As councillors we represent, or are supposed to, all the people in our ward. But there are very few issues on which everyone agrees and so there's a need for a balancing act - whose opinion should carry the most weight? Or is there a middle way? The current licensing application for the Eagle Service Station is a case in point. The part of the application causing most concern is the 24 hour
Take a look at this link about why we need AV - won't take long, and does put the case well in everyday language. You get used to lies in politics. Downright untruths. But what the NO campaign has been coming out with is the worst example in public that I have seen in nearly 40 years. It is disgraceful. If AV does get through, I know who I won't be putting as my second choice !! I wasn't so cross as not to go out with family and some beautifully decorated eggs (grandchildren, not us did them, needless to ...
Liverpool Councillor Gary Millar has left the Liberal Democrats and defected to Labour. This comes just days after the Lib Dem group leader in the city urged Nick Clegg to pull out the coalition. The timing was clearly deliberately calculated to cause maximum damage to the party, just a couple of weeks before important local elections across ...
I think this will prove to be the gateway moment. There will be a certain number of people who watched the first part last week and gave up, finding it all too confusing; but I think anyone who stuck it out to this week's episode will now be hooked for the rest of the series. (I noticed that we go straight into the opening titles this week, no concession for anyone who didn't catch it last time.) I thought this was a better piece of television than last week's first episode. We have Daenerys taking the first steps to becoming ...
I bought this book after being told of its existence by Backwatersman, who writes Go Litel Blog, Go.... Alan Gibson was one of my early journalistic heroes. His reports of county cricket for the times were wonderfully quirky, being as likely to deal with his difficulties in getting to the game or the charms of the barmaid across the road from the county ground as with the game itself. Later on I was to discover that he had fought Falmouth and Camborne for the Liberal Party at the 1959 general election and come second. Anthony Gibson, who compiled this anthology ...
Distribution of the leaflet is well underway and we've been receiving a very good response. It's a good follow up on the campaigns that we've run over the last four years in our ward, but we know there is still ... Continue reading →
The new Liberator arrives and I find my fellow members of the editorial collective have filled every spare space with advertisements for The Social Liberal Forum. I am a Liberal and am instinctively suspicious of qualifying adjectives, whether "economic" or "social", but let's have a look at what the advertisement has to say. It tells us that the Forum does five things, and with three of them I am entirely comfortable. They are: Rejects any electoral pacts with any party and any pre-election preference for future working with any other party.This has to be right. I can see there is ...
On a recent blog post of mine, a friend said she was no longer going to visit the blog of a minor public figure because he kept making sleazy, objectifying comments. I won't name that figure or the friend here because it's not really the point of the post, but it's not hard to find ...
Mon 25th
20:55
COSLA's warning over social care merger vindicates Liberal Democrat desire to keep services local #S...
The issue of social care highlights a very big difference between the Liberal Democrats and the other parties. We know that older people are suffering because the health and social care system just can't provide them with the support they need. Too many people are kept in hospital when there's no medical reason because healthcare and social services staff can't get their acts together to put in place what they will need quickly enough. You can pretty much name any problem that takes your fancy and Labour's default reaction will be to centralise it. You see, they don't see people ...
britishrailways.tv A whole episode of the children's series that was filmed on the Severn Valley Railway and first broadcast in 1980 - when I was a leading light of the University of York Railway Society. Yes, that is Dot Cotton.
How normal is it for a 7 year old girl to pick up a set of cheap plastic pan pipes she got with an Easter egg and, within an hour, with no tuition, music, or help, be playing a recognisable version of Ode To Joy amongst other tunes? Seriously, we've never taught her to play anything and she's taught herself Beethoven on something she only got given this afternoon. This isn't normal, right?
The current dust up between the two partners in the Coalition was inevitable, even if it is not wholly synthetic. The AV referendum campaign was bound to strain relations between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, and the two party leaders do have to display some regard for the enthusiasms of their members and core supporters from time to time. Nevertheless, in recent days David Cameron have given those who hoped he might be a new sort of Tory two separate causes for disappointment in recent days. The first was his declaration that he was "very relaxed" about people offering unpaid ...
Mon 25th
20:35
It's not just the lib dems who are short-changed by the voting system but the whole country!
