This afternoon I had the great pleasure of launching Walk Edinburgh. The event was aimed at encouraging people to take more exercise and particularly the most obvious and easiest form....walking. The event involved many groups showing off their services and good ideas and a good few organised and led walks around central Edinburgh also took place and yes I did take part in one of those. I am pictured on one fun activity run by the Edinburgh Community Food project - hidden behind me is a liquidizer which the bike powers and which whips up smoothies in an eco friendly ...
Launceston Town Council has agreed to allow young people who are part of the Barefoot Games project to produce some street art on a couple of neglected spots in the town. The Barefoot Games volunteers have been brought together by Ben Robbins who works for the Eden Project and have already held a number of events in the town including the hugely successful Pisky Piran event at the Town Hall on St Piran's Day, a garden tidy up at the Orchard Youth Centre and the art auction which raised more than £4000 for ShelterBox. The group came to tonight's Town ...
Here are Rowan Atkinson, Gryff Rhys Jones, Mel Smith and Pamela Stephenson - with a superb parody of pretentious new romantic pop videos of the early 80s. So sit back and enjoy Lufthansa Terminal's biggest hit...
Launceston Town Council is to join the Twitter and Facebook crowd following a debate at tonight's meeting. Councillors discussed the uses that public bodies could make of social networking to promote their events, decisions and consultation and, in particular, noted the increasing use being made of the systems by people of all ages. So look out for both the Town Council and the Tourist Information Centre accounts which will be set up in the near future. Tweet
A few days/weeks ago (it's amazing how much a young family makes time just fly by!) I received an email from someone called Steve Radford who, basically, was calling on Liberal Democrats to defect and re-join the "Liberal Party". This was actually pretty surprising to me, but I guess it really shouldn't have been. Politics is a very odd animal, and definitely proves the old adage "you can't please everyone".When the Social Democratic and Liberal Parties merged in 1989 to form the Liberal Democrats I was 15 and not at all interested in politics but I'd pretty much assumed that ...
The following information was released to Councillors by Cambridgeshire County Council;Cambridgeshire County Council is currently calling on residents to have their say on plans to put communities at the heart of running and managing libraries while protecting services in the face of tough financial savings.A series of public events are being held across Cambridgeshire with meetings AT Orchard Park, Comberton and Yaxley next week. (Updated dates and venues attached in notes to editors).This includes:General meeting on the library review for South Cambridgeshire residents to be held at Orchard Park Community Centre on Monday, May 23, 7.30pm to 9.30pmMeeting regarding the ...
Robert Litherland, who was Labour MP for Manchester Central from 1979 to 1997, died last week. The Guardian carried an obituary by Julia Langdon, to which Gerald Kaufman was invited to contribute a few paragraphs. Here are a couple of them: In parliament, Bob did not mince his words. He denounced Michael Howard, Conservative employment secretary from 1990 to 1992: "The right honourable and learned gentleman is Dr Goebbels incarnate. This is a squalid statement by a squalid minister." He supported Michael Foot as Labour leader in the period up to the 1983 election. At the traditional rally at Trafford ...
My review from today's Liberal Democrat News. Hitch-22: A memoir Christopher Hitchens Atlantic Books, 2011, £9.99 This is the story of a journey. Christopher Hitchens began his working life on the fringes of London left-wing journalism and became a New York intellectual who toured American television studios to support the Iraq war. You can make a case that this was not a simple shift to the right: traditionally, it has been British Conservatives who have been sceptical of foreign entaglements when no direct national interests are involved and the left that has been more likely to urge internvetion. And Hitchens' ...
Saturday's Doctor Who - The Doctor's Wife showed the TARDIS with a life of its own and TARDISes inside TARDISes; so did The Time Monster, broadcast 39 years ago today. Available with Underworld and The Horns of Nimon in the Myths and Legends DVD boxed set, starring Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, K9 and the Master, these three stories offer a distinctively '70s interpretation of the Greek Myths. So do they build on those myths to make Doctor Who a still more legendary epic? No. All Doctor Who is, of course, brilliant, but some of it's more brilliant than others. ...
