This is the first in hopefully a regular series showing how much there is to learn out there (or maybe how little I know - you decide). "The average age of members of the House of Lords is 69". I knew they were old. But I didn't realise they were that old. Is it any wonder I tweet about how I don't feel properly represented in there? Thanks to Baroness Ros Scott for that info, during her visit to York Outer today.
This series of women and politics is inspired by a recent article by Sociology Lens that discussed the presence of a traditional gender symbolic order at a political, social and economic level. It argues against recent arguments that claim we are moving towards gender equality due to the increase of women in the workplace (economic level), as it rightly ...
Following requests from local residents, a Council officer will be looking at opening up the lane between Powlett Road and Bathwick Street to cyclist. Initial findings are that the lane is wide enough and that it would create a good link through. Since The Council never made any dedicated cycle route around Sydney Gardens when complete farce of a traffic system went in (funny that was also unpopular and funded through a government grant - nothing changes eh?). All funds and projects for this financial year are agreed, however I do hope that we can open it up next year. ...
There are many good reasons for not launching an "airbrushed" poster campaign and http://www.mydavidcameron.com sort of explains why ...
Watching Blair today just serves to highlight what it is that people so dislike about politics. After everything that has happened, despite the weight of evidence, in spite of all the facts, he still does not get it. Like an MP justifying his excessive expenses claim, Blair stood out as being slick, but ultimately so intransigent that whilst he may go away from today feeling that he gave a good account of himself, I think his performance will ultimately come to haunt him. The line, which I paraphrase here that "I'ts not about a deceit or a lie or misleading, ...
It's worth reading every word of the article entitled MMR scare doctor conducted invasive, unnecessary tests on children says GMC in today's Guardian (it has a different title online). The whole MMR scare is utterly mind-blowing, particularly now that the full story is coming out. But as Ben Goldacre points out, not for the first time, it's no good entirely blaming Dr Wakefield and his colleagues: The media are equally guilty: Wakefield was at the centre of a media storm about the MMR vaccine and is now being blamed by journalists as if he were the only one at fault. ...
A number of residents have spoken to me about the appaling state of the road between Little London and Smannell left like this after BT contractors closed and dug up the road to lay new telephone cables. I have sent the following email to Hampshire Highways and have been promised an answer by next week. Work now appears to be finished - at least they have finished digging holes but Road signs saying the road is closed remain Large potholes remain all along the route Manhole covers have not been repalced Vehicles are using the road and driving on the ...
Conservative Home kindly gives the percentages (you may enjoy the comments on that blog too): Great Bowden & Arden ward, Market Harborough Phil Knowles (Lib Dem) - 966 (62%, +14) Barry Champion (Con) - 598 (38%, -14) Lib Dem gain from Con I make that a 14 per cent swing from Conservative to Lib Dem. The phote above has been borrowed from the ALDC site (credit: Andrew Carpenter). Phil Knowles in in the centre of the group with Zuffar Haq, the Liberal Democrat PPC for the Harborough constituency.
When the Met Office's own satellite cannnot distinguish between rain and snow, you really have to wonder if theiy know what they are doing. Forget the forecast for rain, its been snowing here for several hours and despite what the Met Office are predicting (more rain) I suspect we are in for several inches of snow. If they cannot even accurately report what the weather is doing now, how can we believe their forecasts ?
Photo: Andrew Carpenter There were two principal council elections held on the 28th January. The Lib Dems held one seat and gained one from the Tories. In the only Town and Parish Council results reported to ALDC the Tories held the seat. The Great Bowden and Arden Ward of Harborough District Council in Leicestershire saw this year's first by-election gain, at the expense of the Conservatives. Tory attacks fell flat when faced with candidate Phil Knowles' wide experience of local issues and hard-working reputation established during his previous time as councillor. The campaign's popular position on a touchstone local planning ...
Friday: Addressing the Chilcot inquiry, the former Middle Eastern Invader warned of the danger to the World: "If you let dangerous maniacs get their hands on weapons of mass destruction they WILL go around attacking people. After all, I did!" He's right about one thing: there ARE some people in the World who are mad and dangerous and refuse to comply with the "club rules" that we need to live by if we are all to live together. Lord Blairimort is one of those people. Because the beginning, middle and end of everything about Iraq is this: IT WAS WRONG. ...
