I enjoyed it. I REALLY enjoyed it. Sure, the ( SPOILER! ) was a bit crap, and the ( SPOILER! ) was an unnecessary hangover from the Rusty-era, but mostly? It was great. It's the first time since Ecclescake regenerated that I've actually felt like I was watching Doctor Who, and not something Bill Baggs would have rejected. Eleven is ( SPOILER! )! Properly, Doctorishly ( SPOILER! )! And he ( SPOILER! )! And he ( SPOILER! ), instead of being ( SPOILER! )! And he explains himself without being patronising, even to children (I really loved the ( SPOILER! ...
Alec Bedser, who was the oldest surviving England test cricketer and the last man alive to have dismissed Donald Bradman, has died at the age of 91. There is a report in the Daily Telegraph.
I was listening to LBC at work today on the radio and I had to phone in – they had someone from a typical bible bashing publication on air defending not only Chris Grayling, but the rights of anyone to discriminate against homosexuals for their 'abhorrent and abnormal' activities. Full credit to the presenter, he gave ...
Are you from this ward? Do you know someone from this ward? Tell me what your concerns are! Flytipping Street Lighting Community Policing Can anyone tell me about the park which is behind green hoardings and apparently part of some regeneration scheme? I have lived here for over a year now, and it is still behind green boards and nothing appears ...
Finally, have had my nomination and other paperwork all signed for Westminster City Council Elections. Standing in Church Street Ward – paper candidate, but I will do my best to increase the share of votes
Yesterday saw an early start, as the tour had to roll on to Redcar, somewhere I would never have imagined finding myself until now. And yet, in an area not previously renown for being a Liberal heartland, there is magic in the air. A series of council by-elections in the past two years have seen Labour seats fall to huge swings and the hard work put in by local activists, including Chris and Glynis Abbott, have earned the attention of Liberal Democrat campaign chiefs in London. Ian Swales, the PPC for Redcar and Cleveland, collected us from Darlington station, and ...
A little under a week ago I sent in my entry for Big Finish's short story competition – I'd written what I like to think is an excellent short story, where a brave, bright, but very little girl is scared by voices in her bedroom, which the only parental character mentioned in the story doesn't ...
-- Post From My iPhone Well, it's not really an iPhone but I have succumbed to peer pressure and joined the Apple generation. I've been wanting an iPod Touch for some time and today I saw an offer I couldn't resist. I have spent much of this evening playing with it and setting it up and I love it! When I have trouble working how to do something Anna seems to be able to solve the problem! Where my clumsy, chubby fingers find the onscreen keyboard a challenge, her lithe and nimble fingers fly. In fact, she is typing this ...
I've previously covered the question of the secret owners behind TonyBlair4Labour.org, not to mention its unfortunate terms and conditions. Meanwhile the Telegraph has reported that the Conservatives have called for an inquiry into whether charity and political data is being mixed up and that the site's data protection information has been changed since launched. But there's another issue I've spotted: the site looks to be storing in the US private data given by site visitors. However, the necessary legal steps to allow such data exports have not been taken. To be more specific: the site's IP address traces to a ...
I'm a Leyton Orient fan. There I said it. Now my credibility as a football fan is completely shot. I also go to other games at grounds such as Fulham, Millwall, Arsenal, West Ham and even to the lower depths of the outer leagues to see Woking FC in the Conference South. However only Woking ...
For some time now I have felt very sorry for my various Catholic friends at the way they have been let down by the hierarchy of the Catholic church over the issue of child abuse. It's not the fact of abuse, it's the way the church has reacted, and continues to react. They continue to keep secrets and to say anything they can that will get them off the hook without them recognising that things really have to change. They reached the pits, I think, with the Pope's preacher saying that the abuse the Pope had received over this was ...
From the UK Department for International Development's website - women clearing land mines in Sri Lanka: "The work is hard, but I don't mind as I'm helping my family. I don't get scared. I just want my children to be able to go to school and live in peace."
Here you go Gordon; this is how you're supposed to do it. Offered without further comment; isn't Photoshop fun when you've got shedloads of fonts?
