Birtley north action dayAnother Saturday and another Gateshead Lib Dem action day. Today we were in Birtley North and Lamesley to deliver the latest Focus. Deliveries will continue over the next few days. (more) |
Sally Ann Howes couldn't cry for toffees: Why have child actors got so much better?Embed from Getty ImagesI watched the 1945 Ealing period drama Pink String and Sealing Wax the other day. In it, the always-wonderful Googie Withers entangles a young Gordon Jackson in her wiles, only to be defeated by his father Mervyn Johns. It's a striking film in that the major characters are all unsympathetic, and an unusual one for Ealing in that the Jackson and his siblings' dreams of escape to a better life come to something. Usually at Ealing such escapes were strictly temporary, whether they were Alec Guinness's technological breakthrough in The Man in the White Suit or the ... (more) |
Like Mr Bumble, one master of Brixworth Workhouse ended as an inmate of his own establishmentReplying to a comment on my post on Brixworth, I referred a the writer to a page on Brixworth Workhouse. Having done a little more research on the place, I have found a story with strong Dickensian echoes. In the final chapter of Oliver Twist, Dickens tells us what becomes of his characters in later life. Charley Bates, for instance, seeing what has befallen his criminal associates, resolves to mend his ways and, after toiling as a farmer's drudge and a carrier's lad, finds himself "the merriest young grazier in all Northamptonshire". Others are not so lucky: Mr. and Mrs. ... (more) |
Observations of an Expat: MAGA ConnedMAGA is waking up to the fact that it has been conned. Almost everyone else knew years ago that Donal J. Tump is a con artist whose talent lies in feeding prejudices with lies that people want to believe. But in America—as in most countries—there is a socially conservative and fiscally liberal base of voters who are frightened of change while anxious about their bank balances. The Democrats and old school Republicans had failed them. Trump convinced them that he had the answer with his "Make America Great Again" campaign. Proof of the MAGA's disillusionment came this week in the ... (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 Find Out Now 20% (+2) 14% (-1) 11% (-1) 18% (+1) 31% (nc) -17% (4th, vs Ref) 3/12 GB ... (more) |
Professor Thomas Seyfried and the question as to whether cancer is primarily nucDNA or mtDNAProfessor Thomas Seyfried and the Question: Is Cancer Primarily Nuclear DNA or Mitochondrial DNA? Professor Thomas Seyfried argues that cancer is mainly mitochondrial rather than purely nuclear/genetic. Below are the key experiments supporting the view that cytoplasmic/mitochondrial factors, rather than nuclear mutations alone, drive the malignant phenotype. Nuclear Transfer Experiments (Cancer (more) |
Dundee Libraries' At Home Library ServiceDundee Libraries' At Home Library Service is designed for people living in Dundee in their own home, sheltered housing or care home. If you or someone you care for is convalescing, have difficulty getting out independently, or would simply benefit from getting library resources delivered to your door please contact the service - find contact details using the link at www.leisureandculturedundee.com/library/athome Resources include ordinary and large print books, talking books and large piece jigsaws. Library staff will call you initially to discuss your interests and let you know when your first delivery will be. (more) |
Too risque for the House of Lords?Swansea's Brangwyn Hall is a major venue in the city, but it is mostly known for the artwork that adorns its walls. The Brangwyn Panels (also known as the British Empire Panels), comprising 16 monumental paintings, are popularly considered Sir Frank Brnagwyn's most significant achievement. They were initially commissioned for the Royal Gallery in the House of Lords and were hotly pursued by both Cardiff and Swansea. As the Glyn Vivian website records the ensuing battle ended with Swansea winning the bid: The building of the new Guildhall was underway and the city council proposed raising the Assembly Hall ceiling ... (more) |
RIP AndyIt was a sad day today for Gateshead Liberal Democrats. Our former chair and treasurer, Andy Coleman, passed away suddenly in November, aged only 48. His funeral was today. Andy had been a key activist over the past few years. He did not want to be a councillor but the focus of his activities was within the party itself. Rather than be a candidate, he did the job of election agent. He was (more) |
By-election analysis: gain, loss, holdsYesterday's council by-elections were a mixed crop. Lib Dems had a gain, a loss and 2 holds. The overall picture is unchanged from last week - Labour and the Conservatives are doing appallingly badly, the momentum is still behind Reform, the Greens barely registered (but they inadvertently helped Reform win in one contest) and the Lib Dems, as previously, had a mixed night. So here are the (more) |