published a "clarification" about her hateful article last week on Stephen Gately's death today in the Daily Mail. There is a cached version of it you can read here so that I don't need to link to her article. There is also a cached version of her original one here. She seems to be trying to justify what she did and apparently it's all our fault for misinterpreting poor old Jan. The thing is, her explanation of what she meant is full of holes. I am not going to do a full fisk, I don't have the ...
Last night the eyes of the nation turned to a political figure making his public debut in front of a sceptical audience. Yes, I was speaking to the Rotary Club of Tottington. I had been invited in my capacity as Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Bury North, and after joining the club for dinner I spoke about how I think politicians need to re-engage with the people, and how they can do that in the wake of expenses-gate. One of the things I said needed to happen was for politicians to start being more honest, straightforward and positive. It was ...
'And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play on the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter' It is good to start the day with a bit of Milton. The Areopagitica-from which the quote above is taken -was the symbol of office for Presidents of the Liberal Party. We had a full council last night and not surprisingly the Question Time broadcast came up. Sir Ron Watson ...
For all my arguments that the BBC had no choice but to engage with the BNP and that in a democracy we need to debate with and expose fascists, I could not help but feel uneasy watching last night's Question Time. The first part of the programme was everything I expected it to be, with some very experienced politicians and the awesome Bonnie Greer dismantling the BNP leader, his views and his policies. In many ways that was always going to be a one off as was demonstrated when the panel got onto wider issues. It was then that the ...
Following concerns raised by residents about the extent of slippy leaves on the pavements here, I have been in touch with the City Council's Waste Management Department about this. The photo (right) shows the pavement at the Blackness Avenue end of Abbotsford Place.
2 Big Stories Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time British National Party leader Nick Griffin has used his Question Time appearance to criticise Islam and defend a past head of the Ku Klux Klan. He also told a largely hostile audience that Winston Churchill would be a BNP supporter if he were alive, and said he would find two men kissing "creepy". Anti-fascist protestors scuffled with police outside BBC TV Centre in west London before the show was filmed. Minister Peter Hain said the BBC had legitimised the BNP's "racist poison". But the corporation defended the invitation to the leader ...
The long drawn out saga of the Abbey Hey Hotel seems to be coming to a conclusion. The unsuitable planning application for flats was rejected earlier this month and on Wednesday, the Court approved moves which gives the owners a very short period of time to deal properly with the building or action will be taken. This should result in the building finally being demolished in the near future, ending the nightmare which those living around this once fine landmark have endured for the last few years.
As the date for the publication of the All Wales Convention report on the powers of the Welsh Assembly draws nearer then speculation grows stronger as to what it will say. This morning's Western Mail is convinced that there will be a very clear recommendation to hold a referendum as early as next autumn and that the Convention will suggest that a 'yes' vote is likely. I have no reason to doubt that suggestion and nor would I want to, but it does leave very little time to get an effective all-party 'yes' campaign up-and-running and no matter how much ...
Someone had obviously coached Nick Griffin for his Question Time debut, and the key advice given, was obviously to smile - whatever. Media trainers will always give such advice but they may have to rethink it. Mr Griffin's attempt to present himself and the BNP as reasonable by hideously grinning throughout Question Time served only to make the British public see him even more clearly as a racist, homophobic, bigot. And that's good - the BNP is the appropriate party for a racist or a homophobe to vote for. On the doorstep, when I come across the thankfully rare occurrence ...
Well full of a combination of virtue, anger, shame and pride I ended my Question Time experience last night. Although I have advocated Mr Griffin's appearance, and consequent interrogation, on Question Time I still found it a deeply unnerving and dirty process. In the same moment I felt shame that anyone British holds these views and pride ...
Lib Dem MPs have been leading the debate on fighting climate change by trying to get the Government to sign up to 10:10 this week. Having been at the 10:10 launch, I was delighted to see this motion tabled – and I'd certainly have voted for it if I was in Parliament. 10:10 is the ...
