The German Liberals (FDP) are highly likely to form part of the next German government, according to the German Ambassador to the Court of St. James's. Speaking at an Association of European Journalists (AEJ) lunch at the London offices of the European Parliament, H.E. Georg Boomgaarden said that although it is always possible that the 'grand coalition' [...]
This afternoon there was a meeting of the Recreation Committee of Egglescliffe & Eaglescliffe Parish Council with 2 agenda items. The first was to receive the outline plans for our refurbishment at St Margarets' play area. Very exciting and we're looking forward to hearing residents' views during the consultation. Plans will be on display at the Playscheme in July and August, in our notice
Today's activities included : A meeting with National Express Dundee's Managing Director (more about that tomorrow, as the hour is late) Attended a briefing for councillors about looked after children in Dundee This was a very worthwhile event at which the film 'Opal Fruits - A Year in Care' was shown - click on the headline above to read more about the film. Attended the Community Spirit group's monthly meeting this evening. Community Spirit is the very active community group serving the Pentland, Ancrum and Cleghorn/Benvie Road areas. A useful briefing was given on pest control problems (particularly about seagulls). ...
Work interesting. Much cleaning. Holly snuggly. Crotchw00t fun. Peter Capaldi awesome. Lack of Jack buttocks disappointing. Watching Atlantis with Mat now. Night night.
A quick update from LocalGov as I've blogged on the story before: The police will not be charging former Stoke Mayor, Mark Meredith, and two other men with corruption after the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to make a case. Mr Meredith, who no longer holds a role at the council following a change in its political system, had been arrested along with former portfolio holder for childrens services, Roger Ibbs and local business man Mo Chaudry. After consulting lawyers, the council's external legal advisors approached Staffordshire Police in November last year to investigate a number ...
Last Thursday I attended a meeting in Parliament organised by Eurim, a cross party group on the information society.We were discussing the recently published Digital Britain paper. Anyone interested in IT and involved in the industry should read the management summary of this document, as it lays out the governments strategy for building our digital infrastructure. Why? Isn't this just a collossal waste of tax payers money? Well no. It will create jobs that will help stimulate the economy and it will leave us with the infrastructure Britain needs to compete in the 21st century economy and by applying IT ...
I wrote about Palin's resignation as Governor and how it might be the start of her campaign to be the next president of the USA and now the UK's top politics blog has blogged with an argument that points towards the one that I brought to light on Sunday. Many like me believe that the Republicans will make Palin the candidate for the election and you never know she might give Obama a run for his money and take the Presidential seat. Like I said in my first blog post my knowledge of US Politics isn't the best but after ...
The London Paper, 8 July, p.2: "Fans at the Harry Potter premiere in Leicester Square were soaked, with actor Daniel Radcliffe bravely taking to the red carpet without an umbrella." But wait, what does page 4 bring? It's be a pair of photos of Daniel Radcliffe, er..., on said red carpet with umbrella. One of them is helpfully captioned, "A good-humoured Daniel Radcliffe is shielded by umbrellas". Oops. Related posts:Senior Scottish MP in forged letters mystery Catching u
The Greens yesterday got some publicity, with their Tory friends, for claiming to have signed up for a campaign pledge where they apparently promise to tell the truth at all times. Interestingly the Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election likes to take the moral highground on this issue, but it is clear from his own blog that he really is the last person we should look to for lessons on not telling lies in campaigns after he was caught out during the recent Euro elections where he was the Greens lead candidate. Telling the truth at all times ...
National Express West Midlands (the new name for the old "Travel West Midlands") is reviewing bus services in south Birmingham. It is currently in the process of consulting on possible changes and intends to finalise its plans over the summer for implementation in the autumn.In terms of the Selly Oak Ward, the main change is likely to be to the 69 bus service, which currently travels through the
I hear from sources that the Labour vote in Norwich is proving 75% "soft" and amenable to voting for another party. We just have to persuade them. Please schedule in a trip to Norwich before polling day to help April Pond with some gentle delivery. It's a glorious city. Full details are here.
