Ever the loyalist, me.
The words of Jason Collins as he comes out in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated to become the first openly gay male athlete in any of the major north American team sports. This is a big thing and it is about time it happened. As you all may know I'm a huge NFL, MLB and NCAAFB fan but the NHL and the NBA kinda pass me by as I don't enjoy the sports too much. So I don't know this guy from Adam but what I do know is he is an active player and he has decided it ...
Britain's propaganda campaign in World War I has been in the news recently because of the discovery of papers showing that A.A. Milne was one of the many writers involved. The person initially in charge of that campaign was this blog's hero Charles Masterman. And an article in the Daily Telegraph by Alan Judd (which has somehow escaped the paper's firewall) mentions him at some length: Milne's MI7B was established in 1916 to help counter the effects of mounting war losses, industrial discontent, peace activists and German propaganda abroad. In fact, this was really the bureaucratic incorporation of an existing ...
On Saturday I wrote about the decline of backstreet shops. Talking Shop; An Oral History of Retailing in the Market Harborough Area During the 20th Century by Sam Mullins and David Stockdale gives us some figures for the town: From 1900 to 1912 the number of suburban shops nearly trebled to thirty-five, and by 1922 a peak of thirty-seven had been reached. This number stayed roughly constant through the decades between the wars.Today, though the town is much larger, the figure must be around half a dozen.
The Langham Hotel, just opposite BBC Broadcasting House, claims with justification to be one of the oldest top-end hotels in Europe. Crown Prince Edward presided over the opening of its grand function room in 1865; this evening, almost a century and a half later, it welcomed the massed ranks of London's diplomatic corps, at what ...
Platelets were for the first time within normal limits at 435, but Hb, WBC and Neutrophils were all down and outside normal limits. Mr G O, who saw me 8 WEEKS Ago and again this time,said that my tiredness was possibly a reflection of the low Hb, and the problem was that increasing the dose of hydroxycarbamide, which had corrected the Platelets,caused the other three components they monitor to move in the wrong direction. At this stage the only thing the consultants are interested in is juggling the medication to get the best possible mix of the four numbers, and ...
This caught my eye – it's original footage (edited) taken around 1900 – at the end of Victoria's reign or the early days of the Edwardian period. The first part of the film looks to be from Manchester – probably the city centre. The streets looked busier and probably more dangerous back then than they are now!
Why is Nirvana's logo yellow but The Rolling Stones red and does it really matter? According to a recent article by Leo Widrich at Buffer the color of a bands logo could affect its ticket and album sales. First here are some classic band logos. Based on the colors can you get a sense of their music? [IMG: Rock Band Logos] Rock Band Logos Which colors trigger which feeling? The nice folks at The Logo Company have come up with which colors are best for different bands and artists. BLACK – powerful, strength, definite, credible, direct GREEN – natural, organic, ...
Mon 29th
20:49
Labour struggle with their European selection - it's about democracy, or not, as the case may be
Five years ago, arguments over the way the Conservative Party ran its European Parliamentary selections made their way into the public domain.I wrote then;ConservativeHome is running a piece on the way Conservative Central Office has "stitched up" their selection process for the European Parliament, then withheld the results data from members. There are suggestions that ballot papers didn't go out to all members, that candidates were barred from campaigning, and that the process was rigged in favour of women.And now, it appears, the Labour Party are having similar problems, with accusations flying that the (extremely) shortlists to be put before ...
For my second Liberal Mondays selection I'm looking to my old friend and mentor, Conrad Russell, who was through the 1990s the Liberal Democrats' intellectual guru. I miss him terribly. He had a huge impact on my life and Liberalism, and no doubt I'll come back to him again: this time I present a selection of quotes from the first booklet of his I ever read, The Liberal Cause. I bought it at my first Lib Dem Conference because I wanted as many Liberal texts as my tiny teenage budget would allow, and this one was marked down to 10p. ...
