"Do we need light ?" is the theme of the day. First of all a meeting with Council officers, Friends of Newham Grange Park and local police with Julia and myself on how to spend a grant from a landfill trust. Originally we had wanted to put in features for the older youth of the area, and whilst we still do, there is the issue of safety and protection of what is installed. After a lot of...
RE: Deterioration of Highways in Langworthy ward Dear Sir, I am writing to express my grave concern for the deterioration in our ward's roads following the recent freeze and thaw. While the roads in Langworthy were already in a pretty terrible state to begin with, the situation has gone beyond a joke. For example, recent repair activity on Seedley Park Road has to be seen to be believed. The repairs that were actioned last week are of the worst quality "repair" I have yet to see on any road in Salford (or indeed the UK). Actionable potholes were ignored, possibly ...
Glasgow City Senior Councillor Alex Dingwall has decided to leave the SNP after 31 years as an SNP member and has today joined the Scottish Liberal Democrats. I know there is bound to be the usual dismissal from the SNP that this isn't big news but actually it is. The SNP gloss is peeling now and people are starting to realise that they said anything in 2007 just to get elected and are now just going back on so many of those election promises - part of the very reason why trust in politics is so low. For an established ...
I really am returning to proper bloggery now. The last month or six weeks have been some of the hardest in recent years for me – not because of anything especially bad happening for the most part, but I've just been overwhelmed with work (in the last four weeks I've been given new responsibilities at ...
I am pleased to report that someone at Tube Lines has emailed to say that I can now expect a response to my emails "as soon as possible". I appreciate this and I look forward to hearing from Tube Lines more fully soon.
Just seen the video of this goal, scored from 100 yards, worth a look. The link also gives a few other videos of long-range spectaculars - including the Nayim goal that produced the "Nayim from the halfway line" chant that is still popular (in some parts) to this day. Whatever distance they're scored from, it would nice to have some Spurs goals on our trip to Wolves tomorrow night - especially after the frustration of Saturday's goalless draw with Aston Villa at White Hart Lane. I think the BBC stats showed 28 shots on target from Spurs, while Villa were ...
It was good to see residents turning out at the Police Community Surgery at Blackness Library at teatime today. I spoke with a number of residents about local issues, including cycling matters, the begging concern, litter and parking. West End Community Council's meeting tonight featured a useful presentation on the proposed Riverside Nature Park, as well as discussion on the Dundee West Transition Towns project, an update on the West End Primary Schools Project Board and WestFest 2010. I am meeting the City Council's Chief Executive tomorrow morning about the cuts in Fairer Scotland Funding, an issue I am greatly ...
There was a piece in the Guardian today on a study suggesting that spring is coming earlier these days:The results showed that more than 80% of trends between 1976 and 2005 indicated earlier seasonal events. On average, the study showed the seasonal timing of reproduction and population growth shifted forward by eleven days over the period, and that the change has accelerated recently.The article goes on to quote various campaigners and academics as suggesting that this finding is quite possibly a sign of man-made global warming and certainly a serious cause for concern. But I wonder. How much does a ...
It seems that Kent's establishment is finally waking up to public opinion, which in the case of Kent TV is almost certainly un-measurable, but there's a feeling in the public at large that British society has split into two, the public sector in which members live a charmed life of job security, good pay and fat pensions and the rest of us look on from a harsher world where our jobs are constantly under threat, income under attack and pension non-existent. So its no surprise that Kent council's public sector establishment, think it perfectly reasonable to fritter away the odd ...
A few months ago it was widely reported that Tory run Suffolk County Council was offering a salary greater than that earned by the Prime Minsiter in order to recruit a new chief executive. Indeed they were offering their new chief executive £70,000 more than her predecessor ! Today, I read that Hertfordshire Council, another Tory Council, has more than double the number of top earners and increased the amount the council spends on top earners salaries from £5.5 million to £13.5 million in just four years ! The truth is, if you want a lower council tax, don't let ...
The 18 January issue of The House Magazine has an interview with Chris Bryant, the Europe minister. That interview, which does not appear to be online, touches on education in a couple of places. In the first of them Bryant passes lightly over his own schooling: We lived in Cardiff until I was seven, when we moved to Spain. I was sent to boarding school in Scotland, and then to Cheltenham.That is Cheltenham College, the leading public school (current boarding fees £9,270 per term). Later Bryant writes: After my ordination I worked as a curate in High Wycombe. The grammar ...
