I had difficulty getting the last one to embed, so I'm not going to try that again, I'll just link you to this, my second seventy-minute long streaming mix. What I find interesting doing these is that even though they're completely unplanned — I don't think about what song to put next til after I've ...
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Southwark Council have discovered that the one-way system in Daneville Road between Orpheus Street and Denmark Hill isnt legal! I know amazing. So they're advertising in local papers making it one-way making it legal. But what a great opportunity to create a cycle contraflow making a great west to east route. I've highlighted this to Southwark Cyclists hoping they'll take the idea up and also to Cllr Barrie Hargrove the Labour Cabinet member for Transport, etc. Fingers crossed.
A plan by Labour-controlled Sefton Council to close three out of Southport's four libraries has just been published and has provoked fury in the town.Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown libraries would all be for the chop under the plan due to go to Sefton Council's ruling Cabinet, which comprises seven Bootle Labour councillors, at its meeting on Thursday 11 October. Birkdale councillor and leader of the 20-strong Lib Dem opposition group on the council, Iain Brodie Browne has attacked the proposals within the Council's 'Review of Library Service' report as "completely unacceptable".The report refers to "a programmed closure of 7 libraries ...
Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, in York is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. As I commented after visiting another of theirs - St Peter's in Northampton: At least this stops anyone ripping out the pews and singing "Shine, Jesus, Shine", as Lord Bonkers suspects Tim Farron of wanting to do at St Asquith'sWhy an atheist like me should be concerned about this is a subject for another day. Anyway, the Trust's page for Holy Trinity says: Holy Trinity Goodramgate has the air of a hidden treasure. It stands in a small, secluded, leafy churchyard, with the Minster towering ...
Sat 6th
19:38
Paddy on the Akond of Swat and his son Walli (added video) and why withdrawal doesn't work
In many ways the Liberal Democrat conference felt more at peace with itself last week. It was not just that it was rediscovering its mission-talking seriously about enhancing liberty through redistribution of assets -Land tax and employee ownership- but rather that it was doing these things in the context of asserting its identity with far more confidence that it has in recent times. One thing was missing-the rest of the world! I can't ever remember a time when Liberal have believed that the international dimension was not central to our thinking and policy making. This detachment from the international dimension ...
[IMG: Lynne on Stroud Green Road] Lynne and I are continuing to press Haringey Council to clean up the corner of Stroud Green Road and Upper Tollington Park. The corner outside the excellent Vagabond Cafe next to the recycling banks is increasingly becoming a dumping hotspot. I've lost count of the number of times I've asked the Council to clean up this area. I posted about the mess there back in June and urged residents to complain every time new rubbish appear. One local resident told me she had witnessed a local business dumping furniture there – but sadly the ...
Who would have thought it! Just over four months since the dire cup final defeat Hibs now find themselves at the top of the SPL. Rangers, the once mighty Rangers, are not having the cake walk in the fourth tier that most expected. It appears Scotland minnows haven't read the script. Rangers seem to gift a goal head start to their opponents in every match. Today for the second time the team who have dominated Scottish football, alongside Celtic, crashed to a second defeat in the third division. Anyho' enough of the minnows Hibs haven't been playing particularly well but ...
Edinburgh is a tip at the moment! The last few weeks has been dominated by the fiasco of missed bin collections. The Council introduced fortnightly collections for most residents in order to promote recycling. All groups on the council supported that move and had it in their budgets in February if they put one up.The execution of that policy, though, has been totally botched. We were told three weeks ago that 90% of bins had been collected on time. That claim came just a few days after it was announced that the population of the city had tipped over the ...
There were a lot of round spherical objects around in the heady days of the height of what we call "blogging". There was a great deal of navel gazing and mutual onanism. Stupid, idiotic annual awards and league tables. Bloody silly "memes". People (including myself) going mad on blogging. A lot of back slapping. The word "hat-tip" was a personal object of hate of mine. Hardly anybody read the things. Indeed, I heard research once that said that most blogs were read by one person. The person that wrote it. And there were a lot of unnecessary words. I am ...
