We're now getting an obligatory minimum of four mentions of the "blank sheet of paper" by David Cameron at each Prime Minister's Questions session. I may be firing off prematurely, but Ed "Blank sheet" Miliband struggled today. Given the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast was generally sanguine, he had weak material to play with. But one wonders: who is he trying to kid? Ed Miliband pointed out that the OBR say that unemployment will rise next year. This is because they've reduced their forecast for unemployment this year and left next year as it was. They've reduced the forecast of ...
Watching PMQs it's pretty obvious David Cameron is wiping the floor with Ed Miliband. It's down to the fact that Labour took the easy way out on the CSR. They had a choice – either put forward a detailed response to it or sit it out and be two-faced about it ie saying they would ...
What with it being December and there being snow on the ground, it is time I finished my What I Did On My Holidays posts. Conwy station has the shortest platforms I have ever seen and few trains, so it was easier to get a taxi over the bridge to Llandudno Junction to start my journey home from there. When I arrived, this steam locomotive was shunting in the station. And so home to Market Harborough.
Another lacklustre performance from Ed Miliband today who succeeded in getting verbally punched up by Cameron in Prime Minister's Questions. The most telling moments were when the cameras caught Miliband's expression of indignant innocence when Government backbenchers asked questions and passed comments about the Labour party. These are early days for him (though they are not a flying start) but
From the Yes! to Fairer Votes website: We are launching phonebanks in every part of the UK. Below are the first of those locations. This is the people's campaign, and our greatest asset is you. Your passion to make our politics better, your story, your voice on the phone. You don't need any experience to make calls, and we'll give you pointers on what to say. But really it's all about telling the person on the other end of the line why you're campaigning for Yes, and why they should too. Each phonebank will be open 11am - 9pm, Saturday ...
Cross-posted from Liberal Democrat Voice We're now getting an obligatory minimum of four mentions of the "blank sheet of paper" by David Cameron at each Prime Minister's Questions session. I may be firing off prematurely, but Ed "Blank sheet" Miliband struggled today. Given the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast was generally sanguine, he had weak material to play with. But one wonders: who is he trying to kid? Ed Miliband pointed out that the OBR say that unemployment will rise next year. This is because they've reduced their forecast for unemployment this year and left next year as it was. ...
I find it hard to see why there is so much enthusiasm at Westminster for the idea that all Liberal Democrat MPs should abstain when he vote on tuition fees takes place. Abstention will make our cabinet ministers, particularly Vince Cable, look foolish. At the same time, it will not satisfy the constituents of Liberal Democrat MPs who voted for them because they pledged to oppose any increase. Sometimes parties in power have backbench rebellions. It is not the end of the world. I would rather see the Liberal Democrats split on the issue than abstaining en masse and satisfying ...
Love Food Hate Waste has an exciting opportunity for all residents across Greater Manchester. Local residents and community groups are invited to come along to food demonstrations which will be hosted by Dave Mooney, the 'original hairy biker' and Granada tonight's resident chef of two years. These demonstrations are all free and there will lots on advice given out on the day on how to reduce food waste and save up to £50 a month by doing so. Goodie bags will also be given out which will include lots of handy hints and tips to take home and put to ...
Here is Stockport's Winter maintenance policy covering gritting etc. There may have been some changes introduced after the Jan 2010 freeze, so this version (which is the one on the Council website) may not be 100% accurate. I'll try to track down the latest version, but in the meantime, this should give a pretty good idea of what you can expect from the Council. Stockport Council Winter maintenance policy
Like millions of people around the world, I am wearing my red ribbon for World Aids Day. Over the last 6 years I have worked with a variety of Aids related charities, most notably the Terrance Higgins Trust, on several HIV issues both in Bristol and in Westminster. I have constantly spoken up for the ...
Well done to Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert! He has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons which calls on the Government to 'introduce an evidence based approach to allow as many people as possible, regardless of their sexuality, to safely donate blood'. Openly gay himself, Stephen Gilbert has done something on ...
I wanted to post on World AIDS Day but didn't quite know what to post and then I saw these stats at Stephen Glenn's blog - http://stephensliberaljournal.blogspot.com/ - and I am sure he won't me reposting them.
