There has been a lot of comment recently about the huge amount of money raised by the US Presidential candidates in the first quarter of the year. However two other numbers took my eye when wading through the mass of reporting on the 1st quarter returns (anyone holding or running for federal office has to file quarterly returns with the FEC the US equivalent of the UK's Electoral Commission). 1
I've always thought Jason Robinson is slightly overrated as Rugby Union player. The fact that although he has been a regular fixture in England teams over the last 6 or 7 years he has never been able to nail down a single position as his own speaks volumes for me. However scoring the winning try in the final minute of your last ever club game? That has to go down as one of the greatest ever
Posted by Chris Coatham ward Councillors Josie Crawford (pictured right) and Irene Curr (left) are pictured with one of the two Coatham signs that were installed today, complete with Yorkshire Rose. Irene and Josie asked for these signs because they felt Coatham, which was originally a separate village to Redcar should be signed. It could be more than 100 years since signs identifying Coatham were last in place, I can't be sure, perhaps someone could let me know. New signs for Redcar and Eston have also been provided by the Coalition Council, each bearing the Yorkshire rose symbol. The Coatham ...
Redcar Liberal Democrats oldest member is Florence Artley, 96 years old in May, but still delivering the Party's local newsletter, Focus, and baking cakes for fund raising coffee mornings. Florence is helping the Liberal Democrat Candidates, John Hannon and Paul Smith, in Redcar's Zetland Ward, where she lives in Ripon Road, along with her daughter, Alex who is also a party member. Sadly her husband Frank died 7 years ago aged 80. Out delivering the latest Focus newsletter in marginal Zetland ward, Florence said, "I really enjoy doing my bit for the Liberal Democrats. It keeps me active ... 
Today's House Points column from Liberal Democrat News. The earlier column in question is this one, but I am not sure this week's effort makes much sense without Matthew Huntbach's letter. Maybe I'll post it here one day. Child care With the Commons in recess I have a chance to give Matthew Huntbach's letter (LDN, 30 March) the attention it deserves. Matthew was objecting to my column from the week before, where I made a passing and unfavourable mention of Beverley Hughes 'national curriculum for the under fives'. Matthew was more impressed with it. He said ...
I have written a couple of times recently about the Caldon Canal in Staffordshire. Jim Shead's article Canal to Nowhere has some good photographs of this beautiful waterway.
I have been writing about the campaign to have the local Harvey's beers restored to the Lewes Arms. A story in today Shropshire Star suggests this may be a more widespread problem. It celebrates the fact that it is now possible to buy the beers brewed by Hanby Ales of Wem in a pub in, er, Wem.
At this stage it’s only fair to warn regular readers that I am now working in the Welsh Assembly election campaign, and some of you may find the following images disturbing… Specifically, I’m using the LDYS Target Seat Scheme to help former LDYS Chair Alison Goldsworthy in Cardiff West, a seat currently held by some obscure Labour AM called Rhodri Morgan or some such…Anyway, while I’m here I
Helen's adoption certificate arrived today for Demara, one of the Battersea baby meerkats, seen here with her brothers and sisters... aww...
i just want, on the off chance anyone from Barnsley District Hospital reads this, to thank them for the care they provided my mother over the last 5 and half years. from her cancer treatments in 2001/2002, her diagnosis of Diabetes, to the operation she had this morning on her knee, you have always provided the care she, and eveyone else, so rightfully deservers.
Lib Dem members will know from our discussion forum here that HQ number crunching wonks have been asking for the numbers of candidates standing for election in local authority battles across the country. With the numbers now in, our own analysis backs up what Iain Dale states but doesn’t emphasise. The Liberal Democrats have more candidates across [...]
This weekend there is lots of leafleting to do - but it is also my birthday so I am skiving off tomorrow evening and going out with Tamsin for dinner. I don't know where (it's a surprise) but I expect to roll outside afterwards suitably stuffed. I shall update as to presents and cards on Sunday, but there may not be a post tomorrow! Today, other than packing more crates at work, there was a
Lib Dem MP Ed Davey visited Hartcliffe this week and met with Lorraine Horgan and local residents to discuss what they were doing to tackle anti socail behaviour and improve their parks. Nearly a doze...
Welcome to HoodieTV, my new series of video blogs. I'll be posting a new episode every Friday afternoon for the next few weeks - if it works well, and has a good response, I'll keep it going as a regular feature. This week's episode deals with misleading campaigning by the Tories, and the liberal way to tackle alcohol-related crime.
This is the Welsh Liberal Democrats' Party Political broadcast for the Assembly elections.
And further to my blog entries earlier this week on the subject of graffiti, pleased to see in tonight's Evening Telegraph that our local Police are stepping up patrols in the West End to hopefully tackle the problem. Click on the headline above to view story.
The new West District housing office opens on Monday coming (16th April) and covers council housing services in our area of the City - you can read more about the new office by clicking on the headline above.
Today’s papers and Direct Line would want you to believe that the cost of parking your car has soared. Citing Berkhamstead as an example, where on average parking for two hours will now cost you a whole £1.08 (was 10p). If anybody really believes that £1.08 is an extortionate price for car parking they haven’t [...]