Stuart Morris, son of the Laird of Balgonie, recently proposed a proper and permanent memorial to the 75 people (including many Dundonians) who died in the 1879 Tay Rail Bridge Disaster (see the report in the Courier over the festive period at http://tinyurl.com/balgonie). As reported in tonight's Evening Telegraph, I am very supportive of this proposal and have been in correspondence with Stuart Morris of Balgonie about the matter. We are meeting during February to discuss how the idea can be taken forward. He has had very good feedback from various sources over the proposal. It seems only right that ...
My House Points column from today's Liberal Democrat News. I have written about Lady Allen of Hurtwood on this blog before. Crying shame David Cameron's attempt to make capital out of events in Edlington was a nonsense. The attackers' parents are married, and concern about that, besides a few false claims on crime rates, is all his "Broken Britain" campaign offers. Still, there was a grim humour to it. After James Bulger's murder Tony Blair took himself off to Wellingborough to announce that the killing was "a hammer-blow against the sleeping conscience of the country". It is poetic justice to ...
"Though superficially this crisis seems like a defeat for Smith, Hayek, and Friedman, and a victory for Marx, Keynes, and Polanyi, that might well turn out to be wrong. Far from having been caused by unregulated free markets, this crisis may have been caused by distortions of the market from ill-advised government actions: explicit and implicit guarantees to supersized banks, inappropriate empowerment of rating agencies, disastrously loose monetary policy, bad regulation of big insurers, systematic encouragement of reckless mortgage lending — not to mention distortions of currency markets by central bank intervention." - Niall Ferguson, "Dead Men Walking", Foreign Policy. ...
Measuring word of mouth via @sernovitz http://bit.ly/87BAr5 <- six categories of social media metrics, but applies to pretty much all comms. # 'Why big majorities are bad' or 'Safe Seats Disenfranchise Voters' via @DuncanStott http://bit.ly/4Izodm <- only just spotted this. # 5 tips for increasing traffic to your nonprofit's website via @marcapitman http://bit.ly/67XCkQ <- good common sense. # Gift Receiving vs Fundraising via The Agitator http://bit.ly/8Nob22 <- does it count as fundraising if you don't really have to try? # 2009 Online Giving - 10 Questions via The Agitator http://bit.ly/5r7b4A <- ways to improve yr online giving rates. # live-tweeting ...
Sally Hawkins, who runs the very useful Chessington Chat magazine, has sent out this advice about a couple of scams that have surfaced locally. "I have recently been informed of a couple of advertising scams that appear to be operating in our area at the moment. The first is a company call Medic Care who try to sell 'too cheap to be true' advertising space on the NHS Intranet site that is viewed by NHS staff up and down the country. They say they are connected to Kingston Hospital. Their sales tactics are reportedly very, very pushy and victims often ...
It's Friday. It's five o'clock. Here's a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week: 5 most-read stories on LDV this week 1. EXCLUSIVE: Standards Commissioner rules four journalists broke Parliament's rules (4) by Mark Pack 2. Oaten reduced to tears in new Channel 4 documentary (29) by The Voice 3. Opinion: UK Border Agency plunges colleges into crisis (15) by the Head of a private college 4. What the pollsters think will happen at the general election (7) by Stephen Tall 5. Liberal Democrat Mayor suspended over benefits investigation (12) by Mark Pack 5 new Liberal Democrat blogs ...
It is Friday and no doubt the event of the day is Tony Blair's appearnce before the Chilcot Inquiry. But here are a few things from before today. First up is this contempt of Parliament bing carried out here, we may already know. Here is what he revealed to Fern Britton, wonder if he was as open today before Chilcot. But as this is a heavier Friday take than normal how about some Bird and Fortune. And finally a Culture Show look back at Tony's reign.
This morning Kirsten and I popped into Milward Court off Warwick Road to meet the residents. We hold monthly surgeries in various locations around the ward but we are conscious that for one reason or another we don't get to see everyone we represent so this was a good opportunity to pick up any problems or concerns people have. It was lovely to chat to residents. Issues they raised with us included: State of the pavements around Christchurch Road Litter and rubbish by the shops on Christchurch Green Overgrown trees blocking light into their rooms (Cintra Park) Road safety on Cintra ...
There were two principal council elections held on the 28th January. The Lib Dems held one seat and gained one from the Tories. In the only Town and Parish Council results reported to ALDC the Tories held the seat. [IMG: Photo courtesy of Andrew Carter :The victor Phil Knowles (3rd from left) and PPC Zuffar Haq (4th from left) celebrate] The Great Bowden and Arden Ward of Harborough District Council in Leicestershire saw this year's first by-election gain, at the expense of the Conservatives. Tory attacks fell flat when faced with candidate Phil Knowles' wide experience of local issues and ...