Every frigging year, without fail, some bunch of idiots start up a campaign for us to move permanently to central european time because they want to "increase the hours of daylight". I've got news for you, bozos. The hours of daylight are constant whatever you set your clock at. If you want longer lighter evenings, why don't you get up earlier? Seriously. I don't get why we have to bugger about wih our clocks twice a year either. Greenwich Mean Time is the standard by which everyone in the world sets their clocks. Why can't we just stick to it, ...
After being unable to hold my Monday surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre due to the closure of council facilities in the adverse weather conditions, unfortunately I will also be unable to hold my surgery at Blackness Primary School tomorrow evening (Thursday at 6.15pm). The City Council announced at 5.30pm tonight that schools are closed again tomorrow. However, I can be contacted at any time at home on 459378 or at esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk.
Two readers correctly identified the coat of arms as that of Consett Urban District Council. One also correctly identified the figure as that of St Ebba. For those of you interested in what you never thought you wanted to know, here it is. Consett Urban District Council Armorial Bearings Granted by Letters Patent dated 17th September 1955 [IMG: coat-of-arms.jpg] BLAZON Argent a representation of ST. EBBA proper supporting with the sinister hand a PASTORAL STAFF Or between in chief TWO SWORDS in saltire also proper hilts and pommels Gold and in base a MINER'S LAMP likewise proper two FLAUNCHES SABLE ...
Following concerns from residents about road safety at the bend in Riverside Place where the main leg of the road goes to the east after drivers come into Riverside Place from Perth Road, I raised this with the City Council and have received the following positive feedback : "I have checked the existing road markings on the aerial photos (street is under currently under snow). The existing road markings are in a poor condition and require to be re-marked. Being more visibly may be all that is required."
Wednesday: December 1st is World AIDS Day. Across the world, people with HIV continue to face not just the prospect of a horrible disease, but also genuine prejudice, that can cost them their jobs, their homes, even their lives. And yet today, the former Beardy Weirdy of Canterbury has decided that he's going to IGNORE that and bang on about HIS so called "right" to EXTRA SPECIAL treatment being under attack. These SPECIAL "rights" include the "right" to hate gay daddies, the "right" to ignore employment law and the "right" to a free seat in the House of Lords Club ...
EMERGENCY REQUEST – Overnight shelter required for destitute asylum seekers in Manchester city centre area. Anyone who can provide basic accomodation/space for 20-30 homeless males, please get in touch urgently. Looking for a warehouse, empty building, church hall, community centre etc. The Boaz Trust has run a Night Shelter for up to 10 destitute male ...
There seems to be some confusion, PEP = Post Exposure Prophylaxis PEP ≠ Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis One friend got this wrong today. I'm reposting the excellent explanation on PEP from GMFA.... PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) PEP is a course of HIV medication which you can take if you have been at risk of HIV infection. The course ...
As of 7.51pm on 1st December, the following school closures for Thursday 2nd December have been confirmed: Arden Primary Bredbury Green Primary Greave Primary St Mary's RC Primary (Stockport) Windlehurst Primary Woodley Primary This list will probably grow so check back here or to Stockport Council's site for the latest information.
In contrast to Labour's ratings, the long run personal polling trend for Ed Miliband since his election as Labour leader has been decline. Last week, the week in which he returned from paternity leave, the latest of these polls showed his unfavourables overtaking his favourables, within a week he went from 1% to -9%. David Cameron is now the only major party leader to still have a positive personal rating, although this has itself been in decline and now stands at 2%, the week before this was 12%. Nick Clegg has been in negative figures since October and is now ...
I have a confession to make. I don't always practise safe sex. In fact bareback sex does feel so much better than using a condom.... ...at the time. However, to be frank it is one of the reasons that so many people, especially gay men, are still getting infected day by day.People often ask, how can people put themselves in risk of affection, often that is one of the major reasons, it feels good....at the time. There is of course then the wait of three months to get outside the window period, the anxious walk to a clinic to get ...
Thanks to Mark Pack for his very helpful (not to mention seasonal) observations on whether or not it's OK to clear snow from outside your home. Another tabloid myth busted.
A new approach to road safety Reflective clothing built into their school uniform Most school uniforms are usually made with dark colours, often black. The re-designed clothing is making pupils brighter than ever. Three schools in County Fermanagh have introduced the new uniforms, after a double tragedy when two teenagers were killed walking home from ...
(Testing out queuing posts to post later here, let's see if this works...I want to get this post up when I'm in work, so that when I get home I can do a different one) In April I was having a conversation on Twitter with a comic writer, who was debating how to vote in ...
