Flann O'Brien makes the case for banning poetryToday I visited Heyford Books in Northampton, which maintains a good general secondhand stock and sells most volumes for £2. One of the books I came away with was The Best of Myles, an anthology of the writings of Flann O'Brien. If you're puzzled by the title... Flann O'Brien's real name was Brian O'Nolan. As he was a pillar of the Irish civil service as well as a satirical columnist and novelist, he generally wrote under a pen name, and Myles na Gopaleen. Here he making the case for banning poetry: Having considered the matter in - of course - ... (more) |
Latest voting intention and leadership ratings opinion pollsWelcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention polls for the next general election, along with the latest MRP projections and party leadership ratings. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email, The Week in Polls: General election voting intention polls PollsterConLabLDGrnRefLab leadFieldwork Opinium 18% (nc) 20% (-2) 12% (+1) 12% (+2) 30% (-2) -10% (vs Ref) 22-24/10 GB Find Out Now ... (more) |
Observations of an ex pat: Project 2025 revisitedRemember Project 2025? It was the blueprint for a second Trump Administration written by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation and published in April 2023. When it came out only 4 percent of Americans approved of it. Donald Trump said it was "ridiculous and abysmal" and he added: "I know nothing about Project 2025. It has nothing to do with me and I have no idea who is behind it and attempts to connect me with it are pure disinformation." Is that so? After just over nine months of the second Trump presidency it is worth a review of ... (more) |
Plan approved to build Scotland's first broch in 2,000 yearsWhile presenting this blog's Headline of the Day Award to BBC News, the judges expressed the hope that this project marks the end of the millennia-long slump in the broch-building industry and emphasised that, pace fashionable opinion on social media, the planning laws are not to blame. (more) |
A better deal for Wales? Why federalism, not independence, is the answerOn Thursday, 23 October, Plaid Cymru ended nearly a century of Welsh Labour dominance in Caerphilly after having won the by-election triggered by the untimely passing of Welsh Labour MS Hefin David. The result, which saw a 27% swing from Welsh Labour to Plaid Cymru, must be a wake-up call for liberals that nationalism is on the rise, on both sides of the political aisle. While Plaid won the by-election, Reform UK finished second, ahead of Welsh Labour, indicating that not only is Welsh Labour finally being punished for its complacency, but the void it has left is being filled ... (more) |
TOGS Christmas initiative from Blackness Fire Station #dundeewestendBlackness Road Community Fire Station has a partnership with TOGS, the local Dundee-based charity, to support families in need. TOGS provides essential items such as clothing, toiletries, and equipment to families year-round, assisting children from pre-birth through to 18 years of age. With winter approaching, the fire station will be on collecting warm clothing for distribution to those in need within our local communities. TOGS has highlighted a particular gap in support for older teens, especially with regard to toiletries for this age group. As such, we are encouraging donations of both warm clothing and toiletries, with an emphasis on ... (more) |
A lone refuge from the rat raceThe Rhossili Old Rectory, built in the 1800s, is a historic property on the Gower Peninsula with a varied past. During World War II, it served as a base for radar workers. More recently, it gained fame as a filming location for the TV shows Torchwood and BBC's The Guest. Today, the National Trust manages the site as a popular holiday cottage, blending its historical character with modern comforts. The current rectory was built around 1850 on the site of an earlier, less substantial rectory. It was home to Reverend John Ponsonby Lucas and his family from 1855 to 1898. ... (more) |