Which Bromley Conservative councillor was thanked at a recent Council committee meeting, when external inspectors were present, by one of his colleagues for his "intoxicating contribution" after debate became heated between him and fellow Tory Julian Grainger over the allocation of resources?
It cannot be. Two words. Vote Williams. The rumour mill
Thursday: On the day that the papers were ALREADY wall-to-wall with coverage of the Princess Diana Inquest ("Conspiracy Cover Up" or "Ghoulish Death-fest", take your pick), we get news of new developments in the "Lord Blairimort is going to prison" saga. As many of those same papers have commented, what a day to bury bad news! But that is not the ONLY coincidence today: News breaks that Lord Blairimort has been interviewed by the police over cash for honours. News breaks that Mr Frown might have pushed through an honour for a close chum who also donated ...
Spent last weekend boozing it up with my good amigos Max and Robin in the city of Durham in the great North East of England. It is incredibly frosty and very brilliant; Bill Bryson’s observations on the place are pretty astute. I nearly got frostbite in my toes because apparently they didn’t have cavity wall insulation in the 11th century. Couldn’t be bothered more like. Anyway, today I am still trying to digest the news that the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland is dating near-bankrupt Transylvanian pop-haemovore Gabriela Irimia. I have no special ...
In the interests of public order (I'm not sure the police could cope with thousands descending on the site) I have refrained from making a YouTube movie showing the pulsating light sequence in all its full glory. Let's just say that the vibrant energy of the lights beautiful off-sets the restrained power symbolised by the JCB in a way that makes a profound statement on the interplay between modern architecture and London’s multicultural society.
Yesterday was our Bedford Christmas Civic Service.........organised by one of my Tory pals (yes I do have them!) current Speaker, Andrew McConnell. In his honour I broke with my tradition of refusing to be seen in something that looks like a washed out old dressing gown (why don't they do them in petite, so sizeist!) and a tricorn hat (so Dick Turpin.....). As we were "processing" into the church another pal, ex councillor Chris Whitehead came along and shocked me by revealing he read my blog..........heavens that's three of you now then! It was a lovely service, reminding ...
The MOD today claimed that the delay in Geoff Hoon ordering the correct amount of body armour for UK troops must be seen in relation to the ongoing diplomatic action at the time in late 2002, early 2003. They claim that ordering body armour might have been seen to "pre-judge" the situation and could have been provocative. This contradicts the actual evidence that showed that Geoff Hoon simply wrote "more information needed" on the request from the army for more body armour, thus causing a delay of some eight weeks to the body armour order. If Geoff Hoon ...
I've never been able to cope very well with people who sulk or go in to a mood. I had too many years of having to endure one of my younger brother's moods when I was a child and he could go in to a mood for Britain, if only it was an Olympic sport. Although he has grown out of it now he's grown up (I'm sure his wife would disagree though). Anyway, people who go in to moods because they have lost or missed out on something can be irritating, but you can at least understand why ...
Pleased to see that Norman Lamb, my good friend (I'm starting to sound like Iain Dale here) has been promoted in today's Lib Dem shadow cabinet re-shuffle to the role of Shadow Health Secretary. Full details can be found HERE. With all the problems we have in Norfolk with massive bed closures in cottage hospitals across the County , Norman will be in a strong position to argue on their behalf. Norman really made his name fighting on health issues before he was elected as MP and is well suited to that role. Well done Norman.
Over at Iain Dale’s gaff, you can choose which Lib Dem MP you think has fared best in 2006 in his latest poll. At the moment, Lembit Öpik appears to be storming to victory, based (I am sure) solely on his political achievements these past 12 months. Perhaps this signifies the end of the ‘Curse of Lembit’? I voted for Chris Huhne. I thought I should do so once in 2006. And he has - without
Congratulations to Norman Lamb, Susan Kramer, Steve Webb, Ed Davey and Lynne Featherstone on their new appointments in today's Lib Dem mini-reshuffle. I should point out that Lynne's promotion to the shadow cabinet as International Development spokeswoman was first predicted here on this blog. Admittedly it took another nine months for Ming to heed my advice, but hey...
