With the bankrupty of Detroit - what used to be the fourth largest city in the USA - here's Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - one of the early Motown acts. Enjoy...
This morning I sent in my objection to the Yarm Pay & Display proposals from Stockton Council, concentrating on the impact on Eaglescliffe. I leave the consideration of the impact on Yarm to those who represent that ward. My objection is given below: I wish to register my objection to the scheme proposed for Yarm High Street on the following grounds: The research done prior to drawing up
listen to 'Chatting Ashes captaincy with Mike Brearley' on Audioboo I once wrote: When Brearley became England's captain in 1977 it was almost as though Jonathan Miller or Michael Frayn had been put in charge. Brearley was a representative of liberal North London in an age when cricket was still run by the Establishment. He was part of a more enlightened tendency within the game which embraced such figures as John Arlott and the Revd David Sheppard and had its finest hour when South Africa objected to the selection of Basil D'Oliveira for England's 1968-9 tour.That was in 2007, when ...
I've just received details of a recipe competition to come up with ideas for using up leftover food. It's organised by our local waste disposal authority. I've pasted the details below. Entries by budding cooks and chefs are arriving for the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) recipe competition but organisers are calling for more in advance of the deadline on 6th August. The campaign - called 'Make 28 Taste Great' - has been launched in response to the fact that 28% of waste in Merseyside and Halton is food waste. As much as £50 a month can be ...
I have invited some bloggers to nominate a couple of books they have enjoyed recently and write a few sentences about each. Readers are welcome to send me their own choices. I suggested one political and one non-political book, but (as you will see) I don't insist on that. Just send me an email with your choices. Alan Wyburn-Powell Bringing the House Down by David Profumo (John Murray) Before I read this book, I thought that it had a lot going against it. The son of a famous politician trying to cash in on a scandal which happened 50 years ...
Bert Trautmann was a legend not just of Manchester City but of football, and of post-war reconciliation. A German prisoner of war, he was merely months younger than my father. He chose to stay in Britain after the war's end. He became a decorated paratrooper who was one of only 90 out of the 1,000 in his battalion who survived the battle to reach Moscow. City's decision to sign a former Axis paratrooper sparked protests, with 20,000 people attending a demonstration. Over time, he gained acceptance through his performances in the City goal, playing all but five of the club's ...
History was one of my favourite subjects at school and although it ended with "The Causes of the First World War" it gave us boys insights into the story of Europe (including Russia), Imperial China and the Boxer Rebellion, and of course the British Raj in India. But as a I recall no mention was [...]
. Towards the end of the SLF's Manchester conference, held again on the Saturday closest to Bastille Day, Michael Steed stood up to speak. He was introduced by the Chair, Gareth Epps, as a past President of the Liberal Party. Michael reminded the conference that he and I had been in Manchester 40 years ago when he was the candidate in the Manchester Exchange by election - he came within 2000 votes of winning. Now that is a thought to conjure with; what impact would he had if he'd have won ? (I know with an absolute certainty that the ...
We've received the following information from Viridor, who manage the Longley Lane recycling facility. As part of the facilities maintenance there is a current requirement to inspect the inside of the buffer tank that is part of the Mechanical Biological Treatment facility. As such on 17/07/2013, the buffer tank which feeds into the anaerobic digestion tanks was drained to allow access for our maintenance team to conduct an internal inspection. As part of the process grit from inside the tank needs removing to allow for a thorough inspection, the maintenance team access inside the tank via a side panel, and ...
We've received this press release from Cheadle & Marple college about the proposed development on their land. No planning application has yet been submitted. Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College Statement Regarding The Proposed Sale Of College Land Cheadle and Marple 6th Form College believes passionately that young people and other learners deserve a teaching environment fit for the 21st century, and that our local communities should have access to the best educational, sport and recreational facilities possible on their own doorstep. However some of the College's buildings and some facilities remain largely unchanged from the 1930s. Therefore we need ...
To succeed, the UK's network of 'what works' evidence centres will require a culture of genuine freedom and independence Austerity measures and public demands for accountability are making governments across the globe more open to the use of "evidence" in the policy making process. In countries with a strong existing culture of using evidence for policy, this has allowed decision makers to refine, institutionalise and expand the relationship between those who supply evidence (academics and researchers) and those decision makers who demand and use it. In Britain, this climate has led to the creation of an ambitious "What Works" network ...
Fri 19th
16:30
New LDV members' survey now live: your views on David Ward, Trident, all-women-shortlists, and the C...
