The rain held off long enough this morning for myself and Councillors John McClurey and Sonya Hawkins to put up the bunting for the Whickham Community Festival on Saturday. I was allocated the job of going up the ladder to wrap the bunting around lampposts and trees. Somehow there was no rush of people to climb the dizzy heights! We kept an eye on the weather forecast today. It looks like we
Toys for sale in Museum Shop On Sunday I had the privelege of being a guest at a behind the scenes preview of the refurbished museum. The word refurbishment really doesn't do it justice. This isn't simply a lick of paint and a reshuffle of exhibits. This is a complete rethink about what the museum is there to do and how it should be done. So it will tell the story of Stockton in a new and
This advertisement was painted to snare travellers on the Market Harborough to Rugby railway line. That line closed on 6 June 1966, but the advert is still there on the rear of premises behind Nithsdale Avenue. And if you go to my post on Britain from Above and follow the lnk to the aerial photograph of Harborough from 1926 you can see this building. It is the one towards the bottom right of the photo with its long side running parallel with the railway.
It is all [IMG: [twitter.com profile] ] thisisyourfault's, er, fault. Back in May, she came up with the excellent idea of using the twitter medium as a writing exercise to get stories down to 140 characters. I've given it a couple of goes, and never got around to doing what people much more sensible than me have been doing: archiving them on a blog. So, here's a few random snippets of brief fanfic I've been able to scrounge from Twitter's unreliable archives: Behind the cut you'll find very brief fanfiction for Animorphs, DC Comics, Discworld, Fray, Leonardo, Leverage, Revolting Rhymes, ...
Ben Summerskill of Stonewall suffers from selective amnesia when it comes to equal marriage rights, as Stephen's Liberal Journal shows. "The Liberal Democrats need a contest for President because the party urgently needs a debate about how to regain its identity in the eyes of the general public." Gareth Epps on the forthcoming internal party election. Alan Geere Online finds a teacher undergoing a sex change receiving civilised treatment from local school, newspaper and community. "On the subject of ballet children there is also a great deal of wasted sentiment. All sorts and descriptions of children are employed in theatres, ...
After a hard fought election campaign feet are tired and brains are often befuddled by the exertions of the campaign (and the celebrations/commiserations afterwards). One can only assume that this is the reason for this frankly unhinged slur from Kingston Conservatives after their narrow defeat in Grove ward.
Tuesday September 15th 1964. Just another day. Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home officially launched the General Election campaign. Stockport County fans were depressed at their team losing 1-0 at Edgeley Park the previous evening. Television had a documentary about the gun-toting Americans, whilst Futurama showed on ITV. And a new newspaper hit the stands. On that day in 1964, The Sun was launched. A new daily broadsheet, independent, politically free and 24 pages long. I'll be running a series of articles over the next few weeks looking at that first issue of The Sun and the world as it was seen ...
Congratulations to Andy Murray on reaching the Wimbledon final. Much is being made of his success ending 74 years of British failure at the all-England Tennis club, but that is hardly fair to those home-grown players who have succeeded in this contest, especially in the current open era. These are: 1969 Ann Haydon Jones won the women's singles and mixed doubles 1977 Virginia Wade won the women's singles1984 John Lloyd won the mixed doubles with Wendy Turnbull1987 Jo Durie and Jeremy Bates won the mixed doubles2007 Jamie Murray won the mixed doubles with Jelena Jankovic from Serbia. I really hope ...
BACKGROUNDAfter the original A14 scheme was withdrawn in October 2010 on the grounds of being unaffordable, the Government undertook to study the multi-modal needs of the whole A14 corridor. That A14 Corridor Study began in earnest following the 2011 Autumn Statement. In this, the Chancellor set out the Government's commitment to "increasing capacity and improving performance on the A14". The Government confirmed that the scope for relieving congestion by improving other modes including freight facilities and public transport would be explored At the same time, an investment of £20m for 'interim measures' to reduce traffic congestion on the A14 and ...
Congratulations to Andy Murray on reaching Sunday's Wimbledon final. No doubt if he win's he'll be the first 'British' winner since 1936 (or whenever) and if he loses he'll be the 'plucky Scot'...
