Nick Perry, the Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for Hastings & Rye, has spoken of his concerns that the Prime Minister's decision to use his veto at last week's EU summit may scupper attempts to get a fairer deal for local fishermen. Nick, who presented a 4,000 signature petition demanding fairer quotas for the under-10m fleet ...
Following my surgeries late this afternoon at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Centre, I attended tonight's City Council meetings at which : * I sought (and obtained) assurances at the Education Committee about the continued independence of Park Place Nursery School as a 'stand alone' school. A report on a review of the school estate rather implied it would be integrated into the primary school at the new Blackness Road campus, but, having already corresponded with the Director of Education on this matter, he agreed, in response to my questions, tonight that the nursery will remain as an independent school ...
Dear Chris, Support for Europe has always been a cornerstone of what our party stands for. Recent days have been tough for pro-Europeans in our country, but I am clear that it is in Britain's national interest to remain at the heart of Europe. As I have made clear since Friday, I am bitterly disappointed by the outcome of last weeks summit, which ended with the UK in a minority of one. There is now a real danger that over time the UK will be isolated and marginalised within the EU and as a consequence, our influence in the world ...
At tonight's meeting of the Liberal Democrat Federal Executive, Nick Clegg explained his position on the Euro summit, the veto and his decision not to appear in the Commons for today's debate. There was a detailed discussion and every FE member backed Nick Clegg's actions. (For my take on the Euro summit, see It's the Euro's fate, not Britain's fate, which is the key post-summit question.)
I'm just back from another Police meeting with the community in Acocks Green this evening and its great to report that the news is good, with further substantial falls in crime across Acocks Green ward. The lastest data comparing 2011 with 2010 shows the following falls: Burglary down 28% Robbery down 32% Vehicle Crime down 15% Total Recorded Crime down 22% - and so far December has started with even bigger falls. I'm a big fan of community policing and we have really high quality community policing in Acocks Green. Our Sergeant, Dave Mirams will be moving on to new ...
The Guardian write Break up the coalition? Neither Clegg nor Cameron would dare in which they identify something positive about Nick Clegg which is worth highlighting: In recent months I've begun to think that Nick Clegg was getting the hang of power-sharing, finding a more effective voice with which to articulate Lib Dem hopes, fears and achievements under the ...
The fall out from last week's (note the apostrophe Nick) fixed elections in Russia continues with the announcement that another oligarch, Mikhail Prokhorov, is to challenge Putin for President next March. But in trying to find out more about him I stumbled across this article that gives a breakdown of votes cast in the Duma election from Russian exiles. In it is revealed that Yabloko - the Russian Liberals - received 41% from UK based voters with Putin's discredited United Russia receiving just 10.6%. Good show I say.
It is unusual for a tax official to become the subject of widespread public opprobrium, but David Hartnett may well have set the standard by which future HM Revenue & Customs senior officials are judged. The man blamed by many of the Vodafone fiasco where, it is alleged, said multinational avoided as much as £4 billion pounds in tax liabilities, and linked to the deal whereby Goldman Sachs dodged £10 million in interest charges that other companies, in similar circumstances, were forced to settle, has become a lightning rod for political dissatisfaction with a Government Department struggling with low morale, ...
I'm pretty much decided on the whole Europe-Tories-Cock-Up-Debacle but there is a very interesting article from the BBC's Gavin Hewitt about the possibilities for the UK if it does disengage from the EU. It's a very good piece which offers a different perspective from the current arguments. Crucially, this piece is about the possibilities for the UK of leading the agenda by offering a positive alternative to the French-dominated European 'vision' which is fundamentally anti-democratic.
Yesterday's trolleybuses seemed to go down well on Twitter, so here are some more vintage street scenes from that era. This time they come from Edinburgh. Note the inscription on the Canongate Kirk at 1:21. James VII is the king known south of the border as James II.
For the Telegraph, Mary Riddell has written a remarkably unsneering article about the possibility of closer LibDem/Labour relations, and perhaps a future "centre-left" coalition, following Cameron's recent mad night in Brussels: ...a new alliance beckons. Leading Lib Dems regard yesterday's events as a test of Miliband's intentions. In this game of truth or dare, Clegg chose to quit the PM's side in his hour of need. His henchmen now expect some indication of respect from Labour. Early cries that Clegg was "spineless" did not encourage them, but the Lib Dem mood is to watch and wait. Once, hope of any ...
