From the City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of crane lifting works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Abbotsford Street (from its junction with Seymour Street to approx. 100 metres east), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Monday 16 November 2015 for 2 working days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Parking will be restricted for the duration of the work. Alternative routes are available via Seymour Street / Blackness ...
Given the drubbing that the party received at the General Election in May — losing all but one MP, Tom Brake, in London — London Liberal Democrats were in amazingly high spirits at their AGM at the University of West London today. But then LibDems are the perennial Minions of British politics; knock one [...]
Sat 14th
20:09
Lib Dem special conference called in showdown over Chris Rennard - but will it happen?
As I wrote earlier in the week regarding the controversy over former Chief Executive Chris Rennard's election to the party's Federal Executive (FE): An attempt to call a special conference is already well on its way to securing enough signatures. Given the limited room for procedural manoeuvre if such a request is properly made and submitted, one way or another things are very likely to come to a head soon. More than the necessary 200 signatures have been gathered and the party's Federal Conference Committee (FCC) has started planning for holding the special conference. There is still an option to ...
Carol White was a significant actress in the 1960s, appearing in the television play Cathy Come Home* and films like Poor Cow. Sadly she experienced problems with drink and drugs and died in 1991 aged only 48. She began acting as a child and made a brief appearance as the young Sibella in Kind Hearts and Coronets. Thanks to Aveleyman for the screen capture. Now read about the former Liberal MP who appeared in the same film. * Thus inspiring Tim Farron to enter politics.
The events in Paris... I shudder to think of those poor, ordinary, innocent people going about their daily business, enjoying their Friday night not knowing the brutality that was about to ensue. What I know some friends are pointing out, however, is that this display of aggressive action by so-called-ISIS is a daily occurrence for those living in Syria and other parts of the Middle East. For these people, the sound and threat of bombs, gunfire and general violence is normality not anomaly. Indeed, they have endured five years of this. In a bid to prevent the inevitable right-wing attempt ...
It's an uncomfortable but inescapable fact that there are people in Europe's towns and cities who reject the lifestyles and values of their fellow Parisians, Londoners or Bristolians so absolutely that they want to maim and kill in order to impose their own mind-set of barbarism. This is the 21st century's fundamental clash of [...]
From The Herald: Scots singer Sandi Thom has claimed that Radio 2 will not play her new record because the BBC is anti-Scottish. Thom posted an emotional, expletive-ridden rant on Facebook that went viral on Wednesday after the station refused to play her new single Earthquake. The Banff singer songwriter has now claimed that the BBC does not represent Scottish artists. She told STV's Scotland Tonight: "This week on the Radio 2 playlist, there are no Scottish artists. This is not due to a lack of talent coming from Scotland. There is a massive bias in the BBC network, not ...
This missed getting on the Hugo shortlist this year by a single vote, or rather because the Puppies nominated a completely crap webcomic about zombies and 26 people nominated Saga without specifying which volume they were voting for. Having said that, volume 3 (which I enjoyed) did make it to the list and duly came second to Ms Marvel. This volume takes the relationship between the protagonists in a new and not very happy direction, while at the same time showing us the weird dynastic dynamics among their enemies and setting up for further developments. Among the list of potential ...
You may remember the other month, I reported on attending a at the Town Hall, where Sport England, had submitted plans to build an all weather 3G football pitch on the play field, owned by Voyager School, located in Brookside, just off Fulbridge Road, Werrrington? Well, despite being granted permission to build the football development, [...]
From Friday's Independent: Over the past few months, a handful of Crickhowell business owners visited Amsterdam and the Isle of Man, where some large companies base themselves for tax reasons. They have set up two offshore holding companies in preparation for the launch of the scheme, which is currently being scrutinised by HMRC, the video reveals. Their journey will be detailed in a forthcoming BBC documentary called The Town That Went Offshore. "Crickhowell has become the country's first Fair Tax Town - a little piece of offshore in the heart of the Welsh countryside," the video's narrator says, adding that ...
Sat 14th
14:55A great primer on how political polling developed, its controversies and why it can be so wrong
[IMG: Public opinion polls and British politics by Richard Hodder-Williams - book cover] A book about political opinion polls from the 1970 may seem at first glance to be rather redundant to anyone interested in current politics and polling. That was, after all, not only a world pre-internet polling, it was also a world pre-Shy Tories and much of the modern methodological techniques and arguments which dominate discussion about polling of British elections. However, that would be a mistake, for in the late 1960s and early 1970s political opinion polling was taking off, resulting in books such Richard Hodder-Williams's which ...
In the aftermath of the shocking ISIS attacks that have killed 127 people in Paris, it is now time for Britain to show a strong signal to the world, our allies France, NATO and the USA and fellow combatants against ISIS , Russia and Iran that Britain will oppose and defeat this vile mass murder and the ideology which under pins it. Up to now we Liberal Democrats at Libdemfightback have while supporting legal Airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq , since September have questioned the legality, utility & military safety of airstrikes in the complex maelstrom of Syria. We were ...