Courtesy of the Hinckley Times come Cllr Ruth Camamile's gnomic words on the resignation of David Parsons: "I can't say I was expecting the news but on the other hand I'm not surprised."Ludwig Wittgenstein adds: Can I get back to you on this one?
This afternoon Andy Murray became the first British tennis player since Bunny Austin to reach the Wimbledon men's single final. But the last Briton to win the title, of course, was Fred Perry. And that gives me the excuse to impart a little piece of political trivia. Fred Perry's father was Labour and Co-operative MP for Kettering. Samuel Perry came from Stockport and was involved with Co-operative movement in that town and then Birkenhead. On the founding of the Co-operative Party in 1917, he was appointed its first national secretary. He moved to London and lived in Brentham Garden Suburb ...
Birkdale Lib Dem Councillors will be at the Library on Liverpool Rd from 2pm onwards to hold their monthly surgery-no appointment needed.
This should be a big day for Liberals. For generation we have promoted a vision of an an economy where businesses are owned by those who work in them, where as Richard Wainwright used to say 'labour hires capital'. Today we made a big stride in that direction, so why is it that Lib dem bloggers tell so little about the Nuttall report? In his new role Norman Lamb commissioned Graeme Nuttall to produce a review of employee ownership. Today Nick Clegg and Norman Lamb launched the report. Clegg's speech can be found in full here he told his audience ...
Meols Ward Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, David Rimmer and Nigel Ashton are holding their next monthly advice centre on Saturday 14th July, from 11 am to 12 noon at St John's Primary School, Rufford Road, Crossens. We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in. We hold our advice centre every month (except August) on the second Saturday of the month at St John's School.
Sefton Council is asking for your views on whether to switch off street lights in some areas between midnight and 6am. This would save money and reduce carbon emissions, but there are fears it would put safety at risk. What do you think? Street light questionnaire is here The consultation is also asking about the condition and maintenance of the current street lights. Sefton currently has 31,500 street lights, 1,100 illuminated bollards and 1,963 illuminated traffic signs. These account for 30% of the Council's electricity bill and 23% of baseline carbon emissions. The Council says that in terms of saving ...
Fri 6th
19:09
No, BBC! Andy Murray is not the first Briton to reach a Wimbledon final for 74 years final
Virginia Wade? 1977. Won it. Jamie Murray? 2007 mixed doubles final? UPDATE: Bless the BBC, they have changed their strapline as below. But it is still wrong. Andy Murray is NOT the first British man to reach a Wimbledon final for 74 years. (Jamie Murray 2007, Jeremy Bates 1987, John Lloyd 1984 – Mixed Doubles finalists). He is the first British man to reach a Wimbledon's men's singles final for 74 years. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
It's British Grand Prix time and I have myself had the great fortune to have attended 2 of them in the past - in 1993 and in 2008. But for me, the iconic Silverstone moments of my era were those that I watched on TV. There was Nigel Mansell's emotional win in 1992 on his way to that long awaited World Championship when his devoted fans broke ranks and surrounded him in jubilation on the track as can be seen here. Then there was this wonderful moment which for me still stands out as one of the greatest sights in ...
I'm always a little uncertain as to whether mass e mailings are truly effective - but in this particular case, where opponents of Lords Reform say that 'people aren't interested' is why they won't support Lords Reform, then this does seem the right time to let them know that folk do care So please click on this link and fill in the form - it takes around 30 seconds, and will make a difference. Thanks
The London-based radio station Voice of Russia rang me up yesterday and asked me to comment (as someone who blogs about the Middle East) on this news story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18695634. So I did, at: I also said, when asked if I thought that the Palestinians might use this story as a reason not to talk peace with Israel, that I hoped that President Abbas and his entourage are really not that stupid. I personally see no mystery as to how Yasir Arafat died; as the BBC says, Mr Arafat's medical records: "showed he died of a massive haemorrhagic stroke that ...
