Kindness has been on my mind a bit these last few days. By far the kindest person I ever knew was my Granny, my mum's mum. I spent so much time with her as a little girl and I can ... Continue reading →
Lord Bonkers writes exclusively for Liberal England: Congratulations to Her Most Gracious Majesty on her setting of a new record.It happens that I was presented to Queen Victoria as a boy. I wore my sailor suit: she had a stubbly chin, a strong German accent and Army boots peeking out from under her skirts. "Look at old Grandpa Loony," she exclaimed, pointing to a Morland of George III. "I bet he vas sick ven I broke his record!" Like Len Hutton or Bob Beamon (to whom she bore a passing resemblance), she must have thought that she had put the ...
Second paragraph of third chapter: Thank you, I thought. I have been trying to live up to my end of our deal. One of the books that is being talked about as a potential Hugo nominee next year, which I grabbed without thinking too hard because it was going for only $4 on Kindle. It is well-known that I have bounced off Scalzi's prose in the past, though I did very much like Lock-In which was kept off this year's Hugo list by the slates. This is another book in the series that started with Old Man's War, about an ...
Tributes to the Queen for becoming the longest serving monarch were made today in the House of Commons and provided the first big national occasion when Tim Farron spoke as Leader of the Liberal Democrats. When you are as far down the pecking order as we find ourselves these days, you just can't say the usual stuff. Tim's tribute was slightly unconventional, quite funny and very fitting. It also makes us at LDV think he's overdue an encounter with a maypole. Here it is in full: It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to Her Majesty ...
Saturday: It's nice that - as never happens in Agatha Christie - the cybernetic butler did it. The first of two very different but both very excellent episodes from newcomer Jamie Matthieson ("Being Human" and the tragically-short-lived "Dirk Gently" TV series), "Mummy on the Orient Express" is a story that works on multiple levels. It's a good old-fashioned faux-murder mystery with sci-fi trappings that works so well that you can enjoy it perfectly for that reason alone. It's also part of the ongoing serial. But on top of that it's making commentary on its own workings as a television adventure. ...
I went to the Dulwich Picture Gallery to see the Ravilious exhibition over the summer (very good it was) and happened to catch my eight-year-old fiddling with their online comments machine. Creeping up behind him, I saw he had written: "I likd the nacked womens (sic)" (the gallery is known for its acres of seventeenth century flesh). I chuckled a little about this until it struck me that he would have had to sign in with an email to write a comment. "What email did you use?" I asked, and rather hopefully: "Did you make one up.?" "It's OK, Daddy," ...
Second paragraph of third chapter: Well, it's sort of true. A good book for teenagers - aimed more at girls than boys, with an honest story about relationships, status, hideous embarrassment and BOYS. It didn't wow me quite as much as the other books I've read by the same author, but I'm not the target audience and I'd happily get it for those who are.
We live on a planet where climate change is posing an existential threat to humanity; where conflict, hunger and poverty are forcing unprecedented numbers to migrate; where globalisation has concentrated economic power in the hands of multi-national corporations; and where western states face collective security threats from international terrorism. The nation state alone is ill-equipped to address such global problems and it highlights the increasing importance of an international response to international challenges. The need to address these global threats to individual freedoms and opportunities, and the pressing need to control the economic power that lies beyond national borders, is ...
Okay let me admit it from the start. I am in trouble with the Mayor of Liverpool again. I knew this when within minutes of putting out a tweet saying he should repay the £89,950 I got from him a ... Continue reading →
I recently read this interesting piece by Tom Chivers on BuzzFeed - asking atheists how they find meaning in life Declaration of interest - I'm an annoying agnostic, not able to make up my mind one way or the other. I was very dissatisfied with a number of the answers from his interviews. I was also struck by the strength of my feeling about this! It's interesting that I feel so strongly about other people's worldview. So I thought worth examining. It's quite hard to disagree with people finding meaning in other people close to them but I was left ...
Liberal Democrat Councillors Edgar Hill and Chris White are pushing for St Albans District Council to adopt Fixed Penalty Notices for persistent offenders caught littering. "I have received numerous complaints and witnessed personally the ever increasing problem of littering in our Parks and Streets" said District Councillor Edgar Hill. "It must be plain to see [...]
The BBC is reporting that three of the top ten most crowded train services in England and Wales pass through Manchester, including the top two! The figures for 2014 have been released by the Department for Transport. The Manchester trains, which all start or terminate at Manchester Airport, Top 10 most crowded trains 2014 04:22 Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport 16:00 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh 06:31 Reading to London Paddington 07:57 London Heathrow to London Paddington 07:02 Reading to London Paddington 06:35 Caterham to Victoria Central 07:24 Brighton to Bedford 18:00 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh 07:32 Woking to London Waterloo ...
[IMG: LE_Eithne_Operation_Triton] Our group Leader on Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council, Councillor Gavin James, had the opportunity to contribute a short piece to the Basingstoke Observer. He wrote about the refugee crisis, although it is important to note that this was before the tragic photos of Aylan appeared last week. Gavin had a tight deadline and a [...]
