As police come under increasing pressure about that incident with Andrew Mitchell at the Downing Street gates... Stephen Tall and @stackee have found a mysteriously disappearing Labour party website. Where once this image proudly stood... ...you now get a 404 'no page found' error. Even after Michael Crick exposed doubt on the police allegations the site [...]
The power of science blogging has always been the community, its members can find strength there. Alice Bell
Yesterday I reported that Mary Webb's cottage at Lyth Hill near Shrewsbury is under threat of demolition. Mary Webb's novel Gone to Earth was filmed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger in 1950. This video contains footage that Powell shot for his own collection during the making of the film. There are glimpses of the film's stars - including Jennifer Jones and David Farrar - of Shropshire locations and of local people. Of particular interest to Malcolm Saville fans is the footage of gypsy families in the county in that period. Parts 2 and 3 to follow.
Tonight the councillors on the Development Control Committee unanimously refused the proposals for a two-storey McDonalds restaurant and drive-through on Stafford Road in Wallington. There was a huge turnout of local people for the protest and around 200 people stayed for the duration of the meeting.
Wed 16th
22:25
Norman Lamb is surely right: pensioners who own their own homes and have more than £23,000 sav...
"If someone as well as their home has substantial other assets, money in the bank, shares or whatever, should they be expected to use those assets to pay for care? Or should we say, we will always defer the costs of selling their home? If you've got a vast amount of money in the bank, you're quite wealthy, it's desirable that we protect that money but the scheme has to be affordable. If together with owning your own home, you have more than £23,000-odd in the bank, the question is should you be expected to use that money. You are ...
Here's the key question Labour was asking a few months ago: Who do you trust? The Police or Andrew Mitchell? [IMG: labour plebgate pic] According to an official police report, Conservative Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell said to a police officer: "Best you learn your f***ing place ... you don't run this f***ing government ... you're f***ing plebs." Andrew Mitchell is denying it. But he won't admit what he said. And David Cameron is choosing to believe the word of a Tory MP over the word of a hard-working police officer. But, strangely, when you visit http://www.labour.org.uk/plebsforpolice today that question's no ...
It's a little over a year since Andrew Mitchell resigned. Not long after this, the story presented by the Police began to unravel, questions were asked about who leaked what, and investigations began. A lot of investigations.. Let's count them. Investigation 1. Not a formal investigation - but representatives of the Police Federation met with Andrew Mitchell to try and get to the bottom of things - and emerged claiming that his position was untenable. Here's a clip from the FT Investigation 2. The Met police set up Operation Alice to investigate the original incident. No news yet on how ...
Episode 80 of the House of Comments podcast "Going Postal" is out. Myself and Emma discuss the Royal Mail privatisation, drugs policy, Norman Baker and conspiracy theories, whether Jeremy Browne might defect to the Tories and Labour's schools and welfare policies. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here. Other podcasting software e.g. for Android can be pointed here to subscribe. You can download the mp3 for the latest episode directly from here. Or you can listen to the embedded episode below here: listen to 'Episode 80 - Going Postal' on Audioboo Any feedback welcomed in the comments below. ...
This is Gloucestershire quotes the views of two Lib Dem councillors from the county. Klara Sudbury says: "The six week trial to see if free shooting is safe, effective and humane has not only seen the needless slaughter of hundreds of badgers, but high policing costs in keeping the peace in the countryside. "It is an absolute farce that the reason for extending the cull is simply due to the fact that not enough badgers were killed under the original licence, which was estimated to be 850 badgers."And Paul Hodgkinson says: "Extending the cull period will just exacerbate an already ...
People all over Liverpool are this week being told their bins will only be emptied once a fortnight (purple bins). It doesn't affect everyone but it does affect a large proportion of households. At the same time the Council's come up with a new policy on bin collections which has been a lot less publicised than the collection frequency. You can read the whole document at this link but the key points are: * bins are supposed to be out by 6 45 am and back in by 8pm on collection day (good luck checking up on that one!) * ...
Wed 16th
19:40
Greedy, callous fat cats, out of touch with the lives of the people they claim to represent. I found...
There is no justification - as Lib Dems we are aligned to these low life. And I for one am totally ashamed.
Newry and Mourne's District Council's UKIP member Henry Reilly wrote and opinion piece in the Belfast Telegraph today. I have decided that the best way to deal with this is Fisking it line by line (as usually my comments are in red). As a democratic and libertarian party definition of libertarian - a) an adherent of libertarianism b) a person who advocates civil liberty, UKIP believes the state should play only a minimal role in the lives of its people. Marriage for instance, happily existed for millennia without any interference from the state whatsoever so the 1753 Marriage Act where ...
