We had the long-awaited cross-party meeting on hospital parking charges today. It was a constructive discussion and the Trust is to be congratulated on its recent decision to overturn the delay on 'pay-as-you-leave' parking. There were a number of issues raised by the different attendees including the current parking enforcement contractor, pricing, the staff parking situation, blue badge [...]
A contrast and a lot of similarity. Lunch was at an event organised by women refugees with the aim of sharing. Food from different countries (cookies and chocolate brownies from me - Fairtrade of course!). some dancing - teaching others in a gentle way; some drumming - again sharing skills; and a talk from someone from Afghanistan and someone from Rwanda. More later, but it was...
Maybe it's because I'm a republican, but I do find Prince Charles intervention into the Chelsea Barracks development controversy totally unacceptable. The development scheme, which would have regenerated a derelict site, bringing huge community benefits and creating 5,000 construction jobs, was recommended for approval by Westminster Council planning officers. But the scheme has now been shelved because Prince Charles personally wrote to the scheme's funders, Qatari Diar, the development arm of the Qatar royal family, saying he didn't like Lord Rogers' modern architecture. There are people, including some of Chelsea's local resident groups, which have welcomed Charles' intervention. Maybe there ...
Oh dear poor old Hazel! Tonight she had to apologies for leaving the government on the eve of poll and being not so nice to Golden Brown ( I am still here so there!).... Oh and wearing that brooch. So why now, did she wake up this morning and think "oopps, what was I thinking!" I don't think so, more like s###t my local party is holding a no confidence vote better be nice if I want to keep my seat. For me Ms Blears is everything I hate about self centred politicians from across the hue of parliament who ...
I don't buy all this nonsense from the architects about Prince Charles. It is an irony that it takes someone's inherited influence to rein them in, to provide any space for ordinary people to comment on the buildings the property world seeks to impose on people. But it is the same irony that it takes the House of Lords occasionally to stand up against government tyranny. We could do with more of that kind of irony, if you ask me. Lord Rogers' assertion that somehow only qualified architects are allowed to take part in the debate about what buildings go ...
Front page of Telegraph Saturday Mandelson says Gordon Brown WILL face leadership election at Party conference (presumably a "Mandy-Move" to draw out the challengers)
Front page of Guardian newspaper Saturday David Miliband says that he nearly resigned last week.
Well, it's back to normal life and a South of the Borough Neighbourhood meeting next Wednesday (17th) at 7.30pm in Tolworth Girls. Except we are doing something new this time, by holding a workshop on planning procedures at 6.30pm, before the main meeting begins. Everyone is welcome to attend. Planning decisions are often the most controversial ones that we councillors have...
Mark Littlewood will be on BBC2 Newsnight tonight at 2230 on Hazel Blears' contrition.
I've written before about the battle for the future of F1 which is now becoming closer to civil war. Since that post, the eight remaining members of the Formula One Teams Association filed a block entry for next year's championship with strings attached and today was the day we would find out whether Max Mosley would be stupid enough to throw four fifths of the current field out of the sport. Just after 10 am today, the announcement was made. In a move that I can't describe as clever, because I don't think it's in the interests of the sport, ...
Paul Flynn has an excellent insiders view of the candidates for Speaker of the House of Commons here. Well worth a read. Related posts:Statement from the Party's Federal Executive.More secrecy from the House of Commons
{funny pictures of cats with captions} see more Lolcats and funny pictures It's not a Bank Holiday, but I'm on holiday.
The closure of the Blaydon site of Dairy Farmers of Great Britain, as announced today is a sad end to a bad story. It means milk will be driven further, there will be less choice and there is an increased chance milk will have to be imported. In addition lots of farmers are in problems and hundreds of workers are out of work at a terrible time. It's worth noting that this was a Co-op dairy until a year or two ago and has largely failed due to the withdrawal of the Co-op contract. It seems like madness and ...
Fri 12th
20:44
God i wish, i have just met one 30 Minutes ago Looking after is Mum he sees nothing special.
Special duty to help young carers <!–Last Updated – 11th June 2009 at 10:16 PM –> There is a "special duty" for government to help and support young carers, health minister Phil Hope has said. Speaking in a Commons debate to draw attention to 'national carers week', the care services minister emphasised that young carers must not [...]
