A preview of an exciting development on the Stockton North Shore, by the Infinity Bridge. The first 50 homes have been planned and will go to planning committee soon. A lot of new and interesting concepts, and I particularly liked the roof terraces. Some worries about the management of the open spaces in particular, but points made by coucnillors were listened to. I was disappointed that it...
Woody's is going, Sainsbury's is coming: [IMG: Planning notice for Sainsbury's, Stroud Green Road]
There's been a very strange sight today. Theresa Villiers has been popping up all over the shop, saying Labour isn't being bold enough with the high speed rail plans. The Tories want it faster and more extensive than Labour. OK. But hang on a minute. The Tory plans would cost anything between £20 billion and £30 billion. So has our Theresa checked this with George Osborne? After all, he's going round promising the mother of all cuts. It's all a bit strange. On the one hand we've got Georgie running round with his axe. On the other, Madame Villers is ...
I left my office early at 4pm today as I was on childcare duty. As I attempted to negotiate my way onto the A34 I found the roundabout blocked by a police outrider who was shortly joined by a series of police vehicles escorting five hearses carrying the bodies of the latest five British service personnel serving in Afghanistan. A sixth, empty hearse followed. The convoy joined the dual carriageway pursued by a large number of cars but the police ensured that none overtook. We passed by some roadworks and a worker there respectfully removed his hard hat. I have ...
I started my journey this morning, not to my usual place of work at Old Street, but instead to Shepherds Bush where i had an early morning meeting. During the journey i got a tweet on Twitter about a large fire in Tabernacle in the City which is about a 2 minute walk from my offices. Further ...
Local community grants in search of funding might like to look at the Quartet Community Foundation website. If you get your skates on, you might be able to benefit from some of this financial year's Grassroots Grants, the deadline for which is the end of March.
I wonder whether someone at the BBC had a guilty concience when deciding the panel for BBC Question Time this week? Sitting here waiting for the News at 10pm i caught an advert for the episode of Question Time to follow the news. On the panel is none other than Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson who was ...
Canvassing this evening, and what struck me was that there seem to be more and more "undecided"s. This was in a traditionally Tory area, but there does seem to be a real lack of passion for the Conservatives. Unlike '97, when there was a real enthusiasm (albeit a mistaken one) for change under "New" Labour, ...
Thu 11th
22:20
Telegraph: country's first female director of adult films selected as Lib Dem parliamentary candidat...
Here's the story, which presumably earned its place in the Torygraph thanks to the titillating headline it teed-up: Anna Arrowsmith, managing director of adult film company Easy on the Eye, will stand for the party in Gravesham, Kent. Under her pseudonym Anna Span the 38-year-old has produced around 300 pornographic films. She has specialised in "women friendly" films, with titles like Where's the Rent Boys aimed at female erotica enthusiasts. Mrs Arrowsmith asked the people of Gravesend not to judge her on the sins of her industry and pointed to her background as a campaigner for women's rights. The Lib ...
... and that person is the excellent Nick Thornsby in his excellent blog posting today. Click here to read how Gordon Brown got caught telling porkies once again. At least we dont have much longer to wait until we turf this appalling failure of a PM and disgrace to national politics from the world stage. Filed ...
Nick Thornsby's Blog catches the prime minister telling two lies in two days. Why do socialists always have to have a foreign tyrant to admire? Caron's Musings looks at their latest poster boy: President Chavez of Venezuela. Jeremy Rowe proves that it can be dangerous to listen to George Osborne on the radio. Last night Under a Watling Street Tree heard Will Hutton speak in Leicester. I was at a seminar on Dickens elsewhere in the city. It's just a hotbed of culture. More Than Mind Games points us to a 1924 film of the Regent's Canal in London: "The ...
Take a look at this. To you it may be a smudge, but to the eagled-eyed politico it's Google Street View showing a political campaign poster (for the Burnley Liberal Democrats' campaign to save the local hospital). Is this the first time a political campaign poster has been caught on Google Street View?
Thu 11th
21:54
Thoughts from the train: would you recognise that hung parliament if you saw it again, madam?
I see that young Mr Clegg is getting plenty of coverage in the press this week, perhaps in anticipation of our Spring Conference this weekend in Birmingham. Will the Liberal Democrats or won't they (form a coalition, that is)? What I find so intriguing is that the press are so desperate to get the story that they are reduced to making one up. Doorstepping Liberal Democrat MPs in the hope that one of them will get the line wrong, parsing every comment made by Nick, or Vince, or Shirley, or... you get my drift... for something that might indicate that ...
In response to emails asking to see the Newsnight piece (3rd March 2010) about the relationship between media headlines on the growing (?) possibility of a hung parliament and the value of the £ and specifically that reference to the Liberal Democrats being unable to enter "formal" coalition without the support of 75% of MPs and "top party brass". Here it is.....
