Recreating your childhood ... used to take hard work and a lot of luck, but today you can do it at the click of a button.That is what I said when discussing Peril on the Iron Road by Bruce Carter a couple of months ago. Here is another book I suddenly remembered from my childhood - I think Meet Lemon Kelly was in my Christmas stocking one year in the late sixties. A Hildick family history site tells us: Edmund Wallace Hildick (1925-2001) emigrated to the USA and became a well-known author of mostly childrens fiction ... I have so ...
Over the course of the last few months I have knocked on nearly two thousand doors and many residents have told me about their concerns. I'll share one of those concerns with you. There is a road in Morecambe called Mattock Crescent which doesn't have many residents and I only met around half of them but almost all of them were concerned about the state of their road. I saw their point. It is probably the worst road that I have seen in Morecambe. Two residents told me that they had been in touch with the council and had been ...
I caught the 11.30 Ludlow town bus from Tollgate Road to the town centre this morning. For the first part of the journey, the passengers were discussing the appalling state of the town buses. One woman said: "You wouldn't get a bus service like this in Shrewsbury." She's right. The bus is a museum piece ...
Going by the account I heard of it, the other day Leicester City Council's planning committee, in a fit of sentiment, ignored their own policies in order to allow a widowed mother to open a shop. The Leicester Mercury account of the meeting bears this out and quotes the council planning chair Patrick Kitterick: "I would caution councillors that if we give this approval we will have an absolute queue of people who want to open outside defined shopping areas. "This decision will have implications across Leicester. "In a week's time what do we say to someone who tells us ...
With less than a week to go before the elections on Thursday 2nd May I have been getting more and more help which is great as I can't remember ever getting this much assistance in previous campaigns (and thanks to all who are helping). Bearing in mind that county divisions are twice as big as council wards, it now looks like everyone will receive two leaflets (three if you count one in November). That's not bad considering the normal resources locally but this time a third of the electorate will also have had a knock on the door along with ...
It was back in 2007, when Lib Dem Voice founder Rob Fenwick decided to stand down. He drove a hard bargain, as you can see: [IMG: 2p cheque for ownership of Lib Dem Voice]
I have avoided the row over the closure of children's heart surgery units in Leeds and even Leicester. Localism has its limits, and I suspect they fall short of state-of-the-art surgery. But I cannot ignore a remarkable story that was in the Guardian a couple of days ago: Children's heart surgery is to cease in Northern Ireland, with services moved south of the border to Dublin. The health service in Northern Ireland has recommended an all-island service, after a review concluded that heart surgery at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children was no longer sustainable. Last year a separate ...
Readers of the Andover Advertiser may have been surprised to read that there is to be a "public debate" between candidates for the county council elections next Tuesday. So too was I as I had not received any notification or invitation to any meeting although I since have (email from Broadway garage Friday 26 April). Subsequently I have discovered the meeting has been organised at short notice by, and for, the UKIP candidate in Andover South and his supporters. Very few of the 16 candidates seeking election in Andover will be attending and there is also some doubt about who ...
Sat 27th
18:08
Nick Clegg's Letter from the Leader: "5 good reasons to get out and campaign for the Lib Dems"
'Only Liberal Democrats fight for a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.' You might have heard that one before. You'll hear it again in Nick's message below. And in every speech between now and the next general election. Lib Dem supporters are bound to get sick of hearing it; let's hope so, because then there's just a chance it'll have been heard even once by most voters. It's been a good week for Nick, as his '5 things' message emphasises: the 'snoopers charter' has been torpedoed; the economy is growing again; crime is ...
What the secret imprisonment of Wanda Maddocks has shown is that an anonymous judgment does not tell you everything about a case. The Daily Mail wrote more about the case today. I do think the wider issue will also have more attention in the future.
Earlier this afternoon, I had the real pleasure of attending the matinee performance of "Broken Puzzle" at the Steps Theatre - a production with service users and staff taking part, alongside other performers including members of a Blairgowrie-based amateur drama group. It was superb, entertaining and had a really powerful message. Congratulations go to producer Claire Bee and all who took part. Here's three videos below of some of the musical entertainment from this excellent presentation:
Tim 'Undercover Economist' Harford has a terrific piece in today's FT — An evidence revolution — highlighting the use of research to inform and improve education. He picks up on the aspect of evidence-informed policy which has always excited my liberal instincts: the way it empowers professionals at the most local level possible (in this case the classroom). Here's an excerpt from Tim's piece (which just happens to include mention of the educational charity I work for, the Education Endowment Foundation): Teachers have allowed themselves to be left behind in the evidence revolution. I sympathise with the profession which is ...
Silly question, the answer is no. I know that, and I'm not young anymore, but it was the same when I was young. What is odd is that anyone would think that unlike any other generation, young people would all slip happily into a huddle of complete agreement. During the budget speeches back in February once councillor pretty much said as much. It had all the trappings of a 'new Labour' speech.