Last week I attended a Council meeting looking at ideas for a Basingstoke Festival. Thus far a report from consultants (which contained nothing we didn't already know - I have asked to see the cost) has suggested cancelling balloons over Basingstoke could fund the new Festival. No decision has been made as yet. I questioned what was new about the Festival given that so far it will start with the traditional mayor's concert and finish with the establishing Basingstoke Live that has run for many years under different names. I wanted more ambition. I want to see acts from across ...
I've just spent the last 2 days helping at the Kirkby Stephen/Brough Classic Vehicle Rally. It's a fantastic event organised by classic vehicle enthusiasts led by Will Hamer of Cumbria Classic Coaches. Will and his family own 6 classic buses which are used on both scheduled services and private hire. The sight, sound and even the smell of these vehicles brings back so many memories that I have spent the whole weekend wrapped up in the past! But now to the future, and all eyes are on Gordon to watch his movements on Tuesday. I'm just preparing a publication for ...
I had an interesting day yesterday seeing local Liberal Democrats in Woking and talking to them about the state of our roads and other local and national issues. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was certainly less nerve-wracking than I expected. One of the topics of conversation that cropped up was the concern amongst local people ...
Ok he didn't exactly but may as well have. Here's why. David Cameron has admitted that there is a possibility of a hung parliament, or course says he doesn't want it, that it 'would damage UK'. Why is he so scared? Because a hung Parliament is a defeat to the Labservative Party's game of pass the parcel. Because a hung Parliament could, should and would lead to a major shake up of the politics of this country as we know it. But his argument that a strong Government is what is needed to make long term decisions. But do majority ...
A's story: A few years ago my nephew sliced the top off his finger with an electric planer [used to plane wood]. I wrapped his finger in a towel and rushed him to The Whittington A & E Dept. We had to wait a little while as it was very busy but when he was seen, he was taken to the ward and had the operation that night. They did a marvellous job, and although his finger is slightly short, he is still able to be a cabinet maker and hardly anyone notices. If we had to have travelled further, ...
First, the online fundraising hype: David Blunkett, who spoke at a rally for PPCs last month and said he was leading a campaign to raise £10million for Labour's election campaign, is to lead a "massive, two month" US-style internet drive to try and cultivate small donations for the election campaign. (LabourList, February) And then the reality: David Blunkett, the former home secretary, was given the task of trying to widen Labour's donor base by organising a campaign to raise modest sums from ordinary supporters, a key Obama technique. So far, party staffers admit, little cash has been donated in this ...
For many people Eugène Terre'Blanche was the rather sinisterly comical but also hateful central figure in Nick Broomfield's twenty-year documentary The Leader, His Driver, and the Driver's Wife. While I fervently hope that the trial of the two people arrested for his alleged murder brings out the truth of what happened, and that justice prevails, I can't help but recall with a shudder what a horrible organisation the AWB were. All full of bile, venom, and vanity. What the bigots of apartheid and separatists of the AWB showed was how wrong they actually were. And how the dignity and the ...
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I am very tempted to make a prediction for the General Election. What holds me back is that predicting the outcome of elections is a fool's game. It is highly likely that I will get it wrong. On the other hand, if I get it right I will be showered with praise... well someone might say you were quite lucky to have guessed right. So what do I do? Predict or not predict?
With campaigning going into overdrive this week, take a moment to check that you've got all the information you need: The Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors have pulled together a handy set of election campaign essentials over at the ALDC website (including gratuitous chocolate pic [IMG: :-)] ). From essential forms and artwork templates to official and party guidance, it's worth going through the list and seeing if there's anything you've missed for your campaign. Some of the items require a login to view them; you can of course join ALDC here. Meanwhile on Lib Dem Voice, Mark's keeping us ...
As we get closer and closer to the General Election being called (most likely on Tuesday), this week has seen some interesting developments in the key economic debate between the political parties. Last Monday we saw the televised debate between the three would be chancellors of the exchequer. Vince Cable, for the Liberal Democrats was generally seen as having won the debate against Alistair Darling, for Labour, and George Osborne for the Tories. One of the most interesting aspects of the situation is the genuine three way nature of the debate. Indeed with opinion polls currently showing a balanced parliament ...
I last caught the sun in November last year whilst doing some filming and travelling in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Today, the not so sunny weather of Tyneside still ensured I got a pleasant hue to my skin that some would pay a fortune to acquire on a sunbed (or on some sunny beach somewhere abroad). Others pay wads of cash to pass through the doors of a gym to work off the excess fat.
