LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Saturday 26th April 2008

Why England didn't qualify for Euro 2008

After Manchester United's deserved defeat at the hands of Chelsea earlier today (no bias from me, Chelsea were clearly the better team on the day), Rio Ferdinand the Manchester United captain and captain of England in their last match, lashed out in anger and kicked a wall. Now the point here is that a wall is not a difficult thing to kick. A wall does not move and is a pretty large target. What highlights our problems as a footballing nation is that Rio Ferdinand apparently missed the wall (presumably it jumped out of the way) and instead he kicked ...

Rabid Dog

Why was it when I heard the ITV News headline earlier "Fears over Rabid Dog" that the first thought that popped in to my head was "Haven't we heard enough about Amy Winehouse ?"

A matter of legitimacy

Three marriage certificates I ordered online last weekend popped through my letterbox this morning, and all three were curious in their own way. The first recorded the marriage of my great-great-great-grandfather Henry Beard to my g-g-g-grandmother Sarah Payne in Reading in 1843. I didn’t know the names of Henry and Sarah’s parents, so I was particularly interested in the “Father’s Name and Surname” column on the certificate for each of them. This showed Sarah’s father as James Payne (although gave no occupation), but this box was crossed through for Henry. A missing father’s name can often indicate illegitimacy. I don’t ...

Who's expelled a school pupil at 21?

I doubt many of my friends at university or other people of a similar age across the country have permanently excluded a child from school. On Monday I took the rather heavy decision to expel a child from the school of which I am a governor. While obviously the details of the case must remain confidential, the child (who was only 13) had attacked a teacher and several pupils in the particular instance, but had a history of violence at the school. Myself and the two other school governors took the view that what took place was very serious and ...

Vulgar Liberals

There are vulgar Marxists, vulgar libertarians and I think there are vulgar liberals. Liberalism at its heart is about allowing people to take control over their own lives. Many liberals advocate the state taking a role in ensuring this, something which is well within the liberal tradition, others consider the state to do more harm than [...]

4 days and counting...

The local elections are now gathering pace at a great speed. I have been extremely busy over the past few weeks, canvassing, writing literature and knocking on doors. Had the afternoon off today. Sat in my garden in the sunshine. I have now finished writing the last few pieces of literature and they have been sent to be prrof read before being sending them to get printed. Then it is all go

Voting for London

London Elects give impartial information about the London elections next Thursday. Today I received their booklet. Don't throw it away when it arrives - it actually has some helpful advice. If you've already sent off a postal vote then you know all this anyway! On May 1st, at the polling station you'll be given three ballot papers. The pink ballot...

Lembit, Humph, Paddick, Cameron and the Toryboys

It has been a pretty manic week so a lot of mus/zings rolled into one. I have already forgotten what happened on Monday and Tuesday (except for falling over trying to find the entrance to the Marriot at West India Quay on Monday morning.......it must have been the flat shoes, my feet just aren't used to them!), but Wednesday I had the great pleasure of being a panellist on the Bedford Schools Question Time. Great fun though I am still pondering whether being regarded as motherly is a good or a bad thing? Quite a barney with Toryboy Richard Fuller, ...

Guido fawkes Harriet...

Guido is impressively well-informed again...

The woods again, and friends of the Dene wanted

I was taking advantage of the last guided walk by our Tees Valley Wildlife Trust ranger at Hardwick Dene before he moves on to literally new pastures. As usual he was able to point out interesting things that I would never have noticed. The elm trees in Elm Tree wood are just coming out into flower and looked wonderful. Wildflowers local children from Whitehouse Primary School had planted were...

An appalling attack?

Councillor Merry has called comments from Cllr. Owen, my group leader: “appalling attack on [the Chief Executive of Salford Council’s] personal integrity and professional ability”. So readers can judge for themselves, here are the comments referred to: “…[the appointment of a regeneration overlord] is an admission by the chief executive that present policies are failing. At [...]

Result?

What an enjoyable day, I have had a day off for a change and I feel that I have deserved it as tomorrow I will be in Cardiff pounding the streets for the welsh elections. I spent the most enjoyable of afternoons at the Rec in Bath and yes you know it Rugby was the important game that Bath won 36 14 against Sale. I can see more silver ware on the table at Bath for the first...

Why you should vote Jock Coats, Liberal Democrat, on May 1st

First, let me welcome all the many new visitors who have been reading my blog, thanks to the free publicity of my Labour opponent's latest leaflet! In contrast, I and the Lib Dem campaign across the city are focussing on the issues on which the city council can make a difference in local services and stressing our positive record: Keeping the council tax down. Improving council services. Reviewing, and hopefully abolishing, residents' parking charges. Improving the quality of private rented housing. What we have already been doing locally Let me look at these in more detail: Keeping the council tax ...

