With the death of Patrick Moore Britain has lost one of its great eccentrics and a man who popularised astronomy - presenting The Sky at Night for more than 50 years. What was less well known was Moore's dabbling in right wing politics. In the 1970s he co-founded the anti immigration United Country Party, which later merged with the New Britain Party. The New Britain Party supported apartheid and called for a complete ban on non-white immigration. They stood in the Bermondsey by-election in 1983 coming eighth with just 62 votes. And following the winding up of Jimmy Goldsmith's referendum ...
On Monday, when I posted TV appearance by Rod Stewart and Steve Winwood from 1965, I said the real star of that show was Long John Baldry. So here he is again. Baldry died in Canada in 2005. As his Guardian obituary said, he "played a key role in the growth of the British rhythm and blues movement". A tribute quoted on the official Long John Baldry website goes further: John had a knack for discovering talent. Ginger Baker, Jeff Beck and Brian Jones all worked with him early on. Elton John played piano in one of his bands, other ...
Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe Borough Council. This will, I'm afraid, be the last scheduled edition for this year so may I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. This is quite a quiet news week this week as well so this is quite a short newsletter. 1. Stapleford Combined Services Fancy Dress Evening Stapleford Combined Services club will be holding a fancy dress evening on Saturday, December 15th from 7-30pm until midnight, at The Chequers Inn at ...
I once knew a Liberal student politician who was fond of dismissing green and communitarian ideas as "hobbit socialism". (He later went to work for Friends of the Earth and was awarded an MBE.) But I have always had a weakness for such ideas, so I was taken by a Larry Elliott in today's Observer on the politics of The Hobbit: Tolkien became a cult figure among hippies in the 1960s, for whom LOTR worked on a number of levels: peace-lovers versus warmongers; military-industrial complex versus local smallholders; the lust for power versus individual freedom. These days he would have ...
The Liberal Democrat Business Secretary shows why he one of the most popular politicians in the country in this interview from today's Observer: Unlike most politicians, he has few airs and graces and rarely resorts to defensive obfuscation. He sees an interview as an exercise in which a journalist puts questions and he answers them. So when asked if Britain's economy might endure a Japanese-style "lost decade", he admits it might well. "There is a real worry about [that], a real risk of that," he says. At every turn he is disarmingly frank. Most ministers would run for safety if ...
This year has been a poor year for my reading - various factors have conspired to deprive me of the time I used to spend with my books - and as a result my Goodreads profile indicates I've only finished 9 books this year - a shockingly low number. Worse, it doesn't include the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings which it should have done as this was one of my Tolkien years. Thankfully, I have lately taken action to start redressing this situation - this has been in three forms: 1. I have finally purchased an eReader. ...
I don't know why but it's somehow satisfying to see issues I blogged about when it was off the radar suddenly hit the front-pages some time later! And so it is with the question ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 303rd weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (2 - 8 December, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. European ...
[IMG: Simon Hughes] Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes faces probe over donation (BBC News) The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is to consider whether the MP breached rules by failing to fully declare a £10,000 donation received by his local party in south London. Mr Hughes's spokesman said the money, from a scrap metal firm, was registered with the Electoral Commission. There is no suggestion that Mr Hughes benefited personally from the donation. Lib Dem leader stands down (ThisIsBristol) LIBERAL Democrat Simon Cook has stood down as leader of the party as he takes up his new position in George Ferguson's cabinet. ...
Q: Did you know as a result of the Tories NOT having a majority of councillors in this area e.g. Lib Dems = 4, Independents = 4, Tories = 3 and Labour = 1, whilst the rest of the city has "Neighbourhood Committees" our meeting is the only "Area Committee" – why? Because local residents voted @ a meeting + decided to call it what they wanted INSTEAD of being lectured to by BODS at the Town Hall! #Democracy Anyhow, if you have an issue you'd like airing or discussed, then this is the meeting you should attend. No matter ...
As a Brit I'm as surprised as anyone about my reaction to the death of Jacintha Saldana. Waves of anger and reflection have enveloped me over the past 48 hours ever since I heard the breaking news on the bus on my way home. I think there'll be many Brits who might remember where they ...
Sun 9th
16:15
Andrew Adonis: "I am much more negative about the idea of coalition now". Is Labour pluralism dead?
