"Biden should have been managed off the stage in time for the party to have proper primaries, introducing a new generation of Democratic party politicians to the American public. Instead, the president clung on to the point where only Kamala Harris could realistically be the nominee. She was left having to campaign as a "change candidate", trying to define herself as a new face while also defending her government's record."Alistair Carmichael says the Democrats made one of the worst political mistakes in modern history. Robert Saunders discusses the supposed role of the monarchy in times of political crisis: "In a ...
By the time this post goes up, Bob Dylan will have played his the last of his tour dates at the Royal Albert Hall. As he is 83 years old this could yet be his last live appearance in Britain. I am a little disappointed and wistful not to have there, given that I am a fan of more than 40 years and virtually a Dylan completist in terms of recorded music. In truth, though, only a little disappointed. I didn't try that hard to get tickets. Although I had recently sort of made my mind up to go and ...
Richard Vobes, the Bald Explorer, together with Harriet and her dachshund Lola, visit the Bronze Age Mitchell's Fold stone circle which is just in Shropshire and almost in Wales. I've been to this circle myself, and remember its wonderful setting more than the stones. I do, though, recall lying down among them in the vain hope of falling asleep and having a prophetic dream. The nearest village to Mitchell's Fold is Priest Weston, which is just in Shropshire and almost in Wales too. There the Miners Arms is one of those pubs were you used to find Ronnie Lane, who ...
The Electoral Commission's report into the 2024 general election and the earlier local elections is now out. It includes some data showing that, once again, it was a fifthteenth century technology that was the most important for reaching voters: More traditional methods remain an effective way for candidates to communicate with the public. The most common ways people reported seeing information were: a leaflet or flyer from a candidate or political party (63%) TV news (48%) social media (39%) a news website (35%) TV debates (35%) word of mouth (24%) There is perhaps one note of concern about the report, ...
Rob Chapman on the genesis of his novel about Syd Barrett and Nick Drake - and what happened next. My self-published novel, Unsung Unsaid : Syd and Nick in Absentia, emerged from what was initially a whimsical tweet: Greatest music bio-pic never made. Nick Drake and Syd Barrett sitting in a café in the summer of 1974 discussing their final ill-fated attempts to make a record. I realised very quickly that this was in a fact a brilliant idea and that I should turn it into a novel. With the 50th anniversary of these events fast approaching I had no ...
The Mirror reports that MPs have been told that the UK is "veering dangerously close to becoming a police state" because of facial scanners being used in high streets. The paper says that calls have been mounted for live facial recognition technology to be halted amid questions over accuracy and privacy. They add that the software - currently being deployed in London, South Wales and Essex - allows officers to scan the faces of passers-by and check them against watchlists: Several MPs raised concerns about software misidentifying innocent members of the public - particularly Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. ...
Today is an in-service day at schools across Dundee and therefore schools are not open to pupils and the public. Therefore, Michael's usual surgeries at Harris Academy and the West End Campus do not take place tonight. However, we can be contacted at any time on Dundee 459378 or e-mail westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk - many thanks!
