Back in February I blogged the welcome news that Reading Borough Council was set to benefit from £400,000 additional funding from the Coalition Government to mend potholes. Today as part of the Budget settlement the Department of Transport announced that the amount of funding going to councils to repair roads was being doubled from £100 million to £200 million pounds. This cash injection comes as a response to the severe weather experienced across England in recent months which caused massive damage to the road network. In Reading the Council will be receiving an additional £295,344 specifically to help the Council ...
Can't summon the energy and lack the inspiration this week so I might just post a few random images for a day or two like the above. I did think I might comment on the budget earlier this week but lets be honest, in such matters, we the people are impotent in the face of a barrage of finance experts, and what will be, will be. Hope this post does not prompt a load of links to be left in the comments section of the post, I'm frankly getting tired of links to youtube vides in which some beardy bloke ...
This week Prime Minister's Questions contained a discussion of the military action in Libya. The need for Arab involvement in the task force was emphasized. Ed Miliband asked for David Cameron to clarify the position on the targeting of Colonel Gaddafi. The Prime Minister didn't clarify it. Ed Miliband then made a good point which David Cameron tersely swotted aside with worrying brevity. Miliband asked why the government is taking away the mobility component of the disability living allowance for those in care homes. That sounds a bit convoluted but if you look here you can read what it means ...
Avid readers of County Durham News will already have seen that residents in Derwentside are being asked to put tins into the green boxes alongside the glass that we have traditionally put in the boxes, rather than continuing to put them in the "blue bins". Others may have received this leaflet through their doors. I think, however, that we've missed a trick. People are always more willing to change a behaviour if they are given a reason to do so, especially if its a good one. And there is a good one. Better sorting will play a part in earning ...
Channel 4 news reports Nick Clegg has been caught out saying slightly indiscrete things while miked up. In as much as we know Clegg and Cameron get on on a personal level anyway it doesn't reveal a lot. But it is however this very closeness (and its reporting) that is damaging and one of the reasons the Labour attacks on the Lib Dems as Tory stooges have had such resonance. If the Lib Dems are to repatriate that anti-Tory chunk of Lib Dem support that has currently sought a home in Labour - a few off camera indescretions from Clegg ...
Well, it appears that I am not alone on the campaign trail in Stowupland, although I'm not exactly sure who my company is. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from our chief agent, indicating that someone has been co-ordinating postal vote requests - all perfectly legal, of course. However, they were using their own form, which doesn't quite match up with the official Mid Suffolk District Council postal vote application form, which can be scanned for greater convenience and, above all, accuracy. Apparently, our instructions are that, if we encounter someone who'd like a postal vote, we are to ring Mid ...
Plus: I managed to get the article I have been panicking about to the dear friend who has been expecting it and (I suspect) madly making excuses for me, and I wasn't even two weeks past the deadline. This is a public apology to her for my Douglas Adams approach to deadlines. But, you know, will soon be a published author! In a proper book and everything! YAY! Minus: I keep promising to do things for the Pod Delusion and then failing to do them either due to pressure of other things or lack of confidence. I am also being ...
One of my favourite moments so far this year - and if anyone can get me a screen grab of it I will love them forever - was the look on Jon Snow's face as he salivatingly asked for Nick Clegg's wee moment this evening to be replayed. He was enjoying that far more than was decent. For those of you who haven't seen it, Nick and David Cameron were doing a joint appearance in Nottingham to big up enterprise zones. At the end of the event they took some questions, one of which was about the leaders' debates in ...
The Liberal Democrats in Lincolnshire provide effective opposition across all levels of government, with parish councillors, town councillors, district councillors, city councillors and county councillors all providing effective opposition and a credible alternative to Tory administrations. Lincolnshire is also the home of Bill Newton Dunn the East Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP. Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats are ...
An alcohol and music licence application has been made for the former Rileys premises to become "Waves Night Club and Bar" - there's a notice on the door if you're interested. Meanwhile there is a planning application by J D Wetherspoon for a "drinking and dining establishment" at 11/17 South Parade, Yate. That's the four units nearest to the "Gold buying" kiosk. The end one used to be the car parts shop. The Wetherspoon planning application is available on the South Glos website.
