I am sure every reader will share my excitement at discovering that a whole episode of the 1960s Anglia TV soap opera Weavers Green is available online. It cannot be embedded, so hurry over to Vimeo to watch it. An article by Tim Snelson from the University of East Anglia - Normal for Norfolk? Feeling an affinity with a long-lost regional soap - may help you understand what is going on: The pivotal entry point for national audiences was the character of Celia Toms (Georgia Ward), a well-to-do 'sixties chick' who in the first episode moves from Knightsbridge to the ...
Photo of Lutterworth by Stephen Mckay Last month the Ukip East Midlands MP Roger Helmer performed the remarkable feat of discovering a massage parlour in Lutterworth. Now comes news, thanks to the Leicester Mercury, that the party has been banned from setting up a stall in the town because of a 15th-century royal charter. The paper quotes Ukip's branch secretary as saying: "It's ridiculous. This 15th century royal charter is being waved around as a reason we can't set up a stall. We're being told we can't set one up within 6.2 miles of the town centre because of a ...
There is a story about the Soviet official who came on a visit to Britain and expressed his wish to meet the person responsible for seeing that enough bread was baked and delivered to London each day. He was astounded when he was informed that there was no such person. But looking back four decades to the time when I was becoming interested in politics, it has to be admitted that the Britain of the era looks remarkably collectivist to modern eyes. The press cutting above was tweeted by the Thatcherise account, which is replaying - 40 years on tot ...
Sat 1st
20:19
I welcome new tools to tackle antisocial behaviour in Shropshire but I think some powers could be ab...
I welcome the new tools for dealing with antisocial behaviour brought in last month. They will make it easier to control disruptive people and to evict antisocial tenants. But I am nervous the new public spaces protection order could be used to restrict environmental and other protests and demonstrations. I also worry that we won't [...]
Sat 1st
19:04
The first round of emails from the Lib Dem candidates for President, and what they mean
[IMG: IMG_0099] The first set of official campaign emails from the three candidates for Lib Dem Party President has just been circulated to party members, a few hours after ballot papers started arriving. Or more accurately, to party members for whom the party has a working, opted-in email address, which actually means plenty of party members will miss out on them. So here they are in case you're otherwise missing out. In terms of content, I think the Daisy Cooper one has the best messages, especially given the way it weaves together her priorities and her personal history and experience ...
Confession of a Cornwall Councillor: Well I thought it time to fess up! My husband says I am in need of help and therapy. Me, well, I think it is a form of therapy. A little bit of escapism! I did achieve a bronze medal for it myself...... when about 10! Not sure I could manage to even walk in those heels. Have you worked it out yet? Ok, I'm a Strictly fan!! That's Strictly Come Dancing for those who still don't know what I'm talking about. If you came here to find something 'sensational' then why not look around ...
Sat 1st
18:47
Transpennine Express and Northern Replacement Franchises Liverpool City Region Priorities
I came across the document below recently and it seems to be a reasonable attempt to define priorities for rail in and around the Liverpool City Region. Note that the Penny has thankfully dropped about the Southport Manchester services being of importance for improvement amongst our City Region leaders. ***** Introduction The Invitation to Tender for the new TransPennine Express franchise is due to be issued in December 2014 to the following three shortlisted bidders: • First Trans Pennine Express Limited • Keolis Go-Ahead Limited • Stagecoach Trans Pennine Express Trains Limited. The Invitation to Tender for the new Northern franchise is due ...
I saw a pheasant 'shoot' this week. I wasn't invited. I just happened to be there. I guess there were a couple of dozen people with guns and half a dozen people who were running the event. It was held, as you would guess, in the countryside but all these people were wearing fine clothes. One person in particular looked very fine in his suit. The strange thing was that at times he was driving a quad bike. These were not the types of clothes that you would want to get dirty. Having said that I don't think they did ...
Earlier this week (29th October) I resigned from the Liberal Democrats after eight years as a party member, four of them as elected councillor for Sutton in south London. It was a difficult decision but [...]
[IMG: members forum wordle] LibDemVoice has two parallel sites. The first is our public blog, the thing you're reading now. The second is our private members' forum, which only current Lib Dem members can access. If you're a member and want to chat with fellow party members about any issue that's on your mind, then why not sign up? In addition, you'll be included in our regular surveys' of party members' views. Here's some of the most active discussions this past 7 days: When are the federal election ballots being issued?; Greens ahead of Lib Dems in YouGov Poll?; (Re?)-include ...
The Liberal Democrats have had a really tough four years since 2010. Being in Coalition Government has taken its toll. Too many councillors who have campaigned hard have lost their seats. Our councillors embody Liberal Democrat principles in action, and, with ALDC, have revitalised the party in the past, so rebuilding our local government base is [...]
