I have just finished and published my latest email newsletter to people who follow my self-sufficiency activities. It is a look back at 2014. So if you are into sustainable living, or just want to have a look at the non-political side of my life, you can read it on this link.
Following my ward surgeries at West Park Centre and the Mitchell Street Centre this afternoon, I participated in tonight's City Council meetings. Immediately prior to the meetings starting, along with councillor colleagues, I signed the 'Be The Change' declaration to show support for people with learning disabilities - see below: Representatives of all the groups on the City Council, together with the Chief Executive on behalf of Council employees, signed the declaration, which is part of a campaign organised by ENABLE Scotland, promoted by local organisation Advocating Together (Dundee) to stop the use of offensive and hurtful language towards people ...
Sorry this has taken a little longer to write than the "tomorrow" implied in the last part. Like I said there, I have a whole ball of different ideas to untangle, and it's going to take me a while to sort everything out into individual posts. Because two weeks ago I saw a lot of [...]
Mon 26th
22:51
Labour boasts about being tough on immigration... but only if you live in certain houses
.@HaringeyLabour – are you aware that your NHS leaflet is being delivered alongside AXA private health letter? pic.twitter.com/eE6XPfE0Ax — Jenni Hollis (@JenniferHollis) January 25, 2015 Of course Labour's desire to imitate right-wing Tories on immigration is a consistent policy: [IMG: Labour backs Tories on immigration]
When I should be blogging about politics, I find that I can't stop thinking instead about an article by the brilliant Bryan Appleyard, author of The Brain is as Wide as the Sky and other diatribes aimed at scientism and reductionism. This is how he describes this revolt at the heart of science: Unger and Smolin have also just gone into print with a monumental book - The Singular Universe and the Reality of Time - which systematically takes apart contemporary physics and exposes much of it as, in Unger's words, "an inferno of allegorical fabrication." The book says it ...
Photo of Berwick-upon-Tweed © Richard West The Journal has an amusing piece on the campaign in the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency, where Sir Alan Beith is standing down after more than 41 years as an MP: When it was announced in December that the A1 in Northumberland was to be upgraded, Prime Minister David Cameron made a rare trip to Northumberland to personally take a stroll by the side of the road. With him in the picture was Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a long-time campaigner for dualling of the A1 who just happens to be the Conservatives' candidate for Berwick in the election. With ...
Later today, in an hour or two, I'll be posting the first excerpt of the first draft of my novel to Patreon, for those on the $5-per-month or higher bands to look over. This is mostly because that group includes a few people whose opinions I really value — I'm doing it as much for [...]
The way that the blues entranced white youth in Britain, but not in America, is one of music's puzzles. I wrote about it - or rather quoted Joe Boyd else about it - in a post in 2008: Boyd describes a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon:This was middle America's worst nightmare: white teenage girls screaming ecstatically at Chuck Berry. Boyd noticed a familiar figure looking on: I blurted out "That's John Lee Hooker." The girls around me started yelling, "John Lee? John Lee? Where? Where?" I pointed towards the wings. They started chanting, "We want John Lee, we want John ...
Southport Lib Dems Burns Night, excellently organised by Pat Keith et all, was a great success. I must confess to a moment or two of doubt when Ronnie entered wearing an excessively mini kilt. I feared he was going to ham it and reduce the address to farce. I need not have been afraid. With great seriousness Ronnie delivered Burn's address to the haggis. David Pullen was unwell and so we were spared one of his difficult quizzes. He was ably replaced by Julie whose twelve questions you can see above. Can you do better than Table 1? Julie ...
Metro walks away with our prestigious Headline of the Day Award.
Cheadle Area Committee is next Tuesday, 3rd February 2015 starting at 6pm. As always, everyone's welcome. The meeting is held in the Ladybridge Park Residents Club, Edenbridge Road, Cheadle Hulme. On this month's agenda: Application for £1000 funding from Manchester Rugby Club based in Cheadle Hulme Planning application 53876 to build two new 3 bedroom houses on Rosewood Avenue, Gatley. The immediate neighbours have written to object, planning officers are recommending grant. Planning application 54943 to convert Pymgate Lodge on Styal Road (just south of Yew Tree Grove) from residential care home to five apartments with a new access onto ...
I see that the position of Alex Carlile as a member of the Liberal Democrats has been brought into question by one of my former colleagues at Liberal Democrat Voice, following his signature on Lords amendments intended to bring back the 'Snooper's Charter'. Having spent quite a lot of time examining the voting records of Liberal Democrat peers, it has to be said that, whilst his overall voting record isn't brilliant - he does do other things, it should be noted - he is not a frequent rebel against the Party whip. And yes, the right to privacy is core ...