Paul Goodman from Conservative Home joins David Cameron as he meets Tory workers on the campaign trail: "They respect the Prime Minister's office, clearly admire him, even like him - and seem to think that he's doing his best. But I get no sense, as I did when I used to watch Margaret Thatcher talking to party members, that they feel he's One of Us." Where Worlds Collide finds that "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" anticipated the rise of UKIP way back in the 1970s. Writing on Ceasefire, Robert Kazandjian explains why the battle to have the Armenian ...
In my humble opinion when you say you stand For Everyone you'd better make the right adjustments to make sure you do stand for everyone.That is what I think the Alliance Party's amendment so today's motion on the constitutional convention and equal marriage aimed to do*. However, it appears that three of the Alliance Party's own MLAs couldn't even do this (Trevor Lunn voted against his party's amendment and Keiran McCarthy and Judith Cochrane abstained by voting in both lobbies). You may recall back in October that these three either voted the same way or were strangely absent. To do ...
[IMG: eastleigh button] Thank you to Tim Gordon for sending me a Thank You letter with this wonderful button! [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
Mon 29th
18:59
The Later Careers of Moderately Successful University Bowlers of the 1970s: 2. R. le Q. Savage
Backwatersman has a post about Leicestershire's recent defeat at the hands of the Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities XI. He explains why losing to a bunch of students is not the cause of shame that it would have been a few seasons ago. In describing the sort of players turning out for these MCC Universities sides these days he says: It's all a very long way from the Wingfield-Digbys and R. le Q. Savages of yore (decent players though they both were).You will recall that I found the Revd Andrew Wingfield-Digby holding a living in the pleasant suburbs of North Oxford a ...
The first one minute and 15 seconds of "Firth of Fifth" is sheer brilliance delivered on the grand piano by Tony Banks. (And the title reminds me of that famous football result, Forfar 4 East Fife 5). But my favourite Genesis track (and this is certainly not a political endorsement – one of them was allegedly a Maggie fan, I seem to remember – but then my favourite author is Evelyn Waugh, who was certainly no liberal) is "In the wilderness" which is well worth listening to, as it is a rather obscure album track which hardly anyone has heard ...
[IMG: Random Thoughts logo] This is the latest in my series of Random Thoughts posts with links, things found on the web and other stuff that has occurred to me between 20th April 2013 and 29th April 2013: Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform The Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform have set up a new website as part of the Reform Groups Network. Burn our planet or face financial meltdown. Not much of a choice – Will Hutton This is one of the more depressing things I've read recently. But what is for me more depressing is that current political discourse ...
There has been lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth from some quarters regarding the exposure given to some of the more ....errrrm..... colourful views of some UKIP candidates in this weeks local elections. This was really highlighted by UKIP MEP for the North West complaining that this exposure of their candidates was unfair because they were only local people. Well yes, they are and so are all candidates. They are also looking to get elected to Councils, some of which count their medium term income and expenditure in hundreds of millions if not in billions. My advice to them ...
I saw my first independent leaflet yesterday evening. Still none has come through my door but someone was kind enough to show it to me. I still don't know the candidate's views on any subject. He has one positive contribution to make and that is that he is an experienced party politician because he is a member of the Morecambe Bay Independent Party. I have just checked Wiki and they are called Morecambe Bay Independents and the Wiki site makes for interesting reading. The main thrust of the leaflet is that residents should not vote for the three main parties. ...
Ed Miliband recently called veteran US campaigner Arnie Graf to help Labour's ground war. Today Labour have sent an email from Graf, containing this video. The influence of the former Obama advisor is obvious, the video has an emotive single word title and Ed even attempts to lead the crown Obama style 'yes we can' chant. ...
Interviewed by the Sunday Telegraph, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith urged wealthy pensioners who do not need the universal benefits they receive to hand them back to the State. What he didn't say in that interview, or at least it isn't reported, is that pensioners are able currently to inform the Government they do not want to receive, for example, the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP). Some already have, but do you know how many? I got hold of the numbers last week thanks to the Freedom of Information Act. Over 12.6 million people receive the WFP, and for ...