Up until now, the away-day had been indoors - but everyone knew that, rain or shine, the afternoon sessions would be outside and energetic. A few people had come with notes from doctors and one had got pregnant, but no ther excuses were allowed by Kelly Pattrick, supervising the creation of teams with a zeal that suggested Girl Guides meet Hitler Jugend. That was Mike Finnegan's thought and he promptly filed it away as a potential book proposal. Outside, the sun shone on grassed areas,a stream and bare-floored woodland soggy with the morning's rain. The Outdoor Centre's Director, a bald, ...
A couple of weeks ago I posted an email I received which explained that the License for Kansas Fried Chicken lapsed over 3.5 years ago. I have now received notification that an application has been received by the City Council for a New Premises Licence for Kansas Fried Chicken, 424 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 0AS. A summary of the application is as follows: Proposed trading hours for the provision of late night refreshment: Sun to Weds 2300 to 0200, Thurs 2300 to 0300, Fri and Sat 2300 to 0400 Proposed opening hours for the premises: Sun to Weds 0800 to ...
It's Friday. It's five o'clock. Here's a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week: 5 most-read stories on LDV this week RIP Nikki Thomson (14 comments) by Sara Bedford Who's up, who's down? How party members rate the performances of leading Lib Dems (36 comments) by Stephen Tall Tim Farron MP to restand for Party President (23 comments) by The Voice Tuition fees: new IFS publication says new system "substantially more progressive" (42 (real) comments) by Mark Pack Lib Dems should back a judge-led inquiry into financial scandal (51 comments) by Stephen Tall 5 sample LDV Members' Forum ...
An interesting documentary on the Beeb this week about the 25th anniversaty of Paul Simon's Graceland album and the controversy it caused in breaking the UN cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa. It's well worth picking up on iplayer. But it reminded me of another more obscure artist (at least in the UK) who also fell foul of the boycott - Jonny Clegg. Here he is with his band Jaluka with Scatterlings of Africa from May 1987 his only UK hit.
Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make. 099699/JO/2012/S1 8 ...
We've all read the statistics: in the United Kingdom, 7% of the population who were educated in independent schools make up 95% of our politicians, judges, journalists and business bosses. And let's not forget our actors and sports stars. You're twenty times more likely to play cricket for England if your parents mortgaged themselves to send you to a private school. But do we all want to be Yuppies? Not everyone wants to be a politician, judge or journalist, many are thankfully still in possession of their full set of faculties. Moreover, our average western society requires roughly 20% of ...
Ben Summerskill tweeted this yesterday. Even more ironically he tweeted it as I was pursuing Lib Dem policy on Equal Marriage in Northern Ireland, part of the UK which Stonewall UK (see Twitter name above) fails to operate in! Meeting with one of my MLAs about his plans to get something done in Stormont and then the first meeting of Equal Marriage Northern Ireland (at which there was no Stonewall presence but Lib Dems were present). I first helped bring about the equal marriage policy for the Scottish Lib Dems in Scotland in Spring 2010 which covered civil and religious ...
Courtesy of the Environment Agency; The MET office is forecasting periods of heavy rainfall for the next 48 hours. The ground is already saturated across the catchment and therefore we are likely to see localised surface water flooding with the potential for flooding from rivers and watercourses. What we are doing Our area incident room is currently open and will be staffed appropriately throughout the weekend. We will continue to monitor rainfall and the corresponding impact on river levels. Flood Alerts have been issued tonight on a precautionary basis and Flood Warnings will be issued as appropriate. Our operational staff ...
How to get a photo to appear next to your comments You may have noticed that next to some people's comments is a small picture of themselves, such as: If you want a picture to appear next to your comments you need to do two things. Visit Gravatar.com, create an account and upload a picture. Post a comment, giving the same email address as the one you've used on Gravatar. How to show you are a party member when commenting The option to put a photo next to your comment is open to everyone. In addition, if you're a party ...
As this excellent article in The Daily Telegraph makes clear, Osborne's number as Chancellor may finally be up. And while we'd probably all like that job to go to Vince, the views expressed by the Conservative faithful about the sage of Twickenham may make this difficult for David Cameron. So if not Vince - and I honestly hope that it would be - who would be our choice for Chancellor from the ranks of Conservative ministers? I have put up a poll on the top right where you can vote for who you would LIKE (not who you think is ...
