[IMG: Julian Huppert] Dr Julian Huppert, MP. CC Laurence Boyce. Dr Julian Huppert, the Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Cambridge, has published an article on Liberal Democrat Voice setting out plans to create a new comprehensive science and technology policy document for the party. Huppert notes the high standard on science policy set by the Liberal Democrats in the last general election, with Guardian writer and researcher Martin Robbins concluding: If I were to cast my vote based purely on science, it would be for the Liberal Democrats, for Nick Clegg and for Evan Harris. However, this strength was ...
I was just looking at the search terms that resulted in clicks on my blog for the past week and one might say that the hit ITV1 show Take Me Out is driving traffic at the moment... [IMG: Rambles of Neil Monnery Take Me Out ] Search Terms for TRONM Jan 24-Jan 30 Either Mark Bolton and Nick Halling were on the show or they are interlopers in this list. Next people will be saying this is a Take Me Out blog... One thing from this list though is that Gracie has been the most popular searched woman from the ...
...the Taxpayers' Alliance. Although Clegg may not agree with their suggestion of abolishing HS2 to pay for it.
Sorry for the lack of proper posting – I know I'm behind again on MindlessWho, but I'm practically dead of exhaustion. Have some links instead. Can't believe I'd not heard of this before yesterday (via Andrew Ducker), but Daily Science Fiction is a site where each day they post a new science fiction story. The ...
I was very saddened to learn of the death of Jim Opray, former councillor for Ancrum Ward back in the 1980s and my Conservative opponent when I was first elected to the City Council at the Tay Bridges Ward by-election in 2001. Jim was an absolute gentleman who worked for the local community in so many ways. In addition to being a former District Councillor, he was a board member at Tayside Recyclers and a volunteer at the University of Dundee Botanic Garden. Jim made a real contribution to the community and will be sadly missed and long remembered.
I haven't read any of the nominees for Best Novel in this year's BSFA wards, and will start scrambling to make up that deficiency (especially if I can do so before the Hugo nomination deadline at end of March). But I thought I would check up the vital statistics of the contenders on various websites: LibraryThing Goodreads Amazon.co.uk (hard copy) Amazon.co.uk (Kindle) Embassytown by China Mieville 732 owners 2,237 ratings Sales rank 1,810 Sales rank 4,089 Islanders by Christopher Priest 25 owners 32 ratings Sales rank 38,592 Sales rank 13,721 By Light Alone by Adam Roberts 25 owners 25 ratings ...
On Saturday I witnessed one of the most depressing things I have ever seen. I was en route back from London on the train when a dad and his daughter were sitting there in the next set of seats. I wasn't eavesdropping (don't google 'eve stropping' to check for the spelling of said word – it is a porn star) but I did overhear a tiny bit of their conversation. Is was the dad asking his daughter for her mobile number and the daughter saying that she'd have to ask her mum. She rang her mum and asked and got ...
The Evening Standard carries the intriguing news that there are to moves for Mayfair to become the first area of central London to have its own parish council in almost half a century. It quotes a resident as saying the recent dispute over Westminster City Council's attempts to introduce new parking: "proved that there was a democratic deficit. We need a model that works and this is it."The report also says that church leaders are among those promoting the idea, but I hope they have grasped the difference between a parish council and a parochial church council.
I have been known to get unreasonably excited about Doctor Who stories set in Belgium, and I must admit that I was thrilled when it became clear that Big Finish's latest audio takes shape-shifting Daleks to the Battle of Waterloo, trying to engineer a French victory. When we first moved to this country we lived in the next town north of Waterloo and I would occasionally go there on Sundays looking for the English papers, there being a thriving expat community there. And parts of this story are set in Wavre which I pass through more often than not during ...
Here's Lib Dem chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander interviewed on Sunday lunchtime, defending the Coalition's decision not to demand RBS chief executive Stephen Hester return his controversial bonus — a few hours before Mr Hester voluntarily forfeited it to defuse the row: (Available on the BBC website here.) * Stephen Tall is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, and also writes at his own site, The Collected Stephen Tall.
... but maybe mature students have been? Simon Hughes, the coalition's Advocate for Access to Higher Education has just issued a press release following the announcement of today's UCAS application numbers. He makes a series of very valid points, including that applications for University places are at an all time high (excluing last year), that young people do not appear to have been put off by the headline cost of tuition (which he appears to be arguing acts as a time-limited graduate tax rather than a fee) and that monthly repayments will be lower (but of course, many graduates will ...
