#3437469 / gettyimages.com From the Haxey Hood website: The Haxey Hood is a annual event held in the village of Haxey, North Lincolnshire. It is most easily described as a kind of rugby game with unlimited participants and few rules, where a leather tube is slowly walked by a large unorganised rugby scrum to 1 of 4 pubs. Here it it remains until the following year's game. The official story is that in the 14th century, Lady de Mowbray, wife of an Isle landowner, John De Mowbray, was out riding towards Westwoodside on the hill that separates it from Haxey. ...
On 1 July 2012 I blogged about a Scotland on Sunday report tipping Jo Swinson for promotion to the Cabinet. The idea was that she would replace Michael Moore as Secretary of State for Scotland. In the event, of course, it was Alistair Carmichael who got the job. Yesterday the New Statesman tipped her again. This time the proposed victim was Ed Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy. Today's papers have clearly been briefed by Team Clegg - Freddie and Fiona - that this is not going to happen. I think that is a shame. The Guardian holds out ...
Yesterday the Daily Mirror told us: A Labour peer facing more than 20 allegations of historical child abuse looks set to avoid prosecution after doctors said he was unfit to be quizzed because he has dementia.Which makes this 2010 story from the Western Morning News intriguing: A Devon man has been found guilty of abusing six under-age girls in a trial held in his absence at Exeter Crown Court. Jurors yesterday unanimously found that Michael Collingwood, now 69, of Tedburn St Mary, near Exeter, committed 23 sex offences, including raping one girl. Judge Paul Darlow instructed the jury to formally ...
Cambridge Liberal Democrats are fighting to stop Labour increasing the cost of spending a penny in the city. They want to block Labour's plan to raise charges at public toilets from 20 pence to 30 pence. Cambridge Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Catherine Smart said: "It was always council policy to keep charges to a minimum so that everyone could afford to use the toilets while at the same time preventing casual vandalism. "There will be a cost in fitting new locks to accommodate this change and I'm not convinced the inconvenience and extra cost to the public is justified." Lib ...
Mythical Maze, Summer Reading Challenge 2014This summer there's a legendary adventure waiting for children in all Cambridgeshire Libraries when they take part in the Summer Reading Challenge 2014. Mythical Maze challenges children aged 4-11 to read their way around a labyrinth that introduces them to fantastical creatures from myths and legends. They need to read any six books from the library over the summer holidays. For each book they read they will be awarded stickers (some are 'scratch 'n' sniff' and very smelly!) which they can add to their Mythical Maze collector's folder. They can see and hear the Mythical ...
[IMG: Racks line photo by Tristan Schmurr] The new Data Retention and Investigatory Powers (DRIP) Bill responds to the European Court of Justice annulment of the 2006 EU Data Retention Directive. The government asserts that the DRIP Bill only confirms existing law as it is broadly the same content as the 2009 regulations implementing the EU Directive. But as that Directive has been swept away, DRIP provides a new legal basis, and this will in fact be the first time that legislation to regulate retention of phone, email and internet records has been generated domestically. After 9/11 the Regulation of ...
I am mightily unimpressed by the consensus on Northern devolution that is emerging in London. We will face new challenges post the Scottish referendum whether it results in 'Independence' or Devo Max. None of the 'lite' proposals emanating from the SE-whether from Heseltine, Osborne, Clegg or the Labour Party -adequately take account of the new challenges we face. Let us compare and contrast the proposals. The Scottish Challenge The Scottish Parliament already has significant powers and now even the Tories are proposing to give them more. Win or loose the referendum the Hollywood Parliament is going to have tax raising ...
Fri 11th
18:28
Thanet Council more Self harming - Dual Standards as one councillor ejected for using a camera and a...
Eric Pickles Conservative Local government minister encourages filming of local council meetings, Thanet council in behaviour reminiscent of fascist/socialist dictatorships doesn't. I myself have been forced to leave public meetings due to thuggish behaviour of Thanet council officers aided and abetted by I suspect pompous self important councillors happy to take fat allowances from you and I who have to work for a living. My crime to use electronic devices such as tablets and phones to write this blog as you might expect these arrogant muppets couldn't offer an apology. Anyhoo, I must say I'm shocked that Cllr Moores ignores ...
