Helen Duffett has just posted some classic news themes. But ended with saying that her nine-year-old was raving away to the current BBC News theme instead. Of course she is not the first person to have considered that. This is not a Troll just a part of one.
Friday: Anything Mr Balloon can do... I can do BETTER! . [IMG: Posted by Picasa]
I'd never heard the whole of the theme tune to John Craven's Newsround until a few minutes ago. The first twelve seconds make my tummy rumble - a Pavlovian throwback to 70s teatimes. But after that: whoa.... WHAT IS GOING ON? If they'd used more of this track, a whole generation's formative view of the news would have been very different. Or they could have used it for the Panorama theme tune, instead of Aujourd'hui C'est Toi by Francis Lai - which, quite frankly, used to scare the living daylights out of me. But the best current-affairs-groove after all these ...
Although it's normal for candidates to leave the security of ballot boxes firmly in the hands of elections staff, there is in fact a long-standing legal right dating back to the 1872 Ballot Act for candidates to put their own seals on ballot boxes. It is a right that is only rarely used, such as in the 1999 European elections in Haringey. The Conservatives decided to put their own seals on ballot boxes, motivated in part by the usual European rules requiring a 3 day delay between polling day (Thursday) and the count (Sunday). On that occasion the seals caused ...
OOOOOOOOOHHHHH - and another one! The Labour apparatchiks are falling over themselves to praise our man. Could it be the penny is at last beginning to drop? I do hope so. As a great supporter of and believer in, the trade union movement, I am not a Lib Dem by accident. I look forward to the day when my old pals wake up and smell the coffee, "New Labour" has betrayed the movement - at every turn. So Kevin Maguire is succeeded by none other than TUC general secretary Brendan Barber in heaping praise on Nick Clegg over the Cadbury ...
Yes, I had a little accident ;-P With the increase in technology came an increase in what I'd like to do with that technology, specifically be able to offer secure (https://) connections for security purposes on some of the sites I host. And although there have been moves to make virtual hosting of port 443 secure sites possible, they rely on changes to browsers which — as we all know — are a bit like a brick swimming against the prevailing current. Instead, therefore, just as with the ten year old specification of IPv6, we are required to use one ...
Thornbury and Yate Liberal Democrats invite you to come and hear Paddy Ashdown on Thursday 4th February in Thornbury Leisure Centre at 8pm. Paddy will discuss the political situation at home and abroad, as well as his experience as a Royal Marine, a Diplomat, and Lib Dem Leader for ten years. There will also be a chance to put your questions to him. Entry is free but if you intend to come it would be helpful if you could let Thornbury and Yate Liberal Democrats know on steve@stevewebb.org.uk or by phoning Steve Webb's local office on 01454 322100. Please print ...
It's a small, but telling example. The Evening Standard ran a piece from Simon Jenkins, which included a bit of myth-recycling about what the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health had said about people clearing snow from outside their property. There were two problems. First, either Simon Jenkins or a sub-ed dropped the word "probably" making the quote sound far more definitive that in the original version reported in other newspapers. (I suspect it was no innocent error because there was also a similar distortion of what Lord Davies said in Parliament.) Second, the quote was – even in the ...
News just coming in that Gordon is going to face the Chilcot inquiry into Iraq soon. Sky are saying: After increasing pressure from political opponents, Mr Brown wrote to Sir John earlier this week to make it clear he would be "happy" to attend at any time. "I am clear that it is a matter for you how you conduct the Inquiry and that it is, and must remain, entirely independent of Government," the Prime Minister wrote. "In undertaking this you have rightly chosen the order you wish to receive evidence. "For my part, I want to make it absolutely ...
I had my stitches taken out today. I am stitch free. I also did karate and I was rubbish because I haven't done proper training for weeks. But the main issue at the minute is that I have to sell the car. And I need to ask your advice about that. For various reasons I owe my dad £640, and he needs it back ASAP (within the next two weeks). To obtain that money, I can sell Kaligula (I can cycle to work, and it will be fine to be carless). Kaligula's tax and MOT have run out. If I ...
One thing I like about Kevin Maguire is that he has a rare quality of being a Labour hack prepared to give praise where praise is due. Yesterday was one such day - a perceptive blog from yr man - my favourite bits - on Osborne "Shakespeare was still writing tragedies when Invisible Tory George Osborne last had the confidence to hold a press conference" on Nick Clegg "Labour tribalists sounded foolish mocking Nick Clegg's questions about why state-owned RBS is bankrolling Kraft's takeover of Cadbury. Many Labour MPs silently agreed with the Lib Dem leader. If today had been ...