The Politics of Mad Men

Mad Men is about many things: advertising, self-deception, relationships, misogyny, racism and smoking. A lot of smoking. Flowing through the show is something else: a political current. No surprise then that the penultimate episode of the first season is called 'Nixon vs. Kennedy'. In every episode there is a hint of what is coming to America and to Western Europe. It is the battle that exploded between the libertarian (but somewhat statist) left and the libertarian (but somewhat morally conservative) right. At times the show appears to be caricaturing the divide: the bohemian inhabitants of the village and the businessman ...

Foreward thinking...

... not from me but from Steve Rubel on digital jobs of the future, Alain Desmier on how PROs can improve their public speaking and James Gilheany on how not to write a covering letter.

London Mayor: The Awards

My London Mayor candidates booklet dropped through my door this morning. Since I am unwell, off work and campaigning (throwing up on voters probably won't win Brian Paddick or Caroline Pidgeon any more votes), here are my awards on the candidates. These are based purely on the manifesto booklet. Worst Hair Winner: Matt O'Connor (Eng Dem) Runner-Up: Lindsey German (Left List) Least Sincere Smile Winner: Gerard Batten (UKIP) Runner-Up: Sian Berry (Green) Candidate who Strangled His Wife During Preparation of Manifesto Winner: Alan Craig (Christian Choice), judging by the photo on the left-hand-side Runner-Up: Probably Matt O'Connor since he's from ...

When those "voices" are Richard Littlejohn...

Russell Brand was entertaining as usual on Friday night with Jonathan Ross (it only seems a few weeks since he was on it last time). Brand also writes an entertaining sports column in the Guardian. It tends to be a "stream of consciousness" affair, as you would imagine from Mr Brand. Indeed, I sometimes suspect that he dictates the column while on some sort of job. This morning's offering is no

Parking trouble?

Something for the Weekend: Ticket to ride

We’re back after the parliamentary recess and positively brimming with news, so let’s jump right in. Tony Blair, Fare Dodger Former president Tony Blair has been caught on the Heathrow Express without a ticket. He was, as the First Post puts it, “doing a Queen” and travelling with no cash or cards, but had forgotten the �24.50 [...]

Free our bills

Those nice people at theyworkforyou.com are having a hard time persuading parliament to catch up with the 21st century version of the web. Not surprising really, since for the most part they've got about 150 years of catching up to do. It's a fairly technical campaign, but if you click on the platypus, they'll explain it gently.

Linkspam for 26-4-2008

synecdochic: \"sex-positive\". what a loaded term. I've not really commented on the whole 'Boob project' mess, but this is a pretty good summary of both the ideal and the problem with it as presented. Bloody long though, Dee really could do with learning to edit herself and/or put some subheaders in. Worth a read. (tags: sexuality subcultures) Whacking Google :: The Snow In The Summer Iain Weaver in 'Taking off our go(g|o)gles' restates and summarises his objections to Google, their privacy policies and the abuses thereof. His analysis is sound, but I take it on board and continue to prefer ...

Surgeries - and litter!

A useful time at lunchtime yesterday with a joint surgery with Alison McInnes MSP at Dundee University Students' Association - good in particular to speak with two of the DUSA office bearers about issues affecting the student community and, in particular, how the City Council can assist. This morning participated in a West End Community Council organised litter pick in the West End - mainly covering Perth Road, Hawkhill and the lanes in between. As you can see from the photos below, it was extremely productive!

Smannell white lines highlighted and ready for repair

Following our reported potholes and action yesterday you will see that a number of areas of Smannell roads have white lines/boxes around them indicating areas of damage and roads that need repair. This was undertaken by Hampshire Highways pending permanent repair! Watch that hole for a perm replacement! Ed

London Debate Unplugged on Sky News

The last and largest hustings for London Mayor the London Debate Unplugged will be broadcast by Sky News on Monday evening. It will of course include the three front runners: Ken, Boris and our very own Brian Paddick. Much more importantly though, I will be taking part in the 'unplugged' part of the programme, as part of a panel of expert bloggers. I will be joined by Iain Dale and Alex Hilton aka Recess Monkey. The first part of the programme at 7.30pm will take part both on line and be broadcast on Sky News, then the debate will start ...

Rape. Again.

Why is rape and sexual assault seen as a women's problem? I mean, yes, women are disproportionately the victims, but not by any means exclusively so. It must, therefore, be because men are consistently the perpetrators. Jim C Hines (yes, he's a man) has some thoughts. Some of the comments I found rather triggery, so proceed with caution, folks. It works well as a general principle, though. Not matter how much the victims of a problem protest, it won't stop until the perpetrators stop doing it. The oppressed can only do so much; sooner or later, it's the oppressors who ...