And still they come... The Best Alternative Histories in Literature – A list of 25 from the Abebooks site. The ten of the list I've read are good, so I'll have to start working my way through the rest. A Truly Fair Tax On Flying – Donald Strachan questions some of the arguments made to support cuts in Air Passenger Duty. Obscure Blogger Vilifies Johnny Ball? No, Actually – What happens when 80s kids' TV presenters don't quite understand how the internet works and then the press don't bother to check up on what they say. (via) Electoral reform: why ...
I chaired the Annual Parish Meeting last night at the Free Church. It was reasonably well attended with a few new faces, including a resident from Forest Hall Park. Kate Robson the manager of Uttlesford Citizens' Advice Bureau gave a talk on the work of the CAB. Supported by the Parish Council it now provides an outreach facility at Spangles, Lower Street, Stansted. Appointments are on a Thursday. For the last financial year Uttlesford CAB had over 3000 unique clients. As a former director I know the valuable work they play. Their contact details are telephone 0844 477 5986 emailbureau@uttlesfordcab.cabnet.org.uk ...
Dear Nick, I hear you're having problems disagreeing with Cameron. So, I thought I'd prepare this handy list of ten items where quite a few people I know who are also Liberal Democrats do not agree with the Conservatives. Hopefully this should be enough to help you in the TV debates in 2015 or, perhaps, a little before then. Fairer votes Tuition fees Trident Prisoner votes Europe The NHS Control Orders Multiculturalism Eric Pickles Immigration caps Perhaps you could print this letter out and keep it with you, in case you need reminding? If you need any of these explaining ...
Remember how the other day I did Callum Leslie's show on www.freshair.org.uk? Well, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but it's now available here on iTunes if you want to hear me, Iain McGill, Tory candidate for Edinburgh Central, Labour member Matthew Bevan and Callum chew the fat about all sorts of things from drugs to alcohol to Libya to the prospects for the parties in the Scottish elections, the best bit of which was my heartfelt plea for anyone who lives in Glasgow to vote Lib Dem on the list to ensure that a wise man who has a ...
Michael White for the Guardian has written off Liberal Democrat influence over the budget, claiming there isn't much for Nick Clegg and his fellow MPs to write to activists and the public about. Clegg disagrees, of course, quickly firing off an email to party members entitled "Budget 2011: Helping Alarm Clock Britain" (as an aside, I'd be interested to know whether people identify with this phrase!). I think, however, and I suspect many Lib Dem members will agree, that it is excellent news that the government continues to make towards implementing our flagship policy of no income tax paid on ...
Thu 24th
17:21
mega allowance for Labour Councillor........................................................
The Crosby Herald carries the story of Mark Dowd the high paid Labour Councillor taking home 7 times the basic allowance for Sefton Councillors. SEFTON'S highest earning councillor last night defended his £63,000 a year allowances and said he had not had a pay rise since 2009. Councillor Mark Dowd earned £54,000 for chairing a board called the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority last year. The Labour politician who serves St Oswald ward in Bootle - one of the most deprived areas in Sefton - took home an additional £9,000 in councillor's allowances totalling £63,044 last year. I have always been ...
Last week I was invited to speak at the launch of the Yes to Fairer Votes Liberal Democrat Launch held in Manchester Friday 18th March 2011. I was very pleased that the party decided to hold the event in Manchester ... Continue reading →
I really don't know how to take opinion pieces on the impact of government cuts on women, such as Zoe Williams' in the Guardian. There's an unfortunate implication that women were hired by Labour not because they might be good at the job, but because of a top-down mandate to improve the equality statistics. We live in a world where women get the short end of the stick. Similarly for the north / south divide she later mentions. As long as that is the case, they will benefit disproportionately from increases in government spending, and suffer disproportionately when there are ...
SkyNews are feeling nice and proud of themselves this afternoon after their microphone picked up Nick Clegg talking to David Cameron after a joint press conference. Clegg was heard saying to Cameron "If we keep doing this we won't have anything to bloody disagree with on the TV debates!" Shock horror, they get on. Double shock, they ...
There are few politicians VN detests more than George Galloway. Most politicians who we disagree with we try and respect (most....) but he really is too much. On BBC Young Voters Question Time yesterday, poor Jo Swinson drew the short straw and had to sit next to Galloway, who proceeded to bellow through the first ...
