Mrs Thatcher's infamous 1985 Bus Act "deregulated" bus services outside London, leaving in ruins the municipal system of public transport that had served Britain so well throughout the twentieth century. Not only were the powers to run public transport removed from local authorities but also any power to co-ordinate services or networks – or to integrate bus services with rail. All that county or unitary authorities outside London and seven metropolitan areas were able to do, was to subsidise services they considered "socially important" – the 387 service to Tring being one such and financed heavily by Herts County Council. ...
As some of you will know, Scottish Roundup does a sort of "What the Papers Say" of the Scottish blog scene every week. Loads of bloggers take it in turns to reveiw the Macblogosphere once a week - which is quite vibrant. I did it this week - my debut review. there was quite a lot going on! You can read the roundup here Have a read and discover some first rate bloggers, if you don't know them already.
Setting stretch targets(*) obviously works for me! While I don't think I will have completed both the DD307 TMA06 and the SD226 EMA by the end of tomorrow in a form I can submit, I do at least now have a complete draft of TMA06 and a set of notes for the first question of the EMA. My TMA has turned into a bit of a rant at the end and it's also too long at the moment (2,273 words). I think I therefore need to take some calm down tablets and then, just like Procrustes, lop some bits off ...
Huzzah! The Carerwatch forums are now back online after Atos finally accepted Carerwatch's offer to delete the "libellous post". I'm still not sure how a link to another website can possibly be libellous but there you are. Anyway, the entire saga is chronicled over on Carerwatch's blog and, in other news, Carerwatch have just launched a campaign on ESA which very much ties in with the motion I authored which Liberal Youth are taking to conference. The sad thing is that, despite this victory, there is little doubt in my mind that Atos will continue to bully critics into silence ...
There is so much good theatre going on in London, both in and outside the West End, that I sadly miss many things I really would like to have seen, being too busy with writing, lecturing, politics and travel. But I was really pleased today to be winkled out of my Summer Bank Holiday home ...
You mean they had one in the first place? I'm bemused by the latest headline in the Guardian, which if true marks a change in direction for the Labour party in its attacks on the government and David Cameron in ...
Actually, I don't know if he would say "thus fell Rome", but he has an interesting book out. A friend told me that he'd seen Mark Steyn on Newsnight discussing his new book After America, about the possibility of American decline. I haven't read the book and I don't know whether or not I agree with Steyn's thesis, and this was certainly an interesting discussion. I remember reading Mark Steyn when he was first a theatre critic and he's really interesting on this now, not that I know very much about him. Including on sub-prime mortgages; he points out that ...
Tim Montgomerie at Conservative Home is irritated and he wants us all to know about it. He's annoyed that the Liberal Democrats are preventing the Conservatives from enacting their manifesto in government. Am I pleased? You bet I am. It ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 236th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (21-27 August, 2011), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. How ICM and ...
There is an issue when a desire for power usurps a desire for peace and for the cessation of death in war. Libya has been erupting for over a week, since the Rebels have 'seized' Tripoli. The current situation is a manhunt for Gaddafi, nothing short of Jack hunting down Ralph in Lord of the Flies, with no thought for the consequences. The Independent yesterday detailed the brutality that is being meted out to prisoners and Gaddafi supporters; dragged from their hospital beds and shot in the road with their IVs still attached. Left to decompose in the sun, this ...
Courtesy the Smiley Smile board Disc: 1 1. Our Prayer 2. Gee 3. Heroes And Villains 4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock) 5. I'm In Great Shape 6. Barnyard 7. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine) 8. Cabin Essence 9. Wonderful 10. Look (Song For Children) 11. ...
The world of twitter has opened my brain up to 100s of new people and their thoughts. Some of them are extremely interesting, some are partizan, some I follow just to keep tabs on the latest rubbish but this afternoon it has been a rather interesting insight into the football fan. Both Spurs and Arsenal fans have called for their managers head after terrible results and fans of other teams have been gloating about how bad those two teams are and how Harry and Arsene need to go. Now the Spurs fans are being complete morons because whatever I think ...