In early 2008 I was the oldest intern (35) in Westminster, toiling at the Social Market Foundation. As an experienced financial spiv and prolific economic bluffer, I was asked to present to a roomful of wonks on this thing, "the credit crunch".* I wish I could find the slides. But somehow I had the time to [...]
[IMG: Liberal Democrat membership forms] I find the most powerful words before asking for help are "thank you". With ten months still to go before the next election, if you knock on a supporter's door, you're not just yet another politician, who only calls at election times. And if the first thing you say is "thank you", that's powerful. When I do it, I get smiles of surprise and pleasure. They know perfectly well that there's another reason for my visit, but we all like to be thanked. A lot of us are nervous to ask for help. We worry ...
[IMG: Photo by Keith Edkins - 640px-Ian_Swales_at_Sheffield_2011] GazetteLive has the details: Redcar MP Ian Swales is to stand down at the next General Election. The Liberal Democrat, who was elected in 2010, said the decision was due to personal reasons. "It has been an honour and a privilege to represent my local area in Parliament," he added. "I am proud of what I have achieved so far, especially my role in saving the steel works. "I will continue to work hard for the area in my remaining time as an MP." Mr Swales replaced Labour's Vera Baird as Redcar MP ...
I'm sorry. It's a slow day. And I wish to apologise also for the taxpayer's money I must have wasted.
Cambridge Liberal Democrats have attacked Labour's "short-sighted" plan to take £800,000 out of a fund to beat congestion in the city claiming it could cause "real harm". The Lib Dems invested more than £1 million into the Keep Cambridge Moving Fund to ease congestion in the city arising from the widening of the A14. But Labour plans an amendment to Cambridge City Council's Budget to drain the fund leaving just £263,000. They plan to share the £800,000 between two new funds - £500,000 into a Shared Prosperity Fund and £300,000 into a Fixed Term Priority Project Fund. Both funds will ...
[IMG: Stockport Basketball]
There were five by-elections in principal authorities this week (Cornwall, Torridge, Barnsley and two in Cheshire West and Chester) and one deferred election in North Hertfordshire. The Liberal Democrats jumped from fourth place to take a seat from the Tories in Illogan (Cornwall UA). David Ekinsmyth won 23.8% of the vote for the Liberal Democrats; [...]
[IMG: Benjamin Franklin, Old Town Hall, Boston (493550)] It is an unwritten law of Lib Dem debates on security issues that before long someone will quote Benjamin Franklin that 'Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.' I have always been intrigued by the origins of this comment, primarily because taken on its own and literally, it is hyperbolic nonsense. Almost any form of government involves some tension between liberty and security. The state provides defence and police forces, but to do so levies taxes and circumscribes individuals' freedom to ...
So far in my series of essays my conclusions have been quite conventional, if a little left of centre. We need to keep capitalism in a mixed economy; the state will need to get bigger to cope with the demographic challenge; we will have to tax the rich more as middle incomes are squeezed. There's nothing here that would upset the denizens of Whitehall unduly, notwithstanding the economic liberal tendencies of some. But I think we are badly let down by our system of government. It will have to change radically – and yet the complacency of the Westminster elite ...
I had the privilege of attending an Apprenticeship Dinner organised by Ealing Council recently. The event was attended by a mixture of current and past apprentices and employers who are thinking of taking on apprentices. Quite simply an apprenticeship gives a young person the chance to shine whilst working for Ealing Council or many other companies based in and around the borough. As part of the apprenticeships, which last two years, training is given 'on the job' as well as some employers giving time off so apprentices can take up academic qualifications which will help them in their chosen field. ...
This morning, I had a very productive meeting with the Tullideph sheltered housing tenants at the sheltered lounge (see right). We discussed numerous local issues including 28/29, 17 and Friendly Bus Services, garden maintenance and warden/sheltered services I have raised all issues mentioned by tenants with appropriate council officers.
