Satirist Craig Brown has produced 22 clerihews for the New Statesman. One of them will interest Liberals: John Maynard Keynes Helped workers lose their chains And, by way of relaxation, Wrote The Inflation of Currency As a Method of Taxation.The clerihew verse form was invented by the writer Edmund Clerihew Bentley when he was still a schoolboy. His best known is this: Sir Christopher Wren Said, "I am going to dine with some men. If anyone calls Say I am designing St. Paul's."We need more of this sort of thing in the party. To start the ball rolling: Nick Clegg ...
[IMG: IMG_0483] But in fact, some very special bricks...the first emerging bricks consturcting the new wall around the railway bridge in Newbury over the A339. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
There are some striking similarities between Patrick Mercer's resignation statement this evening and the statement put out by Chris Huhne when he resigned from the Cabinet. Huhne: "This letter is to submit with much regret my resignation as Energy and Climate Change Secretary. I intend to mount a robust defence against the charges brought against me, and I have concluded that it would be distracting both to that effort and to my official duties if I were to continue in office." Mercer: "I am taking legal advice about these allegations - and I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner ...
Since Wednesday a few dozen residents from Coopersale, Epping and Theydon Bois have reported discoloured water coming out of their taps. [IMG: Glass of Water] This seems to be related to mains cleaning work that Affinity Water is carrying out on their distribution network. The discoloured water problem is related to manganese deposits in the water distribution system which have been disturbed by on-going mains cleaning works. The company now thinks it has mitigated much of the problem but in some areas there are still small pockets of discoloured water. Affinity Water will continue to carry out "passive flushing" of ...
From 1992 here are the Stereo MCs with 'Connected':
Between 1968 and the early 1990s, says Boatbuilders of Market Harborough, some 3000 steel canal boats were built by Springer Engineering. This video shows one of them being built, transported to the town's canal basin and then fitted out and decorated. It dates from the 1970s (when the Market Harborough's phone numbers had only four digits) and shows the basin before it was redeveloped and still had the shabby charm that attracted people to inland waterways in the first place. Mill Hill has changed since this was shot too. In those days it was a backwater, hidden away behind Symington's ...
"In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her [...]
In 2007 David Cameron sacked Patrick Mercer "after making allegedly racist comments". However David Cameron was in no doubt that Mr Mercer's comments were racist. Well Mr Mercer has again made the news and this time has quit the Tory whip. We should discover the reasons in the near future when Panorama is next on our screens. So Mr Mercer made racist comments and lost his job as a minister but not as an MP. This time it looks like parliamentary rules have been broken. So how does a racist Tory MP who breaks parliamentary rules keep his job? Wouldn't ...
Page 20 of this week's Advertiser tells you that the council will snaffle 20.54 acres of open space at Belle Vue. Despite the artificial rhetoric about all the open space that will be left after the Academy and Leisure Centre is built, the words are very plain. The council intends to appropriate land which consists of open space to use for an Educational Academy and Leisure facilities. You can see a copy of the plan at County Hall, and are assured that it will consider any objections to the proposed appropriation. They don't actually say "consider and reject" any objections ...
Gareth Epps welcomes a new report by the Liberal Democrats' race equality taskforce. He says it "the subject of a joint conference on Saturday in London held by Social Liberal Forum (London) and Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats (EMLD). The Conference features the party's deputy leader Simon Hughes MP, Business Secretary Vince Cable MP and (among others) a former Premiership footballer and Show Racism The Red Card campaigner. (I'm saying a few words too, but don't let that put you off)." More about the conference here. Hurry over to the Libertine to see who won the Liberal Youth elections. Obama, Merkel ...
Beating the Bounds with the good folk of Caterham In an ancient tradition that has gone on for three or possibly four years, the parishioners of Caterham on the Hill spent the first day of the May Bank Holiday "Beating the Bounds." This involves walking around the boundaries of the area looked after by Caterham on the Hill Parish Council with a small group of recently retired ramblers, tapping with sticks the various municipal marker points to make sure that they are still there. Caterham is lucky enough to have two parish councils bearing its name, one for the bit ...
