London Liberal Democrats descended on Croydon today for our autumn conference, which also featured a Question and Answer session with nine of the ten shortlisted London Euro-candidates. The full hustings will be at Friends House, Euston Road, on Sunday 4 November. But the star turn of the day today was guest speaker Elif Shafak, the Turkish ...
BBC London News is running a big feature on the non-renovation of the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels today. You can see the broadcast here. It's worth watching to the next item, as it moves on to another Greenwich issue also covered recently on this blog, the collapse of passenger numbers on the Cable Car. Both of ...
hat tip (do bloggers still do that or is that Old School?) to Caron According to my friend Caron Gordon Wilson the former leader of the SNP has been quoted in the Telegraph as telling a fringe meeting for the Coalition for Marriage at the party conference: "Only a man and a woman can naturally have children and what I would call family marriage is the best way of bringing up children. It's a law of nature. Same-sex marriage is a biological cul-de-sac." I agree with the first bit that only a man and a women can naturally have children. ...
A few questions are repeatedly coming up about the elections currently being held for various Liberal Democrat federal party committees. So I've put together this unofficial Q&A. Unofficial, but I hope helpful and neutral, save for the last question... Q. What posts are up for election? A. 15 posts on the Federal Executive (FE), 15 posts on the Federal Policy Committee (FPC), 12 posts on the Federal Conference Committee (FCC), 5 posts on the International Relations Committee (IRC) and 8 posts on the European Liberal Democrats and Reform Party (ELDR) Delegation. Q. What about the Interim Peers Panel? A. That ...
[IMG: Ed Miliband] Amongst the political obstacles between Ed Miliband and No. 10 Downing Street are a closely entwined pair related to deficits: how much control over him is wielded by the trade union bosses* and does he have a credible alternative to the government's economic policies? Labour has often been very coy about quite what it would cut and how much it would cut. Ed Miliband's speech at the anti-austerity protest march today did not shed light on matters. However, rather than that being a problem to him, his political opponents to his left have kindly helped out. Those ...
Sat 20th
18:17
Bacon Sandwich is a strange name for a ferret - Is The Young Ones episode 'Bambi' the best sitcom ep...
Last night I was flicking through the TV channels and found the university challenge episode of The Young Ones and it is still as funny as ever. I started thinking about whether any sitcom had seen such a plethora of comedic talent in one episode and I struggled to think of one. The next thing I wondered about was whether this was the best sitcom episode I had ever seen and I really think that it just might be. I'll start with the obvious University Challenge scene which might be one of the most remembered scenes of that era of ...
All much deserved winners of the awards at today London Liberal Democrats regional conference: Best Focus leaflet prize goes to Lewisham's Vijay Naidu — London Lib Dems (@LondonLibDems) October 20, 2012
Until the world develops a better social media meteorological prediction tool, we are left at the mercy of the occasional Twitterstorm. This week's storm brewed after Nick Griffin made some foolish comments about organising some sort of "justice" mob to accost the winners of the long running Bed and Breakfast dispute. I've discussed this dispute, whereby a same-sex couple were denied a double-bed in a Bed and Breakfast by the Christian owner, before but I feel it has become necessary to re-evaluate where I stand 2 years on. The USA has been in the grip of so-called "culture wars" for ...
Below are the basic arrangements for Blyth for this year's Remembrance Services Sunday 4th November, 11 am, Submariners' Remembrance Service at the Submariners'Memorial, Blyth Saturday 10th November, 11 am , Newsham Memorial Service, at "Newsham Pavilion" (*) Sunday 11th November, 11 am, Blyth Memorial Service, Ridley Park, Blyth also Sunday 11th November, 11am Cowpen Memorial Service, Cowpen Road followed by Sunday 11th November, Bebside Memorial Service, Bebside Welfare Please contact me if you need further information or directions to any of the ceremonies. (*) The Welfare, just off Plessey Road, NOT South Newsham Pavilion, Sandringham Drive
Electoral reform is off the public agenda for now whether we like it or not, but campaigners should be planning the future. Some argue that the deceptions of the "No" campaign means that a re-run could be won if only the honest arguments are put and/or full PR was offered. But idea that we should have "another go" at similar arguments for AV+ or STV and expect a different outcome is wrong. All the arguments against AV are even stronger so for AV+ and STV. They will be defeated by an alliance of Tory and Labour tribalists, just as AV ...