Here's a forthcoming event to anticipate... The UK Speechwriters' Guild is hosting an event in Portcullis House at the Houses of Parliament, which will give people a rare insight into the dynamic relationship between speechwriter and party leader. On Wednesday 21 November, from 6.30pm, as part of Parliament Week 2012, Lord Ashdown, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, and his former speechwriter, Dr Max Atkinson, will share their experiences of how party leader and speechwriter worked in synchrony at the highest level, and the specific techniques they used to inspire their audiences through the power of the spoken word. The ...
[IMG: School bus] All residents of Sandgate are being asked to complete a brief transport survey developed to find out which places you struggle to get to. Do you struggle to use public transport to get to places you need to go - such as the railway station, surgeries, youth clubs, chemists or down to Sandgate Village from the Valley? The Sandgate Community Trust are running the survey, and are asking local residents to complete it to get a full picture of transport needs across Sandgate. The survey evidence will then be used to put together an application for funding ...
There's been an interesting debate over the last few days about the state of Liberal Democrat blogging, triggered by a thought-provoking piece from Jonathan Calder about the Lib Dem Voice Blog of the Year Awards and with a recent contribution from my Lib Dem Voice Co-Editor colleague Stephen Tall, which includes a good round-up of links to other people's contributions to the debate. Much of what I would say has already either been said by others or is in my comment on Jonathan's piece. There is, though, one related point which has gone unmentioned. As people's use of social media ...
Along with the new Police and Crime Commissioners (I am the Lib Dem Candidate for Merseyside) there'll be police and crime panels being set up. These have to contain a certain number of Councillors, but other people can be co opted on. The one being set up in Merseyside is looking for two members of the public to join. There is an advert looking for volunteers available here. The deadline is 15th October.
This morning I was over in Lewisham helping with Janet Hurst's campaign in the Whitefoot by-election. Janet's one of those fabulous people who combines a great record helping others get elected with doing lovely stuff in her own community. Combined that makes for a powerful reason for other Liberal Democrats to return some of the many favours we owe Janet in order to help get her elected on Thursday. As the press release about Janet Hurst's selection says: Janet was born and bred in Lewisham, having been a resident in the ward for over 30 years. She is an active ...
Today is the second anniversary of this blog opening for business. Happy Birthday – Blorthday? No, that sounds awful – to me. Another year of offering a largely indifferent world some more or less coherent thoughts on a range of loosely related topics. This landmark arrives at a time when the Liberal Democrat blogosphere is going through a period of reflection. This was triggered by Stephen Tall's comments at the Liberal Democrat Voice Blog Of The Year awards at the Brighton conference. He made the point that things aren't quite what they used to be, with a reduction in the ...
Foul. End of blog. No wait. Lets look at the video and give you some background. A story has been making waves over in the United States in the past few days after video evidence emerged of a copper just walking up to a woman and throwing a haymaker and knocking her to the floor. The next cause of action is obviously to arrest the woman. This all happened in Philadelphia at the Puerto Rican Day Parade it emerged that the woman who was punched and arrested may have been part of a group of people to spray silly string ...
Sat 6th
14:31
Angry with Jeremy Hunt's views on abortion? Here's something constructive you can do...
There's been a bit of a drama this morning about the fact that Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, has expressed his views that there should be a 12 week time limit on abortions. The Independent reports that in a Times interview he said: Everyone looks at the evidence and comes to a view about when that moment is and my own view is that 12 weeks is the right point for itAdding, rather scarily: There are some issues that cut across health and morality, a bit like capital punishment does for crime.Actually, I think capital punishment doesn't cut across anything. ...
Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum before conference to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. More than 550 party members have responded, and we're publishing the full results. Guardian's CiF tops poll: almost half Lib Dem members read it LDV asked: Which other politics blogs (if any) do you read? Please tick all that apply. Guardian Comment is Free 46% Huffington Post 31% ConservativeHome 30% Lib Dem Blogs aggregator 28% UK Polling Report 28% Guido Fawkes 25% Nick Robinson's blog 24% PoliticalBetting 24% Economist blogs 17% ...
I have now watched ITV's documentary, "Exposure: The other side of Jimmy Savile" which was very disturbing indeed. It was a deeply researched and very carefully, responsibly produced programme. I know Esther Rantzen is a bit of a show-off, but I have to say that I was terribly moved by her remarkable interview at the end of the programme. She said she believed the women who spoke out, that "the jury is no longer out" on Savile and that "we are all responsible" for allowing him to get away with it. Well done Esther! [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This ...