Mon 30th
19:25
The graph that shows more disadvantaged 18 year-olds applied to university in 2012 than under the la...
Here's a graph from UCAS's analysis of university applications showing the application rates for 18 year-olds from the most disadvantaged areas — and it shows the application rate in England this year is higher than in any other year bar 2011: Here's what UCAS says the figures indicate: In England the application rate for this disadvantaged group decreases slightly (0.2 per cent) in 2012. This is the first application rate decrease since 2006, since when annual increases have ranged from 0.8 to 2.7 percentage points. However, the level of the application rate for England in 2012 is not inconsistent with ...
Sefton Council will shortly be undertaking tree works onFerryside Recreation Ground. The work involves the removal of trees which arein decline and if left will become unsafe.
Dave (not his real name) is a retired football player in his late 30s who played for a number of English lower-division and non-league clubs in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is gay but has never felt the need to be open about his sexuality, for reasons which he explained below in this interview with me. A lot has been made about the lack of openly gay footballers, and a BBC3 documentary tonight explores this and the potential reasons behind it. I spoke with Dave on the phone yesterday to ask for his views on the matter, why he ...
The fuss over replacing Diana Wallis as MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber appears to have died down, with her husband, Stewart Arnold, who was the second-placed candidate on the list, announcing that he will not take up the seat; it was then offered to third-placed candidate Rebecca Taylor, who has accepted it. This has all come about because of the rules that apply to British elections to the European Parliament. At election time (in practice, usually some months beforehand) the parties choose lists of candidates in a ranked order, generated by more-or-less open and transparent and possibly internally democratic ...
Today's Guardian carries the welcome news that English Heritage has bought the Great Barn at Harmondsworth, which John Betjeman once called "the cathedral of Middlesex". However, I wonder if Maev Kennedy meant what she said in her second sentence: Just beyond the sprawl of Heathrow, the Great Barn at Harmondsworth has stood between the roaring M25 and the M4 motorways and the straggling warehouse and industrial estates around the airport perimeter since 1426. Presumably not, as a revised version now appears on the newspaper's website. Still, the printed version has won her this blog's prestigious Bizarre Newspaper Sentence of the ...
A recent YouGov poll puts Nick Clegg's approval ratings at 12% higher than last week's, placing him 10% ahead of Ed Miliband. Somewhat surprising was the level of support for raising the Income Tax threshold to £10k (83%) and for imposing a Mansion Tax on homes worth over £2m (65%). 68% of people also support keeping the 50p tax rate. This should all serve as confirmation that the Liberal Democrats have struck the right tone on tax.
... last night, in which myself, [IMG: [personal profile] ] magister, [IMG: [personal profile] ] softfruit and [IMG: [personal profile] ] strangecharm were going to visit [IMG: [livejournal.com profile] ] differentcolours in prison. I can't remember what he had been imprisoned for, or even if it was justified, but I do remember that it was a special prison for bisexuals, and that everything in there was ocean grey (or possibly military grey) - the walls, the clothes, the beds and bedlinen, everything. My brain is doing very weird things of late, and this has been an example. [IMG: comment count ...
Thames Water needs toinstall two new sewer pipes in Shotfield. As it happens, UK Power Networks are in the area as well, installing new electricity suppliesto the new Health Centre. So to reduce the disruption for local residents from two major projects Sutton Council has encouraged Thames and UK Power Networks to work onsite together. This is more easily said than done! Unfortunately the work in Shotfield requires a lot of the road to be dug up and cannot be completedwithout temporary changes to parking in BeddingtonGardens and Shotfield. Bus stands will need to be moved temporarily too and busroutes ...
The film "Iron Lady" starring Meryl Streep has attracted a fair amount of Tory ire. Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East said in the House of Commons: This week I attended the screening of The Iron Lady and was disturbed by the way in which the film portrayed its subject. Can we therefore have a debate on respect, good manners and good taste, as I found the film—although brilliantly acted—to be disrespectful to a Member of this Parliament? While I once met Mrs Thatcher, and Denis, it will come as no surprise that, as someone who got involved in politics ...
Here's a brilliant graphic showing what tax rate various US Presidents - and Presidential candidates - paid in tax compared to Mitt Romney.And also how much they earn. Blimey. No paupers there... Here's a link to the full article . Hat tip to @245 days for the link. I shall be posting a run down of my own less than satisfactory HMRC experience this year at some point shortly...
