This evening, I attended the monthly Community Spirit Action Group meeting, the residents' group covering Cleghorn, Ancrum, Polepark, Pentland, Tullideph and surrounding areas. Although there was no speaker tonight due to the advertised speaker taking ill, we had a good discussion on various issues, including parking problems, bus services and grass maintenance. I have arranged a site visit with a council roads safety officer and local residents for later this month to discuss parking and road safety issues in Ancrum Drive.
Where I have a belated look at Doctor Who: Closing Time. Warning: I think I used up an entire year's supply of both vitriol and spleen on this...
So then that's the end of the conference season for another year. And for this observer the most striking thing (apart from the irrelevence of Labour) was the contrast between the views expressed about the respective coalition partners at the Conservative and Lib Dem conferences. The Lib Dem conference - led by party president Tim Farron - indulged in a multiplicity of often cheap attacks on their Conservative partners. In contrast this week's Conservative conference attacks on the Lib Dems were limited (and mainly on the fringe) and Conservative spokespeople dealt with the Lib Dems in a professional and respectful ...
As reported in tonight's Evening Telegraph, I have utterly condemned the parking charges increases at Ninewells Hospital as a tax on ill-health. The Scottish Government promised to end parking charges at hospitals across Scotland but has failed to do so at Ninewells Hospital, where even short term stays are now £1.90. Staff now pay an annual charge of £356.40. By contrast, the charge at other hospitals is nil. The impact of the charges is that parking overspills into the residential areas of the West End adjacent to the hospital. This parking price hike by Vinci Park simply exacerbates this problem. ...
So she may have said she was Going Rogue in her book, seen by many as laying out her manifesto to be the Republican Presidential Nominee for 2012. She has been seen by many for the last three years as the one that everyone has to beat having been on the ticket last time. But this evening in a press release from Alaska the former Governor Sarah Palin has announced that she will not be seeking the nomination for the Republican Party in 2012. Her statement reads: After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not ...
The damage to vehicles at Barnetts Motor Group on Riverside Drive towards the end of last week was another unfortunate example of mindless vandalism that must be detected and stamped out. I have been in touch with Barnetts' Managing Director to discuss the situation further and would again ask that any resident who has seen anything suspicious contacts Tayside Police.
[Originally posted on Liberal Democrat Voice, 05/10/11] The Conservatives' proposal to resuscitate the Right to Buy through increasing discounts appears to be an attempt to bask in some of Mrs Thatcher's reflected glory. Unlike the 1980s version, though, Mr Cameron and Mr Shapps are emphasizing that each property sold will be matched with a newly ...
Southport's amazing goal Southport v Cambridge from leaguenetwork on Vimeo.
Following the launch of the West End Sports and Heritage Association back in June, WESHA has hit the ground running and, last night, I had the pleasure of attending a meeting at the Riverside Sports Pavilion (see right), to discuss a possible funding bid - along with Dundee's other sports hubs and with assistance from the Community Justice Authority - that would see substantial improvements to the changing facilities at Riverside. This bid is very much the first phase of an ambitious project to improve sporting facilities and the environment around Magdalen Green but represents an important step along the ...
The Press Gazette reports: MP Chris Huhne's partner Carina Trimingham today brought a High Court damages action over a "cataclysmic interference" with her private life. The PR adviser, whose adulterous affair with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change became public in June 2010 – with Huhne leaving his wife of 26 years – is suing Associated Newspapers for misuse of private information. Her counsel, William Bennett, told Mr Justice Tugendhat in London that – in eight newspaper articles and on its website Mail Online – the Daily Mail had exercised its expertise and determination to dig into ...
The Press Gazette reports: MP Chris Huhne's partner Carina Trimingham today brought a High Court damages action over a "cataclysmic interference" with her private life. The PR adviser, whose adulterous affair with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change became public in June 2010 - with Huhne leaving his wife of 26 years - is suing Associated Newspapers for misuse of private information. Her counsel, William Bennett, told Mr Justice Tugendhat in London that - in eight newspaper articles and on its website Mail Online - the Daily Mail had exercised its expertise and determination to dig into ...
Residents are aware that I have previously expressed concern about a number of terrible instances of vandalism of graves in Balgay Cemetery. As reported in last night's Evening Telegraph, I have condemned as appalling and mindless further recent vandalism affecting around 15 headstones. I have been again in touch with the Tayside Police local Inspector and Sergeant about actions our local police are taking to apprehend those responsible. The police have advised that : "Unfortunately the incidents have been on a sporadic basis and there is no definite pattern. We have increased high visibility patrols in the area using special ...