In a guest post on Lib Dem Voice, Richard Wellings asks are the Lib Dems liberal? The party members who have responded in the comments are a touch annoyed by this. Ian Parker-Joseph, former leader of the UK Libertarian party, thinks the Lib Dems along with the other two parties are communitarian. And in comments on my blog, Left Liberal suggests the Liberal party has never been libertarian. All of this rather depends on your definition of terms and where you are standing. After all, a recent libertarian blog post argued for legalising drugs but regulating them while Jock Coats, ...
Under our First Past the Post voting system, the squeeze message is a legitimate one, used by all parties when it's to their benefit. Voting for the third (or lower) placed party in the seat is, they all argue, a wasted vote. Those lower placed parties will say otherwise, but it's a fair tactic. Lib Dems would say that under a better voting system, tactical voting wouldn't be needed. But in this election we're seeing a new twist on the theme from the Labservatives, and it's a bit of a stretch to see how it could be honest or legitimate. ...
For all those people undecided how to cast their ballot, Vote Match could be the answer. You asked a few simple questions and then given a percentage result against the parties. That way you can see who you are closest to. Except... Well there is always a, but or in this case an except... You are asked to agree or disagree with various propositions such as "the Bank of England should have overall responsibility for financial regulation". Your responses are then compared to the parties positions. But some of the results showed that the party disagreed with you because they ...
Just a quicky, for me... What's the betting that we will now get legislation to bar discrimination on the grounds of hair colour: Blondes paid more than other women They have a reputation for being long on looks and short on intelligence but blondes are actually paid more than other women. By Nick Collins Published: 4:34PM BST 04 Apr 2010 Blonde-haired women, who are often stereotyped as carefree and ditsy, earn seven per cent more than women with hair of other colours, researchers claim. And in addition to their preferential pay packets blondes also marry wealthier men, who earn an ...
[IMG: Little Brother book cover] Although aimed at 'young adults' the subject matter of the plot - resisting authoritarian surveillance - along with its pace and ability to demystify technological details makes Cory Doctorow's book appeal to a wider audience. It's the story of a group of American high school students who get caught up in a terrorist attack and the resulting crackdown that takes its cue from Big Brother with ever more intensive surveillance. However, the school kids have the technical nouse to keep ahead of the Department of Homeland Security in their struggle to make good triumph. As ...
Richard Osley as an entertaining piece on his blog titled, "The You Tube War: Hornsey and Wood Green". I'm not quite sure what Lynne Featherstone will make of the description of her as an "old aunt" [IMG: :-)] Not very gallant of you Richard, but the full description is friendly: One of the reasons, Featherstone has been a hit locally, it seems, is her obvious knowledge of the area and her apparent interest in even the smallest of issues. She is the interfering old aunt that the fragile Labour council in Haringey must be sick to the back teeth of. ...
Along with a number of colleagues including John Barnett, Liberal Democrat candidate for Dundee West, I spent today campaigning in the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency, helping Willie Rennie's re-election campaign. An enjoyable day, despite a fair bit of rain in the afternoon. Willie is clearly running a very professional and well-organised re-election campaign.
The 'consultation' on the Crown Estate's plans to sell its residential properties, including those in Lee Green, closed on Tuesday 23rd. You can view our objection letter here. Pete spoke at the rally in London organised by the residents' associations to mark the end of the consultation. We're now waiting for the response to the consultation from the Crown Estate, which I understand is due in the next two weeks. My colleagues at the London Assembly tell me that the Crown Estate is likely to appear at their Planning and Housing Committee in May, so the pressure is still being ...
I do not take pleasure in pointing out how the Nu-Tories "talk the talk" but rarely if ever "walk the walk". I genuinely want them to have become de-toxified. I want them to have shaken off the shameful shackles of Thatcherism, and the poisonous ...
There appears to be no definitive list of Welsh Parliamentary candidates who are on twitter, however Tweetminster has the closest that we can find. There are 31 in all on that list plus three more Liberal Democrats we have come up with. If anybody has been missed then please say so in the comments: Plaid Cymru PlaidClwydWest Llyr Huws Gruffydd, Clwyd West DrMyfanwyDavies Myfanwy Davies, Llanelli DafyddTrystan Dafydd Trystan, Aberdare PhilEdAberconwy Phil Edwards, Aberconwy JonathanPlaid Jonathan Edwards, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr penrijames Penri James, Ceredigion heleddfychan Heledd Fychan, Montgomeryshire ianjamesjohnson Ian Johnson, Vale of Glamorgan Ioanbellin Ioan Bellin, Pontypridd Carylwynjones ...
