I've received an update on the plans by Morrisons and Asda to build supermarkets (together with significant associated developments) in Tyseley, following the approval of both schemes by the Council's Planning Committee in April. The Asda scheme (on the current Eaton / MEM site) has had its planning approval challenged by a judicial review from Morrisons. A decision on whether the judicial review will be heard at court, or dismissed, is anticipated by the end of this month. The Morrisons scheme (on the old Denso site on Spring Road / Shaftmoor Lane) has not been subject to a judicial review. ...
Haven't blogged much for ages, partly for the happy reason that I have been very busy professionally and personally, not least because I am delighted to say that I am engaged to be married to Jacqueline...And have been ill with a shocking cold for large parts of the past week. So, to business: I supported Israel's military action in Gaza, and am very pleased that there is now a ceasefire and that both sides have stopped firing, not least because I have relatives living in Israel who could have been directly affected by this latest conflict. As a last resort, ...
An anonymous email from inside Stamford Bridge has come to this blogger's attention. I have printed it below for the public good. To: All users @chelseafc.com Subject: Blue is the colour Top secret Anyone telling the press will be sent to Chukotka I was recently looking for pictures in Chelsea colours to decorate the executive board room, and I paid a few roubles on this one attached. So I started looking into the painter, da. He was Andrej Ondrejovich Varhola, but he had a very interesting thought that I think we can bring into the club structure. He said that ...
First of all, some words of heartfelt thanks. People like Ros Scott, Sal Brinton, Tim Clement-Jones, Sally Hamwee and Dee Doocey simply don't strike me as the rebellious sort. That Tony Greaves is doesn't make me any less grateful to him, but he is pretty familiar with the grass on that side of the fence. Sixteen of our seventy - ish peers who were around to vote last night in the Lords chose to stick with party policy and vote to delete the secret courts provision from the Justice and Security Bill. That's a tough choice to make and I ...
I'm thankful for having a roof over my head and food in my stomach. I'm thankful for my loving wife and family. I'm thankful for the blue skies and sunshine that I look out at today. I'm thankful for having a job that challenges me and allows me to work with others to change the ...
Cycle theft continues to be a problem in Queen Edith's, with thefts in Marshall Road and Wulfstan Way, as well as near Addenbrooke's Hospital and Netherhall School. There has been one domestic burglary in Queen Edith's Way. Once again, the burglar got access with a gardening implement taken from the shed. Police recommend locking garages and sheds to avoid this happening amongst their home security tips. PCSO Chris Blewett will be holding a police surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital on Monday November 26th, between 12pm and 1pm
Thu 22nd
18:50
The Independent View: Liberal Democrats must not be complicit in Osborne's dash for gas
Friends of the Earth and the Liberal Democrats have long had similar visions for our energy future: more renewables; phasing out fossil fuels; ramping up energy efficiency. In short, getting pollution and consumer bills down, while increasing energy self-sufficiency. Everything about this vision is now at stake. The 'quad' - the coalition's decision-making grouping of Cameron, Clegg, Osborne and Alexander - are locked in negotiations with Lib Dem Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey over a 2030 'decarbonisation' target in the Government's Energy Bill legislation. Such a target would commit the UK to almost entirely carbon-free power generation in ...
Xmas Lights 2011 The Queen Edith's Christmas event will be extra special this year. Not only will the Mayor of Cambridge be visiting to switch on the Christmas lights, but the Jubilee Bench will be unveiled too. There will be Christmas carols ... and possibly a visit from You Know Who. 6-7 p.m., watch out for posters.
From the Independent: Bigfoot on the loose? Residents report an eight-foot hairy apeman with demonic red eyes stalking Tunbridge Wells
There is a new irregular verb in widespread use at the BBC: I recuse myself You step aside He/she/it is resignsIt seems to have caught on in Leicestershire too, as last night the ruling Conservative group on Leicestershire County Council announced that its deputy leader David Sprason had decided to "step aside". Of course, we all wanted to know why. And my old friend Simon Galton, now the leader of the Lib Dem group on the county, tweeted as follows: I understand the Leics mercury will report tomorrow that the latest scandal involving a member of @leicscc_cons is about porn! ...