I shall leave it to my colleague Tony Robertson to give you the full story
That was a surprise thanks to the sharp-eyed folk who brought to my attention that we were placed at No 8 in the Total Politics awards
Yesterday I visited Oakland's Care Home as part of a new venture aimed at enriching the lives of the city's older people. The project, Museums Alive, plans to provide many older people who either attend day centres or are resident in care homes with greater access to a variety of museum collections. It is hoped that those who are unable to visit independently the many wonderful collections on offer in Edinburgh Museums & Galleries will still be able to view and interact with unique historical memorabilia. Volunteers from the City of Edinburgh Council will bring the collections to older people ...
...And it's ok to cut cleaners if there is no mess to clean. So it should be ok to cut police when there are no criminals to catch, and it should be ok to cut doctors and nurses when there are no patients for them to treat. And this is how we should approach government spending. Forget about protecting front-line services for a minute. We actually want these firemen/cleaner roles to be unnecessary. They are not productive roles. They are generally restoration roles: Fixing people (in the case of medical professionals) and catching people (in the case of police) when ...
It is with enormous saddness that I learn that the Gatliff Trust have come to the decision to close their amazing 'Black House' Crofters Hostel on Lewis. I first visited there about 20 years ago and I have written before about the couple who ran the hostel. I returned a couple of years later with my regular walking companion. Those who have travelled up from the Callinish Stones to Garenin will never forget the landscape-or the unfamiliar experience of people stopping their cars unbidden to offer lifts. I am please that the three remaining Gatliff Hostel continue to prosper they ...
If you haven't seen it, take a look at News Map. The site takes Google News and provides an info graphic representation. You can choose a country and the types of news you would like. For communication professionals, and anyone interested in news, it is well worth a look.
I have reached an age where the sporting heroes of my boyhood are starting to appear in the obituaries column. But it was a shock to hear today that Graham Dilley had died - he was only a year older than I am. Graham Dilley was tall, fast, blond and good looking. A sort of Stuart Broad of the 1980s. His Telegraph obituary says that his greatest hour was his batting with Ian Botham at Headingley in 1981, but I cannot agree. Because Dilley spearheaded the attack when Mike Gatting's team retained the Ashes in Australia in 1986/7. We would ...
I am one of these sad people who watch party political broadcasts. I like to see what the opposition, who usually have much more money than we do, have produced. I like to see what we have put together on a budget of tuppence ha'penny and a home grown beetroot. I missed tonight's Tory broadcast on account of being required for chauffeuring duties - in a car that had next to no petrol in it - and I forgot my phone as well. Thankfully I made it to the petrol station in one piece. When I came home, someone had ...
mmmm Whopper.... *drool* Obesity is a major problem in Britain. Hell I'll admit it I could do with losing a stone... maybe two to look really trim, and I do enjoy good meals and don't get that much exercise as I travel by train and spend my working day sat down watching screens all day. Individual studies have found that Obesity and heart disease, mostly caused by unhealthy living is one of the top killers in this country, even more so than Cancer. It is a major drain on our economy and on the NHS and something should be done. ...
According to reports that are all over today's media Cameron will not rule out a 'fat tax' for this country. I must admit this is a truly inspired idea. Millions of people are out of work and millions more are struggling as household bills rise so Cameron contemplates raising taxes on staples such as meat, cheese, milk and butter. If he goes ahead with this he will no doubt be cheered on by the usual suspects from left and right before being told he must tax more products that people disapprove of and raise the 'fat tax' further. Fat taxes ...
If the national debt is just like a credit card, then why can't we just transfer it at 0 percent interest for 18 months.
Wed 5th
20:21
Sharon Bowles MEP, local Dacorum Liberal Democrat, thanks outgoing European Central Bank President f...
Sharon Bowles MEP Local Liberal Democrat, Sharon Bowles MEP, who lives in Bourne End between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, is a leading international politician in the world of financial regulation. She is the Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, a position of considerable influence in what is, despite the current financial difficulties, a trading bloc and an economy that is larger even than the United States. Today Sharon thanked the outgoing President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, for his eight years of hard work. Trichet, a former Governor of the Bank of France, will ...