The new Welsh Liberal Democrats’ party election broadcast airs tonight. Its focus is health, education and climate change. Here’s a sneak preview of the English language version: PS: The party’s YouTube channel, where you can watch all its online films, is at http://www.youtube.com/libdem
I’m not fundamentally against the concept of football and don’t wish fans of the sport ill but I do want to see it removed from mainstream television channels. As a teenager I used to go and watch football matches regularly and have even been to see my families team of choice, Arsenal, play at Highbury. I’ll [...]
My Friday YouTube clip, today brought to you from your correspondent temporarily located in a city where it’s just turned Saturday.
DoctorVee has an interesting post on what happened in Washington when the Washington Post Joshua Bell, one of the best vionlists in the world went busking outside a tube station. Basically Joshua played a selection of some of the hardest and most beautiful classical pieces to an audience of thousands - but only a handfull stopped [...]
Today's Express headlines lead me to ask what decade they are stuck in. For some unknown reason the Express, stuck like Sam Tyler in Life on Mars in 1973, believes that by re-adopting the fahrenheit system they are re-asserting our independence as a sovereign nation. Never mind the fact that anyone under the age of 40 has not got a clue what they are on about as they only understand celcius. Now perhaps the Express' lack of relevance to UK society explains why their readership is constantly on the slide.
Sending me out on the doorstep to campaign for local election candidates is never a good idea. I come back convinced everyone is going to vote for us which destroys the point of the exercise whi... 
A loathsome backhanded compliment in the Brendan O’Neill’s editorial in this week’s Spiked email newsletter: Bloggers made the news this week instead of simply leaching off it. There’s talk of a ‘code of conduct’, ‘warning signs’ if blogs contain crude content. But blogs aren’t the place to go if you want erudite debate; they’re the online [...]
Southwark's Labour Councillors it would appear have better things to do than attend Council meetings to represent the communities that elected them. Liberal Democrats top the attendance league with a turnout of 83%, the Tories were second on 79% and Labour down at 76%. All three bottom slots were filled by Labour slackers, the top three were two Liberal Democrats (Paul Noblet and Richard Thomas) and one Tory. Two Labour Councillors have records below 50%. Liberal Democrat Group Chair James Gurling has commented: “Whilst formal council meetings tell only part of the story, I am delighted that ...
The Liberal Democrat group on Southwark council has topped the tables for attendance at Council meetings since May 2006. The news comes as official turnout figures for all formal meetings are published by the Authority. Overall turnout by Liberal Democrats for the period until the end of March stood at 83%. The figure for Labour Party councillors was 75.9% and for Conservative 78.7%. Three councillors had a perfect attendance record at all meetings they were due to attend. Liberal Democrats Paul Noblet (19 out of 19) and Richard Thomas (31 out of 31) together with Conservative Robin Crookshank Hilton (21 ...
With elections in France, Scotland, Wales, English Councils, and much ongoing speculation about the American primaries (still just under a year away) the papers are awash with election stories.In the deluge of coverage it is often difficult to tell who breaks genuine new stories and who is merely repeating yesterday's news under the heading of review. Today's offerings seem long on review with the best being the Economist. They sum up recent goings-on in the Scottish ("Upheaval in the north") Welsh ("A rumbling in the valleys") French ("The race for the Elysee") and American primary elections ("The comeback Grandpa?" and ...
Yesterday we celebrated with a dozen people who had served Kingston Council for 25 or more years. They've presumably found RBK a good employer or they wouldn't have stayed so long, but we value enormously the knowledge and experience that they have built up over the years. They have made major contributions in two apparently contradictory ways - by maintaining stability of staff, but...
In the office right now trying to catch up on things so that I can have a clear run at the next three weeks. Sitting here writing my blog isn't exactly going to help with my catch-up but having just sorted the mail-out for the 100 Real Baby Milk volunteers has kind of taken it out of me! We are having a stand at the Royal Cornwall Show this year which will be entirely manned by our volunteers but trying to organise them all (they come from right across the county) to attend one event rather than ...
This Friday’s treat comes from the city of my birth, Bristol. Well, actually it’s from 12 miles away – and is courtesy of the best thing to come out of North Somerset since the Wurzels - Portishead. This is their performance of Glory Box at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. Their first new album for a decade is due out later this year. Despite naming the band after their home town, Geoff Barrow said of it, "it looks really pretty and twee, but it's actually quite horrible." I’d probably go along with that.
An interesting insight into how Labour think was provided by yesterday's Southwark News. In a story focused on the length of time it takes to use 'planning gain' money, Labour Councillor McCarthy inadvertently let it slip that he felt such gains from his own ward Cathedrals, should be allocated to safer Labour territory in Camberwell. Labour are aware that they have no serious prospect of holding Councillor McCarthy's single seat in 2010, as it was gained through defection rather than a positive vote for Labour. The Council rightly point out that planning gain (Section 106) is money developers ...