We rather helpfully know what the Government thinks of the standards board: Andrew Stunell: "The Standards Board regime ended up fuelling petty complaints and malicious vendettas. Nearly every council had investigations hanging over them - most of which would be dismissed but not before reputations were damaged and taxpayer money was wasted. Frivolous allegations undermined local democracy and discouraged people from running for public office. "That's why we are axing the unpopular and unelected standards board regime. Instead we will legislate to ensure that if a councillor is corrupt and abuses their office for personal gain they will be dealt ...
10am Gas Holder Site Meeting Strategic planning officers, Chas Bailey chair of the Sutton Town Centre Partnership, Sean Brennan leader of the Council, & myself met with the property manager representing Scotia Gas at the gas holder site in Crown Road. Sally Blomfield, one of our principal planners, had organized this meeting to enable us ...
As Suffolk's Chief Executive continues to hit the national newspapers I just want to clear up a few things. When the press ring me up about Andrea Hill I answer their questions. The stories about personal coaching, photographs, etc have not come from me. Some people may feel the phrase about the Chief Executive becoming an object of hate on the streets is too strong. If I have caused offence I apologise. I will just say that there are some very strong views out there. There are many comments which are made to me which I would never repeat. I ...
The Council's Electoral Review Panel has called for more information to help it decide what to do about second home owners registering to vote in elections in Cornwall. The story so far: Around 5% of homes in Cornwall are second homes and there are fears that people who own second homes are swaying the result of parliamentary and local elections by voting in Cornwall instead of (or as well as) their main residence. Cornwall Council has written to the Government because the law is unclear and the Government have declined to clarify the rules and regulations. The Electoral commission has ...
In the latest issue of The Economist, the Lexington column ponders whether President Obama has, at any point in his presidency so far, demonstrated real political courage. After weighing the evidence, Lexington concludes: [Obama] made hope and audacity his running mates, so he should answer for their defection. With the exception of health reform the big fights—on global warming, immigration and the deficit—have been put on hold and many of the smaller ones ducked . . . . . . Maybe Mr Obama will find the same raw courage [as some of his predecessors] when at last he thinks it ...
One of the highlights of yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions was seeing Jo Swinson asking a question that's on all our minds at the moment. I've certainly been shaken to the core as I've watched events unfold at the Fukushima plant in Japan in the wake of the tsunami. It just shows how a natural phenomenon can destabilise a reactor, and of the consequences of loss of power lines - especially how far afield the effects are felt. Jo asked:Our hearts go out to the people of Japan as we watch their horror unfold and see warnings today about heightened radiation ...
Today's West Briton carries an update on the story of the gifts and hospitality offered to officers at Cornwall Council. The key issue is not so much the type of things that have been given (or refused) but the fact that the Council tried to keep them a secret in the first place. I'm not surprised that our officers get given boxes of chocolate (or even hog's pudding) and it's hardly a shock that our Chief Executive is taken out to dinner by various companies. In fact, I think it is a very positive thing that this happens. After all, ...
Liberal Democrats in Dundee were today quick off the mark in formally adopting well known Dundee lawyer and jazz singer Alison Burns as their parliamentary candidate for the re-named "Dundee City West" parliamentary seat, that includes the West End. Brought up in Downfield, Alison became one of the first female apprentice engineers at Timex in 1977, before going on to have success as a professional actress working at Dundee Rep and on TV shows for Channel 4 and BBC Scotland. Her career as a singer also took off and she worked with Danny Wilson, Michael Marra and co-founded the well-known ...
If you asked anyone in Cornwall to name a famous pub - apart from their local - they would probably name one of two, Jamaica Inn or the Pandora at Restronguet. Today came the shocking news that the Pandora has caught fire and may well be gone for good. The fire only started this morning at around 11am and more than 35 fire crew are on the scene but the omens are not good. The building - dating from the 13th century - has a large thatched roof and access is via boat or a very narrow and winding track, ...
Seven county councillors pitched in with funding from their locality budgets to ensure Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's popular LiFE Scheme for young people went ahead in St Albans. Cllr Chris White (St Albans Central) gave £1,000 towards the course at St Albans Community Fire Station; Cllr Martin Frearson (St Albans South), Cllr Aislinn Lee (St Stephens), Cllr Rob Prowse (St Albans East) and Cllr Allan Witherick (St Albans North) each gave £500; Cllr Teresa Heritage (Harpenden South West) gave £450 and Cllr Maxine Crawley (St Albans Rural) £200. Nine teenagers joined the five-day course last month, which is designed ...
