Housewives' favourite*, Nick Clegg, is on Iain Dale's Vox Politix show tonight from 9pm over at 18 Doughty Street. UPDATE: If you missed the live performance, I'm reliably informed by Iain Dale that you can watch again by clicking here. In my view, it's especially worth watching for the bit where Nick refers to me as "the great blogger". * I understand he is also Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary.
One year into the job: how’s David Cameron doing? Though there’s much I could say, I’m clearly not the most impartial observer. So I thought I’d let some figures do the talking instead. The graph below illustrates how Mr Cameron and Mr Blair compare after their first year as leader of the opposition, against their parties’ previous general election results. Mr Blair took over in July 1994,
Jews have been living in Britain since the Norman Conquest; indeed some appear in the Domesday Book. Yet in 1290 they were expelled from the country and did not return legally until Cromwell re-admitted them 350 years ago. To celebrate this event, a superb talk was given this evening given the charismatic Rabbi Danny Rich. It is an enormous tribute to Danny...
Back in the summer I spent a happy afternoon travelling round in the Home Library van, as it took books and tapes to people who can't easily get out to a local library. The Community Library Service also provides boxes of books to residential homes, and today they invited all their clients in for an afternoon of seasonal entertainment. They had found a terrific singer who...
Well, the weather held, the crowds appeared (over 300 local residents), the children's concert was superb, the tree lights at Seabraes are lovely and the fireworks spectacular - a great night for the West End - here's some of the photos!
Are you one of those people like me who ends up having to sit next to the nutter on any long journey ? You know the situation, the seats are filling up on the bus or train, then on walks a person who looks like they have been dragged through a hedge backwards, they look a mess and you can tell already that they smell. Well spare a thought for the poor people who had to share a plane with this woman ! Read HERE
Thursday: It is the FORTY-THIRD anniversay of "Doctor Who"! So I have gone to the cinema to see JAMES BOND again! What? What?? Very Happy Mrs Daddy Alex's Mummy's Birthday to Mrs Daddy Alex's Mummy and a Very Merry 6th Day of Advent to all of you at Home!
It's always a rush to get in my Christmas shopping in time: This time of year sees extra community Christmas events, local groups’ celebrations and visits to fit in. So when the last few frantic days before Christmas arrive, I have never finished (sometimes barely scratched the surface of) my present buying. That is when I thank my lucky stars for living in Highgate!You can read the rest of the
When I came down to London on Monday from the North East, I got started on a new product I had suggested the Political Communications Unit should produce. This is a monthly analysis of the council by-elections with ready made news releases and articles for members' newsletters. All you have to do is slot in your name and local party and where appropriate, a paragraph about your local
I don't know why I have got into the habit of going to the Annual Leeds Vigil. Until this year it has always been a worthy candle lit vigil on the steps of the Town Hall. This year it went upmarket and a little corporate. Firstly congratulations to the Corn Exchange for agreeing to host it. Secondly (he says taking his life in his hands) thank you to Hillary Benn MP ( Lab, Leeds Central) for being the lead speaker. Obviously as International Development its very much his field but I couldn't help but think that he is a ...
Firstly, I read today the new series (and final series) of the excellent BBC drama starring John Simm and Philip Glenister is back on soon. Secondly, I was fascinated by the piece on the news today about recent geographical and geological changes on the planet Mars indicates that water may have been flowing on the planet as recently as just five years ago. Read about it HERE. I remember having a book about space and planets as a child and being fascinated by it all. If there is water there than that means there may be some primitive life and ...
Friends of mine in Wells (North Norfolk) have drawn my attention to an event happening in 10 days time, and I am happy to plug this event on my blog. On Saturday December 16 festive celebrations will be happening most of the day. Click THIS LINK to find out more. A unique Christmas experience is promised with many fabulous events too numerous to mention, but I would in particular point out that Fakenham Town Band are playing and they are superb. So for all those people in Fakenham who read this blog, cannot I suggest you go ...
Some of you may have read me little rant about the awful Coke adverts on TV at Christmas (this year's rather sozzled red faced Santa, smiling drunkenly at people as the pass is a new low). However, not everyone has read it. So when I received an e-mail today from the Council making some reference to branding and putting on the e-mail "Most people do not know that Coca-Cola created the Red suited Santa Claus in 1931", I was annoyed (I know, I'm pathetic). So, for all those that don't know it already, Coca-cola did NOT create the red ...