Over in The Indpendent, former top police officer and 2008 Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of London Brian Paddick writes about the case of Commander Ali Dizaei, jailed yesterday for perverting the course of justice. Here's an excerpt: If ever there was a "Marmite" senior officer, it was Ali Dizaei. Many hated him, believing he had "got away with it" because "he was black". But for the Black Police Association, he was their flag-bearer. He was an undoubted champion for racial equality, but his approach was sometimes aggressive and confrontational when dealing with "the establishment". Ali Dizaei's MO was getting ...
Am on the express train from Kings X to Leeds, composing this entry on my phone - so formatting might be a little dicky - having had a lovely couple of days away and feeling much refreshed. I had fun at the British Museum & took Duracell Bunny on a tour of some of the dodgier pubs in London, which was great. We ended up playing doubles pool with a couple of French lesbians in Candybar, which was a proper laugh. And then this evening we had something to eat in the Betjeman Arms at St Pancras, which is fast ...
Last night Joanne Cash resigned as Tory PPC for Westminster North resigned. This evening she has tweeted saying: I did resign. Assoc did not accept. CCHQ has resolved specific issue so I am not leaving. It's official DC has changed the party!!!!!!!! Tory Bear has more, but no one using that many exclamation marks should be allowed into the Commons.
Live for the next half hour, and around periodically after that. Ask me anything you like, no topic off limits but no guarantees you'll get an answer either if you get too out of hand! http://formspring.me/stephm0g
The Labour Party has had an enforcement notice served on it after using obtrusive autodialer phone systems to make unsolicited calls to voters using a Coronation Street actress as the computerised voice. The Labour party used the autodialer again in the 2009 Euro elections after already being told to stop using the system after the 2007 local elections. In a statement the Labour Party said "it would examine the ruling and always tried to meet guidelines." It does make you question the intelligence and morals of the Labour Party that there are two possible reasons for their failure to comply ...
Nick Clegg's metaphors are on fire. At the weekend we filletted some of the great quotes from his Telegraph interview – and yesterday he came up with another ... Speaking of Gordon Brown and David Cameron's joint refusal to sign up to real political reform, Nick commented: Listening to the two of them anyone would think they were powerless backbenchers rather than the leaders of the two parties in Parliament which have proved to be the real roadblocks to reform. It's like a couple of cowboy builders coming back to your house to tell you how bad their workmanship is." ...
We found an excellent site via YouTube http://www.howtomakecakes.co.uk This guy knows how to make cakes! I am on the search for the origins of what I was always told to be New Zealand's iconic desert – the Pavlova. I have a simple idiot-proof recipe at http://food.chrisandeddie.info/ but the search is now on for the origin of this ...
Also, as a result of the malware attack, I finally updated from WP2.8 to 2.9.1 If you find anything not working, let me know please Chris www.chrisandeddie.info
There has been some progression with updating and etc. http://food.chrisandeddie.info is now up and running and there has been some cosmetic changes to www.chrisandeddie.info More stuff coming soon guys Chris
Interestingly, my blog has been hacked by someone with interest in chinese websites, as all traffic was being redirected to a chinese webtv site. How they got past a 24 character password, I don't know...but they did and inserted about 40 lines of js code into the header.php file. All resolved now however.
Gordon Brown has announced his answer to the malaise affecting democracy in this country. He will put through legislation to force a referendum during the next Parliament on whether Britain should have the Alternative Vote (AV) instead of First Past the Post. Well whoopee Gordon. I suppose it's a case of (to almost quote) One small step for Britain, one giant leap for Gordon Brown.Chris Huhne
Today just gets better and better. I've just received a jubilant phone call from Jeff Crawford, husband of one of the Early Years Inclusion Team members, to tell me that the Director of Children's Services is to recommend to Cabinet that the proposal to downgrade the Early Years Inclusion service be dropped from the budget.A full review and consultation with all interested parties will now take
I just received news that KCC's bold and ill considered project KentTV has been cancelled . As Im travelling home from north London it will be a while before Icomment further . Try this link -- Sent from my mobile device tony flaig - Bignews Margate Thanet's unparalled and unmissable blog
Now it is such a bizarrely improbably coincidence that anything so mindbogglingly useful [the Babel fish] could have evolved by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see it as a final and clinching proof of the non-existence of Google. The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says Google, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing." "But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED" "Oh dear," ...