At Area Committee on Tuesday we had a further discussion about the problem on St Ann's Road North where between 5 and 15 cars have taken to parking near Cheadle Royal, causing problems on the road. Please take a look at my previous posts on this subject for the background details. The result of the discussion is still that there are no easy options, but we've asked the Council's traffic people to take a look at it. If we want to stop them with a legal mechanism, it means putting lines down on the road – not an option I'm ...
In the coming weeks, the coalition government will unveil its much-heralded strategy for improving social mobility. Nick Clegg has sought to make this the central tenet of the government's social policy platform for the remainder of the parliament. He therefore has a great personal stake in ensuring its success. An essential part of that will be ensuring that the strategy tackles the right issues - the causes of low social mobility. Here, there is some reason for concern because the dominant media (and political) narrative on social mobility suggests a misunderstanding of the current evidence. We are all, by now, ...
Dee Doocey has already made her presence felt in the House of Lords, and she took an early opportunity to raise a question of keen interest to those with the welfare of children at heart. Asked By Baroness Doocey To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place at King's Cross St Pancras International station to prevent children being trafficked into the United Kingdom. The answer, according to the Minister, Earl Attlee, appears to be none. Ros picked up on the point that measures were being taken at another gateway... Baroness Scott of Needham Market: Is the noble Earl ...
The noble Lord Bonkers continues the aristocratic interest in Anarchism with an erudite Guest Post from Ruth Kinna an academic and author. The post is about her recent publication; 'The beginners Guide to Anarchism' she explains: The book explores a number of ideas of anarchy. Amongst these is the practical utopianism of Colin Ward and Paul Goodman, two inventive, creative subversives whose reflections on education, squatting, urban design, gardening and a whole host of other issues continues to inspire community-action groups. Ward, in particular, took his lead from Kropotkin, whose critique of the state (in The State its Historic Role ...
In the 19th century political reform was a hotly debated topic that often captured the imagination of the public. The various reform acts, the Chartist movement, the suffragettes etc all played their part as Britain's political system attempted to transform itself into a modern democracy. The establishment and the Conservative party resisted every change but step by step, through genuine people power, change gradually happened. By 1928, every adult over 21 had the vote and the powers of the unelected House of Lords were restricted. The most alarming aspect about the recent political system is the now complete disinterest shown ...
As regular readers will know, I have absolutely zero attachment to the idea of Winter Fuel Allowance being a universal benefit. I am appalled that my husband will get it when we a) don't need it and b) a family with a disabled child won't. I was annoyed to see this story in today's Telegraph saying that the amount of the allowance was going to be cut, by £50 to £200 for the over 60s and by £100 to £300 for the over 80s. First up, can we just have some agreement that 60 year olds aren't "elderly". Thank you. ...
The BBC carries a news story about Ex Southport man and former MEP Den Diover (He is seen in our photograph with Ainsdale resident and former Birkdale Tory Candidate who is to fight Kew Ward for the Tories in May- Cath Regan) The European Parliament launched a probe in 2008 after it emerged Mr Dover had paid nearly £1m to a company, MP Holdings, which included his wife and daughters among its directors. The money came from allowances MEPs receive to pay staff salaries and costs. The parliament ruled that only £421,156 could be justified in salaries, National Insurance and ...
While I've spoken at many Council meetings, last night was the first time in my Council career that I proposed a motion to Council which is a wholly different experience. I tried to keep away from politics in my speech and centred it on four main points: Colchester's historic status as Britain's first city and it's importance as part of our Roman heritage. People in Colchester are very proud of our history and heritage and becoming a city would promote that and emphasise it. Colchester's current status as an important regional centre with a dynamic and creative population, great cultural ...
On May 5th our country will have an historic opportunity. For the first time the people of Britain will have the choice as to how they will elect their Members of Parliament. Liberal Democrats must take an active role in this campaign, as we should with every opportunity to make our democracy more representative. Our society and our politics have moved on from the two-party system that existed 60 years ago, when over 9 out of 10 of the electorate voted for one of the two largest parties. Today there is more real political choice and many more people choose ...
