The new Tory campaign advisor, and more recently Obama staffer, Jim Messina has an interesting past: [IMG: Jim Messina] In their quest to promote themselves as political tough guys, did Sen. Max Baucus and President Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina just admit to both crafting one of the most homophobic ads in American history and possibly committing a crime? That's the big question after new revelations buried in this week's fluffy Businessweek profile of Messina... Businessweek explicitly credits Messina with being the architect of the ad, citing it as proof that he "will go a long way to win." Read ...
This monstrosity in phallic pink granite is the cap of the family vault belonging to Richard Christopher Naylor, a Liverpool banker, cotton trader and horse racing enthusiast who owned Kelmarsh Hall from 1864 until his death in 1898. St Denys, Kelmarsh, is very much a church belonging to the big house. The Naylor and Lancaster family graves are well tended, while other parts of the churchyard are almost derelict. And in the porch is a notice saying that the large rural parish of which it now forms part is to be left without a vicar for the next five years. ...
Today saw the funeral of Lawrie Reilly - last of the 'Famous Five'. Here's a tribute video put together by the Hibernian Historical Trust.
The Western Morning News reports: Two months into the licensing window for two pilot culls of badgers to tackle bovine TB, there's no confirmation yet that any animals have been killed. Andy Greenwood reports on the frustrations of farmers and the continued anger of opponents. After decades of inaction by successive governments, Westcountry farmers living with the daily reality of bovine TB believed help was finally at hand. After a long and bitter argument - and in the face of staunch opposition from many conservation groups - the Government finally gave the go-ahead for pilot badger-culling schemes in England in ...
is the link to a radio discusson show that I did the other day about the Israel/Palestine peace talks - have a listen if you're interested in what we all said, including many things that I disagree with, and no, I didn't know the programme's title when I went on, nor do I accept the premise of the question which that title asks.
Over on the Guardian's Comment is Free, Mike Marquusee has a very thought-provoking article entitled "How do we talk about cancer?" It has prompted me to write here about an experience which has profoundly and positively changed my outlook on life, death and cancer. Unlike Mike, I am not a cancer sufferer, so I cannot speak from that experience. But we have just lost my sister, Eliza Lucking, through cancer. There are were nine in my immediate family, including my parents. – A big baby boomer family, taking its post-war repopulation duties very seriously indeed. My five brothers are older ...
[Introduction] I will admit it: I have read very few actual Superman comics. Some, but few. I have opinions about Superman informed by other media and talking to actual fans, so this lineup comes from trusting people, and from the fact that not having read a lot (which is getting fixed slowly) doesn't stop me from having opinions. Supers are: aliens in America; incredibly powerful; motivated by their own morality; champions of the oppressed. 1. SUPERMAN is Clark Kent, adopted son of farmers from Smallville, Kansas, and last son of Krypton, a planet brought to extinction by the actions of ...
The Labour Party has unleashed on the world its list of candidates for the South East Region in the European Parliamentary elections for 2014. Topping it are two of the figureheads for the failure of Reading's Labour Party in recent years. At number one – due to the place being reserved for a woman (no further details available) is Anneliese Dodds, my Labour opponent at the last General Election. Anneliese is one of the more sensible, collegiate and intelligent people I've seen in Labour locally (not saying very much, but I genuinely mean it in her case). She was, however, ...
Whipped: From the desk of the Junior Whip "Have you seen the Leader's office?" an intern asked wonderingly. "They're all in shorts and bare feet. It's like some crazy progressive school." It's different in here. Though the Chief Whip is no lover of hot weather - he is more of a drizzle man, to be honest - he insists that standards of dress are maintained. Otherwise, he fears, MPs may start thinking for themselves - "and that's not what Liberalism is about". The Conservatives solved the problem of keeping their troops busy in the hot weather by spreading rumours of ...
Here is Jeremy Browne, quoted on his own website, speaking out earlier today: "Taunton Flower Show is one of the great events in the Somerset social calendar. It seems to be getting bigger and better every year. I enjoyed the vast range of stalls this year, including the high number of arts and crafts stands. The main flower displays continue to be spectacular. Organising the Taunton Flower Show is an enormous task and the volunteers deserve huge credit for putting together such a fantastic event."That's very interesting, Jez, buy what we'd really like to know is your view on this ...