I have to say I do love my chocolate. While I naturally prefer a very dark Lindt or Green and Black, I do love that unique sweet cocoa creaminesss of Cadbury's chocolate, whether it's covering fruit and nuts, honeycomb, caramel or encasing white and yellow fondant. I was not chuffed to hear news of the company's takeover by US food giant Kraft. Not just because I'm concerned that the company that makes plastic cheese might turn my favourite sweets into plastic chocolate, but also because it's handing control of another British company, a national institution abroad and putting the jobs ...
The video above was Tavish Scott a few weeks ago making the case for the Scottish LibDem proposal to freeze the remuneration of top-paid public sector staff. Tavish reinforced the point at First Minister's Questions today and exposed the ridiculous position of the Tories in proposing a freeze on the pay of anyone in the public sector earning over £18 000 - well below average earnings. Here's Tavish's update on the Scottish Budget : Yesterday saw the first debate in the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Government's Budget. The economic background is serious. Unemployment continues to rise in Scotland , ...
My husband likes all sorts of strange things. When he buys me bubble bath or smelly stuff it's always fruit flavoured. When he's given free rein over a choice of car, it's always tiny and garish. It's quite amazing that someone who's 27 feet tall - well, not really, but he was walking through a park one day and a little girl on the other side of a hedge yelled out "Look, Mummy, it's a giant - should have a lifetime of buying itsy bitsy teeny little cars. The tinest of all was not one but two of these yellow ...
Scottish Tory Leader Annabel Goldie has shockingly told Scottish voters that the Conservative Party doesn't need them to govern. Even if her party wins no Westminster seats in Scotland, she warned that it actually didn't matter because David Cameron doesn't need Scotland to make up his majority. I say shocking not because it's something we didn't think could happen, but because it's hardly tactful of her to rub our noses in thoes horrid 18 years when Mrs Thatcher presided over the demise of many Scottish industries - the car plant in Bathgate, Gartcosh, Ravenscraig, the coal industry to name but ...
Well done to Liberal England and @urchinette and @helenduffett on Twitter for highlighting this extraordinary slide show of London in the 1960s. I would thoroughly recommend watching it – perhaps with some music going in the background. I had "Pink Panther Lounge" by Henry Mancini from Spotify going, which seemed wonderfully 60sish and went well. Observations: Crikey – life's long if you're lucky. I think I first visited London at the same time of some of these photos – when I was knee high to a grass hopper. Good grief – how it's changed! One black face amongst a sea ...
The question is "Why didn't you?"
What caught my eye? You guessed it the 666. Now I am in no way suggesting that "Boy George", is in any way the Beast referred to in the Book of Revelation, but it does make you ...
That's the question posted by the Western Morning News's London editor, Matt Chorley: CONSERVATIVE high command make no secret of the importance of the Westcountry to their hopes of winning the general election, but there seems to be growing unease in the region about the impact (negative or non-existent) their leader is having on voters... Speaking to MPs and PPCs from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset there is a distinct lack of confidence, even in private. They talk about "hanging on" to seats, "picking up one or two" others. Don't forget the Tories need to win an extra 10 seats in ...
It's that day again and as usual the Live Chat on this blog will start tonight at 10:30pm. The panel will include the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne MP, the Conservative shadow secretary of state for communities and local government Caroline Spelman MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on housing Sarah Teather MP, the broadcaster Richard Madeley and the historian Andrew Roberts. Join us from 10:30pm below: <a >BBC Question Time - 21st January 2010</a>
One of the reasons blogging has been a bit lighter than I have ideas for at the moment is because of me being a clumsy eejit. On Hogmanay, I managed, while stone cold sober before anyone insinuates anything, to poke myself in the eye with the Radio Times. Basically what I have now is a paper cut on my cornea. At the time, it really hurt, but calmed down within a day or two. Since then, I've been waking up several times a week since in excruciating pain. It basically feels like I'm being stabbed in the eye, it's very ...
US firm Kraft's proposed takeover of Cadbury's has made headlines in recent days. First, because it's a major, historic British brand being snapped-up by a non-UK business (or 'foreign predator', as Vince Cable labels them). Secondly, because of the fear that job losses will result. And, thirdly, because of the role of the Royal Bank of Scotland – in which the British government has a majority stake-holding – in lending the money to Kraft which will fund its acquisition of Cadbury's. The Lib Dems – in the shape of Nick Clegg and Vince – have sharply questioned the role of ...