Great news over the garden fence in Islington where a derelict car park in Holloway is being transformed into 30 new allotments (see photo below of Cllr Ruth Polling and her digger!). Central London boroughs like Islington and Camden are the only ones who have an opt out from the 1922 Allotments Act which requires councils to provide food growing sites if six or more ask. Despute that opt-out Islington Council is spending £1m over 2009/10 to encourage community food growing. The Edible Islington campaign has already created 30 new food growing projects in schools and established 60 community food ...
Countdown is the system which tells you - often inaccurately - when your next bus is due. (Otherwise known as RTI - Real Time Information) London Buses have just announced the system is to be upgraded: Through the advances in information technology, TfL is now able to provide a more complete information service showing bus arrival predictions for every one of London's 19,000 bus stops through a number of different methods (or channels), including mobile phone text messages, fixed and mobile web, as well as providing a new generation of bus shelter mounted signs. This new Countdown service allows TfL ...
Some recent articles relating to the planned closure of A&E services and transfer of the maternity unit to Queens that provide food for thought. Evening Standard Article re NHS Cuts in NE London Ilford Recorder - Under-threat KGH out-performs Queen's Now you tell me this is a good idea being clinically driven....
Over at The Guardian's Comment Is Free site, Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne argues Labour has got it wrong in proposing a referendum on the Alternative Vote: only the Single Transferable Vote will remedy the unfairness of the present system. Here's an excerpt: [The Alternative Vote] is very similar to first-past-the-post in two key respects. Because it is based on single constituencies - a virtue for its proponents, who say they prize the constituency link - the parties continue to select one candidate each, and the voters only have one choice for each party. That means that in ...
This morning, the Courier covered my comments about the problem of wheelie bins sitting permanently on pavements in certain streets in the West End and action the City Council is taking to address the issue. Today's Evening Telegraph covers the issue of begging in Perth Road and Nethergate and my discussions with Tayside Police about the issue. As the article points out, tonight's police community surgery at Blackness Library (5.30pm to 7pm) will be an opportunity for residents to air their views. Tonight's West End Community Council also takes place immediately afterwards (7pm) at the nearby Logie and St John's ...
Bury South Lib Dem candidate, Vic D'Albert has called on Bury Primary Care Trust to reconsider their proposals for new health facilities. It was recently confirmed by the PCT that following rejection of a previous planning application for the uplands health centre near Whitefield Town Hall, that they now plan to relocate most of their plans to premises in the Radcliffe area. Vic D'Albert commented, "This is a dreadful decision by the PCT that will significantly disadvantage many people in the Whitefield area and will do nothing to help deprived communities in Whitefield. I would urge them to reconsider for ...
Cross-posted from the Power 2010 blog: If all it took to sort out our political system was to produce a list of proposals we'd have the best political system, ever. Over the last few years, there has been no shortage of wish lists, most of which have promptly disappeared never to be thought of again. So I'll readily admit to being a little sceptical of Power 2010 when it was launched intending to, yes, put together a list of proposals. To its credit, though, Power 2010 has put together an imaginative approach: trawling widely for ideas, then getting a cross-section ...
Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting the University of Bedfordshire campus in the heart of our town centre. I have admired the hard work and benefit that our University put into our community and was a pleasure again see for myself this work first hand. What frustrates me though is the burden we put on our young people when it comes to University tuition fees. It is simply not fair that some in our community can not build on the education they receive at school at University. The Liberal Democrats and I remain committed to scrapping unfair student tuition ...
At the Welsh Liberal Democrat Spring Conference held in Swansea in February, Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister introduced a consultation document on possible options for the future of social care within Wales, exploring options around joint working and structures with health care. There has been significant interest in the paper, and Freedom Central has decided to post it online so anyone can read it and add their voice to the debate, as well as part of our ongoing development of Freedom Central into something about debate and inclusiveness and not just political comment. The Welsh ...
A conference on Civic Societies and apparently also on Lewisham's Local Development Framework (already discussed on this blog here). Next week Thursday 18th February, 8pm to 10pm, The Golden Lion, 116 Sydenham Road, London SE26 5JX. More here. Thanks to Brockley Central for the tip. Tagged: campaigning, community, Lewisham, Local politics, Planning
We are very lucky in Redlands to have some very dedicated Police Officers and PCSOs supporting the community in our patch. We work closely with them to help improve community safety - my colleague Kirsten Bayes is actively involved in the Redlands & University Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) and Glenn and I cover the Newtown and North Whitley NAGs. If you have any concerns about community safety in your neighbourhood please do get in touch with us. You can find out which Police "neighbourhood" you live in by visiting the Thames Valley Police website and entering your postcode. You can also find ...
