Castle Street has been transformed into a tree-lined, car-free area with pavement cafés alongside the specialist small shops. Today Cllr Chrissie Hitchcock, Chair of Kingston Town Neighbourhood, re-opened the street. Already far more people seem to be using it, either on their way from the station into the main shopping area or as a destination in its own...
There is a general air of optimism amongst progressives in the United States, with the Republicans seemingly headed towards a good kicking in the mid-term elections next week. As a liberal, you might expect me to be quite enthusiastic about the prospect and, to some extent, I am. But politics should be more about just winning, it should be about what you do once victory is achieved. And that's
Talking of Bridgnorth, this is rather wonderful.
The Star reports: Residents faced with paying thousands of pounds to repair Bridgnorth council sewage works are considering taking over the plants themselves.
It is interesting to check site stats to see where you are getting people linking to you. I get a lot of links from Lib Dem blogs, some from Dizzy Thinks (notice I am linked as an Evertonian, not a Lib Dem), some from Simon Wright and a fair few from Iain Dale, but I am pleased to say that I have made it to a political blog in New Zealand. Global domination will be mine (cue evil cackling laugh, fading out) !
The first meeting of the Central Dundee Parking Strategy Focus Group took place this afternoon, including local councillors, Community Council representatives and Planning & Transportation officials. Looking firstly at the City Centre parking scheme, the intention is to thereafter consider appropriate parking schemes for the areas peripheral to the City Centre itself, such as the West End, Hilltown, Law area, etc. It was a highly productive afternoon & the group meets again soon. It should be stressed that any parking scheme proposals will require extensive public consultation. And ... it looks like we'll have a small recycling centre at the ...
Southwark councillors have received the following e-mail from the Borough Commander. It confirms the threat to East Dulwich police station from the Labour run Metropolitan Police Authority. The ‘comfort’ is that an equivalent or increased reception desk service will be provided for each of the ten safer neighbourhood teams in Southwark. My problem with this is that when we [...]
The Tories have been quick to throw mud over police questioning of Labour people over the whole cash for honours issue, but the latest, and let me stress "routine" questioning that involves Michael Howard (who the police say is not personally under suspicion) should remind people that the Tories were just as keen for businessmen to give them large donations, and for those same businessmen to completely co-incidentally be awarded subsequently with peerages. I am still at a loss to personally explain what Michael Ashcroft did to justify his peerage. I seem to recall that he acted as an ...
David Cameron has received a further setback in his attempt to make the Conservative Party more representative of modern Britain. At the start of the month I pointed to Newsnight research suggesting that so far 83 per cent of the Tory candidates selected to fight the next general election have been called "Rees-Mogg". It has just got worse. Hot Ginger and Dynamite reports that Annunziata Rees-Mogg has been selected as Tory candidate for Somerton and Frome.
“Eid Mubarak” to any Muslim readers of the blog. It was noisy around Oldham today, and it’s great to see the celebrations. I had a busy day myself today – back in work, but still time to pen a couple of letters about the post-box mystery I mentioned yesterday. And then after work I went to a “spinning” class at Oldham leisure centre, which basically involved me cycling halfway to my death on a
In today's article, Tim Hames tries to fight off a smugly triumphant Matthew Parris over unfolding events in Iraq. It's probably still too early to call the complete results of the invasion of Iraq. But even at this stage the question it leaves us with, as Hames correctly postulates, is whether intervention per se is a bad idea or whether it's execution was flawed - a kind of extension of the jus ad bello or jus in bellum principles. Putting aside questions over it's initial legitimacy and focussing on it's execution, strictly military operations lasted for around a month. The ...
Further to my rather petulant post on Friday, I now am given to understand that Ming is likely to be there on 4 November. I’m also delighted to note that the button I mocked up on Friday is now listed on the official party buttons (see sidebar). So now you have NO excuse.
Trevor Phillips was confidently telling Sunday Times readers this weekend that Muslims will be rioting in the streets as a direct result of politicians saying beastly things about veils. The thing is though, Phillips seems to have been predicting race riots about pretty much everything, from Polish plumbers to the 7/7 attacks, for the past five [...]
Wisely or unwisely, I've repsonded to a late request to appear as the Lib Dem on Iain Dale's Vox Politix show on Internet TV site 18 Doughty Street. Still time before I go though to mention that the Lib Dem team on Southwark Council is fighting the Labour-run Metropolitan Police Authorities plans to shut down three crime-fighting police stations in Southwark. Stations at Rotherhithe, Camberwell and Dulwich are threatened. We believe they should be fully re-opened and expanded to accomodate local community wardens and safer neighbourhood teams. We're still waiting though for a clear position from the local ...