Ignoring the fiasco of the PM's speech today, something caught my attention at Tory party conference yesterday that left me literally gobsmacked. "Call me liberal-Dave" has come out into the open and confirmed that a FAT TAX may be introduced in Britain in order to curb what he describes as soaring health costs and falling life expectancy (and there was I thinking that people were actually living longer these days). I suppose that we should not be surprised.. For every so-called liberal step forward this Government claims to make, the Conservative instinct to re-shape society into some perfect 1950s Utopia ...
Over on the Daily Telegraph live blog, they've picked up my initial reaction to today's speech from David Cameron: In the run-up to Cameron's speech the message from the Conservative Party conference was a very traditional one. Lower taxes, higher speed limits; fewer immigrants, more bin collections; smaller debt, bigger jail sentences. Yet Cameron's speech was that of a different sort of Conservative – one happy to be in coalition with Nick Clegg, rather than railing against him, one happy to back military intervention to protect human rights, one happy to criticise Labour for failing to do more on the ...
I blogged last week about the 50th anniversary of Pick of the Pops. Well, I have now found this little beauty in the darkest recesses of YouTube. It's a largely complete recording of a full 48'23" of a 1964 edition of "Pick of the Pops" with Alan Freeman. It's abridged in only a couple of places, so you hear most of all the records. Very well done to MrJaika1 who put this old reel to reel tape (below) up on YouTube! In passing, I would mention that I had the honour of meeting Alan Freeman in 1975 in Taunton. I ...
TweetThe problem with Matthew d'Ancona's analysis of Cameron's conference speech is that is attempts to bestow something to Cameron of greatness, yet he is clearly lacking of this quality. This is not quite the cult of personality that arose around Blair...(There is a) recognition that modern politics is essentially presidential...and that a leader is much ...
One of the more entertaining episodes of the last Lib Dem conference was the debate on the party's new Quality of Life policy paper. This paper had wended a long but largely uncontroversial path through the policy formation process, including extensive consultation, before reaching the conference – and I was a member of the working group – interest declared. And generally policy that has followed this path gets more or less nodded through. Not this time. The motion and paper got the backs up of many representatives, and there were a number of well-delivered and entertaining speeches against. For a ...
"Facts tell, but stories sell . . . If you're not communicating in stories, you're not communicating." James Carville and Paul Begala, US political consultants [IMG: Theresa May should know better than to believe reports about the human rights implications of cats] Politicians like to tell stories. Anecdotes turn abstract concepts and political arguments into credible situations and events that people can understand quickly. Anecdotes work best when they're about people. People relate and react to other people, their highs and lows, their triumphs and their tragedies, their achievements and their failings. When people act, or when things happen to ...
With another set of autumn conferences finished, the respective leaders have all set out their vision for the future of the UK. As a comparison, here's three word clouds from the three main parties: Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party
I was very sad to learn of the deaths of Scottish Folk singer Bert Jansch and England Cricketer Graham Dilley. Jansch was a founder member of Folk Rock mega stars Pentangle and was a solo artist of great repute in his own right, his guitar playing being put on a par with Jimmy Hendrix by no less a figure than Neil Young! He passed away at the age of only 67. Dilley was taken at an even younger age -52. The famous "Lilley; bowled Dilley caught Willey" stat or was it the other way round - is one of many ...
I just went to Royal Mail's website in search of a reminder as to what time the last post goes these days. Excitingly, it invited me to put this question to Sarah, my online assistant, a fetching avatar whose smiling photograph takes virtual reality to a whole new level. I asked Sarah: "What time is the last post?" She replied: "Do you mean: Why does my mail now arrive at a different time than it used to?" Her other suggestions for what I might be asking included: "Why am I receiving mail for someone else?" Undaunted, I asked Sarah: "What ...
I liked David Cameron's Leader's Speech. It was well-written and he delivered it well. Oddly enough, the transcript is not the whole speech - chunks are missing from the transcript, including an extended comedy routine about audio books. Large parts of the speech reminded me of why I am a strong supporter of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Coalition Government. I was struck by his reference to "a one-nation deficit reduction plan - from a one-nation party". Is he nailing his colours to the mast as a One Nation Conservative more firmly than hitherto? For all this speech's invocation of Margaret Thatcher ...
... has been added to my f-locked contact details post. If you think you should be able to see it and you can't give me a holler, but bear in mind that it might take me a bit to answer as I flit between houses. You guys should see the oven in the new place. It's one of these. It's AWESOME. Anyway, must dash, got stuff to do... [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The Voice is only a success because of the interest and support from our readers. For many people just lurking and reading the site is all they want to do – and that's fine, we're grateful for people taking the time to read the site. You can though help us continue to produce interesting content for a growing audience. Here are four simple ways: 1. Let us have your tips for stories. Perhaps there's something outrageous going on in your local council? Or you're an expert in a particular area and have spotted a story other people have missed? Or ...