Liberal Democrat County Councillors were shocked at figures they have uncovered that show the number of council staff earning over £50,000 has more than doubled over the last four years. In the financial year 2004/5 there were just 89 staff earning over £50,000, and just 9 of them earned over £100,000. Only 4 years later there are now 195 staff earning over £50,000: 16 of these earn over £100,000 and the Chief Executive is on over £200,000. The pay bill for these top earners has jumped from £5.5m to £13.5m in four years. Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, commenting ...
Having nearly finished typesetting PEP! 1, I've now got the hang of this, and I've been thinking. Were I to publish a (small – 80 pages or so) POD book of some of my blog posts, and maybe some other stuff, would anyone actually buy it? If so, what would you like to see? There are three ...
Last month I recounted the Home Office's repeated failures to reply to my letters, including one to Sir Roger Singleton of the Independent Safeguarding Authority which was passed on to them and was about the ISA's procedures: [I am concerned by] Paragraph 5.6.1 of "Guidance Notes for Barring Decision Marking Process", which states in part: "even where a jury has found someone not guilty of having done something, you must always remember that, at most, this means is that the court did not find that someone did something "beyond a reasonable doubt" (the criminal standard of proof)." My concern is ...
I have been campaigning both in public and behind the scenes to the Council for several years on the subject of protecting Portobello Road and Market. What the antiques traders have done with their campaign (www.ipetitions.com/petition/portobello) is quite stunning. I've never known so many signatures collected so quickly, and it has definitely had some sort of an impact in the Town Hall. We have to hope it encourages some much needed change in the way the Council operates with regard to this area and to North Kensington as a whole. I think the Conservative response to this has been very ...
Greece - similarities with regional aid in the UK - plus much more
The South Glos Cabinet will release the first draft of the Core Strategy on 19 February. This is the big planning document that will replace the Structure Plan, and set the scene for all major local developments. Watch out for discussions and consultations - this will determine the character of our area for years to come.
I've had an email from Jock in Oxford which raises some interesting discussion points about my recent post on slavery in the United States. He says: "It is of course great to celebrate the thirteenth amendment in the US, and, Judith, your question about whether prison amounts to slavery is an interesting one - and one which anarchists have long held to be true (as with conscription and confiscatory tax regimes). "But I learned an interesting, and not so trival, factoid a few weeks ago. Did you know when Britain outlawed slavery? "12th November, 2009!" I've replied that I don't ...
This morning was the annual Question Time debate for councillors at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth 6th Form College in front of an audience of bright, knowledgeable sixth form politics students. This was the third time I'd done the event and this time I was up against Gill Cartwright for the Conservatives and Jenny Chapman for the Labour Party.Questions covered subjects like party discipline and
Withington MP John Leech hailed the beginning of construction of the Metrolink extension to south Manchester as a welcome milestone. Having added his voice lobbying the Government to fund extensions to the Metrolink network since his election in 2005. While visiting a site where construction has begun in Chorlton, he restated his strong support for the extension of the Metrolink to south Manchester, adding: "I am so pleased that extension of the Metrolink is finally under way. It will help tackle congestion across the area and bring new economic opportunities." I'm delighted Metrolink is coming to Chorlton. It will be ...
Tony Benn's lament that politics should be about issues, not personalities, is one echoed even by many who would struggle to find any issues on which they agree with him. But it's not a view I share. Why? Because the detailed policies of election manifestos or conference speeches frequently get swept aside in power by events. It's not just the unexpected new event, it's also the fallibility of forecasts which mean that decision making is often made from a very different perspective from that used to draw up pre-election policy promises. Take the economy. It's hard enough to know whether ...
I will shortly write up a bit about Jim Hancock's visit to Sefton when he gave a very interesting talk about his time in the media. Jim established himself as the premier NW political correspondent and nobody has taken his place. One of the issues he seemed keen to take the temperature on was Lib Dem views on the Brown initiative on voting reform. Much has been written about this in the last few days. When Jim asked me on Friday night my mind went back to the late 1970's. There had been two general elections with close results and ...
has speeches from President Ros Scott, Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott and Montgomery MP-cum-airline-magnate, Lembit Öpik. All worth watching, writes Frank Little, but Ros Scott's in particular nails what the federal party is about, as we enter general election campaigning.