This is the letter the Council Leader has written to the Schools Minister…. Andrew Adonis Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for Schools Dear Andrew, Thank you for your letter of 17 October 2006. I am gravely concerned that time is running out if we are to secure the opening of a new boys’ school in September next year – as promised [...]
The polls have spoken and the headlines take on an unfamiliar aspect for David Cameron. He peaked in May, and now the polls show that he is struggling to stay in touch with the electorate.
Tory blogs are reporting that George Freeman, who fought the Stevenage seat at the last general election, has been selected to be Tory candidate in Mid Norfolk. Iain Dale has stated that Mr Freeman's parents lived in North Norfolk, and I am wondering if Mr Freeman is related in any way to Roger Freeman, the former Tory Minister (jokily referred to as the Minister for Slicked back hair", who was Tory MP for Kettering until 1997, whose family were residents of North Norfolk ? If so, some might ask is the name more important to selection in the ...
This year’s Party elections counts will be the last for two years and probably the last to be held in Cambridge. We have to copy the details of the votes on all the ballot papers to computers so they can be counted. No experience and very limited typing skills necessary. This year we again have the [...]
Strip number three: conversational gambits, wristband etiquette and that resignation...Built using Witty Comics
Sunday 23rd October My body clock was screaming at me in the morning. "Okay so we're now operating two hours ahead of UK time but does the alarm really have to go off at 6am?" Well, yes actually. We had an early start for the one hour drive to the Sumela Monastery. Prior to leaving the ship (at 7am) we went onto the upper deck to watch her dock at Trabzon, on the North East Turkish Black Sea
I've just spent the weekend in Blackpool (that's why my blog has seen few posts from me on its busiest weekend ever - gutted !), and was amazed to see the changes going on to the promenade. Some £62 million is being spent on new flood protection whilst also turning the straight promenade in to a more curved prettier prom. However, it begs the question, where is the money North Norfolk needs ? Is this another case of Labour looking after its own ? I wouldn't argue that Blackpool doesn't need the cash, it does, and a beautiful looking ...
means your home is not your castle. A recent visit to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and complaints about their planning regime is a more frequent topic of conversation than the weather. One power they have is to dictate what colour you paint your home. Yep, your ownership of your house is secondary in importance to its amenity value to holidaymakers. Living in the North Yorkshire Moors
Considerably more so than Iain Dale but not quite as much as Joe Taylor.
Rescued a lady on the 9.40 to Paddington this morning who got locked in the toilet. The handle came off in her hand and she started banging on the door. I was sat closest to the vestibule ...
(Or: Reading comments on Guido pays off at last!) This excellent ditty was posted by one of Guido's "co-conspirators" Nick Drew as a suggestion to sing at the CCHQ Away Day - I am moved to suggest that the Scottish Lib Dems could adopt it as an unofficial anthem... ;-) All together now: To the tune of 'Donald, Where's Yer Troosers ?' I’m from Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath I look kinda deep but 
Writing in today's FT about the need for a new and improved statutory regulatory framework for London's post-Big Bang financial markets in the 1980s, Nigel Lawson records: The government sought the advice of Professor Jim Gower, who wisely observed that the level of supervision should not “seek to achieve the impossible task of protecting fools from their own folly”, but should rather “be no
The Designer Maker Fair 2006 at the Midlands Arts Centre (mac) in Cannon Hill Park will take place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November 2006. One of the leading annual exhibitions of craft and design work, this is an opportunity to see (and buy) a wide range of work including ceramics, jewellery and textiles and to talk to the makers. Further details are on the mac's website.
Responding to Tony Blair’s comments that Britain intends ‘to hold its nerve’ in Iraq, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell said: If we are to salvage anything from Iraq the essential first step is an admission from the Prime Minister and President Bush that they got it wrong. Their strategy is in ruins. In March 2003 Parliament was [...]