Just about to go to Ravenstonedale Parish Council meeting. This is a super Parish Council, very self confident and self reliant. Earlier this year I attended the opening of their playground project in which they had transformed a waste piece of ground into a beautiful play area. Parish Councils like this are the bedrock of our local communities and I'm looking forward to the evening.
Harry Ramsden, the Yorkshire fish and chip magnate, was the uncle of Harry Corbett of Sooty fame.
Moira Stuart been on TV a lot lately telling us that tax doesn't have to be taxing. Well as someone who helps friends out with their tax I can easly come back and say to Moira. "Tax doesn't have to be taxing", but it bloodly well is!" The web site is far from easy to use. If your filing company accounts or paying tax it's not joined up. I find the web site too be quite hard to use and to navigate. When filing a self assessment why can't the web site tell you your previous payments and deduct these ...
I want to hear your views about Lewisham's markets! The Sustainable Development Select Committee, which I am Vice-Chair of, is conducting a review of Lewisham's markets and street trading at present. You can fill in our survey here. Some of the questions being asked include: 'How often do you attend the markets?', 'How do you rate the quality of the products being sold in Lewisham's markets?' and 'How would you improve Lewisham's markets?' Alternatively, if you fancy a trip to Deptford Market on Saturday, I'll be on a stall there from 9.30am til midday with some of my committee colleagues. ...
Today was the Cumbria County Council "Full Council" meeting. All 84 Councillors come together to discuss and decide (Well that's the theory) The agenda didn't have anything about the recent problems with snow, ice and gritting and the Liberal Democrat group proposed a motion to introduce this subject. We proposed that the Council offer an apology for the problems of the last few weeks, whilst making it clear that this was no reflection on the dedication and hard work of our staff. Local Councillor Tom Clare made a very reasonable speech in which he asked that we look at the ...
Posted via email from Rob's posterous
Doctors working in hospitals earned almost £15m last year in so called 'ash cash' payments made by grieving families, figures released by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. The payment is made to doctors to sign a form releasing a body for cremation. Commenting Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Redcar, Ian Swales, said: "This is a well established practice but you really can't justify taking money off grieving relatives when this involves nothing beyond most doctors normal working hours. "People are at their most vulnerable after the death of a loved one and the last thing they need is these extra ...
Some interesting observations on the state of West Country Conservatism from Matt Chorley, the London editor of the Western Morning News:speaking to MPs and PPCs from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset there is a distinct lack of confidence, even in private. They talk about "hanging on" to seats, "picking up one or two" others. Don't forget the Tories need to win an extra 10 seats in the three counties, all but one from the Lib-Dems, to secure a majority of just one. One Tory MP told me: "There is uncertainty over Cameron in the South West, largely because our Tories tend ...
Well, it's a week later and the break seems a long way away. Email meant that I was able to keep up with many issues whilst in the US, however we still returned to a small mountain of work. Much of it would seem trivial compared to the big political issues occupying the media, but if it's your house that can't get broadband, your street that's impassable because of uncleared snow or you that misses the bus and has to kick your heels for three hours with a small child in tow (because someone has omitted to put up an ...
Remember my photograph of a cat at Oakham railway station? It seems he is a well-known cat about town in Oakham. Martin Brookes recently sighted him patiently waiting for a petfood shop to open. And the good news is that they obviously let him in. The other cat in my original photograph was last seen boarding a train for Peterborough.
I did an interview for BBC TV in the north west today about ID cards. They wanted to hear more about the Liverpool City Council opposition to the scheme and refusal to co operate with any Government requests for promotion, use of rooms etc. I understand the Government is trying to push the card scheme in the North West hard. I also understand however that there has been a delay in them getting their act together in terms of setting up an office. Interestingly everyone I have spoken to, including those with no interest in politics, is against these cards ...