Headlines from BBC Online: 13th Dec - 'Flintoff upbeat about fighting back in Ashes' 18th Dec - 'Flintoff hopes to avoid whitewash' The progression from optimism to realism is always a painful journey.
A report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has provided an interesting slant on population movements in Britain. The report’s full of interesting stats, which, if I could be bothered to quote them, would probably bury the point of this post in numbers. The thing that really struck me was there are 5.5 [...]
The secret NAO report on the Al-Yamamah arms deal has been kept under wraps too long. Ming Campbell wants it published.
Up on my website now are my Christmas message for the Haringey Advertiser plus a piece for the Asian Voice about crime and terrorism. 
Iain Dale is running a poll to find the Lib Dem MP of the year. Whilst I feel a certain loyalty to Nick Clegg and feel I should vote for him as my (sort of) employer and local MP, the one I would want to vote for is Charles Kennedy, for two reasons: His resignation [...]
John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley, Liberal Democrat) Hansard source The Secretary of State has admitted that the Government will force sub-post offices that are profitable private businesses to close because they are not profitable for the central Post Office. Will he publish details of the localised costs and the methodology used to calculate them, so that we can be sure that the mistake that
Time magazine have announced that “you” are the person of the year. This is an unusual choice but seems right. Other leading contenders were expected to be the presidents of North Korea or Iran, or instead James Baker. They are all significant figures who have made a mark, but have they changed [...]
There is an odd article in Times 2 today. Under the none-too-original heading The Ecstasy and the agony comes the subtitle As the first wave of Ecstasy users reach their forties, research suggests the drug can cause long-term brain damage. At last, one might be forgiven for thinking, conclusive evidence that Ecstasy is a harmful narcotic. Except that the bulk of the article paints a far more mixed and indeed contrary picture. It begins by pointing out the deficiencies in most existing scientific research: the read-over from lab rats to humans is not applicable; the purported link to Parkinson’s ...
I am just about to enter the busiest period of the year in the run up to and after the Christmas break. Each year my diary will be packed full of meetings and visits throughout the weeks of Chri...
BBC News 24, standing outside the front of the house belonging to the man arrested for the murder of the five women in Ipswich, have just told us how much he paid for the property in October. Why? No Tags
Sir Menzies has announced a Mini-reshuffle. It appears very small involving five MPs in total. The details follow, I am not convinced it was either needed or will have a huge impact, but then I am not the Leader!
This morning I got a phone call from Ming - promoting me to the shadow cabinet as International Development spokeswoman. A nice early Christmas present! It'll be a bit of a wrench leaving home affairs, as being number two in the team there has been a great job, but I'm looking forward to the challenges of the new job - especially as in these inter-connected days, what happens overseas so often ends up having an impact back home. (More on the other moves is on the party website and on Liberal Democrat Voice).
Since I first delivered a residents survey through a door (St Mary Cray, 1985), one of the most called for facilities is an Ice Rink. Bexley Council is asking for residents (and residents of neighbouring boroughs such as Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich and Dartford) to give their views on an Ice Rink for the Borough. The survey is on the News Shopper website. Go there now to have your say! An Ice
Norman Lamb, formerly Chief of Staff to Menzies Campbell, takes on the role of Shadow Health Secretary. Ed Davey becomes the Leader’s new Chief of Staff, which will be alongside his present role as Chair of Campaigns and Communications. The DTI portfolio is taken on by Susan Kramer, who passes on the International Development portfolio to Lynne [...]
