Folk horror, Saxons and the workhouse: Brixworth on a sunny winter's afternoonI went to Brixworth yesterday afternoon. It's a large village between Market Harborough and Northampton famous for its Saxon church. (The spire is a 14th-century addition.) A low winter sun and bare tree branches always make for shadows that look like they are out of a folk horror film. There is a horrible irony about the village. It's workhouse was notorious: Soon after the Workhouse had opened the Secretary of State had to send a Bow Street Runner to Brixworth to investigate the strict policy being adopted by the Guardians regarding the payment of "out relief" to the poor and ... (more) |
A public demonstration of Russian state terrorThe Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, conducted by The Rt Hon Lord Hughes of Ombersley, has concluded that Vladimir Putin, along with "all those who sent them (the Russian agents who delivered the poison in Salisbury)", is responsible for Dawn Sturgess' death. This is a conclusion that many in Britain had already reached long before the Inquiry reported. It is not the first time the Russian state has used chemical or radioactive agents on British soil, nor is it the first time Putin's regime has assassinated those it deems inconvenient. In 2006, former Russian intelligence official Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium-21. ... (more) |
Man sought over trousering of hedgehog statueBBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award. The judges were also impressed by the photograph provided by Lincolnshire Police. (more) |
Write a guest post for Liberal EnglandThe nights are drawing in. There's nothing to watch on any of the 94 TV channels. Doom scrolling is all you have left for fun. Don't despair! You could cheer your evenings by writing a guest post for Liberal England. It could be on the Liberal Democrats, politics more generally or... anything really. Why not something on a local campaign or quirky piece of history? Please drop me an email if you want to discuss your idea first: I'd hate you to spend time on a piece I wouldn't want to publish. Here are the 10 most recent guest posts ... (more) |
Disabled people are under attackWe're often a forgotten community, yet I'd almost rather we would be forgotten again at the moment. It's clear to me that there's been almost no communication or engagement with disabled people from the current government – and certainly none from the budget. We've been hit hugely hard by first the cost of living and now the most recent budget, and too many conversations are framing us as layabouts, despite how challenging simply existing often is with a disability. With a broken Access to Work system, a rejected Lib Dem motion (despite the amazing work by Tom Gordon!) on allowing ... (more) |
Analysis: mRNA Splicing in Childhood Development (Gemini LLM - not edited)Analysis: mRNA Splicing & Childhood Development This analysis evaluates the role of mRNA splicing in human childhood development, distinguishing between splicing as a primary driver of developmental milestones versus a secondary consequence or fine-tuning mechanism. Executive Summary The evidence indicates that mRNA splicing is a critical functional driver of (more) |
West End street surgery tonight #dundeewestendWe are holding a Thursday street surgery tonight to speak with residents on any local issues or concerns they may have. Should you have an issue you wish to discuss with us, e-mail us at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk or call Dundee 459378 and we will be pleased to meet you - many thanks. (more) |
What will Labour do if Reform win the most seats in May's Senedd elections?Nation Cymru reports on comments allegedly made by Huw Thomas, the leader of Cardiff council in a Senedd selection meeting in which it is said he told fellow members of the Labour Party that an advantage of Reform UK winning next May's Senedd election would be that an administration it led would quickly be shown up as incompetent. The website's Labour source told them: "I am absolutely shell shocked to hear that one of Welsh Labour's most prominent and promoted candidates is openly talking about a Reform-led Welsh Government. This would shock a lot of people across the Welsh Labour ... (more) |
Walking Charles Dickens' London with John RogersHere's a seasonal treat: a tour of the areas of London associated with Charles Dickens - or at least some of them -- in the company of John Rogers. John's YouTube blurb for this walk explains: This Charles Dickens London Walking tour starts in Southwark where Dickens lived as a child while his father was held in Marshalsea Prison on Borough High Street. This influenced much of his writing, most notably Little Dorrit. There are also multiple references to character in The Pickwick Papers around Borough. After stopping by The George Tavern where Dickens used to drink we cross London ... (more) |
National Trust seeks to buy land around the Cerne Abbas GiantThe National Trust has launched a £300,000 appeall to buy the land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant, reports BBC News. The site it hopes to acquire amounts to 341 acres, but size isn't everything. The Guardian says it has already exchanged contracts on the site and will use funds, grants and bequests to cover £2.2m of the asking price. Presumably the £300,000 is needed on top of that. Its report also says: The planned purchase is expected to clear the way for more archaeological investigations around Britain's largest chalk hill figure, which looms over the rolling Dorset landscape. It would ... (more) |