I haven't been doing weekly posts about it this series, but I am keeping the HIGNFY gender bias spreadsheet updated – you'll normally find the updated version of it available on that link by Saturday lunchtime after a show. The problem is finding something new to say about it after every show, when the figures stay resolutely the same. 23.83% of guests overall (25% this season) and 22.46% of guest hosts have been women, and last week's show was the 109th one with all-male guests since the last time all the guests were female. Still, we should have the first ...
It comes as no surprise to discover that several UKIP candidates in the local elections hold some rather unpleasant opinions. According to today's Daily Telegraph, some of them have such extreme views that even UKIP has baulked. Scrutinising various candidates' statements, however, it is hard to tell where UKIP draws the line. The following views appear to be acceptable for a UKIP candidate to hold: Mick Philpott, who killed six of his children in a house fire, should have faced "chemical castration" to stop him claiming benefits for more than two children. Philpott should be "hung or burned at the ...
"We've come so far recently. I fear more than anything that Liberal Youth will return to the days where the HE-centric executive committee spends time 'partying' at our national events rather than engaging with our first time attendees. Where the executive dismisses anyone who suggests an improvement. Where committee members spend more time networking with MPs than actually doing the jobs they've been elected to do." Fighting talk from Callum Morton on the future of Liberal Youth. Liverpool's mayoralty has seen a first year of consistent failure, argues Richard Kemp. "One cannot fail to be shocked by the way in ...
I never thought I would recommend a film from Martin Durkin, famous for climate change denialist hysteria on Channel 4. But in Margaret: Death of a Revolutionary (until 13th May) he pays tribute to the woman who did possibly more than anyone else to make climate change a globally recognised issue, leading to the formation of the IPCC. But no tribute for doing that in particular, obviously. There is much that is wrong, and more that is missing (the poll tax!) and in the telling of Thatchers victory over and then defeat at the hands of the upper class wets, ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Parliament's press charter is dead duck as publishers defy politicians | Media | guardian.co.uk Roy Greenslade: Parliament's press charter is dead duck as publishers defy politicians http://bit.ly/ZpJIRR « so now what? George W. Bush's legacy: Still the guy who taught America to torture | The Economist "A legacy worthy of contempt" – Economist on George W Bush's legacy » Still the guy who taught America to torture http://econ.st/15Xpr9Q Bangladesh disaster: Forcing sweatshops to radically improve safety standards could do more harm than good - Telegraph Blogs Good article by @TomChivers on Bangladesh ...
I hailed the news of the defeat of the Snoopers charter with great relief. I know the counter argument for the measures were to combat terrorism etc but the bill went to far. Keeping tabs of how everyone used Social networks, the websites you visit, the people you have been emailing... Just seems far too draconian. After all I do a lot of reading about the German Airforce and the Third Reich which could lead those who do not know my interests to misguidely peg me as a Nazi or racist. Also, with the checks on emails I'd ask this; ...
Residents in Matlock Road and Bury Road are massively opposed to a Sefton Council plan to place nine road humps in the area, according to Birkdale Ward Liberal Democrat councillors. The proposal was advertised earlier this month (in Champion of 10 April) because of concerns about the increase in traffic to be expected as a result of the enlargement of Birkdale Primary School, due for completion by September. Last week Cllr Iain Brodie Browne and Cllr Simon Shaw (pictured) carried out a survey of people living in the area. They found that, by a margin of more than three to ...
From the Telegraph: The Prime Minister categorically said he will recognise marriage in the UK tax system within the next two years after receiving heavy criticism for his failure to assist traditional British families. Speaking in Carlisle, where he was answering questions from workers at a Pirelli factory, Mr Cameron piled pressure on the Liberal Democrats to allow the policy to pass through Parliament. Asked whether he still has plans to recognise marriage in the tax system the Prime Minister said: "Yes I do, we set them out at the last election in the Conservative manifesto. The Coalition agreement specifically ...
As news filters through that Miss Sarah Harding, lately of this parish, is emerging as the front runner in the election to chair Liberal Youth my attention has been drawn to an editorial in the Southport Guardian that concludes: So the Liberal Part both nationally and locally is acting wisely by paying attention to young politicians. "The hope of the Liberal Party "says one writer, "is its youth" and with "youth at the prow, discretion at the helm" there is no sea in which the ship of Liberalism cannot weather; there is no port we cannot make. Now a Young ...
The Birkdale blog has covered the contribution made to Southport Liberalism before by David Bentliff. Today we bring you the front page of the Southport Guardian that reported his death. He died on this day 21st April 1953. It was his unfortune luck to come on the scene at a time when the party was still in electoral decline. He fought the 1951 General Election along with only 109 other Liberals. Most of them lost their deposit. Bentliff did not he polling 8,000 votes. His by election vote in 1952 was the lowest by a Liberal candidate since 1886. Nevertheless ...
I have now read through all the responses on Mumsnet to my blog about my book (Broke: Who Killed the Middle Classes?). I did so with some trepidation because there were 92 of them, and also because - well, how shall we put it - Mumsnet has developed something of a reputation for flame-throwing. In fact, the worst response I got to my plea to save the middle classes was "aw, diddums". Others were very supportive. Though I have found a second stream of comments on the same website about my Sunday Times article, which includes this rather wonderful condemnation: ...