Message to councillors from the district council As part of the Localism Act, under the Community Right to Bid, we are required to publish an 'Assets of Community Value' list. In order to populate the list we are inviting parish councils and local community groups to nominate assets that they believe are of community value. We are running an initial nomination period which aims to raise the awareness of the Community Right to Bid and encourage groups to make nominations. This initial nomination period runs until the 19 July 2013. The deadline of 19 July 2013 allows us to give ...
The media is full of stories about food banks and how they have grown to keep up with rising demand. Inevitably politicians face questions from the media about it and pull out a few well prepared responses indicating it was the other sides fault. Ed Miliband has said it was Cameron's fault, Cameron says it increased 10 fold under Labour. Cameron is statistically right, but if you look simply
Last night I attempted to pour cold water on the rumour that Nigel Farage will stand against Nick Clegg in Sheffield Hallam at the next general election. What I did not know was where that rumour came from. So thanks to Asa Bennett for sending me the link to his post on LondonlovesBusiness (and for linking to this blog there too). Asa writes: Rumours about the UKIP leader's Parliamentary intentions for Clegg's Sheffield Hallam seat were set alight on Wednesday night when London cabbie Neil Johnson, after having one of Farage's "inner circle" in the back of his cab, tweeted ...
Broomsdene tip has ceased to be. Your rubbish will now need to be taken to the Annfield Plain Household Waste Recycling Centre. Funny how it's happened just days after the election and just after the architect of its closure has exited the political scene!
It's Friday. It's five o'clock. Here's a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week: 5 most-read stories on LDV this week Simon Hughes MP writes...My vote on the same sex marriage bill (92 comments) by Simon Hughes Jo Swinson: Don't tell your kids they're beautiful, they'll get issues (41 comments) by The Voice A short history of the market (36 comments) by Anthony Hawkes Opinion: Liberal Democrats for a Republic (50 comments) by Matthew Hulbert Is it time for retailers to lose the Lads' Mags (38 comments) by Caron Lindsay 5 sample LDV Members' Forum threads 1. Housing ...
My ward colleague, Cllr John McClurey, and I headed up to Marley Hill Community Centre this morning to make our first delivery of books to the library we are setting up there. A Land Rover load of books was deposited by us under the stage in the main hall. We will find out whether or not this experiment in recycling 2nd hand books will work soon. We booked the date of the first two library
In April Claire Young carried out a survey in Dodington Road (the road that runs past Chipping Sodbury School and into the country area) to find out what people thought about various options for pavements to increase pedestrian safety. Most people supported both extending the pavement on the school playing field side to a safer crossing point and creating a pavement on the same side as the houses from there up to at least the bend. Given the costs, it would be difficult for the Area Forum to fund both in one year, so they have been added to the ...
The applicant has submitted an appeal against the planning committee's refusal of permission to build a wind turbine south of the B4465 between Westerleigh and Codrington. All the original comments will be sent to the appeal inspector, they do not need to be resubmitted, but if you have any additional points to make to the Inspector the deadline is 25 June. You can find details of the appeal by going to the planning portal and using the reference number: APP/P0119/A/13/2196500.
Since starting as UK International Development Minister with responsibility for Africa, I have been struck by the strong growth rates and enormous economic potential of many African countries. But a key block to further growth is the difficulty of trading within Africa due to tariffs, red tape and a lack of infrastructure to connect countries and peoples. Multi-country infrastructure projects – like roads, ports and regional power plants – are complex and expensive. They require political cross-border agreements and policy reforms. This is one of the areas where the African Development Bank's (AfDB) mandate and expertise can help to turn ...
Fri 31st
15:39
Scientists and policymakers: wave goodbye to the valley of death | Paul Harris, Ryan Meyer and Peat ...
