In the quest to deliver the remainder of my job as Regional Secretary, I am hard at work on election business this evening and, in particular, one of the two elections I have promised to conduct. Whilst I'm not aware of the logic behind it, our Regional Constitution allows for the following vacancies to be filled by, and from, the ranks of our Parliamentarians;one member of the Regional Executiveone member of the Regional Campaigns Committeetwo members of the Regional Policy CommitteeAnd do we have a classy list of voters, and potential candidates...four MPs - Messrs Huppert, Lamb, Russell and Wrightthree ...
On Sunday, ahead of the publication of the first tranche of university application figures, I posed five questions for judging what they meant. Now the full figures are out, how to do they compare to those five tests? Let's see... When comparing figures, how do they look when counted not in simple numbers but as a proportion of the 18 year old population? The absolute number of applications is down compared to the previous year, but so too was the birth rate 18 years ago compared to the previous year, as Stuart pointed out in a comment on my earlier ...
Mon 24th
22:16
LibLink: Nick Thornsby - A simple change to the tax system could ease Britain's economic woes
Over on Comment is free, Nick Thornsby is arguing for income tax cuts: Political leaders in the eurozone must sort out their problems - and there is finally some hope on that front. When it comes to inflation, while George Osborne's options to tackle the problem itself may be limited, he can certainly take action to negate its effects on the people on whom it impacts most severely. One of the most effective things he could do is to let those on low and middle incomes keep more of the money they earn. The coalition agreement already commits the government ...
[IMG: Mr Puss] I frequently post using my phone, however for whatever reason the app I use conflicts with the new Iphone operating system and has eaten my posts! The picture is of the family cat, Mr Puss who has made it his mission in life to partake in Sunday lunch, often lunging toward the roast when least expected, swine! but unlike Apple I can forgive him, so far he has yet to succeed with the big prize, although he is not above begging as above.
My weekly West End surgeries started again today, with the commencement of the new school term. My surgery details are as follows : Mitchell Street Centre (The Base) (click to see map) - Mitchell Street - on Mondays at 4.20 pm prompt (except school holidays). Harris Academy (Room 407 next to main reception) (click to see map) - Perth Road - on Mondays at 4.50 pm prompt (except school holidays). Blackness Primary School (Staff Room on ground floor) (click to see map) - Pennycook Lane - on Thursdays at 6.15 pm prompt (except school holidays). At tonight's Development Management Committee, ...
I was very saddened to read in today's Independent that Nigel Farrell has died. Only a few weeks before his untimely death at 58 years old, I was reading an interview with him in a local Isles of Scilly bulletin. He said he was in the midst of filming the second series of Island Parish on Barra, and looking forward to the future. I have to say that I have been glued to Mr Farrell's programmes for several years. Having been born a few miles from Boscastle, Seaside Parish got me hooked on Farrell's "feel good" documentary style which was ...
Spotted whilst out canvassing for Emily Fieran-Reed in Islington tonight: The by-election polls on Thursday 10 November. Details of how to help Emily's campaign are on Flock Together.
Just to let you know that there's a special offer on the Liberal Drinks beermats! Now you can get 8 for £1 (+50p p&p) until the end of October. Details at http://bit.ly/LibDrinksBeermatsOffer [IMG: Liberal Drinks Beermats and a pint of beer]
Me at Ancrum Drive parking At lunchtime today, along with almost 30 residents of Ancrum Drive, the secretary of the Community Spirit Action Group and a City Council Road Safety Officer, we had an excellent on-site discussion about the parking, road safety and related issues in Ancrum Drive. Numerous aspects were discussed that will be taken forward by the City Council. I would like to thank all Ancrum Drive residents for their very productive input today - and to those residents who could not attend today but who have phoned or e-mailed me with helpful views.
So, two years as the Regional Secretary in the East of England are nearly at an end. And, what, you may wonder, have I achieved in that time? Here's the list...reconnected the Regional Executive to its Constitutiondesigned a framework for handling complaints for the Regional Partywritten some election rules, plus guidance for the external returning officerchanged the term length of the Regional ExecutiveWhen put in written form, it doesn't feel like very much, perhaps because, unlike most Regional Secretaries, I don't have much to do. According to our Constitution; 3.7 The Secretary shall be responsible for (a) arranging the meetings ...