Stockport Council now has all the gritting routes and grit bin locations on a searchable map – you can browse the map or type in a postcode to see nearby routes and bins. Here are the links: Stockport winter gritting information Map showing location of Stockport's 260+ grit bins and information on refilling Map showing the gritting routes across Stockport – search by postcode or address
Last night I was having a conversation with a nurse at the hospital (I wasn't at the hospital – good old Facebook) and we were gossiping about another nurse and a situation that we are both looking forward to as and when the Hospital Radio is reopened and she was saying that I needed to be more spontaneous and maybe go around with mistletoe in the upcoming weeks when doing my ward rounds. I shuddered at the thought and it reignited something deep down inside. We are all moulded by our life experiences. I think that is pretty evident to ...
Thu 22nd
16:39Liblink Nick Thornsby: The Justice and Security Bill is the Liberal Democrats' biggest challenge yet
Our Nick Thornsby has been writing about the Justice and Security Bill over at the Guardian's Comment is Free site. First of all, he gives his view about why this Bill is bad news for anyone who is committed to civil liberties: It is difficult to comprehend just how fundamental a departure from centuries-old principles this would be. The right to see and hear the evidence of the other side, and subsequently to challenge the veracity or utility of that evidence, forms the basis of our entire civil justice system. The prospect, too, of claimants being told that they have ...
... as recommended by the local police 1. When you go out, always close and lock the external doors and windows – even if you are just going out for a short time. 2. Try to get into the habit of double-checking window and door locks when you are going to bed too. Have you turned the key on doors that may have been unlocked during the day? 3. Be careful with keys. Make sure you all know how to get out in case of fire, but be careful not leave keys, including spares, near the door or where they ...
Unknown liabilities always worry insurers. That's why local government should be worried now. At the Audit Committee today we became aware that County Durham, and many other local authorities, will move into uncharted waters if they end up bearing uninsured risks that could amount to millions of pounds, risks that all arise from before 1992. It was in 1992 that Municipal Mutual Insurance closed its doors to new business, faced with mounting claims against employers by workers who had contracted mesothelioma from working with asbestos. Now the money is running out and it looks increasingly likely that Durham County Council ...
It is May 2032 and I am cycling through the green leafy lanes of Coalition Garden City. There is something remarkable about this new town that sets it apart from Cumbernauld and Cwmbran, even from fabled Letchworth and iconic Milton Keynes. I am on my way to interview the Mayor of Coalition Garden City to find out how this town of 60,000 people achieved the highest happiness ratings in Britain. In the council's modest offices, I catch up with Dame Clara Roft, mayor of ten years. "What makes this city tick?" I ask. "Why are you all so happy?" "Tell ...
I've always been open about the fact that I unexpectedly fell into supporting marriage equality. Labour pissed me off. There I was happily being all radically queer in my early twenties and along they came and instituted civil partnerships. At the time I found the idea of marriage to be cold and dreary, yet Labour had some how managed to make formalised same sex relationships seem even more so! I wasn't going to put up with that. And that was how I went from someone who couldn't even conceive of marriage as being part of his future to being someone ...
(You can like and share this graphic via LibDemVoice's Facebook page by clicking here.) Compare and contrast: This... Nick Clegg gives house sale profits to taxpayer Nick Clegg has sold his constituency home, giving almost £40,000 in profits to the taxpayer. The deputy prime minister is now renting a two-bedroom flat, having received £325,000 for his four-bedroom house in Sheffield. ... The Liberal Democrat leader and deputy prime minister told the BBC: "I've written a cheque and sent it today to the House of Commons authorities to make sure it goes back to the taxpayer. It's not something required of ...
Sunday morning was finally the day I did my early morning run. I set my alarm for 5:45, 5:50 and 6:00, although it only took the first. Unfortunately, I hadn't actually thought it through so it was still pitch black at that time. Set my alarm for 7, went at 7:15. Took my phone with
Two interesting stories from recent weeks that show what a couple of Secretaries of State think of it: From last month, Michael Gove wants more powers to change how schools are run, to stop people having their say over what happens to their local school. And today, Eric Pickles has started threatening councils that don't do what he tells them with cuts to their funding. It's about waste collections this time, but who knows what hoops he might make councils jump through for funding in the future? As someone once said, while talking about something other than localism: You keep ...
Child benefit and child tax credits represent the second biggest area of welfare spending, after pensioners. Public spending should be invested disproportionately in ensuring that all children fulfil their potential and develop the skills needed for tomorrow's jobs, and that we intervene early to prevent, rather than react to, problems. However, this does not mean that current child-related expenditure is spent as well as it could be. Here are two considerations ahead of the Autumn Statement. Firstly, any real-terms reduction in spending on child-related cash transfers should go alongside increased investment in early years support and childcare, especially for poorer ...