A couple of days ago, I suggested Lib Dems needed to think about how we rescue the idea of coalition as an effective form of government. Right on cue, former Labour cabinet minister Lord (Andrew) Adonis has slated the concept, arguing in The Guardian that: Giving huge power to a very small party that is very unclear about what it wants to achieve in politics - I'm trying to be diplomatic about the Lib Dems - isn't, to my mind, the best way forward. The best way forward would be to have a majority Labour government. There are at least ...
I have just been notified of a new planning application in Downham Ward: 44-46 BROMLEY HILL, BROMLEY, BR1 4JU Proposal The demolition of the existing buildings on the site of 44-46 Bromley Hill BR1 and the construction of a three storey building incorporating terraces/balconies to provide 2, three bedroom and 4, two self-contained flats, together with the provision of 4 car parking spaces, bicycle and refuse stores. There is a link to all the relevant documents that have been submitted here on the lewisham council website. Please feel free to get in touch with any of your local Councillors to ...
Yes. That's right. Scotland's student funding model is fundamentally disingenuous. The profoundly political decision to impose no notional or actual levy on the tuition component of University study for Scottish domiciled students is a move which only serves to help those with relatively affluent parents. This might seem anathema to the great body of "progressives" within Scotland, but it's true. And here is why. Student debt is not real debt in the UK. Under both the Scottish system (where you receive a student loan from the Student Award Agency for Scotland) and the English system (where you receive a student ...
Even people like Peter Bone MP engage in this particular argument against equal marriage. That certainly doesn't make it any more right. 1) Considering marriage equality was in a Conservative manifesto at the time of the 2010 General Election! The Conservatives went on to win the largest number of votes. 2) We live in a representative democracy. Our politicians are not bound to only enact things in their manifesto. If we stuck to that rule, then the Commons would need to be dissolved and an election held every time an issue presented itself that hadn't been in anyone's manifesto! 3) ...
This question arises quite a lot. It is based on a very loose understanding of what the Government is proposing. 1) Marriage is not just a religious thing. In the United Kingdom civil marriages can be performed in registry offices and other properly registered venues. So when the Government talks about equal marriage it is not just talking about marriages in churches. 2) The Government does not plan to force any church to carry out same-sex marriages. David Cameron made that pretty clear: I support gay marriage. But no church, synagogue or mosque will be forced to perform them. It's ...
The quick answer to this is: they don't. This oft asked question has a couple of faulty presumptions behind it. 1) Marriage is not just a religious thing. In the United Kingdom civil marriages can be performed in registry offices and other properly registered venues. I suspect most LGBT people would want to be married in one of those. 2) There is more than one church. I cannot count how many conversations I've had with people who have little knowledge of religion beyond the Church of England, Catholicism and a vague understanding of Islam. Christianity is a very diverse faith, ...
It had been raining for days. A flood warning had already been issued for the River Libby. It was raging more than a metre above its normal level and had still not peaked. As I hurried along Libbyside Terrace towards the rail station, I met Mary. Wet, dishevelled and very upset, she was hauling sandbags across the pavement. "I've just got a text from the Environment Agency," she told me. "We're on flood alert now." She was all but in tears. I stopped a while to help pile sandbags against her front door. "With the new kerbs, it should not ...
I was going to continue writing about Medway Tunnel or share with you all the latest letter from Nick to the membership but instead, after a really nightmarish journey into work, I thought I'd share with you a letter I am writing to Southeastern delay/repay scheme and an illumination of the chaos that I witnessed on a modern railway system.... Dear Delay and repay team, I am writing to you on the off chance that my journey today may be applicable but I am not holding out much hope. The original fault was indeed my own. I had failed to ...
Chris White has lashed out at Thames Water for allowing a renewed water leak to reappear on London Road under the railway bridge. Chris said: 'This must be the fourth time there has been a serious leak from their manhole cover during a downpour. The road is crumbling around the manhole because they have failed to deal with the problem. 'Worse still pedestrians using London Road on their way into town can get asked from head to foot as a result of the puddle which arises from the leak.' Chris has called upon the county council to take firm action ...