That's the headline on this interesting piece over on the Our Kingdom site: In the aftermath of the G20 protests many predicted that no sort of justice could be expected from either the Independent Police Complaints commission (IPCC), the courts or the Met when it comes to holding the police force to account. The recent ruling that Sergeat Delroy Smellie is not guilty of assault for his attack on Nicola Fisher is yet another indication that there is no accountability within British policing. You can read the full piece here.
I am shocked by news today of an unprovoked attack. Disabled man Martyn Griffiths was attacked when he was enjoying a night out in Aberdare. The people who thought it was OK to attack him would be properly punished, in my opinion, by imprisonment. That would be a Liberal response according to our constitution, "... in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity." Those words do not mean we are "soppy liberals". They mean the rights of Martyn Griffiths are just as ...
Although I was very young at the time, conetmporary newspapers show how irate many B&B owners were when it was clear that the incoming Race Relations Acts would outlaw their "No Blacks, No Irish" signs and even worse stop them turning such people away. Curiously, for many it seemed to be a faith issue - especially as far as the Irish were concerned (the "no blacks" rule usually seemed based in open racism, though many of these owners claimed that some of their best friends were black. Well, yes, naturally they would wouldn't they?), with some people making it plain ...
The Sunday Times reports: Stuart Agnew, a UKIP MEP, and Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the party's leader, have told undercover reporters how a real donor's name could be kept secret by passing tens of thousands of pounds through intermediaries. If carried out, one or more of the suggested methods could have been illegal. Our disclosures will embarrass UKIP and Pearson, who also told the undercover reporter that some UKIP members were "neanderthals" and described Agnew, 60, as "one of our only really sane MEPs". The report goes on to detail how UKIP explored a range of ways for a donor ...
This morning's Sunday Times reports that Police are facing the threat of a High Court privacy action over a nationwide network of cameras that is being used to take up to 14m photographs of motorists every day: The images are being stored daily on a huge "Big Brother" database linked to automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) technology to track vehicles' movements: The records not only include details of car registrations, but often photographs of drivers and front-seat passengers, a police document has revealed. They are being held on a database in Hendon, north London, for at least two years without drivers' ...
The season of scandals has not ended. First it was bankers, then MPs, then sport celebrities, then wealthy party donors, and now the Catholic Church. Mind you, victims of priests' abuse have been coming into the open consistently for many years. However, there is something different now. The media seem to have a stronger influence. Technological advances have allowed the media to penetrate
In Six of the Best 28 I linked to a post about Clodagh Rodgers and how: "Failing to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 surely can't have helped her career (and she even received death threats from the IRA for representing the UK)."Wikipedia casts more light on this episode, suggesting that she was invited to represent Britain at the height of the Troubles because a Ballymena-born artist was less likely to be booed by the Dublin audience. (The Contest was being staged there because Dana had won for Ireland the previous year.) Another reminder of the era is that ...
In what must be the crassest ever appeal for votes Labour List goes over the top today with a post entitled Ten reasons why Jesus might vote Labour. They list a number of Jesus' teachings and actions, which they believe resonate with Labour values, though in truth a number of other political parties could claim a similar affinity. What they do not mention however is how Jesus might feel about the illegal invasion of Iraq and the implicit sanctioning of exraordinary rendition and torture. Funny that.
Jock Coats writes excellently about the Christian B&B owners who turned away a gay couple, allegedly in contravention of the law. It would be interesting to know if the B&B owners have a similarly stringent policy against adulterous mixed-sex couples. Adultery is arguably a greater sin, according to the Bible, than homosexuality, as it forms one of the Ten Commandments. Similarly, one wonders if they have a similarly stringent policy against unmarried mixed-sex couples. Or is "Mr and Mrs Jones" and a curtain ring on the wedding ring finger enough for them? One wonders if an unmarried couple, the woman ...