Today the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations published Now for the Long Term, a response to the gridlock in dealing with global problems. Are the new institutions they recommend the only way to respond to these issues? Pascal Lamy, chair of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations, said the Commission's report hopes to "build the bridge between knowledge and action". He argued that today's global challenges are impassable unless institutions - from the UN to universities - are reformed; these organisations must have long term strategies for how to attack long term problems. For example, international energy, water ...
[IMG: 120613-D-NI589-524] I've written here before about my great admiration for Kay Bailey Hutchison, former US senator for Texas. She's a fine role model for aspiring female politicans and would have made a great Vice Presidential candidate for John McCain, instead of Sarah Palin. The Houston Chronicle comes up with a sobering thought. Ted Cruz has replaced Kay Bailey Hutchison as Senator. That's the Ted Cruz who has completely messed up Congress over the last few months. Whereas, if Kay Bailey Hutchison was still senator, in place of Ted Cruz, she would have undoubtedly been part of the solution, rather ...
The letter, drawings and questionnaire below have gone out from the City Council to residents near Footpath 181 to update them about what has happened and announce the start of a consultation. If you would like a copy of the questionnaire or plans please let me know. There will be a 'drop-in' session to discuss the consultation and options at: St Barnabas Hall, Hardy Lane, M21 7GX on Thursday 07th November between 13.15 and 19.45.The drop in session will be held for the local community to come along and discuss the consultation options for Footpath 181 with City Council Officers. ...
Now for the Long Term asks how we can cut through the noise of the 24/7 political cycle to tackle long-term social and environmental challenges Next week, MPs on the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee will dust off their crystal balls and start taking evidence for its inquiry into government horizon scanning. This follows on from a comprehensive review of horizon scanning led by the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, Jon Day, which reported earlier this year. The Day Review concluded that "the UK does not lack the resources to conduct horizon scanning, but needs to ...
You know the way that when you move some paperwork always seems to get mislaid or hard to find. Well the reason that the USA has taken so long to come up with a budget agreement may be for just this reason. "Why?" you ask, well according to the BBC the USA is now part of the Middle East.
In their interesting account of "The Blunders of our Governments" Anthony King and Ivor Crewe, presumably in the interests of balance, devote 13 of the 410 pages to our governments' successes. They make an interesting list: The BBC (1922, Lloyd George Coalition)Town and Country Planning Act, (1947, Labour: designed to curb urban sprawl and ribbon building)National Health Service (1948, Labour) House building drive (from 1951, Conservative. Harold Macmillan, responsible minister, promised and achieved 300 000 new houses per year)Clean Air Act (1956, Conservative)Road Safety Act (1967, Labour: introduced the breathalyser and seat belts)Conversion to decimal currency (1971, Conservative, but planned ...
Kids and dogs battle it out in the ring - 20% off food and drink - Treason and Plot hits the Jockey - Old-Lady Wisehands - All keep us entertained this Autumn at the Horse and Jockey. We hope you can join us for our Autumn line up...... !LOOK OUT FOR THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW PUB MENU & BRITISH FUSION RESTAURANT THIS NOVEMBER! Dog Versus Child: battle of the beastliest - Halloween Pageant Sunday 27th October at 1pm - 3pm On Chorlton Green, Horse and Jockey, The Horse and Jockey is hosting a Halloween pageant for dogs and children ...
[IMG: Employment trends] A million more people are in work compared to early 2010. The number of unemployed people in the UK has dropped by 18,000 in the last three months. And the number of people in jobs is at the highest level ever, according to the Office for National Statistics. Liberal Democrat minister Steve Webb says: The Liberal Democrats in government have helped business create more than a million private sector jobs, and now we are working to help create a million more... There is a long way to go, but the economy is on the mend and jobs ...
Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make. 103683/JO/2013/S1 Bar ...
Wed 16th
16:58
Thanks to the Daily Mail I had my most amusing Twitter exchange for some time yesterday
(If you're reading this on Lib Dem Blogs, you'll need to click on the link as its all pictures)
[IMG: Norman Lamb] Norman Lamb has given an interview to the BBC about mental health provision after a joint BBC/Community Care magazine investigation found that 1700 mental health beds had been lost in recent years. To his credit, there was no spin from him, no excuses. He simply acknowledged that the current situation wasn't good enough, explained what he's already done in terms of better community care and changing the NHS Mandate to give mental health parity with physical health and finally said what he was hoping to achieve in the future. He said: I know that there are problems ...
The Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, Mind, NHS Confederation Mental Health Network, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists and YoungMinds have come together to create a local authority mental health challenge. This has come about because we want to showcase good examples of where local authorities are willing to prioritise mental health [...]
Wed 16th
14:59On Global Handwashing Day, Featherstone launches scheme to give 4 million access to clean water in D...
[IMG: Lynne Featherstone] It's easy to take our access to clean, safe water for granted. Whether it's water to brush our teeth, drink or wash our hands after we've been to the toilet, free availability saves lives. If you live in sub-Saharan Africa, on average, only 60% of people, not much over half, have access to safe water supplies. In the Democratic Republic of Congo the average is 46%, but in rural areas can be as little as 20%. It's hardly surprising they've recently had a major Cholera epidemic to deal with. This UNICEF article shows how a water sanitation ...
I was pleased to see that Stephen Williams, the newly-appointed equality minister, has told me that he sees race equality as an important part of his role. I asked him on Twitter not to forget [...]
At ALDC we cannot stress strongly enough the importance of postal votes to your success next May's local and European elections, let alone the general election in 2015. Around 15% of the electorate have postal votes. In last year's local election – no matter the authority - 68% of them used them. More than double [...]
Work published today by the Electoral Reform Society and the UK's Changing Union project on the size of the Welsh Assembly has produced some good evidence in terms of comparisons with other bodies to support their contention that there should be an increase in the number of AMs from 60 to 100. It is certainly the case that the increasing workload for Assembly Members means that the quality of scrutiny of both Ministers and of legislation is under threat simply because there are not enough hours in the day. However, an increase to 100 AMs is more than anybody I ...
[IMG: The Casked Crusader] Beer. Don't you love it? I do. In the last 40 years, the brewing and pub industry has failed to be a drinker's best friend. Small brewers built near local monopolies and went national. Prices went up, landlords got poorer, and the beer fouler. A quarter of a century ago, the Beer Orders were launched to breathe new life into our pubs. But the orders led to the loathed zombie pubcos, which have eaten away at the viability and traditions of our locals. Enter Greg Mulholland, the Lib Dems pub and beer champion - also dubbed ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Man Booker contenders 2013 - a quick recap | Books | The Observer McCrum on Booker winner: "I doubt that a sophisticated Booker jury will inflict this monster on the reading public" http://bit.ly/19MJ318 Pensioners with more than £23,000 savings 'quite wealthy', minister claims – Telegraph By any objective/relative measure, he's right: "Homeowning pensioners with more than £23,000 savings 'quite wealthy'" http://bit.ly/H1T8fE Plebgate: why did so many of us believe the police over Andrew Mitchell? | Geoffrey Wheatcroft | Comment is free | The Guardian "Tom Newton Dunn appeared in a T-shirt that ...
Manchester wants to end hate crime by building on the city's reputation for celebrating diversity. You can help do this by holding an event or activity in your neighbourhood during Hate Crime Awareness Week. Your event should raise awareness of hate crime, including what it is and how people can report it. Your group can apply for a grant of up to £200 to assist you to put on an event or activity in your neighbourhood. Events must take place between Monday 20 January 2014 and Sunday 26 January 2014. Funding can be used to cover the costs of room ...
I've blogged before my concerns over the payments made to council chief executives for running elections – they're already well-paid posts and running elections is a long-established part of the role, so why should they receive extra payments, especially when those payments are pensionable, not (previously) dependent on performance and were increased just before the 2010 general election despite no-one having costed the increase? So this exchange in Parliament was good to see: [IMG: An election count - ballot papers being counted] Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): What his policy is on the level of fees paid to returning ...
The importance of preventative spending for councils continues to increase. The benefits of preventative measures in mitigating acute spending are demonstrable, not only in health and social care but also in areas like education, crime and community cohesion, and environment. When taken alongside the existing, and further forecast, reductions in central government grants for local [...]
Quite remarkable that no MP has offered Jo Swinson, who is seven months pregnant, a seat. Really shocking lack of manners and decency — James Forsyth (@JGForsyth) October 16, 2013
[IMG: Uncollected rubbish on Hornsey High Street - Summer 2013] Last week I sent an email to my constituents, asking for their opinions on rubbish collection in Haringey. Over the last two years, I've received hundreds of complaints from residents about missed collections, piles of stinking rubbish and bins being misplaced after emptying. Some disabled residents have been unable to get out of their driveways because the bins were left blocking it, and other residents have had to deal with rat infestations. One person took to twitter to complain about the maggots which appeared as a result of missed collections. ...