So Andrew Mitchell has now resigned from the government as a result of his swearing at the Downing Street police (which he now admits) and allegedly calling them "plebs" (which he still denies, though it is hard to see how the police would have made that up.) George Osborne remains in the government, at least so far, having travelled first class on a train (for while, anyway) with only second class ticket. I must admit to some sympathy with Andrew Mitchell. Most of us have "flipped" at some time or another when confronted with what we see as excessive bureaucracy ...
When I watched Nicola Adams win her gold (on TV) – I was over the moon. Many reasons: first woman boxer to win gold, amazing determination – and she did a lot of her boxing in Haringey. So when I was invited to Haringey Police Amateur Boxing Club fund-raising dinner – at which Nicola and Ricky Hatton (said to be about to make a come back) were the guest speakers – I went. It was last night – and a real pleasure to meet such a genuine champion in all ways. I have long been a supporter of this great ...
Its fairly clear now that there was no direct link between the timing of Andrew Mitchell's resignation and the #greattrainsnobbery incident (hats off to our very own @mshapland for the hashtag) involving George Osborne. Twitter was alight last night suggesting that Mitchell had gone to protect the chancellor - whereas in truth it seems Mitchell was at Chequers at 4pm resigning even as the ITV reporter in the next carriage to Osborne got the scoop of her career (most likely) But never the less, the two are clearly related. The Osborne story was only really a story because the media ...
The local police have sent out this useful guide to preventing domestic burglary – well worth a quick read: 1 The best burglary deterrent is to make the house look occupied Burglars are cowards and don't want to be disturbed. They pick easy targets where they think everyone is out, or asleep upstairs. You can convince them that someone is at home by having plug-in timer controls for lamps. Technology has now made it even easier with the invention of gadgets that fit between the bulb and the light socket. These automatically switch on the light when programmed. Set the ...
The Telegraph reports that America is preparing formally to complain to Britain over Home Secretary Theresa May's decision to block the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon. The paper says that row over Mr McKinnon has turned into the biggest cooling in trans-Atlantic relations since Lockerbie bomber was released three years ago: Senior US officials are now understood to describe the relationship between the Obama administration and Mrs May as "finished". Mr Holder is understood to feel "completely screwed" by Mrs May's decision not to extradite Mr McKinnon because of doctors' fears that he might kill himself, complaining that the ...
It has long become clear that the financial crisis has been on a scale deeper and larger than many people have suspected. It has also been exacerbated by muddled policy responses from all Governments and policy makers. Whilst the need to control debt is not in doubt, capital expenditure projects should be pursued and tighter bank regulations need introducing (with much clearer splits between retail and investment banks); all economies are still struggling. Step one: better Quantitative Easing Quantitative Easing (QE) - effectively the printing of money to buy up Government debt, and shore up the banking sector, helping banks' ...
George Osborne refuses to sit in standard class despite NOT having First Class ticket | Granada - ITV News If you don't want to sit with the plebs you have to PAY for it, George. (tags: ) Liberal England: George Osborne and Thomas Isaac Mardy Jones (tags: ) Government's Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell has resigned - UK Politics - UK - The Independent ... in a heroic attempt to prevent people talking about George Osborne fare-dodging. (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
If I were to be entirely honest, the prospect of spending a Friday evening in Thetford wouldn't be an obviously attractive prospect. On a cold, dark, drizzly evening in October, being at home with a glass of wine and a cosy fire offers a much more tempting alternative. However, an invitation to take part in a debate, organised by the Common Sense Club, was sufficient to lure Ros and I out and across the county border.The Club was inspired by Thomas Paine, who was educated at our venue, Thetford Grammar School, and they organise events with themes linked to his ...
Sat 20th
09:35
Mayor of Louth who greeted Olympic Torch in 'penis' costume will open Lincolnshire Sausage Festival
You may recall - how could you forget? - that This is Lincolnshire won our prestigious Headline of the Day Award on 2 July 2012 for its Mayor of Louth's sausage costume to greet Olympic Torch 'looked like a penis' Yesterday the website (which is the Lincolnshire Echo by other means) returned to the story, quoting Jill Makinson-Sanders, the mayor in question, as saying: "I didn't dress up for the Torch Relay to be offensive, I just wanted to stick up for the Lincolnshire sausage and I wish the publicity had worked where we needed it to.And there is some ...