Fri 12th
20:33Went out on a call last week to cherry drive, the local school where having the trees cut down.
Well after two days of stress and phone calls and help from Chris finlay at planning the tree cutting was stopped. It was hard work i must have spoken to every man and is dog. And i thought Job well done while i was on site i met residents from other streets and followed up there [...]
Fri 12th
20:24Came home tonight from work had a quick washe and went out with Mole Junior on some case work.
Seen some work tonight by contractors that was on par with my attempts at DIY. Well there is hope for me yet. But on a serious note why do people have to put up with rubbish work. If you are having work done check out the people and don't hand over any money till the [...]
Fine for landlord who evicted family 'on the spot' and dumped their possessions Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing Friday 12th June 2009 – 2:10pm Fine for landlord who evicted family 'on the spot' and dumped their possessions A landlord who controls a multi-million pound housing empire in west London evicted a family on-the-spot and [...]
The Festival kicks off today with a performance by the Sodbury Players Youth Section. There's lots happening from now until Sunday 21st June. Check out the Chipping Sodbury Festival Website for details - there's something for everyone!
A 78-YEAR-OLD pensioner who raped a girl when she was just six years old has been jailed for nine years after being told he had caused his victim 15 years of untold agony. Stanley Davies who was 62 at the time of the offences, refused to admit what he had done when his victim came [...]
Resigns after offering money back but did nothing wrong! Wears a badge with Rocking the Boat on! As a go about the PM s performance on UTube or Face book what ever. And then as a spot on the radio this morning all sorry... Bit Bloody late Hazel i don't think the knives will go in any further. [...]
I will be appearing on the Politics Show on BBC1 this Sunday along with a representative from the Green Party to discuss the new Tesco store in Beeston, which was given planning permission last night. I chaired the meeting and voted in favour of the scheme. It seems to me that having a store so close to the High Street, with free parking, may well attract more shoppers into the town. Afetr all, people park at Sainsbury's and visit other shops as well. By ensuring that Tesco's provide free parking for all shoppers for a minimum of 2 hours, which ...
Fri 12th
19:38Just of Salford Labour website. Funny must be running out of web space with the complaints.
A statement regarding recent emails & comments. "We welcome comments on matters raised here. However this Site has been set up for issues relating to Local Government in Salford City. It is accepted that currently matters related to MP's expenses are of concern. Matters relating specifically to any of the City's 3 MP's – Hazel [...]
There has been some consternation about the new mobile phone directory which enables people to find the number they want. The service is being run by Connectivity (http://www.118800.co.uk/) which has bought lists of 16 million phone numbers - around 40 per cent of those in regular use in the UK - and addresses, which are typically used in the premium rate industry, to set up its service. Connectivity insists it is 'privacy friendly' because it will not give out mobile numbers, but instead act as an intermediary to put users in touch with whoever they are searching for. Instead, operators ...
Another instalment in our occasional series rounding up political videos doing the rounds - for this special Friday night edition, we're delving back a little further into the archives to recall three of the great Liberal leaders of the past few decades. First up, here's the only clip I can find of Jeremy Thorpe, being questioned by a studio audience alongside Jimmy Saville (how times change): By the way, if you've never seen Peter Cook's magisterial 'biased judge' summing up from 1979 at the conclusion of the Thorpe trial, click here and enjoy 12 minutes of the finest satirical comedy ...
Lib Dems have majority control for the first time. Labour took a bit of a pasting - with shock gains in Southmead. Good to see new and old faces back. Particularly proud to see Cheryl in Horfield, Guy in my old Lockleaze ward and Jackie in Southmead. Commiserations must go to Rae in Lawrence Hill - so close. So so close. She would have made a cracking Cllr - I hope she tries again.
A great day at Farnborough Rd Schools to celebrate their 75th birthday. All the staff and pupils entered into the spirit of the 1930s. The guests of honour were the former pupils who started on the first day-many of them carried their desks from the old St John's School in Sandon Rd. Frank Warner now a school governor raised the school flag.Also present was John Pugh MP and the Mayor who was delighted by the whole occasion. He met Joyce Fann -46years a dinner lady at the school. Radio Dune provided the entertainment along with the Singers who were on ...