I am somewhat surprised to see that discussions have taken place between my 'favourite' rail operator, National Express and the Conservative Party, in an attempt by the former to be allowed to bid for new rail franchises following their failure on the East Coast and East Anglian routes. Whilst Lord Adonis has set his heart against allowing them to bid at all, the Conservatives have taken the view that, after a period in purdah, they see no reason why they shouldn't get the chance to welch on another contract, run down the quality of services, axe catering, cleaning and customer ...
Stockport Council's improved recycling collection service now allows residents to recycle aluminium foil. Borough residents can recycle aluminium foil in their brown wheelie bin or black recycling box or take it to a local recycling site and put it in the container for recycling food tins and drink cans. All foil can be recycled, such as foil trays, pie cases, dairy lids, household wrapping foil and the foil from some chocolate bars. Metallised plastic film such as crisp packets cannot. To check if your foil is recyclable do this simple test, scrunch it up in your hand if it doesn't ...
The British House of Commons will be voting later today on whether to hold a referendum on changing the country's first-past-the-post system of electing Westminster MPs with the Alternative Vote (AV), which would give voters a slightly greater say in choosing their representative as they could order the preferences — 1, 2 etc. For most ...
[IMG: Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice] Birkdale FOCUS has from time to time been included in Lib Dem Voice's Golden Dozen chosen from blog post during the previous week. They feature the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (31st January - 6th February 2010), together with a hand-picked quintet, usually courtesy of LibDig This week Birkdale blog get three mentions-so thanks to all who contributed. The first posting owes much to David Bartlett of Dale Street Blues for his article about Vince's visit. The second posting is again from Vince's visit when he reminded us about ...
Part of Westerleigh Road, Yate is due to be resurfaced, starting on Wednesday 10th and finishing on Friday 12th February if all goes to plan. The works will involve planing off the existing surface on the carriageway, followed by resurfacing and traffic will be controlled with a two man Stop and Go operation. Work will take place between 7.30am and 5pm. South Glos Council are advising people to use alternative routes where possible.
It seems that former Lib Dem and currently independent councillor Joe O'Neill has decided to make a habit of writing outrageous and offensive statements. Hot off the heals of likening a left-wing councillor to a Nazi, he's this week claimed that victims of burglary are 'as much to blame' for being burgled as the the ...
Last week I visited the Darlington Storysacks and Toy Library from which the Labour Cabinet's budget proposals would have withdrawn financial support. I am delighted to learn from the Echo this morning, therefore, that the Council has announced it will in fact continue to support the excellent work carried out by the charity. I think the advice Fred and I were able to give them was helpful in
Another Labour MP jumps the sinking ship. Jeff Ennis, the Labour MP for Barnsley East and Mexborough is to quit at the next election after 30 years in public life, ie, in a matter of weeks. That is nearly 90 Labour MPs who are deserting, jumping ship, collecting a pay off (in the rules and all MPs receive this) as they pass go, resigning or plain retiring before the election. It is incredible that so many are leaving it so late to announce their decisions.
Managed to get to the meeting of the Defend the Whittington Coalition last night. The key issues being decided were the route of the march, the speakers, the publicity, banners, placards and so on. Credit to the organisers - as it is a lot of work to get this together. We all need to take part in this protest. Given that the 'options' for the future of A&E at the Whittington currently (in their draft form) contain four options out of seven that end 24/7 A&E - we need to demonstrate just how much anger there is amongst local people. ...
As a Liberal Democrat, I believe passionately in working hard to ensure a better future for my town. Campaigning for local people on the issues that matter to us is a key Liberal Democrat value. On a national level the Liberals Democrats are just as passionate on campaigning on the issues that matter to our country. Fair taxes that help those in need. Greater support for our children and schools. Fair pay for our armed forces.Action to protect frontline NHS services. More police on the street.Cutting tax loop holes for the super rich. A fair deal for pensioners.Creating new green ...
This is priceless.