There is a limit to my appetite for public humiliation of others, and I feel my appetite is somewhat smaller than the majority. The trial by publicity is a loathesome concept to anyone with a moral sense of justice, with media prosecuting many people on a regular basis before they are entitled to their right enshrined in law, to a trial by their peers. The high profile issue of Strauss-Khan,
If you've ever stood on the terraces of a football ground (although sitting is now the default position at many grounds) you will have heard a variety of chants. Some question the marital status of the official in the middleSome question the sexual preferences, or orientation of certain players, their WAGs or BAH*sSome question the ability of players to perform at a standard greater than an elderly female relativeSome question the real estate value of stadium fans are visiting and believe larger accomadation could be found at the nearby garden centreSome also question the visual health or mental health of ...
Luton Borough Council held its Annual Council meeting on Tuesday of this week and it is an indication of how quickly you can adjust to things that I had completely forgotten that it was happening. The Annual Council is the meeting that appoints councillors to the various committees and positions for the coming year. Now that I don't have to go along to these things I can just catch up on the details when the reports appear on the Council's website. But for anyone who's interested but not keen to go to that much effort here are the key results. ...
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service today launched a campaign to get sprinkler systems installed in all new build properties. Their call was backed by John Hughes whose mother and brother tragically died in the Penhallow fire in Newquay. At the moment, only Wales has legislation requiring sprinklers to be fitted and I think that our Council's Planning Policy committee should consider introducing a similar rule here. Sprinkler systems cost about £400 to install in a typical family home during construction. Contrary to some myths, the risk of malfunction is tiny and they are set to go off only in a ...
Here's Ed Miliband's conclusion on why it was right to call for Ken Clarke's resignation in today's Independent: By reducing the number of police on our streets, by halving sentences for violent offenders, the Government are risking creating more victims. They are failing a very simple test. In his opinion piece, he barely makes passing reference to date rape being just a serious as stranger or violent rape. The rest of the article is a run-of-the-mill "what about street crime and drugs?" panic attack. Ask yourself this: if your goal was to make the public realise that date rape is ...
Of course all this talk of the Queen being in Ireland ignores the Queen visit of 25 years ago. On that occasion Queen appeared to many thousands of people. You'd have thought from the news coverage that Royalty was a rarity to visit Ireland not to that little corner of Meath they aren't. In 2003 some Queens of the Stone Age were unearthed in Meath in May. Then next weekend their majesties the Kings of Leon will be making their stately progress to Slane Castle, Co. Meath. Parts two and three of this performance are available here. My apologies if ...
Today Eric Pickles has formally given the go ahead for the incinerator at St Dennis. This is a huge kick in the teeth for residents there as well as the campaigners who fought to stop it happening. The incinerator plans were turned down by the former County Council by a margin of twenty votes to one. Among those who voted no were Alec Robertson who is now the Tory Leader of Cornwall Council. The applicant then appealed and a public inquiry was held with Cornwall Council spending a lot of money on making its case to uphold the original decision. ...
There's a whole host of events in Dundee this weekend covering culture and creativity in Dundee! Full details are at http://tinyurl.com/igniteweekend. Sheena Wellington at Friends of Wighton also advises of their busy weekend ahead! Just to remind you of a busy Saturday coming up in Dundee. All these events are in the Wighton Centre, upstairs in Dundee Central Library. First is Simon Chadwick's cappuccino concert, "Music of the Scottish harpers". Admission is £5. Coffee and newspapers will be served from 10.30am; the concert starts at 11am. Then at 12 noon is the Friends of Wighton AGM. This is very quick ...
Michael welcomes the Royal Irish Regiment back home after their tour of Helmand Province and suggests that the events that are happening this weekend are appropriate and measured.
Last night, I attended the quarterly West End Local Community Planning Partnership meeting at the Tartan Coffee House in Perth Road. This is a good opportunity for representatives from different council departments, councillors and representatives from other organisations like police, fire and rescue and the NHS to discuss local issues and matters of concern and also let local residents raise issues, ask questions and have their say. It was a very productive meeting, stretching over two and a half hours and covering many issues. There was an excellent presentation on Community Payback Orders, discussions about derelict buildings, residents' parking, the ...