Alley gates on Hexham Road estate: time for action

{Img_0585} On Thursday evening I received an email from a resident about a break-in to a property on Hexham Road. The burglar had got access to the property via the alley gate which had been vandalised. This is the second break-in that's been reported to me in the past 3 weeks and it's very worrying.The problem is this: the gates are lockable but children are able to put their hands through the gaps and open gates. As you can see from this photo, anyone with a slim wrist could do the same. The other problem with them is that these ...

On both sides of the North/South divide (at the same time)

I see David Anderson, Labour MP for Blaydon, is calling on the government to move more government jobs out of London and the South East to the North. Moves to increase the number and quality of jobs in the region are indeed welcome. No argument there! But the problem for Mr Anderson is that we have yet another example of inconsistency in what he says, to add to his already huge mountain of

subprime minister

Nice, howies t-shirt of the week : subprime minister Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Lib Dems - middle of the road (literally)

I have just been on the Lib Dems' Fickr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/libdems) and saw that an embarrassingly large number of the photos on it were taken by a certain JW. It did remind me however that on Tuesday I had to crawl out of bed at a deeply unwelcome time of the morning to get to Waterloo Bridge to do the photos of London Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick leading a demonstration in

Best. Radio show. EVAR.

Have just listened to Telly Savalas and the Quota Quickies on Radio 4, which was a documentary about the travelogue films of Harold Baim. The films were an unintentional effect of British government protectionism in the film industry, and were probably the direct cause of the death of the British film industry. There's an article about the show on the Baim Collection website. But, OMG. Watch the embedded YouTube of Highlights from the film on the BBC site. It's one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Especially the over forties Disco contest! I'm not sure I could sit ...

Tesco express to invade Barbourne

Tesco is wants to build a tesco express in an area in Worcester, Barbourne. Hopefully the council will reject their application, especially if Mike Layland (Independent/ Conservative with a small c) looses his seat in Nunnery to Labour and if the Liberal Democrats win St. Stephens, taking away the Conservative's control. The Tesco express would mean death to businesses in the area. One was built in London Road (near me) and now the neighbouring businesses are boarded up. The Liberal Democrats believe in Competition not Monopolies. Tesco have been aloud to play their Tescopoly in a terrible way that destroys ...

Where the sidewalk ends

Candidates and LibDem councillors accompany Mike German, the Welsh party leader, as he discusses the problems of Tonmawr Road with prospective constituents. The road connects over two hundred households - and growing - with the rest of the ward of Pelenna and thence with the town centre. There is no footway on either side for almost a mile, and no alternative footpath. The street lighting is no more than adequate. At a time when we should be encouraging people to leave their cars at home and take more healthily to their feet, roads without footways or cycle-tracks are a great ...

"Gutter Politics", says Bob

Appropriately enough, since the topic of the day is a road (a road to nowhere, say some) Bob the Builder, otherwise known as Cllr Nick Wallis, in the Echo today accuses the Lib Dems of "gutter politics" for suggesting that he might bear some of the reponsibility for the �1.9m overspend on the Eastern Transport Corridor. So, let's take a look at the facts: 1. Within a year of presiding over a

Let's all reduce our waste by composting at Home

Do you want to do your bit for the environment, if yes then why don't you follow the advice below and start your own home composting? You could help stop of your household and garden waste from going to landfill by composting at home. Since 2006 the Council has been offering low cost compost bins to residents in partnership with national Recycle Now Home Composting...

If I were a Londoner........

It will come as no surprise to anybody that I would be putting Brian Paddick first if I had a vote in the London mayoral election. It just seems that if you want a competent mayor who makes solving London's problems rather than ridiculous self promotion a priority, then he's your guy. Who could be better placed to make the strategic decisions necessary to tackle crime than someone with so much experience in the field. But what would I do with my second preference? Would I decide "a plague on both your houses" and leave it blank? I actually think ...

Tristram Cary and Joyce Cary

Alex Wilcock reports the death of Tristram Cary, the pioneer of electronic music who also wrote the score for the Ealing classic The Ladykillers. And Cary does have a Liberal connection. Tristram Cary was the son of the novelist Joyce Cary. Joyce Cary contributed a volume (Power in Men) to the short-lived Liberal Book Club in 1939, though the excellent Wikipedia entry on him suggests that he was unhappy with the way the book was edited. Joyce Cary also wrote a trilogy of novels about Chester Nimmo, a Liberal politician. They were Prisoner Of Grace (1952), Except The Lord (1954), ...

