There's been a lot of talk about Andrew Neil's new venture, much of it unkind. I can't say that I'm as surprised by some of the glitches of the early days of broadcasting - it takes time to bed things in and there will be errors as new staff work out how things are best done. And, whilst the list of presenters doesn't leap out and grab me, I don't think that I'm really part of their hoped for audience, so that probably won't cause their backers any great loss of sleep. But I do wonder if there is a ...
Current Come Tumbling Down, by Seanan McGuire Last books finished A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler, by Lynell George The Mammoth Book of SF Stories by Women, ed. Alex Dally MacFarlane Don't Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech, by Rana Foroohar All Among the Barley, by Melissa Harrison Beowulf: A New Translation, by Maria Dahvana Headley Beowulf: A New Translation, by Seamus Heaney Roger Zelazny's The Dawn of Amber: Book 1, by John Gregory Betancourt Carrying the Fire, by Michael Collins Boys in Zinc, by Svetlana Alexievich Next books "Stories For ...
Fri 18th
13:56
Chesham & Amersham: Davey - it's not a flash in the plan, we are demolishing the Blue Wall
Everyone is tired. Everyone is ebullient. Except the Tories of course. Or Labour for that matter who came fourth in yesterday's by-election in Chesham and Amersham. Ed Davey has been doing the rounds of media today. He said he hadn't expected such a huge swing. The Tory obsession with the Red Wall has meant they had ignored their own Blue Wall. "Last night we punched a hole in it." He talked of Chesham and Amersham voters being taken for granted by the Tories. Boris Johnson is not the decent Conservative they used to vote for. The Lib Dems are making ...
Awaking this morning to the sensational result in Chesham and Amersham, where my good friend Sarah Green took a safe Tory seat on behalf of the Liberal Democrats with an 8,000 majority, one cannot help but feel that our party's fortunes are about to take a turn for the better, When I returned from helping in the constituency at the end of May, I wrote about the by-election: 'This is an opportunity for the party to re-establish itself after a very difficult decade where we have suffered the consequences of a very difficult coalition government'. Yesterday we took that opportunity ...
In 1962 the Liberal victory in Orpington rescued the party from near extinction (2.5% of the national vote and only 6MPs in 1951) to being once again a recognisable force in British politics. Our candidate Eric Lubbock overturned a Tory majority of 14 000 to win with a majority of nearly 8 000. From then on, albeit in fits and starts, the Liberals/Liberal Democrats gradually increased our representation until in 2010 we achieved 23% of the national vote, 57 MPs, and formed part of the government. Then, through inadequate coalition arrangements and being outmanoeuvred by the Troy wiles, we blew ...
In addition to this week's Parliamentary by-election, there were seven local council contests, a mix of by-elections and contests postponed from the May elections. East Garioch, Aberdeenshire Council Trevor Mason stood for the Lib Dems. East Garioch (Aberdeenshire) first preferences: CON: 34.9% (+3.4) GRN: 27.1% (+8.3) SNP: 27.1% (-0.2) LDEM: 7.9% (-10.7) LAB: 3.1% (-0.8) Council seat change: Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrat — Britain Elects (@BritainElects) June 18, 2021
Thu, 12:09: Midnight breakthrough saves Northern Ireland power-sharing https://t.co/9IvOD7vhKS Very poor strategically from new DUP leadership. It shows them as being unable to make tough decisions in government, preferring instead to appeal to a dwindling pool of voters. An unforced error. Thu, 19:25: I just earned the 'Cheers To You!' badge on @untappd! https://t.co/esrmNreZuo Thu, 22:10: RT @StephenNolan: Senior DUP source has just told me he expects DUP party officers will inform Edwin Poots today they have no confidence in... Thu, 22:11: RT @SuzyJourno: BREAKING: DUP sources saying that Edwin Poots has resigned as party leader. https://t.co/v7EGYfivsf Thu, 22:14: 😂🤣😂🤣😂 ...