The railway line between Market Harborough and Northampton opened in 1859. If enlightened opinion had had its way in the 1960s and St Pancras had been closed, then it might today be the main line from the East Midlands to Euston. Partly because the line was built to branch line standards, with sharper curves and steeper gradients than a main line, that plan came to nothing. So the line closed to passengers in 1960 (though it was used by a Euston sleeper to Scotland until 1973) and to good traffic in 1981. The last working on the line (apart from ...
I've heard from Bradford Playbuilder about the Delph Playground application that I'm making via the Town Council. The "project will be considered, along with 30 other projects, for Phase 2 of the programme." I should hear more by the end of this month.
Y'know I've expressed my general contempt for the pantomime which passes for Prime Minister's Questions on many occasions: it's theatre, mirage, insubstantial: all performance, no content. But we discovered today there's something worse than the usual rowdy PMQs: when there's both no performance and no content. It's hard to remember that William Hague once had a fearsome Commons reputation for being the best, sparkiest, wittiest debater on the block. Perhaps all those after-dinner speeches have dulled his senses – or perhaps he reckons he's not paid enough to waste all his best lines on Parliament – but today's performance against ...
Apparently the bible says that if you see someone to whom a law (like, say, those commandments that GAWD gave to Moses) doesn't apply (like, say, someone who isn't a Jew), then you should spit on them and kick them in the head. I've never read that bit of the Wholly Babble myself, but that must be because I don't read Hebrew. If only I could, perhaps I'd realise that every version I've read is a poor translation and that "thou shalt not woship graven images (or whichever commandment it is)" actually says "thou shalt spit on people and kick ...
Someone has registered a user name called "Red Rag" on Labour Home and has blogged a blog post about the Conservatives and the NOTW. Is it Draper and McBride blogging via Labour Home? Clearly Draper didn't like Alex Hilton because he attacked him and threatened to ruin his reputation so could he now try and destroy it by blogging as the Red Rag on Labour Home. If I was Alex Hilton I would ban Red Rag from the site because if its Draper then clearly he needs to put an end to this Red Rag movement? Alex ban the menace ...
An unseemly spat has broken out between Bethan Jenkins and Peter Black on Twitter: PB: @bethanjenkins you were considering rainbow option weeks after LD exec vote. Your rejected it. Nothing delusional about that. BJ: @peterblackwales- your party refused it before that. PB: @bethanjenkins no it didnt Bethan.My party voted for it. Stop rewriting history. BJ: @peterblackwales i think you [...]
It's a real pet hate of mine but these Self-service tills have gone too far. I had a very bad shopping experience at Sainsbury's Bagshot Road Bracknell. It took me so long to do my shopping that I almost left it there (I know my brother did recently). Anyway the English way of informing a company of your displeasure is to write them a letter, which I sent to the Bracknell Store and Holborn, see below. Dear Customer Services Manager; I would like to complain about the growing use of self-service tills especially when the tills are designed to cater ...
I've had a bit of a falling out with Paul Walter of late, after a disagreement over how best to deal with the Rennard affair. Paul's initial response, attacking both Chris Rennard and the Federal Executive, drew a pointed response from me, even after he withdrew it from the record. Indeed, I used some rather unbureaucratic directness in summing up what I thought. However, we've tried to allow time to work its healing magic and perhaps it is time that I made a gesture towards reconciliation. So I'm adding 'Liberal Burblings' to my blog roll, as a peace offering and ...
20:38 You join me in The Bonkers' Arms, where the two winners of the latest Liberal England prize quiz will soon be drawn. Meadowcroft is in his usual corner, Lord Bonkers is holding court in the snug and - since you ask - mine is a pint of Smithson & Greaves Northern Bitter. 20:44 I should probably emphasise that, following our unfortunate experience with electronic systems last time, the two winning entries will be drawn from Lord Bonkers' second-best top hat. 20:51 Apparently we are waiting for a game of darts to finish before the draw can take place. It ...
The Press Association reports: A British MEP has withdrawn from the race to become the next president of the European Parliament "to save the European Union". Liberal Democrat Graham Watson said he is joining a cross-party cabal which will see the job carved up between the Parliament's mainstream centre-right and centre-left parties for the next five years. When the newly-elected European Parliament meets for the first time next week, it now looks as if former Polish prime minister Jerzy Buzek, a member of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), will get the job. In return, the three main parties in ...