We have neither the budget or a big enough display to justify a push button "Switch On" of the Headingley Christmas * Lights. However yesterday we had what must now be the "Traditional" switch on party for local older folk at the Headingley Parish Hall. As ever Volunteers from Leeds Metropolitan Universities " LS 6" project did the honours and about 40 people enjoyed a free buffet and entertainment. Anyone who thinks that writing letters to there local Councillors is a waste of time should think of me 6 years ago. I have only ever received one letter from ...
I’m not going to claim to know anything about how Parliament works. That’s why I write a blog. It’s only those that know nothing that have the time to actually share opinion. Well in my case anyway, there are LOTS of VERY clever bloggers out there. But and this is the point I actually wanted to [...]
Those nice people at Carnival of the Liberals have included my posting on the Orkney satanic abuse case in their selection of the 10 best Liberal postings from the last year. As you would expect, there's lots of good stuff to enjoy. The Carnival also has a home page.
I was sitting at my desk, staring at my screen trying to decide how to write a blog post on a non-event, on something where the story is that nothing has changed. Then a friend sent me a few links to a series of brilliant, simple little sites I hadn’t known about before and decided to [...]
Would it have been a surprise to anyone that if the the new US Defense secretary had said the war was being won, Blair would have repeated it ? So why does it come as no surprise that as soon as the US says "we" are losing the war, Blair agrees. Read the BBC report HERE. Blair makes us all look like poodle the more he deals with Bush. God knows how stupid he will make us look tomorrow in Washington !
Kingston Voluntary Action held its AGM today. This is the umbrella body for all the voluntary organisations in the borough. But KVA is much more than a network, or a collective voice, for the voluntary sector although it perfoms both those functions very capably. It provides very strong practical support to organisations, in areas such as searching for funding, structuring accounts,...
Ongoing work being done on the NHS crisis facing us locally – and the Overview & Scrutiny has had a pathetic (and frankly insulting) response from Patricia Hewitt’s office to our recent representations. Also looking at getting the rest of budget scrutiny tied up, as well as getting ready to go through the final report of my CCTV scrutiny review. But tonight (7pm) is the really local stuff I was elected for – it’s one of my regular surgeries. Between us in Fortis Green we hold three a month, I usually do this one on the first Wednesday of the ... 
Forgot to mention, got a bite to eat before the Zutons gig, at an excellent restaurant called Muang Thai, pretty much opposite the Camden Roundhouse. Just popped in there by chance – great place and excellent food. Boro match last night – I thought Berbatov was fantastic again, Defoe actually had one of his best games this season (tho he should have made some chances count) and Lee was really good, one of his best performances for ages. Michael Dawson was a star as always. Boro really didn’t pose much of a threat last night, but we made it ...
In the pre budget report, Gordon Brown has announced that [my emphasis]: Former director general of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones, has been made the government's skills envoy... Perhaps I simply don't understand the meaning of the word "envoy"; then again, maybe I do.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is celebrating today having secured £10.9 million of Government funding which will create over 450 jobs and transform business and employment opportunities throughout the area over the next three years. The money, part of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, will be used to increase the number of self-employed in the area by 480 and support the start-up of over 200 new businesses and 8 new social enterprises. Communities Minister, Baroness Andrews said: "The Local Enterprise Growth Initiative aims to encourage a step-change in economic activity in some of the most deprived areas ...
It’s been great to see the Lib Dems winning performance in council by-elections held in November. At a meeting of local members where campaign plans for next May’s local elections were stepped up a gear, it was clear the results showed that Labour have everything to fear from the Lib Dem challenge. The Liberal Democrats ended November with the most gains, whilst the Conservatives made no gains
Tonight is my final session of training on the Introduction to School Governorship course. The first three modules have been very informative so hopefully the last one will continue the trend. I received a Christmas card last night from the school at which I am a governor. I am touched by their consistent communications with me. That’s the second hand-written letter I’ve had from them in three 
“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.” So John F. Kennedy told a special joint session of Congress on 25 May 1961, and there was much rejoicing. I wonder if they would have been so pleased had they known that the Apollo Programme ...
New York has become the first city in the USA to ban all restaurants from using artificial trans-fats, while requiring them to post food calorie counts on their menus. Would you resist the ...