"Mony, mony, get money still - Let virtue follow if it will." That was what William Blake said he heard when he listened to the sound of London. When you listen to the City of London now, with its subsidised banks and their lights blazing all night - the very centre of the global financial engine - you wonder whether there are any other noises at all. Certainly any spiritual noises. The mosque in Whitechapel, just outside the City, has nearly 25,000 worshippers on its books; many of them attend four times a day. Compare that to the echoing dusty, ...
As reported in tonight's Evening Telegraph, I have condemned the appalling attack on a young woman late on Friday on Lochee Road near the junction with Cleghorn Street. Attacks of this nature are thankfully unusual in the local area but it is vital that anyone who was in the vicinity between 10pm and 11.30pm last Friday evening and who has any information - no matter how insignificant they think it may be - contacts Tayside Police - see http://www.tayside.police.uk/Contact-Us.
TweetAccording to the Daily Mail, proposals to tax cosmetic surgery is persecution of the plastic surgeons performing the operations. To demonstrate how simply 'outrageous' such a proposal is, we are treated to an interview with Imogen Thomas, whom has had her breasts enlarged. Imogen's professional opinion is as follows; 'Some people - women especially - ...
TweetToday I was in Westminster, perusing the joys of Pugin and observing the slow but sure encroachment on the right to protest. Parliament Square and the ludicrous proposals to "save the grass" by the London Mayor, are now surrounded by wire fencing (attractive, post modern representation of Pugin architecture? No). At the same time, rent-a-protest ...
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal was originally planned to go from Leicester via Market Harborough to Northampton, there joining the Grand Union main line. But when construction began, says the Old Union Canals Society website: it became obvious that the budget was not going to allow for completion of the canal, so a decision was taken to stop at Debdale in 1797. The tiny hamlet became a busy canal terminus, with a purpose-built wharf, warehouse and pub (The Debdale Wharf Inn), and goods were stockpiled for onward transportation by horse and cart to the turnpike (A6) and thence to Harborough ...
TweetThe summer riots provides endless source of fascination for the so-called middle classes. Barely a day goes by without a news report, TV reports or radio report or discussion panel or examination or study of why the people whom decided to disobey the law and league shops did what they did. Today, BBC News reveals ...
I've not blogged in over two weeks, and there is a fairly good reason for that. The legs have been put to work to climb staircases and also to walk fast in the race against the campaigners best/worst friend - the infamous Service button. My Resident Surveys are coming in thick and thin and I thank all residents who have already responded within such as short space of time - for those who have not yet received them they are on their way. A few lunchtime discussions about the Economy have also been enough to make even the most relaxed ...
Down among the Finsbury Square campers, the Standard quotes "student journalist Lucy McKay, 19, on her "amazing" experience, as she says: "We got lectures on the Cuban economy and free sandwiches from Pret a Manger. The workers seemed to be delivering them without their managers knowing. At night there is a cinema." It all sounds too groovy for words. A cinema in which to watch Fight Club, V for Vendetta and that West Wing episode where Toby meets the anti-globalisation protesters. A contraband sandwich lunch! And lectures on Cuba. Yes, Cuba. Lucy, if you're reading this, you may want to ...
I have seen a few comments on twitter and via e-mail that Pompey fans do not want Martin O'Neill to be their next manager. These people make my head hurt. Martin O'Neill is so far outside our wildest dreams (and my dreams have been wild lately – this morning I was visiting someone in prison but she was smoking hot) but who cares about my dreams. My dream of Martin O'Neill being next Pompey manager is not going to be realised but with the news that Sven has got the sack at Leicester City the bookies are all around evens ...
Julian Glover wrote his last column for the Guardian today before starting work as a speechwriter for David Cameron. I am sorry to see him go. This is not just because he was the first person to commission me to write for the paper's website. It is also because in the last year he has been one of the few Liberal voices on the newspaper, which is rapidly degenerating into a sort of horror comic for people who work in the public sector. As he put it today: I believe that basic values of individuality, opportunity and freedom - which ...
So, I've just got back from Liberal Youth Conference (#lyconf). It was a lot of fun and I caught up with some amazing people (and, or so my symptoms would indicate, caught a cold from them). But, aside from the fun parts, there was a more serious nature to it. I had a chance to catch up with LY Chair, Tom Wood, about LY's efforts to ensure the government listens to the ESA motion passed by Lib Dem autumn conference. There are quite a few things I've learned, some of which I can't and won't repeat because I was told ...
