Shortly after reviewing the Nokia BH-601 Nokia sent Belinda a Nokia BH-503 - normally with electronics the rule is that the bigger the number, the more advanced the product, however in this case the BH-503 beats the 601 in just about every sense, just as the BH-601 beat the flimsy BH-501 in nearly every conceibable criteria. 
Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, took an unusual tack at the Poppadom and Politics organised by Kingston Liberal Democrats in Surbiton this evening, when she talked about happiness. All too often, she argued, politicians concentrate on GDP rather than people's sense of well-being. Britain's GDP has risen three-fold since 1973, but does that mean the [...]
As the news outlets have been covering the capture of Radovan Karadzic all day I have seen footage of the atrocities committed in Bosnia that is more shocking than anything broadcast at the time. For me the various Balkans wars were part of my politicisation. For the many people who have given testimony today about their losses and experiences they were an unforgettable dark chapter in their lives. It is hard with hindsight to see how Karadzic could inspire so many people to such awful acts. And even more shocking to hear some people still call him a hero. The ...
The Guardian has part of the answer:This year, Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, plans to visit all the residential care homes in her constituency. 'That's what the recess is for,' she says. 'It's a chance to really focus on a single group.'
The Conservatives have put out a leaflet. This is the first time in 16 years a leaflet from the Tories has been delivered in my ward for a local election. I don't think it heralds a new dawn for them in Whickham South and Sunniside, despite their second place in the local elections two months ago. They were 50% behind us however even though this used to be a Conservative ward. Part of this comes
It occurred to me the other day after the arrest of Radovan Karadzic that there used to be a regular apologist for the Serbian's atrocities who used to appear on Newsnight and any other discussion programme as the 'UK Representative of the Bosnian Serbs'. This chap, clearly British educated from his clear English accent and most likely a UK citizen used to justify the actions of the Serbs, deny the atrocities and tell the most awful lies on behalf of the Serbian armed forces. I cannot remember his name, but you have to ask where he is now.
I have spent the last 2 days in London researching the life and times of Brass Crosby, the Stockton born man who made it possible for the proceedings of Parliament to be published, but was sent to the Tower for his efforts in 1771. It has been very tiring, I've walked more miles than the sponsored walk, and could have done with that scooter at times! However it has been exciting to...
You may or may not have heard, but the fight against East Sussex County Council and Veolia's waste-to-energy plant, otherwise known as an incinerator, escalated to a High Court battle, and the judgement was made today. The judge gave in favour of East Sussex County Council, yet Newhaven Town Council, Friends of the Earth, and Defenders of The Ouse Valley (DOVE) continue to fight. For me, the saddest thing about this whole affair, is that despite over 15,000 letters of objection, and vocal opposition accross the county, East Sussex County Council are choosing to ignore their electorate, and are pushing ...
Take a look round Facebook, and you'll find multiples examples of all the main political parties, and their MPs, making use of it to promote their wares and network with supporters. However, look at other social networking sites such as Bebo or Myspace and you'll find only a relatively sparse party presence, with very few [...]
I've had responses today from officers in Streetcare and HMO Licensing in relation to my campaign for action to reduce fly tipping by landlords in the University area. Streetcare: officers have said that although their powers to get landlords to act are 'limited', they will be visiting the area next week to photograph any problem properties and highlighting them to the HMO Licensing team so they can make contact with the landlords. HMO Licensing: officers say they are aware of one of the properties I highlighted on De Beauvoir Road (with vast amounts of furniture dumped in the front garden) ...
{Img_0795} Following the launch of the Friends of Eldon Square Gardens last month, I met up with members of the Friends group in the Eldon Arms to discuss how the group might work and what events and projects people might be interested in doing. First of all we had an update from Dave Booth from the Parks Department at RBC. He told us that once the new gravel has been laid (the original gravel was the wrong sort apparently!) they hope that the restoration work will be finished within the next week or two. The gates at one end of ...
Who will rid me of this incompetent train operator? I have just arrived at Kings Cross to catch the 9pm train to Newcastle. And there on the board in front of me is 'delayed'. National Express, the Ratners of the train industry.---Sent via BlackBerry
There's been an enormous hoo ha over at Liberal Conspiracy whether to join in Iain Dale's, or rather Total Politics' list of the Top 100 Political Blogs. There is an argument that goes along the lines of: 'Iain Dale is consistently rude about the quality of left/progressive blogging (not possible to describe myself as left wing, oh no) and often moans about them without linking to them. He should not be encouraged in his self appointed role of King of blogging. And he's a Tory and people who like blogs like Iain Dale's, will like and vote for blogs like ...