In amongst the eating at last night's party was a serious chat about the future of the Metrolink, and the fact that the entire Bury line is going to be shut for a substantial part of 2007 whilst tracks are being renovated. I think it’s great that the track is being updated – At the moment it’s like riding on one of those Pirate Galleons at the funfair at times, it’s so rickety. And it’s
Last night was the Bury Liberal Democrat “thank you” Christmas party for all our leafleters and helpers. It was great to see so many people there, meeting up to share the festive atmosphere.My own personal way of saying “thank you” was to bring round about 48 chocolate cake bars, and then eat my way through half a dozen mince pies. It's also Chanukah at the moment, when Jewish people the world
Mrs Margaret Jones is 100 today. Here she is with her two sons, holding her greeting from the Queen. Happy Birthday, Margaret! Whilst in Newent House I went round a met the other residents and also the people who make use of the busy Day Centre. Mince pie watch Mince pies offered to date: 13 Mince pies...
The Christmas play by the two reception classes at Maple Infants included insects, chickens, a goat and an owl, as well as the traditional Joseph, Mary, angels, shepherds and Wise Men. Thank you for inviting me - it was a lovely start to Christmas week.
Jill Hope has been selected to run in Milton Keynes North, which presumably ends a long-running and at times extraordinary selection contest in Harborough. 
Two extra special Scrubs videos, the first a Christmas card, the second a preview of an upcoming episode - enjoy!
Bristol international airport is currently consulting on a large expansion to its operations.Many of you have from time to time raised concerns about the airport and the flight paths. If you wish to submit your views please check out these two websites to see the competing sides of the argument www.bristolairport.co.uk and click on master plan and www.stopbia.com and then email your views and comments to North Somerset Council Ref 06/P/2701/MP at dccomments@n-somerset.gov.uk by 22/12/6 - apologies for the short notice but this short notice has only just reached me.
The chances of this affair haing an impact on voting intentions are only slightly larger than the chances of the earth being hit by an asteroid in our lifetimes.
An interesting article from Matthew Lynn at Bloomberg deserves wider circulation. The implications of his point that Russia is not a sensible place for major international investment are even more profound than they first appear. Essentially Russia is not only refusing to allow international business to function, but where investment is being made in capital equipment and techniques that the Russians do not posses themselves, then they are trying to steal this proprietary technology. Meanwhile the political picture grows more violent. Putin's "Nashi" goons continue to harass anyone they see fit- including the widespread use of violence ...
With the current re-run of the standard off-the-shelf popular uproar on ‘getting on yer bike’ to look for a job, a few thoughts on the psychology of market forces may be helpful. ‘Work Secretary’ John Hutton said in a speech to the IPPR: "The next challenge we face is to ensure the hardcore of 'can work but won't work' benefit claimants take advantage of the opportunities out there and compete for jobs alongside growing numbers of migrants who arrive in Britain specifically to look for work rather than to settle for the long term." And he goes ...
Impeccable sources. Details sketchy. Has Lembit perhaps been just a little bit too cheeky for Ming’s taste? Updates in the members discussion board. Official confirmation may not follow for 48 hours or so. If you know what’s going on, do tell robrobWHOISATlibdemvoice.orgrobWHOISATlibdemvoice.org (replace WHOISAT with @ to e-mail) (replace WHOISAT with @ to e-mail) - anonymity guaranteed. Note: if you are a registered [...]
During my dosing faze of waking up and listening to Today. I'm fairly certain I heard a report about control of milk prices, and that farmers wanted a regulator. I'm sure Ofmilk will not be the cream of the crop, or top of the list.
Liberal Democrat MPs are planning to up the pressure in Parliament over the Government’s controversial decision to drop corruption investigations around the Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia. (As an aside - perhaps action in Parliament will flush out rather more comment from the Conservatives on this issue, who overall have stayed very, very quiet…). UPDATE: [...]
Lib Dem Voice is looking at opinion polls to identify the effect a new party leader has on Lib Dem poll ratings. I have argued on Lib Dem Voice that this is not a true representation as each leader has been on a different starting block when he took over at the realm. Surely the good folks at Lib Dem Voice (and I say good as 1) I don't know them and 2) I am in the Christmas spirit) need to look
Redcar and Cleveland Council today reacted with pride at its position as the second most improved council in the country for the Borough's recycling and composting rates. Figures from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs show Redcar and Cleveland recording an annual percentage increase of 20.8 to return a recycling rate of 35.7 per cent for 2005/2006, compared to 14.9pc the previous year. That rate also places the Borough as the top performing council in the North East, adding to its success of becoming a Beacon authority, awarded for its waste management and recycling. The ...