The obsessive personality disorders of various rightwing Tory MPs are on display today. Europe is back at the heart of Tory troubles. And the right is making as much sound as possible on the vote due shortly in the Commons. Whether or not this will turn into a significant rebellion or a whimpering whine is yet to be seen. My experience of the last government was that there would be a great deal
Just back from the Commons chamber where I witnessed for over two hours the spectacle of the Prime Minister and then the Foreign Secretary walking the tightrope between economic reality and their Tory backbenchers' political posturing. I am a keen supporter of the European Union. I have always wanted Britain to be an active and ...
There was an interesting discussion on twitter about what is required to do to improve the lot of cyclists. Sometimes 140 characters is not enough to express an opinion, so here goes with nearly unlimited characters !! The problem is lack of infrastructure, a car culture that makes cycling scary, and police that don't appear to think cyclists are a priority. No cautions, for parking in cycle lanes, no cautions for stopping in advanced stop areas, no interest when difficult junctions are pointed out, just my experiences. As a councillor I have never been asked about cycling provision. I was ...
Given the bile spewed out almost daily by certain national newspapers over recent years, telling us why the European Union is at the heart of every problem facing Britain today, it is perhaps surprising that most people in the UK do not give a stuff about Europe. Indeed, people actually care more about drug abuse, morality or the environment than they do about Europe! I say this with confidence. The monthly Ipsos MORI issues tracker ,which is probably one of the best trackers of the state of the nation's collective mind, shows that only about 3% of the population think ...
There's an old saying in American politics - run against things that are unpopular. And it's a lesson the Lib Dems need to learn urgently in Scotland. As the SNP leave their annual conference to campaign for Scottish independence in a referendum at a time of their choosing and with questions of their own making - the odds are stacked in their favour. In Alex Salmond the SNP have the most popular politician north of the border - by several furlongs. His administration governs with a sensitive and populist ear to Scots vaguely corporatist, leftist and self pitying desires. And ...
TweetThe news is full of the reduction in applications the University today, with something of an element of glee about it. BBC Radio Five Live reported at length on the article during Victoria Derbyshire's show this morning. The news reporter was very keen to point out that; Students are having to think about what they ...
First in a new line of Lost Stories of the Fifth Doctor from Big Finish, written by BF regular John Dorney from an idea by Barbara 'Enlightenment' Clegg. These Lost Stories have been a bit hit and miss, with a substantial fraction of them perhaps better off lost, but this is a very strong start to this sequence, set just after Arc of Infinity, exploring an enclosed totalitarian ideological planetary regime, with a sinister influence behind it all. I had read a DWM review which commented that although the educated listener can guess what is likely to be revealed at ...
Latest of the Companion Chronicles range of Big Finish plays. Jo Grant tells us over and over of how she meets her end. Fairly obvious what is really going on from an early stage, but Katy Manning does it with charm and conviction.
this is a response to Henry Tam's post "Debt or No Debt" Cameron was talking about paying off personal debt and banks leading to businesses not individuals, so it's actually not a contradiction. Debt isn't that much of a problem if you know how to pay it off; the problem was the deficit. Because Osbourne's "plan A" (or "non-plan") isn't producing the growth he required, we're still borrowing an NHS every year, just as Labour left things; the opposite of knowing how to pay it off, we're uncontrollably borrowing more and more! The real problem with Labour's borrowing wasn't their ...
Around a year ago I read a book which fundamentally changed my political and economic thinking. After reading The Spirit Level and how economic inequality harms society my views have changed dramatically. I even spoke at the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference about it and this was before the Occupy Wall Street type demonstrations had begun ...
I think there may be! Durham County Council want to know if you have any objections to them extinguishing all public rights of way on Belle Vue in the area of this map. The Public Rights of Way section at County Hall recognises that although there are no recorded public rights of way on the site, such rights may exist. They go on to say that "It is intended that following the development (of Academy and Leisure Centre) a network of public footpaths will be formally provided around the site, and the second plan gives an indication of these routes." ...
One thing that did emerge from the SNP's conference in Inverness was that they too joined with the Liberal Democrats, while welcoming the progress of the SaBTO report in September, recognising that the one year deferral period for men who have sex with men is wholly inadequate. Glasgow Cathcart delegate Stewart McDonald said: "We have a situation where two men in a perfectly safe, healthy sexual relationship are prevented from doing what the Blood Transfusion Service calls 'something amazing': they will be prevented from helping to save lives. "Most gay men do not have, and never will have HIV. Their ...