Blogging becomes addictive once you are reasonably well established. You post a few paragraphs and immediately you get a respectable number of readers. Because of the availability of this instant reinforcement, it can be hard to get down to longer pieces of writing. For that reason I am going to republish two or three longer essays that I have produced over the years. Cohesive Communities, was written with David Boyle while we were both on the party's Federal Policy Committee (FPC). My recollection is that the committee considered an earlier paper with this title, but did not much like it. ...
One too often wonders if there is any strategy guiding Nick Clegg and the Lib Dem leadership. Today ought to have provided an opportunity for Clegg and the Lib Dems to show that the coalition is simply a business relationship and the two parties involved are not joined at the hip. Backing Cameron's actions on the Friday was bad enough and appearing to say the complete opposite over the weekend - while nuanced - was always going to be presented as a flip flop. And the tabloid press were always going to jump at the chance - see today's Sun ...
Andrew Kaczynski is probably not a name that rings a bell with you. But Mr Kaczynski has made quite a name for himself in the States. The 22 year old is a history student who spends his spare time beavering away in his flat, disinterring old C-Span archive videos and breathing new life into them via YouTube. (A few samples are above). Jason Zengerie continues: It sounds harmless enough, unless you happen to be a 2012 Republican presidential candidate with a long video record. Then Kaczynski's hobby can ruin your news cycle, or worse. Just ask Newt Gingrich, who had ...
Doctor Who fans were given a spectacular early Christmas present yesterday, when a surprise screening at the BFI revealed that there were two more episodes in existence than everyone had thought there were. For all of us born after the '60s, this is the first time we can see these performances from William Hartnell in Galaxy 4 and Patrick Troughton in The Underwater Menace - an exciting prospect, even if neither story is universally loved. But in anticipation of these tales of Dalek wannabes and Flash Gordon-style hammery, I have reviews I prepared earlier based on the soundtracks of each. ...
18 years of dropped kerbs! Could I have a dropped kerb on Blinco Grove, please? That was the very first thing I was asked to do as a new councillor back in 1994 when I was first elected. The request came from a lady who used a wheelchair and needed a dropped kerb near her home, ('mobility crossing') in order to cross the road. I am sorry to say that I had a forest of bureaucracy to fight through before we got the dropped kerb. Nevertheless, it is a request that comes up time and time again. I was pleased ...
This is not a statement about whether or not David Cameron was right or wrong at the negotiations table last week just a review of what the fall out and party line is. Nick Clegg coming out of the dark on Europe. I regret that last night it proved to be impossible to find a way forward as a group of 27 on European Treaty change.The demands Britain made for safeguards, on which the Coalition Government was united, were modest and reasonable. They were safeguards for the single market, not just the UK.What we sought to ensure was to maintain ...
The next week or so in my life will be marked by a creative change, and while I could wait and hope for Santa Claus to come along with a nice solution, I have reason to believe that he is rather busy this year. So with this in mind I've decided to take the plunge and finally set up the art business I have been promising to do for a few months now. Although this post is very much another self-promoting piece, it is a little bit more than that. It marks a move away from questioning my own ability ...
What is it with Kent Conservative Council lead by Cllr Paul Carter, and Senior Officers who manage the council day to day. It's not just the latest announcement that Katherine Kerswell has now left the council with an alleged payoff circa half a million, it's those others that have disappeared in recent times, the director of regeneration and transport paid off after a year with £365,000, last year another director "agreed" to take leave and has since left (in that case the details never became public), controversially former Chief Executive Peter Gilroy cost the council around an additional £200,000 (bonus) ...
Mon 12th
19:16
LDVideo: Nick Clegg on the Euro summit, Coalition & why he missed today's Commons debate
Here's Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg explaining his position on Europe, his disagreement with David Cameron on the outcome of the summit, and why he missed today's Commons debate: (Also available on the BBC website here.)
The Press Association reports the latest news on a case taken up by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Dee Doocey and others at the time: Lawyers say a teenager wrongly stopped by police from taking photographs at a public event in a town centre has been compensated. [Police officers had] prevented Jules Mattsson – then 15 – from taking pictures at a military parade in Romford, east London, in June 2010 ... Law firm Bindmans, which represented the youngster, said ... "Despite the public event taking place in the middle of the town centre, Metropolitan Police officers claimed it was ...