We need to ditch misleading metaphors which imply that linking science to innovation or policy is the task of heroic pioneers Powerful metaphors are often used to describe the challenges of linking science to its application and use in the world. We often hear about the gap that needs to be bridged, the chasm between two cultures, the insurmountable barriers or, most evocative of all, the valley of death. The common theme is a separation that can only be crossed at great risk to the career of the intrepid explorer. These metaphors are negative, and can be unhelpful for those ...
[IMG: aberdeen donside hq] Have you recovered from the May elections? Are you raring to go again? Well, obviously you will have things in your own patch to do, but you might also want to help our candidate Christine Jardine in the Aberdeen Donside Scottish Parliament by-election which takes place on 20th June. For those of you far away from Aberdeen, you can phone bank through Connect. If you are within travelling distance, though, Willie Rennie is there today and Jo Swinson is there tomorrow to help Christine's campaign. In an email to Scottish members, Jo encouraged people to join ...
A second phase of consultation for the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road will be open from Monday 3 June to allow residents, businesses and road users to give their views on the emerging preferred scheme. From the 3 June a four page leaflet will be delivered to 85,000 homes throughout areas of Stockport, Cheshire East and Manchester, to give an overview of the scheme and explain how residents, businesses and road users can find out more and comment on the proposals. Further information on the consultation will also be made available on the SEMMMS website www.semmms.info from the 3 ...
It's crunch time for parties across the political spectrum: will parliamentarians do the right thing for our climate and the UK economy or will they let the sceptics drive investors overseas? The Energy Bill returns to the Commons next week, just as the Conservatives are retreating to their traditional political stomping grounds in the face of competition from the right. Writing in Lib Dem Voice last month, Nick Clegg noted that: "Compassionate conservatism has been sidelined...the blue team used to claim to have gone green, yet have now publicly denounced the importance of environmental protections". It's up to the Liberal ...
A government minister has pointed out that Cornwall Council has missed out on £12 million through non-collected council tax. And he's right to say that every pound not collected is a pound that cannot be spent on local services. That is why Cornwall Council does so much to make sure that we collect as much of the council tax and business rates that are owed to us as possible. Anyone with a passing interest in Cornwall politics will know that I have been in that position myself. I know that Cornwall Council does not give up on getting the money ...
What happens when 14-18 year old science students are asked to debate science policy? Can science and technology help bring us out of the economic crisis? What areas of science research should be prioritised? How should university science degrees be funded? Should the public have a say in investment in science and technology? These are mighty questions that cause many an experienced policy maker or scientist to scratch their heads. They are the subject of much heated debate and there are certainly no easy answers, especially in times of financial austerity when tough choices about funding need to be made. ...
Just when the residents of Kensey Valley Meadow thought that they were done with developer Elan Homes... One aspect of the development that is still under the control of Elan is the maintenance of the open spaces on the estate. Cutting the grass and pruning the bushes is a responsibility that has not been handed over to Cornwall Council - although residents are assured that this is the plan. The trouble is that Elan have not been doing the job they are meant to. The grass has not been cut this year and is now knee deep. The experience of ...
As if it wasn't bad enough that the Labour leader finds himself less trusted than Gordon Brown in an opinion poll last week, now some of his party's largest donors are piling in to point out the obvious, Labour don't have a coherent message on the economy. Yesterday's Independent reports that John Mills, the head of the television home shopping retailer JML, has warned the party that it still lacks a "credible" economic message about how to get Britain's economy growing again. He said the party was "policy-light" and had still to develop a "compelling message" to take into the ...
Honestly, I'm beginning to think it's even worse than I originally thought. It's almost become a cliche that when you say you want a Libertarian state people turn around, laugh in your face and say 'Move to Somalia!' So much so that Libertarians have started to make memes mocking this phenomenon. And even though there were roads, railways, health care, education and infrastructure hundreds of years before any government in the world spent over 12% of GDP (1914), people act like were it not for our lords and masters we would all digress into illiterate cavemen and then die from ...
