The new Fortean Times has a strong emphasis on folklore and folk horror. In his article on local traditions, Ben Edge takes us to Shebbear in Devon and the annual turning of the Devil's Stone on 5 November: It soon fell dark and the scary-looking Devil on the pub sign was illuminated spookily by lights. Children were playing wildly around the stone itself, leaping over each other and getting rougher in their play. The fact that no parents intervened suggested that this always happened, almost as if it too was part of the tradition. Behind this tradition lies the story ...
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was a good letter from Dr Lucy Johnstone in the Guardian earlier this week about the supposed mental health crisis among schoolchildren. She wrote: The "staggering" rise in anxiety among children (NHS referrals for anxiety in children more than double pre-Covid levels, 27 August) deserves a more sophisticated response than installing counsellors in every school, useful though that may be in some cases, and I say this as a mental health professional - a consultant clinical psychologist. Well-meaning awareness campaigns that encourage us to translate every feeling into a "mental health issue" convey the message that ...
The ballot for Private Members' Bills in Parliament determines which MPs are high enough up the list that there may – emphasis on may – be enough Parliamentary time dedicated to their bill for it to be able to get through the House of Commons. A combination of good luck and more Lib Dem MPs means that two of the party's Parliamentarians have scooped high placed slots. As the BBC reports: The 20 MPs picked in this year's ballot were: 1. Kim Leadbeater, Labour MP for Spen Valley 2. Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham 3. Dr Roz Savage, ...
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Max Wilkinson and Roz Savage come second and third in ballot for private members' bills
Congratulations to the Liberal Democrat MPs Max Wilkinson (Cheltenham) and Roz Savage (South Cotswolds) who finished second and third in this session's ballot for private members' bills. With such high placings, they do have a realistic chance to getting a bill through parliament. Further down the list, you will also find Danny Chambers (Winchester) in 17th place and Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) in 19th. The 20 places in the ballot were filled by 15 Labour MPs, these 4 Liberal Democrats and 1 Traditional Unionist Voice. Remarkably, no Conservatives were drawn out of the hat. My Tory MP, who once ...
[IMG: Mark Pack speaking at Lib Dem conference. Moving a constitutional amendment, of course. ] Moving a constitutional amendment, of course. With the latest Liberal Democrat conference coming up soon, here are some tips for would-be new, and indeed, experienced, speakers at party conference. Doubtless, others will have good advice to add to what's in this list, so do comment away at the end, or indeed ask any questions. 1. Time your speech and aim to undershoot The conference paperwork details how long the speeches can be for each part of conference. Getting your planned comments down to comfortably less ...
Our new MP for Tonbridge Wells, Mike Martin, also made his maiden speech, which he titled An Ode to Tunbridge Wells, in the debate on Technology in Public Life on Monday. My Maiden Speech: An Ode to Tunbridge Wells + some words on British strategy pic.twitter.com/oaLTz3vL6E — Mike Martin MP (@ThreshedThought) September 3, 2024 Here is the full text: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me to speak; I am particularly delighted to be called in a debate on technology and public service—of which more later. I congratulate all the other maiden speakers today. It is clear that we ...
"The Labour government appears to think that improving the delivery of public services will be sufficient to resolve the embittered alienation of so many voters from British politics. Do we dare as liberals to argue that democracy requires a much more active engagement with our citizens, at national and at local levels?"William Wallace says the Liberal Democrats should be setting the agenda, not following it. Christian Wolmar claims he has the ideal road plan for Britain: take the 16 major highway schemes worth £15bn and bin them. "White privately-educated British male cricketers were 34 times more likely to play professionally ...
I blogged a month ago on the issues facing the new Labour Government in meeting its target of building 1.5 million homes in England in five years. My concern was that relying on builders and under-funded councils might well leave them without sufficient affordable homes to meet the demand from those on low incomes or who those facing homelessness. This is something that ministers cannot rely on the private sector to enable. If the UK government is serious about providing homes where they are most needed then they will have to provide significant amounts of public subsidy and ensure that ...
We're back on the maiden speeches of our new Lib Dem MPs now. Alex Brewer, our MP for N E Hampshire made hers on Monday in a debate on technology in public services. The full text is below: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Glasgow West (Patricia Ferguson). I congratulate her on a moving maiden speech, and I hope to add another place on her bucket list. I am honoured to have been elected as the first Liberal Democrat MP for North East Hampshire, a constituency that has had only two ...
Michael's surgeries take place today and every Thursday during school term time. They are as follows : Thursdays at 5.45pm prompt - West End Campus (come to reception area of St Joseph's RC and Victoria Park Primary Schools) Thursdays at 6.30pm prompt - Harris Academy reception area All welcome - no appointment necessary!
