Social care, along with climate change, is perhaps the greatest challenge facing us as a country and a party – and we want your help to tackle it. Last year, the Federal Policy Committee commissioned a new working group to look at all aspects of adult social care, covering not just the elderly but the disabled too, who have been completely ignored by this government's proposals. The question that is asked by most is how do we fund social care – how much money is needed to deliver a quality social care service, what contributions should the receivers of care ...
Next in the sequence of Black Archive monographs about individual Doctor Who stories, this time it's the 2003 webcast which briefly promised to be a new start for the show, and was then blown out of the water by BBC Wales. I rewatched the actual story again, having been underwhelmed on first watching in 2012 when I wrote:Scream of the Shalka is the reboot that didn't come off. It is a shame in some ways because it has its strengths - notably the animation, which is far ahead of the other three in quality, Paul Cornell's story-line of alien beings ...
[IMG: Identity Theft graphic] In the last 48 hours there have been at least 15 people from Sandgate who have reported on Facebook, Nextdoor and to me directly that they have been recently the victim of Identity Fraud. In every case, during December the local resident had had a mobile phone contract with O2 taken out in their name and their home address. O2 are now pursuing the resident for outstanding payments, despite the resident not ever having taken out a contract with O2 themselves. All reports I've seen so far have been in Sandgate village, Seabrook or the Golden ...
Here's the latest running tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held since the last May round of local elections.
February is LGBT History Month - a month where we take the time to reflect on our history and honour those who fought for our rights. Last week the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued a letter to the Scottish Government asking them to pause consideration of reforming the Gender Recognition Act. Apparently two consultations over 5 years was not enough. Not content with that, on the same day they wrote to the UK Government proposing that the new proposals for banning conversion practices should NOT cover trans people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission there, proposing inequality. Yesterday, ...
I shall say this only once. I have some sympathy with David Cameron not recognising what was coming down the track. It's not just about the referendum itself. I still believe that he was wrong to go for a referendum after the 2010 General Election in a representative democracy, but there is another powerful factor in play which has become clearer in the years since the 2016 vote. Six years is a long time in terms of the role of social media in the political arena. The polarisation of positions/opinions/allegiances has deepened in the UK partly because of an oversimplified ...
Thu, 12:56: RT @ClaireHanna: This puts on public record the truth families on the lower Ormeau have been telling for 30 years and it is difficult readi... Thu, 15:38: The extraordinary "Reading Between the Lines", a sculpture in Borgloon in eastern Belgium. There's quite a lot of public art in Borgloon, but this is the most spectacular. We went in May 2015. #ArtOnThursday https://t.co/il1WjKrNu2 Thu, 16:05: RT @jwsal: 'I don't understand why the camel's back was broken, when we look back on Straw-gate, we will wonder what the fuss was all about... Thu, 17:11: 50 Very Bad Book Covers for ...
A BMG Research report published as-of 2019-11-29 (immediately prior to the 2019-12-12 UK Election) presented the results of a poll which interviewed a representative sample of 1,630 GB adults online. The two main questions (and responses) were: How much influence, if any, do you feel you have over decision-making in the country as a whole? The responses were: A great deal of influence ... 2% Some influence ... 13% Not very much influence ... 40% No influence at all ... 40% I don't know ... 5% Which of these statements best describes your opinion of how politics is working in ...
Fri 11th
10:53
Kent Highway Temporary Road Closure - Brambley Crescent, Sandgate - 7th March 2022 for 19 Days
It will be necessary to close part of Brambley Crescent, Sandgate, from 7th March 2022 with estimated completion by 25th March 2022. Brambley Crescent, Sandgate, will be closed between the junction of Enbrook Valley and the side of Cedar Court, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site. The alternative route is via Enbrook Valley, Fremantle Road, Brambley Crescent and vice versa. The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while sewer repair works are undertaken by Southern Water. For the most up to date information on these works please visit: https://one.network/?tm=127545098 For information ...
AS the Guardian reports, Dame Cressida Dick has been forced out as head of the Metropolitan police, after London's mayor accused her of failing to deal with a culture of misogyny and racism within Britain's biggest force. They add that Sadiq Khan had put Dick "on notice" last Wednesday that she had to rapidly reform Scotland Yard or lose his support for her leadership. His confidence in her was shaken to breaking point by a scandal at Charing Cross police station where officers shared racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic messages. Two of the officers investigated were promoted, while nine were ...
The 21st Century Schools Programme in Powys is a £200 million project to transform schools across the county. Powys County Council's cabinet considered a report by Estyn on progress which rated the programme amber/green. The Lib Dem Group, currently the largest party group on the council, is concerned that the consultation process on the transformation strategy was undertaken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and may be based on outdated assumptions about how closely individual schools are working together within a cluster. The group is now calling for the transformation process to be reviewed. Welsh Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Leader ...
Fri 11th
08:10Not Third Time Lucky: Council Rejects Budget Amendment That Would End £45m Princes Parade Sche...
[IMG: Princes Parade] For the third year running, Tim Prater last night moved a amendment at Folkestone and Hythe District Council to remove the Princes Parade Development scheme from the budget, but it was defeated. Cllrs Tim Prater and Lesley Whybrow had earlier voted against Medium Term Capital Programme at Cabinet as it included provision for developing Princes Parade. They then moved and seconded an amendment to remove that funding at the Full Council meeting. All Lib Dem, Green and Labour Councillors present backed it, as did, bravely, Tory Councillor Peter Gane. Every other Conservative, Independent and UKIP Councillor voted ...
Fri 11th
08:00
Clean sweep for Lib Dems in by-elections, including 20% swing to win seat from Conservatives
A full slate of Liberal Democrat candidates for this week's principal authority local council by-elections.
Many thanks to the residents who reported the fallen tree in City Road to me earlier this week. I reported this to the forestry team at the City Council to ensure it is removed.