Southwark Labour have just confirmed what roads and pavements they will renew over the next three financial years. It's great they plan to spend more over the next three years but to fund this they plan to drastically reduce budgets in future years. Topically this remind me of GReek government finances. But the decision has many duplications. For example they plan to renew 10% of footways on Dovercourt Road this coming financial year (FY) but then renew 100% of the footways in FY 17_18! Similar duplications for Aysgarth Road, Beauval Road, Casino Avenue, Copleston Road, Danecroft Road, Elmwood Road, Playfield ...
Do you think that British newspapers and magazines portray women in a generally positive, negative or neutral light? Men: 26% positive, 26% negative, net: 0% Women: 11% positive, 44% negative, net: -33% Source: YouGov.
It may seem hard to imagine, but until 1992 the World Health Organisation classified homosexuality as a form of mental illness. Academic studies have shown an extraordinary prevalence, not too long ago, of therapists seeking to 'convert' gay people to become heterosexual – treating people's sexuality as an illness rather than an inherent part of who they are. In recent decades, society and the medical professions have fortunately come a long way. Most people now recognise that this as dangerous nonsense. But there remain a few counsellors who still believe in the "treatment" of homosexuality to combat same-sex attractions. I ...
New from the Deputy Prime Minister's office:
Details presented at the last meeting of the Creating Opportunities and Tackling Inequalities Scrutiny Committee show plans are in place to "explore the development of a contributions policy for children and young people who are looked after." The report adds that in the majority of cases, parents would NOT be required to contribute towards the costs of the Council [...]
Mon 26th
15:55
Julian Huppert writes ... On shoehorning the Snooper's Charter into the Counter Terrorism Bill
To my shock and dismay a small group of unelected peers are trying to shoehorn the Communications Data Bill (known as the Snooper's Charter) into the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill as an amendment. This is a bad idea, and also an abuse of process. It would mean that neither the Lords nor the Commons would get a proper chance to discuss the details of what is a massive infringement of people's privacy. I served on the Joint Committee Nick insisted on, and we spent a year scrutinising it - and tearing it to shreds. Yes, we need the intelligence ...
Mon 26th
15:55Political scientists are limited by their reliance on existing data sets, and there is not enough em...
I first wrote this post in 2012 and it's still extremely relevant, so here it is again with a lick of new paint. Shouldn't there be more to political science than running regression analysis on other people's datasets? That question has often occurred to me when sat in a university room somewhere around the country at one of the academic political science conferences as yet another presenter looks at British electoral politics through the eyes of a statistician. It is a tribute to the profession that it produces data sets - most notably the British Election Study series - which ...
It is 35 years since the Iranian Revolution and the US hostage crisis, yet the rhetoric between Tehran and the "Great Satan" America hardly seems to have varied during that time. Attempts to bring about a rapprochement faltered when it was discovered that Iran had been secretly enriching uranium, sending alarm bells ringing that it [...]
Last week we had the good news that pressure and campaigning from Mark Hunter and the Lib Dem team had resulted in a landmark Rail Strategy report for Stockport, recommending a new Metrolink line including stops at Cheadle and Gatley – 61 years after Cheadle's last railway station closed under the Beeching axe. It's a big step forward – the strategy is agreed between Stockport Council and TfGM. But there's a long way to go. There are always far more transport projects around the country than there is money to pay for them, so if we want to push ours ...
There was a curious story in the Daily Mirror over the weekend. It incorrectly refers to Chevening as 'Nick Clegg's estate', and 'the Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister's land' when it is, of course, a property owned by the Government. It is usually made available to the Foreign Secretary so s/he can entertain Foreign ministers in some privacy. During this Parliament the Foreign Secretary has shared the use of Chevening with the Deputy Prime Minister. After all, it would not be appropriate for either of them to invite national and community leaders to their private homes. The property is also ...
Local MP Mark Hunter and Lib Dem Council candidate Graham Greenhalgh have organised a public meeting for you to have your say on the Kingsway junction to the agencies that control it, and everyone is invited. The Kingsway junction's one of the busiest in Greater Manchester and the Lib Dem team have worked to improve it, most recently getting the white lines moved to allow more cars to turn right from Cheadle and Gatley. But more needs to be done. The junction is already over capacity and with more houses being build and the economy growing stronger, it's going to ...