Last weekend I was around with James Jennings delivering our thoughtful and informative new issue of the Lib Dem newsletter Focus when passing in front of the Minigolf course unit at Meridian South we saw that it was almost ready to open. An excited "oooh" was proffered as one. It has now been announced that the ...
One of my friends at Keighley College has just sent me a link to a fantastic website which has uploaded the now-infamous Tory poster of the impeccably airbrushed DC. I've reproduced my favourite below but the website is at http://www.mydavidcameron.com/ [IMG: Government of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. ]
I was going to wait before announcing this, but as it's in the County Standard today it's now public knowledge. So, for those of you who don't read every story in County Standard the news is that I'm going to be joining the Cabinet of Colchester Borough Council – assuming, of course, that Full Council ...
Yesterday afternoon Kirsten, Glenn and I sat down with the estates & facilities manager of the Royal Berks Hospital and senior officers from Reading Borough Council's transport team to discuss parking matters. I set this meeting up in attempt to get a better dialogue going between RBC and the RBH about how to reduce pressure on parking in local roads around the Hospital. The University of Reading is also a key player in this discussion and as I pointed out in December itsplan to redevelop it's Mansfield Hall campus will reduce available parking for Hospital staff. The meeting was very friendly ...
Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that the Conservative controlled county council has doubled the amount spent on consultants over the past 5 years. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: 'The more we probe the more it becomes apparent that the county council chucks our money down the drain - and is getting worse. In 2004-2005 it spent just under £2 million. In 2008-2009 the amount spent under "consultancy codes" is nearly £4 million. These figures exclude the strategic alliances like Herts Highways. 'It really is time the council got a grip and concentrated on delivering core services.' ...
The future of newspapers is the topic of conversation today over on the PR Week blog. It includes a brief quote from me, so here's the director's version (i.e. the full length original comment): Paper is still a fantastic medium: cheap, light, flexible, versatile, environmentally friendly and never has a flat battery. People are still willing to pay for information too, not just books but magazines like the Economist are seeing their circulations prosper. Print media can't just continue as before but there are plenty of opportunities for it to survive.
This has been, for me, a very sad and confusing week. Last weekend I received an email asking me to sign a petition about amendments to the Equality Bill "which potentially will take away the right of every citizen to live according to their religious faiths and consciences." The email contained the phrase: "By not signing the petition you are inviting your own oppression" – aimed at church-goers. Naturally I was very alarmed by this email and commenced research on this subject. Demurring from signing the petition, I watched the relevant House of Lords debate very closely. Quite frankly I ...
This has the potential to become really useful. Think how much easier it would be if you could telephone canvass when you were sitting on the bus or you could contribute to a real time policy discussion whilst you were on the train. Trouble is I think this app will probably just turn out to be just another way of pushing out party related news stories and party press releases. Would love to be proved wrong though and I'm very much looking forward to a Lib Dem version!
From the BBC News online website: "Meanwhile, Lib Dem MP Jeremy Browne, and Labour's Ann Cryer and Patrick Hall have had their appeals against demands to pay back expenses upheld." "My name has been cleared and my reputation restored", Lib Dem Jeremy Browne. Keighley MP Ann Cryer, after she had been cleared of the main charges, said, "It wasn't just a question of the amount, it was a question of a slur made against me." However she will be repaying £1,600 for three household items. For the full BBC article see: BBC online news: MPs' expenses
"Blair and Brown must be closely interrogated on this when they appear before Chilcot," said Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Yesterday saw the launch of Gateshead Council's healthy living campaign. Councillors are taking part to encourage others to do so as well. Last week we were asked to make a commitment to change something in our lifestyle that will lead to better health. Yesterday the launch involved a walk from the old town hall, down to the Quayside and back again. I decided to bring some extra weights to carry
What a stitch-up Tony Blair's appearance before the Chilcott enquiry was; it felt like the ex-Dear Leader was being fed little long-hops that he was able to hit for six, and at any time he looked like being challenged it was almost as if he was weaselling out of it with a defence that veered between "I was only obeying orders" and "I genuinely believed my own bullshit". Needless to say, I will be amazed if any further action is taken; old Tony is still Teflon-coated. Incidentally, take a look at this photo that the Graun has used for its ...