[IMG: Houses being built] I was honoured to be appointed as Liberal Democrat Communities and Local Government Minister in the recent reshuffle. As a former councillor and passionate advocate of localism, I am excited to take up my post in the Department for Communities and Local Government and hope to continue the good work of my predecessors Don Foster and Andrew Stunell. At last month's autumn conference in Glasgow, Don announced measures to open up the self build market to those on lower incomes. The scheme, supported by Channel 4's Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, will: Provide new grant funding ...
As China and the UK seek to collaborate more closely in science and innovation, there are lessons they can share about how to govern and debate new technologies This week's visit to Beijing by George Osborne and David Willetts is important. Sensible collaboration with China in science, technology and innovation is not only in Britain's economic interests but can also help to address environmental challenges shared by the entire international community. Doing this effectively requires an appreciation of innovation policies and processes in both countries. One interesting strand of this is the different role that citizen participation plays in Chinese ...
I am still, for my sins a member of the LDs - very much of the SLF and Liberal Left. Yet, I am questioning my allegiance everyday. There is a dire need for a party that will stand up not only for working class values that embrace the disenfranchised, the citizens of our society that feel the need to support right-wing policies, as they see the blame lies with minorities. The country needs a political force that is socially liberal, believes in equality (racial, ability, sexuality and gender), that believes in a redistribution; a fair redistribution of the wealth made ...
According to no lesser sources than the Economist and the Today program: MORE than 5m people now hear a few words in Dothraki or Valyrian, the fabricated languages spoken in the television series "Game of Thrones", each week—more than the number who hear Welsh, Irish Gaelic and Scots Gaelic combined. I assume that this is [...]
[IMG: Biofuel Bus] It's World Food Day and Tim Farron, Julian Huppert and Adrian Sanders have joined Zac Goldsmith, Caroline Lucas and other MPs in a joint letter to the Guardian to condemn EU policy on biofuels. Taking land out of food production - which is increasingly happening in Africa - pushes up global food prices, while bringing new land into production leads to drained wetlands, ploughed-up grasslands and razed forests. The writers are concerned that first generation biofuels, crops like wheat and oilseed rape, are being used for transport fuel. These crops are an essential food for a rapidly ...
ALDC Development Officer Mike Bell discusses the opportunities to campaign on Europe ahead of the 2014 European elections. 22nd May 2014 will be an important day for Lib Dem campaigners across the country. Elections are to be held for all 32 London boroughs, all 36 metropolitan boroughs, 76 district councils, 20 unitary authorities and various [...]
No-one was more shocked, saddened and disappointed by the news on Monday night that Paul Brant had resigned from Liverpool Council than me. I don't know why he felt he had to resign and I have no intention of speculating ... Continue reading →
It's blog Action Day #BAD2013 and this year's theme is Human Rights and I wonder how many people have a copy of the UN's declaration of the rights we are all inherently entitled to: the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights. Drawn up in 1948 after the Second World War, it sets out a standard of rights and freedoms for us all. Have you read this? Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in ...
[IMG: EU flag - Some rights reserved by European Parliament] On Monday, the UK's manufacturing sector gave us a clear message. In Europe, in work. In a landmark report by the EEF, a trade association representing 6000 companies, manufacturers emphasised the importance of being part of the EU for their exports and business plans. 85% of firms surveyed would vote to remain in the EU. One third said that they would be less likely to increase investment in Britain if we were to leave the EU. Politicians across the political spectrum like to talk about rebalancing the economy, creating jobs ...
I remember, years ago, maybe even as many as 20 years, I happened uto come across a copy of the Green Party's newspaper. I was interested in party newspapers at the time because I had just accidentally become editor of Liberal Democrat News. The Greens' equivalent included an article on the front page explaining that the party was in the midst of a financial crisis, and they were therefore making their fund-raising department redundant. It was a wonderful example of how politicians of all kinds (and not just politicians either) get fatally muddled between short and medium term objectives. It ...
Many years ago I got a mortgage for my first flat (off the Archway Road) - which enabled me to get a first foot on the property ladder. Owning a house is still an aspiration for many young people, who want properties as big, or bigger, than their parents. But times are tough - particularly for many young people in the private rental sector who cannot afford to save for a sizeable deposit. The bottom line is that, up until 2010, not enough houses were built. Prices of existing properties have spiralled out of control and the younger generation have ...
posted The Blood is The Life 15-10-2013 http://t.co/vzelcQGQfI on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) Media claims that 600 000 unemployed EU migrants live in the UK are "a gross and irresponsible misrepresentation" (tags: ) Ada Lovelace day posts database If you made a post you can add it here, and you can see the posts of others too (tags: ) Bradford crowned curry capital for this year in a row :) (tags: ) Hugh Muir's diary: A text from Theresa May's Border Agency. Get out of the country. LOL | Politics | The Guardian (tags: ) http://findingada.com/about/ It's ...