[IMG: Cllr Richard Wilson and a local resident, Ben Myring inspecting a pothole on Inderwick Road] Local people have long complained to local councillors about the state of the road surface, pavements and lighting in Inderwick Road. Lib Dems councillors in the area jointly organised a petition with local resident Ben Myring to force the Labour council to take long-overdue action to fix up the road following years of neglect. Inderwick Road is just one of many streets in need of repair; the council recently admitted that more than half of the footways in the borough need maintenance work. Nearly ...
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Count_the_Corpses/?pv=4
One of the curious things about political parties is how they are organised, and where power lies. It isn't always where you might think, and it isn't always in the hands of the people you think would have it.Whilst most people look at elected politicians and, quite reasonably, assume that they run the show, quite often they have power in the land, but not in their Party. Parties, as opposed to governments, are run by committee. For example, the Leader might want candidate X to be the chosen one for constituency Y. However, Committee A might either want candidate Z ...
Over the last twelve months, as Liberal Youth's Policy Officer, I served under four different Liberal Youth Chairs, on two Federal Policy Committee terms, though 3 different sets of Liberal Youth elections and worked with over 20 different executive officers. It is fair to say that Liberal Youth has been through a turbulent time over the last 12 months but look what we have achieved. Our increased involvement in major by-elections and the up-coming local elections, (which has not gone unnoticed by our minsters in government), an increased turnout at Liberal Youth elections and for the first time since I ...
Something I forgot to put up here – a new book review, which was published in the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice (perhaps still better known by its old name, 'Benefits'). The book I reviewed was The Cost of Inequality: Three Decades of the Super-Rich and the Economy, by Stewart Lansley, and which came out ...
It is a question I often ask myself when laying in bed or sitting on the throne, if I could go back to (and then I think some random date) would I go back and I ponder how happy I was at that time compared to how I am now etc. Well in the interests of a blog post I thought I'd look back at how I was at the end of April every year for the past ten years and see if I'd go back to that time or not. Note: Obviously I'd go back in time and just ...
Mon 29th
15:25
Opinion: Rearguard action and damage limitation are poor substitutes for a coherent Liberal Democrat...
The Government's partial U-turn on Section 3 of the Equality Act needs to be seen against a backdrop of other changes to the equality and related social justice legislation. These include: • New restrictions on the ability to challenge the state with restrictions to judicial review • Tribunals fees of up to £1,200 coming in this summer • An Increase of the general unfair dismissal qualification from 1 to 2 years • Reductions in the consultation period for redundancy • The end of crucial protections in discrimination such as questionnaires and protection from 3rd party harassment • Legal aid providers ...
Below are some local diary dates which I hope are of use: Prestwich Artisan Markets The dates for the next Prestwich Artisan Markets (the 'farmers market'!) are: 26 May 2013 at the Longfield area in the Village Centre. Future dates are: 25 August 2013, 1 December 2013, 30 March 2014. More information Prestwich Clough Day This years Clough Day takes place on Sunday 12th May from 12 noon to 5pm. Entrance is FREE! There will be over 50 Activities and Stalls, including Live Music, Animal Attractions, Crafts, Charities and many more. The Clough Day is held at St Mary's Flower ...
[IMG: King's Game - DVD cover] The leader of an opposition party is hospitalised after a horrific car crash days before polling day. Rivals to be his successor maneuver for support. A journalist looking to make his name on the political beat has a sniff of a story. Many political thrillers have raw ingredients similar to that. What raises King's Game above them is the skill and the freshness with which they are combined. The freshness of course is aided to British eyes by this being another great Danish thriller (featuring, amongst others, Lars Mikkelsen, he of The Killing, Borgen ...
The beautiful ponies at the Brae Riding for the Disabled are looking particularly well groomed today after receiving a donation of new grooming kits from Barney's Fund. Along with two of my Barney's Fund committee colleagues, we had the pleasure of attending a presentation and photocall at The Brae at lunchtime today - see below: Over the last 2 years, Barney's Fund committee have been supporting local groups and charities who demonstrate an active role in fundraising for their group. The Brae is a fine example of a community based initiative and since they opened their doors 5 years ago ...
