Last spring I discovered a couple of wayside telephone exchanges in Maidwell and Kibworth. Here is another one. It is more rustic than the other two, which resembled little chapels.
One of the most characteristic innovations of the last Labour government was the introduction of a national curriculum for children aged 0-5. It was even more characteristic that it should have 69 targets for them to meet. So it is good to see that Sarah Teather, as children's minister, is proposing to slim this curriculum down. You can read more about this on the Department for Education website. However, a reader was less than impressed by Sarah's interview on the Today programme the other day and sent me the link so I could listen to it. I see what he ...
It's been quite a week. Firstly, I'll take today's dramatic announcement of the closure of the News of the World. On the face of it, this was a stunning announcement. The News of the World is one of our oldest newspapers and has, at times, been the largest selling newspaper in the world. Four out of ten people read it on a Sunday. To close it, is a momentous move. But let's not be fooled. On 28th June, News International announced that they were merging together their newspaper operations into a seven day operation. At a stroke, the News of ...
In a slight tongue in cheek post, I recently suggested that it was time for the Liberal Democrats to adopt a different colour in the way that Red Toryism and Blue Labour have. Since then I have been wondering what turquoise liberalism might look like. If it aspires to change the direction of its party in the way that Phillip Blond and Maurice Glassman do then it must want to move the Lib Dems beyond the classical and social liberal divide. It needs to make a radical departure from the status quo but at the same time reflect the liberal ...
The highs and lows of being a primary school governor played out today in the space of an hour and a half. I started the morning with a class of children doing a piece of writing. Yesterday they went on their school trip to a local woodland area and spent what sounded like a very happy day exploring the woods, searching for creepy crawlies (aka mini beasts), pond dipping and following a
This was the last of the old Doctor Who annuals, a series which started in 1966 and ended in 1986. It is one of the more interesting ones - not a huge variety of material, with just seven stories and a feature piece about the work of a make-up artist on the show, but the stories are fairly better than those in the 1985 season which preceded this annual; the Doctor / Peri relationship seems rather more on track, and both are drawn in loving detail; there are two stories featuring the Master, obviously the Jonathan Pryce incarnation from The ...
Reuters has an interesting piece on where the decision to shut down the News of the World leaves Rupert Murdoch's political power. It is too early to really say what all this means but it it does seem to tell us something about how printed publications are seen. How we consume and access news has been changing for some time and people like Guido Fawkes have argued that the traditional media simply cannot compete with the likes of independent blogs. If a printed title can be shut down as it was today then perhaps we will look back and see ...
Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, has been awarded a President's Medal by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for his work championing mental health in parliament.Norman says:"'I am deeply honoured that Professor Bhugra and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have presented me with this reward. I have long campaigned for a better understanding of mental health and for improved access to care for those with mental health problems. 1 in 4 people will have a mental health problem at some time in their life, so it is an issue that affects every family.'' Speaking when the medals ...
Note: I originally wrote this last night following a conversation with Sarah. I'd intended it for the new UK edition of the Huffington Post, but they've had a lot of people writing on this and, well, events have moved on. I'd hate for it to not to get an airing, so here it is... "This is their expenses scandal" commented my partner over a cup of tea earlier, "only it's just beginning". Quite what is beginning is still to be seen. Entrapment and similar tactics against politicians phones has been part of the game since time immemorial. And celebrities set ...
At first sight, the "closure" of the News of the World sounds like a good thing for public opinion and a bad thing for the Murdoch empire (ie "News International" for UK purposes) but it is worth a closer look at this attempt by a leopard to change its spots. First up, although the vast majority of the staff at NoTW have been fired, Rebekah Brooks - former editor and now boss at NI - is still safely in her post because Murdoch Jnr appears to think she has nothing to answer for. Clearly just about everyone else in the ...