Stockport Council is piloting email alerts to deliver information relevant to you right to your inbox. [IMG: emailalerts] Sign up on the Council website. This is a pilot – we think it's a good idea and we'll be keen to hear from residents on how it can be improved.
Recently I was sat in a GP's surgery waiting for him to type out a prescription for me. Until that point I had been nothing but impressed with his patience and knowledge. Then I saw how painfully slowly he attacked the keyboard, poking at it with a few select fingers as if it was too hot to touch, swiftly withdrawing his fingers to safe distance after each quick poke at a key. The prescription that rolled off the computer was accurate, so what was the problem save for a few extra seconds passed in chit chat whilst he did the ...
Is science - as it's currently constituted - up to the challenges of the 21st century? This week's series of articles about the greens and science has already asked whether or not environmentalists are supportive enough of science and whether scientists are doing enough to persuade people about the importance and credibility of their work. But what about the science itself? Is it really up to the job of tackling the big issues of the 21st century? For the past five or more years I have been one of those championing a pro-technology position within the environment movement, arguing that ...
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe: Also on YouTube.
[IMG: russian red:they don't believe] My mind is sometimes blown by the utterly stupid ideas which come out of the government on road safety. Allowing people to turn right at red lights was one. As they say on Twitter "FFS". Raising the national speed limit to 80 mph was another. It's as if some people in government live on a different planet. The latest bonkers idea from the Planet Zog is to let people wait for 15 minutes parked on yellow lines. So how the hell do we know how long they've been on the yellow lines you stupid dumb ...
I have been asked for figures as to the total number of children taken into care. I make a distinction between those children voluntarily placed in care under S20 and those subject to a care order (interim or final) emergency protection order or taken into police protection (often called wrongly a police protection order). These are the figures I have. 1993 4,000 1994 5,100 1995 5,600 1996
I agree with Vince Cable that the "go home" poster vans are "stupid and offensive". Krishnan Guru-Murthy put it very well on Channel Four News when he said that every non-white person growing up in this country in the last thirty or forty years has, at some time or the other, had the abuse "Go home!" thrown at them. And therefore the vans are incredibly clumsy and insensitive. One extraordinary detail is that the vans scheme has cost £10,000. In government terms that is a molecule in the ocean. Minute. And yet the vans have caused an enormous ruckus which ...
Last Wednesday was the 2013 judging day for Maghull in Bloom in respect of the various entries into North West in Bloom. It seems, although we don't know, that the judges were impressed with what they saw across the Town. As chair of the Steering Group I met with the two experienced judges at Maghull Town Hall and explained to them how our Steering Group works and why it is useful in bringing together volunteers, councils and other bodies on a monthly basis to discuss projects, objectives and problems that have been encountered. [IMG: Ann Hill of Maghull in Bloom ...
A Lib Dem leaflet is being delivered in Maghull/Lydiate at present which has an incorrect e-mail address on it for me. It slipped past me during production. Being a Robertson I am used to folk thinking my name is Robinson. So just to clarify my correct e-mail address is t3robertson@gmail.com Sorry for this error.
This week has featured an action packed safari of stuff happening in the garden. From torrential thunderstorms and the hottest day EVER since the last one (and it was very, very hot, up in the mid 30*c range) to really very exciting wildlife turning up. A bird of prey made short work of one of the wood pigeons, snatching it from the conservatory roof in a cloud of feathers. It was too far for the camera to get a very good shot but I think it's a young goshawk. The dragonflies started to arrive, using flower stems and twigs in ...
Another road in dire need of re-surfacing is St Thomas Road and Newport Square. This too is on the list for action and the works will start on Monday 7th October and last for about seven night shifts. The works will take place from 7pm until 7am each day. This will, inevitably, cause some disruption to traffic and to local businesses. I'm keen to try to minimise these problems, so if any local firms or residents have concerns, please get in touch. Tweet
LloydsTSB is now sufficiently strong that the current share price exceeds the price paid by the Government at the time of the bail-out. These shares can now be sold off and the money returned to the taxpayer. The sums are such that there is the potential to transform access to affordable credit for the most vulnerable in society - those hit hardest by the cost to the public of the original bail-out. Poorer and vulnerable people have continued to suffer disproportionately ever since the bail-out, as incomes from low paid work or benefit payments lag behind inflation. They have faced ...