Labour MPs, including Garston's Maria Eagle have voted for a longer break in February. Half-term is usually a week. Most people in employment carry on working as normal through it - they have to. MPs however have just voted to have not just half term as a break from the Commons but an extra two days and part of another day added on. I say MPs but actually it was only Labour MPs who voted in favour. Lib Dems and Conservatives voted against. The record of the vote is on the Hansard website. (Hat tip to Iain Dale)
Hurrah! Camden launched an electric car club pilot today in partnership with Hertz. To the best of my knowledge this is the first such trial in the UK. (See photo below of me with Cllr Paul Braithwaite, who's passionate about improving air quality, and Cllr Chris Knight, the Executive Member for Environment.) An electric car club trial is something I first called for two years ago. It makes perfect sense. At the moment we don't have the on-street parking space to allow everyone who wants one to have an electric car. The technology isn't ready. Batteries currently need to be ...
Today is the last opertunity to put in an objection to the propposed Mega TESCO in Stretford. If you have not done so, please do it now. The NO Mega Tesco campaign's website has some briliant draft letters of objection and outlines how to object: Tesco and Sainsbury's are planning to unleash a supermarket war on Chorlton's doorstep, with developments close to Lancashire Cricket Ground. Chorlton Lib Dems are campaigning against both, fearful that Chorlton could be the real loser in their battle. I believe these developments could severely affect the vitality of Chorlton centre and could be disastrous ...
Tunis is one of the lowest-key capitals of North Africa and all the more pleasant for it. Like many other cities of the Maghreb, it has an old Arab quarter or medina, as well as a New Town, built during the French colonial period. The two could not be more unlike. The winding alleyways of ...
Thu 21st
16:51
Can we stop £49 million of Kingston's Business Rates being siphoned off for other councils? Ma...
Something rather unexpected has happened, and as a result Kingston may be a key player in changing Government regulations. The story is this: Every year the businesses in the Borough pay a total of £79 million in Business Rates. The money is collected by the Council, so you would imagine that Kingston residents and businesses would reap the benefit. But no, a whopping £49 million is taken from Kingston and redistributed to other boroughs. Whilst I do understand the need to support economically deprived areas in the country, this really is out of all proportion. After all, the businesses in ...
Today is being marked as the launch of the government's plans to free as much of the data it has on a huge range of things. The site being launched, called data.gov.uk, is going to make lots of centrally-held data freely available to those clever boys and girls who know what to do with it. If ...
You know you want to, people... More to follow (there goes my afternoon...) Send me yours at sara.scarlett@liberal-vision.org [Ed - updated, another contribution, this time from Tom Papworth...] [IMG: poster] From Sara:
As a fan of the team whose history included the SFL demanding a name change name back in 1974 as they didn't want the financial connection with Ferranti to lower the tone of the place, this story of Stirling Albion doesn't surprise me but kind of brings a smile to the face at the same time. Fellow strugglers financially Stirling Albion are also a club that the supporters trust is heavily involved came up with a plan to help them survive. Buy the club and selling naming rights to comparethemarket.com for £50,000. For a club £1.5 million in debt and ...
Last week, LibDem Voice brought the news of Nick Clegg's commitment to full rights and equality for gay, lesbian, transexual and transgendered people. In an article entitled 'Clegg calls for full gay equality - what will Cameron do?' it explained how Nick Clegg had 'laid down the gauntlet to the Tory leader David Cameron to justify his 'liberal Conservatism' by following suit'. Today comes another opportunity for Cameron to demonstrate his liberal conservative values. Twenty seven members of the Conservatives' European Parliamentary allies, the Polish Law and Justice Party, are yet again targeting gays as they demand a government clampdown ...
Was just doing a little bit of digging on the Hackney based Adenike Rachel Abimbola-Akindele who has made the short list for the Livingston seat to replace Jim Devine. Hat tip to Blood and Property a Hackney based blog for this comment on LabourHome. "Adenike Rachel Abimbola-Akindele is a serial applicant who is putting her cv for most seats, she does not turn up at selections or go to the area but because she is a woman and BAME is always shortlisted. It's a shame as it is blocking places for more worthwhile applicants who have worked the area for ...
The campaign group I'm a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! invites photographers to gather in London this Saturday in defence of street photography. The Mass Photo Gathering is in Trafalgar Square at 12 noon on Saturday 23 January. (Map here.) Over 1,400 people have already confirmed their attendance via this Facebook page. We've covered many cases, here at Lib Dem Voice, of anti-terrorist legislation being misused, particularly to detain photographers. Prompted by incidents like these, PHNAT calls on photographers, whether amateur or professional, as well as anyone who values visual imagery, "to defend our rights and stop the abuse of the ...