Congratulations to the Lib Dems' newest MP! Sarah Green emerged victorious in the Chesham and Amersham by-election and will now be a powerful voice for Liberalism in the House of Commons. I don't know what to make of the result other than to express my amazement at the scale of Sarah's majority. When the by-election was first called, I only had a vague idea of where Chesham and Amersham is. As polling began to suggest a very close race between Sarah and the Conservative candidate, Peter Fleet, I became more hopeful that - with a bit of good fortune - ...
Please see below recent planning applications received in our area. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you require any further information or advice. First floor side and front extension 11 Knights Close, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1PPRef. No: 66980 | Received: Thu 06 May 2021 | Validated: Thu 06 May 2021 | Status: Awaiting decisionTwo storey front and rear extension, Changes to the front elevation, gable end to the both sides ... 26 St Josephs Avenue, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 6NTRef. No: 66972 | Received: Wed 05 May 2021 | Validated: Tue 01 Jun 2021 | Status: Registered
Three-quarters of all adults in Bury have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, 120,340 people and 86,395 residents have received their second jab. Bury is now vaccinating everyone over the age of 18, and a number of walk-in (i.e. no appointment needed) clinics are being set up every week. We get the information on these quite last minute but will share on Facebook as soon as we know them. Walk-in (no appointment) vaccinations are also being offered at Fairfield General Hospital (Education Centre), Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD. These are open to all Bury residents, Monday ...
Don't forget that bin collection rounds change next week, 21 June 2021. There is no change to how often bins are emptied but collection days will change for most households. Around 5% (4,000 households) will have their brown bin emptied on a different day to their other bins (blue, green and grey). The changes will save the Council about £150,000 a year. A series of leaflets have been delivered to residents to explain the changes and ease the transition from the existing to the new routes. Don't forget that you can sign up for an email bin alert (email reminders ...
You might wonder about how a Parliamentary by-election without any public opinion polls can be a good one for pollsters. But bear with me... The contrast with Hartlepool is striking. There, the constituency polls helped the media get the story of the campaign right from the start. However, in Chesham and Amersham, the media mostly got the story wrong for most of the campaign. Some got it spectacularly wrong: Apologies for being a little late in bringing you The Spectator's coverage of Chesham and Amersham. pic.twitter.com/iJLNyaoAZ0 — Mark Pack [IMG: 🔶] (@markpack) June 18, 2021
Don't forget that bin collection rounds change next week, 21 July 2021. There is no change to how often bins are emptied but collection days will change for most households. Around 5% (4,000 households) will have their brown bin emptied on a different day to their other bins (blue, green and grey). The changes will save the Council about £150,000 a year. A series of leaflets have been delivered to residents to explain the changes and ease the transition from the existing to the new routes. Don't forget that you can sign up for an email bin alert (email reminders ...
I lay in bed this morning listening to the news of a stupendous Lib Dem majority in Chesham & Amersham. As I did so I tried to work out how many other times I similarly lay in bed listening to ... Continue reading →
Hundreds of businesses across Bury could miss out on vital business rates relief simply because they have not applied for it. A huge range of businesses - from shops and restaurants to gyms and art galleries - are eligible to benefit from the extension of rates discounts for another year, which started in April 2020. The discount was applied automatically for the period from April to June – however, to receive the money from 1 July, businesses must apply for it. The council estimates that as many as two-thirds of the 900 eligible businesses in Bury have still not applied, ...
i) births and deaths 18 June 1938: birth of Michael Sheard, who played Rhos in The Ark (First Doctor, 1966), Dr. Summers in The Mind of Evil (Third Doctor, 1971), Laurence Scarman in Pyramids of Mars (Fourth Doctor, 1975), Lowe in The Invisible Enemy (Fourth Doctor, 1977), the Mergrave in Castrovalva (Fifth Doctor, 1982), and the Headmaster in Remembrance of the Daleks (Seventh Doctor, 1988). I'm not sure if any other actor has played six different Doctor Who parts of that weight. 18 June 1946: birth of Luan Peters, who played the second version of Chicki in The Macra Terror ...