Well, I had hoped to get into town, collect some red ribbons from The HIV Support Centre and get up to another meeting today, but this was not meant to be. read the rest on positive hivblogger Filed under: Health, HIV Tagged: 1 December 2010, HIV, WAD2010, World AIDS Day
December has begun so probably time to mention the December King's Hedges councillor drop-in session. This will be at Arbury Community Centre, Campkin Rd, on Saturday 11th December, from 10am until noon. Please do say hello if you are passing, and if you have any problems we can help with then come and see us. You can always phone or email if you prefer. There is also the weekly drop-in at the Guildhall on Friday lunchtime (but we can't guarantee a King's Hedges Councillor for that).
Wed 1st
15:41
Labour Letter Watch Volume 2: More on Labour Councillor falsely claiming credit for PACT
This is the latest in my occasional series pointing out blatant lies in local Labour literature. I don't mean differences of opinion or party spin, but actual complete untruths. God knows the Lib Dems nationally have had some policy climbdowns of late, which I appreciate and give my opinions openly about on here, but this is about the local Labour party in Prestwich making false claims and statements to local people. Today's post is about this leaflet, posted to houses in Sedgley by the local Labour Councillor Alan Quinn back in October, but which I only saw for the first ...
During last winter's snow I blogged a few times about the legal scare stories about how people shouldn't sweep away snow from outside their home (you can be sued! the world will end!), how clearing snow is traditional in Britain (sort of) and how some companies that tell us at great length about how much they care about local communities miss taking the obvious steps to show such care during a snow fall – clearing the snow from outside their premises. Not to mention the way some journalists who spend their time loving to mock real or imagined nanny state ...
Diamond Jubilee of HM The Queen We're coming up on a milestone in the reign of our Sovereign Lady, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and of her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, &c.*. The last milestone was ...
The Met Office forecasts that snow showers will continue today and tha more snow will settle up to 5 cm in places. The low temperatures will keep the snow frozen or turn it to ice making pavements very difficult to walk on. Local roads and red routes were gritted all through the night and all main roads were reached. The Council has used more than 150 tonnes of grit since Monday evening and has more than 1000 tonnes left in stock. Street cleaning and parks staff are gritting and targeting schools, shops, hospitals and care homes for special attention. Traffic ...
Having just watched Vince Cable's interview on the Politics Show last week, where he denied breaking any promises to oppose a rise in tuition fees, I feel its time to discuss a changing narrative. Lib Dem MPs and Ministers (including up until now Vince Cable,) have a reputation for giving straight-forward honest answers to journalists questions without coming across as evasive or revisionist. However, with the tuition fee pledge to deny a promise was ever made and as such never broken is not a line we are going to be able to sell to anyone with half a brain. Meanwhile ...
Update from Southeastern trains, Midday, 1 December: We are advised by the Met Office that more snow is expected today and rail services in and out of London are likely to be severely disrupted. Our advice to commuters using Southeastern services who managed to get into work today, is to leave London as early as possible.
Yesterday the Government published its Scotland Bill. When this becomes law, a second and exciting phase in Scottish devolution will begin. We are strengthening Scotland's future based on three principles: empowerment, accountability and stability. This Bill starts its parliamentary process with the support of the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Each of our parties – plus business and civil society – contributed to the Calman Commission, which drew up the blueprint for it. It is right that change of this sort should be built on a broad consensus. But now it is this government that is turning those principles ...
You all know my views on AV. It's a total dog's breakfast. If we had the chance to go for STV then I'd be campaigning for that like a rabid dog that hasn't had breakfast in days. HOWEVER, STV is not on the table, or even in a bowl on the floor, and a dog's breakfast is better than starving to death, which is what democracy does under first past the post. Emerging breathless from my distended metaphor, I announce that I am going to help out the Yes campaign. And you can too, if you want. All you need ...
[IMG: Tree] Queen Edith's will have its own Switch-On this year, in the form of Christmas lights and tree outside the Wulfstan Way shop. The Mayor, Cllr Sheila Stuart, is coming to switch on the lights and after that we will have a community sing-song, with Christmas songs carols. The local school and church choirs are doing a song each, and the rest is up to me and you. I'm reliably told that Father Christmas is also coming ... a good chance to pass him your wish list if you have a house without a chimney. Time: 6-7 p.m., Tuesday ...