We last saw Guido Fawkes leading journalists astray by dispatching them to a non-existent crisis meeting of Eastleigh Lib Dems. They wandered Hampshire for days like lost souls. I still get isolated reports of one turning up, bearded and skeletal, sleeping rough in a downland village. So let us have a look at Guido's accuracy in other areas. Here he is, for instance, writing about the phone-hacking scandal in December of last year. Under the headline They Huffed and Puffed, Coulson Still Standing Guido gave us the benefit of his inside knowledge: With the news that the CPS won't prosecute ...
It seems that the Murdoch, in closing the News of the World, is making journalists take the can for News International and its immoral and illegal activities of NOTW, I find it incredible that senior management did not know about journalists practices and I be surprise if that was not a majority opinion. I'd a guess that News International are very cynical people and will probably publish a new Sunday paper, employing staff on lower pay and poorer conditions, also the fear engender by this will keep journalists in line when dealing with the Murdoch's. A look at the Sun ...
Apparently the last edition of the News of the World this week is giving all the proceeds to good causes. May I suggest one final thing, instead of buying it, donate £1 the cover cost to the charity of your choice, if you can claim gift aid on the donation do so, it turns your contribution into £1.25 which is far more than the News of World would be giving up of your pound. One recommendation would be the Royal British Legion or Help for Heroes in light of recent revelations.
And I'll tell you why. As much as I am delighted that the news of the world has been closed down after the scandalous accusations of the phone hacking of missing, presumed dead school children, everyone is missing the obvious. ...
In September 2008 I received a piece of news that no-one wants to get. My mother had cancer. Breast cancer to be precise. It's a difficult thing for anyone to see their parents ageing, but obviously the "c" word has a significant impact on both its victims and their families. I'm sure you know what I mean - we all know people who are affected by cancer and the difficulties people can have adjusting to such a reality. Given the destruction and devastation cancer often leaves in its wake, it is little wonder that the mere mention of it often ...
This weekend was Liberal Youth's Activate event which, as the new chair of Liberal Youth, meant a weekend of hard work and no sleep; but one stuffed full of inspiration. Although on paper Activate is our simply our annual training event for young Lib Dems in actuality it's much more than that. I see Activate as the annual renewal of our movement, firstly because it's when our newly elected executive will meet face-to-face and begin setting priorities for the year ahead, and secondly (and most importantly) because this is when we welcome all our newly recruited members to the organisation ...
The latest victim of the News of the World phone hacking scandal is the News of the World. This Sunday will be the last ever edition of the paper News International have announced today. On a day when it emerged that up to 4000 people have been subject to the paper's phone hacking mentality, something the statement from James Murdoch still blames on some "wrongdoers (who) turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued." The paper was founded 168 years ago, even at the repeal of the stamp act in 1855 when the paper ...
James Murdoch has announced that this Sunday's News of the World will be the last edition of the 168 year old newspaper. After the recent exposure of further phone hacking at the newspaper, including of the phone of murdered Milly Dowler, advertisers kept pulling out, and the situation became untenable. Well, untenable for everyone except ...
It's right and proper that the News of the World's existence has come to an end. But really, given that it's revenues and international opportunities are dwarfed by BSkyB's, it's an easy choice for Murdoch. Rupert will easily console himself that it is an opportunity to get rid of a few staff, consolidate operations, and take a fresh look at how to make money in that particular segment. I hope Nick Clegg does not allow a sound business decision to act as any kind of closure to the ongoing scandal. He should confidently takes this decision as an admission of ...
testrtr
Laura Webb was a colleague of mine who was killed in the Edgware Road bomb in July 2005. Well I didn't know Laura especially well, in a small organisation of 500 or so people, you get to meet most people fairly regularly and I saw Laura most days. She was bright, happy, optimistic and my abiding memory of her is someone who was always smiling. She had what everyone would call a sunny disposition, and the world is a sadder place without her. So on days like today, I remember Laura Webb BBC Obituary can be found here
So Murdoch has closed The News of the World. So what ! The website The SunonSunday has just been registered. The same old rubbish will be churned out under a different title and as long as people buy it, the advertisers will come back. Come on, coalition ! Legislate to restrict concentration of media ownership now. Don't waste a good crisis.
