Taken in the mid 1990s, though I imagine this view looks much the same today.
As Tim Adams reminds us in the Observe, a year ago Britain boasted a new centre party. It kept changing its name, but it will probably go down in history as Change UK - if history bothers to remember it at all. The group was launched in February 2019, when seven MPs left the Labour Party and I wrote: It is hard to see much hope in the statement of values their Independent Group has published. It is hard to imagine anyone reading it and thinking: "At last someone has put into words what I have been feeling all these ...
There has been an understandable rallying round by the public during the Covid-19 crisis. Here in Britain, as in most places, the governing party has seen its popularity rise (the main exception is the USA). Will this last? As with so much else in this crisis the answer seems to depend on which party you ... Continue reading The political consequences of Covid-19 depend on what the government does afterwards
Saudade is a peculiarly Portuguese concept, not translatable into a single word in any other language that I speak, embracing nostalgia, longing and a beauty suffused with melancholy. It finds one of its purest manifestations in the fado genre of song, one of whose greatest practitioners was Amália Rodrigues (1920-1999), who was known as the Queen of Fado. [...]
Disconnected, an instability pervades it all: facts fell, even before; but now they disappear. The close-cropped ground itself has changed, shape-shifting us to drift in stranger days – although we nod hello, or pass a word or two ... while walking, as we reprise remaindered memories in closed and finite loops of rhythmic rumination, trying (too hard) to make sense out of change, we furrow in eccentric [...]
I've hardly worn shoes now for 5 weeks. I normally go around in bare feet or socks indoors, and I have only needed to put shoes on to go in the garden. Like most people I'm also wearing my most comfortable clothes at home so some of my smarter things haven't come out of my wardrobe at all. I've not bought a single item of clothing, I haven't worn any makeup, and I have avoided all those impulse buys that attract me when I am out shopping. On top of that we haven't been out to the cinema, theatre or ...
The footpath that runs alongside the School from Sundridge Park to Avonlea is going to be closed to do sewer repairs. The statutory notice says it will be for up to 5 days from 18th May - so there will be no access along the path for walkers or cyclists.
Maghull folk will probably know the name Frank Sharp because of his efforts to both fund raise and improve the formerly neglected site along Stafford Moreton Way adjacent to the new Home Bargains Store in the Town. Well Frank is now turning his attention to Bobby's Wood (owned by Sefton Borough Council but maintained by Maghull Town Council) in the Woodend part of Maghull – the grassed and tree plot at the junction of Liverpool Road South and Northway. Here's Frank to tell you all about it:- 'We are undertaking an ambitious environmental crowdfunding project at Woodend (Bobby's Wood), that ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:I was feeling a bit tired after my morning's exertions and the ride down to town, so I decided to take the train back to Cross Drains, spending the time before its departure down on the sands. The town was already quite crowded with holiday makers but the beach was still relatively empty, and I spent a pleasant hour walking by the breakers and gazing across the water to the distant, low hills of East Anglia.A novella by a member of our extended family, in which a young man leaves a broken relationship to become a ...
I was reminded recently of the Liberal ideal from the 70's and 80's of Community Politics and how it is part and parcel of our Liberal Democrat genetic makeup to want to disseminate/distribute power. I valued this principle before Covid-19 became all consuming, but during this lockdown I am drawn back towards the concepts and ideology of community politics, specifically as set out by Greaves and Lishman in the ALC booklet in 1980, and a growing realisation now is the time to really take these ideas to the next stage. Firstly, a couple of lines about what Community Politics is ...
Sun 19th
14:15
Council meetings in Shropshire disrupted and going online during #coronavirus lockdown
At the beginning of April, the government laid regulations before parliament allowing local councils to hold meetings online or through teleconferencing. Until that point, councils had to meet in person and most decision-making meetings had be held in public. They must be also quorate. Councils are required to hold AGMs in May but that requirement has been suspended for 2021. Shropshire Council's annual meeting due on 14 May has been cancelled. An extraordinary council meeting will be held online at the beginning of May to ensure that those councillors who have not attended meetings for six months do not automatically ...