The City Council is currently giving residents the opportunity to win a free copy of "Birmingham 1900-1945, A Social History in Postcards" if you can answer the following question: Which famous chocolate maker first started trading in Bull Street? You can enter the competition here (please note that the closing date for entries is Thursday 26 October 2006) . Alternatively, you can buy your own
My big moment of last week was chairing a public meeting into the outline planning permission for the Lewisham Gateway project, steering a middle course between partiality on the one hand, and impartiality on the other. Tried my best to ensure that everyone who wanted had a chance to speak, and to get through the fairly complicated agenda, and yet get home at a reasonable hour. Hope I succeeded.This was a pretty controversial proposal, so there was plenty of scope for emoticons in the meeting: But by and large, I think it went pretty well, thanks to the forbearance and patience ...
According to the BBC here Leeds are in talks with Dennis Wise with regard to the managers job and compensation which would be due to Swindon. He has always been in the frame ever since the beginning of the season because of his connections with Bates and I am glad to see that Ken Bates has taken on board my plea yesterday to sort out the situation! I am not convinced that this is the best appointment for the long term future of Leeds United but on the other hand the job is such a poisoned chalice at the ...
And lo the tax proposals came to pass. Amidst all the media bluster about the amendments and the challenge to Ming, no-one really mentioned that the proposals themselves were always going to sail through.But the whole thing did leave me wondering what the endgame would be. Big ticket flat taxes are surely the way to start, but what do we want or need environmental taxes to turn into?So allow me
There's something quite horrific about the comment of Tottenham FC manager Martin Jol, that biting an opponent is acceptable as being 'part of the game now' and even 'comical'. This was in response to Jermain Defoe apparently being caught biting an opponent's arm, an action graphically illustrated in today's Times. I'm amazed that a team manager can openly condone such an act- even if...
An e-mail from Iain Dale of Internet Telly (it’s the future) station, 18 Doughty St: I’m keen to get a list of LibDem bloggers who would be available on Monday evenings, which is where I have a panel of bloggers from all three parties to discuss blog issues and the week ahead. Can you advertise it [...]
Having just acquired series seven of the West Wing I watched episode three 'Message of the Week' last night, in which Arnie Vinnick attempts to appeal to Matt Santos's latino base. While his attempt to shift his opponent unto ground he was avoiding for the fear of appearing to be a minority rather than mainstream candidate that is nothing compared to this. Letters that have been sent out to
Spent most of the weekend out and about on appointments or knocking on doors.. but I feel that I spent most of it as a grafitti inspector! I am really worried about the continued appearance of grafitti with racist, sexist or homophobic overtones. There seems, for example, to be a spate of swastikas in parts of Garston, which re appear almost as soon as they are cleaned off. the Council has a policy of removing racist and offensive grafitti very quickly. I reported all the stuff I saw for removal.. lets hope eventually whoever is doing this ...
Posted by Glynis: On Saturday I was helping to deliver a letter to residents of Coatham on behalf of Josie Crawford, our friend and fellow Lib Dem Councillor. Josie, like us, has had a dreadful time putting up with abuse from certain protestors who do not want a superb leisure and housing development at Coatham. Josie has suffered more than most because she lives close to the site and by helping deliver the letter I was showing my support for her. These protesters have gone way beyond what is considered to be reasonable and have mounted a campaign of abuse, ...
This is an assortment of things that don’t quite merit a post in their own right. I’m not totally obsessed with Tories in Somerset, but it’s worth noting that Jacob’s sis, Annunziata Rees-Mogg was selected for Somerset and Frome. I’m sure she’ll make a more pleasant opponent that the rather creepy Clive Allen, but she will undoubtedly be hammered by Heath. Meanwhile, Alex has added one of my favourite sexual euphemisms ever to Urban Dictionary, my favourite food is now kobe beef steak, and my favourite pub in London is now the Victoria on Mornington Terrace. The ...
This extract from Bloggingheads is interesting because : a) It shows how you can do interesting video political discussion over the net. b) One of the participants is Daniel Drezner, one of my favourite US bloggers. And he's explaining why, as a "Long-term Republican" , he wants the Republicans punished and Democrats to win control of one chamber of Congress "I'm not sure if it's the party of
is kept (partially) disease free by dosing with formalin. A 'known carcinogen'. Avoid, for any number of reasons seems to be the take-home message from this Sunday's Observer.
See? (As if working out that percentage didn't prove it straight out!) In my defence, being a masters graduate in mathematics pushes the score up a dozen points all on its own... whether you consider that a defence is up to you...
The recent introduction of legislation requiring the use of booster seats by many children under 12 is a great example of the governments desire to legislate for everything. There has been an admission by police and government that the law will be unenforceable. So why legislate at all? Surely providing guidance is enough to allow any caring parent to make an informed choice about the safety of their child. Those parents who aren't interested are unlikely to be guilt tripped into acting by a law which not enforceable. I still see people every day (young and old) ...