Jock Coats's responds to David Cameron's 'Big Society' Lib Dems and the IEA argue over liberalism Ian Parker-Joseph provides is with a political map for the general election and suggest we, except libertarians, are all communitarians now Tom Paine of 'The Last Ditch' libertarian blog heaps praise on the Russian State while the FT points out the reality
The by-now widely reported remarks of the Conservative's Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling that Bed and breakfasts run by Christians should be allowed to turn away gay couples because of their sexuality should come as no surprise to those familiar with the Tory Party's record on equality issues. However, what is more significant about the remark is the way it sdemonstrates how skin deep Cameron's so-called reforms really are. In effect, the mask has slipped from the cuddly Conservative Party, which the Notting Hill set have so carefully constructed and what has been revealed is that it is dominated by ...
Tomos Livingston provides the political hack's guide to the General Election in today's Wales on Sunday, answering every question you may wish to ask except, of course who to vote for and why. In particular he explains what happens to outstanding legislation once Parliament is prorogued including the controversial Affordable Housing Legislative Competence Order, which is likely to fall because the Tories want to make a political point about the right to buy and gypsies. Without all party agreement there is not time to pass everything and so it is lost. He also points out that on 23 April the ...
Today is the anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shot in 1968 in Memphis Tennessee, he was just 39 years old. King, and his espousal of non-violence, was one of most important influences in my formative political ...
At some point in the seventies I watched a few episodes of 'The Guardians'. It was all a bit weird and I couldn't work out what was going on. The programme was made in 1971, so I may have seen it that year, perhaps later if it was repeated. I should point out I was a young child. Those episodes stayed with me and ever since I have wanted to see the whole thing. You can now buy the 13 episodes on DVD and I have spent the last few days watching them. The programme was created by Rex Firkin ...
'You'll be found dead on the streets.' That was the message I received a few weeks ago from an identifiable BNP supporter. Why? Because I was taking a stand against Nick Griffin. When someone writes this to you because you're fighting as a Lib Dem in a parliamentary campaign against Griffin and the BNP, it makes you think very hard about your political opponent and the campaign they intend to fight. It also makes you think about how you should respond. I reported the threat immediately to the police. They came to my house and have since referred the matter ...
The singularly gentle delights of Harrogate left behind us, our next stop was Hull. Our journey took us through Leeds, Ros's third visit that day, and it has to be admitted that the seemingly never ending travel is proving a mite more difficult than I had expected but, given the hard work that I see being done everywhere, it is well worthwhile. I'd never been to Hull before, but remember the old jokes - you can tell Hull's dead, it's so well laid out - but the Liberal Democrat administration is enthusiastic and that energy is demonstrated by the vigour ...
I was sitting here minding my own business pondering a blog post or two when my iPhone beside me rings. Glancing at the screen i see the 'BBC Question Time' number and nearly die with shock – they called me back! I talk to a very nice lady who asks the usual questions, how old are ...
For anyone who doesn't know, Ron Paul is a Congressman in the United States and a former Presidential candidate. He wrote a book called 'The Revolution: a manifesto' a while back that set out his beliefs and ideas. Paul is a member of the Republican party, but is at odds with most of it and most of the political consensus. He is a strong believer in sound money and a non-interventionist foreign policy who advocates an individualistic voluntary-based society. The book is short and while libertarians are most likely to agree with his arguments, those of other political persuasions might ...
A great day yesterday, 3 teams out at various locations. Campaign really taking off, I was out from 10am to 6pm yesterday, slept really well last night!!
If you should ever, in your spare moments, happen to invent a time machine and travel back to Victorian England, you might want to think twice about eating the bread. This report to the Government from 1862 recommended bringing bakehouses under a regulatory regime, as slaughterhouses already were at the time. ...in many cases [the bakehouses had an] almost total covering of cobwebs, weighed down with the flour dust that had accumulated upon them, and hanging in strips just above your head. A heavy tread or a blow upon the floor above, brought down large fragments of them, as I ...
Half a mind to vote labservative? That's all you need http://www.labservative.com Labservative | Homepage www.labservative.com for more of the same
I had expected Labour's opinion poll ratings to rise as we got closer to the election. Indeed, from the lows of last year there had been a general recovery in the Labour poll position. The Conservative lead had been narrowing since the start of the year. But recently, Labour has slipped below 30%, a rating that puts them around where they were in the 1983 general election. It is not just the
Ok, could we all stop being fabulously dumb now? Please? Since the Guardian shock-horror announcement that Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling wanted to "ban teh gayz" (or, in fact, allow B&B owners to turn away gay people from their businesses), I've seen even more misinformation than usual fly round the internet. Obviously a lot of lefties ...