Before he departed for his blogging holiday, The Voice's Mark Pack had an interesting piece on the Total Politics site looking at the 100-year history of the 1911 Parliament Act. Here's an extract from Mark's piece: The 1911 Act had its immediate cause in the 1909 People's Budget from Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, which raised taxes for the richest to pay for military armaments and social works. As he put it: "This is a war Budget. It is for raising money to wage implacable warfare against poverty and squalidness." The sums now seem modest – including ...
Well, the Murdoch scandal is becoming the gift that just keeps giving. The announcement by James Murdoch that the News of the World will close after Sunday's edition was one of several ideas that have been running round the blogosphere- after all the idea of separate Sunday titles has been unpopular with newspaper managements for some time. At one extreme is the steady death of the Observer as a separate title, at the other the increasingly full integration of the two Independent titles. So the closure of the NoTW has probably been discussed by News International in various contexts long ...
TweetA few days ago, I wrote a piece saying that I could not support a News of the World/Murdoch boycott, I simply did not believe enough in bringing down the company because of the actions of a few bad apples. Not only did i say it would result in punishment for innocent individuals, it could end up with mass unemployment. When late this afternoon James Murdoch announced that this Sundays edition was to close, my sad predictions came true. When i predicted all of this would happen, I was shouted down as it being farfetched, I was told it was ...
Thu 7th
17:24
For what it's worth, here's the full James Murdoch statement on closing the News of the World
News International today announces that this Sunday, 10 July 2011, will be the last issue of the News of the World. Making the announcement to staff, James Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation, and Chairman, News International said: "I have important things to say about the News of the World and the steps we are taking to address the very serious problems that have occurred. It is only right that you as colleagues at News International are first to hear what I have to say and that you hear it directly from me. So thank you very much for ...
Wow. It has been one of the most shocking of news storylines of recent years and it has claimed an incredible scalp. The News of the World newspaper was first published on 1 October 1843 and its last edition will be published this Sunday until 10 July 2011. The story can be found here on the BBC website. Indeed, wikipedia are already ahead of the game - describing the paper in the past tense! This is an extraordinary step but then these are extraordinary days and whilst there are journalists who now have a questionable future, the severity of the ...
Who cares about the end of the News of the Screws? If it were the end of the rotten company that owned it, that would be important. It is bound to be replaced by a Sunday Sun or similar – the same culture in the same paper, in all but name. More important still is the bringing to justice of those whose actions have filled everyone with such utter revulsion. Like a fish, NewsCorp is rotten from the head down. We'll miss it – as long as it stays still while we reload. socialise this: [IMG: add 'News of the ...
BREAKING: The News of the World, the paper at the centre of the phone-hacking scandal, is to publish its final edition this Sunday. The BBC reports: This Sunday's issue of the News of the World will be the last edition of the paper, News International chairman James Murdoch has said. In the past few days, claims have been made that the paper authorised hacking into the mobile phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of 7/7 bombing victims. Mr Murdoch said proceeds from the last edition would go to good causes. Downing Street said it had no role ...
I have important things to say about the News of the World and the steps we are taking to address the very serious problems that have occurred. It is only right that you as colleagues at News International are first to hear what I have to say and that you hear it directly from me. You do not need to be told that the News of the World is 168 years old. That it is read by more people than any other English language newspaper. That it has enjoyed support from Britain's largest advertisers. And that it has a proud ...
James Murdoch has just released a statement stating that this Sunday's edition of the News of the World will be it's last and that all profits from this Sunday's edition will be given to charity. This is obviously jaw-dropping stuff and is quite a radical decision by News International to get rid of the most popular newspaper in the country on a Sunday due to one investigation – but not really one investigation but one section of the affair. The tipping point was reached and the company knew that the waters would be rough and they clearly think the name ...