The inauguration in London of the Shard, for now Britain and Europe's tallest skyscraper, reminds me that some time ago Barclays compiled a 'skyscraper index' (pfd) which shows, as they put it, "an unhealthy correlation between construction of the next's world's tallest building and an impending financial crisis: New York 1930; Chicago 1974; Kuala Lumpar 1997 ...
This morning I arose to find a tweet with a link to Cllr Chris Irvine's blog post (here) about Cllr Osborne's shiny new website having an advert for a Legal Loan shark company on it. I found this most intriguing and entertaining but felt I should dig deeper and not just jump on the bandwagon. After all truth is the one thing that should be strived for and attained in these matters. Cllr Osborne's defence is that the website, in this case Google through its subsidiary Youtube, checks your cookies (as he so condescendingly put it to me this morning) ...
Osborne, Dracula, Reardon - BUT WHICH IS WHICH....
By Howard of Lib Dem News
I have written again to my MP about the House of Lord Reform Bill (see 'Will the Morecambe MP reply to me?' from the 27th June) . This time I let him know that I am writing a blog and today's entry is very simple for me as it is a copy of my email to David Morris MP... Dear Mr Morris, I wrote to you nine days ago asking for your opinion of the House of Lords Reform Bill. I think you should know that I am also looking at whether you reply at all as I have had ...
Of course you do! Here you go - then do pop to the charity link at the bottom. Thanks. Below - Shane chatting to Sir Tim Rice A big non party political hats off to @zacgoldsmith who organised it, credit where credit's due. It was for two great local charities. Momentum, a children's cancer charity and Vineyard, a charity helping the homeless. Do click on the link to hear more about their wonderful work
I wouldn't normally be seen dead reading a book like Dead Men Risen. Its macho title font alone would normally send me, a fully paid up member of the pacifist wing of the woolly liberals, running for cover. But Toby Harnden's Orwell Prize winning story of the Welsh Guards tour of Duty in Afghanistan should be required reading for any politician, liberal or otherwise. Here in rainy Surrey, England, it is all too easy to forget that there is a war on. Toby Harnden brings it home by recording in painstaking detail one eventful tour of duty by the Welsh ...
I had a great time at the Homeless Hackday. This is a belated write up, because I wanted to let a few thoughts peculate. [IMG: Homeless Hackday] The ProblemThere has been a worrying rise in the number of people rough sleeping – especially in the capital. There are a number of charities and Government departments which are available to help people who are homeless. They wanted a smartphone app / mobile web site which would help tackle homelessness. Either by helping people people directly or by allowing members of the public to get homeless people the support they need. Language ...
Shirley Williams has recently been made Peer of the Year in one of the regular Parliamentary Awards. Eric Avebury was recently given a life time achievement award at a ceremony in the Speaker's House. Matthew Oakeshott received praise for his persistence in pointing out that there is much in our banking system which is rotten and in need of reform. When issues affecting children are debated in the Lords it is often Joan Walmsley who holds the House with informed and practical opinion. Ditto when Margaret Sharp speaks on science, technology and higher education. Sally Hamwee and Martin Thomas head ...
Whilst we all take in the sheer incompetence of the last Labour Government in removing regulation of the banks and allowing them to fix the inter-bank lending rate, yet another of Gordon Brown's favourite policies has reared its ugly head, complete with expensive consequences. The Telegraph reports that British taxpayers face a total bill of more than £300 billion for projects funded using the controversial private finance initiative. They say that there are 717 PFI schemes currently under way to build new hospitals, schools, roads and other public facilities with a combined capital value of £54.7 billion. However, the final ...
Currently, all Manchester's 3 and 4 year olds are eligible to get 15 hours per week of free early years education. Liberal Democrat Children and Families Minister, Sarah Teather has just announced details of which two-year-olds would be eligible for free ... Continue reading →
There's an interesting interview with Richard Reeves, Nick Clegg's departing Director of Strategy, over in The Independent. It unsurprisingly starts with tuition fees: For Richard Reeves, the worst moment of two years at the heart of the Coalition came when he saw two teenage girls in the street near his Kent home, one playing a flute, the other a violin. "Raising money to pay tuition fees," said their sign. They were from the private Sevenoaks School; a lot of passers-by gave them money... Mr Reeves admits he once kicked himself in the shins because of his own role in the ...