Manor House Library is launching a film club, with a Saturday Matinee for adults at 3.30pm in the AV Room on the first floor. The great news is it's absolutely free - you just need to book a seat. It starts this Saturday with Slumdog Millionaire. Full list for July below: Saturday 11th July - Slumdog Millionaire (12) Saturday 18th July - The Kite Runner (15) Saturday 25th July - Life is Beautiful (PG) I really hope this iniative succeeds - one of the most frustrating things about living in Lewisham is the borough's lack of a cinema, and it's ...
I don't know if its me, but I am getting a bit fed up with British commentators and 'critics' sneering and mocking events following the tragic death of Michael Jackson. He was the first black performer to appear on MTV, and to become a mainstream pop star. Okay some of the reaction from thousands of fans around the world has been over the top, but its not that long ago we had some of that hysteria on the streets of London after Princess Diana died. Yesterdays memorial concert in Los Angeles was an incredible extravaganza, watched by 6.5m British people, ...
A bit of a grudge settler. Best watched here but the list is below anyway. 10. "Hi, it's George W. Bush. Why didn't anyone tell me resigning was an option?" 9. "It's John McCain--Why did I call?" 8. "Mark Sanford here. Ever been to Argentina?" 7. "I'm calling from Geico to see if you want to renew your dogsled insurance" 6. "It's Letterman. We still cool?" 5. "McCain again. Still no idea why I called" 4. "Hi, it's the dry cleaner. Having trouble getting caribou blood out of your Prada jacket" 3. "Hi, it's Sarah...Oops...Dialed my own number" 2. "Schwarzenegger ...
Lib Dem Voice reported last week that Peter Chegwyn, Lib Dem leader on Gosport Council in Hampshire, would this week be facing a standards board tribunal following allegations he used a council vote to protect his music festival. Portsmouth.co.uk reports the result: Controversial Gosport politician Peter Chegwyn has been banned from being a councillor for two years. The Lib Dem group leader was ruled to have breached the councillors' code of conduct after he voted to block a motion relating to his Stokes Bay Festival last year. ... Cllr Chegwyn, who has been a councillor for 26 years, said: 'I ...
Now that the evil burning day-star is finally being chased away a bit the writers' block of the last few weeks seems to be easing slightly for me. I'll hopefully be reviewing Wednesday Comics tomorrow, doing a Spotify playlist on Friday and a BFAW on Saturday. And I'm hoping to make quite a big announcement [...]
Just when you think we're settling in for a relatively slow news week, up pops Nick Griffin to liven things up. He wants to sink boats carrying illegal immigrants from Africa towards the EU. But he is in generous mood. Indeed, one could describe the following as the sentiments of a woolly liberal. He wants to throw them a liferaft before we sink them. Bless. Perhaps it is no surprise that Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons of the BNP will sit in the "non-attached" section of the European Parliament. Not unhinged, mind - just unattached.
As most of us in local government will know, there is an acute shortage of social housing. New research shows that there is no evidence that new immigrants jump the housing queue . In fact only 2% live in social housing. Local authorities are not allowed to house refugees and asylum seekers in social housing. The lies peddled by the BNP in areas like Barking and Dagenham and in Barnsley that " you have to be an immigrant to get council housing" are widely seen as the central plank of their gaining electoral support. These are areas that have been ...
Here is footage from outside Tory MP Bill Wiggin's constituency meeting in Leominster in May this year that he had called to face his constituents in the light of the MP expenses allegations against him: As can be seen from the footage there were a lot of people who were turned away, even some Conservative activists. It seems that although the meeting was billed as "All Welcome", they were turning people away on the grounds that there was "not enough room". You can also see that when some people identified themselves as Conservatives who Bill had invited, they were ushered ...
The trips-off-your-tongue ThisIsHullandEastRiding.co.uk reports: LIBERAL Democrat campaigner Jeremy Wilcock has been chosen to contest John Prescott's seat at the next General Election. The former Deputy Prime Minister is retiring from the House of Commons at the next election after representing Hull East since 1970. In the 2005 election vote Mr Prescott won with a reduced majority of 11,747 - down almost 3,600 on the previous General Election. Four years ago, the Lib Dems finished second with their candidate Andy Sloan increasing his party's share of the vote. ... However, since 2005 the Lib Dems have established a comfortable overall majority ...