Few days ago I spotted that Rob Fenwick had done this on Facebook. This website scans your photo and then tells you which celebrities you look like. It's an interesting mix to say the least. I think I might try it again with a different photo... Just realised that the little collage hasn't saved their names. Hmmm, I can't even remember who they all were now. But, safe to say of the ones I can remember, no one has ever told me I look like Toby Maguire, Zach Braff, Ronan Keating or Seamus Heaney...
As the map shows I am on the train heading for London. But in the words of Arnie "I'll be back". Meanwhile my blogger menus seem to have changed language. Has Scotland gained independence and scrapped English? I'll see what happens when I cross the border...
What is it with the banks in this country. It used to be that banks treated their staff and customers with respect and courtesy. Not any more it seems. A couple of weeks ago the Royal Bank of Scotland threatened its staff with disciplinary action if they did not have their primary bank account with the Royal Bank of Scotland. I followed this up with my local branch who had not heard the story and attempted valiantly to get me a response from their headquarters. The kept me in touch and promised a written response from their headquarters. Sadly ...
This morning in response to a request from resident Phyllis Brown, the area received a 'deep clean' from a team of council cleaning operators sweeping the road and pavements with brush and shovel and with mechanical cleaners. Residents were asked to park on the west side of the Avenue, on the double yellow lines, so the cleaners could get to an area which always has parked cars on it. The litter and leaves that had built up over months was swept away in about 30 minutes. One of the surprising results of getting cars to park on the west ...
I am the first to admit I am no expert on the NHS. However, I know enough to raise a glass of Zubrowka to this from Norfolk Blogger.
It is sad to see allegations on possible nomination paper fraud in Birmingham against the BNP.For the unaware, candidates need to be proposed, seconded and counter-signed 8 times by residents from the ward. It is common practice for parties to stand candidates in as many wards as possible, regardless of whether they campaign or not, [...]
The Times has an in depth article here. My favourite line is this from the irreverand George Hargreaves: “That money allows me to do the work that needs to be done to advance Christianity. “What would they prefer me to do? Flush the money down the toilet? That would be ungodly.” Spoken like a true televangelist. Whatever happened [...]
I am in Zagreb today at the ELDR (European Liberal Democrat Party) Council meeting. I sit on the Council as one of the eight directly elected representatives from Liberal Democrat Conference, so although it is in the middle of the local elections I made sure I could attend for the meeting (sasly not sight-seeing just meetings!)
Easter is usually a time for ramping up campaigning, but this year I managed to sneak a few days away to spend with Vic. Although we did drop in on Christine McHugh's campaign in Bedford, and do a bit of delivery. We were lucky to be able to spend a couple of days in Llandudno after the bank holiday weekend, so a bit quieter than the weekend would have been. It was quite nice driving past the queues of cars on their way home on the Monday afternoon. We stayed in a fantastic boutique B&B, Escape, in Llandudno. The room ...
I have always had a sporadic waste collection from my flat on the Bearwood Road. In one way this is understandable because there are very few occupied flats on my stretch, however you’d expect once the collectors were aware there was rubbish put out every week, it would be collected without a problem. Last week I reported [...]
It’s been a little while since I had the chance to do a litter walkabout. Luckily, these pictures from a resident of Park Road landed in my Inbox… The first picture from St Marys Road is allegedly the mess left behind after refuse collectors have been. I can believe this, as I’ve said before I’ve witnessed refuse [...]
With the revelation that Labour's Candidate for Kings Heath has called Kings Heath "Minger City" in The Stirrer, a website run by erstwhile BBC journalist Adrian Goldberg, Labour's campaign has taken a turn for the worse. From the story: Bill Lees, who’s standing in Moseley and Kings Heath, was writing on an internet forum about the possibility of a Sainsbury’s opening in Moseley and the Safeway
Rhodri Morgan yesterday managed to find some of the few trains still running in Wales as he took to the railways to boast of Labour's record of investing in the network. Unfortunately, his timing was appalling, especially for those commuters trying to get from Swansea to all points east by train. Work on the Cardiff to Swansea line has overrun from the bank holiday weekend, forcing up to 22,000 rail passengers on to replacement buses for the whole week. According to the First Minister there has been a £400 million investment in Welsh railways. Those who travel ...
A nice tribute to Kurt Vonnegut (via John Kovalic).
Having been persuaded to purchase a laptop by my mother (who hasn't personally progressed much beyond the answer to the question, "How do you turn it on?"), I used this evening to experiment with real time minuting. My typing speed is not impressive, I admit, operating as I do with two fingers, but it seems to be sufficient to minute a meeting effectively. Tonight's guinea pigs were Brent
Wednesday: Mr Lawrence Miles published a review of last weekend’s Doctor Who, only to RECANT very quickly and remove it from his diary. Nevertheless, like all the words of Mr “Mad Larry” Miles, it has made a bit of a SPLASH. Basically, he said that when gay daddies write for Doctor Who, if they AREN’T Russell T Davies then they have a problem writing for attractive young women. Not older women, older mumsy women are fine, just the young ones. And Mr Larry implies that it must be because young women must do K.I.S.S.I.N.G! This is ...
Live Earth is a music event that will bring together people from across seven continents to combat the climate crisis. | < | April 2007 | > | ||||
| 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 | |||||