Do you want to watch some Doctor Who? Aliens from the past; wonders from the future; all of time and all of space. It's the trip of a lifetime... But how to choose? There are so many stories! Where to start? Which Doctors? What style? Monsters, villains, scary horror? Wit, weirdness, wild ideas? Adventures in history, alien worlds, impossibilities in famous landmarks? Fun? Don't scream! Here's my idea. One story at a time, ten reasons at a time to give you a taste of if you might like it. November 23rd will be Doctor Who's fifty-second anniversary, and it's an ...
I had an absolutely brilliant day on Thursday at the first ever national Scottish Conference organised by the Women 50/50 Campaign and Engender entitled Who runs the World. Women from all over the country gathered in Edinburgh's MacDonald Hotel to discuss politics, the media, getting involved in councils and public appointments and ensuring that all areas of our public and political life had at least 50% women running them. There was a keynote speech from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who said that the Women 50/50 campaign was one of the most significant campaigns in Scotland today. I'm going to write ...
... not that you'd know it from the news, or most of UK twitter. So yes, solidarity with and peace and love for Paris. But solidarity with and peace and love for Beirut too. The people of Beirut bleed and die the same way that the people of Paris do, and we should mourn the horrific things that have been done to them just as strongly. [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
This weekend, the Mindless Ones (well, five of us) are in Leeds at Thought Bubble comic convention. Come and see us, or follow the liveblog
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Nick Clegg's been on a bit of a journey on his views about sugar consumption. In an article for the Evening Standard last week, he outlined the dangers of consuming too much hidden sugar and said that he now favoured strong action to reduce our sugar consumption: Now, finally, we are beginning to have a proper debate about what we can and should do about it. A recent report by Public Health England proposed a number of measures, as has the ever- compelling Jamie Oliver. Reducing two-for-one deals, clamping down on advertising targeted at children, reining in the marketing of ...
On a recent trip to Nottingham I had the opportunity to sample their bus service and rode the 58 from Daybrook into the City and back. The modern double deckers of Nottingham City Transport (95% Nottingham City Council owned – 5% Transdev company) were well used and had both visual and audible notifications of each stop along the route. Here is the upper deck screen on the 58:- [IMG: Display on No.58 Nottingham bus r] What's more every bus stop that I saw had an illuminated real time display showing when buses were due. I understand that 1,500 bus stops ...
[IMG: French flag] For the second time in ten months, we have been shocked by events in Paris. People doing what we are all lucky enough to be able to do on a Friday night – head out for a meal, to a football match, to a gig – meet death and violence. I just felt heartbroken watching events unfold last night, thinking of all those people, of the emergency services coming to their aid, of President Hollande, whose shocked face spoke for us all, for those waiting for news of their loved ones. At the same time, you see ...
Sat 14th
09:12
Tax Credit Cuts – Labour wants them delayed for a year but how about knocking them on the head...
The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above I suppose it is no surprise that Labour is looking for compromise over the Tories Tax Credit cuts especially if you think back to the appalling things said by leading Labour figures before the last general election about people who need welfare support. [IMG: 12063755_1023428287688247_7866176800359802984_n] Remember in the House of Lords Labour would not back the recent Lib Dem motion to reject the Tory Tax Credit cuts out of hand, instead they sat on their hands. I really despair about Labour's double standards. All their rhetoric is about helping ...
Sat 14th
08:55NEW BOOK Equal Ever After: the fight for same-sex marriage and how Lynne Featherstone made it happen
Out in January but available for pre-order right now: [IMG: Equal Ever After - Lynne Featherstone - book cover]
Make your home warmer this winter by calling Home Energy Scotland Free impartial advice and support available to all. People across the country are being urged to act now to cut their bills and make their homes warmer as part of a Scottish Government campaign to encourage people to call the Home Energy Scotland hotline (0808 808 2282). A one-stop shop for advice and support, Home Energy Scotland from the Scottish Government is there to help Scots keep warm. Around a third of Scottish households have been offered advice by the hotline since it started. Home Energy Scotland is a ...
Really busy today as the Welsh Liberal Democrats autumn conference is in Swansea, so here is the best Christmas advert so far.
The Real "No-Go Zone" of France: A Forbidden No Man's Land Poisoned by War Ugh! (tags: france war history )
Leave the EU: Because foreigners won't be able to steal our jobs if we don't have any. The Indy interviews "parliament's toughest man " @PaddyAshdown I posted about being an "Unnamed Woman Activist" in the Daily Mail on m'blog Those who appointed Rennard need to accept the consequences of what they've done Thanks, @libdemlords. Thanks for giving them this open goal. LIFE TIP: DATE SOMEONE WHO THINKS YOU'RE FUCKING AMAZING (lots of swears but worth it) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