The cold weather is back. Stockport Council's been preparing for the last year, with lots of salt stockpiled for gritting. After the extraordinarily bad weather at the beginning of 2010, Stockport also reviewed it's gritting policy. Like every other authority, Stockport's first aim is to keep "priority routes" open: main roads and bus routes. After that, the gritters move onto other roads. One of the suggestions Pam and I made last time was that some small roads which are on steep hills should be higher up the gritting priority list. Gritting isn't a panacea, though. It works because the salt ...
Southwark Council has a Winter Service Plan. It appears to be unravelling. Apart from the obvious main roads being gritted as per Southwarks gritting plan. And even this appears to be failing around the Forest Hill Road area according to local residents. Making it impossible for the no.63 bus to go further south than Peckham for fear of not being able to turn around. What really bothers me is that the Winter Service Plan was enhanced when last year the Lib Dem executive councillor ensured 80 x Turbocaster 300 hand propelled grit spreaders were purchased but no one has seen ...
Tonight's (1 December 2010) Police Gala event is cancelled due to the bad weather, however tomorrow night's Christmas Tree Lights Switch on is still very much on. This will be from 5 onwards, Tesco car-park. The Christmas lights along Hyde Road have been on for a few days, but this should be a great part. The Market is gearing up for Christmas too. Saturday, (as well as hosting the Councillors' advice session, 12 - 1) should see a Victorian themed day. All welcome.
VN towers was spared the nonsense of PMQs this week, however, we have been alerted to a rather odd exchange between Red Ed and Cameron: Ed accused Cam of being 'a child of Thatcher' to which the PM apparently replied: 'I'd rather be a child of Thatcher than a son of Brown'. Now multiple Lib Dems seem to be gleefully claiming Lord Paddy Ashdown as their father,which is nice. Let's be honest, if there is one many who could father an entire generation it would be Paddy....
Today is World AIDS Day. The internationally recognised day when we remember those we have lost to AIDS over the years, raise awareness of HIV and work to fight HIV prejudice. This year's World AIDS Day theme is 'Act Aware' and encourages people to take action to tackle HIV prejudice and to protect themselves and others from HIV transmission. 33.4 million people are living with HIV worldwide, 83, 000 of whom are in the UK. 5,500 people are living with the condition in Scotland and approximately a quarter of these people are undiagnosed and therefore unaware of their HIV status. ...
I don't have much bandwidth for politics at the moment - work is eating it all - and I'm going to be out of the country on May 5th next year, so I'll admit the AV referendum campaign hasn't been a huge priority for me. It's been nagging away at my subconscious, though, and yesterday, I got an e-mail from a friend who is one of the organisers of Yes to Fairer Votes with news of a project launching on Saturday that I might just be able to find some time for. It's nothing if not ambitious: a phone bank ...
On Saturday 50 phonebanks are opening in cities across the country as the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign launches the most ambitious voter contact programme in British political history. The total capacity of the 50 phonebanks is set to exceed that of even the Conservative and Labour Party national phonebanks at their peaks, with volunteers phoning voters to persuade them to back a fairer voting system in next May's referendum. [IMG: A telephone] In addition to the phonebanks, a virtual phonebank will be launched in the new year letting people also take part from the convenience of their own homes. ...
As regulars will appreciate, errors are not uncommon here on the pages of Bignews Margate, not factually or in argument but English and all that malarkey, and some will notice that postings are altered as I reread minutes, hours and days later. Still it's reassuring to know that I'm not alone, nice little story on the Mail online site today " Must try arder! ..." which relies on a school report sent by a teacher to parents, littered with spelling and grammatical errors. Anyhow I try my best, read and reread this stuff and then some time down the line, ...
Wed 1st
12:13
Message from Mayoress of Folkestone: Town Mayor of Folkestone's Christmas Charity Auction Postponed
Mayoress of Folkestone Kate McNeice has confirmed that this evenings planned Charity Auction at Quarterhouse, Folkestone has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Kate said:
Steve Vai is one of the great guitar innovators of our time. I was fortunate to meet him a couple of years ago in France and we nearly ended up doing some work together. Just found this little video of Steve talking about his definition of success and what it requires to achieve it. Hope ...