HM Revenue & Customs has written to all MPs inviting them to talk to the Department about their expenses and any tax which they may be liable to pay. Permanent Secretary for Tax Dave Hartnett also revealed some MPs made the mistake of not paying tax incurred after claiming back accountants' fees for personal tax advice. Mr Hartnett was giving evidence to the Committee for Standards in Public Life, which has been asked by the government to look into the system of MPs' expenses. Asked by the Committee whether most MPs had paid the correct amount of tax, Hartnett replied: ...
After I posted my response to Mark Thompson's meme listing all my MPs through life I read some of the others including Caron's, the political geek in me got interested. Caron had given a brief pen-picture of each and her own connection if any to others. North Down my home constituency is known for being an eccentric or unusual or trend-defying Northern Irish constituency and as for the others I knew there were tales to tell. Here are those tales. September 1969 - February 1970 George Currie (Ulster Unionist) North Down: George was first elected in 1955 in succession to ...
BBC News has the list of candidates in the by-election (polling is on 23 July):Peter Baggs (Independent)Thomas Burridge (Libertarian Party)Anne Fryatt (None of The Above Party)Bill Holden (Independent)Laud Howling (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)Craig Murray (Put An Honest Man into Parliament)Chris Ostrowski (Labour)April Pond (Liberal Democrat)Rupert Read (Green)Chloe Smith (Conservative)Glenn Tingle (UK Independence Party)Robert West (British National Party)Note that Ian Gibson is not standing.
The score on leaflets I have seen is now 6 Lib Dem, 5 Tory (but that does not include one that is going out but I have no evidence of it in either digital or paper form), Labour 1, UKIP 1, and zero for all the others. I am aware of two independent leaflets going out but have not seen them yet. Still no evidence of a Green leaflet. This latest Lib Dem leaflet is A4, folded length ways.
Took part in a fascinating policy seminar this lunchtime organised by CentreForum around the issue of early access to Pension Fund cash. In particular, we were discussing the paper that I jointly wrote with Jo Holland about the part of your pension which you can currently take as a tax-free lump sum when you retire. Our basic proposal is that you should be able to access whatever you have built up as a potential tax free lump sum (ie typically one quarter of your fund) earlier if you wish. One use for the cash might be to tackle a mortgage ...
Guido Fawkes has new technology that he will use to get the public opinion about PMQ's and he thinks this will help to portray an image of what the general public think which clearly isn't the case. Guido's readership is pro Tory, his comment section is pro Tory and even he is pro Tory so how is that going to be a balanced view of PMQ's, I have no idea? Clearly a farce but Guido will use it to justify things...
Nature lovers are invited to join a walk to explore the wildflower meadows, riverside grasslands and woodlands of St John's Park estate in Chipping Sodbury. The walk, which will be led by Mary Wood from Avon Wildlife Trust, takes place on Tuesday 21 July from 7pm. South Gloucestershire Council has employed the Avon Wildlife Trust to renew the management plan for these open spaces so please come along to discover the wildlife and discuss how the areas should be managed in the future. Anyone interested in joining the walk should meet at the bridge over the River Frome on Wickwar ...
A Sunni Muslim scholar has written a reply book to the book "The Jewel of Medina" called "Reflections" and if you are interested in the reply book which tells the true story of the relationship between Sayeda Aisha and the Holy Prophet Muhammed then follow the link to the publishers website. First of all the book "The Jewel of Medina" is full to the top with lies and I think the new book by the Sunni Scholar who is a graduate of Bhera Sharif in Pakistan (A Islamic Scholars School) will answer all the unanswered questions. Please do buy the ...
Inspired by Journalism Grads: 30 Things You Should Do This Summer post (pointed out to me by Lib Dem Voice's Stephen Tall), here's my list of 30 things anyone wanting to become an elected public official should do over the summer. Thanks to everyone who responded to my Twitter, Facebook and email messages asking for suggestions for inclusion in the list. Whether your idea(s) made it in or didn't quite make the cut, the final 30 are the better for all that feedback. You can read Part I here, and Part II here. Watch The Thick of It. It's funny, ...