[IMG: call clegg] Call Clegg began with a question on the retention of communications data, with a supplementary of whether this is one of those things that can be blamed on the EU. Nick was very clear that this law is just to underpin the maintenance of existing arrangements for data retention, as have been applied for many years, and not extending them. That the ECJ had struck down the EU Data Retention Directive, was a reasonable exercise of the checks and balances of a mature way of making decisions but left data retention without a legal framework. Second on ...
Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats were informed at their meeting last night that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council was apparently alone in Wales in not arranging for "catch-up" refuse collections, following yesterday's strike by Unison members. We were also reminded that Neath Port Talbot has the second-highest council tax in Wales, and recently wasted £733,000 on replacing existing wheelie-bins with lower-capacity ones. (The council has not even recouped any of this expenditure by selling on the superseded bins, but instead has rendered them unusable.) Thus not only will householders have to store a further fortnight's rubbish, but will also ...
We've reported a few issues to the Council this week to be sorted. They include graffiti on a Virgin Media green comms box at the junction of Foxland Road and Delamere Road and a damaged manhole cover at the junction of Clifton Drive and Altrincham Road. The graffiti on the Virgin Media box will be painted out by the Council (they have an agreement with Virgin to do it, speeding up the process). The manhole cover is also a Virgin Media issue. The Council's issued an S81 repaire notice, requiring them to fix it. [IMG: graffiti foxland]
Thankfully the effect seems to be much more localised than last time, with relatively few houses experiencing a loss of water or low pressure, but the latest burst water main on Foxland Road is still causing problems. [IMG: foxland burst main 11Jul14] A few weeks ago a burst main saw most of Gatley with no water or low pressure for the morning, with Gatley Primary and Lum Head both closing for the day. After that, United Utilities told us they'd identified the problem as a faulty pressure valve on St Anne's Road North and they were going to repair it. ...
[IMG: Vince Cable speaking to media] Quoted in the Independent We believe that getting round the negotiating table is better than striking. We do not believe unions should be striking and causing mass disruption when everyone has been affected by similar pay conditions. This reflects the fact that a better deal for one group of public sector workers would be paid for out of taxes on other workers, that the strikes if successful would not win a better deal for working people in general, rather for some at the expense of others. There is a quaint belief in some corners ...
I have to confess, I find the new campaign websites pretty im-possible. I was involved in the early discussions to launch 38 Degrees, but I've ending up chewing the carpet in frustration about their infuriating naivety and ignorance about what is actually happening at Westminster, which wastes huge amounts of energy, mainly theirs and that of their supporters. Avaaz is, in some ways, even more irritating. They pick the right causes, but they don't seem to have thought through the basics of transparency. Take their latest campaign to crowdfund a global non-GM seed exchange. Basic politeness suggests that it might ...
Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England, has suggested that firemen should be sent to make pensioners' homes safe to ease an increase in elderly people being admitted to hospital for falls. Speaking at the LGA conference, he said that the fire service offered a "fantastic opportunity" to assess old people's homes for possible dangers at the same time as its staff carried out their more traditional roles such as checking smoke alarms. From The Daily Telegraph I like this, it seems so common sense you wonder why it has not been happening for generations. Having said that I bet ...
Last week I posted on this site about an appalling meeting of Maghull Town Council where its Labour rulers voted, amongst other things, to restrict the kinds of petitions that can be brought before the Council by Maghull residents. Not only that but they also stopped opposition Lib Dem members from moving an amendment to this terrible policy. This is what I said last week:- So we move forward a week to the edition of the Champion that followed the meeting and guess what no mention of those matters what so ever! Not only that but the paper publishes ...
[IMG: EdDavey] A new Energy Advice Programme that will help householders save money on their energy bills has been announced. Organisations including parish councils, community energy groups, charities, faith groups and registered social landlords are invited to bid for their share of £1 million so that they can help and advise people on how to save money on their energy bills. Grants available through the Big Energy Saving Network can be used to help provide advice on switching tariffs, the different bill payment methods available, and information on the various schemes that help lower bills. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Energy and ...
Yate Town Council has announced that the Tyndale Avenue Play Area refurbishment works are now complete. The park will be open for use from 12 noon today (11/07/14), why not go along to see the new play equipment?