Thu 21st
14:17
Procrastinating on facebook? New re-tweet feature will help us 'like' our way to electoral victory
Facebook has now introduced an action similar to the 'retweet' function on Twitter. If you see something posted (e.g. the link to Clegg's pledges on youth unemployment) on one of our Fan Pages, by clicking the 'Share' button underneath, Facebook now links back to the page it was originally posted on (saying 'Via Liberal Youth'). It only works for links at the moment, but hopefully they will roll it out across other social actions. So if you are bored and on facebook, please remember to 'like' things that go out on the Liberal Youth, Liberal Youth Scotland and IR CYMRU ...
The Conservative Home website is running the somewhat suprising story that the Ian holman, the Green Party Candidate for Great Yarmouth is standing down in favour of his Conservative oponent, Brandon Lewis. The Green Party leadership may posture to the left, but clearly some party members march firmly in the other direction. This move may cost them hard in their nearby target seat of Norwich South.
As we start to move towards the election campaign in earnest, I can't help but feel that there are two of the Conservative Party's major policies that will become albatrosses around David Cameron's neck. The first one is the pledge in increase the inheritance tax threshold to £1m. The Conservatives generally think that IHT is an unfair tax and have sometimes characterised it as "a tax on the dead" as well as claiming that it means tax is effectively paid multiple times on earnings. There are others who think that it is fair to tax the estates of the deceased ...
[IMG: gmp.jpg] The latest Homewatch Newsletter from Greater Manchester Police features an article promoting a national database called immobilise.com, which enables people to register their valuables in case of theft - making it easier to identify who owns them if they are subsequently recovered as well. In addition it carries the latest news on any local criminal activities such as the location of the 11 thefts from vehicles in the last week! Plus some very useful contact information. Don't forget there are Police surgeries held on the 2nd and 4th tuesday of each month at the Childrens centre at Sedgley ...
Can't help feeling that they have missed the point of 'I'm Spartacus' with this new ID card advert. Unless, of course, the government is asking us to have ID cards so they know who to crucify? Somehow I doubt that is the the case but it is a comforting thought that if the government ever does decide to bring back crucifixion it should now be much easier for them!
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) has warned of job losses and the closure of courses as a result of falling funding levels. Giving evidence to National Assembly Finance Committee's inquiry into further and higher education funding, they said it was "inconceivable" that budget restraints would not lead to cutbacks in teaching and research. HEFCW warned that key areas such as science, technology, engineering and maths could be exposed to the biggest cuts, due to the expense of providing them and the dwindling number of students opting to take them. Jenny Randerson, the Liberal Democrats' education spokeswoman, said: ...
I ask because they have issued a code of conduct for their members.As anyone in internal communications will tell you - it's getting people to read and internalise this sort of guidance that's difficult. the New York Times: The effort to change the Taliban's image began in earnest last May when Mullah Omar disseminated his new code of conduct. The New York Times obtained a copy of the document through a Taliban spokesman. A version of the new code was authenticated last summer by NATO intelligence after a copy was seized during a raid and its contents corroborated using ...
A short list of four to replace disgraced Livingston MP Jim Devine has been announced. Senior Labour Councillor Ian Murray who is understood to have put his name forward is not on the list. The four are: Graeme Morrice former West Lothian Council leader John McGinty West Lothian CouncillorGordon Connolly community education worker Adenike Abimbola-Akindele former House of Commons worker Morrice is Councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh to the north east of the constituency. He currently serves on the Local Area Committee, Avoidance of Disputes Committee, Policy and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny panel and the Joint Consultative Group. ...
Thu 21st
13:24
'I'm getting something over the radio about a naked man storming the stage during Charles' speech!' ...
Press conferences may have their ups and downs but public speeches can be even worse. As I have said before Liberal Democrats and security are not easy bed fellows and the nearest most Lib Dem events get to 'security' is a quick look through a handbag by an enthusiastic volunteer. Sometimes they are elderly members who ...
Cheadle Area Committee is holding a special Public Forum: 'Underage drinking, health and anti-social behaviour' with representatives from Mosaic, the Police and the Community Safety Unit taking part and answering questions from the public at the next Cheadle Area Meeting on the 26th January. Cllr June Somekh (leader of Cheadle Area Committee) has stated that: "Underage drinking, health and anti-social behaviour is a very serious problem, and this area (Cheadle sk8) has a totally unacceptable number of teenage drinkers. It is particularly worrying that many, who are admitted to hospital, actually return there. I think we need to spread the ...