Today, the National Assembly is debating and voting on Jenny Randerson's private member's Measure to improve the quality of food in schools. The final wording will depend on which of the amendments pass and fail, but I firmly hope Jenny's more stringent original wording wins out. The Measure will give Ministers the power to determine the quality of food and drinking water in schools across Wales. I hope that this will be one of many attempts by AMs to increase the quality of Welsh health - and a continuation of the strong tradition of public health in Wales that includes ...
Tuesday: In Episode Two of "The War Games", the armed forces of British Governmentry try to SHOOT our hero before there's an ESCAPE in an ambulance and a RESCUE from a military prison. The alien villains behind it all haven't shown up yet, though. On the other fluffy foot, I wonder what's happening in Torchwood? "Day Two", by John Fay, was a terrific, fast-paced, action-packed roller-coaster ride with a particularly pounding, persistent musical beat that keeps driving the tension, all as a way of keeping any more of the plot from happening until Russell gets back to write "Day Three"... ...
Here's the spin bout today's Government's Banking Regulation White Paper Labour's chancellor Alistair Darling was hoping the media would buy, as faithfully recorded by the BBC: UK banks will face tougher regulation and consumers will get more protection, under reforms to the financial system proposed by the chancellor. And here's the spin-free reality from Lib Dem shadow chancellor, Vince Cable: This is not so much a White Paper as a blank paper. While the Government has sensibly copied certain short term aspects of the Turner review it has failed to take action on the semi-nationalised banks. Mr Darling should have ...
@DowningStreet No.10 Downing Street, much less noticed than Stephen Fry's following on Twitter, has amassed almost a million followers on Twitter. This must count as by far and away the biggest, and least noticed, success of Downing Street's digital team. I take my hat off to them for this. Why on earth aren't they crowing about it more though? Posted via email from Rob's posterous
Yesterday's Plenary debate on ten years of devolution was a good knock-about not least for the Welsh Liberal Democrat amendment that the Assembly 'does not support independence for Wales'. This amendment was supported by all parties other than 12 Plaid Cymru members who then allowed the amended motion to go through unopposed. A good example of political confusion if ever I saw it. However, it is difficult to see what the hour long discussion achieved. Surely we would have been better off discussing government legislation or key policy issues. By far the most entertaining speech was that by Mark Isherwood ...
Just a quick note to mention that I have removed the 4 original posts from this blog. When I first created "Mark Reckons", I was not a member of the Lib Dems and I did 4 posts mainly about electoral reform and Gordon Brown in October 2007. I then did not post again at all until November last year by which point I was a member of the Lib Dems. I therefore consider that the blog in its current form began in November 2008 and having those old posts from its previous incarnation hanging around felt a bit incongruous.
Welcome to a new, experimental feature, where I read Hansard so that you don't have to... Yesterday's business started with the announcement of the death of Lord Blaker, a stalwart of the Conservative benches. Unfortunately, death was always going to be a spectre that haunted the day's events, with the main business of the day being the 5th day of the Committee stage of the Coroners and Justice Bill. Amendment 173, in the name of Lord Falconer, sought to make it possible to accompany someone overseas for the purposes of them committing suicide, an issue which has been the subject ...
Are you on your way to the Lib Dem Voice Forum? Our private Lib Dem party members-only area currently numbers 988 individuals. Which is wonderful, but does mean there's another 98% of Lib Dem members not currently signed-up. So how's this for an incentive: the 1,000th member of the Forum will win a copy of LDV's annual, The Tangerine Book. And as if that's not enough, the 1,000th member – along with their 999 colleagues – will have the opportunity to read and post on a rich variety of topics which don't always make it into the public blog, as ...
Back in March I highlighted the fact that not for the first time roads in our ward - many of whom are full of pot holes - continue to be neglected by the Labour-run Council. We have been asking local Labour councillors when particular roads in Redlands would be resurfaced every year and not getting proper answers. Your guess is as good as ours in fact. Well, the Council has today issued a press release which says: "A road resurfacing programme aimed at improving a number of routes across Reading for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians is due to begin on Monday, July 20" You can ...