If the job of selecting the new stories to headline means selecting the stories catching the public attention (and trying not to get a headache thinking about the circular nature of it all), then the headline pickers of British political journalism have been getting it right. David Cameron and the non-vetoing veto is top of the pile. But if you want the news that has long term significance, they have got it wrong. Three other current events are the ones that really matter. What really mattered at the Euro-summit The British veto is being hugely over-played in its significance - ...
Two things which interested me from this afternoon. First, an e-mail Nick Clegg has sent to party members on the European summit shenanigans: Dear Caron, Support for Europe has always been a cornerstone of what our party stands for. Recent days have been tough for pro-Europeans in our country, but I am clear that it is in Britain's national interest to remain at the heart of Europe. As I have made clear since Friday, I am bitterly disappointed by the outcome of last week's summit, which ended with the UK in a minority of one. There is now a real ...
I was interested to notice that cancer patients in Northern Ireland are among those benefiting from a payment from the Northern Ireland Executive of a one-off winter fuel payment. Apparently this is because their immune systems are somewhat suppressed and ... Continue reading →
This afternoon I went on to YouTube to watch the final session highlights of the wonderful Australia v New Zealand test match that ended in Hobart overnight. I did watch it live but wanted to see it again. I found a good video showing the last five minutes and the two overturned decisions. The video is embedded below; However after my happiness of finding a good edit I saw the most popular comment underneath the video which is uploaded below: [IMG: Australian Racism] Australian Racism on YouTube Oh boy. My heart sunk. The fact that the commenter used the word ...
One of the great things about this party is that ordinary members can get involved in policy making. Look at what Ewan Hoyle's achieved in getting through an evidence based drugs policy as an example. Our raising of the tax threshold policy was the brainchild of WLD member Lizzie Jewkes. Our Conference is the sovereign body of the party and means that we as ordinary members have big say in the direction of the party. There has never been a more important time to be a member of the party. Now we have a chance to influence what the Government ...
Mon 12th
16:29
EXCLUSIVE: Bill Norman (Borough Solicitor)'s advice to councillors on publication of Anna Klonowski ...
———- Forwarded message ———- From: "Norman, Bill D." <billnorman@wirral.gov.uk> To: "Councillors" <Councillors2@wirral.gov.uk> Cc: "Executive Team" <ExecutiveTeam@wirral.gov.uk>, "Delap, Mark" <markdelap@wirral.gov.uk>, "Moss, David S." <davidmoss@wirral.gov.uk>, "Tour, Surjit" <surjittour@wirral.gov.uk>, <anna@akalimited.co.uk>, "MacCallum, Kevin" <kevinmaccallum@wirral.gov.uk>, "O'Brien, Richard" <richardobrien@wirral.gov.uk> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:45:51 -0000 Subject: Legal Advice on the Possible Publication of Anna Klonowski's Preliminary Draft Report Dear Councillors I am emailing you to ...
The BBC website has a head-to-head debate between a supporter and opponent of a financial transactions tax, more commonly known as a Tobin or Robin Hood tax. Here is a flavour: There are (at least) three fatal flaws in the plan. Firstly, it will not be the banks but savers and pensioners that foot the bill. Secondly, tax revenues could actually fall not rise as trade moves elsewhere, jobs are lost and the economy shrinks. Finally, instead of promoting stability, it could make markets far more dangerous ... The tax did not work in Sweden, and it will not work ...
Stephen Tall has a really good article over on LDV today on the subject of Europe and Cameron's decision to reject the proposed 'Merkozy' EU treaty. In summary his view is that whilst he is not going to shed any tears that the UK refused to sign-up to the deal, he says "it's a crying shame that the UK isn't trying to lead from within". Like Stephen, I consider myself an internationalist first and foremost and whilst I broadly support of the concept of the EU - but I am not so blind that I can't see just how fat, ...
.............. Ok, it's only Heat magazine's Weird Crush list of 2011, but these things have to be mentioned. I'm sure you would be disappointed if as big a fan of the trashy as I am failed to bring it up. In fact, if I'd only bothered, as I have previously, to try and drum up votes for him, he might have finished even higher. [IMG: Weird Crush 2011] They have used an absolutely terrible photo of Nick in this - I am sure they could have found a better one if they'd bothered to look. Anyway, he comes in at ...
