With both Mansfield Town and Southport winning today the world of football looks a little rosier than usual from my perspective. [IMG: Southport FC] [IMG: Mansfield Town]
The Liverpool Echo has the emerging story – see link above The tragic death of an off duty police officer whilst enjoying a night out must send shivers down all our spines. There is no justification for violence like this under any circumstances. Liverpool city centre is generally known to be a reasonably safe place at night so this incident, where it seems 3 off duty police officers were attacked, is all the more shocking. The perpetrators of this, like any over incident where violence is used against anyone, need to be brought to justice and taken off our ...
Christian consciences have been a concern since the days of the New Testament. A long time ago, a wise man called Paul the Apostle gave advice to the Christians in Corinth about how to handle their consciences. "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the [...]
Sat 20th
19:30
Faith and Pride Consultation on the Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill
DUP MLA Paul Givan has proposed a Private Member's Bill for the Northern Ireland Assembly. This bill, which proposes introducing a conscience clause to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, will allow people to use religious belief to legally discriminate against people based on sexual orientation. The DUP recently launched a consultation [...]
View image | gettyimages.com Yes, I know. You were in for suspenders for nearly a month, weren't you?. What on earth would I go for, for number three in this series? Well, wait no longer. Mrs Robinson by Simon & Grafunkel is a beautifully produced recording. The guitar work is superb. And there is a sort of moaning in the background. I like that. Very distinctive. This tune reminds me of when I was lucky enough to enjoy the summer of 1976 being occasionally driven around the North Devon countryside by our music teacher and a couple of friends from ...
Grandson Alex gets his doctorate at Edinburgh University
Acocks Green's Claimant Unemployment fell by 23 to 695 in November. This is a fall of 263 over the past year, reducing the claimant rate from 7.3% to 5.3% in that time. The level of long term unemployed fell by 25 to 265 and the number of youth claimants also fell by 25 to 155. Across Birmingham as a whole, the claimant unemployment level is down 1,369 in the month and 10,091 in the past year. It now stands at 31,590 or 6.5%. Its over 14% in 4 wards: Aston, Lozells and East Handsworth, Sparkbrook and Washwood Heath but under ...
I was asked on my previous post for info on the current Liberal Democrat stance, I'm sure this will help. (I've not added my own to comment for one I'm struck down with some stomach bug and two it looks like Lib Dem candidates for the up coming general election are doing their best, unlike some) PRESS RELEASE: 19th December Liberal Democrats publish 10-Point Plan, calling for a referendum on Manston Airport's future. In response to the chaos at Thanet District Council reported by local media this week, the two Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates for North and South Thanet ...
Some highlights from their press release and report issued on 19th December: 512,400 students were accepted onto full-time courses, of which 447,500 were domiciled in the UK. Both of these figures are record highs for UCAS. An 8.6% increase was recorded in applicants over 25 being placed (a total of 52,300) – also a record high. By way of example, the chart below shows the changes in applications and acceptances for UK domiciled individuals aged 35+ between 2010 and 2014 (data taken from table 3, page 104 of the report). [IMG: UCAS applications and acceptances 2010-14, UK domiciled, aged 35+] ...
Nobody could ever accuse Norman Lamb of political spin. He's been in his ministerial job for 2.5 years and he's totally honest about the still poor state of mental health services, particularly for young people. He says what he's trying to fix it, but the pace of change must be frustratingly slow for him. He (and Paul Burstow before him) and Nick Clegg have done a massive amount in recent years to transform and improve mental health services but it's more than a one-term job. Norman has been talking to the Bournemouth Daily Echo about what he's done and what ...
The planning application has now been submitted for the proposed solar scheme on land next to the Badminton Road Council Offices at Nibley. Last week we reported on a meeting we had with officers about the proposals. You can now view the plans and make comments online.If for any reason that link doesn't work, go to the planning application search page and enter the reference number PK14/4785/R3F. You have until 6th January to make comments.
View image | gettyimages.com From Computer Weekly: The UK needs to enforce encryption by default to protect citizens' privacy, according to Liberal Democrat MPs. Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert said it was essential to introduce encryption despite objections from the security services. The idea is expected to feature in a draft Liberal Democrat Digital Bill of Rights, which is being drawn up before the next election... Other proposals for the Digital Bill of Rights include legislation to make "revenge porn" a criminal offence. This would not mean a blanket ban on pornography, said Huppert: "We don't want state censorship; that ...
[IMG: LY Cardiff campaign weekend Dec 2014] One of the nicest things that's happened to me this year was when I logged on to Facebook last night and found an invitation asking me to sign up for a Liberal Youth Action Weekend. It's a long time since I was involved in one of its predecessor organisations, but it brought back memories of the great fun we used to have campaigning in Aberdeenshire under the guidance of party legends like Sheila Ritchie. It was great being at university in Aberdeen because the local party really embraced the students and wanted them ...
Rogue Traders When did it happen: w/c 15/12/14 Where: Cheadle General Information: Properties are being targeted in and around mainly the Cheadle Area of Stockport by rogue tradesmen claiming to be giving an advance warning to residents of an upcoming roof inspection because of the age of the houses. This is neither a Government nor Council initiative and the advice for home owners is not to allow cold callers to conduct any work on your property. If you are considering having work carried out on your home then you should try and employ a trader who has been recommended to ...