The newly launched Huffington Post UK has a piece looking at the prospects of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, including this take from me: [IMG: Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister] Prominent LibDem bloggers such as Mark Pack believe that for the party to have any chance at the next election the economy needs to improve, and if it does then Clegg will be strengthened by association. "The more the economy recovers the more scope there is for the LibDems and Tories to show their differences," Pack said. "It's common for politicians to look forward to some point in their future ...
Essential improvement works on the Reigate Hill Footbridge are due to start on 12th July and are likely to bring chaos to the A217 for several months. The existing bridge is a Grade II listed structure and 100 years old. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction with a 30mph speed limit, except on the weekends of 30th July, 6th August and one in November when part of Reigate Hill will be closed and traffic diverted on a long route via the A23. The problem will be exacerbated by resurfacing work and water main construction on ...
Up until a few weeks ago Mark Bolton had been the front man for Spanish Football on Sky Sports. He had been in the position for six years and he had something that wasn't exactly the norm within the company – an opinion and a personality. That has seemingly ended his stint with Sky. On twitter he posted on June 3 'After 6 years the season just past will be my final one presenting Spanish Football for Sky Sports. I will not be renewing my contract.' and would go on to use twitlonger to further he message: Mark Bolton will ...
The left of centre in Britain had better figure out what it stands for when it comes to free speech and the monopolisation of power in the media. There is apparently a flash mob, due to take place in front of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this afternoon. Well, at least if it isn't still raining. Then the various protestors will probably head to the pub instead, if I know my protestors. It's been organised by several left leaning think tanks and pressure groups to try and achieve two things: 1. To put pressure on the government to ...
That's Eluned Parrott, the Welsh Assembly's newest member, of course! After what has been a fraught few months for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, culminating in the vote on Aled Roberts' re-instatment to the Assembly yesterday, I think it's time as a naturally glass half-full type, to accentuate the positive. Eluned Parrott AM Eluned Parrott AM Few outside of Welsh Liberal Democrat circles are likely to have been aware of Eluned before her sudden elevation to the Assembly as she swore her oath yesterday as John Dixon's replacement. But this excellent article from today's Western Mail shows that she has bags ...
The majority of voters are female, so why does online politics seem to be so dominated by men? That's the question looked at by a Hansard Society research report published today and co-written by myself, Andy Williamson and Freddy Fallon: The majority of the population - and the electorate - is female. There are female majorities in some areas of politics, including two out of the three audiences for TV debates in the 2010 general election (54.5% on ITV and 52.5%on the BBC). However, at the elected office level, politics is male dominated and comments have often been made about ...
See my entry yeaterday evening on the Left Foot Forward site, about the crisis in East Africa and the Disasters Emergency Committee's slow reaction. I gather from this morning's papers that by coincidence they are now at last getting into gear.
This morning I chaired a meeting in Local Government House for representatives of councils (officers and members) and various parts of the Public Health Service diaspora from representatives of GPs to Directors of Public Health, from Nurses to midwives. We ... Continue reading →
The police are making an interesting use of social media now that they've recovered over 2000 items from an address in Camden Town. See their press release below - and if you see anything that's yours - get in touch! Police in Camden launch Flikr page to return over 2000 items of stolen property. Last October police in Camden successfully led a proactive operation, responding to information received about handling of stolen goods at an address in Camden, NW1. An investigation was carried out, which resulted in officers executing a search warrant. Thousands of stolen items were recovered including, power ...
Here's the video of Rebekah Brooks (then still Rebekah Wade I believe) and Andy Coulson before the Select Committee. It's a fascinating few moments, as it looks to me like Rebekah Brooks was less familiar with the legal position on paying policeman than Andy Coulson. How ironic then that so much of the media speculation just now seems to be around whether alleged illegal payments were made under the Coulson editorial regime, while there is no suggestion it occurred under the Brooks period that preceded it. Anyway, given current developments, it's a fascinating look back at what was said...