Scottish referendum: Is Menzies Campbell the man who could save the union? Sir Menzies Campbell talks to Serena Kutchinsky of Prospect Magazine:
You may have seen some press comments over the plans by the Government to "ban" councils from using CCTV to enforce parking restrictions. The LGA is continuing to make the argument that this should be a matter for local authorities to decide. Following a campaign involving the LGA, National Association of Head Teachers, Disabled Motoring [...]
[IMG: Poll piechart] The latest quarterly update to my spreadsheet of opinion poll data from 1943 is now up at: http://www.markpack.org.uk/opinion-polls/ You can also sign up on that page to get email notifications about future updates.
[IMG: DKS] When discussing one's political influences, as a general rule people like to upmarket their antecedents. The more heavy weight, obscure and abstruse the person or group who supposedly shaped your politics, the better it reflects upon you. Supposedly. Unless of course you're going for an Arnie Graf, grassroots-y type of vibe. Then it has to be someone even more obscure, like your next door neighbour. But I have to admit here and now that one of the biggest influences on my own politics was the seminal San Francisco punk band who called themselves the Dead Kennedys. And more ...
Tory councillor 'laments closure of workhouses' in meeting about mental health services *headdeak headdesk headdesk* (tags: ) I wonder if the journos at the Torygraph pay for their own office stationery? 11p for a ruler strikes me as remarkably frugal. Well done Ken for finding one so cheap. And 43p for a pair of scissors? Can tell tha's a Yorkshire lad, Vince. (tags: ) Study cracks how the brain processes emotions (tags: ) George Clooney rejects Daily Mail apology, calling it 'worst kind of tabloid' Srsly, read the quotes. Go George! (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Dodington Parish Council is seeking funding to upgrade the very dated changing rooms at the QEII Playing Fields, Kelston Close. They were originally school changing rooms, and they've been heavily used for many years by local amateur football clubs. Now the Parish Council hopes to make them more comfortable and welcoming, and perhaps attract other sports or ladies' teams. A full consultation will be carried out. Contact Paul Hulbert if you would like to know more.
[IMG: Capture] Peterborough City Council has finally got around to realising that a lot of people have mobile devices and that if they had an app then it would be easier for people i.e. the taxpayers who pay the wages of councillors and council officers, to report a range of issues! Commenting, Cllr Darren Fower, who already has his own app, said: "I made mention of the need for an app sometime ago, so obviously I'm glad that the people of Peterborough now have something in return for the Council Tax, but it's long overdue. "That said, the real pressure ...
[IMG: John Prescott] One of the oddities of the argument made yesterday that new legislation has to be urgently rushed through in order to allow the state to keep on snooping on us after the European Court of Justice's ruling is that the ruling was made back in April. Of course, it's quite reasonable to say that working out the legal details of how to react to the ruling – and indeed the intensive battle within the coalition as the Tories tried to use it as an excuse to expand snooping whilst the Lib Dems used it as a lever ...
So yesterday I turned 31. A case for much joy and celebration (I had a microwave meal for dinner and fell asleep in the afternoon for the second day running whilst watching the closing minutes of that days stage of the Tour de France – damnit) so as you can see, I really lived it up. Anyway about ten days ago I decided to remove my birthday from Facebook as an experiment. Every year 40-50 people, many of whom who don't speak to me at any other point in the calendar year, will wish me a happy birthday, prompted by ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention in the past couple of days... Amazon.co.uk: Low Prices in Electronics, Books, Sports Equipment & more The Dalziel & Pascoe novel, 'A Pinch of Snuff' (1978), is, btw, fascinating on sexual mores & Establishment cover-ups http://amzn.to/1sFyVPE MPs' expenses: Ken Clarke claims 11p for a new ruler – Telegraph Is the Telegraph really saying MPs should pay for their own office stationery? Does that apply to their journos too? http://bit.ly/1mmmIyC How news and stories are followed on Twitter Unbelievable YouGov research showing the Oscars were bigger on Twitter than Miliband's speech ...