(With thanks to today's Guardian). The Tories were today forced to recall a consignment of hybrid policies following widespread complaints that their economic model failed when it encountered bumpy or slippery surfaces. The party is already facing criticism over the recent recall of many of its other policies, including marriage tax-breaks, which have been affected by the potentially dangerous acceleration towards an election. The Tory leadership of David Cameron and George Osborne are due to give details of their latest recall today, and on most other days leading up to 6th May. "We've tried applying the brakes," they admitted, "but ...
As blogged here, SITA went back to using the standard collection calendar on Monday 25th January and as of Saturday 6th they have now completed a full two week cycle on black bins, green bins and green boxes. Because some householders may not have placed their bin out on the timetabled day, due to all the disruptions, SITA crews will continue to collect side waste for the next two week cycle. The Council is aiming to learn from this experience and has reviewed its plans for coping with difficult situations such as the one faced in January. In future, they ...
Coverage of Norman Tebbit's remarks on immigration in yesterday's media was slightly misleading in that the headlines said he wanted a zero immigration policy when in fact he was calling for a zero net immigration policy. Nevertheless that distinction does not make his proposal any more acceptable or achieveable in the real world. I understand that as a right wing Tory he may want to restore a way of life that has not existed in this country before the second world war, but how can he, as a free marketeer justify the restrictions in trade and the movement of labour ...
From last night's Newsnight: Emily Maitlis: "Does he [Lord Ashcroft] pay full UK tax?" Sir George: "He pays tax."
Today is the anniversary of the birth of one of my favourite authors Brendan Behan. I first came across his work when at university, a friend gave me a copy of Borstal Boy, and a few weeks later I went to see a student production of The Hostage. Both works are incredibly individual and I would urge anyone reading this to read both and if you get a chance to see the latter or indeed his other play The Quare Fellow. The Hostage was written in Gaelic and Behan himself translated it into English. It shows the detention, in a ...
Look at a Lib Dem election campaign, whether it's a sitting MP or target seat challenger, and you'll invariably find a hard working local campaigner, a local champion, and leaflets full of local stories. That's not at all what you see in Conservative literature. Across many seats the Tories have all but given up promoting their local campaigning credentials, or selling their candidate as the best person to be the MP. True, you'll always find a few token stories, but the vast majority of material hitting doormats promotes Cameron, and Cameron alone. Most of their firepower pushes the message that ...
Viktor Yanukovich - the likely victor in the Ukrainian Presidential election- is not a Jeffersonian Democrat. He carries with him the air of the youthful hoodlum he once was- he served time in gaol as a young man. However Yulia Timoshenko- the defeated candidate is hardly a model democrat herself. It would be quite easy to throw up ones hands and say that Ukraine was a lost cause and that it has not escaped its terrible past. Easy but wrong. For one thing, the Presidential election has been given a clean bill of health by election observers. A clean election ...
Nobody's perfect. Most of all, politicians. It's a familiar refrain around these parts, but they are just as human as the rest of us. And, as a stark warning as to what lies ahead, this morning The Times are running a story regarding a £50,000 payment received by Conservative MP Liam Fox, Shadow Secretary of State ...
Welcome to this morning's Daily View. I am sure I cannot be the only person to be cheered by waking to the news that the Conservatives believe that their no. 1 electoral weapon is George Osborne. On this day 60 years ago, United States Senator Joe McCarthy launched his anti-communist crusade, with a speech accusing more than 200 staff in the State Department of being members of the Communist Party. On 9thFebruary 1979, England and Birmingham City forward Trevor Francis signed for Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest for £1 million, the first UK footballer to move for a seven figure sum. ...
The recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) failures which includes admitting that they got the figures wrong on the Himalayan glaciers proves how important it is to use science. If you don't have science to back up your claim then don't make the claim, commission more research instead. These recent failures of the IPCC to get the figures right on climate change has increased the scepticism in the public see the figures on Letters from a Tory blog Bye bye climate change consensus?. See the poll below says it all really; People think there is some massive Left conspiracy ...
Someone in Hook has warned me about a scam. A few days ago, I got one of those charity collection bags through the letterbox. I threw it away without looking at it because I always take my old stuff to the Debra shop in Hook Parade. But someone locally took the trouble of checking one. Now some of those charity collections are completely genuine - but some are bogus. The offending one is claims to be for a charity called Helping Arms and boasts the charity number 5995054. Mike Christie checked this out at Companies House and found that the ...