I read today that Chris Bryant is wading into the issue of Civil Partnerships in religious buildings. However, he seems to be wading in with ignorance and getting caught up in some quick sand. Now as a Liberal Democrat I believe that no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity so let me release the Labour MP from his ignorance induced slavery. The consultation that has gone out, allows the religious symbols that are embedded in a religious building to remain in place, it does not allow them to be used in the civil partnership ceremony. 3.23 of the ...
Yesterday, along with five fellow councillors representing wards in other parts of Dundee and the City Council's Chief Executive, I met with two senior representatives of Royal Mail to discuss postal issues in the city. The meeting was primarily as a result of the concerns from councillors who serve communities covered by the Dundee East Sorting Office and therefore much of the discussion surrounded the issues about the mail service in the east of the city. However, I look the opportunity to raise two issues affecting the West End : * The Royal Mail intends to roll-out the revised mail ...
As part of a new (as yet secret project) I want to create a list of the intellectual, thinking women in the world. My own tiny mind will not get very far so I'm soliciting your ideas. Who do you consider to be the great thinking women of our times? They must be alive, can be successful in any field and known for their impact due to their thinking. Please nominate people in the comments box and in due course all will be revealed.
It was 10 days ago in the aftermath of the election results in Scotland and the resignation of Tavish Scott as leader that I wrote here asking "What next for the Scottish Liberal Democrats?". Well the first part of the question has been answered, on Tuesday of this week the party elected unopposed a new ...
The Scottish Minister has been quietly effective until now. But how will Michael Moore cope with Alex Salmond flexing his muscles in Holyrood? "You! You should know better!" is how Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland, recalls me greeting him when he first arrived in Parliament, newly elected, and several years after we had first worked together as researchers. And it's true. I can't bear it when friends of mine stand for Parliament. I go out of my way to dissuade them. I hate watching them being torn apart in the media or in that vile snake pit, ...
Well the new Leader of the Lib Dems Cllr Tom Harney has issued a press release. As the recent election results, the councillors in each party have changed due to Cllr Niblock switching from Lib Dem to Labour. Therefore each party's result is as follows: Labour 29 Conservative 27 Liberal Democrat 9 I leave out ...
Gay Times, the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian, The Guardian, Belfast Telegraph, The Week Ask me anything Filed under: Blogging
This is only a snapshot of Europe. It does not reflect the grassroot movements in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Spain is the most high profile and notorious in Europe, with protesters gathering a million signatures in order to ... Continue reading →
Taking a look at Labour's plans now that they privately believe that the Greens have agreed to back them to form an administration, they are threatening a hell of a lot of reviews and reports to make up for a lack of real action. Well, it beats having to make a decision. If they are to be believed, most of these are quite substantial and will require large amounts of time and money to implement. This is what they have publicly stated they would do: Reorganise the Council.Create local consultation structures.Sue Wokingham over Maiden Erlegh. Scrap charges for green bins.No ...
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is due to address Congress on Tuesday. According to intriguing newspaper reports: "The draft of Netanyahu's speech to Congress is ready, and it includes a brilliant idea. On Tuesday, that flash of brilliance will make headlines...(and) will rise or fall on some 30 words. If they are uttered sincerely, with determination and strength, they are likely to be a turning point. If they are muttered vaguely, they will accomplish nothing..." It has even been suggested that the timing of President Obama's speech yesterday was influenced by a desire to pre-empt whatever Mr Netanyahu is planning to ...
Has anybody noticed that Israel's opposition leader, Tzipi Livni, appears to have called for Binyamin Netanyahu to resign as Israel's Prime Minister because of his response to yesterday's speech by President Obama? Ms Livni, who leads what is actually the largest single party in Israel's Parliament, said: "An American president that supports the two-state vision is representing Israeli interests and is not anti-Israel." This is an extremely interesting intervention. Anyway, someone on Sky News yesterday said that the talkerati would have a lot to say about President Obama's Middle East speech. I've never heard of the talkerati before and I ...