I had a long chat with Frank Warner at the Farnborough Rd 75th birthday celebration. We talked about his time at the school and other things from bombs that fell in Southport to him being one of the first residents of Central Avenue. Click on the tittle and you should hear the conversation.........
My colleague Mark Pack over at Lib Dem Voice has his favourite piece of post election spin - from the Tory candidate for Hornsey & Wood Green, who described the Euro election result as disappointing for the Lib Dems. The Tory vote fell, as they slipped into fourth place. Richard is a recent arrival whose pronouncements show signs of being helpful - from a Liberal Democrat perspective, that is. He blogs here. The verdict of yesterday's local newspapers on the European elections in Haringey was very different, needless to say: "The battle for the control of Haringey is now closer ...
Hazel Blears has come over all contrite and apologetic about the way she resigned and how she undermined the Prime Minister and harmed Labour's local and European election campaign. The M.E.N. interview is here: Salford Advertiser article here: Of course, Hazel's about turn has absolutely nothing to do with the motion of no confidence [...]
On US TV, David Letterman made some jokes about Sarah Palin and one of her daughters. Sarah Palin and her husband went ballistic but seemed to think that Letterman was referring to her 14 year old daughter, whereas in fact he says he was referring to her 18 year old daughter. So here is David Letterman's reply on his show. It is worth watching. This demonstrates very well why Letterman has been at the top of his profession for thirty years.
There's a fascinating article in today's Financial Times by Peter Clarke, drawing the comparisons between Asquith/Tony Blair and Lloyd George/Gordon Brown - two Prime Minister and Chancellor 'political couples' separated by a century, who helped their parties back into government after a couple of decades in the wilderness, dominating the political landscape, but whose personal rivalry triggered their parties' decline. Here's an excerpt: It was when the Liberals' failure of leadership left them divided that Labour saw its chance, and opted to fight for and by itself. The split between Asquith and Lloyd George thus had consequences that neither man ...
<!–Last Updated – 12th June 2009 at 03:09 PM –> by Tom Rodgers Hazel Blears has popped her head above the parapet for her first interview since she stepped down from the Cabinet. She is insisting that she regrets the timing of her resignation and that it had nothing to do with a political [...]
I seem to have riled Salford Independent Councillor Geoff Ainsworth who has launched a scathing personal attack in me on this week's Salford Advertiser, whilst simultaneously insulting the voters of Irwell Riverside. In May the former Liberal Democrat (now Independent) Councillor for Weaste & Seedley wrote a letter to the Salford Advertiser in which he complained that he had not been given any overview or scrutiny committee positions on the Council and asserted that the Liberal Democrats should hand over some of their positions to him. He cited some 'agreement' - which turns out did not exist. I wrote a ...
Had I been a Labour member last week, I would have been livid at the behaviour of Hazel Blears. Resigning from government is one thing. Resigning on the eve of an election, and sticking the knife in the back of your own party on the eve of an election, all for the sake of your own ego, is unforgivable. Blears, always something of a joke in government, and always with that irritating grin welded
We had the very sad news yesterday that our very dear friend Jan Webster had died that morning in University College Hospital. We last saw her in March, and last heard from her when she sent Lindsay a birthday card at the end of last month, so it was shockingly sudden. Was it Harold Wilson who said a week's a long time in politics? Since I wrote a week ago, the Euro-election results have quitened the Labour rebels, who can see that if they rock the boat, as Hazel Blears suggests in her self-indulgent lapel brooch, and there is a ...
The cycling Tour Series came to Southport last night. It was a great success. Lord Street was closed and became a venue for this exciting race. ITV4 has the highlights tonight at 7pm. Southport's status as a Cycle Town goes from strength to strength.
As a faceless bureaucrat, there is little that I enjoy more than a good cup of tea. And, at Liberal Bureaucracy, the blend of choice is 'Captain Scott's Strong Blend', described as a strong refreshing tea of history and distinction, originally blended for Captain Robert Falcon Scott on his 1910 Antarctic expedition, which is purveyed by Tesco. Recently, however, our local branch stopped stocking it, and as supplies ran low, we began to fear that someone might have to organise an expedition to find a new option. Indeed, this morning, the last of our stock was drunk. In hope rather ...