There is a lot of nervousness in Wales about the use of private finance to fund public sector projects. That is understandable, particularly given the way that PFI deals have been discredited for providing an inferior service, hitting the terms and conditions of staff and actually imposing a bigger financial burden on Government than traditional financing methods. It is for this, as well as ideological reasons that the One Wales Agreement specifically rules out the use of private finance for the health service and all but rules it out for other services as well. It is also the reason why ...
A couple of great pictures of Lib Dem colleagues Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey & Wood Green MP and Cllr Robert Gorrie, Hornsey ward councillor and Leader of the Opposition in Haringey. The photos show Lynne and Robert taking part in a Kurdish and Somali cookery class, helping to raise the profile of Salt Awareness Week. This was locally, in Hornsey, but Salt Awareness Week is a national (and, in fact, international) event. You can read more about the health risks of a high-salt diet by visiting the website of Consensus Action on Salt & Health (CASH), who organise National Salt Awareness ...
I have reported again to United Utilities the spring which seems to be popping through the pavement and road on Hyde Road near Reddish Bridge. Every grid between this point and Sandheys Grove seems to be overflowing and then the spring is emerging at Sandheys and flowing down the hill. I first reported this last November. Meanwhile United Utilities have dug a hole opposite Far Lane, but this does seem to be missing the point. What is worrying is that the point of emergence is the same as the piece of road which collapsed last year, which seems to have ...
[IMG: Tom and Manuela] While out meeting residents in Andover Tom McCann, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for North West Hampshire, met anti-litter campaigner Manuela Wahnon. Tom congratulated her on her campaign and praised her hard work, as an example of how individuals can and do make a difference to their communities. "I urge everyone to listen to what Manuela has to say" he said. " Together we can make Andover and the rest of NW Hampshire a cleaner and better place for us and for future generations."
Couldn't help but notice fly tipping along Thackery Drive (yes I know not in Chadwell or Goodmayes but clearly it ain't going anywhere) so I have today reported 2 instances along Thackery Drive in case any body else didn't bother. It's been there nearly a week now.
Yesterday WinkBall.com dropped by and did a quick interview with me on some of my priorities for the election....
A level-headed statement from Dr Ken Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Eletoral Reform Society: The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed Gordon Brown's move to legislate for a referendum on the Alternative Vote. The Society's Chief Executive Dr Ken Ritchie said: "The referendum the PM proposes would give us, the voters, a chance to move to a better voting system for the House of Commons, and we urge MPs of all parties to give this measure their support. "The default setting for reformers is often to damn any reform on the table with feint praise. But a change to the Alternative ...
I attended a "Westminister Skeptics in the Pub" event titled "What difference does political blogging really make?" last night. It was a panel discussion with Paul Staines (Guido Fawkes), Sunny Hundal of Liberal Conspiracy, Jonathan Isaby of Conservative Home, Mick Fealty of Slugger O'Toole and journalist Nick Cohen of The Observer. It was chaired by Allen Green of the Jack of Kent blog. Nick Cohen started by asking why bloggers do not cover things like select committees. He also made the point that he thought that bloggers would not ultimately fill the gap left behind as local (and national) media ...
I've commented on the fate of the 21 Conservative MPs who voted against reform of Parliamentary expenses (in brief: nearly all of them have since had to pay back money or had an expenses scandal come to light). That was one of two key votes where Parliament had had the chance to clean up its act before media stories and public outcry forced it to do so. The other was about whether or not MPs' expenses should be susceptible to Freedom of Information requests. There was an attempt to change the law to keep them secret, via a Bill introduced ...
I've been on a bit of a roll this year, blogging about mistakes organisations have made and having senior, effective people get in touch as a result (including BT, Virgin Media and the Independent Safeguarding Authority). At one level, this is simply a reflection of how some organisations understand their reputations can be made or broken online and that therefore they should pay attention to what is being said and so need to respond effectively. But there is a more general trend I've seen across many of my cases, and also that of other people I know. It's that if ...
I reckon Tom Freeman's excellent take on Sing a song of Six Pence is the winning entry SO FAR. Come on up.
Yes, Suffolk Coastal Conservatives have completed the hat-trick of Suffolk seats where the local candidates have been blown away by the incomers, selecting Therese Coffey from that well known Suffolk town, Andover. At least this time two locals made it to the final six, although as the result was decided on just one ballot, it seems like neither of them got even remotely close. Given that neither of the locals had a local government record in Suffolk, it does seem that the ranks of Conservative councillors across the county have little prospect of advancement. And, if unitary government becomes a ...