Something very strange is happening with the referendum campaign, which perhaps explains some of the nastiness and in-fighting that's currently going on. We have a situation where one side ought to be streets ahead, but it's neck-and-neck. When this happens in sport, it's very exciting, but when it comes to the once-in-a-generation (if not a lifetime) chance to change the voting system, there's ample scope for despair. As a sports journalist, I rather enjoy watching an inferior player or team fighting against much more gifted opposition through determination and clever tactics. It's part of the romance of sport. But I ...
There are not that many places where there are staunch Liberals who voted in an MP in the years between World War II and the revival in the Party's fortunes in the seventies and eighties. And, rather unexpectedly, I am reaping a small reward from being in one of them. On the doorstep today, a voter told me that he had campaigned for Edgar Granville and said, "You'll be too young to remember him.". He was right, and so, when I got back to Creeting St Peter, I looked him up... Edgar Granville was, in fact, the Liberal MP for ...
WHERE TO FIND OUT WHAT DEVELOPERS WANT For any development, if it has got as far as a planning application you can get all the details by going to the South Glos Planning Applications search page and typing in the application number listed below. Some of the developers also have websites for their schemes, please see below. BRIMSHAM PARK - 3000 houses Heron's mega-plan for the land between Brimsham Park and Tanhouse Lane, with all the traffic coming through Brimsham Park. There's no planning application yet - the next step will be a public inquiry in the summer. Please sign ...
Here are the race dates for the Manchester Harriers cross country meets for primary schools.
Chris Huhne and Nick Clegg have turned on the Conservatives and their dishonesty in respect to their claims about AV. Firstly, Clegg rocked the coalition boat in an interview with The Independent in which he raged against the "death rattle of a right-wing elite, a right-wing clique who want to keep things the way they are". Comparing the views of the respective party leaders towards electoral reform, he opined that one one side you'd have him, "Ed Miliband, Caroline Lucas, Nigel Farage, Alex Salmond and Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru leader). The other side, you'd have David Cameron, (BNP) Nick ...
If you're a regular reader, please accept my apologies for my lack of posting recently. I offer no excuses, I have no real explanation (other than that I lost momentum while awaiting a new charger for my laptop), and I can only say sorry for the prolonged absence. I am, however ready to make a comeback and start regular posts again. Immediately after this post, I'll be posting some photos taken at Cheddar Gorge and I have at least one other photographic based post earmarked for the next few days. Other than that, I intend to return to the usual ...
Many congratulations and well done to all involved in Bury Football Club. The team ensured promotion to League 1 this afternoon beating Chesterfield 3-2 away courtesy of a late winning goal. The club has done the borough proud. I think I'm right in thinking that that's the first promotion for the Shakers since 1997. In ...
One of the successful campaigns your Lib Dem Councillors, and in particular Councillor Penny Wagg (with help from her husband Trevor) have been fighting for several years, is to keep illegal advertising placards off the lamposts and roadsigns in Acocks Green. Illegal placarding is unsightly, sometimes dangerous in blocking important signs or sightlines and gives free advertising to organisations that break the law. All good reasons to try to stamp it out. The tactic that has been used in this campaign is simple – as soon as any illegal placards are seen they are removed, usually by Penny and Trevor ...
A busy day campaigning today, after two days away camping with the Scouts. We have 5 votes here on 5 May (5/5!) – one for Calderdale MBC, three for Hebden Royd TC, and of course the AV referendum. I was out at 8am delivering the main election address for my local colleague Hywel Morgan, standing ...
There are two public Royal Wedding parties I am aware of in Acocks Green ward on Friday (let me know, if you know of any more). The first is being organised by the 260th Scouts from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Its taking place at the Scout Hut off Spring Road (behind Scanlons) in Tyseley and we are promised lots of fun activities for all ages, hot and cold food and assorted drinks. The other event is a street party in Francis Road (off Yardley Road), which is taking place at 2pm. Let hope the sun shines (both in Birmingham and London) ...
I'm just back from an enjoyable afternoon out at the Hebden Bridge Duck fair. We took the opportunity of a very busy town centre to explain the benefits of the AV voting system. This explanation took a very hand on approach with a mock ballot that people could join in with. The ballot was based on the hotly contested political issue of people's favourite food. Interestingly when presented with the ballot a lot of people instinctively put a cross down first, then crossed this out and started putting numbers down. None of the children who took part did this, perhaps ...