New figures from Startup Britain show that Stockport remains one of the top places in the country to start up a new business, second only to Manchester across the Greater Manchester city region. [IMG: startups] Stockport has the 23rd most startups in the country, only 500 behind Liverpool (which has nearly double our population).
8.3m families will benefit twice from the Liberal Democrat tax cut, new analysis has revealed. Thanks to Liberal Democrats increasing the personal tax allowance to £10,600, these families will on average be £1,330 better off each year. New research using HM Treasury's tax and benefit model shows that our flagship policy of increasing the amount that people can earn before they pay income tax is vital in creating a fairer society. Income tax cuts for working people were a top priority for Liberal Democrats when we entered the coalition in 2010 and one which we are proud to have delivered ...
[IMG: Free School Meals] "I have to say we have been very lucky to have had the Liberal Democrats in government; cutting income tax for the lowest paid, marriage equality, defending the Human Rights Act against those in the Conservatives who would wish to repeal the Act, free school meals for primary school children, trying to reform our tired old political system by having a referendum on the electoral system and attempting to reform the House of Lords and finally arguing to remain as part of the European Union in the face of an increasingly Eurosceptic, right wing Conservative Party." ...
It's election year, the 'long campaign' period has begun, and it is more important than ever that ALDC knows who your candidates are! We are here to help, and every Liberal Democrat candidate in May's elections can benefit from our candidate support services. For ALDC members looking for more information on selection and approval procedures, [...]
[IMG: PAddy Ashdown by Liberal Democrats] Liberal Democrats have always treasured the charismatic Paddy Ashdown. He has an engaging style in public and comes over as warm, realistic and credible; he is also very good at rallying the troops. It seems that others beside the Liberal Democrats have noticed the pulling power of his voice, including an agency for voice-over artists which has now recruited him. The Guardian reports the story and refers to his 'authoritative, reassuring tones', but also highlights concerns by some party members. It quotes a 'senior Liberal Democrat' who said... ... he was 'astonished' that Ashdown ...
So, who, or what, am I supposed to be scared of this week? Well, obviously, Greeks bearing gifts for one thing. Syriza's triumph in yesterday's election means that the Eurozone will experience a massive loss of confidence, plagues of locusts will sweep up through the Balkans and the European Union will then collapse. Or, more likely, someone will point out to the new administration that, if you don't pay your debts, nobody will lend you any money. Talk to the Argentine government about what that means, why don't you? And without more money, you can't fulfil your promises. Oh, and ...
In May's local elections we need Lib Dem candidates more than ever. Target Candidates Standing as a Lib Dem candidate, even in a paperless ward, is a service to the party that is easily and often under-estimated. As ever it's a hard slog to match all our target wards with the right calibre of candidate. [...]
Julian Huppert, the Lib Dem MP for Cambridge has a slot at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday and he's looking for suggestions about what he should ask. Well Julian, here's mine: "Does the Prime Minister think that a Government security organisation which gives out its Chief Executive's mobile phone number to a stranger who calls up their switchboard shouldn't, on the whole, be given free access to every citizen's e mail and internet records for the past year and trusted not to use that data inappropriately?" I ask this, because while you and I might think the answer to ...
I had the opportunity to tour a small business this week which makes cutting-edge prosthetic devices. It was fascinating - technology nowadays has moved on so much that electronic sensors in an artificial foot can detect when you stub your toe on a curb and compensate for your loss of balance so that the foot/prosthetic device stays stable and you don't fall. We are all familiar with international athletes, 'bladerunners', who are able to achieve so much in their sport because of the specialist blade limbs that enable them to compete at the highest level. What I wasn't aware of ...
Mon 26th
10:46
The continuing debate about the debates means they are on the verge of happening - but in a format t...
Grant Shapps, chairman of the Conservative Party, has hinted that Cameron may have to participate in the TV debates after all. Asked whether the prime minister would turn up if they happened, yes or no, Shapps gave an unequivocal answer: "It's a yes." I use the words "have to" as it's the worst kept secret in Westminster how Cameron feels about doing the debates. It is fair to say, in a nod to understatement, he's not particularly keen on the idea. Nor should he be. I understand why the Tories don't want to do the debates: it became accepted wisdom ...
Yate Town Council's tennis courts at Sunnyside Lane have been resurfaced and repainted. The fencing has been improved, plus a path to the courts from the car park to improve access to the courts for all members of the community. Yate was awarded a £31,150 funding boost from SITA Trust, and worked with tennis experts to get the courts completely refurbished. Councillor Sue Walker said "The newly surfaced courts are available for hire - why not come along and give tennis a try its a fun way of keeping fit and losing those few pounds you may have gained over ...