From South London Press: Lewisham Mayor Sir Steve Bullock said: "The main reason for the extra demand is the housing market. "People who are living in properties in Lewisham who had every intention of moving are now stuck and need to find school places here." Pathetic isn't it? He knew that there was a shortage coming, ...
Late last night/early this morning I waxed (rather too) lyrical about a Russian painting by Savrasov. This afternoon, on the BBC iPlayer I caught up with a Woman's Hour dramatisation of an Anton Chekhov short story called Lady with the Little Dog, ...
[IMG: longfield-suite-1.jpg] Bury Council has finally launched their formal consultation on the future of the Longfield Suite, Radcliffe Civic Suite and other threatened Bury Community centres. Now is the time to act, whether you have signed the petition or not, if you care about the future of our local community centres then it is crucial that you complete a consultation form. Forms are being circulated and are available in Council buildings and the Civic suites themselves. The consultation can also be completed online here . Don't forget to let Bury Council know what you think, don't forget to tell all ...
I do enjoy reading the blogs of the Conservative Councillors in Wallasey, and Denis Knowles latest is no exception. Denis, now Conservative Councillor for Seacombe, defected from New Labour last year. In his latest blog (25 Jan 2010) Denis is found bemoaning the fact that New Labour ideology has ruined this once great nation, and ...
[IMG: longfield-suite-1.jpg] Bury Council has finally launched their formal consultation on the future of the Longfield Suite, Radcliffe Civic Suite and other threatened Bury Community centres. Now is the time to act, whether you have signed the petition or not, if you care about the future of our local community centres then it is crucial that you complete a consultation form. Forms are being circulated and are available in Council buildings and the Civic suites themselves. The consultation can also be completed online here . Don't forget to let Bury Council know what you think, don't forget to tell all ...
Controversial - even terrible - that was the reaction to this 1938 construction of a small row of three houses by the architect Erno Goldfinger. Now they feature on the Hampstead Tourist Trail, not least because number 2 is now a National Trust property. The James Bond creator Ian Flemming so hated the architecture and apparently these houses in particular that he named his principal villain Goldfinger thus placing the name into household status. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ern%C5%91_Goldfinger Goldfinger was a much celebrated Hungarian modernist architect, a generation on from the bauhaus movement, but also much known for his firery nature and character. ...
You couldn't get a more stark summing-up of Labour's moral bankruptcy. For war criminal Tony Blair, the Prime Minister whose illegal invasion was led by George Bush and cheerled by the baying enthusiasm of the Labour and Conservative parties while only the Liberal Democrats stood against it, life after office means pocketing millions of pounds and sparing just one day to help Lord Chilcot with his Inquiry. By contrast, for the rest of us ordinary people, in thirteen years Labour has fabricated over 4,289 new laws so far (nearly one a day) to waste police time and micro-manage our lives. ...
I am due in London this evening for the start of a week of shooting video and taking photos. This is the first time I have caught the London train for nearly 2 months. And would you believe it, it is late. I hope this isn't a foretaste of how East Coast is going to operate though they couldn't do worse than National Excess.I am of course missing the coverage of Tony Blair at the Chilcott Inquiry.
The latest information I have is that the report into the Compulsory Purchase Inquiry at The Swan will report by its final deadline of 16th February. I have already posted pictures of the stalled development. It is important to remember that this is affecting large numbers of people in the local area and also resulted in the first Contempt of Parliament motion for some time.
Some residents may be aware that a late night entertainment and supply of alcohol licence application has been submitted for number 47 to 49 Camden Road, under Camden Road station. Residents are allowed to make a representation either for or against this new license application until 5th February. If against you need to focus on the prevention of ...
Continuing my series on what the Liberal Democrats stand for, today's instalment might well be my favourite part of Love and Liberty, a 1999 booklet exploring my own Liberalism. What's the problem with defining people purely by their class or nation? Who's afraid of the big bad market? What was my favourite speech by Paddy Ashdown (ooh, that'll get readers flocking)? What's the contradiction at the heart of Tory philosophy? What did I write about "liberal Conservatives" that looks rather dated these days? And what do I think of the argument that "the end justifies the means"? Go on, guess. ...
Out of the Radio 5 Live reshuffle, we now get Richard Bacon in the afternoon slot for four days per week. One of the slots he has started is called Help, where people can ring in with DIY, pet and money queries and get them answered by experts. In what could be an ironic nod to Alan Partridge (but I suspect isn't), callers are required to start their request with the word 'Help!' One of the callers on yesterday's show was a woman called 'Carina' who was calling because she claimed dog urine was discolouring her lawn. She asked whether ...