How will the decision on ‘renewing’ UK nuclear weapons actually be made? ‘Replacing Trident: who will make the decision and how’ is an useful guide available from the Oxford Research Group. It includes detailed material on the issues the Government will actually be taking seriously. Some key points are not necessarily convenient to the emerging LibDem position, especially on the practical timetable for the deployment of replacements for the Vanguard class submarines. (It is more accurate to talk of the ‘Vanguard’ replacement programme rather than ‘Trident’ replacement) In particular there are projected bottlenecks in the UK naval construction programme which ...
Excerpt: Chris Rennard has sent an e-mail to lib dem supporters with a birthday present for Tabman When you are not busy enjoying your own books and DVDs, there are three Liberal Democrat websites I'd particularly recommend - and which I try to see at least once each week:-
Tristan Mills’s excellent article on Environmental Hysteria highlights his concern that our future – even a future where we counter or adapt to global warming – is in danger. “We need sensible debate, not hysteria,” he writes. “We should not dismiss someone because they go against the orthodoxy, we should listen and argue based upon evidence.” I heartily agree. One of the greatest dangers that we face as a society today is the polarisation of debate and the demonisation of opponents. In the environmental arena, this has manifested itself in virulent attacks on those who question the received orthodoxy. ...
On Monday, apart from a useful City Centre meeting and one at the Corso Street sheltered lounge about planned activities for 2007, it was good to attend the presentation by the Lord Provost to Sheena Wellington of the City Centre & Harbour Community Council regarding their £5000 lottery funding success for Hogmanay activities (see below!) Was on Wave 102 news today about tonight's West End Christmas lights switch on, concert and fireworks. We seem very organised - let's hope the weather holds!
Paul Offer has been dumped by his consitutency association. And there are several things he´d like to get off his chest.
Now that I have been awarded the BBC AM-PM Communicator of the Year I need to be conscious that it can create expectations as was illustrated by Janet Ryder's reference to the ITV Wales equivalent yesterday: Janet Ryder: I thank the Business Minister for bringing forward a statement on the foundation phase tomorrow. At the beginning of this week, it appeared very much as though the Assembly would yet again read about a major change in education policy on the pages of the newspapers, and that AMs would not be told by the Assembly’s Minister for education what ...
Spotted over on Iain Dale's Blog - a comment by Bromley Tory Councillor and local Tory chairman Nicholas Bennett: "I & my officers are fighting to reform and modernise the association (with I think the support of the majority) but there will also be some real dinosaurs. They don't recognise that unless we renew and attract younger people, most of our activisits will have died in the next 10
We’re better than the rest of you. The BBC says it so it must be true: Left-handed people can think quicker when carrying out tasks such as playing computer games or playing sport, say Australian researchers. Connections between the left and right hand sides or hemispheres of the brain are faster in left-handed people, a study in [...]
Story from the BBC here. The basic story is that the good people of Embsay, in the Yorkshire Dales are organising a village Christmas party and they have now been told they must carry out a risk assessment of their mince pies - or their festivities will be cancelled. The local council has told them that posters will have to be displayed at the warning villagers the pies contain nuts and suet pastry. The cocoa content and temperature of the hot chocolate must also be checked. The organiser is quoted as saying "Everything we do, from putting tinsel up ...
Off to Dutch Farm this morning. This is a big of garston which could be a real little gem. At the moment its home to Rotters (community composting) , a STEC project and a football team. There is open space, trees and footpaths. Unfortunately the area is also home to people indulging in flytipping, driving stolen cars and burning cars. That in turn means problems for residents at both ends.. the Vineyard Street end and the Highbank Drive end. Well, long story short, today was a site visit and meeting involving people from Rotters ...
Paul Offer, the Conservative candidate in Chester, has now resigned. And this presumably means that Ian Lewis will shortly be eating his hat… chester conservatives Opposition watch
I find today that no minister is responsible for the GMC or the National Audit Office. That means I cannot ask a written parliamentary question about the GMC and what is happening there. Interestingly they have today said that they can tell me tomorrow whether or not they will provide an electronic copy of the Southall Transcript. Similarly I referred the overpayments on drugs to the National
Conspiracy theories and irrational fears irritate me, so it is with a sense of enormous joy that I read today that another Frankenstein delusion has been disproved. An article on the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has conclusively disproved any link between mobile phone use and cancer. This is no small study. 420,000 people who began using mobile phones between 1982 and 1995 were studied over 22 years; they had on average used their mobile for 8.5 years. The size of the sample enables incredibly accurate prediction. A control sample would have expected 15,001 cases of cancer, ...