Last week, I emailed London Underground and Tube Lines, as reported in the Hendon Times (if you click the link and scroll down) about the planned programme of weekend closures on the Northern Line. These closures will enormously inconvenience passengers and there are surely other ways of doing this work. I called for the release of Tube Lines' "optioneering" document - the document justifying Tube Lines' decision to go for this option, rather than other options which could include fewer weekend closures. I strongly assume that such a document exists, based on my own experience of working for a utility ...
They aren't the obvious bed fellows are they, Cameron's Conservatives and the International Olympic Committee? but both find themselves in similar tea cup storms this week over installing confusing and potentially un-enforceable rules on how to use social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and blogs. I blogged last week about the Tories Twitter rules for Twits and now the IOC find themselves in a similar state of confusion. The IOC have created a four page rule book consisting of thirteen rules about the use of blogging, facebook, twitter and photos on such sites. Nick Pearson, pictured, was one of ...
Conservative Home is reporting; Ms Cash resigned at a special meeting of the Association tonight - also attended by Eric Pickles and Lord Strathclyde - following internal tensions in the local party. 9.45pm: CCHQ mounting effort to reverse decision.
The Meridian South development in Hither Green was born under good auspices. Laying perfectly across the Greenwich Meridian line, it retains some of the features of the Hither Green Hospital that stood there before, a local architectural gem designed by Edwin T. Hall, also architect of Liberty department store. To potential buyers Meridian South presented itself ...
In association with The Equality Trust, Demos have today published three pamphlets focusing on equality from the perspective of each of the main political parties. The Liberal Democrat one, A Wealth of Opportunity, is written by Julia Margo and William Bradley and has a foreword by David Laws MP. A concern with inequality lies deep in liberal DNA. More than a century and a half ago, John Stuart Mill argued for a cap on inheritance so that wealth might be more fairly distributed in society. His views jarred with Victorian attitudes. Would they be more accepted now? This pamphlet argues ...
Votes on changing our antiquated and unfair electoral system don't happen very often so tonight's business is something of an occassion. Reforming our voting system is the key to unlocking change acr...
Figures released today by the Liberal Democrats have revealed that the NHS in England is facing a £63bn bill for PFI hospitals which are only worth £11bn. The figures also reveal that: The first payments for hospital PFIs began in 1999 and the NHS still owes £58bn on 106 PFI contracts over the next three decadesThe NHS will have to pay back £7.3bn in PFI payments over the next Parliament alone (2010-2015)The most expensive PFI contract was for Wythenshawe Hospital where the NHS will pay back 16 times the original capital value Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb, ...
The Liberal Democrats have tabled amendments to the Government's proposals for a referendum on electoral reform that would: · Offer voters a real choice between first-past-the-post and a truly proportional system (Single Transferable Vote), rather than AV · Bring forward the date of the referendum to next May · Close a loophole allowing the next Government to kill the proposals without an Act of Parliament Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said: "Voters deserve a real choice - between the discredited status quo and a system where every vote matters and there are no safe seats. "The Alternative ...
Commenting on the announcement by Alan Johnson on the student visa system, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "The biggest hole in the student visa system is caused by the Tory and Labour abolition of exit checks, which means we do not know if someone has left once their visa runs out. "We need to restore immediate control of our borders."
Denis Mollison has an article on Next Left about how STV would work in practice. He also shows off a map of how the UK could be divided up into multi-member constituencies. I really like what Mollison has done here. He hasn't simply drawn lines on the map but created constituencies based on local ...
So John Terry has been sacked as the England football captain. I'm afraid that I don't read the tabloid press and I don't particularly want to but I have managed to gather that he has been playing away more than he has been playing at home. I don't know what his wife thinks about this. I don't know what anyone connected to the breaking of his marriage vows thinks about it although there may be a great deal written. However I have managed to read that the health minister Mike O'Brien has feels that the decision to take away the ...
Regular readers of my Redlands blog will know that I have been actively campaigning along with my Lib Dem colleagues for several years to get Labour-run Reading Borough Council to address issues connected with the private rented sector and Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This week I welcomed news that the Labour government has listened to councils and councillors and has amended the law so that planning permission will soon be required to turn a house into an HMO. This is something that required action at a national level. As a ward councillor I have picked up many complaints from ...