Harborough DC, Great Bowden and ArdenLD Phil Knowles 966 (61.8; +12.1)Con 598 (38.2; -12.1)Majority 368Turnout 27.87%LD gain from ConPercentage change is since May 2007Taunton Deane BC, LyngfordLD Ben Swaine 390 (43.7; -0.7)Con 253 (28.4; +0.4)Lab 190 (21.3; -6.3)UKIP 59 (6.6; +6.6)Majority 137Turnout 22.32%LD holdPercentage change is since May 2007Rothwell TC, TreshamCon 361 (45.1)Lab 267 (33.4)
votewise.co.uk is an independent website which lists forthcoming by-elections and candidates. It geto a decent audience, making it well worth using – but not all by-election campaigns make use of it. The site displays page view figures on the biography pages for each by-election candidate and the numbers (even allowing for being page views rather than absolute unique visitors) are generally impressive, with a candidate's page typically viewed several hundred times. This traffic is driven from respectable and relevant sources, such as the Electoral Commission and search traffic from people hunting for by-election information. Given the number of votes it ...
[IMG: Ming Campbell] Government figures obtained by Sir Menzies Campbell MP show that as many as 2,000 pensioners living in North East Fife could be missing out on receiving Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent bad weather. Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit. It is paid when temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days. Up to 1.7 million pensioners in the United Kingdom are missing payments worth an estimated £42.5 million. Commenting, Sir Menzies said: "During a period of ...
The deputy leader of the Labour Party has commissioned a official government report on equality. Well the good news is that if you are a member of the richest part of society, under Labour you are richer than ever. Unfortunately if you are poor you have never lived in a more unequal society since the Second World War. Whichever measure of inequality you use, whether its the Gini coefficient or the 90/10 measure, Britain is a less equal society than even under Thatcher. Blair and Browns right hand man,Peter Mandelson, once said "judge us after ten years of success in ...
[IMG: 22951-1-menzies-campbell-mp] The news that medics from 612 Squadron at RAF Leuchars will be among the 1000 Scottish troops soon to be deployed in Afghanistan "underlines the extent to which reserve forces are contributing", according to North East Fife MP and member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Sir Menzies Campbell. "This announcement underlines the extent to which reserve forces are contributing to the effort in Afghanistan, and also points up the folly of the previous proposal from the government to cut the training hours of the Territorial Army", said Sir Menzies. "The public will want to be assured that ...
The Tories have opened up their draft manifesto process to the public by allowing them to ask questions about certain sections of it. On the face of it this sounds great (of course the Lib Dems have been doing this for a number of years now, admittedly only to party members). But how will the manifesto consultation really work? Will Heaven thinks it won't. He compares the process to a similar exercise by Obama. He is rightly worried that there will be far lower participation in this process than in the US. So in summary, a great idea from the ...
Well, there is a good way of telling. And it's so clichéd I don't even need to tell you. This morning I've been watching Blair answer questions at the Iraq Inquiry. He is still an old master, and he is thriving in this environment where he is given free reign to deliver monologue after monologue about his ...
There is good news for Kerry Robertson, Mark McDougall and their baby Ben. As I reported last Friday when Ben was just 4 days old he was snatched from his parents by Irish social services upon the request of Fife Council's team who had deemed that Kerry was incapable of raising the child. Yesterday mother and baby were reunited in a mother and child unit in Ireland. While that does mean that they will be under constant supervision it mean that the bonding process between mother and child can resume. Fife Council it emerges have never carried out a formal ...
Anneliese Midgley of Progressive London argues that 2010 is a crucial year for all progressives, regardless of party label, to stand up to the right. Given the sheer scale of the issues facing our society – from the worst global economic crisis since the second world war through to the enormous challenge of climate change – it is essential if we are to move forward that we discuss those issues where we can forge a common progressive agenda. In London our different electoral systems for the mayoralty and the London Assembly have already driven a debate about the best way ...