Once upon a time there was an idea, and the idea was new and untested, but they went ahead and decided to 'be bold' by doing it anyway. Within a few years the idea was demonstrably a very good idea indeed and welcomed around the world by lots of different sorts of people. And the people contributed to the idea with their time and knowledge and, then, with their money if they didn't have the time because they saw that it was good and deserved to get bigger and better. But the people who had started this weren't sure that ...
Two emails have landed in my inbox this afternoon. Nick Clegg writes: As I have made clear since Friday, I am bitterly disappointed by the outcome of last weeks summit, which ended with the UK in a minority of one. There is now a real danger that over time the UK will be isolated and marginalised within the EU and as a consequence, our influence in the world will shrink. That is not good for jobs and growth; and will do nothing for struggling families across the country. There is no doubt that we were in a difficult position because ...
Nick Clegg has emailed party members this afternoon, following the EU summit last Thursday: Support for Europe has always been a cornerstone of what our party stands for. Recent days have been tough for pro-Europeans in our country, but I am clear that it is in Britain's national interest to remain at the heart of Europe. As I have made clear since Friday, I am bitterly disappointed by the outcome of last weeks summit, which ended with the UK in a minority of one. There is now a real danger that over time the UK will be isolated and marginalised ...
My latest post in the New Statesman was published at lunchtime today. Then 3 hours later Douglas Alexander made it true They even nicked my picture caption and gave it to him. What fun!!
Euro-MP Chris Davies has described the outcome of UN negotiations on climate change as a major step towards an international agreement to curb global warming. He claimed that the result in Durban was a "triumph" for European Union negotiators who ... Continue reading →
Mon 12th
14:26The Independent View: There are now two main government narratives about child poverty
It's been said that Margaret Thatcher's governments did two things for poverty. First they increased it. Then they pretended it did not exist. As Alan Milburn prepares to makes his first speech as the Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty on Tuesday, his task will be to help the Coalition avoid a similar, devastating, legacy. The last government's record was far from perfect, but Milburn should advise the Coalition to recognise the very real progress made and learn from the successes just as much as from the failings. Some Ministers, including Lib Dems, have bizarrely trashed the last ...
The government has announced significant extra funding to help create Primary School places – £260M for London. Southwark's share of this is £1.3M with Lewisham receiving £12.8M and Lambeth £5M. The forecast for Dulwich is we'll need an extra 30-45 places September 2012 above the normal admission numbers rising to 60-75 extra places each year by September 2015. The recommended school size is 60 children per year. So by 2015 it looks like we'll need an extra Primary school in the Dulwich area PLUS 15 bulge places every year. Where should it be built? The Dulwich Hospital cleared site seems ...
[Originally posted as a Guest post at the National Landlord Association blog, 12/12/11] The long-awaited Housing Strategy for England - Laying the foundations - has now arrived. The headlines were dominated by the mortgage indemnity guarantee, restarting "shovel ready" developments, and revitalising the Right to Buy. But what does the strategy have to say about private renting? The chapter focusing on private renting opens with a statement of support for the sector, which the Government identifies as playing a key and increasingly important role in the housing market. The sector has witnessed significant recent growth, but high levels of demand ...
The Guardian write Liberal Democrats and Europe: time to fight arguing that the pro-European voice needs to be heard in British politics and that the very recent tone from Clegg and the Lib Dems on the issue of Europe has been the right. They highlight some strengths in todays editorial which is worth reading: The Lib Dems ...
Last week we debated in the Lords the decision of the Government to appeal against the decision by the Information Commissioner that the Department of Health should release the so-called Risk Register on the Health and Social Care Bill. Together with my colleague Shirley Williams, I argued that it is right that the Department appealed because this is a very finely balanced argument, as the initial ruling made clear but that all the involved parties should ask the Tribunal that the hearing is expedited. This is a very fundamental case and we shouldn't have to wait until March or April ...
1. Introduction 2. The Three Refuges 3. The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path: 4. Right Understanding All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage - The Dhammapada Right intent, right resolve, right intention, right thoughts. When doing the background reading and the reflection that I've been doing for all these posts, but specifically for this one, ...