A quick post to say that the team from Liverpool Mutual Homes will be out, with their trailer, on the Hurstlyn and Forthlin estate this coming Tuesday (29th). The idea is for a team of staff to be on hand to give advice and answer questiions. There'll be an opportunity to get property marked with Smartwater and to join the gardening club, as well as to find out about a free Easter trip for children to Awesome Walls. I am told there are also some refreshments and a prize draw. The trailer should be on site next to 1 - ...
I've been wanting to write that headline for a while. It might be rude, but it's also accurate, so it may well become an occasional series. Today Ed Balls has been telling anyone who'll listen that the Government should have stopped the oil companies from charging so much, and should have reduced the rate of VAT on fuel. We've become used to hearing Labour politicians talking outrageous nonsense in the last few months, but this takes the biscuit. First of all, our oil companies aren't state owned nationalised monoliths who do what the Government tells them and for Ed Balls ...
The helpful team at Mailchimp have provided some examples from their huge dataset of email subjects lines that worked really well at enticing people to read emails and some which bombed. Note how clever-clever in-your-face electronic equivalent of charity chugging doesn't usually work well: [IMG: Email subject line open rates - data from Mailchimp]
Budget's are never the most exciting of events & yesterdays didn't have me falling out of my chair, however, the announcement that Bristol has been chosen as an Enterprise Zone, is good news from the chancellor & the coalition government. The idea is to encourage development of new businesses with various Tax breaks, including up to a 100% reduction in rates. Planning regulations will be relaxed and the council will be allowed to keep business rate growth within the area to re-invest in other schemes. It's being described as a big boost for the city and if elected as councillor ...
It looks like my Gmail account has somehow been compromised and used to send spam. I've changed the password. Apologies to everyone who's received these emails.
Earlier in March The Broken of Britain launched a campaign against the "anti-disability" provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill, the Government's main plank for a raft of cuts affecting disabled people. Campaigners, politicians and academics are all agreed that parts of the Bill will cause hardship for disabled people. [IMG: A disabled person lies on the beach, having fallen from a wheelchair] At Conference, the Liberal Democrats passed a motion to keep the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for those in residential care, showing that the party membership still care about disabled people. But the Welfare Reform Bill goes ...
Ah, so that is what happened to the Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales West. I thought I had not seen him around for a while.
Camden have just circulated the press release below... It's a timely reminder to get your comments in before next week. Remember, West Hampstead library counts as a 'medium' library in the question about which option for closure you support. If you fill out a paper version of the form you don't need to answer that question - but, really irritatingly, if you answer online you can't fill out the survey unless you say which libraries you want to close (or opt to slash library hours by 40% across the board).Last chance to have your say on Camden libraries consultation Residents ...
A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. That little padlock in the corner of your browser lost a little of it's security yesterday. It shows that you're talking to a web site via a secure, encrypted connection and that you're really talking to who you think you are rather than someone nasty intercepting your username, password and credit card details. Except that someone has broken in to a reseller account from certificate authority Comodo and generated certificates for several sites, including Google, Yahoo and Skype. And the fake Yahoo one has already been used on the internet, ...
narcissi After a cold, miserable winter, the arrival of the Spring equinox this week has been a blast of much needed sunshine and birdsong. With temperatures climbing into the high teens and no rain, the garden has burst into life with daffodils, primroses and the first violets and grape hyancinths budding. clematis shoots Everywhere are new buds and new shoots. Hoverflies and bees are emerging and the still air is draped with the shimmering threads of busy spiders, drifting lazily across the lawn. willow leaves emerging The birds are full song and the bird table has quite a variety of ...
The bags for storing and putting out cardboard for recycling that we've been campaigining for are now on order. South Glos are buying 40,000 bags which will be available for residents that want them. They tell us that the bags should be available in the early summer. The idea is that residents who want the bags will pick them up from designated distribution points throughout the district. South Glos are currently looking for suitable storage premises throughout the area.
At Cheadle Area Committee on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Pam's request for leaves to be cleared from Ashfield Road was being done. Pam's also requested that litter be cleared from Gatley Station, and Network Rail have now done that (including a Manchester Council wheelie bin in a trolley found underneath the platform!). It was a Cheadle resident who may have got the flooding issue sorted at the junction of Wilmslow Road, Cheadle High Street and Gatley Road (by the Weavers). Alan came along to Area Committee last time round and asked for action. As a result, twelve grids in ...