So David Cameron has just completed the cycle of leaders' conference speeches. So how do they compare as far as key words go here are the comparative Wordles Nick Clegg Main words peopleeconomyrightLaboureasygovernmentevery Ed Miliband Main words peoplevaluesBritaincountryrightchangeeconomywork David Cameron Main words peoplecountrygetknowbackeconomyone
At a time when Merton Council should be promoting recycling and sustainable living they are sending out completely the opposite message. Earlier this year Labour and Merton Park Resident Association councilors votes to close Weir Road Recycling Centre, meanwhile the Lib Dem councilors were opposed to the proposals speaking in favour of the facility which has been a huge success since it opened. [IMG: RIchard Davis and Dave Busby outside closed Weir Road Recycling Centre] RIchard Davis and Dave Busby outside closed Weir Road Recycling Centre The site opened in 2005 to 'serve residents to the North of the borough ...
Trying to work out how many nuclear weapons needed to destroy the UK is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question but here goes anyway. I'm assuming the data uses American Tons of 2000lbs or 907kg. It doesn't matter that much in terms of the discussion.Worldwide there are approx. 30,000 warheads with a total capacity of about 5thousand million ton of TNT [5000megatons]. So that gives each warhead about 170,000 ton or roughly eight times the 22000 tonnes of the bomb used on Nagasaki. [The biggest ever detonated was 50megaton & 100MT is believed to ...
In a recent report Clean Air London (CAL) announced that 1148 London schools were less than 150m from major roads. This together with the latest scientific research which shows that children who are exposed to high levels of traffic related air pollution at school have a significantly increased risk of developing asthma. [IMG: Richard Davis and Jon Irwing (co-chair of Wandsworth Environmental Forum] Richard Davis, Jon Irwin (co-chair of Wandsworth Environmental Forum), and London Lib Dems The technical details state that living near roads with more than 10,000 plus vehicles (what CAL term "major roads") could be responsible for a ...
The British Retail Consortium is asking for night time delivery restrictions to be lifted across London. Apparently just for the Olympics and Paralympics.... Night time deliveries are severely restricted to ensure residents can sleep. So children do better at school, employees are attentive at work, etc. The draconian Olympic and Paralympic Road networks are 'problematic' enough. Now businesses want to rip up the rules that help Londoners sleep. And we know that disproportionately poorer people live along our busier roads. These are exactly the people least likely to be able to afford to go and see the Olympics – all ...
It is that time of month again to celebrate the 5th of the month with 5 pictures that fit into the theme chosen by Stephen Chapman. Stop by the link to have a look at what everyone else has done. Therefore it is with great pleasure that I present to you this month's selection on the theme of pleasure. I cannot tell a little lie, the weather here for the past few days has been terrible, so bar one of these the pictures are not recently taken (wouldn't be much pleasure in that). However all are from the last month. ...
Many others, including Stephen and Jonathan have commented about the even bigger than usual Daily Mail fail on Monday night when they reported that Amanda Knox had lost her appeal against her conviction for the murder of Meredith Kercher. They later claimed that they were just one of the many websites who got it wrong and that it was put right within a minute? Really? All these people just happened to be on the website to get the screen shot in one minute? Pull the other one, love. However, in a way, I almost preferred the complete pack of lies ...
Tory Councillor Lance Kennedy (when he is not getting into rows with tortoises) has made it clear that he would like to be the Conservative candidate for Police Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall. But he took a bit of a kicking yesterday at the hands of Iraq war hero Colonel Tim Collins who is set to stand for the Conservatives in Kent and who was introduced to the conference stage by Home Secretary Theresa May. Col. Collins is quoted as saying that he wanted to see ex-business and ex-military figures stand as PCC candidates, not "sunset councillors or retired policemen ...
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 550 party members responded, and we're currently publishing the full results. Cut income tax and VAT but raise taxes on property: that's the message from Liberal Democrat party members in our latest survey. Some answers to our tax questions are unsurprising, such as the North Korean style (or, for older readers, the Albanian style) majority in favour of raising the personal allowance threshold for income tax to £12,500, approximately equivalent to ...