A quick look down my Facebook timeline today understandably shows some lovely pictures of the Queen. Actually, my inbox is full of mentions of her as eager marketers exploit her record-breaking reign, but that's another story. Now, I would happily get rid of the monarchy purely on principle as I don't believe that a head of state should come to that position by accident of birth. I know that that is very much a minority position and, frankly, there are more important things to take up my campaigning time. However, my innate republicanism doesn't mean I can't respect the woman ...
[IMG: A good poster display creates the micro climate for success] The 16th July 2015 was a euphoric night for the Lib Dem team in Battle, East Sussex. The by-election held on that day was one of the early successes in what has become a solid series of holds, gains and significant rises in our vote. In Battle, where the seat on Rother District Council was [...]
[IMG: Map of Shorncliffe Camp 1801 (] The Shorncliffe Trust will this weekend (12th and 13th September) be running free guided tours visiting and explaining the evolvement of a military garrison over 200 years. Almost forgotten about and unmarked for over a century, the site has been interpreted and plotted by the Shorncliffe Trust's chairman Christopher Shaw. The land at Shorncliffe Camp is rich in archaeological remains relating to the military use of the site over some two centuries. The archaeological potential of these remains is high and the overall significance of the site is high. Some archaeological remains are ...
In just a few hours, a fund launched by Alistair Carmichael's long-time friend Sheila Ritchie has raised nearly £2000 to help with the defence of the election petition against him. Earlier this week two judges heard two days of legal arguments. They will now then decide whether the petition proceeds any further. Two days' worth of a QC's time really doesn't come cheap. The fund aims to raise £50,000 to help with those costs. Sheila says: Everyone in the Northern Isles knows someone who Alistair has helped, and he has fought so hard for his constituents. During the election he ...
[IMG: mv-balmoral-in-the-bristol-channel] The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above This story in the Echo caught my eye especially as I have recently spent a couple of days in Deganwy and Llandudno. And then this also happened on the ship:-
[IMG: Using the new registers to identify and engage with new local voters is a great way to boost your campaigns] This week's templates are for local campaigners to write to new voters and those turning 18. The next election register is going to be added to Connect by mid-September so this is a great opportunity to write to those recently registered. Why write to New Voters? New Voters often will not know the difference that [...]
[IMG: Lib Dem campaigners fighting Labour's library axe in 2013] Lib Dem campaigners fighting Labour's library axe in 2013 The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above Well this is a seemingly welcome initiative in Liverpool and it shines Sefton's Labour rulers in a very poor light indeed as they simply shut libraries in the Borough despite calls for innovative volunteer alternatives to be taken on board. [IMG: rsz_protesting_about_library_closures_-_southport] To this day I can't get my head around the stubborn refusal of Sefton's Labour-run Council who just would not embrace and encourage volunteer-run alternatives to library closures. ...
[IMG: Ruth Bright] Here is a picture of a woman. There is something strange about her. Can you spot it? Well of course you can. She is from a very small and curious minority. She is a Liberal Democrat activist! The bump? Well that puts her in a numerically far more significant group. 700,000 women in this country have a baby each year. Having a baby is a normal thing to do. All the time people are saying that they want more candidates to be "normal" people. But being a pregnant candidate some years ago made me feel that I ...
I refer to the recent poll in the local press where the usual media suspects are attempting yet again to impose Teesside upon us. Last time they split Yorkshire into three versions so it would split the vote to get the Teesside result they wanted and Yorkshire still came out on top. So now they included just two options Teesside or Tees Valley and are claiming overwhelming support for Teesside. This same bunch of unelected media men have been getting it wrong for decades. The same people have flitted from Teesside to Cleveland to Tees Valley and now they want ...
Wed 9th
11:58
Temporary Traffic Order - Forest Park Place, Edward Street, Brook Street, Brewery Lane, Lower Pleasa...
From Dundee City Council : Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating works for the Scottish and Southern Energy 33Kv Cable Installation Scheme. The Order is expected to be in force for 7 weeks from 21st September 2015. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months. The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (1) Forest Park Place between Forest Park Road and Edward Street, (2) Edward Street between Brook Street and Forest Park Place, (3) ...
Here is Jim Wallace's response to the Government's statement in the House of Lords on the drone strikes and the refugee crisis. Here it is in full: My Lords, I also thank the noble Baroness the Leader of the House for repeating the Prime Minister's Statement on these very profound and serious issues. I also endorse what the noble Baroness the Leader of the Opposition said—we appreciate the fact that there will be an extended period for Back-Bench questions. Probably nothing is more important than the Government's primary responsibility of security of the realm and its citizens. The Prime Minister ...
The Independent reports: Asked in the House of Commons when the detailed plan for the Government's "British Bill of Rights" would be made public, Dominic Raab said it would be available soon. "We will bring forward proposals on a bill of rights this autumn, they will be subject to full consultation. The preparation is going well," the justice minister said... The Conservatives promised to repeal the Human Rights Act in their manifesto in this year's general election. The Act allows British citizens to raise human rights concerns in British courts rather than having to go to the European Court of ...