I have for some time been raising concerns that the wrong children are being taken into care. The threshold for removing a child into care is at times so low that the system gets clogged up with cases where intervention is wrong. I made this point after the death of Peter Connolly. If you look at the trends in terms of numbers the numbers subject to care orders increased dramatically after his
Just under two weeks ago I was proud to be awarded Lib Dem MP of the Year for my work with ethnic and minority communities. I'm delighted to be [...]
The dates for the closure of St Johns Road and Moorland Road for re-surfacing works have been changed slightly. The works will now take place from 12th to 23rd August during the daytime (0730 to 1800). These works will cause considerable disruption as there will be a full re-surface for much of the road surface. There will be a diversion in place, but the best advice is to stay away from the roads if possible. Residents of St Johns Road, Moorland Road, Cowlard Close and George Fox Close who have any questions about the works should contact Jamie Neal of ...
Liberal Democrats beware! War is afoot - a war for the very essence and soul of our party. If we don't fight, the Orange Bookers/Liberal Leftests* will gain control and turn us into imitations of the Tories/Labour*. Some of them want to go further, they would sell us out to the Blues/Reds* wholesale. They must be stopped! Conference in Glasgow marks the last stand. It's time for us all to make a stand and not abandon the party to the Libertarians/Social Democrats*. Fail to act, and the result can only be the fragmenting of this once great party. I and ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Caitlin Moran – a response – Index on Censorship | Index on Censorship Excellent stuff from @MePadraigReidy > Caitlin Moran – a response | Index on Censorship http://bit.ly/144VYZW CentreForum Liberal Heroes of the Week #44: Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour leaders on Redbridge London Borough Council | CentreForum Blog My @CentreForum Liberal Heroes of the Week: 3 Con/LD/Lab councillors from Redbridge. Find out why here » http://bit.ly/15iKowh Nick Clegg effect helps LBC to record 1m listeners | Media | theguardian.com Cleggmania lives! > Nick Clegg effect helps LBC to record 1m listeners ...
The Edinburgh Evening News reports a doubling of the number of new homes built along the soon to be reopened Waverley Line. This is a not unexpected consequence of the reopening - and one that I suspect may not have fully been costed in its cost benefit analysis - given we are still two years away from the first train service. If so it should make the economic case for more rail reopenings that bit more positive.
Fri 2nd
13:19
What the hell are the Home Office playing at - and why are Liberal Democrats letting them get away w...
So, it seems that officials from the Home Office have been showing up at tube stations in London and demanding to see proof of people's immigration status. That would be non white people's status, by the way. The Independent has more... Witnesses who saw the operations in London claimed the officers stopped only non-white individuals, and in Kensal Green said that when questioned, the immigration officials became aggressive.Phil O'Shea told the Kilburn Times: "They appeared to be stopping and questioning every non-white person, many of whom were clearly ordinary Kensal Green residents going to work. When I queried what was ...
My name is Joe Skelton. I am a student at Manchester Grammar school and I am doing work experience with John Leech. One of my projects was to create a [...]
Simon Lewis takes science and the green movement to a relationship therapist If a relationship therapist sat the UK's scientists and the green movement on their couch and asked them how they felt, the discussion, I suspect, would be heated. There is something about environmentalists that manages to irritate and aggravate many scientists. In Mark Henderson's Geek Manifesto, only the greens gets a chapter all to themselves about their crimes against science. Last year saw a rare scientist-led political demonstration rallying a "geekmob". Of all the world's critical issues to address, and all the powerful institutions to be held to ...
Sometimes you just wish that secrets could be kept. The surprise of a reveal of the new Doctor's face at the end of the Christmas special would have been immense. But, sadly, all it would take would be a tweeted picture of a new actor in the vicinity of the Roath Lock studios in Cardiff to tell the world. I wish they'd tried, though. They managed to keep Catherine Tate's appearance in the 2006 Christmas special secret, as she told us the other week. I am a bit gutted that Matt Smith is leaving. While I've been unimpressed with some ...
[IMG: Defectors and the Liberal Party 1910-2010 by Alyn Wyburn-Powell] Idiosyncratic and individualistic though particular defections and defectors may be, the patterns made by aggregating their personal political paths often illuminate wider political trends. Alun Wyburn-Powell has therefore done other historians a great service by systematically documenting the defections of serving and former MPs to and from the Liberal Party and its successors in the century from 1910. One example: parties suffering a severe decline in their political fortunes usually see a drip drip of figures switching to other parties. The absence of such a trend for the Liberal Party ...
