LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Thursday 12th July 2007

Man-eating badgers in Basra

A fascinating story from the BBC: British forces have denied rumours that they released a plague of ferocious badgers into the Iraqi city of Basra.Word spread among the populace that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic.But several of the creatures, caught and killed by local farmers, have been identified by experts as honey badgers.The rumours spread because the animals had appeared near the British base at Basra airport.UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area."Before you scoff, remember how ...

New tax plans - beware the super-rich element

When the news of the four pence income tax rate reduction first appeared in the Guardian, I said that we would have to trust Statler and Waldorf (Vince Cable and Ming Campbell) and wait for the details. I am pleased to say that the trust I put in Statler and Waldorf has been repaid. Vince Cable's plan for a four pence tax rate reduction, coupled with increased green taxes and taxes on the

George Bush continues to aim at the wrong duck

George Bush said today that pulling troops out too soon "would mean surrendering the future of Iraq to al-Qaeda". He just doesn't get it does he? Even US National Intelligence Council, the best brains available to Bush, says that the Sunni-Shiite warfare is the cause of most of the violence in Iraq - see below. It is amazing that, with an awesome array of intelligence resources available to him

Some photos from Ming's visit to Hurworth School

Top: the media scrum as Sir Menzies Campbell arrives at Hurworth School, in Sedgefield constituency. Second: Ming meets the children in an art class. Third: Ming, with local Lib Dem Councillor Martin Swainston, meets parents from Hurworth School who fought for its survival. Bottom: Greg Stone, Martin Swainston and Ming Cambell. An excellent visit to Hurworth School with considerable media

Ming slightly ahead!

There's been 10 votes already in the Ming poll and he's ahead 6 to 4!

Honours committee member speaks out about Rushdie

Today's PM programme on Radio Four carried an extraordinary interview with Andreas Whittam-Smith, the first editor of the Independent. He was speaking in his capacity as a member of the Arts and Media sub-committee of the Honours Committee. The interview was extraordinary because I have never heard the work of the committees discussed in such authoritative detail before. Whittam-Smith spoke at

MP calls for violent uprising in Zimbabwe

Newbury Today reports: NEWBURY MP Richard Benyon made a startling foray into foreign policy this week when he urged the people of Zimbabwe to rise up and depose leader Robert Mugabe. Mr Benyon, whose constituency includes hundreds of Zimbabweans, said that the people of Zimbabwe should rise up in violent revolt against Mr Mugabe in the same way that former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was

Why there should be a full public inquiry over the decision to site Cruise missiles at Greenham

It is rather frustrating to read this news without the accompanying detail: Nuclear missiles stationed at the former RAF base at Greenham Common in Berkshire put 10 million people at risk from radioactive contamination, according to documents released by the Ministry of Defence. It is also frustrating that the risk assessment referred to was not available publicly in the 1980s before the Cruise

Now, I don’t want you to get too excited, but it’s the PROMS, the PROMS are here! It’s the start of 2007 BBC PROMS! PROMS!!

I try never to use more than one exclamation mark at a time, but sometimes circumstances force me to demean myself, and you frankly, by unleashing the mighty punctuation beast. Friday night is PROMS night! For the third consecutive year I’ll be there on the First Night, chest puffed up, smile a little wider, ready for [...]

Ming Campbell, should he stay or should he go?

Have your say on my new blog poll and feel free to vent you spleen about Ming in the comments. This is of course the single most decisive poll on the future of Ming's leadership, so take it seriously folks!

A Feather in Ming's Cap?

May I join the ranks of those welcoming the Lib Dems' new tax policy; once again we are way ahead of the other parties with our progressive tax policies. Now we just have to sit back and take bets on which side will be the first to steal them, my bet is with the Tories as it most fits in with their efforts to change their spots; its a bit too redistributive for Brown's old/new/new Labour. Also, well done to the press team on managing to spin the 'removing tax loopholes for the super-rich' as opposed to 'new taxes on ...

Simon Hughes MP visits Sedgefield July 2007

Simon Hughes visited Sedgefield on Monday to back Greg Stone's campaign in the by-election. This is the video I shot of the walkabout in Newton Aycliffe town centre.

No More Second Class Service from Royal Mail

This is not about the Royal Mail strike. This is about the second class service my residents, it seems all of the residents of Bristol, suffer because of the poor vision and cost cutting decisions of ...