Iain Dale is running a poll for the "Lib Dem MP of the year". Get your votes in so that Lib Dems can play a role in the vote Click on Iain's blog HERE and the poll is on the left in the side panel.
This morning I walked in the crisp winter air along the Common to Hill Close Gardens, where they were having an open day. These gardens are unique and are probably the only remaining example of Victorian town gardens in existence. The new visitors centre is an ecofriendly building that uses a Ground Source Heat Pump, it was certainly very effective and the place was very warm. The Gardens & The Visitors Centre are a fantastic resource for education, meetings and leisure as well as being a working example of how we can use ecotecnology. I look forward to having ...
Like Tom Watson I particularly enjoyed these top ten Trotskyist chat up lines: (10) You mean you share my critique of Mandel's interpretation of Kondratiev's long wave theory? Wow, we have so much in common! (9) Let’s get out of here. I know a much cozier little Marxist bookstore downtown. (8) I bet I can guess your party cadre name. (7) Sorry, but I just wanted to tell you how stunning you look in that secondhand donkey jacket while carrying a bundle of Socialist Workers under your arm ... (6) I used to read Trotsky ...
Jackie Ashley in today's Guardian is quite damning in her judgement of the Prime Minister and the cash-for-peerages scandal that is engulfing his Government. Her conclusion that Blair is a lame duck is difficult to disagree with. Her view that the Prime Minister has devalued our democratic institutions also rings true: For a serving prime minister to be interviewed by the police was a moment of humiliation for British parliamentary democracy. The suggestion that his top aide, Jonathan Powell, might be interviewed under caution is just as bad. If charges follow, it would be worse than anything that happened ...
Gateshead's parliamentary constituencies' boundaries have undergone considerable changes under the latest review. Previously the boundaries were something of a dog's breakfast - we had only one constituency wholly within the borough and bits of 3 others within Gateshead as well. The swanky new boundaries put an end to all that and, in the process, appears to have put an end to the career of a
Todays link is here. This takes you to a page with a quiz about Dickens Christmas Carol. See what you can remember - I scored 4 out of 10. Not good.
A report from the BBC here indicates that according to Gartner blogging is set to peak in 2007 Apparently the number of blogs will level out at about 100 million and apparently 200 million people have already stopped writing their blogs. They believe that most people who might want to start a blog have already done so.
What better way to travel to Newcastle than breakfast in the car? David made me a couple of bacon butties to eat on the way in. I have polished them off before we got to the next village. Yum!This is my last trip to London before xmas. I'm on the platform at Newcastle now. Pity I didn't get to bed til 2am this morning. And then had to get up at 6.30am. But with a three hour rail journey ahead, I
Most Liberal Democrats continue to be bemused at the extent of the newspaper coverage of Lembit's Őpik's private life. My favourite line so far has to be in today's Times: Ms Irimia, 23, said that her passion was inflamed after seeing Mr Öpik play the harmonica when they were both contestants on Five’s All Star Talent Show. In my experience this is not a normal reaction to Lembit's harmonica playing.
Wednesday: For unfunny, crack-pot sexism, check out the latest issue of VANITY FAIR or in this case VANITY FOUL magazine and Mr Histopher Chickens' latest wheeze: "why women aren't funny"! Clearly, Mr Chickens – not to be confused with his younger brother, the Hate Mail on Sunday rant-meister and startled cod looky-likey, Mr Peter Chickens – has tired of the EASY PICKINGS of picking a fight with Saddam Hussein love-interest and leader of the Respect Party, Mr Gorgeous Pussycat Leotard, and has decided to take on the entire rest of the human species instead. His thesis, apparently, is that ... | < | December 2006 | > | ||||
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