I have big ambitions for our party and as your President I would put ALDC at the heart of those plans. As an ALDC mentor and trainer, I have had the privilege of working with many of our Councillors and grass roots campaigners – the forgotten army on which our future depends - and am [...]
Local councillors are at the heart of our party. I am standing as President of the Liberal Democrats because I believe we need to reconnect that core of the party around the country with the leadership at Westminster. Since 2010, councillors have paid the price for the party entering into the Coalition, many have lost [...]
Excellent and much deserved: So happy to have won an @pinknews award last night! http://t.co/aM09pOaswy (photo http://t.co/jbQak4LVng) pic.twitter.com/TgzPhzNFbN — Lynne Featherstone (@lfeatherstone) October 30, 2014
OK. I've signed up for NaNoWriMo — I never wanted to do my first novel as a NaNo one, but now I've actually *written* a novel and had it accepted by a publisher, I think it might be a good kick to get the back of the second novel broken. I've been researching the novel [...]
Just a gentle reminder about Helena Morrissey's call for feedback on progress since her report was published in June last year. She wants your comments by this coming Friday, 7th November. Here's what she wrote on 13th October: As set out in my Report into 'Processes and Culture' within the Party, I would now like to assess progress made against my recommendations. Taken together, the recommendations formed a suggested - but by no means exhaustive - blueprint for change over both the medium and long term. Less than 18 months has passed since my initial Review, so it was never ...
The Times reports on the backlash, certainly amongst my party, at the proposals by Ed Milband to reform the House of Lords. The Labour leader has said that he wants an elected senate to replace the House of Lords and to represent all the towns, cities, regions and nations of the United Kingdom. The problem is that when the Liberal Democrats put forward proposals along these lines instead of working with us to achieve an acceptable solution, Labour joined with the Tories to vote them down. It is no wonder that senior Liberal Democrats are accusing Miliband of hypocrisy: Deputy ...
[IMG: our cheadle] Thank you to everyone who came along to our Cheadle community conversation on Saturday morning – it was a really positive event – and just the start of a lot of work. The area covered by the pilot includes Cheadle village and East Cheadle (from Kingsway to Roscoes) and the challenge is simple: With Council budgets falling, we don't have the money to do everything we've done in the past so how can we engage the community to fill at least some of the gaps? First, can we get the community to help in deciding where to ...
We arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday evening. A car had been booked for us, but as we emerged from Customs none of the signs appeared to be obviously ours. There was one that I thought as worth a try though; it read "POLLOW". Sure enough, we were Pollow. Even though we've only been here three days now, it feels much longer than that. I mean that in a good way; the place is amazingly stimulating, so it feels like you've done so much within every 24 hour period. It has a great nightlife, one which exposes something I hadn't expected: ...
I meant to write something about this months ago, but it got buried in the "Blog Posts that Time Forgot" pile. The Scottish Police Federation's stand was by far the best at Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference in Aberdeen in March. It looked impressive and very high tech. They gave you headphones and played a series of videos. If you watched them at the same time as others, you all jumped at the same moment. They showed a series of dangerous situations that Police can encounter in the course of their duties. You have to think of what they would do ...
[IMG: tring Fof] Saturday 8th November – Tring Festival of Fire celebrates 50 years. Tring's annual firework fest reaches a landmark 50th anniversary this year and will take place as usual at Tring Park Cricket Club. Food and drink stalls, a guy competition and live music from local artists, as well as a spectacular fireworks display set to music. Doors open 5pm - bonfire at 6.30pm/ Fireworks at 7pm. 7.30pm - entertainment continues on the JR Smith Stage with star local bands 'In General' and 'The Reverie'. 8.30pm - close with final rocket launch. A limited number of discounted family ...
I know this is National November Writing Month and that the aim of this month is usually to write a novel in the period of time. But this year I shall be writing a topical poem a day. So here is my first offering: To confortably go? You used to need to have the right stuff to venture into space. But soon they say that stuff in cash, for millionaires to engage. The reason for this men who had the right stuff in their bones Was the danger that sitting on the launchpad did not mean they'd come home. Now ...
[IMG: hemming_tea] That's the glowing verdict of the Birmingham Post's Jonathan Walker on the city's Yardley Lib Dem MP, John Hemming: Let's give credit where it's due and celebrate one of the mavericks of the House of Commons. He's a little eccentric and if he's blessed with a brain the size of a planet he might just have an ego to match. But he's frequently championed unfashionable causes - and eventually been proved right. The trigger for this bout of praise was his role as chairman of a campaign group called Parents Want a Say, founded to fight against new ...
The good news from the hospital this week is that I still don't need to start chemotherapy and that I won't have to go back for more blood tests and general proddings until December. Hurrah! The only slight concern has been with my ALT blood tests that are reading slightly over normal. As a result, I'm now using the Drinkaware app to help me keep a closer watch on what I'm drinking. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I probably have been enjoying a glass or two of wine rather more frequently than I should have been doing. I'm pleased ...