Yesterday was the latest Neigbourhood Policing Team (NPT) meeting, where councillors, Council officers and police get together to go through the issues. We're in Stockport West, covering (roughly) Cheadle, Gatley, Cheadle Hulme, Heald Green, Bramhall, Davenport and Cale Green. Among the issues I raised are: South Park Road Estate - both the need for improved enforcement of the "No Entry except for Access" rule and the issue of parking along Coniston Road and nearby roads. I asked the police to look into reports of Marrick Avenue and Richmond Hill Road being used by some motorists to dodge past a bit ...
I have already blogged a little about Monday night's meeting of Full Council. Not mentioned the failure to stick to an agreed ban on domestic flights, but you can read about that here. I did do a speech about the safety of Haringey's housing, in my new (since May) role as opposition housing spokesperson. Have to admit I didn't deliver it very well... just wasn't feeling too great and so read out a speech I'd written beforehand, which never makes for the most inspiring listening experience. But the points I was raising were sound. The choice to cover housing safety ...
Any lingering fears that Dick, sorry, Nick Griffin might have won any converts to his half-baked demagoguery have been scotched, not so much by his abject performance on last night's QT but by the fact that I've just come back from the newsagent's to buy some cigarettes and I clocked his ugly mug staring back at me from the Daily Mail and the Daily Express accompanied with the headlines "BIGOT AT BAY" and "A DISGRACE TO HUMANITY" respectively. When you have rags like the Heil and the Tits using that kind of language about you, Nicky boy, you're doing it ...
One of my favourite blog sites on the net is Daily Kos. I was a religious reader of the material in the run up to American elections in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Inbetween then, I still check up on a regular basis. Primarily because US politics interests me, but also because the site fascinates me ...
[IMG: http://www.wikio.co.uk] [IMG: torystrike.jpg] A local resident has been filling me in on all the other political blogs in the Reading. Generally I use Reading List to see what's going on and can rarely be bothered to look at what Tory bloggers are wittering on about - of cause there are no real Labour councillor blogs so the Tories have one up on them! Any way... So inaccuracies #1, on the subject of an extra council meeting to discuss the Civic centre re-build one Tory said: We then had the bizarre moment when the Lib Dem group decided to vote ...
RT @ePolitix: Goverment will respond to PAC report on lobbying "very shortly" says Angela Smith http://bit.ly/1uhxJI # RT @mashthestate: Nice new Early Day Motions site scraped from Parliament. RSS feeds & API too! http://bit.ly/3WHSLC #ukpolitics # @stedavies Or people who are having a covert lie in and using scheduled tweets to hide it [IMG: :)] in reply to stedavies # Hello IT world, welcome to the wonders of arguments over ballot paper ordering: http://bit.ly/K6w1E # RT @libcon Liberal Conspiracy » Fact-checking Michael Gove on Churchill http://bit.ly/l582M # 3 Minute Ad Age: Why Adobe abandoned physical product launches http://bit.ly/1QJKGo # @firetail ...
At yesterday's Assembly Finance Committee Paul Davies, chairman of the All Wales Directors of NHS Finance told AMs that a billion pounds of the £5 billion spent was not being utilised appropriately. As Betsan Powys reports he continued: "We don't get it right now. Far too many patients end up in the wrong place, either being hospitalised when they shouldn't be, or they stay in hospital too long, or they stay in primary care, and they should be in hospital, all those mistakes...(are) extremely costly, very expensive. "It's staff, it's capacity, it's beds, and it's basically trying to say – ...
Mercedes, the UK's only polar bear last week moved from her home in Edinburgh Zoo to her new home at the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie. On Monday she was available for visitors to see her in her new 4 acre home in the Highlands. Mercedes had been in Edinburgh for 25 years. She was rescued from her native country, Canada after she was due to be shot. Unfortunately for Mercedes she had began roaming into town in search of food as she became hungry and, as polar bears are dangerous animals, this behaviour had to be discouraged. Mercedes was ...