THREE SOUTHPORT LIBRARIES FACE THE CHOP Southport Lib Dem councillors have hit out at plans by Labour controlled Sefton Council to shut down Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Libraries. Birkdale councillor and leader of the 20-strong Lib Dem opposition group on the council, Iain Brodie Browne has attacked the proposal as "completely unacceptable". Sefton Council's ruling Cabinet comprises seven Labour councillors, all from Bootle, and is due to consider the report "Review of Library Service" at its meeting on Thursday 11 October. The Cabinet is recommended to agree "Option B" for formal consultation. This would mean the closure of the majority ...
Lib Dems put a Brighton Sock in their mouths during the conference I returned from last week. Despite the desperation of the media, and opponents, to reveal large unrest within the party there was a unity by the seaside that probably surprised many. I sensed a stoic mood amongst delegates and an acceptance that we are in an ...
Antony Hook said, "The decision on Friday by the High Court that 3 men from Kenya can bring court action for torture the received from state officials when the country was under the control of Britain as a colony will be welcomed by everyone who supports justice and wishes to see wrongs, wherever they may ...
I've added a new page to the site – Blogroll feed – which pulls in the latest 50 posts from most of the blogs I follow. I've done it to make it easy for me to scan quickly and click-through to those I want to read. Here's the link again: http://stephentall.org/my-blogroll-feed/ PS: at the moment, it's not pulling in all the posts I know have been published. Not sure yet if that's a problem with the WordPress plug-in or with the RSS feeds on folks's sites. Or my technical incompetence.
So abortion is back in the limelight again with Maria Miller's comments in the Telegraph on lowering the limit from 24weeks to 20. Cue outrage! Then in wades that paragon of ministerial etiquette Jeremy Hunt who commented he'd drop it to 12 weeks!!!! Maria Miller MP, minister for women's health Now, abortion is a sticky subject and everyone has an opinion. I believe it is the Woman's choice and she should not be pressured into either direction. I do however feel that they should be used as a last ditch form of contraception. My wife on the other hand agrees ...
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt is at the centre of a new row this morning after giving an interview to The Times in which he said his personal view is that the legal abortion limit should be cut to 12 weeks. Here's how the Telegraph reports it: "Everyone looks at the evidence and comes to a view about when they think that moment is, and my own view is that 12 weeks is the right point for it," Mr Hunt told The Times. ... "It's just my view about that incredibly difficult question about the moment that we should deem life ...
This morning the twitterati are all full of outrage over the former hulture secretary's comments on abortion. And suddenly everyone has forgotten that our new women's minister, Maria Miller, wants the abortion time limit reduced to 20 weeks, as does our noble prime minister. This is anchoring in action, people. because of Hunt's ridiculous proposal (which he claims to have reached after looking at the evidence, and presumably totally ignoring it), suddenly the Miller/Cameron proposal looks less horrendous. And are much more likely to get through. I'm going to put this in big letters here, because I think it needs ...
As Vice-Chair of South East England Liberal Democrats I enyoy travelling all over the region to support local Liberal Democrats. Today I am going to Eastborne to support my friend, Stephen Lloyd MP. I expect to spend the day canvassing and talking to local people about their concerns and how the Liberal Democrats can serve ...
Details of an event I'm looking forward to chairing at the RSA this coming Thursday... How to De-Spin a Party Conference 11th Oct 2012; 13:00 BOOK ONLINE RSA Thursday What does 'spin' look like in an age of transparency? In an age of online democracy and people power, politicians hold down-to-earth press conferences in tractor factories and broadcast their fondness for the humble pasty. But award-winning journalist and author Eliane Glaser argues that this 'call me Dave' sincerity is actually spin's modern mutation: deception disguised as openness and 'engagement'. Speaker: Eliane Glaser, writer, radio producer, and honorary research fellow at ...
