Embed from Getty Images The actress Sheila Sim died yesterday at the age of 93. As long as there are awkwardly romantic Englishmen she will be remember as the star of A Canterbury Tale. The photograph above shows her wedding to Richard Attenborough in 1945.
Leicester Labour's internal politics can be hard for outsiders to fathom, but one thing at least is clear. Keith Vaz (MP for Leicester East) and Sir Peter Soulsby (the city's elected mayor) do not get on. In 2011 I quoted a Leicester Mercury article on the funding of Soulsby's first mayoral campaign: Sir Peter's was funded by the three city constituency Labour parties. Leicester South and West branches gave £3,100 and £2,100 respectively. Leicester East's branch gave just £80.What I didn't know then is that the Vaz/Soulsby enmity had reached Westminster. In February 2001 the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee ...
Last year the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant of £10,000 to the Sunniside History Society to support a project to draw out the history of the Fugar and Washingwell area of Gateshead, much of which is in my ward. The project grew out of a proposal by me that the historic orchard that once belonged to the medieval Fugar House (demolished in 1950) should be renovated and restored. When I
Cyber-crime is growing with more and more people suffering theft, identity theft or at least inconvenience. Just a few weeks ago I had to get a new debit card when someone tried to use it (I guess some dodgy copy) to pay for a hotel bill in the United States. Luckily the bank software saw it as unusual enough to decline, but I've still had the inconvenience of several days without a debit card and months of having to change online payment details. So what can be done? For most of us, going offline isn't an option. Online shopping is ...
Wed 20th
20:48
Government defeated by 93 votes in Lords over party funding element of Trade Union Bill
Good cross-party work in the Lords today as an amendment written by Liberal Democrat Paul Tyler and tabled by Labour won the day. This sets up a select committee to oversee party funding and make a fairer playing field. The vote was won by 327 to 234. It remains to be seen what the Government will do with this. The Parliamentary ping pong could delay it for a year. That's an important time in which we should try to have a proper public debate on the issue of party funding. After the vote, Paul Tyler said: The Lords have stopped ...
Here's a letter I sent to the papers - calling on Boris to divest GLA funds from Riyad Bank. Printed in the Evening Standard Yesterday: I welcome Haringey Council's decision this week to stop investing money in fossil fuel companies, following a fantastic community campaign. I'd now like to see London Mayor Boris Johnson divest £100 million of GLA funds from Riyad bank. 51% of this bank is owned by the Government of Saudi Arabia - who preside over a country with a horrendous human rights record.
As if the Cheddar Gorge story was not good enough, the Ed Stone story keeps on giving: BREAKING #EDSTONE UPDATE. It's not in there... pic.twitter.com/5IdIV6R4yY — Robert Hutton (@RobDotHutton) January 20, 2016 Interested in more stories about how our elections are run? Follow my dedicated election law channels on Facebook or Twitter.
"Please show your support for a decent independent going head to head with the chain that is coffee#1"The above is a quote from a post on a local Facebook page. The poster is setting up a coffee shop in North Street, Bedminster having failed to get premises on the Wells Road in Knowle, where he would have done well. He will probably still do well in Bedmo, but will be up against stiffer competition (and not just from 'the chain that is coffee#1').Now, I've never had a coffee in a branch of coffee#1, so I'm unable to comment on their ...
A Liberal Democrat news release brings the story: The Government have been defeated in the Lords as peers voted on a motion to halt Tory attempts to manipulate the rules on party funding in their favour. In the biggest defeat since the election the Government were defeated by a majority of 93 (327 to 234). The motion was drafted by Lord (Paul) Tyler and was tabled in the name of Baroness Smith of Basildon, Leader of the Labour peers. The vote means that the part of the Trade Union Bill relating to party funding has been separated out and will ...
Wed 20th
17:55Alistair Carmichael MP writes...Suzanne Fletcher reminds us how one person can make a difference for...