A new edition of the Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh holiday and leisure planner is in circulation. Following its launch last month to showcase Shepway's tourism potential to major UK and foreign tour operators attending London's World Travel Market (November 8 -11), the 32-page full-colour guide is now in process of distribution via strategic tourist information centres and other outlets in Britain and the near-Continent.
Wednesday: It's not every day you get invited to join a REVOLUTION. But this Saturday, you can! It's time to OVERTHROW the old way of doing things, and give people some real CHOICE at election time. Say "YES" to fairer votes; it's a small effort for a BIG change. Maybe you saw the "No" Campaign launch with a herd of political "big beasts", aka DINOSAURS: old-school hacks with an average age of sixty-five million years (ish), urging you to keep the STATUS QUO that got them where they are today (wearing ermine, mostly). The "Yes" campaign ISN'T LIKE THAT. Remember ...
Recommended reading for Lib Dem councillors and local activists from the last seven days: Recon Website DWP names preferred Work Programme bidders Telegraph Nats get new powers despite taxing times for Salmond Nick Clegg writes to Aaron Porter on 'Right to Recall' and tuition fees
The link is to the recent judgment looking at the defence of "Fair Comment" or "Honest Comment" in respect of a defamation action.In essence there is a movement on from the historic defence of "fair comment" which is basically a comment based upon asserted facts towards "honest comment".For any more information it is best to read the judgment.What worries me about this case, however, is the
Kent County Council are issuing regular snow and road condition updates by area - this mornings update advises that Shepway has a "Snow Emergency in place". Update in full:
This Wednesday 1 December starting at 7pm at Quarterhouse, Tontine Street, celebrity guest auctioneer Michael Hogben will be hosting the Town Mayor of Folkestone's Christmas Charity Auction. With 32 lots of art donated from artists across the area, the auction is a great opportunity to pick up a work of art and support the Mayors Charities - B-4-8s and the Rainbow Centre.
Wed 1st
11:45
Yes to Fairer Votes start ambitious phone calling effort -how you can help make history
With just over 5 months left until polling day in the referendum on the Alternative Vote system, the Yes campaign are launching what they describe as the most ambitious voter contact operation in British political history. They want to speak to more people than all of the political parties did during the last election. That's an awful lot of people, so it's a big ask for a grassroots campaign, dependent on enough volunteers putting in time and effort. With the interest shown so far, though, Yes To Fairer Votes are sure it can be done. This Saturday sees the launch ...
The Southport Visiter covers our initiative to set a workers' co-op to take over the Botanic Nursery operatition: Birkdale ward politician Iain Brodie-Browne said officers were already investigating the possibility for staff to take over the nursery as a private business. He told the Visiter: "There is a lot of competition out there and if the nurserymen want to make a go of the business themselves I think that would be an excellent move. "Over the years they have produced excellent results and I am sure that they could turn the Botanic operation into a viable business. "I am very ...
Yeah it will come as shock to some people in Northern Ireland, but yes there are people living with HIV here in Northern Ireland. You can't tell who they are by looking at them. You are not at risk from every day contact with them. The HIV Support Centre in Belfast says that every week there are two people newly diagnosed with HIV. That is two more people who will be living with HIV in their bodies, two more sets of family and friends that will be living with someone they know very well having HIV. Of course it is ...
This Friday 3 December the Daylight Saving Bill will be voted on. The idea is that instead of changing the clocks twice a year we keep an extra hour of daylgiht in the evenings for ever rather than sunny mornings when we're all asleep. Will our Southwark MP's be voting for this bill? For this Bill to proceed 102 MPs are needed to vote this Friday and I'm hoping they'll all be present. I can imagine how incredibly busy they are but as Southwark MP's I'm hopeful they'll be able to make time in your diary for this vote. If ...
Full details of local transport conditions, school closures and services in operation are being updated regularly on the Sutton Council website. Local school closures today include Bandon Hill, Beddington Infants, Beddington Park Primary, Wilsons, St Elpheges Infants, Forresters, Stanley Park Infants & Juniors & Stanley Park High School, Wallington Girls, Amy Johnson, Carew Manor, Carshalton Boys & Wallington Boys. High ...
David Blanchflower, the man who called for interest rates to be held at a low rate on the eve of the bursting of history's greatest credit bubble, has called on Mervyn King to resign on the grounds that he's shown political bias. This 'bias' is supposed to be demonstrated by the Wikileaks documents that show ...