I had a very interesting tour of Channel M on Friday afternnon, the tour included being sat in the studio while they broadcast (live) the 5pm News. It was very satisfying being in the studio when they did a piece on our victory in Gorton South! - I would have liked to stay for the 9pm news when George Osbourne was due to be interviewed to explain why the tories came 5th! I wonder how he spun that
Several hundred spam email messages this morning, including an exciting stock tip for Texhoma (TXHE). "Please read this letter attentively!!!!!!!!!", the message suggested, "This is strictly confidential information. Don't send it to anybody". Ooops. Sorry. The email confidently predicted that the shares would leap from $0.10 to $4.52. A good thing for Texhoma, whose shares collapsed by 94% in 2004 and 80% in 2005. In fact, the shares reached a whopping $0.13 at their peak. What is interesting, however, were the volumes traded. According to Marketwatch, on Monday 53,000 shares were traded. By ...
I have been extremely remiss not keeping this blog up to date - my only excuse is that I have been rushed off my feet since I came back from the Lib Dem Conference in Brighton!
A string of polls today makes interesting reading for the budding psephologist.Firstly a Ipsos MORI poll for the FT suggests that Cameron is gradually losing support. "David Cameron has suffered a sharp drop in public approval ratings since becoming the UK’s Conservative leader, mirroring the slide in popularity suffered by his predecessors who took the party to three successive general election defeats, an opinion poll for the FT has shown."Jean Eaglesham - The Financial TimesThe Times publishes its Populus poll which shows voters preferring a Brown premiership to a Cameron one by a substantial margin. "Asked whom they [swing voters] ...
Today's Guardian reports blog censorship of an altogether different kind to that being experienced by the Chief Constable of North Wales. They tell us that Sudan is to expel the UN's top official in the country after he reported two military defeats for the government and other embarrassing details in the largely invisible war in the western region of Darfur: Journalists and aid workers have minimal access to the conflict zone to check claims and counter claims by government and rebel commanders as well as displaced villagers, but Jan Pronk used his authority as Kofi Annan's special representative to ...
October 23rd is a date that has great resonance in Hungarian history- it is the anniversary of the Hungarian uprising of 1956. This year- the 50th anniversary- has proven to be far more contentious that previous years. Partly this is because this is one of the last major commemorations where many of those who took part are still alive. Partly, though it is a function of the political dispute that has wracked the country since the leftist Prime Minister admitted that he had "lied and lied" about government policy. Many of the insurrectionists are fiercely opposed to the government, which ...
The Local Party Executive of Birmingham Yardley and Hodge Hill Liberal Democrats invites applications for selection as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of Birmingham Hodge Hill.
This morning's Western Mail covers my concerns that decisions about Swansea's new super-hospital have been taken already without the proper engagement of the NHS Trust's partners or the public. One of the reasons this matters lies in the potential location. Swansea has been traditionally served by two hospitals at Singleton in the west and at Morriston in the east. The building of a brand new facility at the Felindre site, just off junction 46 (where the Eisteddfod was held for those who went to it) may well have some support. However, this site has been designated by the ...
Are you reading this Maggie Thatcher? Your boys took one hell of a beating, one hell of a beating. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the research was conducted by “researchers from Northumbria and Newcastle Universities.” No Tags
So the UK is not going to throw in the towel in Iraq and we are not going to set a deadline for withdrawal so thats ok then. I am not sure what this piece in the Guardian is referring to then. The piece certainly gives the impression that the UK is at least setting an unofficial deadline for withdrawal. Kim Howells said "I would have thought that certainly in a year or so there will be adequately trained Iraqi soldiers and security forces - policemen and women and so on - in order to do the job." He may ...
And quite frankly it could easily have been double that and the result would not have been unfair to Reading. Arsenal are simply the best team to have graced the Madejski Stadium so far. Reading battled and fought until the end although perhaps not with the same vigour as they did against Manchester United and Chelsea. Hopefully it wasn't a result of last weeks events but there was just the smallest tendancy for some Reading players to back off from making challenges. Thierry Henry and Fabregas were noticeable beneficiaries of this and Reading paid the price. The Guardians report of ...
Excerpt: ...that the Joseph Rowntree Trust is giving us two million. The bad news is that we can´t use it to pay back HSBC/5th Avenue. | < | October 2006 | > | ||||
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