I am delighted to hear Radio 4 Extra repeating Flywheel Shyster and Flywheel - based on the Radio scripts of the Marx Brothers. No Harpo but still utterly brilliant! My kind of Marxism! I thought I would give you a flavour - here is a clip of Groucho with his signature song - Lydia the Tattooed Lady! Groucho was a passionate liberal Democrat and when asked how he felt when Richard Nixon moved next door to him replied he was happier having him there than in the White House!
The next Cheadle Area Committee is on Tuesday 20th December 2011. Items up for discussion include proposals for new traffic signals on slip road from M60 onto Kingsway 20mph zone and speed humps on South Park Road estate new signage for chicanes on St Ann's Road North. Cheadle Area Committee Dec 2011
So today in the post, I rather unexpectadly received a Xmas card from Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez. Now, as I prepare to enter the year in which I turn 30, I must admit that my memory isn't always the best but having said that, I'm pretty sure that this is the first time that I've received such a card from the Liberal Democrat Party leader and now Deputy Prime Minister. I may be wrong here but it doesn't stand out in my memory from years past so I'm presuming that this is the first time I've ...
The Campaign Corner series looks to give three tips about commonly asked campaign issues. Do get in touch if you have any questions you would like to suggest. Today's Campaign Corner question: I can't wait to get some rest over Christmas! But should we give all our helpers a long break without asking them to do anything or is campaigning over Christmas a good idea? Get rest – don't burn out: politics isn't everything. Your health, your family and your friends should get a look in, so do make sure you take a break when you need one. Not everyone ...
[I have taken to writing a blog some hours before posting it so that I can review the language. This is a good discipline particularly when referring to our charming coalition 'partners'. You might say there's no 'f' in coalition...] Ouch. The Independent today discusses whether the Lib Dems should stay in the coalition with the Tories or whether we should accept that we have nothing in common with their self-destructive approach to the world and pull out now, probably precipitating a new General Election. The answer is simple. We have to stick it out, however hard we must hold ...
Byron's tumour got massively worse over the weekend. We went back to the vets' today and took the decision that, given that it was inoperable and was getting so much worse so quickly it was better to end it now before he really started suffering. I was with him at the end, and held him and told him what a good boy he was and that I love him. He died at about 11.30. [IMG: me and byron snuggling] Rest in peace, baby boy. Blogging may be light for a while. [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Sunday: From Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar Day 11: Roger Roger! Eek!
The odd hubris behaviour of pro-Europeans has been quiet enjoyable over the weekend. Oddly, the country has been described as a "pygmy" by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the 81 Tory "rebels" were declared "bastards" by Paddy; even though it was their constituents demanding a referendum and majority of voters, too. ...
I can't help feeling that most, journalist are little more than sheep, irrespective of their particular status, exampled by Nick Robinson, who like many of his ilk can stand outside the front door of No.10 and exude an air of authority and gravitas at any hour of the day or night, but often when you read of listen to what they have to say, it all adds up to so much bollix. If you'd like take a gander, at this piece by Nick Robinson, it stresses Nick Clegg's upset and argument around the Prime Ministers use of the veto at ...
Seremoni raddio archebu! Rwy'n gobeithio gweld rhai ohonoch yng Nghaerdydd ar 12 Mai 2012.
This morning I stepped in to fill the gap in new grit bins at Kensey Valley Meadow after the developer left them less than a third full. Kensey Valley Meadow residents have really suffered with the ice and snow over the last two years. The hill out of the development means that even a small amount of cold weather can trap people in their homes. With the road deemed too minor for Cornwall Highways to grit and no grit bins, residents have had no chance to escape once the ice or snow hits. As a result, many people had to ...
For some strange reason Nina Caspersen's publishers decided to send me a copy of this newly published book, and I duly took the hint, read it and am now reviewing it. It comes with blurb by Charles King, Stefan Wolff and Sumantra Bose, three scholars for whom I have the greatest respect, and the cover also features a rather good design of imaginary frontiers resolving as question marks, so it made a good impression even before I opened it. The acknowledgement pages feature numerous familiar names including two who used to work for me. I was pretty certain this was ...
Mon 12th
10:41
Alex Salmond complains bitterly to Cameron over EU veto - but fails to say what he would have done
So, Alex Salmond has written a snippy letter of complaint to Prime Minister David Cameron over his use of the veto which left the UK in a minority of one. It took him 3 days to work out how to play this which is highly unusual for him. I was only saying to my dad yesterday that I was surprised that we hadn't had the SNP jumping up and down about this. It's clearly taken them a while to work out the best line for them. As usual, they've criticised the UK Government, but have given their customary lack of ...