This morning, up with the larks, LDV covered Nick Clegg's feature interview in The Independent. But we've been hard-pressed to keep up with the Lib Dem leader's media appearances: Nick is also in this week's Spectator, as well as The Economist. That, plus a forthcoming one-hour ITV special and the leaders' debates: truly, the media are spoiling us with this surfeit of Cleggyness. The Spectator interview has stirred up Sunder Katawala at the left-leaning Liberal Conspiracy, who speculates that Nick's comments will "be a major talking point at the LibDem spring conference in Birmingham this weekend, where it may not ...
Today's lead story in the Independant said the following: "Mr Clegg has a tantalising opportunity to spearhead a breakthrough for his party. This could be an election that changes Britain, unequivocally, into a three-party political system. The political fates are smiling on Mr Clegg." I have to agree! The polls in Luton South are showing just that - just behind Labour with the Tories way out in third. A real opportunity for the Liberal Democrats as if you take Luton itself the Tories have no Councillors at all in the south of the town. The message is clear - if ...
As the issue has been debated several times recently on this site, here's the latest statement of the party's position: A recent report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee examined the provision of homeopathy through the NHS and called for funding by the NHS to be stopped. The Committee did recognise that many users derive benefit from its use and did not argue that such treatments should be banned. The Liberal Democrats believe that, as a basic principle, individuals should have maximum freedom about how they choose to get treated, so long as the therapy is safe. ...
Living with a small minority and in a relatively inhumane cityscape. That's the meeting i've been at tonight with all partners round the table. It's taken me 2 years (and £10,000) to get here but we'll soon have an action plan including funding sources. Woo hoo
* This afternoon, after a useful meeting about improving liaison between the numerous West End community groups, I attended the latest meeting of the Best Value Review group on Child Protection Services in Dundee. * This evening, after a busy surgery at Blackness Primary School, I attended the March meeting of the Community Spirit group which does great work for the people in the Cleghorn, Ancrum, Pentland and surrounding areas. There was an interesting update from Liz and Kay from Dundee WestFest, as well as a good discussion on various local issues.
From the Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser comes the news that Christopher Gill, who was Conservative MP for Ludlow between 1987 and 2001, is to fight the seat for UKIP at the general election. Given how much I love the Shropshire hills, it is tempting to say that this will help the Liberal Democrats regain the seat. It's just that Gill's unpopularity with the voters was one of the reasons for Matthew Green's victory in 2001. Anyway, it's an excuse for another photo of Bishop's Castle.
Now, don't get me wrong. I like photos of potholes. Or even empty pavements. I like photos of candidates. I like photos of candidates and potholes. Looking glum or not. But so often the 'action' photo of the local campaigning 'team' shows one static solitary person doing nothing much other than looking lonely and static. The solution? Read this excellent set of advice on how to take better photographs – no fancy camera required. It's only missing one piece of advice, namely my Rule Of The Left (And Right) Nostril which, unaccountably, hasn't yet made it big in the US. ...
It must be Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, Nick Clegg has been talking about Thatcher. Last year ahead of Harrogate he said: "When the right won out, the reality was brutal. I remember very distinctly this sense that we were being told we should all place money above morality; put profit ahead of people; that we shouldn't worry about selling out. Because, at the end of the day, there was no such thing as society. But I looked around me and thought: no, there has to be more to life than this. There is more to us than this. Justice, fairness, ...
It's not clear if I am actually allowed to watch this week's #bbcqt as it is apparently an all female audience. I'll give it a go though and just put on a high pitched voice if anyone asks. Let's have a shot at still doing the Live Chat on here at 10:30. The panel includes the former Europe minister Caroline Flint, shadow communities minister Justine Greening and Lib Dem foreign affairs spokeswoman Jo Swinson. The broadcaster Monty Don and journalist Kelvin McKenzie will also be joining David Dimbleby on the programme broadcast from Dewsbury. Join us from 10:30pm below: BBC ...
Left Foot Forward has an eye-catching headline today: 2010 will be the "television election" say social media experts, and in some ways it's certainly a welcome change for internet pundits to be talking down rather than talking up an imminent internet-fuelled revolution in British political campaigning. However, I think the post (or rather the people who the post reports on) underplays two important issues. First, social media and TV aren't competing promotional tools - whether for parties or for companies - but are complimentary. The impact of the party leader TV debates will be felt, but that impact will be ...
I've written before about my continuing problem with radio phone-ins, and today I received the physical proof that it is bad for my health. The occasion was George Osborne's appearance on Victoria Derbyshire's BBC FiveLive morning show. Gideon has quite an effect on me, and not in a good way. He slithered into the BBC's Westminster ...
When I was first elected to the Council 13 years ago, many residents were complaining about how difficult it was to communicate with the Council. When they phoned with a query or problem they were passed from one person to another - if they got through in the first place, that is. When they turned up in person they didn't know where to go or who to speak to, and would sometimes be berated for speaking to the 'wrong' person. When they wrote a letter they got a reply written in a complex official style that was often difficult to ...