Between now and the election, I will post a daily reason to vote Liberal Democrats in the Basingstoke and Deane local elections. Reason 1 Liberal Democrat councillors work hard all year round, not just election time. Not just attending the meetings but working in the community. Not just because you've called us, we know people are busy and don't get round to reporting that annoying pot hole
Following on from my blog post tribute to John Sullivan here, I decided to follow it up with my Top 25 all-time Only Fools and Horses moments to further re-iterate his comic genius. He managed to mix laughter, with drama, with tears of compassion as he told the story of an every-day London family who strove from day-to-day to make ends meet. They lived through the same highs and the same lows that we all do. It was John Sullivan's ability to turn these everyday emotions into a sitcom that made Only Fools and Horses one of the all-time greats ...
If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist
There are three distinguishing features of this Pizza Express, located in Cowcross Street (so named probably because cows used to cross over a tributary here on their way to the slaughterhouses and markets of Smithfields, just to the south). First, it has two stairways to the downstairs, rather than the regular one. As if that is not exciting enough, it also has unusual, and rather stylish, handles on the men's toilets. (My investigatory zeal did not take me as far as the women's. I apologise.) And finally, there a rather natty fish mobile on display in the window. It also ...
We had been invited by the Essex and Suffolk Hunt to join them at Higham, for the Easter point to point meeting, and, whilst it would be fair to say that we are not particularly bothered by the hunting lobby, we aren't the most obvious guests. However, point to point is an important part of country life, so we got into the car and headed south, through Hadleigh, to the racecourse just north of the A12 and the Essex border, on a gloriously sunny morning. The Suffolk countryside was on display in all of its finery, the bluebells out in ...
This is something by "New Media Animation" about Superinjunctions.Their website is here.Incidentally what they really mean is injunctions. Super - a court order that itself cannot be talked about (I think these have mainly stopped now).Hyper - an attempt to stop people talking to MPsQuaero - an attempt to stop investigation by anyone (particularly journalists)It is, however, all about Freedom of
"Either we withdraw to a traditional 'no fly zone' operation or NATO declares war on Gaddafi; these are the only two options left to NATO - it has promised not to abandon the Libyan people." Daniel Furr discusses our narrowing choices in Libya. The Sandals Are Off believes that the longer the AV debate goes on, the more people will come over to the Yes side. He also criticises the limp leadership of Ed Miliband on this issue. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should have been invited to the Royal Wedding, argues David Skelton on Platform 10. Welcome to Spiderplant ...
The Scottish Greens have been excluded from the televised debates during the Scottish Parliament Elections. Although I originally felt that this was a correct decision due to a lack of any constituency candidates there is now a real chance that the Scottish Green Party could help form the next Scottish Government. Therefore I believe that they should be included in the debates at it appears that the people of Scotland agree: Question: The leaders of four out of the five parties in the Scottish Parliament are due to take part in TV debates in the run up to the election, ...
...or, "please can we have the AV vote in a couple of months time? I'm starting to believe that the tide is turning again in the AV debate. Earlier this year, it seemed as though 'Yes' was slightly ahead – although between the 'Yes' and 'No' there was a great sea of 'Don't Know.' Then the Tory big bucks backed No campaign unleashed its attack dogs. Anyone wondering how the No campaign intended to justify the obviously unfair status quo was left in no doubt: by shouting misleading and downright dishonest propaganda so loudly that the undecided would buy it ...
Am not sure if I'm going to be able to get the next Seven Soldiers post up tonight (I'm now working to Sunday as the deadline for getting the whole thing finished – I hadn't banked on having several days of killer migraine in a row last week). So I've posted the last excerpt from ...
One thing that really shouldn't surprise me is the confusion about how the European Court of Human Rights works and the associated institutions.The issues of Privacy Law and Prisoners Voting are two issues where this confusion is creating a lot of tension.The European Court of Human Rights is guided by a number of international treaties including the Convention of Human Rights and its protocols.
This essay appears in my book The Beach Boys On CD. If you like this, please consider buying it. Hardback Paperback PDF Kindle (US) Kindle (UK) Kindle (DE) All other ebook formats Friends/20/20 By 1968 the band were in the doldrums, commercially if not creatively. Experimenting with various gurus (some more dangerous than others) and ...
It's fairly self-evident from the wide field contesting the RDLP annual Most Offensive Smear Award (Pete Ruhemann 5 times winner and 3 times runner-up) that Jo Lovelock is counting down her days until retirement as Labour leader, but did the local party try to send a sublimal message to supporters in September? ☺ The Reading Schools Catering Workers posted this on their web site on the 17th September: Workers Speak at a Joint Labour Party Meeting Last night workers from across Reading schools spoke about their experiences working with Chartwells in Reading schools. In the audience were a wide range ...