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 550 party members responded, and we're currently publishing the full results. Cut income tax and VAT but raise taxes on property: that's the message from Liberal Democrat party members in our latest survey. Some answers to our tax questions are unsurprising, such as the North Korean style (or, for older readers, the Albanian style) majority in favour of raising the personal allowance threshold for income tax to £12,500, approximately equivalent to ...
The Conservatives seem to have a new plan for covering up their mismanagement of Cornwall Council. It's a diversion technique. They are happy to showcase exciting new plans whilst pretending that old problems don't exist. So the new plan of offering some form of bursaries to Cornish students could potentially be a great idea. It's a pity that the plans appear to have been leaked to the BBC rather than given to councillors, but what can you expect. I say potentially good idea, because we have no idea of the details. Where will this money be coming from and who ...
The mutterings of a mutiny amongst the French Rugby players against their troubled coach Marc Lievremont may turn out to be rather bad news for the England team. Animal Behaviour research suggests that when an Alpha male starts to look weak in, say, a herd of red deer or a troupe of baboons, male testosterone levels start to soar. As the French head coach starts to flounder in press conferences, and lose the confidence of the players, the rutting stags in the French pack will be getting pumped up and aggressive just in time for Saturday's World Cup quarter final ...
London won the Olympics 2012. I was delighted. WOW! But the plans for this and sponsorship make it clear that this won't really be the London we all know and love Olympics but some emasculated parody of London. The Olympic Delivery Authority is now asking London councils to impose draconian parking fines during the London Olympic 2012 games across London. So far Greenwich council is suggesting £500-£1000 parking fines and so far Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets support higher parking fines with most London councils yet to respond. I just think this sets the wrong tone. I hope London Lib ...
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, made a vow to end double-jobbing MPs and MLAs. He said: "I don't believe anybody can be a full-time MP and a full-time Assembly Member, and so I will give you this commitment today - by agreement if ...
The Daily Politics on BBC2 is asking Tory activists at their conference who has gained the most from being in government, the Tories or the Lib Dems. Several of them are saying that the Lib Dems have done far too well given that "almost nobody voted for them". Give me strength. It is not rocket science. At the 2010 General Election, 10.7 million people voted Conservative, 8.6 million people voted Labour and 6.8 million people voted Liberal Democrat. How is 6.8 million people "almost nobody"? The Tories got a mere 36.1% of the vote, the Lib Dems a mere 23%. ...
Today, The Guardian's astute political correspondent, Allegra Stratton, has an interesting article about the coalition's new attempts to reposition itself with women voters. The need is clear. Last month, an Ipsos MORI poll found that men were more dissatisfied than satisfied with the government, by a margin of 21%. Among women, the figure was 33%. But what to do about it? Allegra Stratton picks up on the distinction between a narrative based mostly on 'values' and one based more on 'policy' and suggests that the government wants to try a bit of both, but without backtracking on the debt reduction ...
Wed 5th
12:32
Electoral vindication for the Liberal Democrats exists - but it must come at the expense of Conserva...
Good news bloglings, I've been squirrelled away, studying the electoral maths of elections gone by and I've come to the conclusion that Liberal Democrats make their greatest Parliamentary gains when the Conservatives crumble in their natural strong points, specifically the South-West of England. No matter how weak Labour ever look, Yellows will struggle to gain more than a small handful of seats, but when the Tories look bad, seats are to be gained by the dozen. The most obvious case-in-point would be the 1997 election, when Paddy doubled the number of Yellow seats. In large parts this was down to ...
[IMG: 1b] Cheaper "Early Bird" registrations for ALDC's Kickstart Training weekend end this Saturday (8 October 2011). Kickstart takes place 25-27 November 2011, just north of Birmingham.. This is the main training event of the year for volunteer campaigners, and a great opportunity to ensure your team is a WINNING TEAM at your next local elections Click here to go direct to the online booking form. We've had an unprecedented level of interest in the event this year. It is great to see that so many people are up to the challenge of fighting local elections and sending a team ...
OK. I said I was not going to join Twitter, because hey, who needs a thought that can only be developed in a few characters. However after a few requests and the fact that of course those few characters can be a link to a blog post, I have decided to finally join the ranks of the twitterati, albeit with bad grace. Thus you can now follow this blog @CiceroBlog, and you are quite free to tweet up up a storm should you so wish. The buttons are now installed.