There is only one meeting scheduled at Blyth Town Council next week The Planning & Development Committee will meet at 2pm on Thursday 30th April at Arms Evertyne House. When I wrote scheduled above, I should have written "re-scheduled", as this meeting was scheduled for the usual evening start. It's a pity that the meeting has been rearranged as it is the last meeting of the current council, and the first meeting at the new office at Arms Evertyne House. But, the Chairman of the Committee is "at an AGM" that evening in the words of the EMail I received, ...
the daily mash on ukipper's brains (tags: ) Police probe English Democrats' Anna Cleves amid fake candidates claims ahead of Kent County Council elections (tags: ) Farage admits there are some UKIP candidates "we'd rather not have" (tags: ) Roman Catholic Church 'to take over secular schools' - Telegraph Eurgh. (tags: ) Raped, beaten, and enslaved for years - and handed back to her tormentors when she went to beg police for help - Crime - UK - The Independent (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Sat 27th
09:55
New from Amnesty: 29 years in solitary confinement - Q&A with Robert King of the Angola 3
Watch the new video from Amnesty International UK: Also on YouTube.
A new technological breakthrough promises to revolutionise the battle against wasting water. Until now, people (well, Americans anyway) have been wasting billions of gallons of water by running the shower or tap to hide the noises they make on the toilet. A new iPhone app, the Akatu Fake Shower, makes the sound of a shower or tap running, so that you can drown out the noise of your flatulence without wasting water. Amongst this app's features, you can earn 'badges' for all the water you've saved. You can also "share your achievements" on social media, although it is a mystery ...
[IMG: image001] The other day my letterbox rattled with the delivery of the 262nd edition of this excellent community organisation's newsletter. What's more it is their first edition in colour! It is nice to see them going from strength to strength but the demise of Southport Homewatch Assn, mentioned in the newsletter, is a sobering reminder of how voluntary organisations can struggle when the volunteers run out of steam due to age in particular.
Our reports from this week's Call Clegg have concentrated on Nick's unequivocal announcement that the so called Snoopers' Charter, which would have obliged companies to store details of websites visited and social media contacts, will not be enacted while the Liberal Democrats are in Government. However, that only took up a small part of his half hour session. Here are some of the other highlights: Abu Qatada Nick was asked several times about the idea that Britain should temporarily pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights. While he did not explicitly rule the idea out, I do not ...
Yesterday the publicist Max Clifford was charged with a number of indecent assaults against girls and young women dating back to the 1960s. Normally when people are charged with serious crimes we may hear the charges have been made and the identity of who has been charged. That is then usually that until the court case and the verdict when we then find out whether the due process has found them guilty or not guilty. But in this case straight after the charges Max Clifford held an impromptu press-conference outside his house which was well attended and widely reported in ...
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the longest running science fiction show in the world I am taking a weekly look at some of my favourite Dr Who episodes focusing on one Doctor a month. This month it's the fourth Doctors turn. While taking a well earned break and enjoying themselves in 1970s Paris the Doctor and Romana II experience discombobulating time distortions and also spot someone using an alien device to scope out the home of the Mona Lisa. Are the two events linked? Are aliens really going to make off with the Mona Lisa? And what is the ...
Today's Daily Telegraph performs a bit of a public service by revealing what motivates many UKIP local council candidates by questtioning them on their beliefs. I am sorry to say there are few surprises. They say that the party is facing questions over its vetting after campaigners criticised the "far-Right connections" and "cuckoo conspiracy theories" of some of its potential councillors: One candidate, Richard Wilkins, standing in the Isle of Wight, wrote on Twitter that Mick Philpott, who killed six of his children in a house fire, should have faced "chemical castration" to stop him claiming benefits for more than ...
A letter has arrived from The Ramblers asking me to "support a reversal of the cuts imposed by the current administration so that we have Rights of Way that are accessible to all." To me this is a 'no-brainer'. Here is what I said in my latest Focus Newsletter which has been delivered across Ludlow ...
Earlier this week, I was contacted by constituents about rubble on Hawkhill near to Sinderins - see right. The City Council's Team Leader Building Standards has advised me: "Building Standards inspected the property earlier this week and were advised by a local resident that an ornate piece of stonework had been removed from the property by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). FRS confirmed that they had received an emergency call from a member of the public who had witnessed the stonework moving in the high winds. Following closer inspection FRS decided to remove the stonework from building."
The Spring 2013 City Council Adult Learning Newsletter has been published, highlighting adult learning opportunities across the city. You can download the full newsletter here. West End opportunities are listed below:
This week I made it clear that the Liberal Democrats will not support what people have dubbed a "Snoopers' Charter" - a new Government law which means there would be a record kept of every website you visit and details of who you communicate with on social media sites. In the Coalition Agreement we committed to 'ending the storage of email and internet records without good reason', moving away from Labour's database state. But this proposal wouldn't meet that test: expanding the collection of personal data without a solid justification for doing so, and without allaying concerns about the workability ...