Wow. Seriously, even I lasted longer than that. https://t.co/em6bn13KCk — Tim Farron (@timfarron) June 17, 2021 Not very long ago at all, I was writing about the DUP after Arlene. Now her successor has gone after less than three weeks. The key issue here was not conversion therapy, but a hoarier chestnut: the question of passing an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, which would put into law the commitments made by all political parties in January last year when devolution was restored. The details don't especially matter; the point is that the DUP have made an exceptionally poor choice ...
In co-operation with the Friends of Balgay, the Bonnie Dundee group has organised a litter pick at Balgay Park as part of city-wide environment events this Saturday - 19th June. All welcome - simply turn up at the Balgay Park Scott Street entrance at 10am on Saturday. Litter bags, sticks etc will be provided.
The result was in just before 2am this morning. What a result. Readers should beware that this post includes allegations of a kitchen sink drama and cruelty to animals. Allegations from the Tories of course. When you read Peter Fleet's comments - he was the low profile Conservative candidate by the way - you can understand why he didn't win. He blamed the result on the Lib Dems working hard. Yes. That's what we do. He hadn't expected the result. How broken is the Tory machine that it can't read the writing on the wall? The posters in the windows. ...
The late Cheryl Gillan, the coalition's first Welsh Secretary, had a majority of around 15,000 at the 2019 general election. Last night, that majority was more than overturned. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Westminster, writes: We did it - we struck at the heart of the Conservatives' blue wall and took one of their safest seats.Liberal Democrats showed that we are a force to be reckoned with. We have a team to match anyone.Sarah Green is going to be an outstanding Liberal Democrat MP for Chesham and Amersham, standing up for her constituents and holding the Government ...
Nick Tyrone – that's T-Y-R-O-N-E – concludes the article as follows: Instead, the Lib Dems will lose on Thursday, most likely fairly badly, and they will have no one to blame but themselves. If they want to get back to being the by-election masters of old, they will have to do a lot better than this. You can read the full article here: * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Full Result in Chesham & Amersham LDM: 56.7% (+30.4) CON: 35.5% (-19.9) GRN: 3.9% (-1.6) LAB: 1.6% (-11.2) RFM: 1.1% (+1.1) BRK: 0.5% (+0.5) FAL: 0.4% (+0.4) REU: 0.3% (+0.3) A swing of over *25%* pic.twitter.com/YyuB72jc11 — Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) June 18, 2021 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Here's the full result from tonight's election in #cheshamandamersham where there has been a swing of more than 25 percent to the Lib Dem @SarahGreenLD from the Tories. pic.twitter.com/AxBH7kKYgz — Andy Holmes (@AndyHolmesMedia) June 18, 2021 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Liberal Democrat Leader @EdwardJDavey responds to a huge victory in Chesham & Amersham. [IMG: 👇🏻] pic.twitter.com/CDeKHUzfNd — Lib Dem Press Office (@LibDemPress) June 18, 2021 Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has hailed a stunning victory in the Chesham and Amersham by-election and insisted that "the Tory Blue Wall is beginning to crumble." Reacting to the party's incredible gain in Chesham and Amersham, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: This is a huge victory for the Liberal Democrats. The people of Chesham and Amersham have sent a shockwave through British politics. We were told it was impossible for any ...
Chesham & Amersham results since the formation of the constituency at the the Feb 1974 General Election: pic.twitter.com/93RvdUydGY — Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) June 18, 2021 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
In a confident speech earlier this morning, Sarah Green said she was humbled by the faith the people of Chesham and Amersham had placed in her. Together, we have said enough is enough. We will be heard. And this government will listen. No matter how safe the seat, you can have a Lib Dem representative. Sarah had a message for young women. Don't let people put you down or block your way. You can. You must. You will. @SarahGreenLD #CheshamAndAmersham by-election pic.twitter.com/kPTVDKsJtV — Rory Butler (@rorythomasb) June 18, 2021 Sarah thanked the returning officer and the Lib Dem team. She ...