As I suggested a couple of days ago, the News International phone hacking scandal is emerging as a humdinger - very much the British Watergate. The Management of NI is implicated, and there is now an increasing focus on the relationship between the Police and NI which links corrupt payments made for information directly to the initial cover-up of the extent and scope of the phone hacking. As advertisers now run for cover, as those whose phones were or may have been hacked express increasing outrage, life at the top of News International seems set to become very lonely. Jeremy ...
The Information Commissioner's Office published a report, 'What price privacy", in 2006, which investigated the methods of private investigators and how the media gathers personal information. And the Guardian, who are the apparent tutelage of the moral press, did not ... Continue reading →
Controversial plans for the introduction of Pay and Display in Reigate and Banstead have been thrown into disarray following a successful "call-in" of the policy by Liberal Democrat members of the Environment and Transport Select Committee. In a dramatic U-turn, Cabinet have now agreed to allow the Reigate and Banstead Local Committee to decide on whether to accept, amend or reject the proposals. Tandridge, Woking and Guildford have already rejected the new charges but I am not sure which way the decision will go in Reigate. Some Conservative members, including former Committee Chair Angela Fraser, have publicly spoken out AGAINST ...
Having blogged on Monday on the issue of housing and separately on why I was backing Mike Tuffrey to be our candidate for Mayor of London, in a two worlds collide parallel universe type event, Mike has written a piece for Lib Dem Voice today on why housing provision in London is such an important issue - and what he would do about it. Do have a read. It's v. good. And it makes me think he reads my blog. I thank you.
It would be an act of incredible stupidity of the government allowed the Murdoch take-over of BSkyB. The Murdoch empire's grasp on British media is too extensive already. The notion that this should be extended at the very time that News International's unsuitablity to be in control of ANY media is becoming more and apparent, is just awful. Let's be clear. Phone hacking of victims of crime and terrorism is vile enough. It is now suggested that NI journalists are bribing police officers. This is corruption pure and simple and it eats away at decency and honesty in public life. ...
Today's Telegraph reports that information relating to every corner of public services, National Health Service, schools, criminal courts and transport will be published for the first time. They say that members of the public will be able to see clear and revealing data online in what Whitehall sources admit is a "risky" political strategy, but one which Mr Cameron says will enable the public to hold the public sector to account. They add that it is likely to expose the vast differences in the quality of public services in different parts of the country and comes days before the Prime ...
It seems that difficult times in the housing market/construction industry aren't holding back the developers at the site of 1 Mill Lane back any more.Residents have received letters from this morning letting them know that works are about to begin (see below).
On Tuesday night in the House of Commons, the nuclear industry moved a significant step closer to getting their hands on an extra £1.3 billion of public money, courtesy of a coalition Government that promised no subsidy for nuclear power. A Labour attempt to claw the money back through a windfall tax failed. And although this was supported by environmentally-minded Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith, not a single Liberal Democrat MP gave their backing. Admittedly there were notable abstentions. Sixteen Liberal Democrat MPs did not troop through the Government lobby to block the Labour proposal – including, intriguingly, Danny Alexander. The ...
You might think this piece by Katie Ghose, CEO of the Electoral Reform Socitey was a parody . Alas not. She still doesnt realise that valuable though, they are you can't win the referendum trhrough local campaigns, you need to run a national campaign using heavyweight politicians, not Billy Bragg and Colin Firth. Very disappointing ...
Yesterday, VN reported quotes from Jenny Jones AM, the Green party Metropolitan Police Authority member and Mayoral Candidate, that she thought the Met were spending too many resources investigating phone hacking. Well today, she seems to have changed her tune a bit. According to a statement just put out: "The Green Party's London Mayoral candidate and member of ...
Made a few alternations to Too lib·er·al [adj.]. Firstly, Soph is now a contributor for the blog, which is a huge relief. I can focus on external projects, without having to maintain daily material. The assistance is required whilst I ... Continue reading →
Much of the furore surrounding Richard Dawkins' asshattery this weekend has involved accusations of sexism. Now, yes, his basic premise involved a startling lack of empathy for the woman he was denigrating, and he used a huge number of logical fallacies in his attack on her quite reasonable statement. But I think that accusing him of sexism based on this is possibly a leap too far. I think Dawkins would have behaved in exactly the same way - derailing, using straw men, invoking whataboutery - had he disagreed with a statement made by a man. Dawkins does not specifically target ...