The question that will not be asked as part of the Chilcott Inquiry is why the rules of engagement in the southern no-fly zone were not changed to be the same as the northern no-fly zone.Had they done this to protect the Shi'a in the south from Ba'th oppression (which was the situation in the North) then the Shi'a could have taken control.The answer I found at the time was that the State
The Labour Party's Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington has come out publicly in opposition to her Council Group's plan to axe the Early Year's Improvement Service. Cllr Chapman, who has only just stepped down from the Cabinet to concentrate on fighting the General Election, would have been party to the decision to propose the axing of this service.The Labour Group is firmly whipped: yet here
Eee, it takes me back. I remember a soggy Hyde Park back in 2003; a carnival of hippies, socialists and proto-middle-class students all railing against the mooted invasion of Iraq. I remember chanting, "No blood for oil! Leave Iraqi soil!", and other variations on a theme, catching my breath only when the Palestinian brigade launched ...
The announcement by the Minister for Economy and Transport on Wednesday that motorists are "likely" to be allowed to use credit and debit cards to pay tolls on the Severn Bridges later this year is a victory for the tenacity and campaigning skills of Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Mike German and all those who have supported him in this endeavour. He has been fighting for some time to ensure that motorists can use cards rather than cash when entering Wales and has finally seen some reward for his efforts. It has not been easy however. As the BBC report: ...
I was profoundly depressed to see that the Government's own figures show that almost a third of boys from disadvantaged backgrounds cannot write their own name after a year at primary school. The increasing lack of social mobility in the UK is very concerning. These figures show that the gap between poorer children and the better-off is clear when they are only five years old. It makes me more than ever convinced that our policy of paying a pupil premium (incidentally a LibDem idea now copied by the Conservatives) to schools targeted specifically at children from the least privileged backgrounds ...
A 16 year-old rape victim is punished with 100 lashes.This 'gruesome brutality' and 'parallel system of justice that misuse the name of religion' is roundly condemned by the Bangladesh Daily Star here. JUSTICE has been made a farce of once again. In a shocking repetition of misuse of fatwa, a rape victim was at the receiving end of a hundred and one lashes; the punishment was fixed through local
This is intended as a comment on the post Daily View 2×2: 29 January 2010 over on Lib Dem Voice; it was rejected as being too spammy, presumably because it contains links which back up what I'm saying. There's a lot of hype about Apple's new product, the iPad. The main concern I have is that ...
Andrew Lansley Conservative shadow health secretary has described consultations on fluoridation of Hampshire's water "not real" and called for a referendum on the issue. In 2008 Test Valley Borough Council along with many other Hampshire authorities backed Lib Dem calls to reject proposals to add fluoride to local water supplies.. Lib Dem shadow health secretary and Romsey MP Sandra Gidley has welcomed his statement and added "It is just a shame that it has taken nearly a year for the Tory party leadership to make their opinion on a local referendum known."
This election will make or break Britain. It is already certain that the government that takes office after the election will face the greatest peace-time crisis we have known since the dark days of 1931... Before any government can begin to get to grips with the economic situation, it must regain the confidence and respect of the electorate. A big tip of LDV's hat to Rudolf Fara, co-director of Voting Power and Procedures (VPP) at the LSE (via Politics.co.uk) for pointing out the similarity. Mr Fara, who was speaking ahead of a lecture last night by Vince Cable setting out ...
Cross-posted from the Mandate blog: This week's launch of Apple's iPad has generated a huge amount of media and online coverage (a cynic would say rather too much for a firm that has such a small share of the global mobile phone and computer markets). In classic Apple fashion, the first version of their new product looks great but lacks several basic features which have been available on other devices for years, such as with the iPad's inability to run multiple programs at the same time. However, what can make or break a new device - and decide whether or ...
[IMG: Disabled parking] A regular complaint from residents is the lack of parking on local estates and the resultant difficulties this causes especially for disabled drivers. I am pleased to report that on 21 January the borough council implemented a road traffic order introducing a number new parking places for disabled drivers (blue badge holders) around Andover, many of these in Alamein ward. The new Alamein spaces can be found in Camelot Close (6), Caesar Close (2), Florence Court (4), Galahad Close (5), Hammond Square (1), Hendren Square (1), Launcelot Close (2), Rhodes Square (1) and Turin Court (2). Ful ...
On Wednesday the Co-op issued the following statement regarding the future of their King Arthur's Way store. "We have been working hard to attract a new food retailer to occupy the Council's property to provide an ongoing service for the community. There has been considerable interest and we look forward to working with the Council to complete the process as quickly as possible." I welcome this news and congratulate the Co-op on their efforts to work with the council to protect jobs and services at a time when so many are indifferent to the effects that job losses and shop ...