In the first of a series of monthly posts on Huffington Post, Lynne Featherstone outlines the case for changing perceptions of body image, and the success of the campaign so far: Every day people are confronted with images of the 'perfect' body that just don't reflect the diverse society we live in. These unrealistic images set an impossible standard, potentially damaging self esteem and crushing confidence. We need to challenge this culture of conformity and widen the definition of beauty to include all ages, shapes, sizes and ethnicities. And we need to help people recognise that their value goes beyond ...
Local Lib Dem councillors are working with the Steering Committee at Halifax High School to try to obtain funding for a new Community Building at the Commander's House on the school site. This building would be available to all local people for a variety of purposes, including skills and vocational training. Lib Dem Cllr Ashley Evans is a Governor at the school and says "If the committee is successful in pulling this off, the facility will be of immense benefit, and Keith and I are right behind it". Keith Hutson is a member of the Steering Committee. Keith & Ashley ...
Britain has an excellent track record in science and research, with many great figures in natural sciences, humanities, computing, computing, engineering and mathematics over the years. We continue to outperform other countries in our achievements in these fields, in terms of outputs per person and per pound. We publish 13.8% of the world's most cited papers, and massively outperform other countries on papers and citations per pound spent or per researcher. However, we should not just assume that this will just continue automatically, and the UK needs both a thorough vision and policies that support science and research. It is ...
At the front Cllr. John Barry, Stephen Farry MLA, Steven Agnew MLA and Peter Campbell (Principal) Picture by Joanna Braniff Earlier today a petition from supporters of Bangor Central Integrated Primary School was taken to Stormont to be handed into the speaker of the Assembly. The petition is the urge the Minister of Education and North Down Borough Council to reconsider selling the adjacent Leisure Centre site to a private company, while the school built for 300 pupils houses 600 next door on a somewhat suffocating parcel of land. When you consider that the 600 pupils currently have to take ...
It's not often that I agree with the SNP but their Leader, Alex Salmond is right to point out that under Labour inequality rose. The problem that the Government had in dealing with Stephen Hester's pay is that he is ... Continue reading →
Long Report Template release 7.0 When I was last in Delhi several years ago I took the opportunity to visit the home of Nehru - a large mansion with extensive gardens but not ornate and, in its way, quite simple for an International Statesman. I was amazed to see his almost austere metal bed with his bedside table and his watch laid out as if he had just stepped out for a minute. A long corridor of books shelves linked the bedroom to his office, with its boomerang shaped desk and cordite telephones, from where he ran the world's largest ...
You may have recently seen this BBC Manchester article quoting Manchester Labour MP, Graham Stringer saying Metrolink is "damaging the city's reputation and economy". Like a number of Chorlton residents I have been disrupted by the some recent delays on the system and recognise the severe delays need to be addressed; but I think Mr Stringer's comments are innapropriate and are themselves damaging for Manchester's reputation. The Metrolink is a fantastic addition to our City and is one of the few sustainable transport systems that have received significant investment and support. Metrolink has created jobs and provided economic value to ...
A shocking CNN report shows that London has migrated away from its natural home of the Thames for a new rural location: [IMG: CNN London] CNN breaks London's migration north [IMG: Share on Tumblr] [IMG: Submit to StumbleUpon] [IMG: Save on Delicious] [IMG: Digg This] [IMG: Submit to reddit] [IMG: Share on Myspace] [IMG: Share via email] Tweet
The Campaign Corner series looks to give three tips about commonly asked campaign issues. Do get in touch if you have any questions you would like to suggest. Today's Campaign Corner question: We're organising a mass delivery session next weekend. Any last minute tips on what we should do? 1. Stickers and badges: As Greenwich Liberal Democrats reminded me at the weekend, if you are going out delivering and people see you walking past, it is rather a missed opportunity if they don't know that the Liberal Democrats have been out and about in person in their area. Not everyone ...
This is brief post to provide some update on the summit. Very good for Britain, the growth plan is quite similar to what the coalition is doing in the United Kingdom; EU will seek to unlock private capital funding, deregulation and lower administration costs for SMEs EU Draft Summit Conclusions Propose measures such as better ...