This morning, I took part in the latest meeting of the Project Board relative to the Harris Academy rebuilding project. On this occasion, the board met at the school itself so that members could get sight of the exhibition that opens imminently at 2pm today which will give pupils, staff, parents, residents and all others with an interest, a real indication of what the new school building is planned to look like and the facilities envisaged. The plans are at the Pre Application stage, so feedback from those attending the exhibition can influence the final plans when submitted for full ...
The Polish foreign minister, Radek Sikorski usually gets a good press in the UK. His fluent English and his academic intelligence help him stand out as an individual, while Poland is one of the few countries of Central/Eastern Europe where the British have a clear and generally positive view of what kind of country it is. It also helps a lot that Mr. Sikorski, as a graduate of Oxford University, has a big network of friends in Britain- including his former Bullingdon Club confrere, Boris Johnson. Mr. Sikorski's wife is the American historian and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for ...
Anyone who likes to read half a story is welcome to read the story on the above link. If you want the extended story email me.
Last night the House of Lords debated and voted on the Justice and Security Bill at its Report stage. I know from reading Lib Dem Voice and from listening to the recent debate at Conference what a touchstone issue this Bill is for many members. Which is why I want to explain how the Bill, which we have now passed to the Commons, is a very different beast from that originally under consideration. Some of you will have seen that the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) produced a unanimous report last week. We have two eminent Liberal politicians sitting ...
One of the things that jollies me along during NaBloPoMo (where I have to write a blog post every single day in November) is seeing that people are reading my blog. I like watching the visitor counter tick gently upwards. I also love to see people discussing, arguing, and commenting on the posts I write. When I started this month, I looked at the blog's statistics and decided I wanted to get 30,000 views in the month of November. I normally average 600 views per day. So, how to get that up to 1,000 per day? I had two main ...
Long term students of of the Liberal Democrat membership department will (a) be able to recite all the different names it has had in the last 20 years and (b) know how for years it was imminent that the party would start having the facility to take membership subs via electronic direct debits (i.e. forms filled in online rather than printed off, written on and posted – or more often, printed off, lost and forgotten).* Imminence has now arrived. Hooray**. And well done everyone involved.*** * Double points if you also know during which war a piece of software was ...
David Thorpe recently wrote a Liberal Democrat Voice piece advocating the (piecemeal) renationalisation of the railways and the latest LDV survey found more than 40% of members want the railways fully nationalised. I wish to provide some historical context and offer an alternative solution. Nationalisation in1948 was the culmination of a process started by the First World War. During the war, the railways were taken over by the government, run-down and eventually consolidated into the "Big Four" companies in 1923. WWII brought a greater strain and consequently the Transport Act 1947 created British Railways, followed by a 46 year period ...
Like, thankfully, most members of the C of E, I am very disappointed by the failure of the General Synod to authorise women to become bishops. However, I feel that some of the comment on it, both by participants in the debate and external reporters (suicide, disaster) are well over the top. The Anglican Church is the third largest Christian denomination. The largest, the Roman Catholics, have not yet even given the slightest official consideration to women becoming priests, never mind bishops.The only sign of a movement in that direction is a fringe group, (called I believe MOW -Movement for ...
Here's another of Ros's interventions that I hadn't covered, from 28 June 2011... Clause 31 : Power to require local or public authorities to make payments in respect of certain EU financial sanctions Amendment 110 Moved by Lord Wigley 110: Clause 31, page 29, line 11, at end insert- "( ) Only a Welsh Minister may require a local or public authority located in Wales to make a payment of an amount determined by the Welsh Minister in respect of any EU financial sanction imposed on the United Kingdom." Ros picked up on the question of how blame is allocated, ...
There's an interesting article on Buzzfeed about American right-wing bloggers and their determination to prove President Obama was somehow unfit or unqualified for office. (Spoiler: they failed) It's interesting because it's an examination because even though it doesn't use the word, it's an examination of political groupthink. We have a group – however informally constituted – who have decided on a plan of action and then continue to press on with that course of action despite evidence that it isn't working. The article goes through a lot of the ideas that this group were pushing, having committed themselves to the ...