As Tony Benn was so fond of pointing out years ago, the British media, and, indeed, many politicians themselves, prefer discussing personalities to what he pronounced as the "ishues" at stake. Things have now changed for the worse, in that the future of the coalition now joins the mix of who is up, who is down and who is out. To take personalities first, after last month's Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which he was forced to announce the many indications of the failure of his economic policy, true there was some discussion of alternatives to ...
This EU business. The general reaction from these shores seems to be all about me, me, me. Or rather us, us, us. For example, Cameron hasn't signed the treaty because it's not 'in Britain's interests'. And there seems to be a general view from the right that with impending Eurozone disaster on the horizon, thank goodness we're retiring to a safe distance to rubberneck at the accident. Or as Michael Portillo has put it: "The euro is a burning building with locked doors, and it seems to be a pretty good idea to be out of that." But to me, ...
Mon 12th
10:28
What would Clegg say if he wasn't in Government? Lib Dems have lost their most effective voice
What would Clegg say if he wasn't in Government? Lib Dems have lost their most effective voice. Filed under: Politics
Events such as last week's European summit still regularly produce a flurry of comment about how Cameron might / should / will / must call an early general election, written as if the rules on calling a general election have not changed. But they have, for the Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011 is now in force and the sorts of calculations that were relevant during previous political excitements are no longer relevant. A Prime Minister can no longer simply call an early general election because they want to. Instead, there are only two circumstances in which a general election can ...
Mon 12th
10:09
What would Clegg say if he wasn't in Government? Lib Dems have lost their most effective voice
There was a time when I would listen out for Clegg's words on the radio and TV as he always seemed to know what to say to represent my views. He always seemed accurate and articulate in putting the liberal case forward. When I wasn't sure about an issue, I would listen out for what ...
David Cameron came back empty-handed from the EU summit last Friday. He vetoed a deal that affected EU countries that have the Euro as their currency. This, of course, does not include the UK. He used to be a PR man. He knows all about perception. So it could be argued he has been clever, because using the language of "I've vetoed the EU" makes him look good to some of his Tory backbenchers (I hasten to add that I specifically refer to Tories; in my experience, Conservatives are always easy to debate with, even if you disagree. The Tories ...
I've been to visit the charity Caring at Christmas to see them getting ready to give Bristol's homeless an enjoyable festive season. They're located at the Julian Trust shelter in St Pauls, which provides beds all year round. But from Christmas Eve through to 2nd January the building is open 24 hours a day. There ...
Mon 12th
09:15Déjà vu: it's #nickcleggsfault all over again, as right-wing press froths at Lib Dem l...
There are, I know, a few Lib Dems who question whether Nick Clegg has done enough to prove the party's pro-European credentials in the last few days. (And to be clear: to be a liberal pro-European means also being in favour of significant reform of the EU to make it more open, transparent and democratic.) But if there's one thing that should reassure such Lib Dems, it's this: the rabid response of the most extreme right-wing press (ie, all of it) to Nick Clegg's interview yesterday in which he declared himself "bitterly disappointed" with the outcome of last week's European ...
Interesting to note that David Cameron went to Brussels and has returned with no agreement and the dangerous fiasco of his ineptly wielded veto. Chris Huhne went to Durban and despite long odds, has returned with an unexpectedly strong agreement on climate change. I suppose the message is that if you want an agreement, eventually you can find one.
Just when you thought that Government Ministers had far too much to do, news breaks of a new initiative by Transport Secretary, Justine Greening that has led to a 1,500-word report detailing all her pet grammatical hates in remarkable detail. Given the way that English standards have slipped in recent times (including on this blog, before anybody points that out), one cannot really blame Ministers for ensuring that reports and letters that go out in their name are grammatically correct. After all, the Government should be setting an example. However, did we really need a 1,500 word treatise? After all ...
The past fortnight has been extraordinarily busy and I have only now found time to update my regular post 'A Week is a Long Time in Politics'. The main focus of the last two weeks has been to campaign to Save Our Lollipops. I have been collecting signatures outside schools, lobbying Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell, helping deliver a petition letter to addresses across Chorlton and speaking to people about the issue. My previous blogs cover the latest developments in the Lollipop campaign so I won't repeat them here. Suffice to say the campaign will continue in the months ahead ...