The new LDV members' survey is now live. So if you are one of the c.1,500 registered members of the Liberal Democrat Voice forum — and any paid-up party member is welcome to join — then you now have the opportunity to make your views known. Questions we're asking this month include: do you agree with the party whip being withdrawn from David Ward for his controversial comments on Israel? what do you think about replacing Trident? do you support plain cigarette packaging and minimum alcohol pricing? are you in favour of HS2? would you support all-women-shortlists in Lib Dem ...
Last night, I attended the latest meeting of the Friends of Riverside Nature Park committee. We were awfully grateful to Janice, committee secretary, for hosting the meeting as our usual venue (Education Centre at the Botanic Garden) was not available. There were useful discussions on a whole host of issues, including forthcoming guided walks (there will be a bird walk in early October and hopefully a geocache walk in the autumn too) and the Friends' participation in Dundee's forthcoming Flower and Food Festival. The great news from last night is that Riverside Nature Park has been shortlisted for an award ...
And finally, ending the week when the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act received Royal Assent, a reminder of the happy scenes when Nick Clegg went out and spoke to the vigil outside. As the London Gay Men's Chorus sang Dancing Queen, he talked about how he hoped that in a few years' time, people would be asking what the fuss was about. He said it was perfectly unremarkable for two people who love each other to want to get married regardless of their gender or sexuality. He also paid tribute to key figures who helped bring the bill about. I've ...
Vince Cable calls for more diversity in the banking system Norman Lamb talks about mutuals in public services Clare Oakley on mutuals in public services With thanks to Anca Voinea, Co-operative News
When MPs are off for their Recess (working hard in their constituencies, of course), the media take more interest in the work of our House. This may explain why a number of journalists were so fascinated by our discussion yesterday of the Profumo affair, whose fiftieth anniversary is this year. Donald Macintyre hoped we were "finally about to hear the authentic inside story of the affair between the beautiful Chirstine Keeler and War Minister john Profumo, whose 1963 resignation sealed the fate of Harold Macmillan's government". Conservative historian Lord Lexden tabled the original question, and pointed out that "a cloud ...
Steve Webb came along to the Social Liberal Conference to give the William Beveridge lecture. As Minister for Pensions and a Professor of Social Policy he is eminently well qualified to do so. He has the advantage of having read Beveridge rather than just assuming he knows what the great man thought. I should begin by saying that there is a Southport connection with Beveridge as he made clear in a letter to Robert Martin the Liberal candidate in the 1945 election 'I am more than sorry not to able to visit Southport during the Election because I will miss ...
The much awaited Trident alternatives report is out; and, within the given parameters, its quite a good one. The party should be happy it forced the MOD to publicly review its nuclear deterrent for the first time. However, the revelation that ballistic missiles are superior to cruise missiles for nuclear deterrent is not really a revelation for even laypersons like myself, and the debate is really about replacing the V class nuclear submarines which carry Trident rather than the missile itself. Retaining the Trident system, which we already operate, would always be a cheaper option than a complete new delivery ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Analysis: How can Spotify help new artists make a living? | Music Ally Very good (fair) analysis > How can Spotify help new artists make a living? | Music Ally http://bit.ly/1bt6qPs (via @popbitch) David Ward has party whip withdrawn over "Jews" comment Lib Dem MP David Ward has party whip withdrawn over "Jews" comment http://bit.ly/15ORRl4
Despite the political and philosophical differences between Labour and the Liberal Democrats there are many policy areas in which the social-democrat Left and Socialists can agree. The Labour think-tank Compass has already sought to foster [...]
The Spring 2013 edition of the Journal of Liberal Democrat History has a fascinating article on the role of Maynard Keynes and William Beveridge in developing Liberal Party policy, culminating in the party's manifesto for the seminal election of 1945. These men took the party's thinking decisively into what is now called "social liberalism". Their vision was inspiring and coherent; much of it is now simply accepted wisdom. But I detect a tendency to treat these men's ideas as holy writ. But nobody can be right on everything, and the world was changing fast. It is interesting to pick out ...
I don't know if you have noticed, but it's hot out there! With the sunshine flooding the region with highs of around 82F (or 27.7oC), this July is set to be [...]
We moan about successive governments, whether or not we support any particular party, but I think we don't appreciate how lucky we are that every five years, we have the chance to make changes. Democracy only works with the consent of the people, and we are fortunate that we do have a right to organise public demonstrations. though these may cost us, the taxpayer, a lot of money on policing! The fact that we have a free press does mean that it is rare for things to get out of control and the police are accountable. Yes, we have had ...