The Lib Dem leader is everywhere at the moment. The new issue of The Economist has an interview with him: Mr Clegg denies that his leadership amounts to a move to the "right" (Lib Dems, with a touch of sophistry, argue that such labels are anachronistic). The left certainly approves of his civil libertarianism and his (now diluted) policy to abolish university-tuition fees. Though he has not called for an end to the war in Afghanistan, he has pleased the left by "rattling the cage" over its conduct. Still, more than his recent predecessors, he is contemptuous of the idea ...
In today's Echo the Conservative agent in Darlington said the failure to include an imprint on the recently delivered Tory leaflet was a mistake made by the printer. So what's their excuse this time? The Advertiser has a wrap-around four page advert for the Tory candidate (Ashcroft's money being to put to good use, it seems). Yet again, there's no imprint. No "printed by...", no "published by..."
Well done to Vanessa Kimbell, an "incensed mum" complaining about the pool-side changing rooms at Market Harborough Leisure Centre in the Harborough Mail. She says the floor: looked as if a "Yeti had been attacked".
The NHS is often discussed in the abstract in the political debate, but for many of us, the issues facing healthcare in our country can be a much more personal issue. My grandmother is unwell, suffering from blindness in one eye due to cataracts, severely painful ulcers in her feet and her arthritis has been getting ...
See, we're not the only ones to love The Almighty Vince. This was the work of my friend James and it made me smile. Maybe the BBC should do something like this. Interesting as well that you seem to be able to pay your broadcasting fee in Sweden by putting in your personal number. I presume it's a bit like your NI number. It shows that it's possible for bureaucracies not to be complex, incomprehensible monolithic nightmares.
Since I previously wrote about what it was, and then wasn't, I feel it is encumbant on me to include here what the official line on homeopathy now is: A recent report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee examined the provision of homeopathy through the NHS and called for funding by the NHS ...
I have been elevated to a project all of my own by Hopi Sen, a position of some responsibility, and one that if anything increases the pressure to opinionize on every thing that ever happens, economics-wise. Hence (again from Hopi) my views on a new letter calling for more fiscal stimulus. They are the same as ...
John Kampfner, former editor of the New Statesman, Chief Exec for Index on Censorship, sometime BBC reporter and Chair of the Turner Contemporary Trust has written a tract on a hollow and bankrupt (my view) political party which is all about self interest for activists at any cost and screw social justice and the likes of me and you. I got sent this email (see below) announcing publication of the pamphlet Lost Labours, a couple of days ago, sent to me as one of the benefits of belonging to the Liberal Democrats, I thought it might appeal to my fair ...
Now I'm a policywonk/nerd/geek, so when I say 'rather good' I do not mean 'they agree with me, unlike the evil/stupid/captured by the capitalist discourse people who don't agree with me'. Perhaps I am not political enough. I mean it is a good report; full of useful details, some excellent arguments, some clear proof that ...
MarkReckons has done a review of the event which I also attended see here. This was originally going to be attended by Iain Dale but he had to pull out due to the event being moved to a later time. Iain Dale was replaced by Paul Waugh from the Evening Standard who blogged on the event here. Steve Webb Liberal Democrat MP was also originally due to attend and he also had to pull out which meant that there was no Lib Dem representation at this event. I don't often attend these events as my blog does not only cover ...
What is it about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that has certain leading lights of the UK political left swooning? Andrew's written about the fawning motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by 4 SNP MSPs and 1 Labour MSP which would not be out of place in the Order of the Brown Nose column in Private Eye. It's one really to file under "you couldn't make it up". Just to add to what Andrew said, another of President Chavez's best friends was Ken Livingston, who did a deal to have Chavez's oil fuelling the London underground trains. Ken had a wee ...
Two activities I have been involved with recently can only be called 'old-fashioned politics'. I would like to share them with you here, in the hope of re-igniting some faith that all is not lost in our national politics. First, it has caused many a raised eyebrow and curious expression when people have seen us out and about doing surveys in Skipton and Ripon on Saturdays and in Settle on Tuesdays. They are not used to seeing political parties actually being out there trying to communicate proactively with people, to find out the local and national issues. From our point ...
[IMG: nick_clegg_large1] Nick Clegg is the media darling today. Following his interview with the Independent , everyone is speculating that the possibility of a Liberal coalition (with the party "with the strongest mandate") is back on.... Well, perhaps not quite... What he appears to say is that all options are open "including a formal coalition with Liberal Democrats sitting in the Cabinet..". That did not seem to be feeling coming from Lib Dem high command previously. So a subtle shift towards the possibility of coalition (taking into account the 4 steps to fairness)? Certainly looks like it. Another interesting twist ...
Why does he do it? Why does Gordon Brown feel the need to constantly make things up? And worse, why does he tell flagrant lies? At yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions, Gordon Brown said: "expenditure of the Ministry of Defence has been rising in real terms under this government." It is a statement he repeated today on ...