Iraq - the C4 report on Saturday

Those of us who fall asleep in front of the telly having turned on to 'Big Brother' by mistake may may be waking up early in the morning to a very different Channel 4 programme. 'The Iraq Commission' is a series of hearings chaired variously by Paddy Ashdown, Baroness Jay and Tom King grilling witnesses with a wide variety of views on the appaling situation in that country. Selections of that evidence have been broadcast recently in two-hour long C4 programms beginning at about 10 minutes after midnight. The final programme is at a much more civilised hour ...

Plastic bags and viticulture

I have not blogged much about the goings on in the chamber since we came back, largely because the agenda has been a bit thin and people have been short on humour. It was a pleasant surprise therefore to find that trend being broken in the final session of term yesterday. The fun began with what seemed like a perfectly innocent question on the Welsh Assembly Government's recycling policies from Eleanor Burnham. Nobody expected the follow up to turn into such a damning indictment of the evil plastic bag: Eleanor Burnham: I am pleased that the environmental ...

Priorities all wrong

This story (linked) is about the death of a 4 year old as a result of physical abuse. Why when this is happening is "the system" concentrating so much effort on "likely emotional abuse". It is just the same as many others of these deaths. The evidence is not complicated.

Feathers without hissing ?

"The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest amount of hissing."Jean Baptiste Colbert Some of us have felt that Liberal Democrats have been too cautious in recent years, afraid to upset anyone who might vote for us. Vince Cable and Ming Campbell have cured this complaint with the new tax policy announced today.

Look which leading Conservative we bumped into

When we went to meet Ming at Darlington Station for his visit to Sedgefield, look at which leading Conservative we bumped into - none other than Alan Duncan.

The Queen: Credit where credit is due

Following the BBC apology, I have now retitled an earlier posting to "Queen doesn't lose her temper" from the original "Queen loses her temper", and included an explanatory update. Speaking as a Liberal Democrat Republican (work that one out you Americans), it really is remarkable that, in 51 years the Queen has not been captured on film losing her temper. There has been the odd recorded sharp

Game On

The thing I am most enjoying about Post Blair political life is the reemergence of serious policy debate. In the last 10 days we have had the outline of serious Constitutional reform from Labour, the launch of " Breakthrough Britain " from the Conservatives and today's proposals from the Tax Commission from the Lib Dems. While doubtless much of this has been saved up to try and attract press attention I suspect we will be better governed by discussing ideas rather than the TB/GBies or speculating about when Blair will go. You wouldn't expect any coherent theme to emerge ...

"Inconsistent branding" admits top Tory MP

We bumped into a front bench Conservative MP today whilst we were campaigning for Greg Stone in Sedgefield. Asked why the Conservatives were promoting David Cameron heavily in the Ealing Southall by-election (including making his name part of the candidate's party description) whilst in Sedgefield the name of David Cameron makes no appearance in the candidate's description on the ballot paper (

Labour more hopeful in Ealing Southall

I have spoken this afternoon with a Labour friend of mine who has contacts in Ealing Southall and he says Labour are becoming more confident of hanging on than they were seven days ago, and they have the defection of five Labour councillors to the Tories to thank for this. Seven days ago the Lib Dems were, according to him, building up a head of steam. however, the Tories have made much of the defection of Labour councillors too them and this has had a positive effect for Labour from two groups of voters. The first group are ...

Lib Dem new tax policy is a real vote winner

A four pence cut in income to to be offset by increases for polluters is a winner all round in my books and congratulations must go to Vince Cable and his team for coming up with this policy. It is hard to argue against tax cuts in any situation when they are going to be replaced by raising taxes on polluters. Few people would dream of standing up for the rights of polluters (it's like arguing that Hitler wasn't such a bad guy), so it is just the sort of policy that can be explained easily on a Focus ...

Ealing Southall byelection

As usual at byelections, the Liberal Democrat campaign in Ealing Southall is a highly impressive organisation. When I arrived there with a gang from Islington at first I was a bit disappointed that there weren’t more Lib Dems kicking around the HQ - but when we were sent out to canvass, which involved driving almost [...]

That Paddy Ashdown interview on 18 Doughty Street

Paul Walter has already written in praise of Paddy Ashdown and his interview in 18 Doughty Street. He does have a lot to say that is interesting (I have always found Paddy engaging) and he has an interesting take on events surrounding Gordon Brown's "offer" to him of a cabinet position. It's well worth a look.