Cracks kill roads. Water seeps into cracks and the roads them hemorrhage. This accelerates over time. Roads break up and if the road isn't resurfaced soon enough the sub structure is also damaged and then it costs a lot of money to repair. What to do? Ensuring resurfacing happens early enough and slowing crack damage makes most sense. But slowing crack damage is really expensive and time consuming. People out manually spotting cracks and filling them. It just doesn't happen. Georgia Tech Research has been successfully running an automated crack detecting and sealing solution. Unsurprisingly the first pilot isn't perfect ...
It has taken its time but the campaign for speed safety measures pursued amongst others by Haydn Preece, Tony Dawson and David Pearson has finally come to fruition! At Full Council last night the following question was asked: Question Submitted by Councillor Dawson "When are the Speed Reduction advisory flashing signs likely to be erected on the Southport Coast Road?" Response: To inform the response I can confirm that the poles went in on Tuesday this week and the signs should be mounted by the end of the week.
Yesterday I was very pleased to attend a meeting of the Southport Learning Partnership which brings together most of the schools in the town. It is an excellent initiative that has achieved much in its short life. It was a delight to see presentations of the various projects that the partnership have promoted. I was particularly pleased to learn more about the 'Hillside Helpers' in which Farnborough Rd Schools are involved . Like all the other project teams it is a co-operative venture between various schools-High Schools, Infants and Juniors etc and together they have adopted Hillside Station. Anyone using ...
The first meeting of #EqualMarriageNI Picture © 2012 Tyler James McNally used with permission The God particle wasn't just discovered at CERN you know. No! Last night here in Northern Ireland there was a certain element of God that was present at the launch of Equal Marriage Northern Ireland. Queen's University Belfast LGBT called together a meeting of many interested parties to get this issue not just unto the agenda but with significant momentum behind it to come about. You may have noticed that we are waiting with baited breathe to hear from the Scottish Government's consultation on wide ranging ...
Yesterday looked like it was going to be a routine flat stage, but then it all went a bit pear-shaped at the end. We had the usual scene of a breakaway going clear and then the peloton chasing it down, but for once the break showed a little life and – helped by a crash on the run-in – it almost succeeded in staying away from the bunch, just being overwhelmed as they came into the final kilometre. We also had the spectacle of Mark Cavendish's team riding in line at the front to chase down the breakaway, though Sky ...
I attended Sefton's Full Council meeting last night in Southport Town Hall. What I came away with was another reminder that Labour are in charge. I didn't need reminding. I only have to seek information from officers to find that Labour are in charge. Before the elections in May, most officers would gladly share information with elected members, usually within 24 hours. Sadly I now find that this has changed. A request to the same officers now promotes a nervous response as checks need to be made with the new leaders before information can be shared. I do not blame ...
Here are the Liberal Democrat entries in the top 100 political blogs as ranked by EBuzzing (Wikio as was). In to the list this time round comes a second MP, Andrew George as does Scottish Lib Dem Andrew Page, while another Andrew (Emmerson) drops out after leaving the party and an extra George (Potter) rejoins the list this month. Also back in is Mark Valladares, but Alex Marsh drops out of the top 100 this time round. (Side note: neither Neil Monnery nor David Allen Green's excellent blogs look to be in the EBuzzing listings at the moment. One or ...
If there is one issue that divides more politicians and brings together coalitions of the most diverse political views it is the issue of Europe. I suspect that the only issue that could see Bill Cash and Douglas Carswell (right-wing ... Continue reading →
Nathalie Rothschild: The Ironies Of An Orwellian Facebook Viral #fb The truth behind the Big Brother pic. (tags: internet books ) Why I Won't Be Blogging The Hugo Shortlist This Year Problems with PDFs. (tags: sf ebooks ) DNSChanger Virus For once - a malware warning that is actually true! (tags: internet )
Fri 6th
10:51
Why won't the Government get rid of this pesky threat to free speech that nobody wants?