Blush

Soooooo, let's say you're a right-of-centre political party currently without any MPs, but a fair number of council- and Euro-level representatives. You are offered the services of a science-hating, racist, money-grubbing, gay-hating, Iraq-war-supporting defector who had previously been elected under both old Labour and new Tory banners to be your one and only MP, garnering a large amount of publicity for your organization, probably showing it in a rather poor light, and almost certainly convincing several people of your party's essential barminess. What would you do? (a. accept the services of the slimy spineless toad, compromising any principles you ever ...

Face

Labour backbenchers last night convinced the government not to go out and just start punching poor people in the face.

Shot

Spotted on CiF:if you can still bring yourself to vote Labour after they've stolen from the poorest workers, lost your children's personal data, assaulted habeas corpus and the right to walk the streets without carrying a card like a criminal, left a million schoolchildren without even a single one of the devalued GCSEs to their name, wasted billions on the Olympics, borrowed in the good times with no thought for the coming downturn - then, frankly, you should be shot.Great stuff.

Local activities

If you click on the headline above, you can read the latest community learning newsletter from the City Council - the final page lists events in the West End. And ... talking of events ... today sees a Family Fun Day at the Botanic Garden - details below: FAMILY FUN DAY Saturday 26th April 2008 In the Garden Cost - Normal entry charges apply Time - 10.00am to 4.00pm Join us for our annual fun and games, we have all the old favourites - pot a plant, face painting and storytelling. DBS Productions presents Jack & Jill's Nursery Rhyme Adventure ...

Reduce your waste start Home Composting Now

There is a scheme where you can help the environment all from your own garden at very little cost to you. You could help stop of your household and garden waste from going to landfill by composting at home. Since 2006 the Council has been offering low cost compost bins to residents in partnership with national Recycle Now Home Composting Campaign. For 2008 the...

Meeting the people?

The Western Mail draws the contrast between the respective visits of David Cameron and Gordon Brown to Wales yesterday. Whereas David Cameron, and Nick Clegg before him, went out to meet ordinary voters and to discuss their concerns, the Prime Minister was closeted away in Swansea University's Life Science Centre and avoided any such contact. I suppose it is just as well. There is palpable anger and genuine disappointment on the doorsteps at the performance of this government and in particular their targeting of some of the poorest people in our society through the doubling of the 10p tax rate. ...

What I've been up to by Text today

My daily digest of texts, tweets and status updates.23:25 is in mourning. www.humphreylyttelton.com/ :-( #Microblogging using LoudTwitter and Twitter. {[info]} matgb_twitter is there if you're mad enough.

As the Supervising Editor of Fate Fades Down the Trumpet Knob of Destiny...

The sad deaths have been reported of two rather marvellous octogenarians who've often brought joy to my ears (though not in the way Samantha might). Tristram Cary was a ground-breaking composer, scoring films such as The Ladykillers and Quatermass and the Pit and pioneering electronic music. In Doctor Who's early days, his inspired contributions ranged from comedy ballads to the eerie musique concrète which accompanied the first appearance of the Daleks (appropriately, repeated a couple of weeks ago in commemoration of Verity Lambert). And now Richard has just woken me in need of a cuddle at news of Humphrey Lyttelton, ...

WRT previous post...

The entire radio four homepage has gone black: :(

The Ghost of GBS and Michael Holroyd

Last night, I was at Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, Camden, that hotbed of socialist fervour, for a special meeting of the Shaw Society, at which its new President, the biographer Sir Michael Holroyd, was induced and toasted with deliciously chilled cava. Before the induction and refreshments, Jeremy Crow of the Society of Authors [...]

Day 2672: Green Shoots herself in the Carbon Footprint

Friday: Speaking to theLondonPaper yesterday for their first of their Mayoral Interviews, Green Candidate Ms Sian Very-Berry said that to get to work "four of us went in a taxi which is as energy efficient as a two-thirds empty bus" That would be the bus that was going to run ANYWAY. So Ms Very-Berry's "efficient taxi" was an EXTRA carbon cost ON TOP OF the bus, not INSTEAD of it. Vote Green, Get SMOG! you might say. To make the bus MORE efficient you want more people to USE it, not make silly excuses for snobbishly choosing a taxi instead. ...

Day 2669: Hillary-Billary wins Transylvania

Tuesday: Oh, sorry, apparently that's PENNsylvania. In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Carpathia. No? Look, what does a fluffy elephant know about GEOGRAPHY? Anyone can make a mistake. Even Buggs Bunny! Watch! Mind you, I'm not doing so badly when you consider that the Conservatory Shadow Secretary of State for ABROAD, Mr Vague, thinks Uganda has a coast. He's probably confusing it with Bohemia. But never mind all that, it turns out that Senator Hillary-Billary has staged yet another remarkable comeback and/or Senator Barry O has once again been deprived of a clean victory (depending on your taste in Candidate). ...

Saturday 26th April 2008

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