The Secretary of State has recommended reducing the number of new homes to be built to the north of Yate and Chipping Sodbury from 5000 to 3000 but has increased the number of new homes proposed for South Glos as a whole by 2000 to 32,800. Lib Dem Leader and councillor for Yate Central Ruth Davis explains, "I am horrified that the Minister has ignored the huge outcry from the public against the proposed housing within South Gloucestershire. We have already said that an increase of 23,500homes would be difficult to deal with properly if not impossible. In reply the ...
Conservative leaders of the Anglican Church are calling for Gene Robinson to resign, basically for the greater good. 'Can he not resign to allow the 300 bishops to come back to the house? The norms of the communion have been violated. We're asking them as Christians to keep the Anglican world intact.' CHANGE!! No one can cope with it, especially conservative Christians. They like things preserved and run as they've always been. Their argument is this, 'He [Robinson] should resign for the sake of the church. The people who consecrated him should confess to the conference because they created an ...
The Guardian asks the question Is Gordon trying to bury bad news?, noting: At 2pm on the day the House of Commons rises for a 75-day summer break, Gordon Brown will publish 10 written ministerial statements on everything from the gifts received by ministers to the guests entertained at Chequers at the public's expense. The move has [...]
As a Twerton Ward Councillor I am concerned about the Governments proposals to add an extra 500 Houses to their proposed urban extension on the South of Bath this will add pressure to build on green fields close to the edge of Twerton, a total of 2,000 new homes is now proposed. This will also add problems to our already fragile infrastructure I fully agree with our local...
Our Local MP Don Foster has made detailed comments on the Governments failure to tackle the Chronic Alcohol Problem that is escalating out of Control. I have been in the centre of Bath late at night and can say that the Alcohol problem is not at all good many young people are already boozed up on cheap alcohol that they have bought from shops before they come into town for a night...
Iris Robinson - about whom I have blogged before - is at it again. She is revealed in all her bigotry and internal hatreds in her words: There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children ... I cannot think of anything more sickening than a child being abused. It is comparable to the act of homosexuality. I think they are all comparable. I feel totally repulsed by both.Although she has now clearly been forced to say that this is not what she meant - I doubt there are many people who believe ...
There is a definite Brown bounce going on William Hill bookmakers
The Liberal Democrats electoral strategy for some years now has been focused almost exclusively on winning seats that would be naturally Conservative in leaning, and relying on a lot of good groundwork by the Lib Dem teams in those constituencies to build up a head of steam, sometimes against the national trend, to gain seats and hold them in sometimes trying circumstances. This strategy, however, is in need of a review given the polls and the way that Cameron's Tories have conducted themselves in recent months. I'm no fan of David Cameron. I've heard too many stories from people who ...
The Tories just made an announcement on apprenticeships for low income males. Its couched in the language that sends their followers all gooey. 'If we want stable families there has to be a man holding down a good job on a decent wage. If you can hold down a job you can maintain a family.' - WillettsSmall point though: why just men? Eh? Don't single mums need skills too for example, or are they meant to cling to the nearest man? I suppose they might as well if they can't get affordable childcare (affordable being less than the highest wage ...
It has been over a year since Madeline McCain was kidnapped but do you think the effort put in by the Portugal officials was enough? I believe the Portuguese did their best and with the circumstances of the case you can say it was quiet difficult for the police to try and find the girl. I still honour and praise the people who have tyred to find this young girl weather it was the Police or the people sending around chain emails asking people to let the police know if they knew anything. With the case now closed i still ...
The good old conservatives with their plans to make all British families like Cameron's family have introduced plans to make fathers who are unemployed to do training. It is great to see that they are trying to get people into work as i and many other people find it hard to get a job as employers say you need to have experience which i and many young people don't have. The Conservatives are always making plans to make the Great British Family structure to a conservative frame work but will that work for every one?
The Job Less might be made to pick up litter under new plans by the Government. Well looking at the link a unemployed person rather do what the conservatives want him to do by getting them into an apprenticeship or training instead of wasting time picking litter. What would you prefer to do Pick Litter or Study? The Answer for me definitely and many other people will be to study but the fact that once they have studied in the apprenticeship will finding a job be as easy as that. I don't think it will. They is no point ...