Mon 30th
14:25
University figures: Highest year ever for teenager applications - except for last year's spike
The BBC reports: University applications from UK students for the first year of higher tuition fees are down by 8.7%, according to figures from the admissions service. With fees rising to up to £9,000 per year, the impact has been biggest for England's universities – down by 9.9%. The LibDem Voice team have been quick to respond. Mark Pack pointed out three key facts about the figures: 1. Proportion of poor school-leavers applying to uni. at record levels 2. Best year ever for applications by teenagers save last year's spike 3. Drop in mature student applications, which has caused the ...
So. I'm not sure I mentioned it because I've been so continually silent on this blog for so long, but. Last year, for my thirtieth birthday, my friends got together and got me what might be one of the best birthday presents I could wish for. They got me – a ~ YOUTUBE ACCOUNT ~ And filled it with wonderful videos to remind me how awesome they were. It was a brilliant present. And it also came with a favorites folder, filled with awesome videos other people had uploaded. It became a great repository for me to put videos, new ...
The story about the failure of e-government was slightly adapted from one of my favourite political gossip columns, Tales from the Coffee Shop, which appears weekly in the English-language Cyprus Mail. But I think it is invidious to single out that particular government; there are a number of other places that it could equally well have been, as your answers illustrated.
Jo Swinson's latest video, here on You Tube, gives an insight into her recent trip to Kurdistan with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy where she helped train female MPs. It highlights the important work of the Foundation in providing support for legislators and citizens in younger democracies, where laws we take for granted are only just being implemented.
Well, last week Liberal Democrats had a good week in the House of Lords. Our peers played leading roles in attempts to mitigate the more regressive effects of the benefit changes. And on Thursday, with Labour supporting us effectively for once, Shirley Williams led our peers to a signal victory on the NHS Bill. There has been a long campaign to rescue the NHS from some of the harmful changes in the Bill. One of the most fundamental and, in the longterm, the most dangerous change was the removal of the duty of the Secretary of State "to provide or ...
This has appeared on the governments e petition site today. I think this is worth a couple of minutes of your time to sign....... Click here to goto the site
Yes, you read that headline right: applications to university have gone up by 16% this year — when compared with 2009: 2009 – 464,167 applications (by Jan. deadline) 2012 – 540,073 (+16%) I'm being deliberately selective, of course. This year's round of applications — the first under the new fees regime — show a drop of 7.4% compared with last year (2011: 583,546), or a 5.3% drop compared with the year before (2010: 570,556). (Source: UCAS website; also for graph below.) The point of my misleading headline is simple: headline figures can easily mislead. My co-editor at Lib Dem Voice ...
Two pieces of good news lost in uni. application figures headlines #1 Proportion of poor school-leavers applying to uni. at record levels... (Retweet here) Two pieces of good news lost in uni. application figures headlines #2 Best year ever for applications by teenagers save last year's spike (Retweet here) (Leaving the big issue of applications by mature students, a group almost no-one is talking about.) (Retweet here) UPDATE: Or if you prefer blog posts, see Stephen Tall's excellent Headlines you won't read today: University applications up this year more than 16%*.
Who here had me ever writing a West End Review? Anyone? *watches the tumbleweed flows through the lands* well due to the line at the London Aquarium being downright insane on Saturday lunchtime a new plan was hatched. This involved going to see a show. Not exactly what you would call natural Neil territory but heck we were in London and I'm relatively easy going. After the first two choices were shot down thanks to no tickets being available (Phantom of the Opera and War Horse) the third choice was the one I'd mentioned – Legally Blonde. I suggested this ...
There are clear signs that support for independence in Scotland is volatile and that the current debate is weakening it. Issues, such as defence, uncertainties over any financial settlement - not least because RBS is as Scottish as a glass of Glenmorangie - plus the normal fear of voters faced with a big step into the unknown, will all conspire between now and 2014 to make victory less and less likely. So the residents of Scotland (including many who would describe themselves as English) may well say no. What then? Does the issue fade away? In Scotland there would have ...
Labour's suddenly discovered hostility to bank bonuses, highlights the chaos into which Labour policy has descended. I am not referring to their 13 years in government in which they actively encouraged the bonus culture. Instead, I am referring to the so-called "Five Point Plan" to solve all the country's ills. I have blogged before about how feeble and back-of-an-envelope this "Plan" is. It is
Chris is pressing Herts Highways and the police to take illegal right turns into Victoria Street more seriously. Chris comments: 'I am getting increeasing feedback about vehicles turining into Victoria Street form Chequer Street. This not only causes jams but also endangers pedestrians, who will not be expecting vehicles to be turning from that direction.'