Former Guardian's Director of Digital Development Mike Bracken has been appointed as the Governments Executive Director of Digital Efficiency and Reform Group, the Cabinet Office has announced. (Please note the terrible digital photo on the online announcement! ) He will will be responsible for the oversight and improvement of the Government's entire online presence, and will work on extending the number ...
Whatever our views on the merits or demerits of the Coalition Cabinet's White Paper on Lords Reform I hope we are going to stick to factual evidence, rather than the cab drivers' gossip, in our pre-legislative scrutiny. For example, let's get the facts straight on costs. At present about 450 Peers (out of a potential of nearly 830) attend the House regularly, and they can claim £300 for every day they do so TAX FREE. I am not sure what the average number of days of attendance in a year now is, but it seems to have increased recently – ...
[IMG: Clifton Suspension Bridge at Night 3] Liberal Democrat Local Government Conference 2011 Saturday 18 June 2011, Clifton, Bristol Satellite events, and dinner on Friday 17 June 2011. ALDC and the LG Liberal Democrat Group invite you to the main Liberal Democrat event of the summer, our Local Government Conference at the the Engineers' House, Clifton, Bristol. Now that the elections are over, it is time for Liberal Democrats involved in local government to take stock and move forward. Highlights include: Speakers: These include the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg MP, and Local Government Minister Andrew ...
Carrying on with my occasional/more than occasional column for all those little tidbits that do not warrant their own blog post. I have called it 'Things I think I think'. I suspect it somehow won't have the impact of my previous piece but here is a Ken Clarke special. *Firstly I forgot just how great it was to have my ramblings read by so many. It has been what two and a half years since I left my previous role as a Sports Editor to do what I do now. Since then I think apart from the odd piece over ...
Last night we had the pleasure of meeting the Lib Dem party president Tim Farron. Really interesting overview of the last 12 months and scene setting of the Lib Dem party history. We then had an excellent Q&A session with him. Left is photo of me, Rosie Shimell and Tim at the end of the evening.
Everyone on has them the Uncle or Aunt you really want to lock away at parties, preferable not in the same room as your storing the booze. The Duchess of Cambridge had hers on best behaviour at her wedding, the Duke managed to keep his Aunt well out of the way, although her daughters' headware almost stole the show, thankfully saved by his new sister-in-law's derrière. Well today it is the turn of Sir William Dugdale 2nd Baronet the maternal uncle of another attendee at that wedding the Prime Minister.Today he is telling the Telegraph that the people prefer to ...
This is the fourth and last of a short series of posts summarising how the council believes its doing in meeting its objectives. It's a summarised version of a public report, which itself is a summary of hundreds of pages of reports, backed up by data, looking at every aspect of the 600+ services we deliver. This summary - and so any errors or omissions contained - is my own. It comes from the 4th Quarter 2010/11 Corporate Performance Report which comes to the Council's Executive Committee on Wednesday. The report itself is publicly available - you can read it ...
Fri 20th
10:13
Making opinion polls more useful: Why our current opinion poll ratings are actually fairly average
Following on from Making opinion polls more useful: Learning from the highs and the lows the second major point is making opinion polls useable as a campaigning tool. If we could use opinion polls in a more meaningful way with voters to find out what they wanted in small, specific steps, it would significantly increase our ...
Ed Miliband tried to justify his puerile efforts of seeking expulsion of a Cabinet Minister. His article in The Independent today has not inspired left liberals or progressives in his party – in fact, Ed has infuriated them. Currently, 4 ... Continue reading →
Actual research on Date Rape by David Lisak Should be read by everyone, but especially anyone who wants to hold forth an opinion on rape. (tags: rape) This is a comic about self-injury "Now I have tattoos [which hide my scars] I can finally feel beautiful" (tags: thought) Nadine Dorries, It's Not About You Fabulous, fabulous post. The screenshot at the bottom is delicious too. (tags: dorries) New Statesman - What a frightening world it must be if you only read the Daily Express "Every day, another scare, another thing to depress you, another thing to make you angry about ...