A leading Cambridge City Councillor encourages residents to celebrate at the Big Weekend and turn their back on Saturday's English Defence League march. Rod Cantrill, Executive Councillor for Arts, Sport and Public Places has invited everyone from the community to join in with the family fun weekend and ignore the EDL. "We have so much planned for the Big Weekend and I would urge everyone to go down to Parker's Piece and join in," he said. "It is this type of event that makes Cambridge a wonderful place in which to live. I would like to see everyone celebrating all ...
It's estimated that well over 30% of the Welsh population speak Welsh as their first language – that is growing year on year. Hundreds of thousands more across the world speak it – even in a distant corner of Argentina – the valleys of a Patagonia. My partner from Rhosllanerchrugog and her family speak Welsh. They are fiercely proud of their heritage and would be absolutely disgusted with the treatment of Aled Roberts AM. It appears that they don't speak Welsh at the Electoral Commission! Now let me declare an interest, I don't know Aled Roberts, I know his mum ...
Chris continues to put pressure on highways officials to insert a yellow box at the junction of Station Way and Hatfield Road. Basically rush hour congestion can mean vehicles getting caught straddling the junction. A yellow box will stop that (entering a yellow box when there is no clear exit can attract penalty points and a fine).
Google Plus has a serious flaw. It's summed up in this question: Why are you following me? I know who I want to share my "I hate my job" posts, and "Oh, my cat is so cute" pictures – but I talk about a wide range of things, not all of which you'll be interested in. At the moment, I've got nearly 150 people following me – and I don't know which circle to put them in! [IMG: Google Plus Circles] So I asked a simple question – what do you want to hear from me – and got a ...
So last night I was watching The Apprentice as I usually do at around midnight. I'm out on Wednesday's you see and watch Around the Horn and PTI at 11/11:30 before catching up with the Sky+ed episode of Lord Sir Alan's latest offerings. I usually tweet throughout my own personal broadcast about how I'm feeling about the show. Last night I was just crushing Melody and Natasha endlessly because they were both horrible and down right awful. Natasha not even understanding the task was truly wretched but then when she won but blamed everything on Susan showed that without a ...
You know things are getting bad when the one organisation that hardly anybody will say a bad word about takes their support from you. So it was today for the News of the World today when the Royal British Legion severed its ties with the paper as a campaigning partner. The News of the World as the most widely circulating Sunday paper with a demographic readership that is liable to be very much behind our troops and the relatives of those who lose loved ones or the ability to serve through conflict would be a major component in Legion fundraising ...
Tory MEPs today staged an open revolt on the Coalition Government's green agenda by refusing to back calls for the EU target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to be raised to 30% by 2020. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has led ... Continue reading →
The Coalition government has agreed to back calls from North West England MEPs for measures to ensure that EU laws are applied everywhere. After months of discussions, British ministers have pledged their support for the compulsory publication of 'correlation tables' ... Continue reading →
Even a cursory look at the state of housing in London instantly shows that something is profoundly wrong. Rents outside the social sector are racing ahead, up 17% last year. House prices defy the laws of gravity, up 5% despite national economic trends. And the really scandalous thing is that it has been this way under both Mayors of London, with no sign of any fundamental change. That's why I've been arguing we must focus above all else on getting the supply increased. Without that, solving the affordability question gets harder and harder: ever-rising housing and land costs means ever ...