Peter Davison's Doctor battles Anthony Ainley's Master in this DVD box set of the Doctor Who stories The King's Demons and Planet of Fire. The Time Lords clash across the gorgeous locations of a medieval castle and the island of Lanzarote; each time, the Master takes advantage of the local religion (who is the true demon? A tricky one, with him on the cover) and a shape-shifting robot, Kamelion. Which of the Doctor's companions will remove the most clothes? Which of them will announce that he's not a naughty boy, but the messiah? And will Magna Carta die in vain? ...
September marks the return to school and college, and the unwelcome increase of the litter problem between Campkin Road shops and Cambridge Regional College. This is an issue that the City have been working hard on to try and deal with.The City Council has taken a multi-pronged approach. Working with CRC to educate pupils, and sending the enforcement team out with the power to issue £70 on the spot fines for those caught littering. The second part is litter picking. The City Council teams pick daily in the affected area, and both Tesco and Ocean Dragon are also providing litter ...
What do Peter Tatchell and the Christian Institute have in common? Before you answer, this isn't some deeply unfunny jibe from a Coalition colleague, but one of many unexpected alliances which have formed to oppose Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. This rather insidious Section criminalises all those who use "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour" within the hearing or sight of a person "likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress". It also applies to those who display "any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting". A rather ...
Interim data for numbers of students applying for university places in 2012 has today been published by UCAS. The 9% drop in applications has unsurprisingly been taking most of the headlines. However, just looking at the 9% decline and attempting to suggests that this is either "good news" or "bad news" for the coalition's policies is far too simplistic. UCAS themselves say "It is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward" and I'm sure that view is correct. However, there are some interesting nuggets in the data released nonetheless. The first nugget is apparent when you compare ...
Mon 24th
14:37
Some data for anyone interested in this ridiculous story about a massive drop in student application...
Anyone who read the papers today will have noticed the headlines of the 'shocking' reduction in the number of applications to universities: applicants from within the UK has fallen by 11.9% and applicants from within the EU has dropped by 9.3%. They go on to quote even more stats such as Mature students have been particularly deterred ...
The debate within the Liberal Democrats on whether we should stand candidates for the Police and Crime Commissioners has been an interesting one. Not just because the principle of standing candidates is not something that usually provokes debate (although obviously some areas struggle to find enough council candidates) but because the two sides of the ...
As Parliament prepares to debate Europe I offer up a couple more thoughts to my other post. * Europe is not a perfect system by any stretch of the imagination and needs serious reform. There are concerns over how it runs, the powers it has and how it conducts its business but the solution isn't in a bail out which is ultimately what will probably occur if a referendum is to happen. If you needed complicated leg surgery so that you could walk would you not do it or would you lop the leg clean off and live without? It ...
Attempting as I just was to catch a bus from Whitehall to that barber in Soho that charges a fiver (and they do haircuts as well), I chanced upon a demo calling for Dave Hartnett to resign as head of HMRC. Despite good policing, they (many of them kids) were blocking the pavement something rotten and I had to glare at one of them to get her to move. The bus stop was allegedly still operating but it was practically impossible to get a bus there, so I went to the next stop a few yards down. There was at ...
There cannot be many heads of state who would devote a video blog to the virtues of badminton. Watch through to the end for footage of presidential badminton-playing, and see if you can spot the name-check of Yuri Gagarin at about 2:17 (which is an ad-lib, not in the published script). PS - There is a theory going round the internets that Medvedev's opponent is Vladimir Putin, but I think it's too good to be true - you can't see his face clearly, and if it really was him I think you would be left in no doubt. PS again ...
The Fire Authority's Liberal Democrat team has been leading opposition to the Conservative administration's plan to privatise the Fire Brigade Control Room, which handles 999 calls. During the days of the civil disturbances the control room handled two-to-three times the usual number of calls, with unprecedented peaks in the volume of calls on the nights of 8th and 9th August (when the riots took place). Despite widespread praise for the dedication and effectiveness of the Control staff, the Conservatives have singled them out for privatisation in the hope of making budget savings. An excellent Greater London Assembly Member, Mike Tuffrey, ...