While we still await the official launch of the 'Yes' campaign in Wales there is a very encouraging BBC Wales poll this morning indicating that the majority of Welsh voters are likely to vote for the devolution of extra powers from Westminster on March 3rd. The BBC report that ICM Research found that 57% would vote in favour of giving the assembly access to its full law making powers. It also showed that 24% would vote against the move and 18% are not yet sure how they would vote. Even more encouraging is that although only 37% said they were ...
Kirsty Williams pressed Carwyn Jones in First Minister's Questions yesterday to use the last opportunity available to amend the Welsh Language Measure to deliver Welsh official status, a goal long sought by Welsh language campaigners. She said: "Welsh Liberal Democrats are tabling amendments to the Welsh language Measure that will ensure Welsh is given an unconditional declaration of official status. "Today, I asked the First Minister if Labour and Plaid Cymru Ministers will work with the Welsh Liberal Democrats to agree amendments that will put right the wrong done to the Welsh language over the past centuries. "Despite all the ...
The monthly meeting of the Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill and Shotley Bridge partnership due for tomorrow (Dec 2nd) has been postponed until next Thursday - December 9th at 7.00 p.m. in the back room of The Miners, Benfieldside Road. The normal monthly meeting will then be followed by Xmas drinks.
'Fairness' is a word often used by Liberal Democrats - but how do we define the term? Virtually everyone in politics says 'our policies are fair, or fairer,' but there are many different conceptions and definitions thereof; the concept of fairness to a Tory may be very different to that used by a socialist or a liberal. Even amongst liberals, there is a debate to be had. Delivering last week's Hugo Young memorial lecture, Nick Clegg made it clear that he thought, "Social mobility is what characterises a fair society, rather than a particular level of income equality." and that ...
If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin - Charles Darwin On realist terms, politics is about power, security, and order and the question of whether politics can practice compassion is often seen as irrelevant. However, where politicians are seen as ...
The regular monthly meeting due for tonight (Wednesday Dec 1st) has been cancelled due to the weather.
Some problems are easy to sort out: normally where the Council has clear responsibility and has the money to do it. Others can be tougher. At the back of Gatley Station car park is a path - one that anyone coming from the South Park Road Estate is likely to use. When it rains the path gets very muddy and covered in puddles - something it would be very nice to fix. Unfortunately, not only does the Council not own that piece of land, a Land Registry search doesn't reveal who owns it either. That doesn't mean that no-one owns ...
Bit of a car crash in slow motion isn't it? I've banned all TV and radio but like the snow outside - even though I've closed the curtains, I know it's still going on. I clasped my hands to my head and had to wince when I heard Vince talk of abstaining from his newly fashioned policy. Thinking what witty retort Gordon might inflict upon him when next in the commons to get him back for the 'Mr Bean' jib. Poor Vince - he did look close to tears. It's easy to criticise from my sofa and I have done ...
Nick Clegg, bad heir day. This was the day that cleggers became a national hate figure. Nick Clegg Tory boy? Probably not, but still hypocritical nevertheless. It may surprise you, but I agree with an increase to tuition fees. I always were, even before the election. I, however thought 5k was reasonable. 9k however, mega ...
The UK Youth Parliament are launching a huge new survey for children and young people across the South West who are or have ever been bullied, as part of their regional anti-bullying campaign. You can fill in the survey online. It closes on Friday 17th December 2010.
With the possibility of more snow on the way, now would be a good time to bookmark South Glos Council's snow page, which gives up to date information about any services affected by the weather.
Update: here are the school closures for Thursday 2nd December 2010. Stockport Council's website has information on school closures, road closures, gritting and disruptions to council services caused by the snow. The following Stockport schools are closed on Wednesday 1st December 2010: Fairway Primary School, Offerton Greave Primary School, Stockport Harrytown Secondary School Highfields PRU Offerton High School, Offerton Ludworth Primary School Marple Hall School, Marple Reddish Vale Nursery St Anne's RC High School Stockport Academy, Cheadle Heath Werneth School in Romiley Westmoorland Primary School, Brinnington Windlehurst Primary School Tonight's evening classes at the Music Centre, Offerton School has been ...
Picture the scene. A platform full of dedicated souls, waiting for half an hour in sub zero temperatures hoping for a train. They'd struggled through two feet of snow to get there. If you don't believe me, have a look at my back garden - the top of that fence is my hip height. So, over the tannoys comes the announcement that all services to Edinburgh are suspended. With an air of resignation, people start the trudge home. Just as they get to the other side of the station, a train appears, going to Edinburgh. The conductor screams at people ...