The Government acknowledge that Caste discrimination in the UK is a fact. But they were not convinced that legislation against it was necessary until April, when they agreed reluctantly to make caste a 'protected characteristic' under the Equality Act. They appeared to be converted after suffering two defeats on the issue in the Lords and running out of time to complete their programme for the session that was about to end. But since then, Equality Minister Helen Grant has said plainly that she doesn't agree with the proposal, defying the Cabinet Office Code which says that once a decision is ...
Dan Hodges is not impressed with Modern Feminism . He takes "Modern Feminism" as defined by campaigns to get women on banknotes and scantily clad women off newsagents shelves as being superficial and ultimately pointless - "tweaking men's agenda" rather than writing our own. In part, he has a point. I've not been supportive of the No More Page 3 campaign or the Lose The Lads Mags campaign. This is partly due to a dash of liberalism - I'm as much defending a women's right to pose naked if she wants to as her right not to listen to abuse. ...
Last week's Gatley Village Partnership was the last with David Fernandez as Chair. David has chaired the Partnership for six years and we want to put on record our thanks for all his work over that time. The Partnership is now seeking a new Chair. The new Chair must be a member of an existing local group (for example, Gatley Traders Association, SPRING, Gatley Carrs Conservation Group) and must not have a public political profile (so existing councillors and local election candidates from any political party are not eligible). If you think you might like to stand as Chair and ...
Like many others, I let out a sigh of resignation when I saw that yet more appointments are being made to the unelected and unaccountable House of Lords. Nothing against the individuals receiving a peerage this week (some of whom I have known personally and all of whom I'm sure will be excellent representatives), but yet again it's a fairly predictable mix of ex-MPs and party insiders. Liberal Democrats are right to nominate their own choices for these positions - better off having an influence over a broken system than being excluded from it altogether - but it got me ...
a Tory Plan to reintroduce the workhouse This appears to be not just leftie hyperbole (tags: ) Foursquare Does Deal With Turn - Business Insider If you're not paying for the product, you ARE the product (tags: ) At The Movies, The Women Are Gone (tags: ) Penguin's insane policy on electronic galleys for authors - Boing Boing (tags: ) Trolls are not the most depressing part of this week's twitter storm - Blog - The F-Word "however brave and determined Stella and Caroline are to keep participating in public life, there will be others watching and thinking 'I'm not ...
Latest news from the Police.
Recently, David Ward, Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East was suspended from the Party Whip until the eve of Conference in Glasgow over tweets which under some interpretations could question the right of the state of Israel to exist. On their own, they would probably have sparked an email rebuke from Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael. Sadly, though, this is the latest episode in a long running saga, ever since David's ill-considered comments about "the Jews" on Holocaust Memorial Day this year. He was wrong and subsequently apologised and agreed to work with Simon Hughes and Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel ...
Nineteen flower baskets have been organised for Lordship Lane and North Cross Road by East Dulwich councillors and are looking really good in the sunshine. [IMG: Flower Baskest with ED sign] Where do you think needs a local hanging basket?
Following on from yesterday's column by Dan Hodges in the Daily Telegraph reported here, yet more Labour insiders have started to queue up to have a pop at their leader. Today it is George Mudie, the Labour MP for Leeds East, who according to today's Telegraph jumped in to accuse Ed Miliband of being too "young" and has been failing to "set the agenda", leaving MPs unsure what Labour stands for: In a series of coruscating comments, George Mudie, MP for Leeds East and a former Government minister, described his party as "slightly confused" under Mr Miliband's leadership. Speaking to ...
As a PCS member and former Branch Secretary of some 22 years service, this question both concerns and interests me and it features in Private Eye edition 1344. The Eye seems to think that the trade union barons in both of these huge unions will want to merge to create more political muscle and that this could well be outside of shovelling more money into the Labour Party. PCS has helped sponsor trade union candidates for UK elections and did so at the recent Eastleigh Parliamentary by-election. Clearly, it was PCS (and other unions) waving two fingers at Labour; trouble ...
Yesterday the Government announced it is considering extending the fuel discount that currently applies to the Scottish Islands and the Isles of Scilly. This would reduce the cost of a litre of petrol or diesel by a maximum of 5p per litre benefitting areas like Powys greatly. Fuel prices in Brecon and Radnorshire are amongst the highest in the UK. We live in a remote rural area where a car is more of a necessity than a luxury and we constantly feel the financial hit when at the pump. An extension of the fuel discount to Powys, reducing the cost ...