There was an interesting piece on LabourList the other day. Not for what it was trying to say, but for what it inadvertently said. The story was essentially that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt tried to make a light-hearted comment to Her Majesty at some function. It wasn't a massively funny comment (something about the Emperor of Japan not being brave enough to jump out of a helicopter) but it was an attempt to make a reference to her "jumping out of a helicopter" during the Olympics. Nothing wrong with that. The polite thing to do would be to laugh and ...
Photo: Two of the nicest Newbury Liberal Democrats – Barbara Peel and David Rendel – on the steps of Newbury Town Hall. Some rights reserved by Martin Tod. The news has recently come through that David Rendel is not re-standing to be PPC for the Lib Dems in Newbury. If memory serves, David came to Newbury in 1984. (He came round to my house in Thatcham to sign me up for the Liberal Party in early 1987. I then moved nearish to him in Newbury and started campaigning for him and the local Lib Dems in earnest in early 1992.) ...
This is a Belgian radio interview (in French) with the Slovak Republic's representative in the European Court of Human Rights in which it is considered that the English system is more concerned with adoption than protecting children. (it is about number 380 if you click on the bar).
Today, Trade Unionists from around the country gather in London for "A Future that Works" march ending in Hyde Park. There are three things guaranteed to happen today. Firebrand TU leaders such as Mark Serwotka will call for a general strike. The police will kettle some protestors and other groups will damage or occupy central London shops such as Topshop or Vodafone. This unfortunately will distract from the crucial message. That there is a genuine debate to be had over the extent, impact, speed and depth of cuts in the government spending programme. A year ago, I would have attended ...
It's Saturday morning, so here are eight thought-provoking articles to stimulate your thinking juices... Three big things I've got wrong since I've starting blogging and commenting – ConservativeHome's Tim Montgomerie confesses to a trio of big errors on the NHS, higher-rate tax and equalities: "One of the many reasons I don't want to be an MP is that I think this sort of ability to think openly and reflectively is probably impossible when you are standing for office." David Walsh: 'It was obvious to me Lance Armstrong was doping' – A fascinating look in the Press Gazette at how one ...
Roll up! Roll up! It's time for a weekly digest of just six of the blogposts and articles to have interested me this week.. First up (and with a hat-tip to Mark Thompson for this) is Nick Barlow who reckons that Nick Clegg could learn a thing or two about media management and policy positioning from Michael Gove. Meanwhile another expert in media "management", Peter Mandelson has been speaking about domestic politics - LabourList has the details. Talking about domestic politics, the fantastic Lynne Featherstone has been recognised for her sterling work on Equal Marriage by Attitude Magazine - I ...
A new planning application has been received which is within Holyrood Ward: Application number: 55702 Type of application: Full Date Registered: 17/10/2012 17:07:15 Location: 309 Heywood Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2RF Proposal: New front porch; Two storey extension at side with front balcony; Single storey extension at rear; Erection of a concrete post and timber fence 2.2m high Plans will be available to view on the Council's website – please get in touch if you require any further information.
I have welcomed a commitment on the part of the car park operators at the city's Gallagher Retail Park (see right) to improve parking for people with disabilities. This follows a West End constituent who contacted me recently regarding the issue. The constituent, who suffers from significant physical disability, wrote : "Dear Councillor Macpherson I visited Marks & Spencer at Gallagher Park, Dundee today. I was impressed by the number of disabled parking spaces available at the park outside each of the shops. I parked in a disabled bay outside Marks & Spencer and my understanding is that, unlike council ...
Further to my recent update about this year's Discovery Film Festival, the Festival starts today. Discovery Film Festival 2012 will feature the best films for young audiences from across the world, as well as workshops, special events and two special exhibitions in the galleries aimed at young people. More information is available at www.discoveryfilmfestival.org.uk - the Festival is something for young people not to miss.
After the match at Sheffield Wednesday last night Daniel and I stopped for a minute to pay our respects to the Hillsborough 96.
In the words of the famous Beattie BT advert I have an ology. Even though I also passed physics and chemistry, Beattie thought that only an Ology made you a scientist. Therefore in the first year of sixth form the extra subject I could fit into my time table around my three A-Levels was archaeology. I loved it so much doing an extra qualification in just one year, in fact at the start of the next year I did check out the archaeology department at Queens University Belfast on the Open Day. After I had graduated, in economics not archaeology, ...