If so, then the new history of British Liberal politics, Peace, Reform and Liberation, is just the ticket. Launched at Liberal Democrat conference by Paddy Ashdown and Shirley Williams, it is a one-volume history of the Liberal Party and its antecedents. Currents in liberal thinking are also explained, with the book including biographies of key individuals, election results and a timeline of key events. It starts in 1679 (with a chapter co-written by myself) and takes events right up to 2011. You can buy Peace, Reform and Liberation from Amazon here – and once you've taken a read, why not ...
The Conservatives' proposal to resuscitate the Right to Buy through increasing discounts appears to be an attempt to bask in some of Mrs Thatcher's reflected glory. Unlike the 1980s version, though, Mr Cameron and Mr Shapps are emphasizing that each property sold will be matched with a newly built property at "affordable" rent. This is an attempt to head off criticisms that the Right to Buy reduces the supply of "social" housing. So, it would appear, this initiative could lead to a net increase in the housing stock. Of course, things are never as they first appear. It is not ...
Simon Shaw by Birkdale Ward Councillor has issued the following following on from Pickles latest faux pas- I mean the embarrassment of the man announcing a particular form of waste collection is a Human Right, not to mention the contradition implied in both championing localism and then seeking to mirco manage a quintessentially local service. I am indebted to Lord Bonkers for pointting up the absurdities of Pickles position. Anyway back to Simon Sefton Council's Lib Dem Cabinet Member Environmental has responded to recent Government announcement of £250m Fund for "weekly bin collections" Last week the Government announced a £250 ...
Ah, the Good Old Days, when the Conservatives really let you know where they stood in the issues of the day.
Stockport Lib Dems have proposed a £100,000 boost to help tackle crime across the Borough. £50,000 is for "target hardening" – the Neighbourhood Partnership Teams visiting vulnerable homes, conducting a security survey with residents, security marking property and raising awareness of burglary risks. It will also fund more Neigbourhood Watch signs. A further £50,000 will be made available for residents in more vulnerable areas to decide how to spend for themselves. This will be done through "participatory budgeting", allowing communities to decide what their priorities are and how the money can best be spent.
Councillors have today received an update from the City Council's Head of Transportation regarding improved rail services for the Dundee area. Here is the detail of this : Members will probably have seen recent press coverage of soon to be introduced rail improvements for the Dundee area. For your information the improvements to rail services to be introduced in the Dundee area with effect from Monday, 12 December 2011 are as follows: Glasgow - Dundee An additional seven services will operate Monday to Saturday between Dundee and Glasgow (five Glasgow bound and two Dundee bound). These services are timetabled to ...
[IMG: money] There has been a bit of media interest this morning about the £10 million Kent County Council has on deposit with Dexia. Dexia is a major European bank, which, despite passing "stress tests" just a few weeks ago was falling into serious trouble due to exposure to Greek debt. I'm no apologist for many Kent County Council decisions (!), but as the Liberal Democrat Finance Spokeman on Kent County Council, sit on the Treasury Advisory Committee, which takes advice and formulates investment strategy for the County Council for the Cabinet to agree (or not!). The Advisory Committee is ...
Yesterday, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published it's report into Trans healthcare. (Word document) It's specifically Transsexual healthcare, with a GRS focus, because although other issues have been identified it is probably unsurprisingly access to surgery that is the one big thing that is highlighted repeatedly as an issue. Much of the report will be unsurprising to anyone who has a passing familiarity with the situation: Despite it being unlawful to ban Trans healthcare, (Or do anything that is effectively a ban) there is still a postcode lottery when it comes to services available, with some areas being ...
Liberal Democrats are constantly reminded by their leaders of the concessions made by the Tories in coalition, most recently at conference. The Tory website Conservative Home also harps on about it. A more considerate assessment can be found in UCL's report "One Year On"The problem is that the width of Liberal Democrat policy gains is not matched by the quality whereas the party's losses in
Thanks to Mark for pointing this out to me. A priceless encounter between Paxo and Boris on Newsnight last night. Interestingly, the old devil's advocate Paxo of old has gone. The adversarial body language has dissolved. Instead, he sits alongside Boris like a counsellor. In fact, the whole thing has the feel of two sixth formers mulling things over in their study over a glass of illicit cider late at night after a meeting of the Sixth Form debating society. Boris looks generally at the camera a lot, which is weird. We get into a surreal discussion about the camera. ...
Southwarkcouncil is planning on changing how it allocates council homes. It plans to give priority to people in work and volunteering over others. The philosophy is to end the "something for nothing culture". I'm sure a review of how council homes are allocated will be useful. The council has had a number of commissions – Democracy Commissions, Teenage Pregnancy Commission – so a Council Housing Allocation Commission would be a useful mechanism to decide this. However I fear this is a knee-jerk reaction to support an Ed Miliband speech. But in Southwarkuntil ten years ago we had appalling council run ...