Thu 7th
10:05
Meet the Bedford Labour Councillor the Luton Labour Party want to throw off the Police Authority
Meet Councillor Colleen Atkins MBE. She is a Bedford councillor, a member of the Labour Party, and is currently Portfolio Holder for Performance and External Relations in the administration of Bedford's Liberal Democrat elected Mayor Dave Hodgson. She is also one of the two Bedford Council representatives on the Bedfordshire Police Authority. I've covered here before how the insistence by the Luton Labour Party that all three of Luton Council's places on the Police Authority should be held by Labour members has ended in a row that has meant that Luton has currently no representation on the Authority. Something which, ...
Scrutiny is not a luxury, it is a necessity in any democracy. Quietly slipping by in the news is the proposed Torture Inquiry into UK's role and contrition since September 11th. According to Liberty and other human rights groups, the trial is set to be a farce worse than the Iraq Inquiry into weapons of mass destruction, and they will boycott proceedings. There is little evidence provided that torture is an effective form of illiciting information, and evidence generally cannot be relied upon. Therefore it is imperitive to understand who is responsible for acts of torture in the British MI5 ...
I could blog on the hacking scandal, but what would I say that hasn't been said a million times over. Nothing worse than canibalistic journalists preying on their own. Chuck in some nepotism, political expediency and a heavy dose of rich bashing and you have the perfect(ly disgraceful) situation in hand over Wade/Brooks, NOTW, Murdoch and Cameron. There's even a murder enquiry. It reads like a Robert Ludlum novel, dehumanised victims and a race against time to pin the perpetraitors to the wall to stone them. The scandal is diabolical, Wade/Brooks should go, Murdoch shouldn't get BSkyB and there should ...
Okay, I have a confession to make. I thought of Ed Milliband as a useless muppet with no principles of note. I still do, to be honest. But watching Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday, Ed Milliband was brilliant. For the first time he was doing the job that the leader of the opposition is meant to do and holding the government to attack. When it comes to the News of the World phone hacking scandal, the government and the police have dragged their feet. As Ed Milliband said, an independent inquiry is needed. But the phone hacking wasn't just a ...
On the Today programme this morning I heard a sound that chilled the blood in my body. Boris Johnson, bumbling Mayor of London and supposed secret mastermind of Tory futures, was the latest 'rent-a-quote' lined up to lambast the News of the World and its deceitful leadership. During his self-righteous pronouncements Johnson used the trick beloved of public school educated leadership hopefuls in both the Tories and Labour - he dropped a few 't's at the end of words. This practice, made famous by working class socialist Tony Blair, has been tried by David Miliband, Ed Miliband, Dave and countless ...
Enduring image of the day, and, I'll warrant, its first entry in Hansard*, goes to Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Sanders for his contribution to yesterday's emergency debate on phone hacking at the News of the World: ...when one considers the Press Complaints Commission, the phrase "chocolate teapot", or indeed the phrase "fishnet condom", comes to mind. Our 2007 inquiry had elicited a response from News International that it had carried out a full inquiry itself and was satisfied that the Mulcaire-Goodman case was isolated. That was patently untrue. Our second inquiry encountered more obstacles: Goodman and Mulcaire refused to present ...
I said they would. This is what he said back in January when News International apologised for phone hacking and launched an inquiry: You talk about a reputation crisis - actually the business is doing really well. It shows what we were able to do is really put this problem in a box. Not so clever smarty pants now, eh, James?
Francis King, who died at the weekend, was my oldest friend and closest confidant. In the 35 years or so that we knew each other we shared not just our views on everything under the sun but also our innermost thoughts and fears. I suppose everyone has someone like that in their lives, or would ...
Normally the longest stage on the Tour de France is a nice flat stage, with nice broad roads for the sprinters to form up and take the honours on the line. This year the honour of the longest stage falls to stage 6 the run from Dinan to Liesieux, unlike any other longest stage that I can recall it is liable to bring about a new wearer of the polka dot jersey for King of the Mountains. The reason for this is that are three categorised climbs. Two are category three and the 4th is a caterory 4. As each ...