Finally. The people are speaking. And guess what? The others are listening. The oft-used argument by many is that "oh there's no point complaining - nothing will change!". Leaving aside the obvious irony of that position, it's noticeable how Britain has become very good at whinging (to a co-worker or queuing colleague at the supermarket) but failed to recognise that complaining is actually about acting upon the whinge. Complaining is the art of taking the whinge, and constructively tackling it. Often the best way is with other people. Go see your MP, protest, talk to your manager at work, complain ...
Earlier in the year, I penned a series of posts profiling forgotten liberal heroes (to which a couple of other people also kindly contributed), looking at some of those who achieved great things for liberalism in their time but have been unjustly forgotten - such as Margaret Wintringham, the very first female Liberal MP. There is also another group of people who I think are often unjustly obscure - those local campaigners who are often at the heart of their local community and local party, delivering liberalism and helping others, but as their stage is a local one they are ...
Blood test this morning, followed by an appointment with Dr L in Haematology Outpatients, not with Professor M as expected. We saw Dr L 50 minutes after the scheduled appointment time of 10.10, and this happens every time. There is something badly wrong with the way they schedule appointments. Platelets were slightly up on laat time - 526 compared with 501 - but not enough to alter the dose of Hydroxycarbamide. WBC count was down (3.97) and there was no reading for Neutrophils, with which the PLT count has to be balanced. The risk is of thrombosis, but is not ...
In September 2010, Ahmadinejad criticised the Palestinian Authority for agreeing to renew direct peace talks with Israel; the Iranian President called on the Palestinians to continue armed struggled, even though the overwhelming majority in the occupied territories want peace with Israel. This subversive attitude from Iran is the unreconciled problem that lurks within the plans ...
As part of working towards a Carbon Neutral borough we need to ensure we get the most from our rubbish. Anaerobic digestion is one great method for using food waste to generate methane which can be used to produce electricity or power council vehicles. The process also produces lots of waste heat that could be used to heat homes and businesses. Southwark Council introduced food waste collections late last year and currently it gets transported to Greenwich where it gets 'bulked up' onto big lorries to be taken to Sittingbourne/Isle of Sheppey to be composted. Much better than landfill but ...
Alain de Botton has made a short film arguing that tax should be re-branded as charity. He feels that if people thought of where the money went they would see it more as charity than having money taken away from them. De Botton admits that tax, if course, isn't charity. What he really wants is for HM Revenue & Customs to thank taxpayers when they send in their return. Presumably, this is how the philosopher and TV presenter does his tax. Most people in the UK have their tax deducted from their pay packets each week or month. That doesn't ...
No-one I know thinks Stephen Hester, the boss of RBS, should get a £1million bonus for doing his job when many are facing pay freezes and cuts. Especially when the Bank is publically owned. Mr Hester is right to turn ... Continue reading →
Performance data for secondary schools was published last week, and there is an important difference between the latest figures and those that have been published in previous years. For the first time we are publishing separately the GCSE achievements of looked after children and children on free school meals at each and every school – the same group of young people who are eligible for the Pupil Premium. With the Pupil Premium, funding is being specifically targeted at disadvantaged pupils, so that schools have the resources they need to make a difference. The new information will give us the opportunity ...
Tommy Sheridan, former MSP and Solidarity party leader returns to Glasgow from prison today to serve the remainder of his 3 year sentence for perjury at home. For six years, certain low risk prisoners have been eligible to be released from prison on home detention curfew to serve part of their sentences at home. They wear an electronic tag around their ankle and have to stay indoors generally for 12 hours a day. There are certain basic conditions that an offender has to comply with. These include: 1. The offender must be of good behaviour and keep the peace. 2. ...
Editor's note: the author of this post has requested to remain anonymous, but his identity is known to me. I write as a lifelong Liberal/Lib Dem and former councillor. I am sadly having to remain anonymous so that my wife is not made subject to reprisals for my views. Lib Dem Voice recently claimed the future of the Post Office network is secure. I would like to present a counter (sic) viewpoint. My wife took on a Post Office 10 years ago and her guaranteed monthly salary then was £620. Now, its £800 for a 48-hour working week - less ...
There has been a policy of making efficiency savings for a very long time now, particularly in the NHS. As part of this we have had hospital closures and services being moved and hospital mergers arguing that this will bring improvements for patients. Recent research has been published which shows that mergers do not do ...