Chris Bryant returned to one if his favourite topics (last picked up by me here); religious readings and music in civil marriages. His support for heterosexual liberty would be endearing if it wasn't for his past acceptance of the separate but equal civil partnerships: I do not want same-sex relationships to ape marriage in any sense—several people have used the offensive phrase—because they are different. Although the two share similar elements, they do not have to be identical, so the legal provisions should be distinct. Source He seems to be offering conflicting messages, on the one part pointing out civil ...
With apologies for the move away from political navel gazing, I find myself in the curious position of agreeing with arch schemer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the speech by US President Obama. Mr Netanyahu has said that the 1967 ceasefire borders between Israel and Palestinian territories then controlled by Egypt and Jordan are indefensible and that a peace agreement made on this basis is unworkable. Well, if he thinks this, he must come up with a viable alternative which recognises all the grievances of the Palestinians, such as the status of Jerusalem, the right of return of Palestinian ...
Following the disruption to National Express Dundee bus services yesterday, the bus company has advised me this morning : "The service is now back to normal. National Express is looking at ways to compensate passengers who had tickets and who were unable to get home and information regarding this will be reported in the press."
It broke my heart to say, the other night, that Ken Clarke should go, unless he was prepared to make a proper apology and acknowledge his mistake for the comments he made about rape. Well, he's done that, on last night's Question Time. It's not often you have a politician putting his hands up so openly, saying they've made a mistake and delivering a plausible apology. He could have pulled out of Question Time and sent someone else, but he fronted up and made an intelligent contribution to the debate. He was helped by the ever wise and liberal Shami ...
First council meeting of the new municipal year in Wokingham. Seems that everybody was re-appointed to everything as before. Next week is first Executive meeting of the year. And what is the first thing the Conservatives are planning? "Outsourcing" (i.e. privatising) the libraries. *warning: sarcasm coming* How strange they kept that completely under wraps until immediately after the elections. After all, it's not like it would have affected how people voted, is it?
Okay, so I've been totally converted to Misfits. Better than Skins (tho I still prefer Skins, u get me?). But big up for C4. # Tortillas, tacos and tempranillo ready: so bring it on #Eurovision # Okay, so my faves in order: Moldova, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Georgia. This is done under STV, yes? #eurovision # @artesea Who knew demcracy was so expensive? in reply to artesea # @po8crg Ok, so if Blue win I call the Borda police? #badoomching in reply to po8crg # Phew, just got my vote in for Moldova in nick of time. #eurovision # RT ...
James Graham, a well known Lib Dem worked on the Yes Campaign for 9 months. he resists the temptation to 'tell all' about the campaign itself but has some interesting thoughts. Like some other commentators he think there should have been a 'Citizen's Assembly' first.
So the BBC Philharmonic's latest contribution to culture in Salford is to have people ring in to vote on their favourite movie theme tune with the winner being played at an event dedicated to the orchestra playing scores from famous films. £20 million well spent obviously. What's next - shall we all text them our favourite mobile ...
The Queen opened her Speech in Dublin Castle on Wednesday night with the words "A Úachtaráin agus a cairde (President and friends)" Well it appears that one politician in attendance has followed her example and somewhat shockingly it the DUP First Minister Peter Robinson. He said "Sin é*", meaning "That's it" at a press conference after the first meeting of the new Northern Ireland Executive. Maybe there are hidden depths to our First Minister that none of us new about before. Slán Peter. Maith thú. * A correction from the Belfast Telegraph making it one word and no fada on ...
Fri 20th
08:50
Deep sighs but credit where it's due. Miliband played a blinder for progressives everywhere at PMQ's...
This isn't a post attacking or defending Ken Clarke. Plenty of others have done that already. This is about the politics which played out on Wednesday. While few would defend the stupid language Ken Clarke used, it is an undeniable truth that were he to be sacked, he would almost certainly be replaced by a figure more to the right. And I doubt if anyone in either our own party or Labour would welcome that - as ably illustrated by Ben Chu in The Independent yesterday. So what was Ed Miliband thinking about when he called for him to be ...