I made an error in last week's blog, for which I apologise: Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker is no longer also finance minister. He ceded the role to political ally and former justice minister Luc Frieden at the end of July last year, but I had missed it. (Government reshuffles in Luxembourg don't always hit the headlines.) Parliament has been very quiet again this week. In the foreign affairs committee we heard from Madeleine Albright of the USA about the reform of NATO and from Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, about prosecutions ...
The reported comments of David Davies, the Tory MP for Monmouthshire that some communities had "imported backward, medieval and barbaric" views about women has produced a justifiable but predictable response. In this morning's Western Mail the great and the good have quite rightly lined up to criticise Mr. Davies' views and to call on David Cameron to sack him as an MP. The views of two female politicians are particularly pertinent: Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central said: "To make the suggestion that certain religions or communities are more prone to raping women because of their attitudes is ...
The recent news that Kraft have won their battle to take over Cadbury got me worried. Of course, there's a very real worry for Cadbury employees over jobs and all the other uncertainty that comes with a takeover. Then there's the concern that Kraft will not handle the Cadbury brand in the same way as currently. The latter point has generated plenty of press coverage and comment - people wondering if Dairy Milk will still taste the same or if all chocolate bars are now going to be covered with plastic cheese. Maybe it's better to look at it more ...
[IMG: blair-proestors-chilcott-2] Ok its go go go.... I for one am fixed to my desk. TV on BBC, PC on Sky with windows open for Guardian /Politics Home and Times blogs. More police than protestors outside - and probably more media than police. Constant buzz of the overhead helicopter adding interesting sound effect to TV and radio news reports. I am not going to blog minute by minute updates - more gifted people than I are doing that. For info I have found the following that all look like good options: Guardian live blog, The Times' live blog, Channel 4's ...
[IMG: Lady Barn House School] On Wednesday morning I met with Mrs Yule, the Headteacher at Lady Barn House School on School's Hill, Cheadle. This followed concern from local residents about traffic and parking around the school at dropping off and picking up times. Hopefully I'll find the time to write more detail about what the school has been doing, but for now I'll give the summary. The school does make efforts to minimise the problems. In the morning children are dropped off in the car par, in the afternoon picking up is obviously trickier as the kids can't always ...
Saturday When I heard that Liberal Youth (as the Young Liberals insist upon calling themselves nowadays) were planning to hold a boot camp, I was more than happy to lend a hand. As I have long insisted, we shall not be able to build a society in which none shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity without a bit of discipline. Thus it was that I turned up on the first day with the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Queen's Own Rutland Highlanders - I happen to be their Colonel in Chief. He certainly wasted no time in licking ...
So - on Monday the draft 'options' for the future configuration of our local health services were passed up the chain to the Strategic Health Authority for London - NHS London. Well - that is the news that reaches me. No - we are not to know their thinking. My understanding is that these are the first cut of reconfiguration options that NCL (North Central London Sector) have sent to SHA (Strategic Health Authority. I feel we should have access to this document as soon as possible and I have sent an email to Rachel Tyndall (Chair of NCL) asking ...
Google's hot trends for the UK look, err..., very American http://google.co.uk/trends But will be v useful when fixed # Best places to look for info on Sharepoint? Double points if doesn't use "interoperability". Bored with all the jargon on Microsoft site # @Neil294 Ta. # Mmmm. Chocolate ahoy. # Louis Brennan's gyroscopic car on Flickr http://bit.ly/88JzoL < Look closely at the wheels # UPDATED with Evening Standard response: This is why the Editors' Code of Practice needs reforming http://bit.ly/4J6jGN # RT @libdemvoice: The Saturday debate: we need more ideology http://ldv.org.uk/17265 < Agree or not? Join the debate in the comments ...
Yes it is important that we get answers from Blair and others on the 'Second UN Resolution' fiasco. Even with a second resolution however backing the Iraq war was still wrong - in the famous phrase 'worse than a crime, a blunder'. In a sense we in this party have been let off the war hook because we could oppose the attack on legal grounds and gain essential party unity on that basis for our public advice. Would we have been so firm if we had had to oppose on the grounds that it was a stupid and wrong thing ...
As always when coming to France, I am struck by the deliberate way the state has invested in infrastructure. It is not just that their Railways work so well, which is -frankly- a standing rebuke to Britain, the country that invented them, it is also the way in which grands projets reflect a vision of France. It may seem sometimes an overblown, perhaps even bombastic, vision to a more cynical Anglo-Saxon eye, but it does unquestionably reflect an ambition for France. In a country half as densely populated as the UK- especially its South-East corner- it is obviously easier to ...