Next Thursday, the film of The Hobbit comes out - and regular readers will not be surprised to know that I've had my ticket booked for about 3 weeks now... very exciting. Looking beyond that, the next film I'm excited about is the adaptation of the Les Misérables musical - even if it does have Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in it... Here's Matt Lucas and Jenny Galloway performing Master of the House at the O2 25th anniversary concert production: And finally, an international version of Do You Hear the People Sing/One Day More, from the 10th Anniversary Concert: Enjoy, ...
>Sign up to the Despatch Box, the new weekly political e-magzine from digitalpolitico.net Hmmmm. Looks like Labour are boycotting Google over their taxes after all. Sign up to the Despatch Box, the new weekly political e-magzine from digitalpolitico.net
Sun 9th
11:20Nick Clegg's 'Letter from the Leader': "You cannot balance the books on the backs of the poor"
The sixth weekly missive from Nick Clegg hit my inbox this weekend. Here's what he had to say about the Autumn Statement, in particular the Lib Dem win on helping low-income tax-payers. Oh, and there's a bit of a dig against the Tories for their 'irrational phobia' of taxing the propertied wealthy a bit more... This April, one of two things will happen to you. If you earn less than £9,440, you will no longer pay any income tax. If you earn more than that, then you'll be paying £600 less each year than you were in 2010. This is ...
Briefly - is it time to stop talking about the "welfare state" and give it a new name to reflect a new vision of its role and purpose? This idea I owe to my office mate, who suggested that the problem with the name "welfare state" is that it suggests one can rely on the state for everything, at the cost of one's own responsibilities and livelihood. Such a system breeds resentment among those who imagine themselves to be outside the purview of the system, whilst weakening the impulse to work and self-improvement among those inside it. In essence, it ...
To paraphrase – I don't agree with those who have spoken out against same-sex marriage – but I absolutely defend their right to do so. What I don't defend and have been quite horrified by are those who have used extreme language or hysteria in pursuit of their argument. Hopefully we won't hear or see that again as this live and let live policy progresses. But you don't have to agree with it to allow those who do want to get married to do so. If two same sex people in a love relationship want to demonstrate their love and ...
I usually admire The Guardian's technology coverage (not least because they occasionally feature me!) but their latest article - The success of smartphones comes at a price - is ridiculously bad. [IMG: Guardian Phone Story] It posits three arguments. More people are using smartphones to access the Internet than ever before.Smartphones are heavily locked down.Mobile Operators are "corporate control-freaks".The author concludes that this is radically different from the PC world and, therefore, a very bad thing. Hogwash! Let's take those points in order. Yes, more people are using smartphones to access the net. Five points to Hufflepuff. The author assumes ...
Sun 9th
10:05'Please give generously': Tories mail-shot supporters asking for donations to fight Lib Dem mansion ...
That's the story in the Guardian this weekend: The Conservative party privately sent letters to Tory donors and wealthy homeowners promising to defeat Liberal Democrat plans for a mansion tax at the same time as their coalition partners thought they were negotiating on a version of the proposal ahead of the autumn statement, it emerged on Friday. ... The letters were sent by the Conservative treasurers Lord Fink and Michael Farmer in November, when Lib Dem cabinet ministers privately believed there was hope that the Conservatives would agree to two extra higher-rate council tax bands as a way of raising ...
Just in case you're not one of the lucky ones to receive your own signed copy this year (I'm still waiting for mine), here's Nick Clegg's choice of Christmas card this year... Here's what the Guardian has to say about it (yes, really, the paper dedicated a large feature to the leaders' choices of Christmas cards): Consciously or not, the deputy prime minister's Christmas missive - a deep red riot of trees, stars and presents - is as different from his coalition partner's as it could be. The collage, designed by Caitlin Costello, an eight-year-old patient at Sheffield's children's hospital ...
Stop Expecting Free Work from Women - this ain't livin' (tags: ) Clay Shirky's Cognitive Surplus and the unmentioned elephant in its room (tags: ) BBC News - BBC finishes Radio Times archive digitisation effort (tags: ) New antidepressant acts very rapidly and is long lasting Could be interesting. (tags: ) The Top 50 Worst and Most Embarrassing Domain Names Ever Purchased - CityMax Small Business Website Builder Blog | CityMax Small Business Website Builder Blog (tags: ) Where's the T in LGBT rights? | Lesbilicious Worrying that the UK is actually one of the BEST places. How awful must ...