The Assembly Finance Minister has announced himself a convert to fiscal reform following yesterday's publication of the Holtham report on how devolved administrations are funded. However, whether his enthusiasm will be shared by his Westminster colleagues has yet to be seen. In the chamber just now the Minister has denied that the Secretary of State for Wales is opposed to reform yet it is difficult to see how Peter Hain's remarks in today's Western Mail can be interpreted in any other way: Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain said: "Gerry Holtham is a well-respected figure and his interesting report ...
Rather unexpectedly, the Welsh Government's problems over Legislative Competence Orders have reared their head again, this time over the Welsh Language. This is a surprise because it had been assumed that everything had been agreed prior to the publication of the Welsh Language LCO. After all it took over 18 months to negotiate and both governments seemed happy with its contents. None of the evidence given to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee indicated that they would offer such a radical judgement of how the instrument should be drafted and indeed it is difficult to see what it is they are ...
A few months back, I bemoaned the lack of decent atheist jokes. I'm pleased to say Richard Dawkins' summer camp has spawned quite a few and several of them are even funny. Here's a nice example from Private Eye. More, please.
I am not a big fan of test cricket so The Ashes isn't going to be an event that I shall be watching or taking much interest into except for maybe the score and who wins. Clearly my advice to anyone who wants to hear it is that The Ashes should 0nly be one day games and test matches should get filed away to use when cricket becomes unpopular. With the number of people taking interest in cricket clearly test matches will not do the interest numbers any favours so the best for the Cricket Boards is to have more ...
I create websites/facebook groups on issues that sometimes are important to me or sometimes are meaningless but I create them anyway sometimes for people to find them it can be difficult for that reason I have created links of My Projects on the sidebar so people can go to the projects and see if they find them relevant, entertaining or are concerned by them. A meaningless project that I have created is RON for Parliament and maybe one that I think needed a voice is Obama should meet Nick Clegg MP. Anyway check out my projects and await some new ...
Media coverage of Birmingham this week focuses on food in anticipation of this weekend's Taste of Birmingham festival over at Cannon Hill Park, which starts tomorrow. Today's Guardian features a list of Brum's Top 10 Budget Eateries, with some of my personal favourites making the cut. My local The Lord Clifden, the Bullring's Urban Pie and the Friends of the Earth Warehouse Café in Digbeth all feature. Also on the list is Ladywood's very own Great British Eatery, which I blogged about last weekend.
The Carver Wolverhampton City marathon, half marathon, half marathon relay event and the 19.4km cycle/wheelchair challenge will be held on Sunday 6th September.
It has today been justified by Mark Valladares that bloggers enjoy attacking me on their blogs because they want to increase their hits and personally I am amused and concerned for the welfare of the Lib Dem Blogosphere. First of all I am not meant to be the road to getting more hits because I am a blogger just like them but its not like the Cronies Club are listening. Maybe when I have a better position then Mark Valladares in the Top Lib Dem blogs list of Total Politics he will realise I am not someone to mess with? ...
After last month's political MELTDOWN over MPs' Expensives, and the resulting RADIOACTIVE DEBACLE of two British Nasty Party members being elected to represent us in the Euro Parliament, we were promised "a new politics". What we GOT was a row about spending cuts that's SO "old politics" it is practically carbon-dated! Both Conservatories and Hard Labour were reduced to calling each other lying liars while coverage of the Liberal Democrats went from "grudging" to "invisible" faster than Mr Nick Robinson can read out a Conservatory Party Press release on the Ten O'clock News. Welcome to the Brave New World, folks! ...
They've done it again!! Because there was information missing in the Jack Allen planning application the Council is having to write to residents again to give them an extra chance to comment. Part of this missing information is to do with the height of a building If you have sent in an objection its important to know that your original objection still stands as this change isn't enough for the whole process to start again. You can of course add to your objection. This may well have a knock on effect in terms of the timing of the planning committee ...
We're the masters of the banking universe so let's stop being polite and lay down the law: free up lending, regulate risk and don't sell the taxpayer short: To read the full story follow the link HERE
The Republic of Ireland will hold a second referendum on the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty on 2 October. To read the full story follow the link HERE
This from the BBC website covering the Ashes match: 'Short from Siddle and Strauss is onto it in a flash, swinging the bustling Tasmanian away for four. One more for Strauss, who moves to 23 with a nibble off his pads. You could have poured that shot into a little black dress and it wouldn't have looked out of place on the catwalks of Milan. What a doozy of a day up in Cardiff, it really is pretty as a picture.' This is unintelligible nonsense. What on earth is this person on about and are they really commentating on the ...