Saturday saw the North East Lib Dem regional conference held in Gateshead Civic Centre and I was there with my camera to snap a few shots. On arrival I was greeted by Labour Councillor Peter Mole on the stairs leading to the civic suite. I was a bit surprised by his presence, thinking to myself, he couldn't possibly have defected to us as the Lib Dems are far too radical and progressive an
It has been a monumental weekend for the Arab Spring. Gaddafi's capture in Libya and the fall of Sirte made yesterday's proclamation of National Liberation in Libya feasible and it, as sure as anything, will have sent a stark warning to the likes of Syria's Assad who continue to crack down on internal dissent. It was an extraordinary spectacle to watch in the cradle of the Libyan uprising in Benghazi and whilst there's many difficult obstacles to overcome on the hoped for route to an open and democratic future, Libya don't have to look to far for a fine example ...
Mon 24th
12:53Tim Farron MP writes... EU referendum: the Conservatives are not acting out of patriotism
This is not likely to win me any votes, but I am proudly pro-Europe and in favour of our continued membership of the EU. That doesn't make me an apologist for every aspect of the EU: the EU could definitely operate more transparently, efficiently and effectively, and we as Liberal Democrats should say so more often and with more conviction. Nevertheless, our main challenge has to be to win hearts and minds in favour of our broader membership of the EU, and reverse the completely poisonous anti-European narrative. So many of those who were so indignant this summer about Mr ...
Mon 24th
12:41
Can someone tell me what would be wrong with a multi-speed europe (but not before the tories have fi...
What a huge number of issues the planned Tory revolt throws up today. First it demonstrates that there is only a sticking plaster over the deep division within their party over Europe - and remember, dear reader, which party signed us up to Europe, signed us up to the Single European Act and signed us up to the Maastricht Treaty and, of course, which party has NEVER offered voters a say in a referendum on any aspect of our relationship with Europe. Aha, it was the Tories (harmonica riff here if you're a fan of Manfred Mann). Second, it shows ...
I'm all for the UK having a Parliament Week, to encourage people (including schoolchildren) to celebrate Parliament as an institution. Is it a coincidence that the first Parliament Week coincides with Bonfire Night, when we commemorate the foiling of a plot to blow Parliament up? I guess there are worse ways to interest kids in Parliamentary history. By the way, if any kids are being taught that there is now a general consensus that Guy Fawkes didn't do it - no, he did it. And he very nearly succeeded, as well.
At their party conference last month, the Liberal Democrats emphatically supported a motion to decriminalise the use of all drugs. Once again the Lib Dems have shown that they are light years ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives when it comes to pursuing a sensible drugs policy. This will be music to the ears of any classical liberal and it has also received the support of the UK drugs Policy Commission. Their chief executive, Roger Howard, has pointed out that empirically, decriminalisation does not lead to increased drug use. In Portugal, a country that decriminalised the personal possession of ...
Over on the BBC website Will Self writes: Racism is rarely a sole cause of social injustice, but alongside other factors it can limit people's social mobility, says Will Self... All too often pundits and policymakers seek a single cause for social stratification when they should accept that in a nation where inequality in real monetary terms is increasing – and has been doing so for quite some time despite the so-called boom years – the reasons for being at the bottom of the heap are manifold. It's not a case of class or family or education or money or ...
[IMG: David Cameron] The more I read tabloid newspaper coverage about how David Cameron is betraying traditional Conservative concerns over Europe, the more I think he's played a tactical blinder... because he's got acres of press coverage saying he isn't a traditional, old-style Tory. Which is just what he wants.
Below is a link to a video taken at last week's IRU awards in Belgium
Or, alternatively: We Need To Talk About We Need To Talk About Kevin. There are some films that you look forward to seeing. For me, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was one such, as I described in some detail in my review. Lynne Ramsay's adaptation of Lionel Shriver's disturbing novel, on the other hand, was something to approach with trepidation. For those unfamiliar with the book, it deals with the relationship between a mother, Eva, and her son, the titular Kevin. The boy is a monster who eventually commits a Columbine-style atrocity at his school. Shriver skilfully explores the nature vs ...
Catching up to where this series really should be at last we get to F. It could have been Frankie goes to Holywood, or maybe a bit of Fatboy Slim. There is also some Fine Young Cannibals on tape (therefore from my student days) or more recently some Fun Loving Criminals. Or back to Crowded House with something from Tim Finn. However, there was a certain one hit wonder that sprung to the top of my list for today. I have the 12" version of that single on vinyl. And as this weekend it was Rock week on X-Factor there ...