So, what did I write, and what was actually published? The additions are in red. Matthew D'Ancona makes a beguiling case for David Cameron and his "irreducible" faith in views on marriage. However, like marriage, it helps if you behave consistently, and I am not It is no surprised that he glosses over the fact that Mr Cameron was Norman Lamont's advisor when the decision was taken to first reduce the value of the Married Couple's Allowance in 1993. He didn't have such It clearly wasn't a deep-rooted belief then in the institution at that point. Marriages last because both ...
Consett Community Sports College will be holding a series of workshops and an exhibition about the Holocaust on Wednesday, January 27. The event will include: the Anne Frank: A History for Today exhibition; workshops exploring the historical and contemporary relevance of the Holocaust; a talk by Holocaust survivor Ruth Barnett; information stalls run by the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS), Show Racism the Red Card and community safety liaison officers; an Anne Frank bookshop; and a special showing of the 2008 film Defiance, which is set during the Second World War. Members of the public can attend the ...
Anthony Howard writes of the Liberals: '.............above all else the party itself was on exhibition. The time, after all,comes when pretensions have to be lived up to, claims vindicated, both justified.......From now on it will stand or fall on the showing that it makes in the big league, and it may well be that this week was its last chance before a General Election... The article goes on to set a test for Liberals; whether it can live up to the Leaders claim 'that it is a serious political force now' OK this is 1962 but has anything changed? The ...
Centre Manager Salary: Circa £28,000 Company: Parkwood Leisure Location: Lewisham , United Kingdom These are exciting opportunities to join one of the UK's largest and most successful providers of Health, Leisure and Community Services. Operating in excess of 80 leisure facilities nationwide, we are now looking to recruit Managers to ensure we continually develop and maintain high quality customer ...
Tonight is the night for the Advice Session which is held in Emmanuel Church, Blackwin Street, from 7:30 to 8:30. All welcome, the streets have thawed so it should be possible to come along without risking a broken neck.
From the Press Association via The Guardian: Hopes rise for traditional general election night drama Survey finds that returning officers in more than half of the UK's 650 constituencies will be starting their counts when polls closed - rather than waiting till the next day. The commission has now received a total of 586 responses out of the 650 constituencies. Of these 330 reported that they aimed to begin counting on the night of polling day, 187 had not decided yet, with 52 planning to begin the morning after. You can read the full story here and the reasons why ...
Does Wallander have the most annoying ring tone ever? Judge for yourself. Not that I can talk, my ringtone is Top Cat! Another excellent video from Simon Dyda.
In the three months since I last blogged at length about the Liberal Democrat general election manifesto process, Danny Alexander (chair of the Manifesto Working Group) has won widespread praise for restoring a sense of peace, sense and order after the events around the party's autumn conference. On the two major flash points – mansion tax and tuition fees – hostilities have ceased and proposals been modified to win widespread support within the party. Tuition fees are still due to be scrapped, but over a longer timescale, and mansions are still due to be taxed, but with a narrower definition ...
Nearly went to a chocolate tasting event but couldn't make it. Have now received a message which starts: For those of you who attended last night's event I can only offer my sincerest apologies about the venue. I had NO idea that it would be held in that kind of establishment. Crikey!
WARNING – THE IMAGES BELOW MAY BE DISTURBING, BUT I CAN'T EXPRESS IN WORDS WHAT THE PICTURE SHOWS Because of the intensity and stressfulness of the conditions many commercial laying hens are kept in, there is a practice in the industry to remove most of the hens' beaks to stop them pecking each other (which hens ...
[IMG: hume] David Hume was a great figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, even more so than his friend Adam Smith. He was a great figure in the whole European movement and is one of the most influential philosophers who ever lived, as well as being a major historian, economist, and political thinker. His contributions to political thought can be found particularly in the Essays, but also in sections of his two philosophical masterpieces, A Treatise of Human Nature (1740) and Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and the Principles of Morals (1748-51), along with his 6 volume History of England (1754-62). His ...
MAN FILES FOR DIVORCE VIA BILLBOARD POSTER CAMPAIGN Aggressive arbitration likely as devastated wife reportedly owns half of Yorkshire.
So says Hugo Chavez's "experts"... [IMG: haarp] Ah, propaganda! It's good for a laugh!