[IMG: Picture - Morgan] Liberal Youth can campaign. Liberal Youth can recruit. Liberal Youth can train. But Liberal Youth cannot forget our crucial Policy portfolio. Solid policy forms the backbone for all other work we do; our innovative policies attract new members to our cause, our campaigns endeavour to change policy and we get our candidates elected to implement liberal policy. This is why I am utterly committed to making Liberal Youth policy comprehensive, professional, and engaging; to provide us with strong foundations in the run up to 2015. Liberal Youth's policy independence from the federal party is an asset ...
I was very pleased this morning to be one of a large number of people (see some of whom - right) who took part in a photocall outside The McManus to celebrate the submission of Dundee's Bid Document today to become UK City of Culture 2017. The Bid Team has advised: "The bid itself plays strongly to the strengths of the creative and cultural sectors in the City. It puts forward the case that we will build on our strengths and develop a sustainable City of Culture, the legacy of which will be strong community engagement. The bid recognises the ...
Inside Housing reports a speech that the former Lib Dem leader made to the Chartered Institute of Housing south west conference in Torquay on Friday. Paddy Ashdown said: "The demonisation of the poor, which has been going on there is no doubt about that, is extremely unhelpful to the nation and very unhelpful in getting through these changes which I think are necessary and helpful to the country."And we will continue to fight that and continue in this government to restrain them [the Conservatives] from doing things that are either damaging to those that least able to bear the burdens ...
It is hardly sale of the century but for those who are interested in collecting political memorabilia, the prospect of buying the bike at the centre of the Andrew Mitchell 'plebgate' row is now a reality. The Independent says that the the former chief whip has put the bike onto ebay and plans to give the proceeds from the sale to the charity, Nyumbani UK, which helps HIV and AIDS affected children in Kenya. They say that according to the listing, the 22-inch framed bicycle has 18 gears and comes complete with a wicker basket and lights. As of 12.45 ...
They say its hard to get a man to understand a thing when his salary depends upon him not understanding it, and there is no better example of this than Bernie Ecclestone's apparently innocent insistence that life is so good in Bahrain, that there is no problem in hosting Grands Prix there for the foreseeable future. And this despite repeated calls on Formula 1 from Bahraini civil society to boycott Bahrain on account of the country's brutal suppression of it's own population. I should disclose that I love the Grands Prix. I shouldn't as it represents all kinds of excesses, ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... The best 2p anyone ever spent in the Liberal Democrats | Mark Pack The best 2p anyone ever spent in the Liberal Democrats via @MarkPack > http://bit.ly/ZYjphh (Value up five-fold since, I reckon) It's not a snoopers' charter, it's a life-saver – Telegraph Ex-LibDem MP Alex Carlile again proving he is really an ex-liberal > It's not a snoopers' charter, it's a life-saver http://bit.ly/16aAH2Q Send to Kindle
The Western Mail reports on a new investigation into a historic child abuse at care homes in North Wales, which they say has unearthed "significant" fresh evidence of "systematic and serious sexual and physical abuse". They add that detectives probing the activities of a paedophile ring operating in North Wales care homes have identified 76 new alleged victims of abuse: Chief Constable of North Wales Police, Mark Polin, said a total of 140 allegations of historic child abuse in North Wales have been recorded since concerns were broadcast in November 2012. He said the 76 new people who have come ...
Mon 29th
13:21
Dissertation Proposal: Mutual Learning Partnerships: Can alternative mutual financing mechanisms pro...
Background and Introduction This study will begin by investigating the market for UK domestic post-graduate studies, the costs involved, how the benefits to society, individuals and employers are distributed, and a variety of currently used methods of financing participation. I will briefly review the case for further increase in levels of post-graduate participation and attempt to identify where "market failures" may be occurring preventing sufficient levels of investment in post-grad education, whether public or private, philanthropic or commercial. The primary focus, and hopefully significant impact, of this study, however, will be to develop an innovative model of mutual financing for ...