Another bit of casework that out Tories desperate to be seen to have done something could well offer to 'keep an eye on'. This bit of land at the junction of Hartley Cres does appear to belong to no one! Whilst the lawyer delve into the ownership we have persuaded the council to spray it for weed and litter pick it.
New lamp posts are going to be installed in Barrett Rd-as you can see from the picture this is long over due. My colleague Richard Hands deserves the credit for this having kept the pressure up on the council to get this sorted.It is,of course, sad to see the old burgundy and cream lamp posts from the old Southport Council going, but truly they are past their sell by date.
The woods have now been litter picked and Richard hands and I paid a visit to the residents who contacted us. They had received a letter from our local Tory after the work had been done 'offering to keep an eye on it'. All I can say is that Birkdale residents are a a canny lot who know the difference between those who come along late in the day trying to claim credit and those who get the job done!
I really like Germany. Most of the Germans I've met have been friendly, tolerant and conscientious. More important there is something hugely admirable, indeed quite virtuous, about the whole German enterprise. In one sense it isn't surprising that a Kantian would find much to praise about Germany; given that the funny little Prussian was himself, in many ways, an exemplar of the Germanic ideal. Germany goes in for frugality and living-within-its-means in a big way. It is industrious; it is a country that makes things. But, more than that, its social market and constitutional system seem to be in tune ...
This is turning into a saga. The folk at Dickenson Ct -all thirty odd flats- were left with only two bins when the bin collection moved to 2 weekly. First we got the site tidied up and the bins emptied , then we negotiated for two extra bins. The council sent to bins to the wrong address! Last week one was installed and so I'm off chasing the second. A new problem had occurred that the bin store built by the Housing Assoc is too small.......I'm not going to report on all our casework but I thought that this was ...
Community Care reports: A senior UK Independence Party member has posted a racist comment on Community Care. In response to a post by Community Care's Outside Left blogger on asylum, Paul Wiffen - who is chair of UKIP London and a parliamentary candidate, said: "You left-wing scum are all the same, wanting to hand our birthright to Romanian gypsies who beat their wives and children into begging and stealing money they can gamble with, Muslim nutters who want to kill us and put us all under medieval Sharia law, the same Africans who sold their Afro-Caribbean brothers into a slavery ...
Andrew Reeves has the story: Only the day after David Cameron admitted he does not expect the Conservatives to do well in Scotland, one of his leading candidates has quit the Conservative Party. In today's Sunday Herald Heather MacLeod, who has resigned after a "bitter and bloody" feud with fellow Conservatives, said she felt "complete and utter disgust" with a section of the Scottish Conservatives: She also accused the Scottish party of failing to match leader David Cameron's progress and said she had concerns about an allegedly inappropriate relationship between two senior Tories. You can read his full post here. ...
Happy Easter everyone
Last night a story broke where the Observer (story here) secretly taped a conversation with (Chris Grayling Conservative shadow home secretary) suggesting that people who run bed and breakfasts in their homes should "have the right" to turn away homosexual couples. Firstly this may of been recorded in secret but Chris Grayling was at a public meeting of a leading centre-right think tank. Secondly just because a senior Tory says something in a misguided belief that he is defending peoples right to invite people to their own home does not mean that the whole Tory party is some how homophobic. ...
Sun 4th
09:37
Cameron's Glasgow South West candidate, Heather MacLeod quits over party's 'nest of vipers'
Only the day after David Cameron admitted he does not expect the Conservatives to do well in Scotland, one of his leading candidates has quit the Conservative Party. In today's Sunday Herald Heather MacLeod, who has resigned after a "bitter and bloody" feud with fellow Conservatives, said she felt "complete and utter disgust" with a section of the Scottish Conservatives. She also accused the Scottish party of failing to match leader David Cameron's progress and said she had concerns about an allegedly inappropriate relationship between two senior Tories.Heather MacLeod's problems with a group of fellow party members started last year ...