[IMG: Liberal Democrats Party President Election 2014 - ballot paper] The ballot papers sent to Liberal Democrat members to elect the successor to Tim Farron as Party President have started arriving through the post today (and note the revised party slogan being used on the ballot paper). This contest is carried out by an all-member postal ballot (with an option to vote online, but all voters get a posted mailing). The elections for party's federal committees, also taking place now, have a different electorate – voting conference reps (although that is due to change in the future thanks to the ...
To me it had been clear that Fiona Woolf should step down as Chair of the Inquiry into historic sex abuse ever since it became clear that she had been on dinner party terms with Sir Leon Brittain. It's not that she had done anything wrong, but it was clear at that point that it would be very difficult for everyone to have confidence in her impartiality. Once the victims had said that they didn't support her continuing in the role, it was only a matter of time before she resigned, as she did this evening. Back in July, Liberal ...
"Valuing You" is an event for people with learning difficulties, their families, carers and service providers. It's being held at BAWA in Filton on Wednesday 26 November, from 10am to 3pm, and you can book your place now. The event will be opened by Paralympian Karen Baxter and give you the chance to find out about activities and opportunities for people with learning difficulties in South Gloucestershire. Activities will include fencing, dancing, boccia, knitting and drumming. There will also be an art competition, and you can find out more information about Dementia Friends and shared reading. There is no charge ...
[IMG: HHnew-psq-building] Ambitious plans for Hemel Hempstead town centre's regeneration are going on show. Dacorum Borough Council are submitting a planning application mid-November for a new community focused public service quarter with a modern library at its heart (pictured), replacing the current Civic Centre on Marlowes. This will be followed soon after by separate proposals for new homes, retirement living accommodation and leisure facilities (including a cinema and restaurants). Dacorum BC will be holding an exhibition, together with development partners Endurance Estates and R G Carter, where residents, businesses and anyone else with an interest in the town are invited ...
[IMG: ALDC Master Logo (for screen)] Five principal council by-elections were contested yesterday in England, Scotland and Wales. In Telford & Wrekin (UA), by-elections were held in Ironbridge Gorge and Newport West. The former contest resulted in a Labour hold although they saw a decrease of 8.9% in their vote from the ward's 2011 election, after UKIP had polled 18.5% despite not fielding a candidate in 2011. In Newport West an Independent candidate gained a seat from the Conservatives to become the second Independent representative on Telford & Wrekin council. The Conservatives saw a 37% decrease in their vote finishing ...
The claims against Jian Ghomeshi show we still need to talk about sexual consent (tags: ) How teachers can support trans students (tags: ) Bonfire night events across Calderdale (tags: ) Jesus, we're still paying off the South Sea Bubble Debts. Bloody Walpole, leaving the country in a mess that the Lib Dems have to clear up... ;) (tags: ) Votes for UKIP and independence reflect inadequacies in our political system (tags: ) Bedroom Tax: Tories in Commons 'time wasting' plot to save hated charge - go @AndrewGeorgeLD! (tags: ) Virgin Galactic space rocket crash: 'One pilot dead and one ...
Sat 1st
08:55Going to see the poppies at the Tower of London? Tower Hill station is closed this weekend
[IMG: Tower of London - second visit] Paul Cummins's display of red poppies outside the Tower of London, marking the anniversary of the First World War, has been a remarkably popular piece of art – and rightly so given the importance of what it commemorates and the brilliance of the poppies. This weekend (1st/2nd November) is likely to be one of the busiest for people visiting it, and yet Transport for London has decided that this is also a good weekend to close the neighbouring tube station (Tower Hill) for engineering works. As Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat member of the ...
The Balgay Parish Church Christmas Fayre and Craft Sale is on Saturday 8th November from 10am to 12 noon. All welcome! Tickets, (including tea/coffee) are £2, with children's tickets at £1. You can pay on the day at the door.
Not long ago I mentioned the missing road markings in Liverpool Road South in Maghull (at the Meadows mini roundabout) where a set of speed humps remains unmarked to this day, weeks and weeks after the road was resurfaced. I also mentioned that my Lib Dem councillor colleague from Southport's Birkdale Ward – Richard Hands – had raised similar concerns at the last meeting of Sefton Council and that he had received a dismissive response. Well whether our Labour rulers like it or not it seems to be a fact that road markings are taking many weeks to be ...
Congratulations to Jon Featonby, who continues to lead the LibDemVoice Fantasy Football League after Week 9, having amassed 525 points so far – an average of 58 points each week. His nearest rival, just 7 points behind, continues to be George Murray. In third place, on 513 points, is a very familiar Lib Dem name: Andrew Wiseman, current chair of the Federal Conference Committee. With just 42 points separating the top 10, there is of course all still to play for. [IMG: LDV FANTASY FOOTBALL_9] There are 152 players in total and you can still join the league by clicking ...