Last week the otherwise excellent Leader of the House, Lord (Jonathan) Hill, dismissed my complaint that he was claiming both democratic legitimacy, and effective assessment of, the merit of topics for debate because they were subject to a "ballot". This was his justification for resisting the election of a Backbench Debates Committee: the current "ballot" for "balloted debates" (he used the description several times) provided a better mechanism for choice. Because we all wanted to move on to more serious discussions (especially the NHS) I didn't take up more of the time of the House, but – in this case ...
The Archbishop of Canterbury warned on Monday night that Britain was mired in an economic depression and called for major steps to drag the country out of it, including the breakup of a major bank in order to create regional lenders. So reports the Guardian this morning-it then goes on with a peon of praise for Labour who never thought of the idea in office and ignore those (chiefly Lib Dems) who urged them to do. This tells us more about the Guardian than it does about the state of politics. The recent Lib Dem policy drawn up after a ...
Saturday's rally started off very lively at Acton Park where I marched with the many anti hospital downgrade protesters (friendly ones that is). With me was a number of the Liberal Democrats from Southfield, Acton and the area including Councillors Andrew Steed and Jon Ball. It was noted by one person present that there were no Conservatives present at Acton. I guess people can make up their mind as to why that was. Me at the front of the rally in Acton We marched to Ealing Common where we met with the sister march that had come the longer distance ...
With the Ainsdale, Birkdale & Churchtown Library Group still working to try and save Southport's three threatened branch libraries, it was the main Southport Library which was under threat on Saturday when it was invaded by pirates. The new Atkinson Library hosted a Pirates Day with more than 50 local children attending . Captain Sam Shaw (pictured with shipmate Beth Norris) led the children in a two hour festival of fun and games featuring a treasure hunt and a pirate singalong. He said: "It was great to see so many children enjoying the new library, but not so great when ...
Political betting has an interesting widget you can see HERE. Rather than the usual "who would you vote for if a General Election was held tomorrow" sort of question it asked for a preferred outcome. The overall figures are not especially interesting with 29% wanting a Conservative outright win, 29% Labour and 22% a coalition. I assume the rest wanted a different result to the 4 offered or
Something is happening on the centre ground of British politics. An exodus. The Conservative leadership is being lured to the right. Ed Miliband is pulling his party to the left. Only the Liberal Democrats are holding firm. That creates an opportunity for our party. Over the last twenty years the centre has become a crowded place. First New Labour pitched up, determined to demonstrate a new found credibility on the economy. Then followed a detoxified Conservative Party, hugging hoodies and frolicking with huskies. Yet now – in what, in time, may prove to be a highly significant political shift – ...
Last weekend, the British media suddenly discovered that the RAF is flying American-built drones. They made this discovery because, on Saturday, there was a march from Lincoln to nearby RAF Waddington to protest about the use of these drones. The demonstration was not that large (estimates vary between 200 and 600 people), but it has at least served the purpose of raising awareness of the issue. The puzzle is why it was not until this demonstration that the media realised the RAF had any drones at all. The RAF operates a fleet of ten Reaper drones. The aircraft are all ...
South Gloucestershire Council's Road Safety Team and Avon & Somerset Police are carrying out free child car seat safety checks today (Monday 29 April) between 8.30am and 4pm at the Fire Station on Station Road, Yate. So far 44 seats have been checked and 8 out of 10 were found to require adjustment. Similar events will be held in South Gloucestershire between June and August.
North of the Border, the war on smoking continues. Today, larger shops are no longer allowed to display cigarettes. Now, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP and health spokesperson Jim Hume is introducing a Member's Bill in the Scottish Parliament which will ban smoking in cars where children are present. His proposal will be put out to public consultation from 28th May. Talking about his plan over the weekend, he said:The tobacco display ban is another welcome step in changing Scotland's relationship with smoking which began with the ban in smoking in public places. But more can be done in our journey ...
[IMG: Jim Hume] North of the Border, the war on smoking continues. Today, larger shops are no longer allowed to display cigarettes. Now, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP and health spokesperson Jim Hume is introducing a Member's Bill in the Scottish Parliament which will ban smoking in cars where children are present. His proposal will be put out to public consultation from 28th May. Talking about his plan over the weekend, he said: The tobacco display ban is another welcome step in changing Scotland's relationship with smoking which began with the ban in smoking in public places. But more can be ...