The Identity and Passport Service has published details of its marketing and communications spend on 'voluntary ID cards'. The spend has now topped £1.3 million. According to ZDNET UK this works out at £300 for every ID card applicant so far. The figure covers both online and offline advertising in the north west of England and London so the figure is likely to be much higher when the rest of the UK is factored in. At a time of massive budget deficits I would have thought the government could have found better ways to use our money than propaganda for ...
Thu 11th
16:58
politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Forget voting intention: What about the country's ...
via www2.politicalbetting.com Today, politicalbetting.com has reported on a study by researchers at Manchester University of the public's mood across a large number of issues. This "macro-competence" measure is running heavily against Labour and is now about where it was in the party's locust years in the early 1980s. The researchers note that the Conservatives' "macro-competence" has been on the up since 2005, but not to the extent that Labour's has tracked downwards. This may help to explain why current opinion polls suggest that a general election held now would result in a hung parliament. But the Labour "macro-competence" chart also ...
In addition to his speech on Sunday, Nick Clegg is doing a Q+A session on Saturday at the Liberal Democrat spring conference in Birmingham – and this time with an added online twist: Straight after he comes off stage, he's keen to answer questions sent in from people who are unable to attend the conference. When: 13 March at 15.25 Where: Online, answers will be posted on his website, Facebook and Tweeted shortly after. How to take part: Post your questions on Facebook: Here, Twitter: Here or email: Here - online.hat.libdems.org.uk.spam.com (this is spam bot hidden email address, replace .hat. ...
It is rumoured that, in the event of a Conservative victory at the General Election, Lord Strathclyde, Leader of the Conservatives in the Lords, has let slip that there will be one hundred new Conservative Peers nominated so as to ensure a working majority over the other two political groupings. Whilst I'm not the least bit surprised by this cynical approach, it does have some pretty serious implications. Ironically, the past thirteen years have seen the House of Lords pass from having an overwhelming Conservative majority to being effectively hung, with the removal of all but ninety-two hereditaries, and the ...
A couple of months ago I wrote about how Anna and I were getting seriously engrossed in the Twilight books. I was determined that we wouldn't watch any of the films until we'd read the books. Helpfully, our local supermarket had the first movie on sale for pennies so we enjoyed watching that one rainy Saturday afternoon. The second, New Moon, which came out last November, was a bit more of a challenge. By the time we were ready to see it, it was only showing in 3 places within driving distance of here, Stirling, Dundee and Paisley. So, one ...
One for the techno-legal-political geeks amongst us (hello? anyone still there...?). Last year when writing about the issues with online imprint rules in the UK I made reference to Florida where: the Florida Election Commission has banned the use of Google Ads because they necessarily do not include the Florida equivalent of an election imprint - as there isn't enough room. That ruling is being contested, and may yet trigger a change in the law but it shows the risk of doing nothing and hoping all will come out okay. The ruling was indeed contested and it was decided that ...
Monday we had a meeting with Dr Sam Paul, a long time advocate for the rights of religious minorities and Dalits, who is Secretary of the All India Chrisrian Council. The AICC has provided assistance to the victims of communal violence in Orissa, , and cooperates with other groups working for peace and against impunity. Tuesday, spoke at a tea organised by the All-Party Group on Kashmir. We were all agreed that the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan was to be welcomed, and that the people of Kashmir should be fully consulted before any agreement is reached on ...
I have to praise Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Whether he actually meant that there is a link between priestly celibacy and child sex abuse scandal that's inflicting the Vatican, or merely that the link needs to be examined, he has reopened the debate The Archbishop of Vienna, who is a protégé of Pope Benedict XVI and seen as a potential future candidate for the Papacy is hardly opening a can of worms. Although his hastily released clarification may well be a sign that the church is not prepared to publicly face that discussion. His original article in his archdiocese's magazine called ...
Now there are those of you who might wonder what sort of organisation would hold a fundraiser for by-elections in the run-up to a General Election. The answer is the Orpington Circle of the National Liberal Club, and I had the great pleasure to attend this year's fundraising dinner in the Lloyd George Room of the Club last night. Naturally, the Club was able to attract an all star cast, with Ros introducing the main speaker, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Lord Avebury giving the toast to our candidates past and present, and Lord Steel of Aikwood taking care of the ...
It has been open season on the BBC of late. We all have our reasons for criticism: the incompetent decision to close 6 Music, the failure to manage budgets, the excessive salaries of performers and especially of senior managers create a climate of anger which serves only to underline the perhaps more important failures to deliver quality public service broadcasting. I have long been a critic of the 'Today' programme, which is overlong, too pleased with itself and too inclined to slide into its comfort zone of two party politics. Andrew Neil's political vehicle 'This Week', a weekly genuflection before ...
Beware the spin which is no doubt meant to divert the eyes and confuse but two recent documents from NHS Sefton issued today are very significant. Both can be accessed from our Website in the download sectionComments will follow.
It's clear that the coming election will be fought over adjectives. Specifically, the adjectives one likes to place in front of 'Britain'. Anyone with even a cursory interest in politics can't help but notice the proliferation of phrases like 'Blackout Britain', 'Breakdown Britain' and other pejorative epithets riding on the back of Cameron's 'Broken Britain' ...