Today in Parliament the Minister for Immigration was forced to explain why G4S were housing asylum seekers behind red doors, leaving them open to targeted attacks. The Minister, who said he was "deeply concerned", in response sprang into action announcing an audit of asylum seeker accommodation in the North East. Good to see the Minister reacting so quickly to something that was only in the papers that morning you might think. Not so. Suzanne Fletcher, former Liberal Democrat Councillor and now Chair for Liberal Democrats for Seekers of Sanctuary, has been campaigning on this issue doggedly for years. In fact, ...
We've just seen a Wessex Water van releasing large amounts of water onto Rodford Way eastbound near the Sundridge Park / Shire Way junction. If it freezes tonight it could become very dangerous. We don't know whether they have been doing the same anywhere else in the area. Take care!
Lib Dem Voice's EU Editor Antony Hook looks at the latest news on the EU referendum from the UK and international press. Shell has said they would be damaged if Britain voted to leave the EU, reports the International Business Times. In his usual tactful style, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has hinted at "economic certainty" as the referendum approaches, reports the Daily Mail and Reuters. The South China Morning Post, one of the most important newspapers in Asia, reports on the hit sterling and UK shares are taking because of the perceived risk of Brexit. Peter Foster, Europe ...
Former Liberal Democrat Justice Minister Simon Hughes has called for the Police and CPS to look again at the investigation into the death of 13 month old Poppi Worthington. He said: There is an investigation by the IPCC about whether police did their job properly in this case and due to be a second inquest into Poppi's death. I'm sure Cumbria Police and the CPS will now also want to look again at the evidence in the public domain. "In the light of the public judgment in the family court case, police and the CPS should now reopen and review ...
[IMG: cuts] Our colleagues at Lib Dem HQ have circulated template drop-in Focus article, petition and template email Late last year the Liberal Democrats in Parliament scored a huge victory when pressure from our MPs and peers helped to force George Osborne to r-think his plans to cut tax credits, whilst Labour only proposed delays. Sadly, despite Osborne's claimed U-turn in his Autumn Statement, the Conservatives are [...]
We told you on Sunday about Paul Tyler's involvement in an attempt to defeat the Government in the Lords over the Trade Union Bill: The Independent has an interesting story about the Liberal Democrats and Labour working together to defeat the Government on the party funding aspect of the Trade Union Bill. When you read the story, it's a real collaboration, with Paul Tyler drafting the amendment now in the name of the Labour leader in the Lords, but the headline makes it look like we are simply supporting the Labour effort. Ahead of the vote this afternoon, Paul said: ...
An academic institution should be a hotbed of ideas and discussion. The freedom to express and debate an opinion or a thesis is central to the process of learning and research. The freedom to offend is central to our democratic process. Clearly there are limits, but they should be defined in the law of the land. What is not acceptable in my view is to ban a speech, presentation, or publication because a person or group of people find it offensive. The appropriate response to is engage with the argument and put across alternative viewpoints. These principles are well-known and ...
When you go to a council meeting you usually have a pretty good idea of what will happen, and certainly don't expect any motion you or any other opposition member has put to be passed, but you can never be quite sure what tactics will be used in the process. As you know, last month the tactic was to filibuster and prevent my and my colleague's motions being debated. This month, we knew that could not happen to my motion (thought it could have happened to Mark Wilkes' Motion on the DLI Museum) because the constitution gave me the absolute ...
It's now been 75 years since the bombing of the Parnall's Aircraft Factory in Yate. Yate Town Council is organising an event in conjunction with Whirlpool Appliances Ltd, (formally Indesit Company) who now occupy the site and works formerly known as Parnalls, and Yate Heritage Centre to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Parnall Aircraft. If you are a survivor or the family member of a survivor of the bombing and would like to be involved in this event, or if you have memories or things you would like to share, please contact Yate Town Council. Email info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk ...