Here's a double yoke egg I just had for breakfast. There's a 0.1% chance of that happening. It last happened to me 1008 days ago and 10,760 people have viewed my photo of that occasion. I don't think I've had an egg everyday in ose 1008 days, so I think this makesme more thatn averagely double yoke prone. In those 1008 days I have also learnt how to spell yoke, which is good. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
Back in September, I explained my reasons for wanting to see an end to the coalition, and nothing I've seen politically in the last three months has caused me to change my mind on that issue. One of the reasons I gave for wanting to see it end was that "the coalition's no longer about trying to come up with a joint policy programme, but about horse-trading and threats". I think this trend is perfectly exemplified in this story, where the Tories in government were supposedly negotiating with Liberal Democrats while also raising funds from donors to stop it from ...
In which the Spineless Liberal joins a new political party.
Friday's Guardian reports on the real story behind the Chancellor's rejection of a mansion tax in last week's autumn statement. They say that the Conservative party privately sent letters to Tory donors and wealthy homeowners promising to defeat Liberal Democrat plans for the tax at the same time as their coalition partners thought they were negotiating on a version of the proposal ahead of the autumn statement: The letters, under the slogan "Don't Tax Our Homes", were sent last month and appealed for funds because the party needed "to combat Ed Balls and Vince Cable's homes tax". It is likely ...
Hillcrest Housing Association works with a range of voluntary agencies who provide much needed support to vulnerable people. In the run up to Christmas over the last few years they have tried to do something to give back to these agencies to enable them to help more people. The Association has decided to appeal for new basic clothing items that can be passed on to the agencies who in turn can distribute. The goods can be dropped off to either Hillcrest Headquarters at Explorer Road or the Hillcrest and CraigOwl office at South Ward Roadand they will arrange for distribution ...
I've been plagiarised by an advertising company. John Brown Advertising are plagiarists. So if you want to hire an advertising company, don't hire John Brown Advertising of 820 Eastbrooke Lane, Rochester, New York 14618. They have no creativity (and so will be useless for coming up with ideas for your campaign) and no regard for ...
My latest 'cloudcast' — a Christmas special. As it's Christmas music, this one is more straightforward than my normal ones, but I hope it still manages to have plenty of music you won't have heard before, while still having a few familiar ones to keep things appropriately Christmassy. Tracklist: Stew — Xmas Again The Free ...
I have a confession to make. I may be suffering from Diana Wynne Jones fatigue. It's alright, I only have one more book before I've finished the Chrestomanci series, and then I'll probably be done. And it's nothing I can really put my finger on, other than a style targeted at young readers, and her rather unsubtle way in painting the flaws on to her character. Christopher (of The Lives of Christopher Chant) is a main character in Conrad's Fate, but not the protagonist, and she's sure to make sure that we understand that Christopher isn't perfect, OK? Look, Conrad ...
The Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement that the Government no longer intends to expand regional and local pay - a policy that would have had a detrimental effect on Wales. Kirsty Williams commented, "I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats have put a brake on George Osborne's plans for regional or local pay. Yes, we need to rebalance the economy, but regional or local pay isn't the answer. "The Welsh Liberal Democrats have always believed that moves towards regional or local pay would further ingrain regional inequalities. That is why we took our campaign against regional pay to our ...
Sutton is rightly hailed as London Liberal Democrats' flagship council but of course the borough was put on the map politically some years before the (then) Liberal-SDP Alliance actually won control (on the Mayor's casting vote). Indeed, 40 years ago the parliamentary constituency of Sutton and Cheam hit the headlines when young Graham Tope — at ...
LONDON OVERGROUND is being extended from 9 December by adding a section Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction - http://goo.gl/9roun It brings 4 trains per hour (tph) 7 days a week between Clapham Junction and Highbury & Islington via Wandsworth Rd, Clapham High St, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Queens Rd Peckham. This will open up new journey opportunities to east and west London. All these south London stations will appear on the new TfL Tube map. The downside to that is that it looks as if the new Tube map will show us cut off with no rail services to central ...