I am passionately pro-BBC (and the licence fee) and I am not a party to the cheesy cynicism of those right-wing campaigners who are convinced that the corporation is endemically anti-Israel. It isn't. Nor is it improperly pro-Israel, as alleged by some of the sillier elements on the pro-Palestinian left. But when I see the headline "Israel launches Gaza air strike", I despair - because the story actually begins: "Israeli aircraft have bombed a site in Gaza, in the first such action since the declaration of a truce in August. The air strike was carried out on a Hamas facility ...
[IMG: bal161923] I remember being at an Alex Salmond speech in London a few years back. It was post May-2011, maybe autumn 2012 or so. I recall being impressed with his oratory skills, but that's not what really sticks in my mind about the event. What I'll never forget was a bloke very close by me in the crowd sticking his hand up to ask a question. He looked like the type of chap you might avoid in a pub if at all possible. An air of low level belligerence hung around him, and you knew it was permanent somehow, ...
Local MP Steve Webb has sent out the following useful round-up of local Christmas opening times: Constituency Office of Steve Webb MP - Opening Hours The office will be open as usual over the holiday period, with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and 2nd January. You can contact Steve on 01454 322100 or email steve@stevewebb.org.uk. Christmas Posting Dates The last posting dates for Christmas are as follows: (It's already too late for 2nd class post) Saturday 20 December - 1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For® Monday 22 December - Parcelforce Worldwide 48 hours delivery ...
Very clever (and more here): [IMG: Marion Luttenberger infographic: shopping trolley] [IMG: Marion Luttenberger infographic: speakers] Hat-tip: Nathan Yau who points out, "The annotation is in German but nothing Google Translate can't handle."
[IMG: NPG x167152; Jeremy Thorpe by Walter Bird, Copyright National POrtrait Gallery, London some rights reserved] Jeremy Thorpe's funeral was held yesterday at St Margaret's Church, Westminster. It was attended by around 400 people including all five leaders of the Liberal party and the Liberal Democrats who succeeded Jeremy Thorpe: David Steel, Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy, Ming Campbell and Nick Clegg. There was a gathering afterwards at the National Liberal Club. The following tribute was delivered at the funeral by Nick Harvey MP, and is reproduced here at his suggestion. It is a great honour to be asked to say ...
View image | gettyimages.com Congratulations to George Murray's 'Marauding Fullbacks', who, with an impressive 928 points, continue to lead the LibDemVoice Fantasy Football League after Week 16. It's tight, though: just 12 points separate the top 3. We're entering the festive period, a time when you've probably got lots of other things to do. But, beware: there's lots of football action, so, if you take your eye off the ball, you could find yourselves plummeting. [IMG: LDV FANTASY FOOTBALL_16] There are 157 players in total and you can still join the league by clicking here. * Stephen Tall is Co-Editor ...
Next month, Latvia assumes the Presidency of the European Council and, to introduce itself to the world, this really rather charming video has been released. So, if you don't know very much about Latvia, here, in less than three minutes, is a Latvian view of themselves...
Over at the Telegraph, Dan Hodges assesses Nick Clegg's seven years as leader of the Liberal Democrats and concludes: But let's step back and look for a moment at the New World Clegg has had a hand in shaping through his own eyes. He has lead his party into government. He has proved that coalition government can be stable. He has neutralised the more extreme instincts of his coalition partners. He has helped guide his country to a place of relative social and economic safety. I've been one of Clegg's fiercest critics. As I wrote recently, he is no Gladstone ...
Labour are losing votes to the Greens and they don't know why (tags: ) Eurgh. Nasty Ableism is nasty. (tags: ) MIT Computer Scientists Demonstrate the Hard Way That Gender Still Matters Why people continue to be surprised by sexism on reddit is beyond me. (tags: ) MEPs secure deal to cap card payment fees (tags: ) Obama calls only women at a presser. Go Obama. (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Here's the winners' list for the shoppers' prize draw and children's window spotting competition from this year's West End Christmas Fortnight. All winners have been advised and Dominic, the window spotting competition winner, will be presented with his prizes at Blackness Library on Monday. This poster also appears on the West End Community Council notice board outside Nisa in Perth Road.
The continued patchy implementation of the Welsh Labour Government's Cancer Delivery Plan is demonstrated by the latest cancer waiting times. While some health boards have seen an increase in the percentage of urgent cancer patients seen within the target 62 days, three health boards (Cardiff and Vale, Betsi Cadwaladr and Hywel Dda) have all seen declines in these times. Not a single Welsh health board met the 95% target for urgent cancer patients. On a Wales-wide basis, this target has still not been met since 2008. The Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee first raised concerns with the implementation of ...
I was going to call this a Christmas mix, but given that there are songs about New Year and Hanukkah, and several generic "winter" songs, this is The Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! Generic Winterval Holiday Mix The Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! Generic Winterval Holiday Mix by Andrewhickey on Mixcloud Tracklisting: I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas — The [...]