Conservatives copulating in the street?

Not the sort of image I wanted over dinner: “The Conservatives are half right and half wrong. “They are right when they admit that fifty years of social engineering by Conservative and Labour Governments have been a miserable failure. We have been taxed. We have been subsidised. We have been regulated. We have been endlessly preached at. And, after two generations of all this, we have, as a nation, been made neither happier nor more virtuous. There is more illegitimacy, more divorce, more drunkenness, more crime. “But the Conservatives are wrong when they ...

Tales of the City

At lunchtime I was able to catch up with Armistead Maupin, who was doing a book-signing at ‘Gay’s the Word’ bookshop, just round the corner from SOAS, where I had an exam board this afternoon. We had a mutual friend in Christopher Isherwood, though I hadn’t seen Armistead since Babycakes came out in 1984 (my God, [...]

Parking Spaces halved in Warwick Parking shakeup.

Yesterday morning I went to have a look at the new road marking in Guy Street in Warwick. This is in preparation for the new Decriminalised Parking that will come into force next month. Now the streets in this area, Guy Street, Cherry Street and Broad Street are popular residential streets of Victorian terraced houses. Each house is about the width of the length of a car. So it does not take a genius to work out that if each household has one car, there will be only just be enough spaces for all the cars. Local residents ...

Written Parliamentary Question 12th July

Treasury: Inheritance Tax: Gifts and Endowments Q:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the limit of the annual exemption from inheritance tax for gifts; and if he will make a statement. A:Under the current inheritance tax rules, most gifts made more than seven years before death are not regarded as within the chargeable estate for tax purposes. Gifts made within this

FCCFU.Com

From those good chaps over at FFCFU.com* comes this video: Hat tip to LibDemVoice. * If you don't know who the FCC are, check this out.

BNP Leadership Crisis

The BNP are apparently having a bit of a leadership crisis after disappointing local elections ( well actually I’m quiet pleased) apparently a old hack Chris Jackson will take on Griffin for being wait to dictatorial. I’m personally quiet entertained by the idea that the BNP following a ideology based around the sovereignty of the state rather than the individual would find their leader to dictatorial. Interestingly Nasty Nick is already causing problems, having called a quick election to stop Callous Chris from campaigning to raise his limited profile. Griffin has also limited Jackson’s access to membership ...

A Functional Few Days

With colleagues, we’ve just spent two days undertaking DfEE training in order to start delivering a new Pilot – in Sept – except that the assessment process for the new qualification and actual specifications are delayed ….. so we are keen to get started to plan what and how we are delivering ….. luckily it’s similar to the Key Skills courses we run now ….. and of course without the

New TRA group

I was really proud of residents on Monday evening – for taking the time and trouble to attend the first meeting to start off a local flat’s Tennant and Residents Committee – they have so many ideas of how to improve their living spaces. There is much to do too – including sorting out bits of concrete that have been breaking off and luckily not dropping on people! They have a second clean-up

Lib-Dem Shadow Health Secretary Praises Warwick Hospital Turnaround.

Alan Beddow (second from right) and Norman Lamb MP (Right) talking to staff at Warwick Hospital. I visited Warwick Hospital on Tuesday with Norman Lamb MP who is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. We had the opportunity to talk to Chief Executive, Glen Burley and Trust Chairman Graham Murrell to discuss the recent challenges the hospital has faced following its record £13.8M debt last year and the hospitals plans for the future. Now there was a media storm some months ago along with some wild statements made by some of my political opponents which I can only describe ...

The whole world in one park

Up the road in Hylands Park a tented city is under construction for 40,000 Scouts and leaders - for the jamboree that will mark 100 years of Scouting. Every country in the world that has Scouts will be represented. More about the building work on Latest news On 1st August every Scout in the world is encouraged to renew their Scout Promise at 8.00am their time. In Chelmsford, hundreds will do so

Lib Dems propose lowest rate of income tax since last Liberal government

Ming Campbell has today announced the Lib Dems would cut income tax by 4p in the pound, to 16p, the lowest rate of income tax since the 1916 Asquith government. The full party press release - with further details of the proposals, and comments from both Ming and Lib Dem shadow Chancellor Vince Cable - is [...]