The Guardian reports: Two activists from the far-right British National party (BNP) in Cumbria have been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred over an election leaflet that apparently equated Polish people with monkeys. The leaflet claimed Polish people were paid to deliver Labour election literature in the local council elections in May, and included a picture of a monkey delivering Labour propaganda as well as the slogan: "Labour has given the Poles our kids' houses." At the time Barbara Cannon, the Labour agent in Allerdale, said the leaflet appeared to contravene the Public Order Act, which prohibits publication ...
The British public would like to see marked changes in the way energy is supplied, used and governed. That is the conclusion of Transforming the UK Energy System: Public Values, Attitudes and Acceptability, a new study by the UK Energy Research Centre: The core conclusion from the research is that the British public wants and expects change with regard to how energy is supplied, used and governed. Members of the public are positive about the need for energy system change and they do not prioritise the demand side over the supply side, or vice versa, as being in greater need ...
Fri 2nd
08:13
Paging Clegg and Browne: why has the Home Office given up on innocent until proven guilty?
[IMG: Home Office logo] Why has the Home Office started calling people arrested "offenders"? Arrested – not charged, not tried, not found guilty but only so far arrested. Innocent until proven guilty is meant to be the theory, and the Home Office should certainly know that. Yet take a look at their press release about yesterday's arrests of people accused of breaking immigration law: Headline - Immigration offenders arrested in Home Office operations Lead paragraph – Home Office enforcement teams have arrested 139 immigration offenders Second paragraph – More than 130 immigration offenders have been arrested Only when you get ...
[IMG: ldv coalition lessons] LibDemVoice is running a daily feature, 'Lessons of Coalition', to assess the major do's and don'ts learned from our experience of the first 3 years in government. Reader contributions are welcome, either as comments or posts. The word limit is no more than 450 words, and please focus on just one lesson you think the party needs to learn. Simply email your submission to voice@libdemvoice.org. Today Nick Thornsby shares his thoughts ... Making a success of coalition government as a concept Making a success of this coalition government meant two things for the Liberal Democrats. It ...
Well, the big running news of the day (aside from the announcement of the Oiselle team...) from the Pacific Northwest is that the Eugene Marathon changed its date from the end of April to the end of July. Now, that's not as crazy as it sounds out here, because our weather is basically amazing all year 'round. And, if anything, it's helpful from a running perspective, because it'll happen after the local runners have had a chance to acclimatize to the heat (or, you know, what we call heat), rather than running the risk of an early hot day when ...
A year ago we set up a tiny community garden on the verges of our barren car park. Not a great deal grew in the first season, but what we produced we tried to give away, sometimes without success. "What will I do with it?" asked J as I offered him a bunch of dirty carrots. A few days ago, I got a glimpse inside J's fridge. Everything was pre-packed, microwave or oven ready, accompanied by step-by-step instructions. J doesn't cook and he is not alone. A review for Defra by Best Foot Forward highlighted that one in six people ...
I recently reported that I had received complaints from constituents that that the "red" light on Hawkhill at the junction with Bellfield Street (heading east) was not functioning properly because the 'visor' was not positioned properly so drivers could not see the red light on the right side of the road. Yesterday, I took part in a site visit with two City Council traffic engineers and I am pleased to say the problem is now rectified. Thereafter, I had a very useful meeting with Balgay Bowling Club and I then had a meeting at Dundee West Church to discuss the ...
Balgay Bowling Club is having its Gala Day later this month and the club has kindly updated me as follows: "Our Gala Day will be held at Balgay Bowling Club, Melville Terrace, on Saturday 31st August between 1pm and 4pm. We plan to have a Tombola & Raffle, stalls for the sale of CDs, DVDs & Books, Cake & Candy, and, for the first time ever, a "Good as New" rail for the sale of ladies clothes and accessories. Tickets cost £1 (children go free) and this includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Weather permitting, we aim to have some games ...
As regular readers of my blog may know, I am a member of the Liberal Democrats. At the moment, saying that in public is scary — I've actually had death threats from people just because they disapprove of my membership of the party. The Liberal Democrats are not very popular, and I can understand this [...]