[IMG: Calling card] Most of us know how important canvassing is to electoral success but it can be difficult to motivate yourself to get out on the doorstep early, especially at this time of the year. The challenge is to talk to as many voters in your community as you can. For most of us wards are too [...]
Embed from Getty Images The first leaders' debate of the Scottish election campaign took place in Dundee this week. Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie faced SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Labour's Kezia Dugdale, Conservative Alex Johnstone (standing in for leader Ruth Davidson) and Patrick Harvie. He strongly attacked the SNP's record, saying, according to the Evening Telegraph: Nicola presents herself as an anti-austerity party but look at her record in comparison with George Osborne. She wants to match him on the income tax, she wants to undercut him on air passenger duty and she is undercutting him on the council tax. ...
I will write a report of the meeting in an hour or two. In the meantime here is the case I put for the withdrawal of the current poposals on teaching assistants' pay. "This debate should have taken place a month ago. I understand the council's leader considered it "inappropriate" then. No doubt he thinks it is "inappropriate" today as well. But in my view, what is truly inappropriate is for this council to write to hundreds, thousands, of loyal employees telling them that it proposes to tear up their contracts, contracts which some of them have held for decades, ...
Wed 20th
12:39
Sefton Local Plan – Labour has concerns about it? Really, then why do they keep supporting it!
The letter below was written in response to the lead article in the Aintree & Maghull Champion on 13th January entitled 'Concerns at Local Plan put to Inquiry' Dear Sir, I read with mounting disbelief the representations made to the Planning Inspector by Maghull's Labour councillors as reported in the Champion on 13th January. Yes they were making all the right noises but hang on a minute it is Labour run Sefton Council that is trying to impose its appalling Local Plan on the Borough. What's more when I was a member of Maghull Town Council Labour members would not ...
Wed 20th
12:37Lib Dem Suzanne Fletcher on Today programme talking about her fight against "red doors" policy
[IMG: Suzanne Fletcher] Another appalling example of the way we treat vulnerable people in our immigration and asylum system has been highlighted on the Today Programme today. From the BBC The front doors of houses used by asylum seekers are to be repainted, after claims they were targeted because nearly all of the doors were red. Asylum seekers in Middlesbrough told The Times eggs and stones had been thrown at their houses because the doors made them easy to identify. The immigration minister said he was "deeply concerned" about the issue. G4S said there was no policy to house asylum ...
[IMG: Crime] There will be a PCSO Surgery in Sandgate Library tomorrow from 11am to 12 noon. If you have any safety or anti-social matters to discuss, please come along and have a one-to-one chat with PCSO Sarah Leivers. Unfortunately, there have been a couple of crime reports for Sandgate in the past couple of weeks: On 7th to 11th January, between the hours of 13:30 and 07:20, entry was gained to the rear and side door of a white van parked in Darnley Close. Items taken include: a grey/black Kewtech multifunction test meter (serial 8089360) and a SPS 24v ...
Former Liberal Democrat Business and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson has been appointed as one of four new appointees to the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice. From Marketing Magazine: As one of four new appointees to the BCAP (Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice) committee, Swinson will be responsible for advising on broadcast advertising codes of conduct. Swinson is no stranger to advertising regulation, particularly surrounding the marketing industry's portrayal of women, having in the past objected to ads. In 2012, Swinson complained about a L'Oreal ad featuring actress Rachel Weisz, objecting that it had been digitally manipulated and claiming that it ...
Last night around two dozen Liberal Democrats from City and London East gathered at the View Tube in Stratford's Olympic Park for a pilot event of Your Liberal Britain — a new format of relatively informal get-togethers at which party members, old and new, can thrash out how they would see a truly Liberal Britain, [...]
Our prime minister, David Cameron, claims that "We must be more assertive about our liberal values." To this end Muslim women who don't speak English are to be given lessons and, if they don't comply, they are to be deported. This will be the case, if I heard the interview on BBC's"Today" programme correctly yesterday morning, even if they have been here long enough to have had children here, and their children speak English. Way back in 2007 ago Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash defined liberalism as "a quest for the greatest possible measure of individual human freedom, compatible with ...