Zero-carbon energy from plants might sound like a good idea. But that's not the view of Luis Muchanga, a peasant leader from Mozambique, who spoke at a seminar on the global food crisis in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Mozambique, Luis pointed out, ought to be well placed to feed its people, with 70% of the population living in rural areas and practising subsistence agriculture. In reality though, around 35% of families go hungry, as the government prioritises export agriculture. And an increasing proportion of this export production is devoted to feeding the appetite of the rich world's cars ...
Recently a local resident contacted the City Council to report a fire at the rear of their property recently, which set fire to their fence and nearly to a shed which had several gas bottles in it! After the concern was raised, an officer from Enterprise attended the scene, and reported back that this was a site that they had visited "..on a couple of occasions over the last 2 years in response to resident's concerns about vegetation abutting their fence line." The officers have now said that while the resident had asked about whether the whole shelterbelt could be ...
I have noted before that, courtesy of my new lifestyle, I've developed an awkward tendency to ask questions like "Why...?". One of those questions was, "Why do we elect a new Regional Executive every year, given their role?". So, I drafted some amendments to our Regional Constitution, proposing a two-year term, and ran them past the Regional Executive. They had no objection, and so it was agreed that they could be debated at Regional Conference. Of course, our Region has, amongst its membership, the legendary Colin Rosenstiel, not exactly prone to ignoring constitutional change, so there was a risk of ...
Catching up with the last few weeks before I get back on track there is one more catch up to do. For the letter E, I could camp it up with a bit of Erasure. Guitar it up with some Eagles. I was even tempted to give you some Christian Folk/Grunge with Eden Burning (although difficulty was finding a clip to embed that was more than just music that I actually own). Which brings me to today's featured artist, I just couldn't get past the voice of Annie Lennox so you know where I'm going with this. As for tracks ...
North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has written to the new Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, to ask him to look again at the basing review which will result in the RAF leaving its base at Leuchars and the Army taking occupancy. Sir Menzies commented, "Questions are legitimately being raised about the credibility of the MoD's plans for Scotland and in particular whether they can be adequately financed. The new Defence Secretary needs to address these as a matter of urgency." Sir Menzies' letter is as follows: "The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Secretary of State for ...
AFTER the latest spate of accidents on the dangerous King's Cross one-way roads, the Mayor of London and Transport for London have questions to answer. The Lib Dems have been putting pressure on the Mayor of London for a few years now over the dangerous roads bisecting our community. He has at times acknowledged that ...
Yesterday Plaid Cymru leadership candidate, Elin Jones gave the clearest indication yet, that if she becomes the head of her party on March 15th then she will lead it even further to the fringes of Welsh politics. Speaking at the SNP Conference yesterday, Ms. Jones described the United Kingdom as "a pretence of a state". Speaking about Scotland's forthcoming Independence referendum she said: "As you, in the SNP and in Scotland, consider the real possibility of creating an independent Scotland, we are left to consider what would be left. "A UK Government governing all English matters, and only some Welsh ...
'Europe' as the issue is known has caused significant damage to the Tory party and has prevented many from voting for the Lib Dems. On the face of it we are on the wrong side of the debate which will not be good for electoral prospects. However, despite the poor support for the UK's position ...
On this day 50 years ago the experiment that had been anounced in the July before recess that the Prime Minister would answer questions in the House at 3:15 on Tuesday's and Thursdays would continue. It is still continuing today although Tony Blair made it one half hour session on Wednesday rather than two 15 minute ones on the days originally set aside for it. Here is the full exchange and supplementaries of that first question, to then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Q1. Mr. Shinwell asked the Prime Minister whether the statement by the Minister of Transport during his visit ...
I've been trying out a new political news and blogs aggregator, which brings together the best news headlines and political blog posts from across the ideological spectrum all on one convenient page: Do give it a whirl and let me know what you think...
A great new benefit is on the way for members of ALDC, the Liberal Democrat body for councillors and campaigners – access to the CONNECT database's casework system. Starting early in 2012, all ALDC members will get access to CONNECT's casework facilities for free (or rather, for no extra charge beyond their ALDC membership subscription). It is a logical extension of ALDC's similar free provision of its MyCouncillor blogging system and will make a good system available to thousands of councillors. One of the nice touches of the MyCouncillor system is that it makes it easy for people to share ...