J Sorry for the late nature of this notification, just opened an email referring to the above event, apparently an extravaganza is to take place, er about now 12:00 to 16:00 in Northdown Rd. This is a celebration of Cliftonville West community, for a tenth birthday, just who's is not clear, at least to me. Given the enticement of Live Music, street entertainment, free refreshments, how sad that it is taking place on a working day and not weekend. Still all is not lost I see that the Mayor of Margate will be in attendance along with the deputy chair ...
Fri 19th
11:59Norman Lamb MP writes...The Better Care promise - driving up standards of care across our NHS
It is clear that no single institution has done more to improve people's lives than the NHS, and its generosity and expertise is something of which we are rightly proud. Yet events which have come to light, such as the abuse of people with learning disabilities at Winterbourne View or the grave neglect of patients at Stafford Hospital, have highlighted serious problems within our health service. This week in particular we have seen the publication of two key independent reviews on NHS care, both of which highlight areas in need of urgent improvement. The outcome of the review by Baroness ...
It is now 27 years since Margaret Thatcher's government banned Louis Farrakhan from entering Britain on grounds that he would spark "civil disorder." When I was News Editor of The Voice and later Editor of [...]
There were unprecedented numbers of online searches for 'sunstroke' in the UK this week. But interpreting the scale of the health risk from this data is not a simple task Sophisticated statistical models of historic data produced yesterday's front page estimates of up to 760 extra deaths caused by the current heatwave. Previous research by the same scientists shows that there is a threshold temperature over which significantly more deaths are caused by the heat. Unfortunately the Guardian's Reality Check failed to pick up on this, and questioned the numbers, assuming they were based on a much simpler model. This ...
Fri 19th
10:25LibLink... Willie Rennie: Scots are great, independence will not help us to be greater.
Willie Rennie has been writing in the Times about the Scottish independence referendum. One of the charges that gets levelled at anyone opposed to independence is that we think that Scotland is too poor, too wee or too stupid to go it alone. Except nobody on the pro-union campaign actually thinks that. The SNP use it as something to bash the opposition with but it's a straw man and a flimsy one at that. I have never heard any spokesman for Better Together say "Scotland is too wee, too poor and too stupid" but I have heard people on the ...
Since I wrote this column last week, I have received an award from the Patchwork Foundation for my work with disadvantaged and faith communities. You can read about that [...]
We are well used to teaching England some lessons (the Six Nations for example) though often we need to learn from the English experience as well, such as on health service outcomes, however today is one in which we can smugly look across Offa's Dyke and suggest that we are doing something right. Radio Wales this morning reported that the 5p charge on plastic carrier bags in Wales has been a resounding success. There has apparently been an 81% reduction in their use here. In England the use of plastic bags has gone up. The cultural differences between England and ...
And let's not forget women's cricket: http://t.co/sgdL0YVJoL (tags: (from twitter) ) posted The Blood is The Life 18-07-2013 http://t.co/hRXY6FgzZo on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) World's slowest-moving drop caught on camera at last : Nature News & Comment The pitch drop in Dublin has dripped! Take that, Queensland! (tags: ) Imported bumblebees pose 'parasite threat' to native bees Bee news! Sad Bee news :( (tags: ) posted One of the best things about test cricket... http://t.co/4ru3pK4uLF on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) You're not perfect, and that's okay! « Celeb Spotlight « Denisesalceda Even Thom ...
As the think tank Demos marks its 20th birthday, James Wilsdon looks back at its contribution to science policy. The think tank Demos is celebrating its 20th birthday this week, and yesterday published a book of essays marking 'Twenty Years of Ideas'. At last night's launch, Geoff Mulgan, Demos' founding director, reflected on the fact that although Demos is often portrayed as having influenced the early years of New Labour, many of its ideas - for example, around behavioural economics, happiness, cultural policy and the coproduction of public services - have only recently entered the political mainstream. In his opening ...
My latest Children and Young People Now Blog is here
There are certain issues, mainly related to public health, which end up like Groundhog Day. Last week it was e cigarettes, and the start of this it was plain packaging ( Or Australians I'm not quite sure) and now we are back to alcohol. The public health lobby keep trying to promote the moral panic around alcohol but the official statistics just don't want to agree with them. Back in March. HMRC figures showed how bad the 'alcohol epidemic' is. Here is a nice graph showing their figures Yep, that's right. The 'epidemic' (who knew drinking beer was contagious!) peaked ...
A small tortoiseshell enjoying the baking weather in the garden this week. You can catch up with more photos from the garden this week on Flickr.