Islington Liberal Democrats have established a reputation for hosting the most stylish Pizza and Politics in London, especially when these are hosted in the spacious surroundings of Julie Horton's home. They also get an impressive range of speakers, the latest, last night, being Lord (Ken) Macdonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions and now a LibDem peer. He ...
Concern for Sainsbury's as shoppers stop doing what they're told *snerk* (tags: funny) dreamwidth_haikai | trust is not easily given A poem about why DW is a great blog platform AND feedreader (tags: blogging) Don't Call Me, I Won't Call You I see the rest of the world is adopting my habits. Suspect my mum won't approve... (tags: social)
One area of division within the coalition government is about immigration. A number of Tory MPs are keen to keep foreigners out of the country, whereas Lib Dems and some Tories emphasise the need to ensure that businesses and educational institutes can get the best people, wherever they come from. This has been a long fight, and will continue. The first round was over work visas – Tiers 1 & 2 – with Vince Cable and others ensuring that it would continue to be possible for companies to get the high-skilled staff they need, although there were some serious constraints ...
It is an incredibly busy day today and i may not get back to the computer for some time so while you are waiting pop over to Liberal Democrat Voice and have a look at Mark Pack's article on how the Liberal Democrats influenced yesterday's budget. Here is a flavour: one decision that had been up in the air was over the Green Investment Bank and how much power it really would have. George Osborne's previous strange absence from the debate was put to rest when he announced a series of pieces of good news on the Green Investment Bank: ...
Ruth Kinna is the author of A Beginner's Guide to Anarchism (Oneworld Publications, 2009). Anarchism is often said to have a sporadic history: defeat in Spain in 1939 marks the end of the international movement which had its origins in the First International; 1968 was a year of resurgence, sparked by student protest and the rise of the new left; and the Battle for Seattle in 1999, the global justice movement's coming out party, was anarchism's most recent manifestation. Though each wave generates a good deal of enthusiasm and some affection, a negative image of the anarchist still prevails. The ...
The line adopted by the Ed Balls, that the Government's current deficit difficulties are purely due to international banking / credit crisis in 2008 is one much repeated. This is surely easy to test? At one level is clearly false. It is simply an admission that the last Labour government made spending decisions on the basis of a bubble. Anticipating such risks and hedging against them is the job of the Treasury. Under Labour the Government was spending more than they made in every year since 2001/02. As was said at the time, they didn't 'fix the roof when the ...
Last week I was flattered to be chosen by my U3A class to propose the vote of thanks to our lecturer at the end of our course. I should have liked to have been elceted to perform this imortant task by the Alternative Vote or some similarly sophisticated method but in fact was approached by "men in dark suits" (actually two ladies in black cardigans)and told "It's you", rather in the manner that leaders of the Tory Party used to "emerge." Our classes were fortnightly and our lecturer produced for each one a fluent, searching and erudite accout of some ...
i) births and deaths 24 March 1942: birth of Lynda Baron, who performed "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" in The Gunfighters (1966) and played captain wrack in Enlightenment (1983). also 24 March 1942: birth of Stephen Yardley, who played Sevrin in Genesis of the Daleks (1975) and Arak in Vengeance on Varos (1985). ii) broadcast anniversary 24 March 1973: broadcast of fifth episode of Frontier in Space. The Draconians realise that the Ogrons are behind it all, and join forces with Earth to pursue the Master to the Ogrons' planet.
Jerusalem's bookseller to the stars facing deportation - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News (tags: middleeast) Why Fukushima made me stop worrying and love nuclear power | George Monbiot | The Guardian "The crisis at Fukushima has converted me to the cause of nuclear power." (tags: economics) Strange Horizons Reviews: Doctor Who: The Coming of the Terraphiles by Michael Moorcock, reviewed by Graham Sleight What on Earth is one of the major post-war writers in any genre doing writing a Doctor Who tie-in? And, from the other side, why on Earth is a brand as closely managed as Doctor Who ...
There are some things that are more important than democracy but they shouldn't be confused with democracy and in particular with the move towards AV as these things are not mutually exclusive. I am quite keen, for example, that we don't have jet fighters firing on us. I am also not keen on dictators, especially the evil ones, and democracy is one safeguard in the fight against totalitarian states. So the first defence of democracy is to ensure participation by citizens. In its simplest form this means going to put a cross on a piece of paper every few years. ...