On a number of occasions, I have assisted residents in tenements where the stair lighting has failed. The council's Private Sector Unit has been extremely helpful in such situations. I am therefore delighted that the council is now offering one-off awards of £100 per flat to assist with stair lighting repairs. One of the recurring problems has been in Bellefield Avenue and it is therefore good to see homes there being targeted for funding initially. Further information is available by calling 436880 or by email - private.sector@dundeecity.gov.uk.
ASLDC, the Scottish LibDems' Association for councillors and campaigners, held a "Kickstart" event yesterday in Perth - a really useful event in preparation for next year's council elections. Ace blogger Caron has already done a resume of the day that's rather better than anything I could have written (so have a read of it!) I enjoyed speaking to the excellent turnout about blogging in a joint session with Caron, in which social networking and microblogging were also covered. Willie Rennie gave a great speech to round off a really worthwhile day. Willie talks to the group Some of the audience ...
Welcome to the fourth instalment of our scavenge through the video archives for footage from bygone elections. We've trawled the 1960-70s, 1980s, and 1992 — which can only mean that today's the turn of the 1997 landslide general election... That Lib Dem Punch & Judy show (Available on YouTube here.) Paddy Ashdown: the Movie (Available on YouTube here.) John Cleese's party election broadcast (no, not the PR one, or the local election one... the later one) (Available on YouTube here.)
A lot of the media have recently started to write about the upcoming constituency boundary review due to three of the UK's Boundary Commissions releasing their draft proposals this September. For those who don't know; the Coalition's Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 gave the Tories their reduction of parliamentary seats from 650 to 600 and gave us a poorly timed AV Referendum which we went onto lose, predictably. - It should be noted that according to 2010 GE manifestos, the Tories wanted a reduced number of 585 whereas the Liberal Democrats wanted a shocking 500 parliamentary seats!! This ...
This is rapidly becoming "The Sir Cloudsley Shovell Summer tour". On August 5th we visited Greenwich Observatory and learned about the said Admiral of the Fleet who presided over one of our greatest national maritime disasters, when much of the navy was foundered on the Western Rocks of Scilly in 1707. Now we are at the superb New Inn on Tresco, a few hundred yards from the site of the disaster. We learn that Sir Cloudsley came to grief because he ignored the pleadings of a single Scillonian sailor who told him his fleet was just south of Scilly, in ...
I often wonder just what the purpose of Kent's Police authority is and one thing is for sure it's not to curb expenditure on Luxury cars for top bods, if today's front page storyin the Kent on Sunday is any thing to go by. The government are in favour of elected chiefs, who might just curb such expenditure, however here in Kent the establishment are quite happy to keep the status quo I wonder why.
A woman singer-songwriter who has enjoyed a 40-year career? That's unusual. A Black British woman singer-songwriter who has enjoyed a 40-year career? That must be unique. Joan Armatrading is one of those artists who has been there for as long as I have been interested in music. And for that reason it is easy to forget what an unusual career she has had. Her Wikipedia entry says that she was around in the early 1970s, without enjoying much chart success, and then "in January 1974 she appeared on the BBC Radio 1 John Peel Show". But I can remember her ...
Although few council meetings are held in August and lots of people are away (including me) there is always something going on that's worthy of comment. First of all - I was in Spain during the "riots" and it was rather bizarre watching it all from hundreds of miles away but glad West Hampstead and Kilburn seemed to have escaped the worst of it (although Fortune Green ward certainly had its one casualty - the CarPhone Warehouse on Finchley Road.) The Council has set up 3 "Community Summits" to discuss recent events with residents/businesses etc - there is one in ...
As a relatively small hurricane moves the east coast of the United States in a relatively rare direct hit, can really be the only one to regard the media coverage as ludicrous? Every trite cliche, every slick and empty phrase has been trotted out in support of the IMPORTANCE OF THE STORY, and for a day or two it will doubtless be a nuisance to my friends on the East Coast. It is not, however, the end of the world if New York experiences a bit of sea flooding- and the City and indeed the country are well prepared: Hurricane ...