Gordon Brown is a workaholic, and it may seem he hasn't achieved much good out of it. He works very long hours and he looks permanently ill. Now Gordon Brown is still going to be in full control of country and government while he's on holiday. Can he not even trust Harriet Harman to take the reins for a week or two. Then again I wouldn't trust her. He may be a bad PM, but he's heading to make things worse by working like this, it won't be good for him and therefore it won't be good for the country. ...
The European chessboard has grown complicated. The hostile regime in Moscow is exploiting any opportunity to damage the cohesion of both the European Union and NATO. The Kremlin continues to spread black propaganda against any state that annoys it in some way. Indeed the perceived enemies of the Putin regime have often come under attack- whether in the realms of cyberspace, as Russian hackers launch attacks designed to shut down most of the apparatus of the modern state, or quite literally, with state sponsored assassination and physical intimidation of diplomats. The straight theft of foreign owned assets in Russia is ...
Sky News reports that Gordon Brown won't delegate his authority to anyone during his holiday. It's not a case of 'won't'. Brown's problem is that he can't delegate. David Hencke's article at the time of Brown's first anniversary described his ridiculous pursuit of minutiae, harrying minions at 6am. We have seen his hurried and chaotic appearance at PMQs. And now he can't delegate any power/
A comment left on ConservativeHome in response to Nadine Dorries' sexual musings: Hat-tip to Recess Monkey. PS. I'm following Charlie Brooker's advice on post titles.
This is the latest video I have made for constituents. 
I've just learnt that THIS SONG is the most played in the UK in the past 5 years. (Click and wince) My indomitable faith in humanity has suffered a tiny but painful dent.
That's how long it took us to walk 100 kilometres on the Trailwalkers event. It was a gruelling event and by 60k I was beginning to seize up, but with lots of encouragement from my team mates we all made it to the finish line. A big thank you to all those who supported me. We have raised over £1,800 for the Gurkha welfare trust and Oxfam's work in Nepal, well over our £1,500 target.
The appointment of Alun Ffred Jones as the new Heritage Minister has been much anticipated none more so than by his own side it seems. Tom Bodden reports that North Wales Plaid AM Janet Ryder welcomed the appointment in a press release issued at 12.37pm today. Unfortunately, when the press release reached the media, the ministerial appointment had yet to be confirmed by the Assembly Government, or indeed by the Queen. First Minister, Rhodri Morgan made the announcement at 14.59 today. I wonder how he feels about being upstaged by one of the Administration's backbenchers?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7512949.stm In the Video above the BBC is really putting the plans of Nick Clegg down. The report by the BBC suggest that Nick Clegg doesn't know how he can cover the cuts in tax that he is promising in 'Make it Happen'. Well I believe that Nick Clegg has got the right idea but he is going to face a difficult couple of years and hopefully if he continues with the great work he is doing at the moment he can take the country to a whole new level. Nick Clegg has a lot of potential and it is ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7518843.stm Yes we have all seen it young children on the weekend hanging around on the streets drinking them self into such a state that sometimes lands them into hospital. Alcohol Abuse is a big problem for the NHS and it really needs to be tackled. As a Muslim i don't drink but i do know that every one enjoys a little drink once in a while but the fact that the youth and the younger generations are drinking them self into an early grave is a worrying issue. Now the Alcohol Industry is getting a warning in the link ... 
Lib Dem Voice now has a page on the social networking site Facebook - you can find us here - and show your support by becoming a fan. If the social networking revolution has so far passed you by, you can still join Facebook for free here. 32 on-the-ball Facebookers have already marked themselves as fans on [...]
So, let's just check Boris Johnson's 'global itinerary of apology' so far: Liverpool Papua New Guinea Portsmouth Norwich ...and now with one single article in the Telegraph he has more than doubled that list with: Skegness Bognor Eastbourne Cornwall Scotland The Norfolk Broads Southwold Many of those places were insulted in this single paragraph: So let me lay it on the line. Some time
Alternative Liberale - Le parti pris de la Liberté Chers adhérents, chers sympathisants La réforme des institutions a donc été entérinée hier, par un vote très politique et conclu au cordeau. Cette réforme était attendue par tous, droite, gauche, libéraux. Elle était même un des principaux enjeux de la précédente élection présidentielle, posant la question d'une nouvelle organisation du pouvoir et, donc, des contre-pouvoirs à ce qu'il est désormais convenu d'appeler la présidentialisation du régime, initiée par le quinquennat et consacrée par la personnalité du nouveau locataire de l'Elysée. Las, la réforme tant attendue n'aura pas lieu, où seulement sous ...