On Wednesday evening, Lord Mawhinney tabled an amendment (no.155) in the House of Lords to remove the word "insulting" from Section 5 of the Public Order Act to flush out the Government's attitude on this catchall provision with a very low prosecution threshold that tarnishes our reputation for freedom of expression. Section 5 has served to nobble those engaged in mischievous, but harmless, pranks, street preachers, and those pouring scorn on religion, but, worse, also those speaking truth to power. Of even greater concern is the chilling effect: what, for fear of prosecution, has not been said but should have ...
PinkNews today reports: In a first for central Government, the Cabinet Office is flying a rainbow flag to mark World Pride being held this weekend in London. The iconic flag has been flown on the personal request of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Officials say that Mr Clegg thought it 'was about time for Whitehall to bring itself up to date' by flying the flag in solidarity with the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) community. Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "There has to be a first time for everything - flying this iconic flag in the ...
I'm not going to say that it was pretty, but at 11.50 last night, I was satisfied that all of the paperwork was finalised, and could drain the wine glass on my desk in the knowledge that the application pack was ready to go. There is an awful lot of paperwork for prospective applicants to read, and only two weeks to complete the application form and submit it to our Returning Officer, Mike Thornton. And, in spite of my concerns about the shortness of the application window, I am already hearing rumours of potential contenders, which bodes well. This is, ...
So yesterday there was another crash inside the 3km banner. This time is was Tyler Farrar (GAR) who brought down several other riders including the leader in the points classification Peter Sagan (LIQ). The peleton had yet to capture all of the 4 man breakaway at this point who had left something in reserve for the final km and had made the capture difficult. Difficult though not impossible, especially with the Sky train working to keep Bradley Wiggins safe on one side of the road, the BMC train on the other working for the same purpose for Cadel Evans plus ...
It's official. Labour Haringey Council has given us the worst roads in the whole country! Figures released this month show that Haringey has a higher proportion of damaged roads than any other council area in England. One in five of the roads in the borough needed attention last year. Liberal Democrats on Haringey Council are pressing the ruling Labour group to tackle the long list of road repairs to help get the borough moving again. I want your help to get the message across to the council and to make sure they are dealing with the right priorities. Please click ...
On Saturday 23rd June, the Social Liberal Forum Scotland conference took place in Glasgow. Sadly I couldn't go due to illness, but Norman Fraser took some lovely pictures of the event. Enjoy. Willie Rennie chatting Don't we all? Is everyone in this photo awake? Ben Colburn Robert Brown speaks on our policy problem
Last month, I mentioned works that were proposed for both Glamis Road and Explorer Road (the latter being in the Technology Park). However, these did not go ahead as planned and the City Council has now advised me: "Due to the unsuitable weather over the last few weekends the works in Glamis Road and Explorer Road have still to be carried out. We now propose the weekend of the 7th and 8th July."
The English and Scottish Liberal Democrats are now inviting applications for selection for the Liberal Democrat Party lists for the English Regions and for Scotland for the next European Parliamentary elections (which take place in 2014). The formal advert has been published in Liberal Democrat News. The closing date for applications is 6 p.m. on Friday 27 July. Potential applicants should contact the Returning Officer for the region(s) in which they are interested for an application pack. Applicants can apply for as many Regions as they wish, but must obtain a separate application pack and submit a separate application to ...
From Sheena Wellington - some forthcoming events from Friends of Wighton: Saturday 7th July at 11am - 12 noon: Special Fiddle maintenance workshop with Karen Hannah £5 Fiddle classes 14th, 21st, 28th July, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th August. 11am to 12 noon Beginners; 12 noon to 1pm - Improvers - £5 per session Medieval Harp with Simon Chadwick: Saturdays 7th & 28th July 2 - 3.30pm - £5 per session Scots Song Class Tuesday 10th July 2pm to 3.30pm Tuesday 17th July Marryat Hall - Weaver's Teaparty at 1.30pm. See more at www.friendsofwighton.com.