Well, Well.. No sooner is my ink dry stating that a Cameron Mockumentary is on its way, I am told that we are to get a Cleggfest too, courtesy of good old ITV. Having deployed Piers Morgan and Sir Trevor to cover the other party leaders, we must surely expect an interrogator of the fairer sex to cover Nick Clegg's softer side (might as well tick gender balance while you are at it ITV). So will it be the uber sexy Katie Derham or Mary Nightingale perhaps? No tx date yet but watch this space.... (UPDATE: Word is its Mary ...
Today's Daily Telegraph reports that Harriet Harman's buzzword to describe "a new cohort of well, active, healthy older people" has made the list of 250 words used by central government, councils and quangos that baffle people. They say that along with 'wellderly', other banned words include 'webinar', or an online seminar, 'goldfish bowl facilitated conversation', or having a conversation round a circular meeting table; and 'low hanging fruit', or going for an easy win: The equality minister and deputy Labour leader said earlier this year: "The change in the number of well older people demands a change in public policy. ...
Wolverhampton North East Liberal Democrats have selected Colin Ross as their candidate at the General Election.
Why Vote? by Jo Phillips and David Seymour is one in a series just published by biteback. Whilst the others promote voting for a particular party, such as the Liberal Democrat title reviwed here, this book is simply about encouraging people to take part in elections. It takes a rather curious approach because, as the book itself explains: [This book] wants to persuade you to vote but gives dozens of very good reasons why you shouldn't. On the positive side, it should give you a few laughs and provide enough trivial information to amaze your friends ... What we hope ...
[IMG: anna] I couldn't see this story elsewhere on LD blogs*, so thought it was worth a posting. Reports local meeeja Kent Online: "Britain's first female director of hardcore porn films is aiming to become Gravesham's MP. Anna Arrowsmith, 38, has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate ... at the looming general election." Quoted by The Sun, Anna says: "In this day and age people who live in a democratic society should be able to choose what they want to watch." "Personally the reason I have gone into politics is I was rather disgusted at the expense issues. "I ...
I received a nice letter from HM Government/Identity & passport agency yesterday. The letter and accompanying leaflet was extolling the virtues of the Governments Identity card scheme which is currently being piloted in Manchester and London. Of course they do make it clear its voluntary and they do eventually mention that they would like you to part with £30 for the privilege. Of course they don't mention the fact that the marketing campaign across Manchester and London is estimated at costing £1.3 million of taxpayers money. Money that could pay for 50 more Police officers (on basic starter pay) at ...
Why, talking politics of course: Make authoritarian MPs pay at the ballot box 8pm, Hall 8b, Birmingham ICC (Lib Dem spring conference) Many MPs have a record of repeatedly voting for authoritarian measures in Parliament. But will they suffer for that at the ballot box? Come and hear how we can make authoritarian votes in Parliament a vote loser for MPs on general election day - and see the new Liberal Democrat Voice website which will help do just that. Speakers: Paul Burstow MP (Chief Whip) Bridget Fox (PPC Islington South and Finsbury) Mark Pack (Co-editor, Lib Dem Voice) Alex ...
Is there a link between the availability of pornography in a society and sex crimes like rape? And does watching more pornography lead men to see women as mere sex-objects? It's a debate that's bounced back and forth for decades. Both sides have plausible explanations as to how their claims can be true. Perhaps, after watching pornography, men are more likely to feel agressive and commit sex crimes. If the increased availability of pornography over the last thirty years has led to more rapes and sexual assaults, surely there's a good case for our society being more censorious. Or maybe ...
I have on this blog drawn (favourable) attention to Martin Wolf's long-held view that not everyone can be Germany. In his latest: But Germany can be Germany - an economy with fiscal discipline, feeble domestic demand and a huge export surplus - only because others are not. To my initial surprise, I have read some kickback against ...
Just been looking at the party website, acting as an interested visitor would. In particular the pages on the spring conference. Lots of easily available information about conference in geneal but where are the easy clicks to find the Spring agenda, the reports and the speeches that may be made? Yes I do know where to link to the reports (and by the way at the time of writing the clearprint version of the agenda is in fact the plain text file repeated) but the only click-on link at present says 'training programme now available' or words to that efefct. ...
At one level the legal threats by Facebook against the Daily Mail are fairly straight forward: newspaper runs horror story about a firm, firm says story is all wrong and threatens to sue for libel. At another level though this story highlights how much difference there is about correcting a story in the online sphere. The Daily Mail has changed the text of its story but as The Guardian reports, that's not enough for Facebook who complained that a story supposedly about it was in fact about a different social network: The giant social networking site, which has 23 million ...