1980s Frankie Says War! What is it Good For? 1990s John Says To return sovereignty to Kuwait From illegal occupation 2000s Tony Says To stop WMD getting here In 45 Minutes 2010s Tony Says Well, err, actually what I meant to say. Was, well, you know. It was to stop Saddam Building those WMDs. Err. Yes the ones I said he'd had Ready to fire in 45 minutes.
Ninety-seven days to the likely General Election. Happy birthday to Germaine Greer and Tom Selleck (both keen readers of Lib Dem Voice, I'm certain). In his State of the Union Address on this day in 2002, George W Bush first introduced us to the Axis of Evil. 2 Must-Read Blog Posts What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: Norfolk Blogger asks the pertinent question about Andrew Wakefield and his MMR scam (perpetuated and multiplied a hundred-fold by the media , let's not forget). Stephen Glenn ...
I know a lot of eyes will be on the Queen Elizabeth exhibition centre today, but don't also lose sight of what is going on at Hillsborough. Even though the Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen have left the Northern Irish politicians are still talking. If there is no agreement made by later today the British and Irish governments have said their own proposal on policing and justice. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said naming two controversial parade routes: "Anybody who thinks that the price of policing and justice is a walk down the Garvaghy Road or Ardoyne is ...
Possible the shot of the day from yesterday's match between Andy Murray and Marin Cilic. But that wasn't all from yesterday The Times take a look at another wondershot. Thanks to my brother for unearthing this footage of that shot. He will on Sunday become the first British male since 1977 and John Lloyd to appear in the Australian Open final against either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But Andy says he'll be disappointed after the tournament he's had if he doesn't win. UPDATE: I do apologise for the lack of video no on this post Tennis Australia have decided ...
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, It was me at my wretched keyboard! I know, it's gone half past ...
Today will be a pivotal day in British politics when former Prime Minister Tony Blair faces Sir John Chilcot at the Iraq Inquiry, although as we now know, he has been economical with the truth before, will he do so once again. However, that aside the Iraq Inquiry has to ask him some key questions and if I were there, I would ask the following of Tony Blair, in no particular order; 1. Why were you so determined to invade Iraq? 2. In your own mind, what was the threat that you made the final decision to attack based on? ...
A quiet morning in Fortune Green Road - but for how long? We have received dozens of emails, comments to the blog and phone calls nearly all worried about issues potentially arising from Tesco imposing itself on our neghbourhood - parking, loading and unloading, noise and nuisance. (Though, to be fair, we have had a couple saying they would welcome Tesco - but I bet they don't live next door! Possibly they even work for Tesco!!)Problem is they don't have to have permission from ANYONE to open here - they do need permission to sell alcohol though - so - ...
Thanks for everyone who attended "An Audience with Professor David Nutt" on Monday night. It was great to see the lecture theatre so full, we estimate there were nearly 200 people there. It received a great write up by a local Lib Dem blogger – Well worth a read. A special thanks has to go to ex RU Lib Dem Rob Nutt (David's Nephew) for arranging the event. RU Lib Dems with Prof Nutt.
Congratulations to my old friend Phil Knowles for gaining the Great Bowden and Arden ward of Harborough District Council from the Tories in a by-election yesterday. This was the seat vacated so dramatically by the Tory group leader Alistair Swatridge last October. The result: Phil Knowles (Lib Dem) - 968 Barry Champion (Tory) - 598 Mr Champion was also the defeated Tory candidate in the Welland ward by-election last year. Clearly he has no answer to my masterly delivering. Note there was no Labour candidate in either contest.
Mayor Bullock decided that the once fine Victorian row of shops that now stands in front of Lewisham Police Station will be demolished and the site will be "landscaped". Drunks and those waiting to sign on the offenders' register (another town centre feature we must thank Lewisham Labour for) will have a nicer place to ...
Lord Goldsmith the former attorney general has told us that it is "complete nonsense" to say that he changed his view on the legality of the war because of political pressure. This news comes a day after we heard that Sir Michael Wood gave consistent advice that the war was illegal. It may be that the security council resolution 1441 was considered sufficient by the Americans to justify war but it was not the case here. Lord Goldsmith went on to explain the allegation of being pinned to the wall by Lord Falconer as "complete and utter nonsense". It may ...