Iain met Muse, the owners of the Cheadle Royal Business Park, earlier this week to talk about the problem of parking on St Ann's Road North. We've been frustrated at the growing number of Business Park cars parking along the road (possibly connected to the newer office buildings now open, which are much nearer to St Ann's Road North than the older ones). But stopping them has been a problem – we can put down yellow lines, but that just results in chasing them around the area as cars move to the other side of the road or onto side ...
The Lib Dems are calling for the huge potholes outside the former Tatton cinema to be repaired. The road in front of the cinema is private – it's part of the cinema site, not owned by the Council. But it's open for use and is well used by people visiting local shops and restaurants. Iain said "The potholes are beyond a joke. If this were a council road it would have been sorted out years ago. We don't think it's acceptable for the owners of the Tatton site to leave the road in this appalling condition and we're calling on ...
Liberal Democrat MP Michael Moore writes a regular column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition. A New Phase Last week I was very grateful for all the very kind comments I received locally after finishing as Secretary of State for Scotland. It was a huge privilege to serve as Scottish Secretary for over three years. The constitutional debate reached a rather critical point in that time and I am proud of the part I played in it as part of the government so far. I intend to continue to contribute, if from a different vantage ...
This is a link to a petition from a translator working in the family courts. It states: The Petition of an interpreter working in England, Declares that the interpreter works in family court proceedings translating for families who speak Czech and Slovak. She has been shocked at the way in which a judge was partial in proceedings and the evidence that was accepted which would never be accepted
Wed 16th
07:55
How Islington Council should reform its repair and maintenance contracts on PFI2 properties
[IMG: Islington Council logo] To: Home Ownership Service Thank you for the 8 letters (!) consulting on the three long-term agreements with contractors that you are looking to put into place. I have four observations to make. First, you may be aware from my previous correspondence and (upheld) complaints over several years, that I have regularly suffered from scaffolding being left erected but unused for many weeks, running into months outside my property. One of the underlying problems has been that in each case there was no per day cost for use of the scaffolding being run up, and therefore ...
Yesterday The Co-Operative group advised a gathering of Lose The Lad's Mags supporters in Parliament of why they supported the campaign to remove lad's mags from shops. "Decision 2 #losetheladsmags wsn't based on puritanical views but solely on the opinions of our customrs & membrs" Gotta <3 @TheCooperative — Making Herstory (@MakeHerstory1) October 15, 2013
As reported in last night's "Evening Telegraph", I have criticised the council's naming of a roundabout "Invergowrie Roundabout" despite the fact that the roundabout is nearly a mile from Invergowrie. As part of the sponsorship of roundabouts in the city, the roundabout at the south end of Ninewells Avenue at its junction with Perth Road has been named "Invergowrie Roundabout." It has been sponsored by leading local company WL Gore. I am all in favour of sponsorship of Dundee's roundabouts as this brings in income to keep them in a well-maintained condition but the name of this roundabout is plain ...
Last night, I attended the latest committee meeting of the Bonnie Dundee group, at the City Chambers. The group encourages improvements to the Dundee environment and helps local groups who keep Dundee's parks, open areas, streets and gardens in good shape. It was great to learn that the group won a silver award in this year's Beautiful Scotland Awards, with significantly improved scoring compared to 2012 - well-deserved recognition.
The modernisation of the Post Office network will provide for significant improvements for up to 6,000 branches (around half of the network). Following years of closures under Labour, the Coalition Government has committed to maintaining a Post Office network of at least 11,500 branches and is investing £1.34 billion over the course of this Parliament to achieve this. It is Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government who are working to guarantee the future of our Post Offices, and I'm delighted that we have launched the largest investment programme in the history of the Post Office. Local residents will benefit from ...
Speaking last week, Nick Clegg declared that when a referendum on the EU comes the Liberal Democrats will campaign unambiguously as the party of IN. As he said, leaving the EU would be 'economic suicide'. He called on pro-Europeans, businesses and organisations to join a 'coalition for the national interest' to make the case publicly for the benefits of being in Europe. He launched the party's #whyiamIN campaign, calling on people to declare why they are in favour of being in Europe, which received thousands of online responses including support from Richard Branson. He said: "Whatever you do, just don't ...