Who was more affected by going into Coalition with the Tories? The soft Lib Dem vote who seem to think we have sold out on our principles (see here)? Maybe the many on the political left in general? Or maybe it is actually the Lib Dem core vote? Those who are fully paid up members ...
North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has written to the Chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee to ask if the committee will investigate the recent RAF basing review. The review concluded RAF Leuchars in Sir Menzies' constituency should close and become an Army base. Commenting, Sir Menzies said: "I have asked the chairman if the Defence Committee will carry out an investigation into the decisions in relation to basing in Scotland and particularly RAF Leuchars so as to obtain a full public explanation from officials and ministers and also to provide an objective analysis of the correctness ...
From the Birmingham Mail: BIRMINGHAM City Council is hoping to slash gas and electric bills for householders and businesses by setting up its own energy supply business. The local authority wants to use its clout as a wholesale energy buyer and solar power generator to offer gas and electric to the city's 440,000 homes and 50,000 businesses at a cheaper rate... The council wants to capitalise on a freeing up of the energy market announced by energy secretary Chris Huhne at last week's Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham... The city council's deputy leader Paul Tilsley is taking up the initiative ...
Local Councillor Sue McGuire has taken action to clear up the path around the north side of the Marine Lake. As Sue explains "I think the Swans are beautiful and there is nothing quite like watching them take off or land but having them on the lake does have a downside - the mess that they make including feathers, weed and excrement." Sue has arranged for the small mechanical sweeper to visit the site as a matter of urgency. Sue added " I always think that if there is already detritus on the path then people are more likely to ...
Vladimir Putin has made a speech proposing a new , Eurasian Union for the countries of the former USSR. He suggests that working together will enhance the prosperity of all the countries of the region. Perhaps it will but, as usual, Vlad the Bad gets important details really wrong. The European Union was constructed by states that were previously bitter enemies. As a result it insists on strict adherence to democratic values and forms. The so-called Copenhagen criteria include a deep commitment to the rule of law and human rights. The Eurasian Union would be constructed by countries with little ...
On October 27th p.m. 14-25 year olds with passport, driving licence, PASS card or a 'verifier' can get a FREE ID4U proof of age card. The Safe Durham Partnership's ID4U scheme is a handy way for young people to prove their age without having to carry a driving licence or passport. There will be a drop-in session at Consett and District YMCA, Parliament Street on Thursday, 27 October between 2pm and 5pm. Anyone wanting to sign up for a card will need to take a valid passport, driving licence or PASS accredited card to the drop-in. If you haven't got ...
Good news for TV viewers, small business and Europe - bad news for Rupert Murdoch and big money. And perhaps the first time I've ever cheered a story about football. So congratulations to pub landlady Karen Murphy for standing up for herself against the big business bullies, and to the European Court of Justice for saying that big cartels can't stop free competition. She bought a legal decoder, paid tax on it, and used it to show football on her pubs - only for greedy monopolists to shriek and fine her. Well, I hope Sky has to repay her £8000. ...
Responding to the publication of the draft Welsh Government budget Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrats' Shadow Finance Minister, and AM for South Wales West, said: "Welsh Liberal Democrats have two overriding objectives for this draft budget: to improve education funding in Wales and to re-boot the Welsh economy and provide training and hope for those without work. Sadly, this 'bare minimum' budget is far too timid to make the difference that Wales needs. "With just one in five children on free school meals, the poorest children, achieving 5 good GCSE's A*-C, this budget should have taken seriously the need to ...
Mike Smithson wrote this on Political Betting on September 17th: If they are not going to prosecute then my guess is that we'll hear on Wednesday October 5th - the day of Cameron's speech to the Tory conference and the first day of my Andalucian holiday. So, today could be the day. But then again, possibly not. You never know. [IMG: Attribution] [IMG: No Derivative Works] Chris Huhne photo credit: Some rights reserved by Liberal Democrats
TweetThe Human Rights Cat, Catgate and all other associated satirical names for Theresa May's almighty screw up are a wonderful example of how a substantial amount of the public understand the news. The matter is a huge issue of embarassment for Cameron, whose inspiring speech today about yanking Britain out of the economic downturn is ...