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Reeves, looks like being in line for a promotion when she returns from maternity leave. James Kirkup reports in today's Telegraph: The source said: "The Tories want to talk about the last Government, but people like Rachel weren't even in Parliament at the time, so it's harder for ...
It's very interesting to read what Derek Hatton has to say about the Militant era. Most of it pure invention! There are not many of us left in any Party that were active in the 80s but I was there ... Continue reading →
A new planning application has been received which is within your Ward (Prestwich – Holyrood) as detailed below:- Application number: 56158 Type of application: Full Date Registered: 22/04/2013 Location: 3 Willingdon Drive, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1PA Proposal: Two storey extension at rear Plans will be available to view on the Council's website here (use the planning application number to search). Any questions or if I can help please just get in touch. Tim
The Daily Mail has found a story that combines all its fear and hate and sheer bonkers fantasy in one go : the spy in the fridge. The rant with pictures is about devices which would shut off domestic appliances automatically to avoid power cuts. Here's how the Mail sees it and the true picture: 1) Daily Mail: EU Conspiracy An " EU-wide body of energy regulators" has suggested it to the
A new planning application has been received which is within Holyrood Ward as detailed below:- Application number: 56206 Type of application: Full Date Registered: 24/04/2013 Location: 11 Brooklawn Drive, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2GS Proposal: Two storey extension at side (resubmission) Plans will be available to view on the Council's website here (use the planning application number to search). Any questions or if I can help please just get in touch. Tim
As is normally the case I missed Full council Thursday night, I was selfishly spending time with my family andE4 Comedy night - my one and only vice. As usual I did diligently read through some tweets from those more dedicated than I and it appears one of my favourite subjects was debated, CCTV. I know that within Liberal circles it is somewhat of a dirty word, an obvious tool of the state to oppress and supervise its' citizens. This myth of the uniformed guard sat watching you as you walk down the street, that you are zoomed in on ...
[IMG: Mary-Beard] Professor Mary Beard (Cambridge University's "wickedly subversive commentator on both the modern and the ancient world") explains on her A Don's Life blog why she'll be voting for the Lib Dems' Belinda Brooks-Gordon this week: Since the Iraq War I have been a semi-floating voter. Up to then I had been Labour by default (unless tactics demanded — as they sometimes did in Shropshire — that one put one's cross by what was back then still the Liberal Party). Since then I've looked afresh at each election for someone, somewhere on the left, the less Blairite the better. ...
Bated breath isn't quite the right description, but I am patiently waiting for the government's official response to the so-called Boyle Review, the independent review I led into barriers to choice in public services. More on that later (I hope). But one of the areas I looked at in the review, and returned to in my new book Broke, is the difficulties parents have getting the information they want from school league tables. The problem with league tables and targets is that they tell you a great deal about how institutions conform to what the government wants, and not much ...
Yesterday, Nick Clegg did a long and quite technical interview with Andrew Neil on the Sunday Politics. They talked about the fragility of the economy, measures taken by the Coalition to boost construction and manufacturing and the Green Investment Bank. They also talked about Nick's decision to kill off the so-called Snoopers' Charter. Neil showed him quotes from senior police officers and he said quite unequivocally that the Police had enough powers already. You can watch the whole interview here and for a quick summary, I've done a collection of my tweets on Storify. * Caron Lindsay is Co-Editor of ...
Sorry, got caught up with election business and forgot to post this on Friday. And after the rush the week before, this week there's just one: 130749: Listed building application for internal layout alterations, High Street. Please note that I am a member of the Council's Planning Committee for this municipal year. This means that I'm required to act in a 'quasi-judicial' manner with regard to applications before the Committee and as such, can't make comments in favour or against planning applications as I may then have pre-judged them before they come to Committee. I can give advice on planning ...
Ken Clarke — the thinking man's Conservative — has aptly described UKIP as a rallying point for waifs and strays. Though some of its members — and presumably its MEPs — are genuinely motivated by a belief that the European Union is the worst thing since the Third Reich a great many of its supporters ...