The Welsh Liberal Democrat "Waste Watchers" series, which is running alongside the Welsh general election campaign, has revealed that most of the Plaid/Labour government's flagship techniums have run up large losses. Founded in 2001 as an attempt to develop a series of sites where science and technology businesses could be nurtured, the Technium scheme has madea loss in excess of £5.4 million since, Freedom of Information requests have revealed. Mike Priestley, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for Aberconwy said: "Despite a number of individual successes, overall the Technium project has made losses of over £5.4 million. Some individual projects have made ...
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader, Kirsty Williams has unveiled the Welsh Liberal Democrats' legislative priorities for the 4th Assembly term. Following the successful referendum, Wales now has direct law-making powers for the first time. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have identified five key areas in which they would need to legislate in order to implement priority manifesto committments. These include: · A Local Economies Bill to help drive the economic recovery and create jobs. · A Teaching Standards Bill to put in place new streamlined structures for the training and development of teachers. · A Health Spending Bill to establish an independent ...
You learn something new every day. Liberal Democrat Voice's series on 'Forgotten Liberal Heroes' has published a profile of Jean Henderson who, amongst many other things, was the Liberal candidate for the Luton constituency in the 1955 General Election.
Annabel Goldie's party have launched their manifesto, entitled Common Sense for Scotland. In it, Ms Goldie looks to credit the Conservatives with significant achievements over the course of the last parliament and argues that her "credible and costed" manifesto will "support families, create jobs, provide opportunity, keep our communities safe and promote a greener Scotland." The manifesto leads positively with a focus on growing Scotland's economy and creating jobs. The Tories feel that the only way of moving forward is to have a pro-business government in Holyrood. I am uncomfortable with this; not because I feel developing business is unimportant ...
Benghazi might have been salvaged from the merciless hands of Gadaffi, but Misrata is still suffering a daily slaughter. Libya is in a tedious and brutal stalemate with the rebel army showing it lacks the strength to liberate Tripoli – without ... Continue reading →
The election is almost over and many other people have conducted analysis of the manifestos. Some have looked a particular field of interest, some in-depth, others just a quick survey. I will be doing an in-depth analysis of the manifestos of the Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Green Party. And my analysis will be pretty much for my own self education as well as trying to discern where Scotland will head as a nation after the election. I will be looking at these topic areas within each manifesto ...
[IMG: Abracadaver book cover - Peter Lovesey] It's been a while since I've been really disappointed with a book, but unfortunately Peter Lovesey's Abracadaver has broken that run. I have really enjoyed other books of his (notably The False Inspector Dew) and this one starts off promisingly with setting that fits the golden age of Victorian crime novels. Bizarre accidents in theatres around London set the scene but the plot is then mostly fairly straightforward, with few twists and not many red herrings along the way to the eventual unmasking of the criminal. Some of the Victorian settings are done ...
Suppose everyone in the pub has to decide what to drink, from four possible candidates - Theakston's, Guinness, Carling and Stella. There are 8 people in the pub. In the first round, three people vote for Theakston's, 2 for Guinness, 2 for Carling and 1 for Stella. - Under FPTP, Theakston's wins. But then, the person who voted for Stella says 'actually I quite fancy a pint of stout', and changes their vote to Guinness. 3 for Theakston's, 3 for Guinness, 2 for Carling. The 2 who voted for Carling aren't particularly happy about having to drink proper beer in ...
There's been a lot of excitement in the SNP section of cyberspace - with a bit of cheerleading by the Greens as well - at a couple of polls published over the weekend which put them well ahead of everyone else in the Holyrood race. They are talking about the SNP beating Labour leader Iain Gray in East Lothian, of winning Orkney from us, and ousting the one really talented person on Labour's front bench, Jackie Baillie. But we know what comes after pride............ Not that they are going to listen to me, but I'd counsel caution, especially given what ...
I've been a bit busy for the past four weeks, being both the candidate and the agent for Stowupland ward, what with having to design my own leaflets (thank heavens for Serif PagePlus X4!), deliver a lot of them (my campaign manager, Ros, is doing more than her fair share of that), and canvass as many people as I can reach/find. However, Thursday morning saw a bit of an unwelcome break in the routine, as Ros made her way blearily downstairs to find that the carpet was strangely wet. Very wet, indeed positively sodden. As I was beckoned to lend ...
