Malcolm Saville wrote his first two Lone Pine books while the second world war was raging. He somehow found time to work on them while holding down a day job in publishing and fire-watching by night. And there are elements to those books that put me in mind of the most interesting British wartime propaganda films. I even wonder if one thing Saville sought to do in writing the first book, Mystery at Witchend, was to warn children that they should be alert to the existence of fifth columnists and Nazi spies If the point of Went the Day Well? ...
As we have previously reported, the Lib Dems have been allocated three Select Committees to chair in the new Parliament. Alistair Carmichael has announced that he is standing to chair the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. He set out his priorities for role: As the son of Islay hill farmers and having represented a rural constituency for 23 years, the issues on which the EFRA Select Committee works have always been close to my heart. For the Northern Isles and indeed for the entire country, the next few years are going to be critical in determining the future of ...
Peter Apps untangles the chain of cover-ups that led to the Grenfell Tower fire: "The report traces a long and unpleasant history of this with regard to cladding fires, and it is clear reading it that the lack of honesty came at a fatal cost to those who lived in Grenfell Tower. What is worse is that it continued even after the fire destroyed much of the building." Josh Self finds that the rise of Robert Jenrick reveals a cunning, ruthless operator. "There is a growing sense that the future of work might not unfold in our favour. People are ...
It's your last chance to submit questions to Federal Committees! This is an important part of scrutinising those we party members entrust to run the party. The deadline is 1300 hours tomorrow, Monday 9 September – which is the same as the deadline for amendments and emergency motions. So if you have a question on, say, the direction the party is taking, ask the Federal Board, what we are doing on diversity, menbers and training, ask the Federal People Development Committee, how Conference is run, ask Federal Conference Committee, how the party is approaching future elections, ask Federal Communications Committee. ...
It was a pleasure to welcome the Chief Rabbi to Liverpool and hear him give a speech at St Georges Hall and then unveiling a plaque at the Met Quarter to commemorate Liverpool's first synagogue. It gave me great pleasure this Sunday to welcome a large gathering to St Georges Hall as well as the local Jewish community. We had many people from outside our city and indeed we also welcomed the Chief Rabbi. It gave me the opportunity to boast about our city and to record the great service that those of the Jewish faith have given to our ...
The latest edition of my weekly political polling round-up, The Week in Polls, is out. As it says: The basic pattern for governments and leaders is that their popularity peaks on their first ascent to office and it's all downhill from there. There can be plenty of fluctuations around that trend along the way – and hence re-election successes. But outside of exceptional events, it's rare for popularity to return to original levels. It starts as good as it gets. Even where there are mid term blues followed by a recovery, that is usually to a lower new peak than ...
September already. September so soon ~ Cool mornings, latening visibly by the day, before a last outburst of summer's warmth; Now winds veer north and watery... Three notes level; one rises, then they fall Roan horses – red and blue – nuzzle close together, their warm breaths clouding in the air. A chestnut stands beside the bay; nose to tail, they will sustain each other...
For around 50 years, the Glee Club has been a highlight of Conference for many people. (There's no specific anniversary; Glee evolved out of various informal singing traditions but is around 50 years old now). The stage has welcomed leaders, candidates, Ministers and even the occasional broadcaster or two. One of the enduring traditions is that newly elected MPs 'do a turn' and sing or otherwise entertain those present. After a period of no new MPs, followed by a period of no Conferences for them to honour the tradition, this year our cup is overflowing as we welcome our biggest ...
We continue our coverage of our new MPs' maiden speeches with Calum Miller, who spoke during the debate on the Passenger Railway Services (public ownership) Bill this week. In my Maiden Speech in the House of Commons today, I shared how every week I am inspired by the selflessness of those who put community first, building strong bonds one hour at a time. I aspire to serve with the same dedication and energy shown by so many of my constituents. pic.twitter.com/Y0pT1yrmwk — Calum Miller (@CalumMillerLD) September 3, 2024 The text is below: It is an honour to be called to ...
On Saturday 7th September 2024, MP Tim Farron met Lib Dem campaigners battling Labour to win the Bridges by-election in Gateshead. Tim gave an impromptu speech covering how Labour had won the general election by default but there was no great enthusiasm for Starmer. He also wished local campaigners a successful campaign before heading to meet local voters with by-election candidate Jonathan
Farewell to Tarwathie was written by the Scottish poet George Scroggie (1826-1907) and published in his 1857 collection The Peasant's Lyre. Scroggie lived on Tarwathie Farm, which is in Aberdeenshire. It takes the form of a paean to his homeland by the protagonist, who is about to leave for Greenland on a whaling trip. This Judy Collins recording of it can be found on her 1970 album Whales and Nightingales. She was by then an internationally known artist, having had a hit with Joni Mitchell's song Both Sides Now. I love the clarity of her voice here. The whales on ...
We keep a close eye on opposition literature in the Bridges by-election in Gateshead. Today I'm having a close look at the Reform Party's publication. There is frankly not much to write about. The leaflet has very little to say. Let's at least start with the imprint. It fails to show the name of the party and the name of the candidate though presumably the agent and candidate are the same
Gaza In a month it will be first anniversary of the start of the Gaza War. There is no end in sight. The two sides - Israel and Hamas—have two diametrically opposed positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will accept nothing less than the total destruction of Hamas. He might reluctantly accept a temporary ceasefire if the Israeli Defence Forces or Mossad manage to assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. That would enable him to retrieve at least some of the hostages. But once those hostages are returned expect the attacks to resume. Hamas leader Sinwar is holding out ...
Editor's Note: Our new MP for Surrey Heath, Dr Al Pinkerton, was, until his election an Associate Professor of Geopolitics specialising in international borders and boundary disputes. Next Sunday, at Conference, he'll be chairing a fringe meeting about the Falkland Islands at 11:30 am in the Regent Room at the Grand Hotel. Speakers include Lib Dem Peers Jeremy Purvis and Julie Smith and two members of the Falklands Islands Legislative Assembly. Here, Al writes about the history of the Falklands and the values we Lib Dems share with the islanders. Think of the Falkland Islands and you'd be forgiven if ...
Fraser is a member of the Dundee Fairtrade Forum and is pleased that Dundee is again participating in Fairtrade Fortnight that runs from tomorrow - 9th September - until 22nd September. The Fairtrade Forum has encouraged local schools, churches and community groups to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. This year, it is 30 years since products with the Fairtrade mark first appeared on shelves in the UK. As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, the University of Dundee is holding a curry tasting event this coming Wednesday - 11th September - at 12 noon - all welcome!
The Mirror reports that a survivor of the Grenfell Tower disaster has warned more lives could be destroyed as those responsible may not face justice before 2030. The paper says that the Inquiry into the 2017 fire, which claimed 72 lives, blamed "decades of failure" by those in power and "systematic dishonesty" from building firms for the tragedy, and as a result police are under pressure to speed up the criminal probe into the Grenfell disaster as families have already waited seven years for the Inquiry's findings. Shockingly, the Metropolitan Police has said it needs from 12 to 18 months ...
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