Nick Clegg has announced that the pupil premium is rising to £1,300 per pupil per year in primary schools, which is a major investment in disadvantaged pupils and a powerful attempt to shift the huge privileges that flow the other way. It is a definite achievement for the Lib Dems in government. I'm not quibbling about it. But there is a worry about the pupil premium and it is this. It has twin objectives. The first and simplest is that it makes money follow the disadvantaged pupils rather than the other way around. As long as the schools spend the ...
We need an Office of Housing Responsibility to take politics out of housing. Planning minister, Nick Boles said on 17 July 2013. Every government member will be able to campaign with pride on the Localism Act at the next election in 2015, because by 2015 it will have delivered. Nick Boles is wrong. Localism won't have been delivered by 2015. And it never will be until there is agreement on how to solve the housing crisis. Localism is not being delivered because local plans are not being completed. Too many plans are being held up with by a four-way ping ...
It seems few Lib Dem MPs can open their mouth on Israel without being offensive, and Ward and Russell's recent outbursts are just the latest. With a track record that includes Jenny Tonge, Simon Hughes as well as Russell, and now Ward, the Liberal Democrats have a history of taking a very one-sided view of ...
[IMG: Here are the Lydiate Parish Council Team at Coronation Park] The Lydiate Parish Council Team at Coronation Park Last Wednesday evening Lydiate Parish Council conducted an inspection of a number of its areas of public open space. Some are owned by the Parish Council and some are leased from Sefton Council. The condition of play equipment, trees, fences etc. was on the agenda and the expedition was led by the redoubtable chairman of the Council's Amenities Committee Cllr. Andrew Blackburn. Andrew has, in a previous life, been chair of Amenities at Maghull Town Council and he would often lead ...
I think that there are only two meetings of Blyth Town Council next week. Events Committee , Tuesday 23rd July, 6:30 at Arms Evertyne House Planning & Development Committee , 25th July , 6:30 at Arms Evertyne House Agendas for these meetings are on the Town Council website
From the Camden New Journal site: Maajid Nawaz - the writer who turned his back on the agitating Islamist organisation Hitb ut-Tahrir - has tonight (Thursday) won the Liberal Democrat candidacy for the Hampstead and Kilburn parliamentary constituency. He won an internal vote at a private meeting in West Hampstead, and will now take on Labour's Tulip Siddiq and Simon Marcus for the Conservatives at the 2015 General Election. His back story is laid out in his memoir, Radical, in which he explains how he joined Hitb ut-Tahrir and shared its aggressive views in a leadership role. Arrested in Cairo ...
You don't need me to tell you that Sefton Central Labour is in one hell of a mess at present because:- 7, yes 7 of their councillors have resigned in recent times They are fighting pitched battles with people who are trying to defend the Green Belt Their proposed Green Bin tax is about as popular as snow at Harvest! But now the panic button has really been pressed hard as the comrades try to make out that black is white over the Green Bin tax and just about everything else. In a move that surely shows political fear (something ...
Just a ( not very subtle ) reminder that Blyth Town Fair is on this weekend Among the celebreties ( I use that word loosely ) are Fab Flournoy of Newcastle Eagles basketball team and Olivier Bernard ( formerly of Newcastle United ) I won't embarrass them, or the people of Blyth, by quoting how much Blyth Town Council has paid for them to appear
Back in May, I welcomed improvements that the City Council has planned for tennis facilities across Dundee, including a new porous macadam surface for the Victoria Park Tennis Courts. I don't doubt that the Andy Murray success at Wimbledon 2013 will encourage more and more people to take up tennis and so it was good to see the courts at Victoria Park were very well-used last week during the really good weather. But the fact remains that the playing surface is from the old days of red shale and blaise courts and it badly needs upgrading, I asked for an ...
It is about time that the Welsh Government provided certainty to schools in Wales by confirming how long it will continue to fund the Pupil Deprivation Grant. Two years ago, Welsh Liberal Democrats were successful in securing a Pupil Deprivation Grant to help youngsters on free school meals get extra help in school to make sure they fulfil their potential. Our research clearly shows that the grant is raising attainment but in too many cases the schools are unclear how long the grant will continue, and this obviously impacts on their ability to plan ahead. Additionally, I am calling on ...
I originally posted this in 2011 (from a British perspective). Tonight, as Detroit files for bankruptcy it seems worth revisiting it. At a time where public sector pensions have been at the heart of our national debate its worth thinking about what happened in the United States. Why? Because expensive and outdated pension schemes have destroyed the auto manufacturing industry in Detroit and with it the city!Detroit is a city built around the car manufacturing industry. It used to be dominated by the big 3 auto companies - GM, Chrysler and Ford. In recent years the industry and the city ...