Months after abandoning its fat tax because it inflated prices for people and cost jobs. Denmark is set to abolish punitive taxes on fizzy drinks and cut beer duty because... errrm....it inflated prices and cost jobs. All three taxes also led to a boom in cross border shopping From MSN news A soda tax in Denmark didn't lead to people drinking fewer sugary beverages. Instead, they just headed next door to Germany, where sodas were cheaper. The Danish government's clumsy attempt to promote healthier habits by taxing soda and beer has instead boosted business across the border in Germany, where ...
[IMG: Lib Dems winning here] There are just three campaigning days left until this Thursday's local elections taking place across much of England.* It'll be tough-going for the Lib Dems... The last time these seats were fought, in 2009, was a high water-mark for the party: we polled a national equivalent vote-share of 25%. As I said in my morning-after-the-night-before round-up here, they "were, generally, pretty damn good for the Lib Dems". Since entering government, the party's become used to taking a battering in local elections. As the national polls indicate, our vote share has roughly halved since the Coalition ...
As the site agents for the former GA call centre site move forward legal action in respect of the current site occupation, I am on Radio Tay News this morning about the issue. Click 'play' below to listen:
Royal Mail has announced that changes to postal arrangements in the Dundee West Delivery Office area that were introduced at the end of March will now be extended to the Dundee Central Delivery Office area and this will affect all residents in the DD1 (Central Dundee) area and the DD6 area (parts of North East Fife, including Wormit, Tayport and Newport-on-Tay). The changes are part of the "Way Forward" introduced by Royal Mail and I had already obtained assurances about the quality of service deliver in the Dundee West area, given the problems a similar introduction had caused some time ...
Mon 29th
08:14
Meals on Wheels in Sefton – The loss is being felt – Here is the Lib Dem perspective fro...
Dear Ms *****, Dr John Pugh MP has asked me to thank you for your email and to respond to your concerns on his behalf. The matter which you have raised is very much in the hands of the local Council which, as you will be aware, is presently controlled by Labour councillors based in Bootle. No Southport councillors presently have any say over the priorities of this Council and only last week we were not even allowed to represent Southport people's concerns over local Health Care issues. It is very frustrating. The Sefton Council Labour group when making this ...
Well, well. Cllr Martin Klute is a Labour councillor for St Peter's ward: [IMG: Martin Klute (CllrKlute) on Twitter: Whittington protesters will destry the hospital if they keep going. Is that what we want?]
Yesterday morning's Sunday Worship on Radio 4 reminded me that this year it the 200th anniversary of the birth of David Livingstone. Michael Gove might learn a few techniques from the official Malaŵian primary school history course on Livingstone. viz: 1. Dr Livigstone was a missionary: Stanley was not. 2. Livingstone was kind to Africans: Stanley was not. 3. Stanley used force on Aricans: Livignstone did not.. 4. Livingstone depended on the Bible: Stanley depended on the gun. 5. Stanley fought for his way: Livingsotne negotiated for his way. 6. Stanley was a news reporter: Livingstone was a medical man. ...
As reported in Friday's "Evening Telegraph", I have obtained assurances from the City Council that the new Olympia leisure facility will open on 24th June. The City Architect has advised me: "Having now reviewed matters with the contractor we are satisfied that the contractor will complete within the first week of May that will then give access to Leisure and Culture staff to commence their fit-out,risk assessment and training programmes to meet the targeted opening date of 24th June." A number of constituents have been asking for reassurance it will open in June and it is now looking promising this ...
NHS Tayside's smoking cessation team has launched a new drop-in service on Thursday evenings at Royal Victoria Hospital to help people kick the habit. The sessions which run between 6pm and 7pm, offer people who want to stop smoking the opportunity to speak to a friendly, trained adviser who will discuss treatment options and give support and advice to aid a successful quit attempt. The first session will last about 15 minutes with further weekly sessions lasting around 10 minutes. To find out more about the new drop-in or other support available contact NHS Tayside Smoke Free Services on 0845 ...