There's a piece in the Guardian today where various leading Scottish writers discuss the future of the union and what independence might mean for Scotland. I suppose the first kind of thing that strikes me, as an Englishman, is how it's only when I read something like this that I really grasp how different Scotland is. It's obvious that these writers have a different sense of identity to the one that I have and that the people of Scotland and England do have different cultures. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's just something worth being reminded of. The ...
Sun 28th
12:30
I think most people who have dealt with me think I'm a pretty straight sort of guy, and I am.
No, not me. The words of Tony Blair, very early in his premiership, when a lot of people thought this to be true. It took a while for the Bliar theme to emerge... But I'd like to think it could be about me. Or anyone who takes an active interest in politics. I'm not talking about professional politicians. I'm talking about the people who push leaflets through doors week in, week out, who organise fund raising lunches all year round, and yes, even people who blog in an effort to get the message out. But actually, nowadays, I'm not sure ...
I had a bit of an intemperate rant about Edinburgh City Council's decision, brought about by Labour and Tories siding together while the SNP sheepishly sat on their hands, to terminate the trams line at Haymarket,. As an aside, it really annoys me that journalists are writing that the line will go from the airport to Haymarket. Actually, it'll go from a terminus that is about as close to the airport as Kensington Palace is to Downing Street. People will need further transport to get to the airport with all their bags. Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie has made some ...
While my recent trip to South Africa was primarily for work, I couldn't spend a week there and not do some touristy things! The absolute highlight of the trip was being eaten by a lion! If you're in Joburg, visit Lion Park – an amazing place. Other highlights included.... I went up Table Mountain. I saw Robbin Island from Signal Hill. I visited the Apartheid Museum. I used Untappd to check in to some great South African beers & ciders. I discovered just how well used SMS is in South Africa. Every single hotel room should have light switches like ...
Back in May I gave a rather loving tribute to one of the top race tracks in motor racing - the Monaco Grand Prix. A victory there as I stated then, is one of the most prized achievements any racing driver could claim. As an officiando of sporting and Forumla One history, there are in my mind a handful of others that are righfully prized in the same bracket as a win around the streets of Monte Carlo. When it comes to history and motor racing heritage, the only race tracks that can equal Monaco are at Silverstone, Monza and ...
When I was a lad singing in a church choir this anthem by Thomas Weekles or Thomas Mudd was one of our most frequently performed pieces. I alway thought it was by Weekles but I learn that manuscripts at Durham Cathedral show it is by Mudd. It came to mind today as the words are from a collect which I see the C of E has assigned to this Sunday.
I have been using Google plus for a few weeks now. I still use Twitter and write this blog. So Google plus hasn't changed how I communicate completely but the best thing about Google's new service is the fact that it allows you to send links and messages to a defined group. That means that people you know aren't interested in a particular topic don't have to see something that you post. Of course, on Twitter you can restrict your followers but that rather goes against the nature of the service. And if people want to follow you it is ...
The 'mad dog', grand antagonist of the West and founder of hyperbolic propaganda, is no more. Gaddafi and his tyrannical rule have evaporated over night with the victorious revolutionaries liberating their capital city. An Orwellian state cease to exists; but the war is not over, yet. Whilst NATO special forces and intelligence services search for ...
As well as being a terrific product endorsement for Apple, this piece on their website provides a fascinating insight into how news is being gathered and the way journalists need to think about what they do. The jump off point for the story is that an American journalism school insists all students use the MacBook Pro. You can read the full piece and watch the video by clicking on this link. Declaration of interest: this blog piece was written on a MacBook Pro.
