"I am a paid-up Liberal Democrat and an unreconstructed Keynesian. In the recent election, I voted for Labour as a tactical measure to help get the Tories out (success!). I had hopes that Labour would have a bolder, more progressive fiscal policy, following the guidelines set down by Keynes. To date, I am profoundly disappointed." John Cole maps Rachel Reeves's retreat from Keynesianism. "GP practices in more deprived areas of England ... are relatively underfunded, under-doctored and perform less well than those in other parts of the country, even though their patients are at higher risk of developing multiple health ...
As my Twitter followers may have gathered, I've made it back to Shropshire for a few days. Of course, there have been changes. The Plough at Wistanstow has closed. You can't have tea in the courtyard at Stokesay Castle any more. The Land of Lost Content museum at Craven Arms really has gone. But then I decided I was looking at things the wrong way. My memories of exploring the Shropshire hills cover nearly 30 years from the late 1980s - I first encountered Snailbeach and the Stiperstones on the day we won an important qualifying-group game against Poland on ...
As daylight fades, its echo slowlyseems to brighten in the roomthough it was always on, steady in theshared electric glow of artifice... Horns drift across the radioin retro style, in stylised ritual,a breath of comfort for the night as ifto say, Why would you be different? Sound, leavened by a crack of light ~~ heard [...]
In the past few weeks I've done quite a bit of travelling by public transport. At the beginning of last month I went to Swansea in South Wales for a week's walking around the Gower Peninsula with a group of Anglo-French friends. My journey involved a bus to Leeds, train to Manchester and then another train to Swansea. I arrived in Leeds in good time for the train, sat on it for an hour while, every few minutes an announcement said there had been an "incident " on the line" but we should be leaving sometime. Eventually we were told ...
There is to be a by-election in Bridges ward of Gateshead Council following the sad death of Labour Councillor, and chair of planning, Bob Goldsworthy. Bob was one of those people everyone could get on with. He had always treated me with respect and politeness, particularly when I was representing constituents at planning committee meetings.The by-election will be held on Thursday 12th
One of the issues that has come to the fore following the appalling murders then just as appalling lawlessness in Southport earlier this week is the question of free speech. There can be no doubt that misinformation has caused much of the rioting and sheer criminality of the past few days. There are a lot of similarities between what happened in the 1981 Toxteth riots and what happened in 2024 in Southport but there is one crucial difference - social media and the various mobile phones and appliances that supercharge them. Just to recap within a couple of hours of ...
Two years ago, Freddie and Fiona were in danger of turning into Julian and Sandy - comic creations who had a different job each time we met them. I can remember the time when they had a new centre party each. Now, with the success of the Liberal Democrats' targeting strategy, they have become sinister and all-powerful. We shall see what this new status does to them. Whatever the future holds, this tale from the election campaign brings to a close out latest visit to Bonkers Hall. Sunday I shall not forget the childlike gratitude of the two Labour activists ...
The real conflict in the land between the Sea and the River is not between Palestinians & Israelis, it is not a religious war (there are Jews, Muslims, Christians & believers of other religions supporting both sides). It is a conflict between, on one side, those who want that land exclusively for their side, realising that it will mean an ongoing war for the foreseeable future, a war that neither Palestine nor Israel can win but both Palestinians & Israelis will lose, and, on the other side, those who are willing to trade exclusivity for peace, who are willing to ...
Just a reminder that as it is the school holidays, Fraser's usual ward surgeries do not take place today. However, we can be contacted at any time on Dundee 459378 or by e-mail at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk As the schools return next week after the holidays, Fraser's surgeries start again next Tuesday.
The Independent seeks to start a debate. asking are social media companies doing enough to tackle disinformation online? The short answer is no. They point out that last week's headlines provide a pointed example of how quickly platforms can be used to spread disinformation: As families mourned the death of three young girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, riots broke out stoked by disinformation about the suspect's identity. On Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer warned social media companies after false information spread online. And Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said social media has put ...