New government research* released last week has found that non-religious people are just as likely as religious people to participate in society. Contrary to what is often endorsed by mainstream press and supported by government policy, religious people are not more likely to be active in the community and Christians are less likely than others to mix with people from different backgrounds and beliefs. These findings are further evidence against the mistaken idea that is increasingly advanced by religious leaders and Government representatives of the 'Big Society' agenda. The research found that in terms of civic engagement and formal volunteering ...
TweetThe coverage of the Amanda Knox trial has been, quite simply, despicable. Whether the paper reporting called her guilty or innocent, the story focused on an archaic madonna/whore dichotomy and when all else failed, sex. One could argue this is American-style reporting permeating British life as they turn each news story into a reality TV ...
Here's the response I've sent to the Electoral Registration Transformation Programme (electoralregistration@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk - electoralregistration.hat.cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk.spam.com (this is spam bot hidden email address, replace .hat. with @ and remove .spam.com for the real one)) in response to the consultation on the draft legislation for individual electoral registration, which closes on 14 October. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft legislation which has been published to implement individual electoral registration in Great Britain. The publication of a full draft for public consultation is a very welcome improvement on the way in which some other electoral changes have been handled in ...
Here's the response I've sent to the Electoral Registration Transformation Programme (electoralregistration@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk - electoralregistration.hat.cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk.spam.com (this is spam bot hidden email address, replace .hat. with @ and remove .spam.com for the real one)) in response to the consultation on the draft legislation for individual electoral registration, which closes on 14 October. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft legislation which has been published to implement individual electoral registration in Great Britain. The publication of a full draft for public consultation is a very welcome improvement on the way in which some other electoral changes have been handled in ...
Flann O'Brien's birthdayCentenary of the writer of The Third Policeman(tags: sf) The 'Con' in FantasyConSteve Jones has harsh words for the British Fantasy Awards.(tags: sf) Javier Bardem: Let the People of Western Sahara Speak#fb(tags: westernsahara) Oscar-winner Bardem pleads W. Sahara cause at UN"Bardem told reporters that France, Spain and the United States were helping Morocco to block efforts to hold a self-determination referendum"(tags: westernsahara) "Bright the hawk's flight in the empty sky"Jo Walton re-reads "A Wizard of Earthsea".(tags: sf) Zero Geography: Mapping Arabic WikipediaInteresting survey of knowledge production, though I would have some queries about the frame.(tags: maps) The Five ...
Five days ago, I highlighted the coincidence of the Hemming/cat court case and the Thorpe/Dog (+ other matters) court case from the 70s. David Cameron is a bit slow on the uptake and has been going around the Tory conference in the last day or so, telling a joke which he intended to tell in his big speech today: The Liberals used to shoot your dog...now they steal your cat! -Very funny but totally inaccurate. In both cases the MP involved was not actually implicated in either feline/canine crime. My how those blue-rinsed women and retired colonels (with apologies to ...
Today is the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Flann O'Brien / Myles na gCopaleen / Brian O'Nolan, unassuming civil servant by day, inhabitant of The Palace Bar (and elsewhere) in the afternoon and evening, destroyer of comfortable reality by night. My favourite quote from The Third Policeman:"Now take a sheep," the Sergeant said. "What is a sheep only millions of little bits of sheepness whirling round and doing intricate convolutions inside the sheep? What else is it but that?" "That would be bound to make the beast dizzy," I observed, "especially if the whirling was going on inside the ...
I am not entirely sure what kitten heels are but I do recognise a gaff when I see it, and Home Secretary Theresa May committed a whopper during her Conference speech yesterday. As the BBC report Ms. May claimed that an illegal immigrant avoided deportation because of his pet cat. She told the Conservative conference the ruling illustrated the problem with human rights laws. However, it seems that she did not check her facts. As the Guardian says the original reports of the court case make it clear that the appeal was actually a dispute about a rule which dictates ...
I'm hearing a lot of whining about the iPhone 4S in that there isn't a new design, the screen is still 3.5" etc etc. In all honesty so what? I like the design, I don't want a bigger screen, as ... Continue reading →
I attended a meeting tonight (well yesterday as I see the clock just clicked past midnight!) where the plans for a central Ealing cycle hub moved forward. The plans are now a lot of more developed and the Council officers seem to have made a great job of ensuring that the taxi services will be improved (not harmed despite some rumours recently). The overall plan is to have shelter in between the trees so that you retain the trees whilst allowing for some covering for cyclists, pedestrians and taxi users whilst in the area. There will be a cycle hire ...