I can't help thinking that the discussion on here would be a great deal more productive if all commenters abided by these principles. Before You Speak Think-3 by Shannon * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
There is a Bury Career's Event on Wednesday 23rd September at the Elizabethan Suite. The day is split into 2 parts: 12pm-2:30pm - Post 16's event with live vacancies to fill 3:30pm-7pm - School Leaver event - aimed at year 10 and 11 The event has a particular focus on apprenticeships but also has colleges and HE providers. Exhibitors include: · Bury College · Manchester College · Greater Manchester Higher (representing all the GM Uni's) · 2 Health Trusts · Employers including Pennine Telecom and The Bury Black Pudding Company · St Monica's 6th Form · Bolton Uni · The ...
There are further changes to bus services from October, although they're not directly in Holyrood Ward, they may well be of interest to people who travel to these areas. From 25 October 2015: 93 – Manchester Shudehill - Carr Clough Service 93 operates between Manchester Shudehill and Carr Clough every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes Sunday daytime. Journeys are extended to Prestwich every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Service 93 hourly subsidised daily evening journeys are unchanged. From 25 October 2015: 95 – Pendleton - Carr Clough - Prestwich – Whitfield -Unsworth -Bury Service ...
Although it's not in Holyrood Ward, it may well be of interest to people. The Planning Committee recently deferred a decision on a major planning application, the largest in Prestwich, for 97 new homes on land immediately behind Tescos. The proposal is for a new estate coming off 'Valley Park Road' (the road that goes to Tesco and Prestwich Hospital), going behind Tesco, behind the Tesco car park to the back of North Road/Kingswood Road, and around the football pitch that is off Clifton Road. The application is for a mixture of 67 houses (larger houses and a small block ...
Residents are being warned about hoax letters stating that they have won a substantial amount on the People's Postcode Lottery. The letter claims the recipient has won £825,000 and urges them to ring a telephone number to claim their reward. During the phone call the scammers ask the "winner" to pay over part of their winnings. Trading standards officers say this scam has been around for a while but seems to have re-appeared in the last few weeks. Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing in Bury, said: "Residents should be suspicious if letters arrive unexpectedly, especially if you ...
Another day, another example of Police Scotland's disrespect for civil liberties. Hot on the heels of arming police on routine duties on quiet highland streets against the wishes of the local community and pursuing a highly illiberal stop and search policy, interspersed with some casual spying on journalists, we now have compulsory drug testing outside nightclubs. From the Daily Record: Customers queuing outside clubs have been approached by officers who swab their hands for traces of illegal substances. Those who don't co-operate are refused entry while those who test positive are questioned and face being searched and arrested. Politicians and ...
In the wake of their unexpected, slender majority, the Tories were overly concerned about one thing in May: Europe. It was a topic that had the potential to rip the Conservative Party into pieces, particularly now that Cameron had to hold the referendum he'd pledged to have if he ever found himself in just such a situation. While the backslapping was going on across all sections of the party, this was in the back (or indeed, the front) of every Tory's mind. However, it could – ironically enough – be the Labour Party that ends up having the big split ...
[IMG: Mark Pack training at ALDC's Kickstart conference. Photo (c) ALDC ]
This latest photograph of this short series of West End historical photographs (below) is of Perth Road. Although "Perth Road" is absolutely correct, residents of this section of the north side of Dundee's Perth Road preferred to have their mail addressed to Windsor Terrace. Residents of the block in 1895 included David Dewar, the superintendent of police, James Walker, Professor of Chemistry and University College, George Haggart, a solicitor, and John B. Hay, a builder. In 1905, three were still there: Haggart had been replaced by Henry William Rennie, a merchant. Mrs James Burdon [sic], a spirit merchant in 1895, ...
I had a meeting with Mr Parle, NatWest Bank Area Director to hand over the petition and to discuss the closure of the Churchtown branch.
Two reports in today's papers indicate that it is not just UKIP politicians who are walking around with their foot in mouth over the refugee crisis. The Guardian reports that a Scottish Conservative councillor has been suspended by the party after tweeting that he would like to see members of Islamic State infiltrate the home of the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon: Gordon McCaskill, a councillor for East Renfrewshire, was responding to a TV interview given by Sturgeon on Sunday, in which the SNP leader said she would be "absolutely happy" to house a refugee from Syria. McCaskill posted on Twitter: ...
Very long but very interesting dissection of where it all went wrong for the lib dems The growing Home Office panic over Britain's detention centres The deportation game: What happens when refugees turn 18? Jesus wept. This is what the racists have been screeching for for years, and we're doing it, now, and it's still not enough. 1983: the biggest myth in Labour Party history | Red Pepper Why do you like mad max so much? Remember this refugee family? They are safe and well in Germany 3 the smiles on their faces. Why can't we Brits welcome folk like ...
Plaid Cymru have announced today that they would ringfence Barnett consequentials from additional health spending in England. They are playing catch-up. After all the Welsh Liberal Democrats' plan to invest the money in the NHS was revealed before the General Election. The Welsh Lib Dems plan to use the money to help fund their 3 point plan for the NHS: more nurses on hospital wards, investing in mental health services and improving access to GPs. Plaid are late to the party on committing more money to our NHS. Since way before the General Election, Welsh Liberal Democrats have been calling ...