It's December which means for those who have them, it's time to get out those chocolate advent calendars! But for those of you who, like me, don't do such things anymore (and indeed for those of you who still do!), I thought I'd give my own unique little twist on this festive time of year with my Musical Advent Calendar countdown of my Top 25 favourite Christmas songs! I'm blogging a song a day, culminating with my favourite on Christmas Eve. So let's continue on our seasonal countdown... Cole's Musical Christmas Advent Calendar - Day 12! Today we witness one ...
Carrying on with my little reveal of goodies via YouTube for the run into Christmas is a piece of music that appears in Home Alone, The West Wing and several films and TV shows. It is actually Ukrainian in origin and there are so many options I could have used to show you here, but I think that sometimes the simplest bare vocals are the best. So here it is.
Mon 12th
07:35David Cameron's a hostage to his party and the right-wing press. Thank goodness for Nick Clegg
The shockwaves from David Cameron's decision to reject the proposed 'Merkozy' EU treaty is still shaking politics. The UK stands isolated from the other 26 member states. Tory Eurosceptics and, early polls suggest, a majority of the British public think the Prime Minister has played a blinder, 'sticking up for Britain'. This is difficult territory for the Lib Dems. Our October survey of party members suggested a more Eurosceptical attitude than traditionally associated with the party, with 51% rejecting a move towards ever closer union. However, there is nothing more guaranteed to put up liberals' backs than the full-throated, triumphalist ...
Local LIB DEM ward councillor for this area, Darren Fower, recently attended a tour of the city's museum, presently undergoing a multi million pound refurbishment. The tour entitled 'Behind closed doors', and Darren was the only councillor who attended from any of either Werrington or Gunthorpe. Alongside a handful of city councillors and interested members of the public, other attendees included; the Chief Executive of Viva City, the Councils Cabinet Member for Environment Capital and Culture and staff from the Museum itself. This gave Darren a good opportunity to ask some questions. Darren discovered the following: * Asking separately the ...
Yesterday I shared some pictures from my trip to Bristol Zoo Gardens on Friday. The highlight of that visit was seeing the Western Lowland Gorilla and, in particular, the new baby Kukena with it's mother, Salome. Watching the behaviour of the family group was fascinating. Unfortunately, the pics I took of mother and child have not turned out well enough for this post but I have included some other members of the family. Jock, the group's dominant male Komale and Namoki (I think) Okapi - Lodja and Rubani Inca Terns African Penguins As an aside, I recently read Douglas Adams ...
[IMG: Newsletter screenshot] Last week saw the latest edition of my monthly Liberal Democrat email newsletter published – both sent to the largest number of people yet and also, judging by the stats and feedback, the most popular so far too. So if you've missed out so far on Newsletter #14, miss out no more and read the Lib Dem newsletter online here. If you would like to receive the next edition of the newsletter direct to your own inbox, just sign up here. It's free! You can unsubscribe whenever you want using the link on the bottom of all ...
[IMG: *] Perth Road pavements [IMG: *] Bus Stop Perth Road at Shelter Shop - just west of Step Row [IMG: *] Riverside Drive at Riverside Approach [IMG: *] Recycling - Seafield Road area You can upload the update by going to http://tinyurl.com/weccDec2011.
I do not yet know what to make of what happened in Brussels last week and what the consequences will be for the UK as a result My feelings are these: 1. I think the EU has failed to reach an agreement that will solve the current financial crisis. I think this agreement will fail to save the Euro. 2. I have some concerns that the aim of European leaders is a little too much to save banks that have loaned money to various European states rather than about saving any national economy. There is a little too much of ...
Sorry for the lack of posts this week, I've been exhausted for most of the week. I'll have a Doctor Watson post up tomorrow, though, and Bigger On The Outside in a couple of days, and for now here's my take on the 1965 Peter Cushing Doctor Who film, on the Mindless Ones.
Me with the invite to Prudhoe from Lord Coe There has been a positive reaction in Prudhoe to news that the Olympic torch will be making a detour in between its trip from Newcasle to Durham next year and will be coming through Tynedale on Saturday 16th 2012. The news came after a campaign from me and officers at the council to ensure people in Prudhoe and the west of the county have a chance to see the torch. The original route planned by the London committee meant the torch would only travel down the east coast of Northumberland. There ...