THIS ISN'T A DREAM IS IT?!? — ALDC (@ALDC) June 18, 2021 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
A very loud cheer as @SarahGreenLD arrives for the #CheshamAndAmersham by-election result '@LibDems pic.twitter.com/v5XE1jm4yD — Rory Butler (@rorythomasb) June 18, 2021 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
The victory in Chesham and Amersham could not have been done without the countless hours that Liberal Democrat and other progressive activists, campaigners, and volunteers put in. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are so humbled and grateful. — ALDC (@ALDC) June 18, 2021 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Embed from Getty ImagesSarah polled 21,517 votes to the Conservative candidate's 13,489 - a majority of 8028 and a swing of 25 per cent. This result reminds us that, for all the talk of a progressive alliance, the most satisfying way of winning Tory seats is by converting former Tory voters. It also reminds us that, if the voters are determined to get rid of the Tories, they will organise themselves without outside help.
Sarah Green MP. That sounds so good. Who would have thought that we would have turned a a huge Conservative majority and to one of over 8000 for us? I am sitting here blubbing like anything. My first thought went back to Murray Walker's comment about having to stop because he had a lump in his throat when Damon Hill won the F1 world championship back in the day. I am not just ecstatic that we have won the most audacious and spectacular by-election win for generations. I am thrilled to bits that Sarah, who is pretty much where I ...
From ITV News: * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Let's just say that this has woken me up! 8K!!!!! I'll be saying that in my sleep for the next six months!! * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Sky News have just said this. This is incredible news!!! I didn't dare believe this was possible. But consider a situation where, on three recent visits to the constituency, I saw JUST ONE Tory poster and about 100 LIb Dem posters, a situation where the Tories were starting from very little voter data and a standing start just a couple of weeks before polling day, plus the favourable Town Council election results in May and an absolutely STUNNING performance and perfect clockwork campaign by the party plus a wonderful candidate – and perhaps I shouldn't be surprised!!!!!!! Only about three ...
Both exactly what the feedback I got from voters today pointed towards and yet also unbelievable. A massive 25% swing from the Conservatives to Sarah Green: (Chesham & Amersham) result: LDEM: 56.7% (+30.4) CON: 35.5% (-19.9) GRN: 3.9% (-1.6) LAB: 1.6% (-11.2) REFUK: 1.1% (+1.1) BP: 0.5% (+0.5) FA: 0.4% (+0.4) REU: 0.3% (+0.3) Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservative. — Britain Elects (@BritainElects) June 18, 2021 Sign up to get the latest news and analysis Email* Enter Email Confirm Email Name* First Last What would you like to receive?* Liberal Democrat Newswire: monthly newsletter Polling UnPacked (political opinion polling news): ...
Choosing Yeh Yeh as Sunday's music video, I came across this discussion between Georgie Fame and Jamie Cullen. Fame tells how he escaped the world of Larry Parnes, who gave him his stage name (his real name is Clive Powell), for the most authentic jazz scene London had to offer. It's interesting to heat that Bad Penny Blues influenced him too.
The first of six council by-elections declaring tonight was a good start – a hold, albeit by a mere 6 votes in Somerset West and Taunton's Old Cleeve and District Great news from Somerset – Lib Dems HOLD Somerset West and Taunton Old Cleeve and District: Lib Dem Steve Griffith 500 44.9% Conservative 494 44.3% Independent 120 10.8% And so close in Devon So close. Mid Devon DC Upper Culm Conservative 361 Lib Dem Sean Ritchie 346 Green 74 Labour 31 Conservative hold. — ALDC (@ALDC) June 17, 2021 There should be another result from Tandridge but I can't find ...