Channel M news is carrying an short interview with Salford MP Hazel Blears, in which she now seems to accept that the timing and manner of her resignation (just before the local and european elections) damaged the government and the Labour party. Rather annoyingly, she claims that her 'defiance' in wearing that "Rocking the Boat" brooch was the Salford in her coming out. The Salfordians I know would never act in such a selfish and childish manner, but at least she is admitting that her actions were "a stupid thing to do." The former communities secretary has also stated her ...
Talk of PR makes me all of a dither. It's the political scientist in me. I can see the pros and cons of every system and I can see that whatever system is in place it is not a panacea for the nation's ills (nor the cause of them all either). Alternative Vote, though, would seem to be a completely redundant change. Because in effect that is the system we already have. AV gives you lots of safe seats where the winning party gets more than 50% of the vote. So does first past the post. In the marginal seats, ...
And so it came to pass. Christian Ronaldo has left Manchester United to join Real Madrid, in a record signing. Despite Sir Alex's protestations, it was always going to be impossible to hang on to the services of the world's best player - but we got six great seasons out of Ronny and £80m is not to be sniffed at when the original purchase price was only £12m. Even when you add in all of Ronaldo's wages from 2003 to 2009, and the fact he helped Man U achieve three premiership titles, one FA cup, two league cups, one community ...
I am a big fan of This Week. I always try and watch it and have generally been very impressed with Michael Portillo in the last few years. He seems to have his finger on the pulse of most political issues. That's why I listened with particular interest last night when the discussion was about electoral reform. Portillo seems to be under the rather odd impression that anything except the First Past the Post system is crazy. He was arguing that the only reason the BNP got MEPs was because of the "crazy" PR system. Andrew Neil tried to press ...
On June 9th here I published an article concerning Conservative councillor Joe Mooney of West Berkshire Council. The article stated that he "travelled to Scotland by train first class and then claimed it back from the taxpayer". I now know that this statement, and therefore the whole article, was wholly untrue. I therefore retract the whole article. I unreservedly apologise to Councillor Mooney that I made this false allegation. I have now deleted the article in question. I will be writing to Councillor Mooney to apologise personally. I will also, unprompted, be making a donation to Newbury and district Cancer ...
What do you think of my new template? I have just customised it as I felt I needed to do it for the future of the blog so I did it as soon as. Look at the dedication dear readers... What do you think of it please do give me feedback as it will be needed. I shall be running a poll tomorrow to find out what readers think of the new template!
The 2009 Birmingham Half Marathon (being held on Sunday 11 October) has now been officially launched and further information can be found at www.birminghamhalfmarathon.comThe route of this years half marathon will come down Pershore Road from the city centre, loop through Bournville and return to the Pershore Road via Raddlebarn Road, Bournbrook Road and Oakfield Road. The consequence is that the
The debate at LDV about the Insipid Political Class struck a chord with me. Historically, and in most cases presently, progressive parties such as Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, the Liberal party have had or have policies and an orientation that seeks to serve many rather than the few. However, whilst it is recognised by all three main parties (and yes including Cameron's Tories) that representation of women and ethnic minorities is woeful at all levels of public office, frankly no-one gives a second thought to working class representation. In many areas the only people canvassing (white) working class opinion is ...
It has been quite clear for some time that Gordon Brown tends to fight the next election on traditional Labour ground. 'Tory cuts' v Labour investement' will be the battle cry; one of the thing that annoys me about this debate is the simplistic tones in what it is conducted. On the one side we [...]
Quote from the 2005 General Election Manifesto: We will extend this fair voting system (STV) to all local elections in Britain, and to the House of Commons ..." And, indeed, as a long-term aim that's a very sensible move - but as we know both in Wales and Scotland you cannot suddenly change from one situation to another without first making progress. Welsh Liberals (even as far back as 1910) advocated devolution for Wales and, thanks to the stages in devolution (the first Welsh Secretary of State in the 1960s and the Welsh Grand Committee), when devolution was offered in ...
