Cameron must address the Commons not just Tory MPs on 1922 Committee Lib Dems welcome motion passed by UN Security Council Rennie responds to former Scottish Government adviser dismantling independence claims Cameron must address the Commons not just Tory MPs on 1922 Committee Commenting on the reports that the only Conservative MPs on the 1922 Committee will be given the opportunity to question Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron this afternoon, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: When we're facing such serious national security threats, it is outrageous that only Conservative backbenchers will hear from the Foreign Secretary and ...
The Chang Thai on Market Street is a Ludlow institution. There is no where like it in Ludlow for its eclectic art, great food and loads of events. It plays to the mature customers in Ludlow but also, for those awake after nine at night at weekends, for younger people. One young woman I spoke to today said, "It was always our ambition as Ludlow kids. Get old enough for ID and go to the Thai." It is a venue for our age. From mid-summer it will be a venue no more. The Thai is to close in a few ...
Mon 25th
17:53
101 Charles Darwins gather to boost campaign against Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road
As local government in England subsides through lack of central funding, the Conservatives running Shropshire become more determined to build an environmentally damaging road - the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road - even though it's by no means clear that the funding for it is in place. The people campaigning against the road have highlighted one of the many trees that will be felled if it goes ahead. That tree is estimated to be 550 years old, and the campaigners have christened it the 'Darwin Oak' because the Darwin family lived nearby. They reason that Charles must have known it, ...
The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The wording of the resolution is significant. It calls for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan and demands the release of all hostages currently held by Hamas. The resolution is not binding on Israel, but it sends a very clear signal that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated. Perhaps more significantly, the US's decision to abstain from the vote rather than use its power as a permanent member to veto it - as it has on three previous occasions - would appear to ...
What to do about housing. Back in the 1930s the Urban District Council where I live decided to convert a few fields on the edge of our little mill-town into a "Garden Village." I believe the councillors went on a few (freebie?) trips to southern "Garden Cities" to gain ideas, and the result was a substantial "Housing Scheme." A local historian tells me that that the citizenry were very proud to have "Garden Village,"* even if they couldn't afford to live in it, as the rents, at around £1 a week, were beyond their means with average workers' pay at ...
The Media Bill, currently en route between Houses and Committees, is (ostensibly) the first attempt in twenty years to 'modernize and future proof the UK media regulatory environment' - a grand claim, and an overstated and misdirected challenge distorted, I believe, by the blanket of Conservative competitive credo that has stifled progress since the Thatcher/Reagan years. After years of avoidance, visiting legislators seem taken aback by the shock realisation that the media landscape has changed. In contrast to conventional regulatory assumptions, this spotlight has been welcomed by various parts of the 'recognised' media sector and assorted culture warriors - a ...
The Leicester Mercury has a round up of three recent UFO sightings in the county. Among them is: Last year also saw reported UFO sightings above Market Harborough when "highly reflective" objects were seen moving slowly in the sky. The objects, which also flashed at times, had an "unusual hue" according to the reports, while they were also irregular in shape. Talk of UFOs naturally makes me think of our Conservative police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews. Sadly, a search reveals that, not only has the introductory video for his course for the International Metaphysical University disappeared from the web, ...
Having once been a full-time Parlimentarian who employed staff to carry out research and undertake casework, I am very aware of the unique stresses and strains of that job, not to mention the lack of job security, which impacts on staff far more than on the elected politician. This is one of the reasons why the Welsh Senedd has invested in support for staff (and MSs) who lose their job after an election, with a view to helping them find alternative employment. They also set aside money to improve the safety of constituency offices. As far as I know, Westminister ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 25 MARCH 2024 Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) - closed until 27 May 2024 for road safety concerns. Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) - temporary traffic lights until June 2024 for construction works. Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) - closed until May 2024 for construction works. Seafield Road, Dundee - closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for ...