The success of Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level (reviewed here in August) in setting the terms for much political discussion unsurprisingly triggered a burst of publications taking a sceptical look at their case. Prime amongst these is Policy Exchange's publication Beware False Prophets, by Peter Saunders, whose title gives you a fair clue as to its line. As the book says on its back cover: In The Spirit Level, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett claimed that egalitarian societies benefit rich and poor alike. Crime rates are lower, infant mortality is reduced, obesity is less prevalent, education standards ...
I went to the Post Office on Liverpool Rd the other day to post a parcel for which I required proof of posting. I was gratified that when the postmaster handed me the receipt it showed that i had posted the parcel in Southport, Lancashire. One of the most economically damaging bits of legislation for our town came back in the early '70's when a county boundary was introduced divorcing us from our natural hinterland. Over the last 40 yrs the communications through the narrow corridor to the South have been maintained and enhanced whilst those to the North and ...
I know that I parked this blog a couple of weeks ago, but there is something today that is too big, that is beyond politics that I felt compelled to draw your attention to. Today is World AIDS Day. Here are some of the UK statistics from their website. More people than ever are living with HIV in the UK and each year new infections occur. People living with HIV in the UKThe number of people living with HIV in the UK has trebled in the last 10 yearsMore than 90,000 people are living with HIV in the UKOver a ...
Newly elected Liberal Democrat President Tim Farron (who takes office on 1 January) was the guest speaker last night at the Islington Liberal Democrats AGM, so I took the chance to film this short piece: Also on YouTube here.
I've lived my life in three cities, Mumbai, London and Norwich, and one of the aspects of urban life that means most to me is the sense of freedom, of mobility, that public transport engenders. And now that I live in a small village in the Suffolk countryside, that freedom is particularly valuable, especially as a non-driver. Previously, to leave my small, but perfectly formed, village in the morning, I either had to take an 8.26 taxibus to Little Stonham, connecting with route 114 to Ipswich, or book a cab to Stowmarket, costing about £7. The first option involved a ...
I've just had an email from a friend, asking if it is OK to use the grit that is in the grit bins on the side of the streets in Sutton? The answer is yes, absolutely. The grit is there for the public and council staff to use and it will be topped up as necessary. If you notice that a grit bin is getting low, please tell me and I will pass this on. To find a grit bin near you please cut and paste the following link into your browser: http://213.122.180.105/serviceviewer/Default.aspx The select Grit Bin Locations on the ...
I've just read a very good article on how to drive in the snow on the BBC website. It all seems so obvious, but I thought the link might be useful anyway. Good luck travelling today. Unfortunately the lik tool won't work on Blogger this morning, so please cut and paste the following link to your browser: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8443690.stm
I realise that with a headline like that I may well be ruining any possible (and, perhaps, already insignificant) chance of a future career in politics that is in any way connected with Cornwall, but as this is one of ... Continue reading →
What's this I spy from across Woking Station? Why! An advert for the Olympus PEN – complete with a QR code! [IMG: Full Poster] The QR code is near the bottom, and has some explanatory text letting you know how to use it. There's even a shortcode to get a reader. [IMG: QR Code's explanatory text] The URL that's sent back from the SMS is http://www.isitetv.com/mobile/reader.html which redirects to the popular i-nigma reader. A clearer shot of the QR card [IMG: Close Up of QR Code] The QR resolves to http://www.isitetv.com/pen-m1.htm?INGUID=17662. The Mobile SiteLight and quick to load. Uses a ...
So say The Sun, the Daily Express and the Daily Mail. Maybe not then.
Consett North Partnership's Race Night planned for Saturday December 4th has been cancelled.
This is Plas Mawr in Conwy, whose guidebook tells you it has been described is the finest Elizabethan townhouse in Britain. It has recently been restored by Cadw, and the interior plaster work is spectacular. The guided tour gives you the impression that the whole thing was built in the latest style. In fact, it was ever so slightly nouveau riche. The newsreel I posted the other day has a glimpse of Plas Mawr before the brick frontage was rendered.