I see that President Barack Obama will meet Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, at 3.30pm ET today. Call me an old softie if you will, but it fills me with some hope that such a meeting is taking place.
With the excellent Gordon Birtwistle leading the charge for the Lib Dems and the inevitability of the BNP setting up its bunker in the middle of Burnley could it be that Burnley will become a Lib Dem/BNP fight? Labour, to all extents, are out of the running with the discredited Kitty Ussher. No doubt Labour [...]
A New Populus Poll puts the Conservatives down 5% and Labour and the Lib Dems have made an increase. Mike Smithson thinks this could be the birth of the Brown Bounce again and I am starting to believe that as well. The results of the poll is: CON 36 (-5) LAB 24(+3) LD 19 (+4) As many reading this who would have studied politics they will know about the media and its influence on political debate and opinion. That has been the case over the last week, Brown has been trying to get on with the job and the media ...
Stockport MBC, Stepping HillLD W.E. Orrell 1779 (47.4; -6.1)Con 1336 (35.6; -1.0)UKIP 257 (6.8; +6.8)Lab 225 (6.0; 0.0)Green 158 (4.2; +0.3)Majority 443Turnout 38.7%LD holdPercentage change is since May 2008
Plans have been submitted to Lambeth Council for a 42 storey tower block on the site of the Bondway Self-Storage depot (69-71 Bondway) opposite the far end of the Vauxhall Bus Station (ie the part of the bus station furthest away from the tube entrance). Some residents have already been in touch with us to express concern at the height of the proposed building as it is on the edge of the area earmarked for new development and will dominate the nearby low-rise residential area around Lawn Lane, Langley Lane, Vauxhall Grove and Bonnington Square as well as Fentiman Road ...
Liberal Democrats have long been concerned about the police keeping the DNA of innocent people. And it's particularly unacceptable when the DNA belongs to children. Now my colleague Jo Shaw in Camden has got figures from the police there using Freedom of Information requests. Camden are adding on average 350 samples a year from children to [...]
The question is here. Please take a look.
You may have stumbled across the fascinating Reith Lectures by Michael Sandel. In his first lecture on Markets and Morals, he pointed out that the act of commoditisation of certain goods and services could cause unintended effects on supply and demand. Although recognising that "the whole purpose of markets is to turn this vice [greed] into an instrument of the public good", he explained that markets might not be as inert as we have often assumed. As economic liberals, many readers may find this synonymous to heresy, but judging by the examples used, he may have a point. Sandel described ...
The Independent (and most other 'papers) have the story: Two student Tories have been suspended from the party after making racist jokes during a meeting of the Oxford University Conservative Association [OUCA]. At a drunken hustings for the next president of the association - which includes a host of Tory politicians among its alumni - student politicians were invited to outperform each other with racist jokes. A master of ceremonies told them to repeat 'the most inappropriate joke you have ever told'. Last Sunday Nick Gallagher, who was running for the post of Political Officer, a role that requires him ...
Readers will recall that Suffolk were still counting on Sunday, with the result in the Chantry division too close to call. Well, when the dust finally settled, Labour had held one seat and lost one to the Conservatives, leaving the final position in Suffolk; Conservatives - 55 seats (+11) Liberal Democrats - 11 seats (+2) Labour - 4 seats (-16) Greens - 2 seats (+2) Independents - 2 seats (n/c) UK Independence Party - 1 seat (+1) Yet another shocking result for Labour, reduced to four seats in Ipswich, and wiped out everywhere else in the county.
According to a report by the Lancashire Telegraph the BNP are going to set up their North West regional HQ in Burnley and the office of Nick Griffin. The BNP are looking at premises and one premises that they have a key eye for is in the centre of Burnley town. The Burnley Town Centre office is a very dangerous place for the rest of us for a BNP office, why you might ask? Because many ethnic minorities use the town centre to shop and the BNP would pose as a threat to us if they had a presence in ...
I have decided to give this blog a face lift over the next couple of days most likely or if not couple of weeks depending on when I can be ars** to customise a template that I have found on Deluxe Templates to my need. Yes many back there were thinking for a minute that I was going to defect the blog to Wordpress but that is not the case I am afraid, so the Wordpress witches can put away their wands and stop trying to cast the Wordpress spell on me or infect me with the Wordpress bug!