Good win and well done for Jodi Hibert and Labour, last night in the Westgate-on-sea by election, obviously this will strengthen Labours grip on power, perhaps this might be a good thing for the council. Well done to everyone who took part especially , Bill Furness, James Maskell and more importantly the voters who took the time to go and vote, scores (draft figures) were as follows (courtesy of James Maskell) Hibbert [LAB] - 482 Maskell [CON] - 377 Ashbee [IND] - 316 Elenor [UKIP] - 298 Furness [LIB] - 64 Mendelsohn [IND] - 22 Turnout 30.56% No doubt without, ...
The latest edition of the BBC Radio 4 program Analysis is on The Gold Standard. I'm not an advocate of the gold standard (that is the view that all currency should be based by gold reserves) myself, but it is important to keep discussing whether it or fiat (created at will) forms of money are better for economic stability and a liberal society. We should certainly also welcome the BBC engaging with free market ideas. The presenter does come down against the gold standard in the end, but gold stand advocates (sometimes known unkindly as goldbugs) are given a full ...
With Britain's combat role in Afghanistan coming to an end, so ends the predictability of our Army's main effort. Looking beyond 2014, we need to restructure our armed forces to face an increasingly uncertain world: ready to intervene to protect our national interest, with the agile and adaptable ability to project force and prevent conflict, as set out in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). So yesterday's Army 2020 announcement was about restructuring the British Army for the future. Contrary to many claims, it is not about personnel cuts. Of course, we cannot avoid the fact that the ...
The Lewisham News Shopper reports: MEET the councillor who is paid £4,906 for every meeting he attends and his footie mad colleague – you probably won't clap eyes on them anywhere else. Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of Councillor Stephen Padmore [Labour, New Cross], who has attended only two of the 33 meetings he was expected at from June 1 2011 to June 1 this year. Even Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock was forced to admit last week he had not heard from the New Cross ward councillor... Cllr Padmore was unavailable for comment – he did not answer his ...
About the only thing on which I agree with Michael Gove is that children should be encouraged to learn poetry by heart at school. Here's a "poem" I learnt at primary school in the 1940s which I can still recite from memory, though perhaps with not 100% accuracy: Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their soul. Who steals my purse steals trash. Tis something, nothing. Twas mine, tis his, And has been slave to thousands. But he who filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enricheth him, ...
The government finally published the House of Lords Reform Bill this morning. Their proposals are for a much smaller chamber (half the size it is currently) with 80% directly elected by the public. This is it - over the next few months the House of Commons will be thrashing out the details of this bill and if we want to see this long delayed reform happen, we need to make sure they support it. Can you write to your MP to ask their position today? http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/lords-reform This set of proposals has come about as a result of years of painstaking ...
Residents can now receive help with their finances at the advice and information centre based at St Albans City and District Council. The St Albans District Credit Union has begun to provide financial guidance and information at the centre every Wednesday, from 10am to 1pm. The St Albans District Credit Union is a not-for-profit community organisation run by volunteers and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. It provides savings accounts for deposits of up to £10,000* and affordable loans of up to £5,000 to people living or working in Hertfordshire who become members. The advice and information centre opened in ...
The excellent Rebekah Moll has held Grove ward for the Lib Dems with a tiny majority of just 23. I don't have the full result but the top three were Lib Dem 710, Con 687, Lab 440. Update: full result here.
Gateshead Council is currently carrying out a strategic land review, one of the consequences of the Planning Act (2004) and subsequent planning regulations passed in 2008. A Local Development Framework, effectively the council's planning policies, is a statutory requirement and the results of the review will feed into it. As part of the review, Labour are proposing the end of greenbelt status
I am no Shakespeare expert but when I was asked if I wanted to go to see Romeo and Juliet at Ealing's Questor's Theatre I said yes straight away. The person who created this production, Julie Saunders, is someone who has oodles of energy and she really is someone who gives it all to making something work. I wasn't disappointed! Questor's Theatre, Ealing Just before the show started a number of teachers were checking all the kids, who had been invited, to see they were present and seated. Julie is someone who works with many local groups involving many kids ...