On Saturday 10th April I will be chairing a meeting called to discuss vandalism and anti-social behaviour on Roman Way. This meeting has been called by local resident Vic Pain and others in response to recent problems including the vandalism to car tyres widely reported last month. Also there will be Sgt Andy Noble of Andover North safer neighbourhoods team, other members of the police and council crime prevention officers. This is an opportunity for residents to raise issues and quiz the police on what can be done to deal with them. The meeting starts at 3:00pm at St. Pauls ...
Yes - of course - there are great sensitivities around how to give everyone religious freedom to believe their doctrines and live their lives according to that doctrine whilst at the same time ensuring equality and freedom from discrimination. That is one of the great challenges that we have to meet - and it reared its head constantly in the Equality Bill. However, in the end, the provision of goods and services must be provided on an equal basis to all. That is where Chris Grayling has failed to understand the real nature of equality. It will mean, for example, ...
Why is it that society makes a rod for its own back over the crucifix? I'm not a Christian (rather a secular neo-Buddhist) nor do I understand the need to wear one yet I sympathise with those that do. It matters not to me that some people would like to wear one yet society causes some ...
It's Sunday. It's 9am. It's time for beards. And moustaches. But first the news. 2 Must-Read Blog Posts What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: Bravo to Nigel Farage on drugs policy – Mark Thompson praises the UKIP man's approach to drugs Where have all the Tory ladies gone? – soon to be ex-Councillor Mary Reid poses the question Spotted any other great posts in the last day from blogs that aren't on the aggregator? Do post up a comment sharing them with us all. ...
Have a joyful Easter! ...
I only ask because in one year he votes for things in Parliament with which he then disagrees: Any suggestion that I am against gay rights is wholly wrong – it is a matter of record that I voted for civil partnerships. I also voted in favour of the legislation that prohibited bed and breakfast owners ...
This week's big Tory beano was the launch in London of what they call the "Big Society", ostensibly, from Cameron's speech about it, a great handing back of power from the "big state" to local groups, charities and the like re-invigorated by a hit squad of 5,000 specially trained "community organisers" (just like Obama was cited our Dave) and funded by a new "Big Society Bank" which will get its funding from dormant bank accounts in the rest of the banking system. [IMG: David Cameron launches "Big Society" photo copyright the Conservative Party, fair use claimed] Now, don't get me ...
UKIP like to make out that all the main parties are the same, but get very upset when someone points out the similarity between UKIP and the Bad News Party (BNP).Community Care reports: A senior UK In...
There's been a right royal fuss been made in the past couple of weeks or so concerning a Bed & Breakfast owner in Cookham, Berkshire (unrelated note - my school had Stanley Spencer's "Crucifixion" - the original - as its alter piece) who, having accepted a phone or internet booking from a gentleman who happened to be a Lib Dem parish councillor somewhere in Cambridgeshire, when he turned up with male partner in tow, politely turned them away, refunding them their money and saying she could not let two gay men share a double bed on the basis of her ...
The Manchester Liberal Democrats have released a manifesto of what a Lib Dem-run Manchester City Council would do. Manchester Liberal Democrats are making 5 key promises for the 2010 local elections: Cut Council Tax by £51 for a Band D property Cut waste, including ending the Council Leader's chauffeur-driven car and claiming back £421,000 owed by other councils Lobby for the return of £82 million Greater Manchester Police Funding, which would pay for over 500 more police on our streets. Spend over £1million extra on gritting and improving our roads. Reverse plans to close Ewing school; and cut truancy levels. ...
Here is another of the Morecambe third wave of Tory posters this year. We had to take yesterday's at face value but this one does give a website address. I haven't yet looked at the site but it is easy enough to find loopholes in the message just by thinking about it. Sheelagh from Frodsham has never voted Tory before but has decided that this is the party which will help every child get a good education. What sort of statement is this? Is she actually saying that politicians belonging to other parties give up on certain children? It just ...
If you have already registered to vote – why not do it by post? I do! I find it's easier and more convenient to vote by post (but then I will be rather busy on polling day anyway!). For the many people who struggle to get out and walk a fair distance, voting by post does not become a 'chore' – after all, after you've voted, someone else can post it for you! If you would like to vote by post, you can download an application form here from the Salford Council website. Once completed and signed, please return your ...