Police are appealing for information about an assault on a pizza delivery driver at the rear of Domino's Pizza in North Parade, Yate at around 10pm on 19th May. The delivery driver had parked his car behind the rank of shops when an N-registered white Vauxhall Corsa pulled alongside. One of the occupants assaulted the delivery driver, causing him facial injuries, and then damaged his car. Police think this could have been a more serious assault, because an offensive weapon was left behind by the offender. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact Staple ...
Hold the front pages - or maybe you shouldn't bother.Some months ago Sean Ellis launched an e-petition demanding that the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC, better know on teh internets as OfQuack...) ask for evidence of efficacy of the treatments that their registered practitioners, err, practice. At first this seems an entirely logical premise - a government-backed body that
I've been busy phoning round people in Islington, getting feedback on the European elections. Two thirds of people who could vote, didn't. Some were away or unwell; some abstained on principle, as an expression of their Euro-scepticism. Others simply don't think the Euros matter. And some who would normally vote didn't this time, as a protest [...]
The crisis over MPs' expenses has shattered trust in politicians. Trust in Parliament has never been particularly high - it has now plummeted to new depths. Our long-standing scepticism as to the motives of politicians has turned into a strongly held conviction that 'they're all at it'. The silver lining is that the crisis may have opened the way for much needed constitutional reform. The Lib Dems in particular have proposed a raft of constitutional reforms as a solution to the crisis. But are we really at a constitutional turning point? And is institutional reform a sufficient answer to the ...
There are those who suggest that Gordon Brown has the opposite of a Midas touch, in that everything he touches turns to dust. Be it sending good luck messages to our sporting teams, or taking over as Prime Minister just as an unsustainable boom came to and end, he just doesn't seem to be very lucky. However, my sense is that he, and his colleagues are yet to master the concept of timing. For example, had he approached the Liberal Democrats in 2007, having just got the top job, and offered a deal on a more proportionate voting system, could ...
With all the discussion there has been in the last few weeks about potential electoral reform, I have found myself discussing and debating the issues surrounding this in various media. I was having a discussion with someone on Twitter about this last night. He is a Conservative supporter who lives in the Manchester Withington constituency. Currently his MP is Liberal Democrat John Leech and he is not happy about this. I tried to explain how STV would help to re-enfranchise him but 140 characters is not the STV advocate's friend so I have had a look at the numbers and ...
Women have to imagine what it is like to be a man every day of their lives. Many men recoil from the idea of really imagining what it is like to be a woman. The uproar over 'wise Latina' comments made by US Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor rumbles on. One posting by Dahlia Lithwick in SLATE looks at the work of LSE anthropologist David Graeber which she says thows a strong light on the isses here, and suggest that women in the judiciary may indeed, by virtue of their experience of being women, be better trained to be judges than ...
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have always supported the ReAct and ProAct schemes of the Welsh Assembly Government as a means of retraining and reskilling workers whilst helping employers avoid redundancies. Under ReAct scheme, workers who have been made redundant in the previous six months become entitled to join re-skilling courses up to a total value of £2,500. Our problem has been with some of the claims made for the schemes such as the proposition that further education colleges can access the money to make up for cuts in their budget. Not true. We also have a problem with the excessive ...
After receiving no stars and uncertain prospects for improvement, WLDC have announces that they are bringing the Homelessness Service back in house. Registered social Landlord, ACIS, had been providing this function for the council but now the staff are being transferred back to WLDC.My question is what is the cost of this? 10 years ago WLDC voted to sell off all their council houses. What
After the intensity of the last few weeks - MPs' expenses, the Speaker resigning, local and Euro elections, the failed putsch against Gordon Brown, a hurried cabinet reshuffle - there's a slight sense of anti-climax to political news at the end of the week. So much has happened, but nothing much seems to have changed. 2 Big Stories Each of the so-called quality newspapers has a different lead story today, but both the Guardian and Financial Times focus on the economy, and specifically the perceived threat of rising inflation: Guardian: Buyers face hike in mortgage rates as inflation fears mount ...