Another week with Lord Bonkers draws to a close as he answers a final problem from a reader. Last May, rather unexpectedly, I lost my job of 13 years. It came as a bit of a shock but I soon got over it and within 24 hours found myself back in the limelight on a popular current affairs panel show. Following the unexpected success of this performance, I have endeavoured to forge a career in stand-up comedy with mixed results. However, a job is coming up in my previous line of work and I am keen to get the post. ...
Rather a delay in updating on this one but this is an update on the rather long running story about attempts to get an alleygate in this part of Garston. The decision meeting took place earlier this month (third time lucky after one change of date and one sudden cancellation) I was at work that day so can't give any first person report but my colleagues Peter Millea and Richard Oglethorpe were there and spoke at the meeting. The alleygate application was agreed. Details from the meeting are available here
Thanks to the resident who sent me a really helpful e mail about allotments and about a DCLG consultation on local authority duties that looks relevant to my research. When I have more news and links, will post again. But just wanted to say thanks!
The good news is that the Liverpool Fairness Commission (new name for the Poverty Commission) has started work. We had a kick off meeting a few weeks ago and there's now a schedule which starts next month and looks like giving several good sessions to look at issues of fairness in Liverpool and the wider Liverpool area We already have some of the Commissioners sorted - reps from business, the unions etc - but I know that we are also looking to recruit a few more (letters have already gone out) There doesn't seem to be a weblink I can ...
8 Movie Special Effects You Won't Believe Aren't CGI | Cracked.com (tags: film) Recipes | Doctor Who | BBC America BBC America has Doctor Who recipes. This seems very silly to me, but the little chocolate dalek cakes are cute, even if I can't eat them. Stupid allergies. (tags: doctorwho) 'Scream 4': The First Mainstream Feminist Horror Film | The Awl "Scream 4 may indeed suck, but it's the first example of female characters dominating a slasher flick from start to finish" Unsure about the wisdom of naming your blog after a boring tool though. (tags: film) Hague rules out ...
I blogged earlier about the upcoming meeting to decide whether or not to let Liverpool Cricket Club have a licence for marquee events all year round. The meeting took place earlier this month. There was quite a debate. Residents who had opposed the application argued that there would be far too much noise and disturbance. The club said it had agreed to monitor the noise, to limit number of events to 50 in the year, and to give notice to residents. The residents believed that even with these measures, there would be far too much disturbance. Peter Millea, Ron Gould ...
Mon 25th
09:53
Opinion polls which show some fundemental beliefs about Lib Dem strategy are wrong (and what needs t...
The recent Sun commissioned opinion poll makes for interesting reading for the Lib Dems. Unfortunately, it is not a good news story of increased voting intention, but it questions some of our fundamental beliefs which has informed our political strategy and the recent calls to the party leadership. This poll shows how many people believe ...
... is that all their comparative arguments start from a flawed position. That flawed position is the assumption that, under First Past the Nonexistent Post (FPTNP), all votes are 'first preference' votes. This position is what underpins many of the #no2av side's strongest arguments. But of course it's not true. That is why political parties, to a man, produce election literature with so-called 'squeeze messages', to encourage people to believe that only one party has a chance of toppling the incumbent, or alternatively that they need to vote for the incumbent in order to keep out an unpalatable alternative. [IMG: ...
Back in March the bloggers over at Better Nation launched a petition to include the Co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party in the televised debates during the Scottish Parliament elections currently being held. I was against the idea. Not because the petition calls Patrick Harvie to be included (and thus excluding his Co-convenor Eleanor Scott from taking part). No, I was against the idea because I felt that as a Regional List only party, the Scottish Green Party were not seeking the same thing as the other party leaders, namely to become First Minister. Now, I know that it is ...
You might remember a couple of weeks ago that I had a major strop with whoever it is in London who sends out these mass party e-mails for sending Scottish members one from Nick which contained no Scottish election messages whatsoever. Well, it seems that somebody has been listening to me. Step forward Party President Tim Farron. He sent out an e-mail last week which was much better. I'd maybe have improved it slightly by adding in a link to the Save Our Police Facebook page as well but I'm happy with what's gone out. It's clearly AV focussed, but ...
i) births and deaths 25 April 1923: birth of Paul Whitsun-Jones, who played the Squire in The Smugglers (1966) and the Marshal in The Mutants (1972). ii) broadcast anniversaries 25 April 1964: broadcast of "The Screaming Jungle", third episode of the story we now call The Keys of Marinus. The second Key is hidden in a jungle full of mobile carnivorous plants. 25 April 1970: broadcast of sixth episode of The Ambassadors of Death. The Doctor finds that the aliens are keeping the original astronauts hostage, but is kidnapped by Carrington on his return.