Hmm, here's a worthy LD press release but it gives me cause for reflection: 'No fee degrees' put money before student choice - Williams 'Commenting on Government proposals for 'no fee degrees', Liberal Democrat Shadow Universities Secretary, Stephen Williams said: '"This is just a money saving measure for the Government dressed up as a proposal to help students. By abolishing fees for people who are able to stay at home ministers are letting what people can afford affect what they study. People should be able to study the subject they want where they want regardless of how well off they ...
Last night, I departed from my policy of starting with only 25% of any new flour and put in 50% of malted brown, as the dough seemed quite light. The results this morning were mixed. The loaf rose better than any other I've tried so far - better than the white, even - and it has a texture quite similar to granary. I liked this a lot, but R and {[info - personal]} aegidian felt it was a bit too heavy. At the same time, it's crumblier than usual, which makes sandwiches trickier. I'll try 25% next time.
Over at The Times, Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable argues that government should stop being so polite and lay down the law: free up lending, regulate risk and don't sell the taxpayer short. Here's an excerpt: There is a battle royal being fought out over the scale and scope of regulation. There is some common ground: mindless, bureaucratic box-ticking has to give way to a form of supervision that identifies systemic risk; there is also agreement around the concept of "macro-prudential" regulation, with the Bank of England in the lead. There are powerful forces arguing for the return to ...
Wed 8th
11:28
Lord Malloch Brown calls it a day - reminding us why a cabinet stuffed with Peers needs better scrut...
It has been announced that Lord Malloch Brown, the spokesman in the Lords for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will be standing down at the end of the Parliamentary session later this month. Actually, most neutral commentators would probably agree that he was exceptionally well qualified to hold his portfolio, and I tend to share that view. His departure will certainly reduce the size and depth of the talent pool on the Labour side of the red benches. However, it highlights one of the rather less attractive aspects of Gordon Brown's premiership - his habit of recruiting people into government ...
{david-kelly} If you want a good example of how attitudes to our political masters have changed over the years, look no further than Torchwood, the Dr Who spin-off series that has finally found its feet with its new mini-series this week. Back in the old days of Dr Who, government ministers and officials were bumbling but benign and had names like "Tubby Rowlands". In the new Torchwood epic, the British Prime Minister, Brian Green, sanctions the murder of those good guys who might cause embarrassment to the government and the UK police state is close to assuming pariah status on ...
There is an excellent piece of research on Political Betting this morning by David Herdson which details how there is a loophole that would allow Gordon Brown to potentially stay on as Prime Minister until 2013! I'll let David explain it:The assumption has always been that once parliament expires, writs will be issued for the general election, which according to the timetable currently in force would put the date of the election on Thursday June 3 (or possibly Friday June 4 if the writs were issued the day after expiry - though that would break with the tradition of elections ...
2 Big Stories Labour backbench revolt over abolition of 10p tax rate is defeated Big shock this one, I know... Labour MPs realise too late that their party's tax changes are hitting the poorest hard in the pocket, threaten to mount a rebellion, and then – as per bloody usual – are bought off by the whips with a mixture of coercion and cheap promises. We've seen this story played out so many times before. Here's The Times account: Gordon Brown saw his Government's majority cut to 43 in its defeat of an amendment to the Finance Bill that many ...
{menzies-campbell-mp} Commenting on last night's failed backbench Labour revolt over Gordon Brown's decision to abolish the 10p starting rate of income tax, North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Labour MPs had the chance on Tuesday evening to match their rhetoric with action but they blew it. "If sufficient of them had supported the amendment let by Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead, and supported by opposition parties, the Government would have been forced to make amends to those people - often single women on low incomes - who have been cruelly affected by the abolition of the 10p tax ...
Many are suggesting that EDMs need to be reformed rather than scrapped. I have nothing to say on the cost or efficacy of EDMs as they stand beyond James Graham's view. However I do worry that, if badly done, electronicizing (?) EDMs would effectively neuter them. Part of the point of digitizing (that's better) things is that they become cheaper, easier to use and easier to maintain. If setting up an EDM became easier than it already is, then it is inevitable that there would be more of them, and more of them would be signed by more MPs. Therefore, ...