Mixed news for us in Kent. Our vote held steady, we gained one county council seat and are now the official opposition to the Conservatives as a result of Labour's collapse. The problem is that we have only seven Councillors to oppose the Conservatives 74! Every administration should have an effective opposition to keep it on its toes but how is this possible against such odds? I would like to know how opponents of voting reform can justify one party getting near complete power on just 40% of the votes. Our Prime Minister appears to have made a death bed ...
A user on twitter set up a petition using twitition but to his mistake he for so many signatures that eventually lead to him getting @replies, left right and centre from people signing the petition and now he has written to Tech Crunch to tell them his story. First of all I think this man needs to value the fact that his petition is being signed and he should have wrote to Tech Crunch advertising the petition in hope they would advertise it in a blog post for him but he actually wrote into them complaining. How can someone feel ...
Fri 12th
10:25
EXCLUSIVE: Ros Scott announces no permanent replacement for Rennard as Lib Dem Chief Exec 'til 2010
Here's the statement from Baroness (Ros) Scott, Lib Dem party president: After some considerable deliberation, the Leader, the Chair of the FFAC and I have decided not to proceed immediately with the appointment of a new permanent Chief Executive to replace Chris Rennard, but to appoint an acting Chief Executive to be in post until shortly after the next General Election. Our overriding aim is to maintain the current smooth running of the party organisation and to avoid significant disruption in the run up to the General Election. Chris' departure as Chief Executive on 30th September 2009 provides an opportunity ...
"The Prime Minister's statement on democratic reform was not as bold as billed; in fact on electoral reform he has been far more timid than the circumstances demanded. There is a real urgency to implementing reforms, to restore public trust in MPs and in politics as a whole. "Voters have shown they are impatient with the main parties, and want real change in the way we do politics. So why does the Prime Minister continue to dither on opening up the debate and on timescales for implementing electoral reform? "Gordon Brown talks the language of quick change and ending the ...
A new directory enquiries service is being launched on 18 June. The 118 800 database has millions of private mobile phone numbers, including those bought from various companies' marketing departments. From the service's FAQ page: How did you get the mobile numbers? Our mobile phone directory is made up from various sources. Generally it comes from companies who collect mobile telephone numbers from customers in the course of doing business and have been given permission by the customers to share those numbers. Your mobile phone number may be on the database without you realising it, and children's numbers may also ...
This morning's Guardian has an interesting article on links between a white supremacist who killed a security guard at a Holocaust memorial museum in the US and the British National Party. The papers says that James Von Brunn, a longtime antisemite, had attended meetings of the American Friends of the British National party (AFBNP), which was set up to raise funds from far-right activists in America: Mark Cotterill, who ran the US-based organisation before it folded in 2001, said: "He did attend meetings. I have just checked my database and he is down as 'meetings only', so he was not ...
Having blogged yesterday on Freedom Central about Ieuan Wyn Jones' shortcomings as a Minister I was not expecting yet another controversy to flare up about him so soon. However, this morning's news is once more reporting on his reluctance to be scrutinised on the job he is allegedly doing. This time it is the Finance Committee who, having been frustrated over a period of four months in their efforts to get important information out of the Transport Minister on his roads programme, are now threatening to subpoena him to get their way. This is the first time this power has ...
The United Nations has declared Bradford the world's first city of film. This is in part, of course, because Bradford hosts the National Media Museum, where I will be going today for one of their four yearly film festivals, the Fantastic Films Weekend. The NMM boasts the only cinema in the world which can play EVERY type of film print, from ancient black and white silents to three strip Cinerama, to Europe's first (and best) IMAX screen. I am very lucky to live so close to it, and am proud of the fact that I have a Friends of Film ...
Well, obviously, I'd never go and see the film Doghouse as it sounds bad and has Danny Dyer in it but I was amused to see such thoughts articulated in a proper review on a film site. It ends with: "Indeed this film is even an affront to the straight-to-DVD horror-gore-comedy genre and all involved should be summarily barred from making films ever again. A hate-filled and hateful film." I don't think they like it!
PR has been in the news this week - if you believe what you read it is PR's fault that the BNP were elected, Gordon Brown is talking about talking about PR but is actually against it, David Cameron blames PR for everything and it appears no one knows what they are talking about...