Yesterday saw a series of strikes by public servants that caused disruptions across the country. Schools were closed, parks were locked, Cardiff experienced gridlock as the Bute Tunnels were closed and access to services were severely restricted. So far, so good. The unions have made an impact and got our attention. What got my attention was Neath Port Talbot's failure to consider how it was going to work around the strike so as to provide the service that its council taxpayers fund. They have the second highest council tax in Wales and yet Neath Port Talbot are the only council ...
Some things I've been in to this week: Actually it's not just things I've been in to this week as I've not done this post for two weeks thanks t0 busy weekends and work, so here's a bit of a summary: A TV series: I don't watch loads of TV these days and yet I [...]
[IMG: The enemies of liberty] The enemies of liberty The sudden appearance of the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill and the proposal to bulldoze it through Parliament in a few days has set off alarm bells for many who care about civil liberties. Members of the Liberal Democrat leadership and Parliamentary party have been out and about pressing a three stranded argument to try to counter the view that their support for this Bill represents a complete abandonment of the party's principles. The three strands are that: The Bill does no more than re-establish the status quo ante, following ...
Fri 11th
08:45
Philanthropy saves Ludlow's football stadium - it should now become an asset of community value
After today's South Shropshire Journal went to press, news broke that Ludlow football stadium has been saved. The Delve family, of Harry Tuffins fame, have stepped in to save the stadium. That's brilliant news, not only for AFC Ludlow but for the other eighteen teams that play at the stadium. This is a really good [...]
[IMG: Fingers typing at keyboard] In April the European Court of Justice ruled that the UK's regime of mass data retention was incompatible with the treaty on fundamental rights, particularly with article 8 that stipulates the right to private and family life, right to protection of personal data and the right to freedom of expression. This was a major victory for many Liberals, civil liberties advocates and privacy campaigners who have fought against the widespread blanket retention of innocent and law-abiding citizen's data. The ruling set out 10 principles that new legislation should adhere to. The government knew about this ...
Part of Ancrum Drive Last night, I had the pleasure of chairing a well-attended meeting with the residents of Ancrum Drive - over 20 folk attended on a lovely summer's evening. I am most grateful to Sharon Bain of Solar Cities Scotland who spoke with residents about home insulation options and PC McKay, who contributed to a discussion we had with residents about the on-going parking issues in the street. We also spoke about speed limits and bin collection matters.
[IMG: 012] The latest North East Urban Safer, Stronger Neighbourhoods meeting took place on the 8th July, and was held at Paston Ridings Primary School. The meeting was poorly attended, with just 7 local residents in attendance, from an area population in excess of 24,000, which equates to just 0.02% of local residents! It was also noted that out of a possible 11 City Councillors covering Gunthorpe, Paston, Werrington and Walton, just 3 city councillors attended. Several issues were discussed, including: Anti-social behaviour at the Werrington skate park Anti-social behaviour at Werrington Centre Problems with motor cycles driving on footpaths ...
Several people have said to me over the years that they wished they knew where to start with Big Finish's Doctor Who stories and spin-off ranges. Big Finish have a page themselves with some suggestions of where to start, but I thought I'd make a few suggestions myself. Big Finish have put out a lot [...]
Those who have followed my previous utterances on Scottish independence will know that I am sceptical of a lot of the rhetoric and claims made by the SNP and the Yes campaign. I don't describe myself as centre-left, unlike, probably, most politically active Scots in that movement. I don't consider myself to be a nationalist, even of the civic variety. I don't agree with many of the claims of either campaign that Scotland will be a significantly more or less prosperous society if it becomes independent. I don't even agree that we will be a noticeably more equal society if ...
The excellent David Ekinsmyth has tonight been declared the winner of the Illogan by-election caused by the resignation of Conservative Terry Wilkins. David has been a parish councillor in the area for many years and that clearly played a large part in his victory. But it also goes to show that the Lib Dems are far from dead and buried as some people might have it. This was a win from fourth place just a year ago in a contest where turnout actually went up. It's also great news for Julia Goldsworthy who is fighting to re-take the Camborne, Redruth ...