Paddy on the ’97 Lib-Lab ‘Project’

Former Lib Dem leader, Paddy Ashdown, was interviewed by Iain Dale last night on Internet TV politics channel, 18 Doughty Street. Here’s a clip in which Paddy talks about his ‘Project’ negotiations with Tony Blair before the ’97 election, as well as his views on the current state of the party. View this video file The full [...]

New Tory Welsh spokesman from County Antrim: 'I know nothing about Welsh politics, but I stayed in Bristol 56 years ago'

The Western Mail reports: THE new Conservative spokesman on Wales in the House of Lords admitted yesterday he knew “nothing about Welsh politics”. Eton-educated hereditary peer Lord Glentoran, an Olympic Bobsleigh gold medallist in 1964, is taking over from Lord Roberts of Conwy, who is retiring from front-line politics. Lord Glentoran said, “As far as the politics of Wales is concerned, as of

Ming talks to New Statesman

The New Statesman has published an interview with Ming by Martin Bright. Where once he was not prepared to use his own story for political purposes (his relatively humble origins, his fight against cancer), he is now opening up. He talks of his father, a member of the Independent Labour Party who worked his way up [...]

Nostalgia corner: Nationwide

Let's face it: the 1970s had few redeeming features. There was Basil Brush, the keyboard player from Sparks and after that you are struggling. But this article by Ian Jones on the Off the Telly site gives a fair account of the strengths and weaknesses of one of that decade's iconic programmes: Nationwide: sometimes even nine or 10 million tuned in every night to see what Mike, Frank and Bob had been up to. They found politicians being grilled by viewers across the regions; arrestingly graphic profiles of stud bulls; and live OBs from the Highland Games ...

Cable: 4p off income tax

When Vince Cable got the Lib Dem Conference to pass his tax proposals at last year's Annual Conference, my feelings were a) that he was probably right but b) it would be difficult to put over the new package to the electorate. So I was pleasantly surprised by this morning's promise of 4p off the basic rate of income tax - and pleasantly surprised too by the press reaction to it. Here is the start of the Sun's online report. What more could we ask for? The Liberal Democrats promised a 4p reduction in the basic rate of ...

How liberalism was lost:

As anyone who knows me probably knows, one of my biggest annoyances is the way the word liberalism has been perverted by socialists, statists and conservatives to mean the opposite of what it originally meant. I’ve just come across a perfect example which shows how little this modern, American ‘liberalism’ differs from conservatism: To lay a [...]

Ming Cambell interviewed in New Statesman

Martin Bright has an interview with Menzies Campbell on the New Statesman website (and presumably in tomorrow's magazine). It is all good stuff, but here is the meat of it: I insist that surely the condition for any alliance after the next election would have to be proportional representation for Westminster. He thinks carefully and then puts the question beyond doubt: "Let me put it to you this way. PR is fundamental to our analysis of what is necessary for the United Kingdom. It would be inconceivable for us to be in a full-blown coalition with a party that ...

Council Procedures and Conventions

Photo of the Town Council in session in the old Town Hall Last night was the final new members' training session before the Full Council meeting next Thursday (and how annoying is that: on by-election day). Surprisingly, a number of long-standing councillors attended, including one previous mayor. While the officers' presentation stuck to the nuts and bolts of procedure in the Council Chamber,

Cllr Joan Lang

Really sad news today. Cllr Joan Lang, who was Lord Mayor last year, has died. She died in Fazakerly hospital today. I see that the Echo has a short piece promising a tribute tomorrow. I am sure that there'll be lots of people who want to add to the tribute with their own letters and memories. Joan was a Lib Dem Councillor in Warbreck ward. She served her constituents, and the City of Liverpool, really well. I remember seeing her in action as Lord Mayor - at a ceremony at Garston baths and ...

Ming arriving shortly

The big event today here in Sedgefield is the visit of Ming, who is on his way on the train now. Expect lots of photos and video to follow.

I think I’m a bad LibDem

I have a confession. I don’t find bye elections that interesting. I will admit to enjoying the suspense of election night and the more substantial arguments during major campaigns can be interesting but bye elections leave me cold. I just cannot get excited about impending bye elections. They’re not about policy, they’re not about trying to promote [...]

It's morning again in Brighton

Everyone should visit Amiable Dunce, the new blog of Roger Johnson, who whilst very amiable, is about as far as you can get from being a dunce. In fact, as he explains, the title is a reference to Reagan. Roger is perhaps the only man in England currently studying for a doctorate in Reagan? After only three posts, I'm already an avid fan.