Fantastic post on Bad Reputation number 1 (tags: ) Fantastic post on Bad Reputation number 2 (tags: ) Fantastic post on Bad Reputation number 3 (tags: ) Fantastic post on Bad Reputation number 4 I hope by now you've all added BadRep to your subscriptions/readers (tags: ) Kay Burley to undertake 'how to act like a goddamn human being' training (tags: ) andrewducker | The USA's birth rate is at a record low, and the reporting of that troubles me. (tags: ) What's Doctor Who about? (tags: ) Melody Malone's "about this author" page (tags: ) Which is the best ...
With a picture of Whitsunday island, Queensland, Australia (right). With Aviary (above) ...and without.... [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
I have been slowly working my way through "The Clintons", a three part documentary recently broadcast on BBC2. It's available now on BBC iPlayer. There is nothing remarkable about the production of the documentary itself, although Zoë Wanamaker is a superb narrator. But the bringing together of all the pieces of the Clintons' story makes for absorbing television. I swear there is a toy – but I can't quite think of it specifically – which you knock down repeatedly and it repeatedly gets back up again. Well, that's Bill Clinton. Gary Hart. Remember him? No, most people don't. (One of ...
Congratulation to Southside/Newington councillor Cameron Rose on his election as the new Tory leader on the Council and as such as Leader of the Opposition. Cameron is a former Police Inspector and has served in a number of roles within the Tory group. He replaces my ward colleague Jeremy Balfour who has stepped down to chair the new beefed up version of the Audit Committee.
You may have noticed that I have removed all reference on this blog to a local campaign I am involved in. The campaign is a difficult issue as it involves balancing the needs of a vulnerable group who deserve the very best in care against the disposal of key public owned assets, enjoyed by another less vulnerable but still important group who also deserve protection. I don't want to say too much more about it, for reasons that will become apparent. Everyone involved on both sides has the best interests of all the groups at heart, of that there is ...
It's Saturday morning, so here are eight thought-provoking articles to stimulate your thinking juices... 5 Years On: The Election That Never Was - Damian McBride, Gordon Brown's former spinner-in-chief whose must-read blog is essentially a memoir-by-instalments, recalls the week in 2007 that turned the new Prime Minister from hero to zero. Jimmy Savile: The birth of a paedophile hoax on "Have I Got News For You" - John Fleming recounts the curious tale of how some invented, 'censored' scenes achieved such wide currency on the internet, eerily anticipating the past week's revelations. A speech that, thankfully, will not be made ...
You would think that the new English Health Secretary would have enough problems to occupy his mind without embarking on a personal crusade down a moral cul-de-sac. However, that is not how Jeremy Hunt sees it. He has unleashed a storm this morning with his comments in an interview that he supports halving the legal abortion limit from 24 weeks to 12 weeks after conception. This is of course his personal view and not coalition policy. In fact it is traditional that such matters are not subject to a party whip. Nevertheless, is it sensible for a man in his ...
Ed Miliband's apparent triumph with his speech at the Labour Party conference may have, for the moment, dispelled thoughts of future coalition governments, but I suspect his glory will fade, just as Nick Clegg's did after the first debate of the last election, and the probability of another balanced parliament will be back on the table again well before 2015. If so we need to amend our constitutional conventions to help coalitions between whatever parties to be formed and to operate more effectively. 1. We need to dispense with the expectation that, when there is a change of majority party, ...
I have welcomed Dundee City Council's agreement to my request, on behalf of parishioners of St Joseph's Church, to remove double yellow lines in Wilkie's Lane, following the impending relocation of St Joseph's Primary School. The double yellow lines in Wilkie's Lane create difficulties for local people attending the church from parking. At present there is parking allowed on a "glazed pitch" at the south of the lane but this will be lost when the Al Maktoum Foundation starts construction of their new facility. Also, the church car park is very small. The amount of traffic in the street will ...
I have been Telford for the past few days at the "day job" UK Conference. It was a really good and well attended event and our Performance Awards Dinner was superbly hosted by Angela Rippon. Here's me, pictured below, at the conference exhibition:
There aren't many moments in life where you get to start all over again... in fact, you never start over fresh completely but you can make a decent stab at it. Over the summer I made a decision which has given me such an opportunity... Those of you who know me or followed my blog ...
I've got several blog posts planned for the next few days — one on Shada for the Mindless Ones, a more general Doctor Who post for here, and the first chapter of the second Beach Boys book, among others, but I'm also working on various other writing things at the moment that are taking up ...