Another day, another UKIP councillor in trouble: A NEWLY elected UKIP county councillor- and former Kings Lynn Conservative borough councillor – is to appear at Peterborough Crown Court today charged with a single count of benefits fraud... The precise charge alleges that he dishonestly failed to promptly notify Fenland District Council that there was a change in his circumstances knowing it would affect his entitlement to benefit. He has been remanded on unconditional bail pending the trial. UPDATE: Oh, and then there's also these two: A UKIP councillor is considering his future at Norfolk County Council after it emerged he ...
Fri 31st
11:57
Opinion: How the government can spend billions on stimulus without borrowing a penny more
In his defence of his dexterously lethargic approach to managing the economy, George Osborne portrays his detractors as Icarus-like figures forgoing prudence to pursue fantastical growth amidst the sunny uplands forever just beyond the next horizon. The Chancellor would contrast himself as a wise head trying to counsel Icarus towards caution, as Daedulus did in the Greek myth. But if Icarus was wrought low by over-reaching himself and flying too close to the sun, Daedulus's demise came when he couldn't escape from a labyrinth of his own creation. Osborne is risking this outcome. I described the Chancellor's economic management as ...
In February last year I put forward a successful Lib Dem Council motion to see 20mph limits introduced on all of Manchester's non-major residential roads. I am delighted that [...]
Our politicians and media are outraged that the wicked Spanish (and possibly the Portuguese as well) are refusing to honour the Ehic card (which used to be the E111 form) which guarantees access to health services at the same level of nationals to innocent and trusting British citizens travelling within the European Union. What perfidy. At the same time our government is being arraigned before the European Court of Justice for its failure to honour the EU commitment that social security benefits should be available to to all EU citizens working in other EU member countries on the same basis ...
[IMG: Clive Woodward] Of course, to find out how to make the best use of IT in an election campaign see 101 Ways To Win An Election.
The abject failure of housing policy is among the biggest challenges facing this country yet it barely gets a mention on the hustings or in any political debate. (Anthony Hilton, Evening Standard, 28/05/13) [IMG: House Prices High Monitor Showing Expensive Mortgage Costs] There was a time when the stance taken by the major political parties on housing issues was a key General Election battleground. But that was half a century ago. With high costs and insecurity pervasive, the UK housing market is evidently very sick at the moment. This has significant short- and long-term consequences for the broader macroeconomy and ...
A recent item at this blog posted by Editor, 'EU-it really is getting sillier by the day', refers to the attempt at an EU ban on serving olive oil in restaurants except in packaged bottles, and the reversal of this idea of by the Commission. While I think the item makes a very good point about the persistence of over-regulation by the EU, and proposals which rightly attract public ridicule, the headline at least was a bit harsh. After all the ban was reversed by the Commission. This reality also undermines the image of the EU as driven by out ...
One of the most inspiring visits I made for the government's Barriers to Choice Review last year was to Middlesborough, to meet people involved in the new Local Area Co-ordination scheme there. Perhaps it isn't the most impressive name to use for something that has turned social care upside down in Western Australia, but it manages to combine higher support from care users and lower costs - which isn't unique, but is a sign that something important is going on. LAC started in Western Australia in 1988, thanks to the social services director Eddie Bartnik. It is now used to ...
Though the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has traditionally focused on countries in central and eastern Europe and central Asia, parallel to the post-2010 Arab Awakening it has been getting involved in the southern and eastern Mediterranean as well, investing in projects, engaging in policy dialogue and providing advisory services to enterprises. [...]