Lord Thomas of Gresford has become Shadow Lord Chancellor with oversight of all the Law Officers and of legal reform. This follows Lord Goodhart’s appointment as Chair of the Delegated Powers Committee and changes in the designation of Government departments. Lord McNally and Lord Tyler will cover Constitutional Affairs, including reform of the House of [...]
Politicians have launched a drive to get more funding for hospices in Wales. Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesman and myself kicked off the "Support Our Hospices in Wales" campaign at St Kentigern Hospice, St Asaph last week. Support was provided from the Rt Hon Jim Wallace, former First Minister for Scotland along with Eleanor Burnham, AM for North Wales, who toured the hospice with myself. Interesting Mr Wallace revealed in Scotland all hospices are supported and funded to the tune of 40% from the Government. He was shocked the Welsh average is only 20% St Kentigerns has ...
I have a string of meetings in London again today. I enjoy days like these where I can get out and about meeting colleagues and clients. I am also impressed with London's transport network and wonder how we could learn some lessons that we can apply in Warwick & Leamington. I digress. I am working on another project with Defra as an IBM Project Manager. We run their IT infrastructure and work in partnership to develop a range of applications for the future. Those of you who know me will remember my time working ...
On Monday, Britain's warmest December night in history was recorded - a freakish 13.6C - as reported in the Daily Mirror. On this day in 1962 Britain's weather was rather different - as this film from BBC News shows. Nobody was talking about climate change then...
This morning's Western Mail contains more details on yesterday's budget shenanigans including the fact that Rhodri Morgan's threat to resign if his budget was not passed rapidly evaporated when he realised that the opposition might call his bluff and information about Plaid Cymru's own vacilliations, which has undermined what credibility they might have as an opposition and a potential alternative government: In an extraordinary day at the Senedd, the minority Labour administration tabled a new Budget after failing to reach agreement with the opposition. The opposition said they would vote it down and appeared to say they would form ...
From this morning's Guardian: 'Why all this fuss about the need for a new Trident? We haven't used the old ones yet. David Collins Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Two major policy initiatives that Labour are likely to take into the next General Election were announced yesterday. The Prime Minister put his weight behind an NHS restructuring that would, amongst other things, see the closure of many A&E units. All papers provide extensive coverage (though it has been knocked off the front pages generally by speculation over the Pre Budget Report). That the Telegraph is so lukewarm signals that the Government have a long way to go to win this argument: "...the common-sense objection to this plan remains: the most sophisticated treatments will be of little use ...
BBC Wales are very nice people. At a ceremony last night they gave out a number of political awards including Communicator of the Year to myself for the contribution made by this blog. Peter Hain did the double by winning Politician of the Year from the BBC as well as HTV, Trish Law was local campaigner of the year and Dafydd Elis-Thomas was considered to be the most outspoken politician.
Much is being made of the development of a small lead for the SNP in the opinion polls ahead of next years election to Holyrood. In addition there is said to be small majorities in favour of independence on both sides of the border. The way some tell it, the United Kingdom is headed for inevitable dissolution. So, it is a relief to see a much more balanced analysis from Magnus Linklater in The Times. The key point is that while the idea of independence might be emotionally attractive, the practical realities would be deeply unpopular and as a result, ...
Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, and Councillor Diane Hume have received over 100 letters from households near to Blackdale Middle School objecting to the sale of the school's playing fields. These letters are being sent to the Education Secretary today for consideration of an application by Norfolk County Council asking for permission to go ahead with the sale of land.
Or, this could be titled: the time the journo missed a trick. Our local roving political commentator, Giles Sheldrick, can whiff a good story a mile off and, with the national news about MPs' expenses, he must have thought it was a smart move to dig out last year's councillor allowances for the City and County. It was headline news in the local paper. My own allowance will be higher this municipal year than last, as I'm now Deputy Leader and as the independent remuneration panel decided allowances were too low. Good value or not? I'll leave that to ...
It’s one year since David Cameron became leader of the Conservative party. There has been, is and will be plenty of stuff about this anniversary, so I’ll just point out this animation. conservatives david cameron Opposition watch
It's rare that I actually get wound up much about the Labour spin machine in operation any more, but Gordon Brown's response to an open letter from an 81 year old pensioner who explained how he was struggling, on a fixed income, to pay his Council Tax and fuel bills was spin of the purest form. Gordon's response- that the Labour government had increased government grant to Councils and...