Welcome this time to a Liberal Party leaflet from 1966, one which - as the foot of the front page highlights - is also a reminder that elections are not always on a Thursday.
I've had some great answers to questions that the Lib Dem Councillors in the City have been asked A few days ago, I asked the Council and NHS for the answers to some frequently asked questions that we have received ... Continue reading →
Would you like a date with a LibDem? Not in the romantic sense. This is the fruit you can eat as Muslims do when they end their fast for the day, the Iftar. Next week, Muslims will be observing the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan and this year, the Liberal Democrats will be joining them! Acting leader Sir Ed Davey, MP Layla Moran, Siobhan Benita and other high profile Lib Dems, will join Muslim communities this Ramadan by fasting alongside them on Saturday the 25th of April. They will be taking this opportunity to raise money for a ...
The first single I bought with my own money, or at least my own record token, was Kites by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound. That was pretty damned cool for a seven-year-old and proof that I was into Sixties psychedelia even at the time. Seven years later I bought my first LP: Band on the Run by Wings. I can remember being a little disappointed with it when I got it home as it was all a bit safe and middle class. I gave it away years ago. Yet I had bought Band on the Run because I loved ...
Sat, 12:18: RT @alexvtunzelmann: I'm sure many of you already follow @pmdfoster's threads but this one is so important and especially this point. They... Sat, 12:56: EXCLUSIVE: Christ Church professor arrested over scandal of stolen papyrus https://t.co/bMuDiWsCCX Extraordinary story. Sat, 13:17: RT @russelldavies63: SUNDAY 5pm! Farewell, Sarah Jane. The final Sarah Jane Adventure. Made with the blessing of Lis's family; come and say... Sat, 14:48: RT @russelldavies63: FREEMA AGYEMAN and JOHN BARROWMAN also joining to live-tweet on Sunday 19 at 7pm! More stars than there are in Heaven!... Sat, 15:56: Prophet of Bones, by Ted Kosmatka https://t.co/Tt81YpFoQg Sat, 16:05: Great ...
Just how prepared was the UK for the COVID-19 pandemic, and how many lives have been lost because of governmental complacency? Today's Sunday Times contains a devastating article, which alleges that Boris Johnson skipped five Cobra meetings on the virus, that calls to order protective gear were ignored and scientists' warnings fell on deaf ears. They add that failings in February may have cost thousands of lives: One day there will be an inquiry into the lack of preparations during those "lost" five weeks from January 24. There will be questions about when politicians understood the severity of the threat, ...
It is with great sadness that news arrives of the passing for a long-standing former councillor. Staffordshire activist David Becket, has died at his home in Betley, Newcastle under Lyme; it was multiple medical problems, but not including the virus. David was well known for outstanding hard work in the old Halmerend ward that he represented and also for very significant work he did as Liberal Democrat on the Newcastle Borough Council. He was on many committees (he loved and hated them) and for 5 years was on the cabinet 2006-2011. Elected in 2002, David was elected Mayor of the ...
Now this is a subject I've blogged about before, on a few occasions actually, but our present health crisis seems to have brought it very much to the surface of political thinking beyond us Social Liberals who have been banging on about it for many a year now. I came across the poll results above from 2019 almost by chance recently and am pleased to see that UBI is finally finding favour amongst a wider group of progressive thinkers. And here's what the World Economic Forum thinks:- And the New Statesman:- There's no doubt that UBI is radical, ...
Further update - for Sunday 19th April - from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry) FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENDED The Job Retention Scheme is being extended by one month to reflect continuing social distancing GET EMERGENCY CAREThe number of people attending Emergency Departments has dropped. Some seriously unwell patients are delaying coming to hospital or dialling 999. If you need help don't wait. MEDICINESThe advice is to please follow your normal repeat prescription ordering pattern and only order the medicines you need as there are no issues with the supply of medicines so there is ...