Sometimes I hear Lib Dems ridiculed by those that trawl conference season for having a relatively low security presence at their annual party conference. Last year local authorities in the West Midlands and Manchester received £4.5 million and £6.5 million respectively to police one conference each. To put that in perspective, Labour received £1 million more to police their party conference from central Government, than the Liberal Democrats received in total, for everything from their donors! Worth considering next time a Labour or Tory member wheels out their extra protection as a justification of their all too tangible sense of ...
I have a confession to make, dear reader. There's an email I've been, erm, sitting on while I try to work out what to do with it. And it's from Iain Dale. If you read his blog (what do I mean 'if', of course we all do) then you'll already know what it's about. If [...]
Retired teachers, Roger and Chris Sewell of Goole, will set off from Hull, carrying the newly registered Yorkshire flag, shortly after 12.45 PM on Tuesday 29th July. Accompanied by members of their local walking group, they will leave Queen's Gardens , following a ceremony during which the Lord Mayor of Hull will unfurl a newly made Ceremonial Yorkshire Flag. They will arrive at Walmgate Bar in York in time for the annual readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity around the walls of York. Roger, who is Vice-Chairman of the Yorkshire Ridings Society, who have organised the ceremony to mark ...
He is at least less unpopular more popular than President George W. Bush - PoliticalWire reports on the latest American Research Group poll finds that just 21% of Americans approve of the way President Bush is handling his job and 72% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 17% approve and 77% [...]
Now I admit I've never attended a postal vote opening in Glasgow, though I have been a regular in West Lothian and also have attended in Edinburgh. Each observer under the other two returning officers, that I have been present at, has agreed to observe and carry out whatever tallying they want but not to make the results of those tallies known publicly. Therefore I read with disappointment from
There are more women in the Afghan National Assembly than in the House of Commons.
There's high praise for the Lib Dems' Glasgow East candidate Ian Robertson in The Herald today: Yesterday he had Scots grandees Sir Menzies Campbell and Lord Wallace in to help, plus deputy leader Vince Cable, but he knows he won't be giving up the teaching career any time soon. Watch him on any of the televised hustings [...]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7518321.stm The Number of UK troops in Iraq will stay at 4,100. I think that is to high for a illegal war started by America and joined by Britain. I think that our Country need to decrease the number of soldiers in Iraq to 0. Well the trouble is that our troops shouldn't have gone into this illegal war it has cost us service men and women and the bill has hit our pockets. Well now we need to decide that when the bill to go to Iraq passed through Parliament the Conservatives helped the Government pass it through Parliament ...
On the side bar i have a poll and would really apriciate it if every one took part in the poll so that i have some statistics to do a post about it in the future. Please take part in the Poll and tell others about the poll so they can express thier views on the poll and they can tell me what they believe regarding 'Make it Happen' the vision of Britian by Nick Clegg the Leader of the Liberal Democrats. For More information on what 'Make it Happen' is then visit http://www.libdems.org.uk/index_makeithappen.html
After considerable debate and conspiracy theories from party anoraks, I finally have my hands on a copy of the Party Reform Commission report. Last night I only read a small part of the document but I have to get it all read by Saturday as that is when I have an English Council Executive (ECE) meeting. [...]
Bosnian Serb war criminal Radovan Karadzic has been arrested. He was arrested on Monday near Belgrade after more than a decade on the run.
Yesterday I joined Helen Duffet and he son George, Linda Jack and of course Richard with Millenium Elephant, to interview Jo Swinson. Jo Swinson is the 'baby of the House' at just 28years old, she's a libdem foreign affairs spokeswoman, chair of Gender Balance Task Force and MP for East Dunbartonshire since winning it in 2005. She's also had numerous roles in LDYS (now Liberal Youth) I travelled down to London on the train in the afternoon from Worcester to Paddington and then on the tube to Westminster. And met the other libdem bloggers at Portcullis House. So I'll go ...