This morning's Western Mail reports that the Health Minister, Edwina Hart has robustly rebutted claims in a Tory leaflet that the Neath Port Talbot Hospital is under threat. In return the Tories have accepted her assurances and withdrawn the leaflet. However, there is still word on the threat to cardiac services at Swansea's Morriston Hospital. The Local Health Board is participating in a review of this unit and it was reported that the board were told that one option was to centralise it in either Swansea or Cardiff. We have been here before of course, with paediatric neurosurgery (centralised in ...
Mon 25th
08:19
Tax payers and 'the right to the city': alternative narratives on cuts to Housing Benefit
A few days ago I tweeted that current housing policy was a "right mess". That was in part a response to the news, reported in Inside Housing, that there is going to be an increase in the distribution of tents for homeless ex-offenders in Nottingham, in lieu of settled accommodation. But it was a more ...
If you're one of those still wondering whether to vote Yes or No in the referendum you might like to see Dan Snow's short video. It's short and it's easy to follow. And because Dan Snow is a very good TV presenter he tells it much better than I could write it!
There are of course mechanisms in place to keep an eye on bodies such as the Audit Commission, but one has to question how effective they are when we can read stories such as this about the lavish use of expenses. The Daily Telegraph reports that senior figures at the Audit Commission, which polices spending at local authorities, NHS trusts and other government bodies, spent almost £20,000 of public money over the past two years on luxury goods and services. This includes using taxpayer-funded credit cards at Michelin-starred restaurants, florists and a gym equipment supplier. The credit card receipts disclose ...
Cambridgeshire Tories selected their new leader by a form of the Alternative Vote - but are adamant it is too complex and confusing for the average voter. They are saying NO to electoral reform which would see MPs voted into their seats using the AV system in the future. Despite their objections to AV, they decided it was the right way to go when selecting new leader, Nick Clarke. With four candidates in the running, they gradually eliminated them one by one as they polled the fewest votes in the contest. With just two left standing, they chose Nick Clarke. ...
Since the beginning of the coalition we have heard reports of the "chemistry" between Nick Clegg and David Cameron and their harmonious working relationship. If the AV referendum achieves nothing else (and I have not lost hope and continue delivering the leaflets) it has exposed their relationship for what it is. A complete page of the "No" leaflet is entirely devoted to Nick Clegg. To support the spurious argument that "AV leads to broken promises" we are told that Nick is unpopular because he broke his promises on four issues: job cuts, the VAT increase, tuition fees and public spending ...
I have, at residents' requests, reported to the City Council the damaged safety barrier in Peddie Street, near the junction with Hawkhill :
Dundee City West Liberal Democrat candidate Alison Burns was featured in yesterday's Mail on Sunday. With a varied career, starting as the first female apprentice at Timex, becoming a lawyer, running a hugely successful artist management company and having a career as a superb jazz singer, Alison has a bit more to offer than run of the mill career politicians Residents have really warmed to Alison's campaign and she is indeed jazzing up the hustings and adding sparkle to the campaign in Dundee City West!
A Fraser favourite ...
Tired of monkeying around Paolo Viscardi has had enough! Or he's just happy to have something to write about that isn't his Friday mystery object. (tags: science, taxonomy) Before you vote on AV, ask someone who has used it. An Irish perspective on the AV Referendum (tags: politics) But What Have The Liberals Ever Done For Us? Andrew Hickey on "the least worst Government of [our] lifetime". As always with Andrew's blog, the comments are essential reading. (tags: politics)
It's odd, but the two stories in Seven Soldiers that have most to do with the main story of the Sheeda are the ones about which I have the least to say as comics. The Manhattan Guardian and Shining Knight are exactly the kind of thing that, were I doing the standard comics-fan annotations here, ...
William Hague was on the Andrew Marr show yesterday and was speaking about AV. Both the yes and the no sides are using the BNP to claim that the other system gives more votes to this party. Baroness Warsi for the no group reckons that she doesn't want the BNP to get more votes but this is what AV would do for them. William Hague supported her when he asked "Will the candidates in marginal seats have to think about how they're going to get the second, third and fourth preferences of people who have voted for the BNP?" Well ...