Last night there was a meeting in the Fortune Green Play Centre (sorry about the little chairs!!) for residents to talk to Camden officers about the problems in Fortune Green Road attended by your 3 ward Councillors, Flick, Nancy and Russell. One proposal put forward was welcomed as a first step which is to create a "loading/unloading bay" out of the very wide pavement by the new shops - don't forget there are 3 other shop units still to be taken up and they will all need some unloading facilities. In the longer term, Camden have agreed they will looks ...
Let me cut to chase. Here is the latest Monster's Poll calculation. CONSERVATIVES: 38% LABOUR: 25% LIB DEMS: 22% No changes from last time because of one simple reason: methodological change. But why so abrupt? Well, to get your attention, and then let you scurry off now without having to bother about explanations. Go on, on your bike! Still here? You ...
Reports of this major fire down in Bunhill on the City fringe have been coming through all morning. Richard was diverted on his way to work, texting me to report "Luckily was walking in as City Road closed but still had to double back and divert to get past. They have blocked off a huge area". A ...
My campaign for a fairer system on Criminal Records Bureau checks and Police DNA retention continues. Frequent readers will remember that I have been highlighting for a while now the injustices in the current CRB system, where rumours, hearsay and spent convictions are revealed on many people's disclosures. The campaign for reform continues, and I have heard from dozens of people unfairly penalised by the current unfair laws. A related topic is DNA retention by the Police. At present, despite the European Courts ruling the practive illegal, the government still allows the Police in this country to keep DNA records ...
The Council has revealed plans for combining the Sington Nursery with the Play Centre in a new purpose built centre. It will also involve moving the Sports Pitch / Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) nearer to the front of the site to make it more accessible for local young people. So far we are in a "pre-planning application" consultation (running until March 24), and Camden would welcome your views. There will also be a later opportunity to comment when the planning application goes in. It all sounds very exciting but no doubt there will some issues arising. One which has ...
One of the interesting things about the Bury North general election campaign is that two of the three major-party candidates are under 30 - the Labour Party candidate and me. This election is the first time people born post-Thatcher will be voting, and represents an election where new media, the internet and single-issue causes that are important to young people will have influence like never before. Liberal Democrat Spokeswoman for Youth and Equality, Lynne Featherstone today launched our party's 'Free to be Young' policy paper, which we hope will be of interest to everyone, but in particular to the young ...
The Development Control Committee last night gave outline planning approval for the refurbishment of St Helier Hospital. The Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust had submitted an application for a new, larger building replacing the existing Ferguson House, and a multi-storey car park to make up for the loss of surface car parking space. The new building ...
On 5th February I was contacted by a man who lives in my ward to ask for help with getting a dumped caravan shifted. It was near a first school and next to a playground. He had contacted the police who told him to contact Bradford Council; they told him to contact the police. You know the kind of thing. So he was a bit stuck as to what to do and phoned me. When I contacted Bradford's Cleansing Department I spoke to a very helpful official who said they had indeed logged the request and had been in touch ...
Hugh O'Donnell MSP writes for my little blog in response to my earlier posting about the 4 SNP MSPs and the Labour MSP who have tabled a motion praising President Chavez, Hugh has also tabled an opposing motion; "The indecent haste of some Members of the Scottish parliament to rush to the aid of the Chávez administration, by signing up to a sugary sweet motion in the name of Jamie Hepburn MSP reveals a naivety which beggars belief. While praising the 'achievement of the socialist regime, signatories conveniently ignore the increasingly dictatorial style of the President of Bolivarian Republic of ...
Politicians talk constantly about "lifting people out of poverty", mending our "broken society", giving people "equality of opportunity" and, more rarely "creating a more equal society". What none of them seem to be prepared to face is the fact that people are poor principally because they have less money than others; and that when poverty goes along with a feeling that it is not going to be possible, whatever one does, to get out of poverty, it does not matter what "opportunities" are provided - poor people will see through the pretence that the opportunities apply to them and will ...
Great story in today's Independent confirming what many of us have said for a long time, namely that David "Tony Blair lite" Cameron is much more conservative by nature than he acts, or than he is forced to be by political expediency. The man will say and do anything to get into power, and once in the mask will slip and it'll be back to the horribly divided, damaged, and destructive Britain of the 1980s. The ghost of Thatcher lives on... Oh hold on, she's not yet dead... sorry!
By now you will have seen that India's parliament approved a bill on Tuesday 9th of March to reserve a third of all state legislature and parliamentary seats for women. You would think from reading the UK press that this is an exceptional move but actually around 40 nations have some form of quota system in place for increasing the percentage of female MP's. The UK as a whole does not advocate the use of quotas, although the Labour Party has used this fairly unpopular device for a number of years, which resulted in the UK briefly rising the global ...