Breaking news - police called in Sedgefield

From an eye-witness account just passed on to me....... The Anti-Crime candidate in Sedgefield, Norman Scarth, has had a bit of a problem with the police today outside Tesco in Newton Aycliffe. Innocently handing out leaflets on private property, without permission of the owners and refusing to move on when asked to do so, very law-abiding Norman found himself surrounded by an entire police unit

Rainsough TRA tonight

I am going to the Rainsough Tenants and Reisdents Association tonight. During the election campaign and subsequent leafleting missions ot the area, the issues of crime and the state of some of the houses in Rainsough were at the top of the priority list for local people. So tonight will give us a chance to talk through the issues and see if any progress has been made. Often I think Rainsough is

Waking up to a 4p cut

This morning I woke up to the news of a 4p Income Tax cut proposal. That’s more like it! Immediately my thoughts turned to a conversation with Sadie last night where I bemoaned the lack of more radical policies that could make a real difference to people. Returning business rates to local control is an important [...]

Police resignations soar

Over 2000 police officers quit their jobs last year - up 60% in just three years. Labour has achieved a great deal in terms of officer recruitment, with many more police on our streets than in 1997. But if trained officers are quitting in such large numbers, that suggests some pretty serious low morale. The full stats [...]

On Cable Street

I’m not a fiscal expert, and it will take some time for everyone to properly ruminate on these proposals, but on the face of it, the Liberal Democrats new tax plans look rather thrilling. The lowest basic rate of income tax since Asquith, tightening up the numerous remaining loopholes which have helped keep tax regressive and addressing the creep of stamp duty and inheritance tax, is actually pretty radical. I’m sure the other parties will be gearing up to rubbish them (“back of an envelope” is the traditional hackneyed jibe) but the spirit behind these plans strikes me as spot ...

Labour/Nationalist coalition lets down carers

See the July 11th entry on Peter Black's blogspot.

PM Spins Against Spin

The announcement by the Prime Minister yesterday that there would be no super-casinos was a little misleading. There are only plans for one super-casino, alongside plans for 8 small and 8 medium...

Liberal Democrats propose 4p cut in income tax

Radical tax plans that will take the basic rate of income tax to its lowest level since 1916 were unveiled today by the Liberal Democrats. The move to cut the basic rate by four pence in the pound will reduce the basic rate of income tax to 16p, benefiting millions of people on low and middle [...]

The future according to Worstall

The future is not, as Orwell forecast, a boot stamping on a human face, forever. It is our masters and rulers, grinning wildly and slightly sweaty, bansturbating madly. Sounds about right…

Scottish Destination Statistics

I have uploaded the scottish destination statistics which show what happens to children who cease being "looked after" in Scotland. In Scotland children generally return to their parents. In England the majority of children under 5 taken "into care" end up adopted.

Sums it up

Ken Bates has control of Leeds United again according to the BBC here and The Guardian here. Apparently both Adam Pearson and Revenues and Customs are both still considering their positions so the possibility of further legal challenges cannot be ruled out!

Opposition blues

As the Welsh Conservatives take over as the official opposition in Cardiff Bay, it was interesting to note signs at Westminster that they have not really changed at all, and that they are still the same English-based party they always have been. The sign in question is the appointment of Lord Glentoran as the new Conservative Spokesperson on Wales in the House of Lords. As the Western Mail reports Lord Glentoran would not list Wales as his speciality if he were ever to appear on Mastermind: “As far as the politics of Wales is concerned, as of 48 ...

Liberal Democrats SOS for the NHS

The Liberal Democrats have launched a major new campaign - SOS for the NHS!

Why should councils build housing?

We have a housing shortage, its serious, so why on earth is the government proposing letting councils build homes? Government is bad at doing most things and there’s nothing to suggest that building houses is any different. What can councils do differently to solve the problem? The only thing I can see is give themselves planning permission [...]

The Queen doesn't lose her temper

UPDATE: The BBC has apologised after some editing 'sleight of hand' made it look as though the Queen walked out on a photo session. In fact, the "walking out" was actually "walking in" but played out of sequence on a trailer. Original posting pre-apology was: The Sun covers the Queen losing her cool at a photo session in great depth, including photos. The whole thing was captured on video by a

Ealing 4 - I met Tony Lit!