My Wikio rating appears to be in gradual decline, or not, as the case may be. Now I haven't been as active a blogger as had been the case earlier this year, and my controversy rating has declined somewhat since I took my self-denying ordnance last month. What is a blogger to do? Attack Irfan, that always seems to be in vogue? No, I don't think so. Attack Iain Dale? No, too unoriginal. In truth, as a civil servant, I don't really do ranting, which works if you're a Tory (what do they feed them?), and I do like to ...
It was a great pleasure to see Paul Merton's Silent Clowns show at Newbury's Corn Exchange last night. There was a full house to listen to Merton's enthusiastic introductions to a selection of excellent silent comedy films. But the real star of the show (apart from Buster Keaton, that is) was Neil Brand who played the piano. It is easy to forget the role of the many improvisational pianists who accompanied millions of silent comedy films in their heyday. Neil Brand showed how it can be done brilliantly, adding to our great enjoyment of the films, particularly the feature showing, ...
James Graham has pointed me to a blog called Scrap EDM's and I think its a little silly campaign by someone who has nothing better to do so the person who ever it is has started a campaign to scrap EDM's. First of all EDM's are what make modern politics what it is today it allows any MP to table an EDM for themselves, for the interest of a local organisation in their constituency or to ask the Prime Minister/Speaker or anyone else who is not doing their job properly to resign. Maybe the person running the Scrap EDM's blog ...
You're a Prime Minister in trouble trying to dodge the slings and arrows of outrageous Blairites. Your cabinet is disappearing faster than rats off a sinking ship. If this goes on much longer, you will have to appoint the Downing Street gardener as DEFRA secretary. What do you do? You sell your soul to the one person whose dark arts can smooth the troubled waters for the price of a fancy title and an enhanced job as Minister for Everything (or words to that effect). Even if you have to put up with the alleged fearsome strop, it's worth it ...
I know summer is here and I should be watching the Cricket at home in front of the Television but I have to go out again to the Tory cabinet meeting this morning and the rest of the day full of meetings so I will not even see a ball bowled. Oh how I long for those easy days feet up and rest and watch England thrash those Australians at Cricket (well I can dream can't I) ...
The Young People's Development Programme (YPDP) was a pilot project running from 2003 to 2007 aimed at increasing the self-esteem of vulnerable young people aged 13-15 and reducing truanting, drug and alcohol abuse and teenage pregancy. YPDP was based on similar schemes in the US which, it is claimed, have had some success. However, YPDP, which cost the taxpayer nearly £6 million, has been evaluated and it turns out it didn't work. Researchers* looked at how those who had been on the scheme had done compared to other young people in similar situations but not on the scheme. "Those engaged ...
When John Bercow was first elected as Speaker, I suggested that there were a few things he should do straight away. The main things I suggested were make Brown answer the questions properly, stop all the barracking and heckling during debates and stop ministers announcing policies outside the Commons. He doesn't seem to have really tried very hard or at all on these big things yet but he is taking some small steps in the right direction. According to the Sunday Telegraph he is proposing that MPs should refer to each other by their proper names. This might not sound ...
The councils conservative executive member is due to make a decision on the number of Hackney Carriages in Bath very soon and council officers are recommending an increase in numbers. At yesterdays Taxi Licensing committee I managed to secure a resolution from members that ( The executive member be advised to consult either the Taxi licensing sub committee or the full Licensing...
{leonora-rustamova} Leonora Rustamova, a teacher in West Yorkshire,was suspended recently when a book she wrote "Stop! Don't Read This!" was accidentally published on the internet. The story, which includes underage drinking, hints of drug use and "pupil fantasies" was written by "Miss Rusty" specifically for and about the five male pupils in her class. When I first heard the story a month or so ago I dismissed it as another young teacher with bad judgement who had overstepped the boundary or teacher/pupil relationships. But I was wrong. Today I listened to the excellent Victoria Derbyshire programme on radio 5 live ...
Thank you to everyone who entered. The two winners will be drawn this evening at a simple ceremony held at The Bonkers' Arms. Good luck!