Blogging has been sparse- I have been changing my job and sorting out a new -at least part time- base in Tallinn. It has meant that I have been rather remiss in keeping up the blog.
Its difficult to overstate the significance of the taking of the 'Liar of Sarajevo', Radovan Karadzic, by Serb authorities. Together with the Butcher of Srebrenica, Ratko Mladic, Karadzic was the true, ugly face of aggression in the latest nasty conflict in the Balkans. His regular appearance on news programmes to deny anything was wrong turned my stomach then and the knowledge that he will now be subject to international justice is deeply satisfying. Serbs should also recognise the importance of this event since it marks another stage in the rehabilitation of that country. This another significant victory for the moderates, ...
I am absolutely over the moon that I managed to get DAS insurance to write off over 3,500 pounds they were demanding from a couple in their 80's. The gentleman was tearful when I told him the good news. This is what is really important making things happen that really matter to people's quality of life. I am touched by the letter they wrote to me that said they could now sleep at night because I cared. It really does bring a lump to my throat. I was determined to win this case for them though because I thought of ...
The picture that shames Italy was the heading and I clicked on thinking I would find some more evidence of Berlusconi's vile sexism or something. But what I found was seriously, much, much worse. Frankly, I feel quite ill. It comes to something when people are able to dehumanise a minority group so much that people can continue to sunbathe and picnic around the dead bodies of two young girls. I'd like to think that it couldn't happen in the UK, I'd like to think as a country that we haven't dehumanised anybody. What is it is that makes one ...
The list of the Post offices scheduled for closure has now been out for a week. It has been really busy getting leaflets through the doors of those people most likely to be affected. Of course, as always it will be the elderly and most vulnerable who will lose out.I have already held public meetings in Flushing and Truro - covering Flushing, Malpas, Uplands and Killigrew Street Post offices. Tonight I have arranged a meeting for Bar Road and Killigrew Street in Falmouth.The post office has been systematically run down by both Conservative and Labour Governments. Under the Tory government ...
Now I am all for getting people out of cars and onto public transport, but the latest plans for the London Road is something that all resident and business owners need to be very much aware of. Some of you will have read about the Rapid Transport Link proposal; which, in theory will be a designated bus `red route` linking a Park and Ride on the east side of the city and the Park and Ride at Newbridge on the west side of the city. There is a severe shortage of explanation as to exactly how this bus lane is ...
At the most recent board meeting of the London Road and Snow Hill Partnership, Lawrence Buabeng, who is spearheading the proposed Skills and Enterprise project for Snow Hill which is part of the broader Vision for Bath Project; told the meeting that the sum of £1000 had been donated by a resident on Snow Hill. The meeting was told that the resident, who has expressed a wish to remain anonymous, had saved the money from his wages. The donation, which was in the form of a building society cheque, will be paid into the LRSHP holding fund for the Skills ...
There will be a temporary road closure and parking restrictions in Guisborough as Redcar and Cleveland Council welcomes civic dignitaries from across Yorkshire to march along Westgate at 10.30am as part of the Yorkshire Day celebrations on Friday, 1st August 2008. Westgate and Church Street will be closed between 10am and noon and signed diversions will be in place for the celebrations to take place. The car park at Church Street will also be closed between 10am and noon and parking restrictions will be in place on the High Street and Westgate. The Council's Mayor, Councillor Mike Findley, explained: 'I ...
Frank Field has once more sketched out what, in his view, a 'radical' Government should do in welfare reform. (He has previously discussed a fuller plan for redressing the balance between the individual and the State). He has been critical of Purnell's much heralded reforms to the Welfare system and sets out his own three proposals. 1. All benefits offices should become separate businesses owned by the staff. The logic is that staff have a far greater idea for needs help and who is a shyster and how to get them both back to work in the most productive fashion. ...
Inspired by the @towerbridge Twitter account, I have knocked up @jubileeline It's so far handled suspensions and minor delays. What it lacks is a notification that problems have cleared, and the occasional "by the way, everything's fine" message. I'm sure TfL will be able to come up with a turn of phrase that confuses it, so, like all good web apps, consider it in public beta testing.