Now you're talking my language! Wouldn't it be wonderful if Darlington Borough Council acted on the LGA's suggestion and ceased using these 200 words and started writing in plain English. The ones I really hate are "Quick win", "Stakeholder", Sustainable Communities", "Third Sector", Step Change", Place Shaping", Funding Stream" and Benchmarking". No DBC report is considered complete without the
Today's Independent says the following about one party's clear, costed plans to reduce the budget deficit as quickly as possible: 'It is ironic that financial markets seem jittery over the fiscal consequences of a hung parliament because the Liberal Democrats, who could hold the balance of power in such circumstances, actually have the most detailed deficit reduction plans of all three main parties. 'The party's Treasury spokesman, Vince Cable, has proposed scrapping Trident, a civil service pay freeze, abolishing regional development agencies and reducing tax credits for wealthier families - cuts considerably more extensive than anything Alistair Darling or George ...
Just a quick reminder that the next quiz night is actually this Friday at Longfords. Here are the details:- Our popular Quiz Night will include a fully licensed Bar, Raffle and excellent food available (including vegetarian option) The Quiz night commences at 8pm 12th March at the Longfords Suite (adjacent to the Longford Park Athletics stadium). The address is Ryebank Road, Chorlton Cum Hardy, MANCHESTER, M21 9TA
All this debate over the last week has again piqued my interest anew in the politics of Britain's defence budget (although as many who know me will tell you, I'm always pretty interested in it). Most notably, the comments which sparked this particular post came from General Lord Guthrie, one of the most senior and ...
After yesterdays post regarding 18 certificates for smoking in films one of my followers on Facebook sent me this link which is a rather comprehensive and passionate piece against airbrushing cigarettes out of history (and films.) Worth a read. H/T Peter Minns (no relation!)
Only 16 days to go! Are you going to switch off your lights at 8.30pm on Saturday March 27th to show your support for Earth Hour? I am.
For the third general election in a row, the run-up is seeing numerous meetings and articles asking whether this election will be the first internet general election. However, much - in fact, nearly all - of the discussion falls into two traps which are common across political journalism in the UK. First, an undue focus on the central, national picture and, second, an undue focus on the novel. Ask those involved in organising internet campaigning for any of the major parties about what really matters and you'll get two answers repeated. They repeatedly - and rightly - emphasise the importance ...
Love it or loathe it, many clients instinctively try to evaluate social media in ways similar to advertising. Whether it's because you want to justify social media on those grounds - or because you want to persuade the client why that isn't appropriate - you need to know the lingo. This three part mini-series introduces you to the main acronyms you might come up against. Part 2: AVE [IMG: Billboard poster going up] Can social media be compared to advertising? AVE or "advertising value equivalent" is a way of attempting to turn different forms of activity into a common set ...
The Voice is only a success because of the interest and support from our readers. For many people just lurking and reading the site is all they want to do – and that's fine, we're grateful for people taking the time to read the site. You can though help us continue to produce interesting content for a growing audience. Here are three simple ways: 1. Let us have your tips for stories. Perhaps there's something outrageous going on in your local council? Or you're an expert in a particular area and have spotted a story other people have missed? Or ...
I am dismayed at the BBC Trust's proposal in its Strategy Review to close BBC Radio 6 Music. To quote the BBC itself, the station "brings together the cutting edge music of today, the iconic and groundbreaking music of the past 40 years". Radio 6 Music is distinctive and valuable, and offers a place for exciting new acts to be heard. It provides its listeners with content that no independent commercial broadcaster offers, and has helped artists like Florence + The Machine reach greater audiences. At 3.4 pence per listener hour, 6 Music is also good value for money. Closing ...
Campaigning HQ : This is now located at 126 Conwy Road, Llandudno Junction. Already supporters are offering their help in the many tasks that will need to be done in the next few weeks.Please phone Christine Humphreys 07789964265 to offer your support or email mp4mp@aol.com
Last night, I attended the March meeting of Harris Academy Parent Council - it was a very informative and interesting meeting - the main item for discussion being the parent survey results. Both Jim Thewliss, Head Teacher, and I updated the Parent Council on the school rebuilding project. I am grateful to the Director of Education for giving me a progress report in advance of last night's meeting. The department is meeting with the Scottish Futures Trust tomorrow regarding the project.
Thu 11th
08:36
Can we rely on the media to convey science accurately and fairly? A UCL Human Sciences Symposium
[LONG, RAMBLING POST ALERT] Yesterday I attended a symposium with the above title, where four very distinct and interesting speakers gave their perspective on science reporting in the media. Here's my brief take on proceedings.The first speaker we heard was Professor Steve Miller, who described an international study he published in the prestigious journal Science regarding scientists'
This photograph from Photopolis shows a Hunter Street of old, hugely different to today's Hunter Street 'link road' between Old Hawkhill and the Hawkhill by-pass.
Yesterday was a day of meetings. First was with City West and the Police to address problems with crime on parts of the Valley. We've got a commitment for the police to provide more useful information to housing, and for housing to carry out more targeted tenancy inspections in the area to make growing ...
I attended an interesting event last night hosted by Lewis PR and Salesforce.com which focused on social media and its effect on politics. The event was hosted by Paul Evans, a blogger and local democracy freelance journalist. The panel were Conservative Shadow Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt MP, former Labour minister Tom Watson MP, Deputy Political Editor of the Evening Standard Paul Waugh who is also a prolific blogger and Dan Burton from Salesforce.com. Dan Burton started by giving us a summary of how social media has helped in the US. He gave us an example of ...
