"The gap between the UK's reality as portrayed by the dominant narrative of its economy's performance and real life as experienced by its average citizen has widened to the breaking point. The resulting political distortions are now making the underlying problems even worse." Simon Tilford argues that Britain is much worse off that its leaders understand. The Gentle Author says those opposing the towering folly of the plans to redevelop Liverpool Street station must brace themselves for a mighty and possibly protracted fight. "We need farming, of course, because we need food. But we also need some land that is ...
I once wrote a post suggesting BBC Radio 4 got rid of the Today programme's dire Thought for the Day and devote the time saved to broadcasting the numinous service of Compline on Sunday evenings. The version of the service broadcast was by the BBC Singers, but I've not heard it for years and it doesn't appear to have made it to the internet. But I have found the same words and music recorded in 1973 by the Lay Clerks of Guildford Cathedral. Their recording was made in the Catholic cathedral at Arundel: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary ...
The Observer reports: Only a quarter of the 40 hospital construction projects that were at the heart of Boris Johnson's 2019 general election manifesto have secured full planning permission, The Observer can reveal, amid angry claims from NHS figures that there is no chance the schemes will be delivered on time.... However, an investigation by the Observer has revealed that only 10 of the 40 projects have the full planning permissions they need to go ahead. Those involved in some of the projects said they had already faced lengthy delays, leaving them with decrepit and often unusable buildings... Analysis by ...
For the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I'm speaking with Cllr Keith House, leader of Eastleigh Council. The local team has an impressive record of building houses on green fields and (yet also) getting re-elected. How have they managed this combo, and what can other Liberal Democrats learn from it? Take a listen to find out... Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes Howards' Way. How the first Liberal was elected to Eastleigh Council - and how politics didn't have a golden age Cllr Keith House ...
On Thursday, a private member's bill promoted by Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife passed its third reading without opposition and now goes to the Lords. As the Conservatives do not oppose the bill, it is set to become law. Chamberlain said the new employment rights in the bill are vital at a time when the Government are trying to get people, especially the over-50s, back to work. The bill creates a new entitlement for employees to take up to a week of unpaid leave a year in order to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a ...
Welcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention poll from each pollster currently operating in Britain. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email: "*" indicates required fields Email* Enter Email Confirm Email If you submit this form, your data will be used in line with the privacy policy here to update you on the topic(s) selected. This may including using this ...
Fri, 18:06: January 2020 books https://t.co/JBraOfIEYv Fri, 19:47: RT @pmdfoster: 🚨🇬🇧🇪🇺🚨SO. David Davis tells @instituteforgov that Whitehall did a "cr*p job" of negotiating #Brexit...and then tells anecdot...
Having lost his party chair in a row over unpaid tax, Ruishi Sunak is in real danger of losing his Deputy Prime Minister as well. The Independent reports on the latest scandal to engulf Dominic Raab, with Remain campaigner Gina Miller claiming she was "bullied and demeaned" by the deputy prime minister after he called her "stupid" and "naive" during an "aggressive" encounter at the BBC in 2016. The paper says that there are now fresh accusations of racial insensitivity towards a BBC comedian, who also backs Ms Miller's version of events: Asked to comment on Ms Miller's shocking disclosure, ...
Watch Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey being interviewed on Sky News and also Wera Hobhouse on BBC Newsnight.
The Adani scandal is big. It is big because it involves hundreds of billions of dollars; valuable and important infrastructure throughout Asia and could potentially suck in the government the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. First of all, who are the key players in this saga? They are the Adani Group's founder Gautam Adani, Nate Anderson of Hindenburg Research and Prime Minister Modi. Last week, Adani, was the third richest man in the world. Today he is the 15th richest following the damning report by Hindenburg. The Indian tycoon was a school dropout who started his business career ...
Sat 4th
09:55
Berwick-upon-Tweed Lib Dems select Cllr Thom Campion as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
A local party press release brings the news: Thom Campion will contest the Berwick-upon-Tweed seat for the Liberal Democrats at the next election The seat was previously held by Liberal Democrat Lord Alan Beith from 1973 until 2015. Thom was adopted by the local Liberal Democrats in Berwick-upon-Tweed following a thorough selection process. He is currently a City Councillor in Newcastle upon Tyne, representing the Castle Ward in the city, and was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Blyth Valley constituency in the 2019 general election. Thom is determined to win back the former Lib Dem seat in Berwick, beating ...
In 1964, the National League of Young Liberals (the party's then youth wing) released The Liberal Song, sung by Brian Lee.
Some time ago, trees had to be removed on Riverside Avenue south of Newhall Gardens, to protect rail line safety. As one resident in Newhall Gardens recently asked : "Could I please ask that some could be planted to replace the ones cut down on Riverside Avenue when works were done to the railway line ? I realise that access needs to be kept clear to the line now but there is plenty of space for new trees. The houses in Newhall Gardens are now enduring more lights from the businesses, noise and pollution from traffic on Riverside Avenue." We ...