Lib Dem Norman Baker has just pointed out that Brown broke his own ministerial code today by releasing 10 written ministerial statements (Politics Home). These form a third of the 30 (!!) statements released today. Its a fair comment - this is a scandalous practice that has gone on too long. I'd like to add my observation that about twice as many written answers were delivered today (Hansard). No doubt that because MPs' offices won't have a chance to follow up the questions in Parliament, more answers than usual will be the terse one liners which avoid any pretence at ...
The Conservatives' plans to lock up young knife carriers would put a penny on the basic rate of income tax, according to Liberal Democrat research. The Tories would have to lock up over 330,000 young people at a cost of £4.9 billion a year - a penny on the basic rate of income tax- if they want to follow through their pledge to imprison all young people carrying knives. Tory leader David Cameron recently said: 'If you are carrying a knife and you are caught, you should expect to go to prison. Plain, simple, clear.' The huge cost of the ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7518313.stm According to the link above inmates in HM Prisons are made to sleep in toilet areas. That is disgraceful that the Government can not even cater for the prisoners yes they may be criminals but the fact that they are made to sleep in the toilet area in unacceptable. From what i have gathered from the link above if the conditions are as bad as reported in the link above then i think that our prisons are going against human right laws. Well Prison isn't any thing great (well i cant say that as i have never been) but ...
It seems sats are fast becoming the educational equivalent of the ID card. Why do we need such a flagrant waste of public money? Just as what's the point of an ID card if you have a passport and photo driver's licence surely just make the passport compulsory if you really must have some form of ID, what's the point of sat's if they are not worth the paper they have/might have been marked on? A little common sense and a little trust in teachers and head teachers to monitor the progress of their pupils acurately, within the school year ...
...and quite right say I. But I would probably go further than the Government has and make it a standard part of being unemployed rather than it only applying to long-term unemployed. What surprises me in the Government's latest plans is the way they talk about people taking 'personal responsibility' for finding work when you are [...]
I wonder if James Purnell's intern will be forced to clean graffiti and pick up litter in the evenings and at weekends in order to collect the JSA which incidentally hasn't risen one iota with the rising food prices and still stands at just over £6 a day. Oh wait you can't claim Job Seekers Allowance when you are a full-time unpaid intern because you aren't actively seeking work (now defined by your availability to cart bins in daylight) even though you are applying for jobs and attending interviews. Who said politics wasn't inclusive for all (whose parents can support ...
Commenting on the annual report of the Indpendent Police Complaints Commission, which revealed that 23 people were killed in collisions involving police vehicles last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: 'The IPCC is right to be concerned. Police vehicles are involved in too many fatal accidents, but it is not just a problem for the police. 'We need a thorough review of procedures for all emergency vehicles to ensure that other road users are not put in danger.' The report comes out just as a crash, which took the life of a Neath taxi driver, is reported ...
The Western Morning News, the region's daily newspaper, is running a poll on its website asking the question: 'Would a David Cameron Government be good or bad for the Westcountry?' http://www.th...
I am pleased to advise that the vital permanent repairs to the lift at Sinderins Court commenced yesterday. I have this morning been assured by Home Scotland's Maintenance Officer that work to make permanent repairs to the lift were commenced by Home Scotland's contractors Scotech at 10am yesterday and that both Home Scotland's Maintenance Officer and their lift consultant has since paid a site visit to ensure that everything is progressing as planned. The lift problems have caused significant problems for the sheltered tenants, breaking down some 17 times (click on headline to view earlier item about this) and although ...
The Oxfam shop in Garston, which was closed because of a fire,is appealing for more donations so that it can be re stocked. The shop is on Speke Road, just along from the Post Office. The shop volunteers are asking people to dig out any unwanted clothes or other saleable items and bring them along so that the shop can continue to raise money for work in developing countries. I've had a bit of a clear out myself and am taking some stuff down there, but if you are about to throw things away and they are saleable, please do ...
Radovan Karadzic has been arrested in Serbia. This is a great day for international law, for Serbia and for the Balkans. I believe is indicative of real change in the country. It will rightly enable Serbia to move closer to Europe if that is what the country wants.