December 3rd sees the first edition of the new monthly magazine for Liberal Democrats, replacing the party's weekly newspaper Liberal Democrat News. Existing subscribers to Lib Dem News are having their subscriptions carried over. New people can sign up here (12 editions for £50, or a discounted rate of £35 for party members – to get the latter you can join the party here). Can't wait for the first edition to appear? Check out Ad Lib on Facebook or Twitter. Now for the big debate. Ad Lib? AD LIB? AdLib? ADLIB? But please not AdLIB.
Perhaps it's the increasing freedom for people to use social media during Liberal Democrat selection contests. Perhaps it's the increasing proportion of party activists who take part in online discussions. Or perhaps it's hiccups with the Royal Mail, party data or others involved. Whatever the cause, as with the party's recent federal committee elections there seems to be more chatter about people not receiving ballot papers for the current Euro selections than in previous contests. Whether it's a greater awareness of hiccups or whether there genuinely are more issues than in the past will be something that it is important ...
Buy The Art of Judge Dredd - special edition from our wide range of 2000 AD Graphic Novels | shop.2000adonline.com (tags: ) Whipping Girl: Bisexuality and Binaries Revisited Very interesting if long article on bi terminology (tags: ) No women Bishops, no automatic seats in the House of Lords - e-petitions (tags: ) Liberator's blog: The curious question of Tory patriotism (tags: ) Not Getting It: Men, Women, and 'Stalk Your Friends' Apps - this ain't livin' (tags: ) fleet street fox: on rape. TRIGGER WARNING "They do it because the judges, police, politicians, spin doctors, government and yes, journalists ...
Racism is an uncomfortable and emotive subject to discuss. To its victims it is absolutely devastating and can affect entire communities. In Britain it is considered socially unacceptable but despite this, and the numerous laws designed to prevent discrimination, racism is still worryingly commonplace. I've witnessed it myself on duty more times than I can count; the culprits are usually adults, which is shocking and unpleasant enough, but for me, the truly worrying cases are those involving children. Last month I spoke to an officer who specialises in groups with extremist views. He told me about a child living in ...
Has Cameron realised that Tory government is not our default setting any more? Why MPs are having a tantrum over votes for prisoners Killer Arguments Against LVT, Not (254 thru' 281) If I play my cards right: is poker a game of skill or luck? - Telegraph Blogs What You Can Get Away With (Nick Barlow's blog) » Blog Archive » Fearing for the future Opinion: Job share MPs - an idea whose time has come via @libdemvoice + @DintiBatstone - Now that's a liberal idea! "we may have to accept that quite a lot of people are not voting ...
Ripon has a notably unsentimental selection of museums. There is the Workhouse Museum, the Courthouse Museum and (the one I visited) the Prison & Police Museum. This is housed in a building that was originally a prison and later served as the city's police station. Displays tell the story of British policing from Saxon times to the present day. One thing this brings home is how many more local police forces there were before they were merged into the West Yorkshire Constabulary and then the West Yorkshire Police. As a good Liberal, I question what this has achieved. The second ...
Thanks to the wonders of Hansard, here is the list of the peers who last night voted (sadly, unsuccessfully) to delete secret courts from the Justice and Security Bill, with their party affiliation. I am immensely proud that sixteen of the twenty-five who voted to remove secret courts from the Bill were Liberal Democrats. Three peers from Labour, three Crossbenchers, two Non-affiliated and one Plaid Cymru also voted against secret courts. Importantly, Lord Pannick, who proposed many of the amendments that were successfully carried earlier in the debate and whose views are very influential, voted to remove clause 6. There ...
As a follow-up to yesterday's post on the vote against women bishops in the Church of England, the BBC have a fascinating article regarding the history of this issue: In 1920, no fewer than nine motions concerning "The Position of Women in the Councils and Ministrations of the Church" came before the Lambeth conference, the international gathering of Anglican leaders. "The time has come..." opens one of the resolutions in the Lambeth conference archive, reflecting the on-going campaign of the suffragettes to gain equal rights for women including the vote. But the Lambeth measures go no further than to permit ...
Thu 22nd
01:07
GFH Capital have at last signed a deal for Leeds United but want Ken Bates to stay on as President
I recognise that Ken Bates played an important role in saving Leeds United and has given the club a solid foundation. In other ways, however, he has been a public relations disaster and would, in my opinion, make a totally unsuitable club President. You only have to read his comments reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post to see that he would be a nightmare as President. The club has just announced that GFH Capital have signed a deal for the club and all he can contribute is a rant about liars, chancers and conmen. The club President should be a ...