Another trip to Ealing last night. There is a real buzz and buoyancy about the Lib Dem headquarters, which is always a good sign. It's the biggest ever headquarters with the biggest ever campaign team composed of the biggest ever Campaigns Officers*. From the contents of peoples' doorways around Southall Broadway, it again looks like only the Lib Dems are fighting a winning campaign. There are some big - really, REALLY big - Tony Lit posters in and on shops. Shops, however, don't have the vote; and many of them are displaying posters for other parties as well. ...

Kiss me, and tell me that you'll stay forever

I always knew that there was a good reason why I wasn't a Conservative, but if ever I have doubts, I'll look back over the past two days and find that reason engraved on my heart. I've been married and, on the whole, it is an institution that I broadly favour. It is, however, just an institution when all is said and done. Yet my conservative friends want to bribe me into getting married as part

The weekend - my top five

Haven't time to do a detailed posting about my 39th birthday weekend - but this is a truncated version in Top Five format: 5 A surprise birthday curry at Abingdon's finest Dil Raj restaurant on Friday evening. 4 Seeing the mighty Metallica at the new Wembley Stadium with my good friend Brian the Lion. 3 Enjoying some great live music and meeting both Paul Cornell and a Dalek with my younger two at the Faringdon Arts Festival. 2 The Key to Time DVD box set (well, a pre-order, it's not out yet) from Frankie (my eldest ...

"I'm a Liberal"

Paddy Ashdown's revelation that liberalism fits him "like an old coat" is just one of the many gems he comes out with in the course of this superb interview with Iain Dale. Another is about how infinitely preferable it is to leave the limelight of mainstream domestic politics, as he did when he stepped down as Lib Dem leader, with people asking "why's he going?" rather than "why hasn't he gone?". His authoratitive judgement and immense experience really come through in the interview, and in particular some of his reflections on the events of the 1997 General Election and ...

Don't miss out ... only 8 days left ...

That's right, there are only eight more days in which you can make a difference in Ealing Southall and Sedgefield. So far the turnout of helpers has been fantastic at both by-elections, but we need even bigger numbers to turn up over the weekend and every day through to polling day. Hundreds of people will be looking back on these by-elections proudly because they were there. Don't miss out on your chance to do the same.

Labouristi to build more slums

Don Brown of the Labouristi been driving around local streets lots today. Occasionally he stop, get out soapbox, and stand on it and shout at local people. Being relatively inconspicuous in my Trilby and overcoat I drift over and listen. "People of United Territories, I bring you great news! The Labouristi are your friends and if you are friends of Labouristi, if you are our key workers, we going to build you new homes. Glorious homes, decent homes, homes fit for my own paisan (who sadly won't be living in them due to existing swanky pads in Belgravia)." ...

Will Ming stick to his promises?

Over at Lib Dem Voice, I have a rant about the Lib Dems’ continued failure to sort out its diversity and gender balance strategy. Just to remind you: this is what Ming said he’d do. It’s time to deliver Ming. Share This

Thrill-Power Overload

Hopelessly late, Thrill Power Overload - the history of British comic 2000AD - finally arrived in the post yesterday. It was well worth the wait. For some reason, I wasn’t expecting a coffee-table book. I suspect the decision to produce it in this format was a relatively late one - hence the lateness and [...]

Day 2381: Diary of a Nobody aka Lord Blairimort versus the Truth

Monday: "Mr Alistair Campbell, are you are lying liar who tells lies?" That was the question that seemed to have slipped Mr Humpy's mind when he was interviewing Lord Blairimort's one-time Spin-Assassin[*] Mr Alistair Henchman on the The Today Programme. [*] no, not a "doctor"; doctors make people BETTER. This interview was part of Mr Henchman's ADVERTISING JUNKET aimed at selling more copies of his new book: "The Secret Diary of Tom Riddle aka Lord Blairimort". Like the magical diary in Harry Potter, Mr Henchman's book MYSTERIOUSLY absorbs all the bad news stories and ...

So much for "stewardship"

One often hears claims from defenders of the landed aristocracy that they are but stewards of the land pro tempore. So much for "stewardship": Fife Council has backed 150 villagers who face eviction after a wealthy laird put their homes up for sale. Landlord William Wemyss has written to 49 households, informing them their homes will soon be on the market. The move has shattered the tiny Fife mining village of Coaltown of Wemyss and provoked claims of a "modern day Highland Clearance". Many of the tenants earmarked for eviction are ...

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Thursday 12th July 2007

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