The BBC Have Your Say forums are already overrun with people saying it was a set-up, poor ickle Dick Griffin didn't get the chance he deserved, the audience were all hand-picked leftie conspirators, etc. Griffin himself thinks he came across well. My view is more akin to that of Mark Reckons. I thought he got ample opportunity to spout his poisonous tosh, and I thought the rest of the panel missed a few golden opportunies to skewer him, but on the whole he came across like the lying, shifty, weaselly toad he clearly is. I don't think the show will ...
Today (Friday) is your last chance to comment on the proposed redesign of New Street station. I fully support an overhaul of what is quite frankly an embarrassing gateway to Birmingham. A bold redesign such as this will undoubtedly be an enormous benefit for the city. Pop over to the website and have your say. But let's not forget the issue of capacity on the track. I can't help but feel there's been a missed opportunity for rail capacity building a stone's throw away at Eastside. I would have liked to have seen a far more in-depth study of the ...
Hot on the heels of Nick Clegg, the PM, and Dave "Blue Boy" Cameron, I can confirm that I too have a favourite biscuit. In third place: Dark chocolate digestives. In second place: Fig Rolls. In first place, da da la da da daaa: Garibaldis. A nation ...
A report in the Northern Echo is grim reading for local people, with the two districts that fall within the North West Durham constituency (Wear Valley and Derwentside) shown to be amongst the worst in the North East for fuel poverty. Worse still is the rate of increase. [IMG: Northern Echo story] You can read the whole Northern Echo story here and then refer back to the May 13th story on this blog here . Make your own judgement.
One prevailing thought I've had is that if the BNP can be kept to its core vote we wouldn't be having the fuss about them today. It's clear that the `fascist skinhead` vote has now found a home. Some of the ex-Labour crowd particularly in the North have turned to them although that support is ...
Well that was quite a mad evening. The BBC Question Time Live Chat on here was the best attended ever for the one that included Nick Griffin. I do not think Griffin came across well at all. He tied himself up in knots a few times and faced with the quotes of things he had said before ended up all over the place trying to justify and/or distance himself from them. He also seemed to be trying to laugh along when comments were made against him which for me did not work. However, I am bound to think all of ...
So Jan Moir has spoken again, below is her article in full with my comments in red. yeah I've pinched the format straight off Cardiff Blogger from her first article. Last week, I wrote in this column about the death of Boyzone star Stephen Gately. To my horror, it has been widely condemned as 'homophobic' and 'hateful'. Obviously, a great deal of offence has been taken and I regret any affront caused. This was never my intention. Interesting then that the whole opening tenant was to build up from Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger. Then to speculate about the demises of ...
Question Time invites Nick Griffin onto programme → BBC report this as news, for weeks → Audience submit questions → Stories that have been in the news most are picked → Therefore end up with loads of questions about the BNP because the BBC have been obsessively reporting them ...
The BNP leader said tonight to a black audience member on Question Time "I am very happy for you to stay here".Now the BNP have recently changed their website, or else I would post the words (not a link) -but their rules that say they will kick out all non British people. Whatever crap Griffin spouts.So I call on all BNP members to call for his expulsion from their party for breaking their
I saw the protest as Nick Griffin entered TV Centre. The organiser of the protest was possibly arrested but he was definitely taken away by the police. So the BBC interviewed a London Labour MP. I missed his first couple of sentences but then he said he wanted to keep the British way of life which is about tolerance, equality and freedom for all. I thought he wanted to support Nick Griffin but he was definitely protesting. He said that these types of ideologies should not be encouraged or supported. I agree with that but the BBC's role is to ...
Tuesday: My Daddies have been watching telly again. This week, Mr McGoohan spends all his time OBSESSING about who is BLACK and who is WHITE. And do you know what? By the end of the show he is mistaken for one of the FASCISTS! Funny the things they allow on television, isn't it? information If you think of the Prisoner, you think of playing chess with living pieces, and that means that you're thinking of this one. Has the Prisoner found an ally? Is it the Count or the Queen or the Rook? And is there any way of telling? ...