Estonia is a model for many economic policies. A pioneer in simple taxation and the open economy, there is much for other countries to admire and to emulate. Yet there remain several issues in the micro economy that hurt Estonian competitiveness. The relative isolation and northern geographical location of the country is something that will always place limits on the Estonian economy, but there are clearly things that can be done to improve the transport links. However one of these is not a high-speed rail line. Even if the billions could be found to fund a high speed line to ...
Out leafletting I was reminded, not for the first time, of the difference between my own self-image and my actual physical appearance. After being asked if I was the editor of the particular Focus leaflet I was delivering, and replying that I wasn't – just a footsoldier, I collected a laugh and the comment "and like me, you look too bl**dy old for it!" Not quite what I was looking for in motivational terms. Despite this, there were the usual benefits of being out and about listening to people. I was well down the hill in the Benfieldside division, but ...
Nick Clegg has asked Lib Dem members to write to him outlining what they think the inquiries into the Phone Hacking affair should cover. I will be submitting some notes and I'm aware lots of non party members read this blog. So if you have strong views on any particular aspect of this affair drop me a line at rnmorrisuk@gmail.com or add notes to the comments section below. I'd welcome contributions. One aspect that seems to be currently not getting enough attention is the potential for a perceived conflict of interest that the Met Police may have. There is now ...
Your browser does not support iframes. Click on the picture to view the film on the British Pathe website.
Cornwall Council is today pushing its plans for a new joint venture company with a private sector firm to make bids to run services for other councils, health services, fire authorities and police forces. Despite not yet having been approved by the Cabinet, officers are on the airwaves advocating the new scheme which they hope might save money and create jobs. I'm a lot more sceptical about it because I think it's a huge risk to be taking at a time when Cornwall Council should be concentrating on providing high quality services that fit the needs of the people of ...
A shorter week for me this week as I only came on duty Thursday, due to some training I had to attend. At the time of sending this E-cops on 02/07/11 I can report that I have continued to do patrols in Bar Hill, Girton and Dry Drayton when time permits. I and Pc Reeves have changed our duties this week to come in on Saturday 2nd July, to attend Bar Hill and Dry Drayton Fetes, so you will see a lot of us out and about today. I hope that you all enjoy the Fete and so far the ...
Earlier this week, I mentioned my concerns about the future of the Number 4 bus service in the West End part of its route. Yesterday, I met with Phil Smith, the new Managing Director of National Express Dundee over the situation and Mr Smith confirmed that, although the 4 service will continue on a revised route going to Dryburgh via Hilltown, National Express Dundee intends to withdraw the West End part of the 4's route (along with the withdrawal of some other services including with the 3/3A and 28S in other parts of Dundee) from August. I outlined my concerns ...
Just imagine if you could join a political party whose values you were sympathetic with and which was so democratic that you could then effect and change government policy. How amazing would that be!?! Makes you want to join doesn't it? The Lib Dems might not have got much public acknowledgement for the changes in the government's NHS policy - but it still happened! In the spirit of 'using greater force against itself', time to strike a bit of controversy and use it for both recruitment and reminding people of the cause-and-effect of Lib Dem participation in coalition.
The public row between Nick Clegg and David Cameron about the appointment of Andy Coulson, sadly didn't happen. Vince Cable's declaration of war against the Murdoch empire is long forgotten by the general public and only a sense of ministerial incompetence remains. i would love Vince to remind people that he is Murdoch's original foe! Not only the man who warned of the impending credit crunch but the man who wanted to curtail the Murdoch empire for the sake of competition despite Ed Miliband's call for him to resign after the Telegraph's sting operation. Go on Vince, remind people, and ...
I'm pleased to say that the South Manchester Metrolink line is finally open! This morning I woke up at 5.30am to make sure I got on the first tram from Chorlton. I was one of a few early birds at the St Werburgh's Road stop when the first tram arrived at 05.56. It was great to see the line close up and it was a really enjoyable and memorable experience. 15 minutes later I was in St Peter's Square! The opening marks the culmination of years of campaigning to bring the Metrolink to Chorlton. The Metrolink will be a fantastic ...
