Davey on PM's virtual summit: only way to achieve peace is to strengthen Ukraine's hand by seizing frozen Russian assets NHS England: Same urgency must now be shown for social care SNP RAAC response non-existent compared to England Rennie responds to Gilruth Dundee University comments Davey on PM's virtual summit: only way to achieve peace is to strengthen Ukraine's hand by seizing frozen Russian assets Responding to the Prime Minister's virtual meeting with world leaders to discuss Ukraine, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: Putin could end this war today if he wanted peace, but it's clear he's only interested ...
John Lanchester once wrote a good essay for the London Review of Books on Agatha Christie, emphasising that the most interesting thing about her is the way she plays with every convention of the detective novel: The self-conscious, formalist impulse behind Christie's work is the explanation for one of the biggest puzzles about her books: why the most popular detective writer of all time had as her principal character a man who is, by general agreement, the worst detective of all. By "worst" I mean least likeable, most implausible, most annoying, vainest, and the one whose characterisation is most dependent ...
The latest edition of my weekly political polling round-up, The Week in Polls, is out. As it says: Big majority equals government that will last for a long time. That seems an obvious, banal statement to make. It is certainly the assumption that underpins a lot of political commentary, such as in the immediate wake of Boris Johnson's 2019 election win or Keir Starmer's own last year. It is an assumption that I have made myself. But thinking about it recently... I started to wonder. Find out more by reading this edition of The Week in Polls here, and you ...
Today's Bells on Sunday, from Radio Four, come from the National Cathedral Church of St Patrick in Dublin. And very good they sound too! https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029154
Trelawny Benefice was the featured church on The Church of England website today. They provided the Sunday Service for the Second Sunday of Lent, which was led brilliantly by Rev. Richard Allen. Click below to see and hear Polperro Fisherman's choir (snapshot above) singing the hymn "Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?". Wonderful.
I remember it so well. In July 2024, at our Handside Residents' Forum, we looked at the Council finances. A rather interesting topic! I must say that even today, I am quite surprised how many people are unaware of the actual "wage" Councillors earn. First, I have to explain to people that we don't get paid but we receive a small monthly allowance, which of course varies from District to District. The allowance, which is taxed, helps to cover some of our duties, which are associated with our roles; traveling, petrol, or even booking venues for some meetings as other ...
[IMG: Picture of Adam Harley, Scottish Lib Dem candidate] Scottish Liberal Democrat members in the key target of Strathkelvin and Bearsden have chosen former charity worker Adam Harley as their candidate in the Holyrood election in May 2026. The seat significantly overlaps with the UK Parliament constituency of Mid Dunbartonshire, won by our Susan Murray by almost 10,000 votes at the General election last July. Adam grew up and went to school in Bishopbriggs where he now lives with his wife and son. He originally worked in Theatre and the Arts before moving over to the Charity sector, fighting for ...
Neil Hannon, with added BPM, does Noel Coward in this track from the 1998 triple album Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward, which featured many big British musical names of the days. It was masterminded by Neil Tennant, and the profits went to AIDS charities. Coward wrote the song, under the title I Went to a Marvellous Party, for his Broadway revue, Set to Music, which opened in January 1939. It was performed by Beatrice Lillie, who introduced London audiences to it in June of that year. Most of the words are recited in clipped, Cowardly tones, but where ...
I want us – as Liberal Democrats – to select great candidates, improve diversity in the party and empower our local parties to elect the best candidates to represent them. That's why I'm backing motion F10 at conference – the one that seeks to implement the recommendations of the General Election Review around Westminster candidates. I am doing so for two reasons: By reducing three committees to one it makes it easier to address the problems in our current candidates system; By creating a place on the committee for the Vice President responsible for increasing engagement with ethnic minority communities, ...
Ukraine The Ukraine ball has bounced from Ukraine's court to Russia's court and now back into America's court. Donald Trump has always claimed a special relationship with Vladimir Putin– "He listens to me...the war would never have started if I had been in office...I can stop this war in 24 hours." Not if Vladimir can help it. As I write this Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff is flying back to Washington after exhausting talks in the Kremlin. He went asking Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine had already—under pressure from Trump—said yes. Putin said...I'll think about it. Actually ...
With thanks to SJ Bogue and Dundee Memories, children sledging at Lochee Park - December 1973 :
The BBC reports that water quality standards have fallen in two more of Wales' most protected river networks, meaning seven of the nine river systems are failing to meet phosphate level targets. The broadcaster says that environmental groups are calling for "urgent action" to tackle what they call "unacceptable" phosphate pollution in networks classed as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs): Environment watchdog, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), says two river systems in north west Wales, Afon Gwyrfai and Afon Eden, both previously met phosphate targets but will now face further interventions to improve water quality. The five other rivers missing the ...