The election draws near and the battle lines are being set -but they are being laid down on the principles of old, whilst the country cries out for change. More than anything, voters yearn for responsive local Government and not authoritarian diktats from afar in London or Brussels. They want their voices heard. The two party system is broken but our democracy remains in the past. We need leadership and a vision of a modern democracy that will give people a real say and the freedom to act. Do Clegg and Milliband have the statesmanship to seize a unique opportunity ...
It was Dick Tuck who declared, on losing a Californian State Senate race, "The people have spoken, the bastards". It may well be that some European leaders are feeling something similar as the Greek General Election results come in. Alexis Tspiras, who leads the victorious Syriza party, is pledged to end austerity. That can only mean one choice: he either has to come out of the Euro and go his own way, or he has to renegotiate the bail-out package that was put in place by his predecessors. Either way, it heralds a period of unsettled weather for the Eurozone ...
The old Scunthorpe problem raises it's ugly head. Again. (tags: ) UKIP General Secretary appears to be a transphobic asshole. Witness my face of not-surprise (tags: ) Saudi Arabia has been holding reformist daughters of the late king under guard for over a decade (tags: ) the differences between male & female attitudes to page 3 (tags: ) Car seat nudges driver if they're too close to a bicycle/motorbike (tags: ) Brighouse Cinema showing Pride :) (tags: ) Fascinating story behind the rail chaos at King'sX/Finsbury Park over Christmas (tags: ) Next time cat people say I dote on my ...
The Western Mail reports that a cross-party group of MPs has called for a moratorium on fracking amid fears of the impact on public health and the fight against climate change. They say that the Environmental Audit Committee want a halt to fracking because it is "incompatible with our climate change targets": The committee dismisses the argument that shale gas will help wean the UK off coal, stating: "Shale gas cannot be regarded as a 'transitional' or 'bridging' fuel. Any large-scale extraction of shale gas in the UK is likely to be at least 10-15 years away. "It is also ...
The NHS in Hertfordshire has issued this leaflet: Alternatives to AE in Hertfordshire FINAL (3)
Mon 26th
08:35
Our museum resource centre is not just for Ludlow - it's for the world - so let's save it from anted...
No one was certain how many people would turn up to last Thursday morning's meeting to discuss the cuts to the Ludlow Museum Resource Centre. The organisers had booked Oscars in the Ludlow Assembly Rooms for the meeting but this was quickly overwhelmed. The assembled company, numbering more than 180 on my count, decanted into [...]
During the West End campus building project for St Joseph's Primary School, Victoria Park Primary School and Balgay Hill Nursery School, the contractor has kept adjacent residents updated throughout the building of the new schools via community newsletters. I am pleased to say that this practice has continued with the Harris Academy building project, with the most recent newsletter from last month downloadable here.
As well as Southport's excellent rail service to Liverpool and the (let's be charitable) it's less than excellent service to Wigan and Manchester, the Town has two other railways that carry the public around. [IMG: rsz_southport_pier_tram_-_fastest_in_the_town] The obvious one is the Pier Tram but a lack of ambition and forward planning by Sefton Council, in particular, means that what could be a useful east – west passenger carrying line still simply shuttles up and down the Pier. [IMG: End of the line or the end of Sefton Council's ambition?] End of the line or the end of Sefton Council's ambition? ...
Google have invested in SpaceX, a company founded on the idea of private space flights to Mars. But there are alternative narratives for the tech giant's race into space A week ago, Elon Musk launched his new SpaceX satellite lab in Seattle. He plans to provide satellite internet access via a constellation of 4,000 satellites flying at 750km above the earth, each weighing hundreds of kgs. The announcement came two days after Richard Branson and Qualcomm invested in the OneWeb satellite internet initiative, which is building almost 700 fridge-sized satellites. Along with Branson, Musk is a billionaire that usually talks ...
In 2013 Labour promised to freeze energy prices for 20 months if they win the 2015 general election. As feared when this pledge was made – energy companies would de risk Labour winning by ensuring higher prices before the election to buffer them from this proposal. With the dramatic fall in wholesale energy prices only some has been passed onto consumers. Npower and others have stated that they would have decreased prices by more than the 5.1% they have reduced prices by IF it wasn't for Labours pledge. Power are behaving perfectly rationally to de risk their business from the ...