A short (180 pages) but colourful account of the relationship in the 1590s between Elizabeth I and the second Earl of Essex, which ended with his execution in 1601. No footnotes or much sourcing at all, which makes one a bit suspicious of its historical accuracy, though it is told in suitably dramatic terms. I knew the basics already, but Strachey catches our attention by portraying a court struggle between Cecil (the younger son of Lord Burghley, who founded the Salisbury dynasty) and Essex's supporters, with Francis Bacon playing a key role ny switching sides and ensuring Essex's doom; the ...
Although there were a number of candidates, there could only be one choice: Annie Lennox. Well done to Stephen for his correct guess. As it's World AIDS day today, and as Annie is almost as known now for her campaigning work as for her music, I have not featured music videos this week Instead, we have two videos - this one in connection with a Rankin exhibition in London's City Hall raising awareness of AIDS in London: AIDS is, of course, one of the causes Annie feels strongly about. Another is Africa; this video was produced for Comic Relief and ...
Wed 1st
06:51
Whoniversaries 1 December: Dennis Spooner, James Bree, Nightmare of Eden #2, Enemy of the Bane #1
i) births and deaths 1 December 1932: birth of Dennis Spooner, script editor / story editor of Doctor Who for first months of 1965 (from The Rescue to The Chase), also writer of The Reign of Terror (1964), The Romans (1965), The Time Meddler (1965), six of the twelve episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan (1965-66) and the first episode of The Power of the Daleks (1966). 1 December 2008: death of James Bree, who played the Security Chief in The War Games (1969), Nefred the Decider in Full Circle (1980) and the Keeper of the Matrix in The Ultimate ...
Today is Carwyn Jones' first anniversary as First Minister and as a result the Welsh Liberal Democrats have reviewed his record so far. Since Carwyn Jones has been at the centre of the Welsh Labour administration since 1999, his government was always likely to have contained elements of continuity. It is the extent of the continuity that is startling. Carwyn Jones was elected Welsh Labour leader promising to 'build on the work we have done over the last decade of devolution' and to 'refresh our appeal and our purpose.' In reality, it has been business as usual. Under Carwyn Jones' ...
Continuing my now regular monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, what they read and from where they read it, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for November 2010. The busiest day on my blog last month was Thursday 11th November and this was down to two stories, one was about the stupidity of a Conservative Councillor who called for the stoning of Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on twitter and the second was the Guardian's Julian Glover giving Liberal Democrats members and voters10 top tips. ...
cross-posted from positive hivblogger World AIDS Day 2010 It's World AIDS Day 2010 today, another year has gone past, those of us living with HIV are still here – and still the stigma is being broken by some of us that are courageous enough to tell our friends, our family, and other people that we ...
HAT TIP : Read this from politcalbetting.com........ You have to see the chart....but here is a taster... (click on the link to read full article and see the chart.... you want to...i know you want to......) " ....The above chart shows the actual poll shares achieved at the general elections from 1979 onwards. The 2015 numbers are the current PAPA numbers (Mike's polling average). It also shows the GE turnout % (green line) and the combined share of Labour plus the LibDems (dotted line). What does it tell us? Firstly, it shows that there is quite some truth in the ...
[IMG: funny pictures-Momma...if you really loved me you'd let me deep-fry the poodle.] see more Lolcats and funny pictures
democracyarsenal.org: The Wikileak That Didn't Bark This may only be a brief interlude, but it makes for a really interesting moment in which the spotlight is on real foreign policy instead of caricature. (tags: usa politics)
We live in wealthy times. Most of us live in houses and drive cars. I saw one headline that said that the average household has more televisions than people. This is true in my house but only because one of my childen has left the house and left a TV. Is it true in your household? We expect holidays and plenty of leisure time. We expect the good things in life even if we are unable to work to pay for them. This is why I am so pleased that celebrities in I'm a Celebrity can get excited at receiving ...
Tuesday: It is the feast day of Mr Saint Andrew, Patron Saint of Scotland on account of what was left of him allegedly being smuggled there from Constantinople and buried in, appropriately enough, St Andrews. He was done in by the Romans - not the ONLY Andrew to be crucified on this day - on an X-shaped cross, hence the Scottish saltire-shaped flag. Meanwhile, here is Auntie Caron on the Lib Dem WIN for Scotland in the Scotland Bill. And here is the ONLY Dr Woo from Scotland (hush your mockney mouth Mr Dr David), the amazing Mr Dr Sylv, ...