One thing that has annoyed me about UKIP over the last few years is the way that they have pretended to take on the libertarian mantle by opposing overbearing government legislation and ID cards. This facade was destroyed at the weekend when Farage exposed the racist, reactionary and illiberal party that they truly are. How is it British to ban the wearing of a veil? Controlling what people are allowed to wear is one of the most illiberal and un-British policies I have ever heard. The fact is that UKIP don't care about philosophy. They are merely appealing to the ...
When US President Barack Obama was surprisingly nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize last October, the remarks he gave to the press really hit the right note. In fact I blogged that day that Obama's Clearly Got His Own Toby Ziegler. Him receiving the prize could have gone horribly wrong for the Administration if the ...
Last night was my first ward surgery in one of the Community Rooms at the new Northwood School. One big issue is the chaos on the surrounding streets at the moment at drop-off and pick-up time. Apparently buses sometimes can't get through because of the sheer volume of cars parked haphazardly around the school.This is due to the school car park not being ready yet which has forced school staff to
Election literature should never assume knowledge on the part of the reader. It should concisely, and in the plainest language possible, relate what has to be told. One fault of the bulk of election literature is that whilst suitable for a highly cultured and favoured class of people, it is almost useless for the ordinary elector who, intelligent and quick enough in the ordinary way, is not a close political student, conversant with every detail of the Parliamentary doings of the day. The Conduct and Management of Parliamentary Elections, William Woodings, 9th edition (by HF Oldman & J Manus), 1933, ...
Nick Hornby's British film adaptation of journalist Lynn Barber's memoir An Education, alongside director James Cameron's Sci-Fi Avatar and his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow's direction of Iraq drama The Hurt Locker are going head to head with eight nominations apiece in the BAFTA film nominations. South African sci-fi District 9 gets seven with Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and recession era drama Up In the Air get six apiece. Avatar has already won the Golden Globe for best film drama while The Hurt Locker won the Screen Critics award, so a good British film thrown into the mix for the British Academy of ...
Almost two years ago, in the early weeks of Nick Clegg's leadership, the Lib Dem parliamentary party managed to tie itself in knots over the question of whether to support a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. In the end three frontbenchers, David Heath, Tim Farron and Alistair Carmichael, quit after defying the party's three-line whip to oppose a referendum. Well, Sky News has the interesting story that the party still hasn't managed to get its line straight and agreed, re-opening that split: Now it seems to be deja vu all over again, with a new Lib Dem split in voting ...
I am pleased to report that the application for Wallington Square received planning permission at last night's Development Control Committee. The application proposed to convert the derelict offices at the front of the square into flats and to make improvements to the entrance of the square making it a much more attractive retail space. Colin, Richard & ...
In continued recognition of Liberal Democrat's economic competence, The Financial Times and Economist in the last few days has criticised both Conservative and Labour's honesty and openness on the necessary actions to control the budget deficit whilst commending our plans and approach. George Osborne get's a particularly strong attack from the Economist "One explicit difference between Mr ...
Republican Scott Brown beat Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election in Masachusetts - Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. Brown won 52% to 47%, with the Libertarian candidate getting the remaining 1%.
We are all seeing it, the huge levels of damage to tired road surfaces caused by the recent winter weather and the consequent burden on the local authority budgets. However a simple question springs to my mind and that is should the government be picking up some of the tab?Why you may ask and here is the rub.When Lord Adonis intervened and required Councils to stop gritting on all but the highest
I am currently heading on the bus to central Gateshead to meet up with Mark Denten from the BBC Politics Programme (North East edition). He is going to interview me about the funding of the proposed conference centre that is being considered for the Gateshead Quays area. The problem at the moment is that I am stuck in the traffic congestion in Bensham. My bus has taken 10 minutes to move forward
Interesting article in yesterday's Daily Telegraph in which Treasury Minister, Ian Pearson warns that spending cuts planned to reduce the public deficit are going to be "extremely painful". He has also shocked MPs in Labour heartland constituencies by saying the cuts would create "very difficult circumstances" in many already struggling communities: Mr Pearson's intervention yesterday will be seen as an attempt by the Chancellor to insist that Labour goes into the election with credible deficit reduction plans. He told MPs: "As a Government we have to make a judgment as to what's in the country's best interests overall, and it ...
[IMG: 1920s woman in silk kimono smoking using a cigarette holder] Good morning and welcome to Daily View. If you submit a tax return, there are hardly any days left to get on with it. On this day in 1908, New York City voted to ban women from smoking in public. Two years ago, Black Monday did a number on the world's stock markets. In birthdays, we sing a song to Commander in Chief star Geena Davis and Christian Dior, who were born today. And in deaths, we remember George Orwell – and use him as an excuse to pimp ...