The link is to The Times story today which essentially starts with a row between parents resulting in a proposal for a child to be adopted. This is the case where mum then went on the run with her son (age 8). Reading the article does anyone see in this sufficient cause for a child to be forcibly placed permanently with another family? Here is the judgment I don't think the reporting of the
The link is to a Reuters Story about the APPGOPO report. LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - The looming peak in world oil production will set back international development and threatens to hinder efforts to make poverty history, a report by a group of UK lawmakers said
The Roseberry Road resurfacing works have been deferred due to the road closure on Corproration Road (Redcar Technical College improvement works). The works on Corporation Road are programmed to last 10 weeks, Roseberry Road is on the traffic diversion route and cannot go ahead until the Corporation Road works are completed or at least until the road can be re-opened.
They say good news comes in threes. I was waxing lyrically about two bits of good news yesterday and, late last night, came the third bit with the capture of Radovan Karadzic. I am most pleased for the Serbian people. It became obvious that the only way Karadzic would come to justice would be if the Serbian people 'turned him in' - which is more or less what happened. With the election of
Ed Vaizey said on Today this morning that cycling is a 'right wing' and 'Conservative' activity, quoting John Major's 'old maids cycling to communion' statement as evidence. Coming soon: -Walking and chewing gum at the same time is a right wing activity - after all, Boris Johnson can just about manage it -Breathing is a right wing activity - after all, Margaret Thatcher does it.
Well, I guess you have to admire Ming Campbell's honesty and fair play to him for being so upfront about his views. In a Sunday Times article, he urges the new Scottish Lib Dem Leader, and he's supporting Tavish Scott, to vote against a referendum on independence even if the Party votes in favour of it. The Lib Dems have a great tradition of the Conference being the sovereign policy making body of the Party. Clearly the Conference only meets twice a year and the Party needs to respond to issues a bit quicker than that. However, on something as ...
BBC's Good Morning Wales is reporting that an Early Day Motion signed by nine MPs, eight of them Welsh, has caused mild consternation at the Royal Welsh Show. Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth), Martyn Jones (Clwyd South), Hywel Francis (Aberavon), Madeleine Moon (Bridgend), Paul Flynn (Newport West), Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd), Don Touhig (Islwyn) and Chris Bryant (Rhondda) have all put their name to what is effectively a Parliamentary petition congratulating English Farming Minister Hilary Benn for refusing requests to cull badgers to tackle TB in cattle. Their motion hopes Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones will 'return ...
Cannock Chase MP Dr Tony Wright has announced he will be standing down at the next General Election.
With the closure of Steele's in Flask Walk the end of butchers in north london seemed terminal, when I was reminded that there was a butcher in South End Green - just on parliament hill. Sadly now long gone, but happily this shop front preserved... For old time's sake I have put in the link for the Steele's pictures below. In line with the Ham and High this week I ought to point out that for over 100 years Barrett's have operated in England's Lane and anyone who wants advice and quality from a good local butchers would be advised ...
Nick Clegg MP, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has launched an exiting new vision for Britain, and is asking for your views. Nick says: It's time for a change in Britain. Families are over-stretched. Things look bad for the economy. Schools and hospitals don't seem to be improving despite all the extra money and hard work by staff. People don't believe politicians care, or really listen. I want to do things differently. I've always thought that if we want things to really change for the better, we've got to open things up. We need to make sure people get ...
Following my post a few days ago about unacceptable levels of fly tipping in the University area I have had the following response from the Community Relations Officer of Reading Borough Council:"I too was out and about in the community last Friday and noticed that Blenheim Road was in a particularly poor state. It is a pity that bulky waste is now appearing. Our campaign at the end of term, in partnership with RBC Streetcare and local residents made a real difference to getting rid of excess bagged waste promptly and efficiently...we raised the matter of bulky waste with landlords ...
Oh no, I'm not bitter about the fact that, had the positions been reversed, Ros would have become a Lady. Actually, I'm not. It does seem a bit quirky, but signing off letters from HM Revenue & Customs, 'Yours faithfully, Baron Valladares of Needham Market', might, I fear, give people the wrong impression about our new and dynamic UK tax administration. On the other hand, I do have a view about
I had a response today from RBC officers in relation to concerns raised by constituent a few weeks ago about road safety on Northumberland Avenue. See below email from officers:"I have spoken to the Bus Company on the issue of speeds of buses and they have agreed to carry out some checks. The Traffic Management group have looked at accidents along the road and carried out speed checks and neither has identified any associations with speeding traffic. However as there are a number of non speed related accidents along the road we will be bringing forward some Road Safety proposals ... | < | July 2008 | > | ||||
| 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 | ||