"It is for other people to judge but I believe that character is not about telling people what they want to hear but about telling them what they need to know. "It is about having the courage to set out your mission and the courage to take the tough decisions and stick to them without being blown off-course, even when the going is difficult. "For better or for worse, with me what you see is what you get." Well that is what Gordon Brown is saying should be the judgement on which people base their decision for this election. So ...
This site is an excellent resource which allows you to compare Obama to previous US Presidents at the same time in their term of office. Obama is on Day 410, at 49% approval. On the same day, Ronald , one of the most popular US presidents, was three points lower.
Yes, you did read correctly, 4 SNP MSPs (Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan and Bill Wilson) and 1 Labour MSP (Elaine Smith) have lost the plot it seems or just gone Caracas. These five MSPs have supported a motion in the Scottish Parliament praising Hugo Chavez, the leader of corruption-ridden and out of control crime-ridden Venezuela, that's before we even get started on Chavez's role or the lack of human rights afforded to most of the country's residents. The story appeared in yesterdays Scotsman, but hat tip to Graeme Littlejohn for spotting the Motion when it had been tabled ...
Good morning, and welcome to Daily View. Today is notable as the day before LDV's fascinating fringe event on how to make authoritarian MPs pay at the ballot box – do join us tomorrow in Birmingham to find out how. 302 years ago today, Queen Anne was the last British monarch to withhold Royal Assent from a bill of Parliament. In 1864, Sheffield saw a Great Flood when a dam under construction burst. The ensuing inundation wrecked a number of bridges, destroyed 800 houses and killed 270 people. People born on March 11th include Laurence Llewellyn Bowen, Harold Wilson and ...
The campaign for a rail link to be restored between Skipton and Colne certainly has my support. The Skipton to East Lancashire Railway Action Partnership (SELRAP) is leading the campaign. Many years ago my father used to advocate the revival of the ...
On Tuesday (9 March 2009), WalesOnline carried an article by Martin Shipton reporting on the collapse of a plan to develop a shared service of HR, payroll and training between local authorities in South East Wales. In my view, the main reason the project collapsed was because of a drive from certain quarters amongst the council officers involved to deliver one huge, exemplar project between all ten local authorities in South East Wales, even though the finances didn't particularly stack up. We should simply have never have tried to get one shared service up and running between nearly half the ...
Mary's story: In October 2009, I became very ill at home because I was hemorrhaging from ulcers in my stomach and round the base of my windpipe. I did not know I had ulcers because I was in no pain: I simply felt extremely weak. My excellent GP, Dr Friedman came to see me at home and immediately sent me to Whittington A&E. The doctors there saw me at once and, after some preliminary investigations, transferred me to a diagnostic unit .It was found that my blood count was only 6.5 when it should have been 12. I was put ...
Today is the day that Jim Devine, Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Lord Hanningfield are meant to walk around the corner from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Magistrates Court to answer charges of false accounting relating to their expenses. I say meant to because Devine was too ill according to his doctor to appear before an employment tribunial yesterday. It comes the day after it was announced that another Labour MP Harry Cohen is also to be investigated further by the police. The four appearing today The face charges of false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act ...
As reported in today's Independent, Nick Clegg has been talking about what the Lib Dems would do in the event of a hung parliament, and flags up some of the announcements due at the party's spring conference in Birmingham this weekend. the Liberal Democrat leader also revealed that his party would try to calm jitters in the financial markets about a hung parliament by calling for a £10bn "repayment" to cut Britain's public deficit. It would be found from £15bn of spending cuts to be outlined this month. Mr Clegg declined to speculate whether his party would lean towards Labour ...
There was a well attended meeting of the Acocks Green Ward Committee on Wednesday evening. The main agenda item was passing the first, and biggest, tranche of Community Chest funding for the 2010/11 financial year. The following items were proposed by the Ward Advisory Board and approved by the Ward Committee: Security Gating £2,500 Gardening Scheme £7,500 John Gayle Soccer £20,000 Acocks Green Carnival £6,000 Extra Special Bulk Collections £8,000 Community Unity £1,200 New Domehawk Security Camera Columns £1,600 Improvements to the 260th Scout Hut £2,450 Acocks Green Village Christmas Lights £5,000 This makes a total approved spend of £54,200 ...
See film made by St Albans Review featuring local residents and Sandy Walkington and Chris White: [IMG: review-piece.jpg] http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/
How are voters supposed to get to know the views of the candidates at the general election? Relying on the press has its difficulties. Their job is to sell newspapers and the news should not get in the way of the truth. There is often bias in reporting and editorials. In fact they blatantly support particular parties so I think we can disregard newspapers if we want to come to a sound conclusion. Television is better but it isn't perfect. Ask Alex Salmond. There are people writing blogs with very strong views about bias on telelvision. My view is that ...