I've been a bit lax in recent weeks of updating this series so I think we need a little catch up over the next few hours. First up there are a number of possibles for D. Neil Diamond may shock you, but seeing as Bangor's bolwing team always celebrated with Sweet Caroline it may not surprise you that much. There is of course the brilliant Divine Comedy, who has appeared before on my blog. My last gig in Edinburgh before I returned was Neil Ham. There is also the possibility of Def Leppard or the Damned, but just to prove ...
Plans for a new Free School in St Albans city centre received government approval on 10 October 2011. The Department for Education has approved the opening of a free school in St Albans in September 2012, providing 60 reception places only in 2012, and then 60 reception places each year thereafter. The proposals were put forward by the free school group which is made up of a number of educationalists and local parents and fully supported by Hertfordshire County Council, who purchased the former School of Law site on Hatfield Road to accommodate this new school at a city centre ...
The link is to Paul Tyler's article about 38 degrees. Those campaigns run by 38 degrees are now in the danger of being simply ignored because their claims are so often untrue.
As far as I am aware, there is only one meeting at Blyth Town Council this week The Staffing Committee meets on Tuesday, 25th October, 6pm at Ebor House Because of the nature of the items on the agenda, this is likely to be discussed under Part II ( items are confidential staffing items), but until Part II is moved and agreed the Public can attend. If you do wish to attend, can you please use the back door to Ebor House (through Argos car park) This week the Town Clerk is on holiday, so if you do contact the ...
Hello Everyone As the astute/bored amongst you will have noticed, I've had a few weeks rest from the blog post conference. This was partly because I wanted to give myself a bit of a breather, partly because I had work to do (got to keep the wolf from the door) and especially because I wanted to step back and have a look at the whole thing again. Now I'm back and while the click baitingly awful puns to drag you kicking and screaming to Ham Common will remain, I am going to try and post fewer but better researched, slightly ...
This year's 'Make A Difference Day' will highlight how volunteers can tackle loneliness and isolation at a special fair held at Cambridge Central Library on Saturday, October 29. The Volunteer Recruitment fair is being held by Cambridgeshire County Council Library Service together with Volunteering Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The free event will celebrate community service volunteers and will give people the opportunity to find out more about volunteering in their local area or opportunities in Cambridgeshire County Council and other organisations. The event is being held in the Central Library, Cambridge from 10am to 2pm in the third floor conference room. ...
Yate's new Tesco Extra store has opened today after a remarkably short construction period that is a credit to the builders and the project manager. Work on four more shop units will start after Christmas. It is anticipated that two of these will form a Marks & Spencer Simply Food store. Yate Shopping Centre has also launched a new website http://www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk which carries details of events and stores at the Shopping Centre.
The Conservative group on the county council is set to award themselves a 25% pay rise while cutting services and making staff redundant. The LibDems oppose this. Cuts were made to sort out the mess of the economy. If you're as angry as us, please sign the petition at asking them to reverse this decision, before December, when there will be a full council meeting.
Today is United Nations Day, though no-one seems to be taking much notice. During the first 20 minutes of the Six O'clock News on Radio 4 this morning it wasn't mentioned, nor in the review of the daily papers. The 24th October marks the anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, and in 1971 the UN requested that it should be observed as a public holiday by all United Nations member states. I'm not aware that any country does, so here is an opportunity for those so desperately anxious for Britain to give a lead actually ...
This year's 'Make A Difference Day' will highlight how volunteers can tackle loneliness and isolation at a special fair held at Cambridge Central Library on Saturday, October 29. The Volunteer Recruitment fair is being held by Cambridgeshire County Council Library Service together with Volunteering Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The free event will celebrate community service volunteers and will give people the opportunity to find out more about volunteering in their local area or opportunities in Cambridgeshire County Council and other organisations. The event is being held in the Central Library, Cambridge from 10am to 2pm in the third floor conference room. ...
The Deputy Prime Minister is in trouble again. But this time it is his fault. As I've alluded to before, I am a great admirer of Nick Clegg. What he's doing for the country can only be applauded, putting his neck on the line and all that. But this coming week he will inevitably go down in my estimations. He could have made his mark, he could have set the Liberal Democrats apart from our Conservative partners, but instead will impose the same three line whip on his MPs as David Cameron will on his, and force his colleagues to ...