Yesterday started with a walk in the park. I was supporting the attempt by the Council to secure Green Flag Status for St Margaret's Park in Corstorphine. St Margaret's Park is 200 yards or so from my childhood home and I spent many an hour there when I was growing up. The place has some magnificent trees and well used bowling greens, putting greens and tennis courts. The playground is also very popular with local children though the equipment is rather old. Local residents have secured some funding from a to contribute to replacement of old equipment and the council ...
The coalition has made poor leaders of the three political parties. Clegg is reported today as saying 'he will not ask Lib Dem MPs and Peers to support health reforms unless they are substantially changed. I would suggest the ineffectiveness of the Whips office in Lib Dem Land indicates it wouldn't matter when Clegg said, his MPs would disregard it. And this is not because it is Clegg, but
Cameron shaking the Prince of Bahrain yesterday will anger human rights activists across the UK. Salman is seeking to repair his country's reputation as one of the unstable in the Arab Spring. Like Syria and Yemen, the protestors being killed for demanding democracy did not, apparently, require NATO intervention. One can only assume from the PM's spokesman's comment '...the situation in
As a Star Trek fan I am familiar with the paperless books that often feature on that show. Effectively, they invented the concept of the Kindle. However, as an essentially old fashioned sort of guy I am stll clinging to paper in the face of advancing science. That is why I am inundated with piles of books I have no time to read and no doubt will add to when I go to the home of the book later this month, the Hay Festival. I also have more cassette tapes than CDs and an ipod, which I rarely use. It ...
Ed Stafford and Charlotte Thompson from Hallaton in Leicestershire are taking part in a 24-hour non-stop 103-mile run today, reports the Harborough Mail: They are taking part in the insane challenge from Nevill Holt to Brancaster Staithe on the Norfolk coast ... along with four other runners in a bid to raise cash for four charities.Nevill Holt, as you may recall, is widely believed to be the model for Bonkers Hall. You can sponsor the runners online at Rampant Run Two.
One of the things I'm enjoying on the tellybox just now is Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle. The format of the show is a themed stand-up gig by Lee, in a small-ish venue. His act is cut with asides to the camera and the television audience as well as segments of a behind the scenes interview with Comedy God Armando Iannucci. This combinations effectively deconstructs the traditional stand-up set. The show finishes with a sketch or film referring back to some element of the gig's material. Actually, I say "enjoying" I'm enjoying it but that's not necessarily the right word. Lee's ...
i) births and deaths 20 May 1926: birth of John Lucarotti, writer of Marco Polo (1964), The Aztecs (1964) and The Massacre (1966). 20 May 1961: birth of Owen Teale who played Maldak in Vengeance on Varos (1985) and Evan Sherman in CountrycideTorchwood, 2006). 20 May 1966: death of Mervyn Pinfield, who was Associate Producer for Doctor Who from An Unearthly Child (1963) to The Romans (1965) and also directed The Sensorites (1964), Planet of Giants (1964) and The Space Museum (1965). 20 May 1977: death of Lennie Mayne, who directed The Curse of Peladon (1972), The Three Doctors (1972-73), ...
Garret FitzGerald, RIP — Crooked Timber By someone who knew him much better than me: "I think Garret lived such a mentally sharp and active life for so long - still writing his regular economics column in the Irish Times to the end - because he was just so curious and endlessly interested in and enjoying the people around him." (tags: death ireland) ias: Garret Fitzgerald, 1926-2011 "He was *my* taoiseach." (tags: death ireland) Edmund Burke and Islam | c2c Journal "The majority of men are in no persuasion bigots; they are not willing to sacrifice on every vain imagination ...
I'm *still* working on my Klarion piece, which I started writing a couple of days ago. It's 3/4 done, but it's required a great deal of quote-hunting that I haven't needed to do for some of the earlier pieces – I know the outline of my arguments, and the links between subjects, but I'm cross-referencing ...