Women in comics should be Stephanie Brown.... - This is what women in superhero comics should be I love this post so much. I miss Bryan Q Miller's run on Batgirl like you wouldn't believe, and I say this as a Gail SImone fan. (tags: comics ) Low IQ & Conservative Beliefs Linked to Prejudice How long ago was it that JSMill said "Not all conservatives are stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives"? (tags: racism ) Strip Magazine UK More signs of life in the British comic industry (tags: comics ) The Shakespeare Code: A Short Story A rare ...
This Wednesday, the Government will attempt to overturn the amendments to its Welfare Reform Bill made by the Lords in the House of Commons. Last week I reported that over 50 former Lib Dem candidates, including several Leadership Programme hopefuls and asked people to write to Liberal Democrat MPs to try to secure their support for the amendments passed by the Lords. The vote on Wednesday is not the end of the story. If the Commons and Lords can't agree on the final wording of a Bill, it falls. That will only bring about a year's respite, though, as the ...
As families face more of a squeeze, today Liberal Democrats are arguing for greater tax cuts for hard working people. Between now and the Budget, Nick and Danny and I will be arguing for faster tax cuts, giving you a reward for hard work. And Nick will be setting out our case in a speech today. Given the budget constraint we have to raise money for the tax cut elsewhere and have plans to raise an equivalent amount from the wealthiest taxpayers. At the last election the Liberal Democrats promised to raise the personal allowance for ordinary taxpayers to £10,000. ...
As families face more of a squeeze, today Liberal Democrats are arguing for greater tax cuts for hard working people. Between now and the Budget, Nick and Danny and I will be arguing for faster tax cuts, giving you a reward for hard work. And Nick will be setting out our case in a speech today. Given the budget constraint we have to raise money for the tax cut elsewhere and have plans to raise an equivalent amount from the wealthiest taxpayers. At the last election the Liberal Democrats promised to raise the personal allowance for ordinary taxpayers to £10,000. ...
It would appear that Coalition 2.0 is heading for the scrapheap. At least that is what Matt Chorley reported in yesterday's Independent on Sunday. Last year the Coalition partners were talking about needing a mid-term document to set out a further joint agenda for the second half of this Parliament. They were expecting to have dealt with all the measures in the original coalition agreement. They anticipated being at a bit of a loose end during 2013-15. It looks like that will no longer be necessary. According to Chorley's article: The Independent on Sunday has learnt that the idea of ...
The media and political parties have made a meal of the fact that our National Debt has now reached £1 trillion. The Tories use the figure to "prove" that their public spending cuts are necessary and inevitable, Labour to show that the policy of public austerity is making matters worse rather than better, and the media like to sensationalise any allegedly significant "milestone" in order to attract attention, sell their papers and maximise their profits. In fact the really significant fact about our National Debt is that it is still, at 64% of our GDP, only marginally above the accepted ...
I have welcomed feedback that the City Council will give priority to my request to upgrade the Roseangle Car Park early in the new financial year 2012/13. I have been asking the council for some time to resurface the car park - see its condition - right. It is in a really poor state with loads of bad potholes and very worn parking bay lining. The car park is very well-used in an area where finding a parking space is often difficult. Last year I requested resurfacing only to be told there was no money for it in this year's ...
For those of us lamenting the increasing trend to wear pyjamas outside the home, morning, afternoon or evening, this must be the best story yet. The BBC report that a social welfare office in Dublin has banned interviewees from wearing pyjamas. A notice has appeared at Damastown social welfare office which warns claimants that "pyjamas are not regarded as appropriate attire when attending Community Welfare Service at these offices". They say that the decision was made after a number of people complained. This is a step beyond popping to the shops in pyjamas. After all, when you go to a ...
I can hardly believe that we are already at the end of January. Where does the time go? One day seems to merge with the next and the pace of activity can become a blur. What does stand out however are the dozens of people I have spoken to over the last week or so. Their concerns about the future, their thoughts, their views and their suggestions have all registered with me. During the past week I have been involved in a hearing where licensed premises had applied to open to 2am in Chorlton. Thankfully, agreement was reached to close ...
I listened to this week's Any Questions on Radio 4, because it was held in Lichfield Cathedral, and so I knew that HS2 was bound to come up. It may have been the most boring edition of the programme ever, because the panelists all agreed with each other on everything, including their support for HS2. ...