Sun 28th
11:10
The worst way we could ever find out about how much the Lib Dems influence this Government
So, the conventional wisdom in some parts these days is that we Liberal Democrats have abandoned our principles and turned into Tories overnight. Except the Tories don't think so. Tim Montgomerie, editor of Conservative Home, laments that "with every passing day the Liberal Democrats are dragging the Coalition further away from the Conservative manifesto" . Sarah Teather is cited as one of the greatest offenders: The Lib Dems are resisting nearly all pro-family measures. Sarah Teather within Michael Gove's department is the leading obstacle. Sadly Mr Gove has become her leading defender and a leading opponent of another department taking ...
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP, Jonathan Edwards is not one to demonstrate self-doubt, nor does he appear to be a politician prepared to compromise on his principles. He is an MP cut out to be in opposition and embraces that concept at every opportunity. This morning's Independent article calling for him to lighten up a bit, is hardly likely to cause Mr. Edwards to lose any sleep. However, it does underline a growing problem with Plaid Cymru, that the rediscovery of their traditional values of independence and the Welsh Language as their main rationale is undoing the careful repositioning of ...
Disgruntled Radical: Well whoopee -dee-do, Greater Manchester Police approve of me ! Indeed. (tags: libdemmery) SIGNAL BOOST: Have you been barred from Lib Dem Conference? If so, please let Caron know. (tags: libdemmery) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
A old 8mm of the classic Harlem Globetrotters in action, accompanied by their wonderful theme tune "Sweet Georgia Brown".
It was Ken Livingstone's poor taste joke about Boris Johnson, Hitler and people who don't vote for him being sent to burn and flayed for all eternity that got the most attention following his interview in Total Politics.* Taking a look at the printed version of the interview (and forcing my eyes to move past the awful shirt and dreadful trousers) there was one other comment from Ken Livingstone that stood out: "80 per cent of my funding will come from the trade unions". Livingstone made the comment in the context of having a go at the sources of Conservative ...
Yesterday afternoon I went to the pleasant little cafe in Abington Park, Northampton. It was crowded because of the showers, and among the throng was a young boy in a Chelsea shirt. I looked to see which player's name he had on the back of it. It was Sturridge. Not so long ago, it would have been remarkable to see a white boy declare that his hero was a black sportsman. Today it is so commonplace that we do not remark upon it. My impression is that this change happened over a very few years in the 1990s and was ...
Today's Telegraph reports on the internal inquiry into the May local elections by the Liberal Democrat's Campaigns and Communications Committee. The committee says the party faced a perfect storm and identifies these factors: * public anger over university tuition fees and NHS reforms; * failure by Lib Dem activists to praise the Coalition Government during discussions with voters on doorsteps;
We had a wonderful trip today on a glass-bottomed boat. The captain was a real star, wonderfully explaining the geography, history and ecology of Scilly. What I found astonishing is how shallow the water is within the ring of islands. It is mostly around 30 feet deep, our guide said, but reaches up to 60 feet in places. Throughout most of our trip you could easily see the sea bed. It was no deeper than Fowey harbour, to use a comparison of which I have a smidgeon of knowledge. At low spring tide you can, famously, walk between the islands. ...
One of my rereads of classic sf, the story of a very near future America which has been taken over by a sexually repressive theocracy, told by a woman who is being kept as a breeding slave by one of its leaders. Just a few points which jumped out at me: I accidentally read this at the same time as Uncle Tom's Cabin, which made for some interesting resonances - here, the Christians are very much the bad guys (and women), but people are again property, especially for sexual exploitation, and there is again a network to smuggle escapees to ...
The full scope of the 'climate-change' conspiracy | slacktivist A conspiracy promoting lies about something as vast, global and pervasive as the climate would have to be as vast, global and pervasive as the climate itself. (tags: climatechange)
Labour have been keen to emphasise (repeatedly) that the UK is governed by basically a Tory government - propped up by the nefarious Lib Dems. And for much of the last year this has been the accepted case by the so-called liberal media - and with some justification from the closeness with which Clegg was wanting to be seen to be to Cameron. But this view is changing - partly because of a change in attitude at the top of the party, which has finally realised being Cameron's 'city cousins' is as damaging to the Lib Dem vote as being ...