Fri 12th
08:54
Gambling Act 2005 - Consultation on Bath & North East Somerset Council's Revised Statement of Pr...
Bath & North East Somerset Council are seeking residents and organisations working in the Bath & North East Somerset Council area's views on the revision of the Council's Statement of Principles with regard to the Gambling Act 2005. Bath & North East Somerset is a licensing authority under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act). This means that the Council has responsibility for...
On 4th June, the Guardian ran a nice article about Last.FM. Where was it going next, journalist Jemima Kiss asked. "Stiksel says Last.fm will be doing more to make the most of its comprehensive artist information pages and picture libraries: "When there's a bit of competition around it makes you aware of your core strengths." There will be more development of Last.fm's trial desktop app for organising your offline music collection, and another major project is to expand the radio service to consoles including the Xbox. Support for more devices is always high on the list of demands from users, ...
Well the complaints about pink bin collections are increasing. I've now had complaints from residents of Worsley Road, East Meade, Dryden Avenue and Lawn Drive. Still no repsonse from the council about the problem. I've written to the Assistant Director - we'll see what response I get. Frankly, it looks like the bin collections are [...]
Yes, Brixworth still has its workhouse and Saxon church, but in many ways this is my favourite photograph from last Saturday.
Wendy Orrell won the Stepping Hill by-election to succeed Maggie Clay in fine fashion. The result: LD 1779, Con 1336, UKIP 257, Lab 225 and Grn 158. This is is within the Cheadle Constituency that is a real ding dong battle between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives. The Conservatives fought really hard and the ward should [...]
RT @Psythor Cameron said the cabinet are "literally" falling apart. That would explain why James Purnell's legs fell off, then. #MFIcabinet # Impressed with @Essex_CC - good use of Twitter by a council to feed out election results # RT @libdems: Guardian: "Lib Dems hail 'fantastic' victory as Labour loses control in Bristol" http://tinyurl.com/ov5uek # RT @mattraines: Yay, the BBC have a helicopter over Downing Street so I can see, live from above, the building in which someone might be ... # Just seen Tory leaflet from West Sussex from yesterday. Was having a go at Alan Johnson and what ...
Above : Weeds at Blackness Road Above : Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road roundabout Above : Ninewells Avenue at the hospital entrance I have welcomed reassurances by Dundee City Council that overgrown weeds and grass in the West End are now being tackled. I have had numerous complaints from West End constituents about overgrown weeds on pavements and roadways and badly overgrown grass on verges and roundabouts in numerous locations in the West End. As a result, I contacted both the City Engineer and the Director of Dundee Contract Services about the concerns. The Director of Dundee Contract Services has responded as ...
I've often had to put a shifty on when crossing the road at the bottom of Muswell Hill. There hardly seems to be time to make it across. Well - it's not my imagination - the lights really are not giving enough time to make it safely. There are 26 major pedestrian crossings in Haringey in breach of national safety guidelines updated in 2005, including the signals at the bottom of Muswell Hill where it meets Priory Road and Park Road, and also the signals where Wightman Road, Hornsey Park Road and Turnpike Lane meet. I'm lucky - I can ...
is feeling surly. # is feeling quite cheerful as three nice things have happened so far today. # Up to my elbows with emergency re-skin of our motorsport site following WP2.8 upgrade disaster. Will be using @justintadlock 's Hybrid theme # The BBC's @the_magazine produces one of the year's most groan-worthy headlines on a story about British Asian dating: http://ping.fm/KcP6q # RT @tinybuddha "You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect poise of the mind" Sutta Nipata via @wilsonography # Oof. Hard work and red wine and approaching midnight are not a happy combination. ...
First Past The Post is an awful system. Still, it could be worse...
'The European Union is one of the most calming and peaceful mechanisms in the world today,' Baroness (Emma) Nicholson, MEP, told Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats at one of their 'Food for Thought' supper events this evening, citing the EU's work in election monitoring and promoting tertiary education in particular. The Union has extended its [...]
Taste of Birmingham 2009 gives people the opportunity to catch famous chefs in action and sample signature dishes from many of the finest restaurants in Birmingham.