Middle EastTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) Palestinians and (b) Israelis who have died since September 2006 as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. (John Hemming) A:Between 1 September and 15 November, we have reports that 191 Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in conflict-related violence. (Kim
Last week a talk by a professor at my University and long time employee of the State Department Kendall Myers, at The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, produced a storm of controversy in the UK. What was surprising to all of the students attending the talk, was that Kendall Myers wasnt saying anything that we didnt know already. Even for us British students here in the US, it has become common knowledge that the US takes little notice of little Britain. Well at least only as much notice as it takes of, Japan, France, Germany ...
I have just realised I have not mentioned that the last English Council have agreed the European Selection timetable and rules. The timetable and rules will just apply to England but the process will take place earlier than last - which has to be a good thing to allow our candidates to campaign better - we certainly urged that from the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Regional Executive.
Todays link is here. You think the lights above are tacky? You needs to see these ones on this You Tube link. You have been warned.
Wednesday: It has been a THRILLING year for Mr Balloon, hasn't it? Never mind that recent polls are not quite so jolly good as they might have been, he is still FLYING HIGH. (Not HIGH, as such, just doing very well you understand.) So what if most people still think he is a toff with no policies, he has managed to completely REBRAND the Conservatory Party from the "Nasty Party" to the "Party that Used to be The Nasty Party but Doesn't Stand for Anything Anymore Please Vote for Us Next Time" Party! And why should he care that ...
Councillor David Dixon has recently taken advantage of the superb offer that the Council has in partnership with the Waste and Resources Action Programme which offers residents of Bath and North East Somerset a compost bin from just £4.00. Commenting on the use of his bin Cllr Dixon says, “This has been an excellent Liberal Democrat initiative and I feel that with all these things it is important that local councillors lead by example. In fact I have been very surprised by just how much less I put into our black bags which used to go to landfill, I ...
In 2003 the Snow Hill Consultation focussed on a range of issues which the community wanted solutions to. Some have already been delivered such as a new community facility at the Dover House Laundry and through working with Somer Housing local Councillors David Dixon and Colin Darracott are pleased that Centre Track was formed. We have also seen electric key charging facilities at London Road Stores and new play equipment at the two play areas. Local Liberal Democrat Councillors can also now confirm that improvements to the parking and roads at Snow Hill are also on the way. After ...
The Conservatives have launched a website which appears to label everyone who has taken on personal debt as a “tosser”. The website, which purports to give advice to people facing debt problems, is thin on the ground when it comes to practical information. After viewing the site Cllr David Dixon said: “The Tories simply don’t care about the people who are facing crippling personal debt, preferring instead to label them “Tossers”. I think its very sad that the Conservatives have been so callous in ...
With only 24 hrs to go the last campaign push is underway. Noticeably LibDem stake-boards are up in the ward. Their bright yellow can't be missed. The one above by the bus stop opposite my house is attracting a lot of attention when people alight from the 390 bus. It's an historic first on the Camden side of the road.
Brown's budget plans deserve scrutiny. Cable is on the case.
Surbiton High School runs weekly get-togethers for senior citizens culminating in their Community Concern Christmas Party. And very enjoyable it was, with some delightful entertainment from the girls and constant smiles and support to hand. Some of the guests enjoying the party with pupils Then on to the University Carol Service at St John's Church....
The Neo-natal Unit at Kingston Hospital is very special indeed. It has an outstanding record for its work with the tiniest prem babies and with those born sick. These parents kindly allowed me to picture them with their little boy But the unit has become particularly well-known in the area through Born Too Soon, the charity founded by Pauline Woods to raise funds...
I took a day off today. I hadn't planned it, but a friend of mine Bruce runs Showcomms, a company in Chelsfield selling and renting communications equipment - to broadcast companies, shows and the police and security companies. In my previous broadcast work I worked with Bruce. We occasionally go to the pub together, and last time we were in the Five Bells, Chelsfield he told me how he was going
Every party likes a defector. Blar Blar Party is out of touch whilst our party is only challengers in blar blar ward/ borough/ consistuency. You can just picture the next article in the party's leaflets. I must admit I have been a bit dazed. Being only a minor Lib Dem blogger and member, I cannot claim to be on the Christmas card list for any of the big wigs in any local party. Well, apart from | < | December 2006 | > | ||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | ||||||