For young people who want to get involved in organised activities there's no shortage of things to do. Sport, drama, art, music, Scouts, Guides, church clubs and more besides - all turning parents into the proverbial taxi service. Some could do with more money but, more importantly is adult helpers. Several of the activities my (junior school age) children do only exist because parents get involved and help. Gatley Beavers and Cubs nearly closed down last year when the parent rota got too slim. Fish Club at the United Reform Church on Elm Road, Gatley needs two or three parents ...
A series of proposals to reform the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) have won the backing of the public in a new IPSOS-MORI poll (8-17 January, 980 individuals) commissioned by the Media Standards Trust: By a 61% margin the public believe the chief purpose of this body should be to monitor compliance with the code of practice and conduct investigations where there is public concern rather than its current chief purpose of mediating on complaints between newspapers and complainants (73% – 12%) By a 44% margin the public back an independent regulatory body over the current industry-run arrangements (52% – 8%) ...
Young students from Fortismere School came to Muswell Hill Synagogue for Holocaust Memorial Day. Rabbi Mason welcomed them. I spoke to them about the current relevance of the Holocaust - about how hatred and discrimination goes on day in day out - even in our playgrounds. And how, when you hear anyone say something derogatory and disgusting about others - be that about being gay, disabled, black, whatever - if you didn't speak up then you are complicit. And how important this is - and how - under pressure, a whole nation can change and become frightened into silence virtually. ...
Councillor Brian Haley has resigned from the Labour party and joined the Liberal Democrats over Haringey being rated as London's worst council. In fact, I hear there have been several other Labour councillors who have made noises about joining us - but no others have been accepted. It's not that easy. Brian made it through the panels, interviews and procedures - as we are pretty rigorous in terms of the motives of any would be defector. Brian answered all the very difficult questions. Brian, who is one of the country's most senior black Labour councillors, has been a Labour Council ...
What were you doing at 18? Me, I was starting the final year of my A'levels having a September birthday meant I was only just starting the first term when I turned 18. At nineteen I did move out to go to University but at 26 I found myself back home after finding a new job hard to get in London. Of course I was out the door again at 31 and have been over in Scotland ever since. So therefore the Italian minister who wants all of Italy's "bamboccioni" momma's boys and girls to leave home at eighteen surely ...
There are times in politics when a political party scores an own goal, and then there are days like yesterday when not just an own goal, but a spectacular own goal is scored. This time it is the turn of Annabel Goldie, George Osborne, David Cameron and the Conservatives. Every soldier, nurse, police man and woman, fireman and women, teacher and office staff who earn just £18,000 a year (or more if they are lucky) is to get a pay freeze under the Conservatives and what's more, if you are a millionaire then the Conservatives will give you tax cuts. ...
It has come to my attention that a group are `bubbling under`(in the pantheon of the `big boys`) - hailing from the Marple Bridge area of Stockport borough. And I like it.
A sad news and a great chance for anyone wanting to take on Lewisham's best pub and keep it going "just as it is" please. This photo was taken from a mobile phone and it's not that readable so I transcribe it here: To all our customers We regret to inform you that on 24th Jan our lease ...
Commenting on Geoff Hoon's evidence to the Iraq Inquiry that the armed forces were starved of cash before the war, having to rely on 'urgent operational requirements' for kit, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "Once again we can see Gordon Brown's fingerprints all over this, but no sign of the man himself. He would have been instrumental in signing - or in some cases not signing - the cheques for military kit. "The Prime Minister should appear before the Iraq Inquiry before the election to give voters an informed choice. Instead we are being left with a ...
The Fabian Society kindly gave me a media registration for their new year conference and I spent last Saturday at Imperial College mingling with the Labour Party faithful. I sadly missed Gordon Brown's morning address but sat in on two discussions: "What not to spend" – a discussion on what public spending cuts the ...
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On Saturday I wrote that the best blogs are written about times when you want to throw things at the TV. Well a close second comes when one person on radio or TV strongly opposes the views of another. Yesterday I was listening to the radio and one person thought that tax breaks for marriage were good and the other didn't. Is marriage something that is good and should be supported? If you are religious then the answer is yes. Many social commentators will also support marriage on the grounds that two incomes are better than one, or one income ...