The issue of the Communications Data Bill has found its way back into the national debate in the wake of another tragic terrorist attack. We again face the proposition of the government having the power to access vast amounts of data on our online communications and activates. This Bill would force communications and internet providers to store web browsing history and details of messages sent on social media, webmail, voice calls over the internet and gaming, in addition to emails and phone calls. But also the time, duration, originator and recipient of any communication and the location of the device ...
posted The Blood is The Life 30-05-2013 http://t.co/6rLo8aS9U8 on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) One from the vaults - Advice to Nice Guys http://t.co/GtdwxvPmRT (tags: (from twitter) ) Doctor Who star Matt Smith interview: I want to be the new Stanley Kubrick - Telegraph (tags: ) The secret button at pedestrian crossings This is a thing I did not know. It's very cool though! (tags: ) @vulpeculiar @thasceles I could be Legitimate Businesswoman Jennie! http://t.co/5Tt5JuLtiq (tags: (from twitter) ) OMG WANT: http://t.co/Z73sQuQT5l (tags: (from twitter) ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-footed_Booby @RassilonForever what colour are the feet of Rassilon? ...
I don't know about readers of this blog but this simple response to a potentially difficult encounter between cultures has helped to restore my faith in human nature. I am not a religious person in any way yet I can't but admire the approach of the community who use the York mosque in response to white extremists who unfairly seem to think that any Muslim person is a potential terrorist and/or needs to be protested about. When I heard the leader of this York Muslim community being interviewed on the radio he was clearly a decent man responding ...
(Blog about the day to follow tomorrow...)
Fri 31st
08:55Opinion: Is it too much to ask that our MPs understand the health impact of air pollution?
The events of last week in Woolwich totally dominated the media, and quite rightly so. However there was an opinion poll that was published last week that also deserves some attention. In April Dods interviewed 101 Members of Parliament - that is almost one in six of them - about their attitudes towards air pollution as a contribution to premature deaths. The MPs interviewed were broadly representative of Parliament, with 47 Conservative MPs taking part, along with 40 Labour MPs, 9 Liberal Democrat MPs and 5 MPs from other parties. Why is this poll so significant? The simple answer is ...
Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary has been in Leighton Hospital yesterday as he is concerned about the care that is being offered by A&Es. He was fairly measured in his remarks when I saw him on the regional Granada news and he mentioned the ageing population as a cause of the pressure which was not the fault of any government. We also heard from Liverpool, where the A&E was forced to close over the bank holiday weekend, and that there had been an unprecedented 8% increase in demand for their services. We also learned that many A&Es were at ...
There are two meetings scheduled for Blyth Town Council next week. Both are at Arms Evertyne House 4th June, 6:30 pm , Allotments Committee 6th June, 6:30 pm, Policy Working Group I am never sure if the public are able to attend the PWG , but as it appears on the list of meetings on the council's website, I'm publicising it here.
Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking at a packed meeting of tenants at the Blackness Court Sheltered Housing Complex. We had a good discussion about local issues such as parking, pavement condition, bin collections and other matters and also discussed forthcoming local events such as the Festival of Volunteering and WestFest. It was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours and I am grateful to all who attended and participated.
The City Council is again holding concerts on the Bandstand on Magdalen Green over the summer, along with concerts at Baxter Park and Barnhill Rock Garden. Details below : You can download a high quality PDF of this poster here.
There needs to be significant improvements in the performance of Accident and Emergency departments in Wales after statistics released this week show that targets have once again been missed. The Welsh Government's target is for 95% of patients to spend less than four hours in A&E. Figures released have shown that this target was missed as 84.3 and 85.9 per cent of patients spent less than 4 hours from arrival until admission, transfer or discharge in March and April 2013, respectively. The Welsh Government's 99% target for patients not to spend longer than 8 hours in Accident and Emergency was ...
Sale of the Mendham Collection The sale of valuable books from the Mendham Collection, which has been in the possession of the Law Society since 1869, has been causing controversy. It is astonishing that this has not been reported in ... Continue reading →
It gives me great delight to blog (after a pause) about a great positive initiative by the Liberal Democrats, from top to bottom. This morning (Friday) sees the launch of a major new report by the party's Race Equality Taskforce, commissioned and with a foreword by Nick Clegg. The report – which is a substantial piece of work, drafts of which I have seen and commented on – will be published today and is the subject of a joint conference on Saturday in London held by Social Liberal Forum (London) and Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats (EMLD). The Conference features the ...