In a post on Liberal Democrat Voice, Tod Sullivan, a former mayor of Lowestoft, explains why he sees his future as a social democrat in this party: The simple fact is that my heart is a liberal-minded Social Democrat, I was reminded by Social Democrats in the Lib Dems that they have a powerful place in the party. After all, it is a merger between the Liberal and SDP parties. They described a party which believes in markets but not unrestrained capitalism, government that is effective but not intrusive, but is compelled to intervene where liberties, fairness, safety or opportunity ...
In the 'media quiet' days before Christmas, the Government awarded an additional set of Fracking licenses to private companies. Threes of these license blocks cover the Bury area, including one which covers parts of Prestwich. License areas 70, 80 and 81, which includes a part of Prestwich, Whitefield, Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington and and then right across towards Bolton have been awarded to Hutton Energy Ltd for exploration. [IMG: Screenshot 2016-01-20 09.34.31] Fracking, or 'Hydraulic Fracturing' is where underground rock is fractured by the high pressure injection of 'fracking fluid' to create cracks underground where natural gas can be released. Residents ...
I am a bit of a swot, but I do actually know my husband's NiNo, but that's because, for many years, the form-filling in our house has been my job, not least because his writing would make most doctors look like great calligraphers. Similarly, I am fairly well acquainted with his clothing and its size because I do most of the washing. Why, I can hear you asking, is this even relevant? Well, the Daily Mirror covered Alistair Carmichael's reaction to a particular paragraph in Stephen Shaw's review into the treatment of vulnerable people in immigration detention. Shaw visited Dungavel ...
[IMG: ashdwon hat] The release yesterday by Labour of Margaret Beckett's report into her party's election defeat reminds me to post here my article – published in the Journal of Liberal History's special autumn issue, Coalition and the Liberal Democrats – looking at my party's experiences. At 10pm on 7 May, 2015, Lib Dems experienced our very own 'JFK moment' - we all remember where we were - when the BBC exit poll was released showing the party scythed down from 57 to just 10 MPs. Some, like our campaign chair Paddy Ashdown, refused to admit the possibility, famously promising ...
Wed 20th
09:34
Global thinking, Local vision - What the Liberal Democrats can learn from how Coca-Cola operates in ...
With the exception of Cuba and North Korea Coca-Cola is sold in every country on earth. Altogether, 1.7 billion servings of their products (the group has a... Read more "Global thinking, Local vision – What the Liberal Democrats can learn from how Coca-Cola operates in Africa."
Transport for Greater Manchester has announced a significant change to the 90/91 bus which links Simister, and the Heywood Road area to the Village and Tescos. Residents will be aware that the a new service (Simister to Bury via Radcliffe) was introduced in July 2015, but it has now been agreed that this doesn't work in its intention to improve reliability. Number 91 will no longer server Prestwich or Simister, and the 90 will move from to being every 40 minutes Simister to Tesco. This is a change as the current frequency is 30 minutes Simister to the Village. Change ...
Judging by left of centre news outlets and social media, the proposed Garden Bridge across the Thames is the worst thing since George Osborne. Thus we find ourselves in an odd situation: the Right championing a piece of public expenditure based on greenery, one the Left seems to hate the very idea of. Why? Is it because the whole thing was originally Joanna Lumley's idea and she's posh? Is it because Boris likes it? I suspect that's probably a lot of it, the BoJo factor. Listen, guys, I disagree with Boris a lot myself too, but just because he thinks ...
[IMG: mill lane] The housing development at the end of Mill Lane (drive past the Alex and just keep on going) is proceeding well, having stalled for several years with just a few of the homes built. Residents of those first houses will be looking forward to not having to look out over a building site as they open their front room curtains! The development will see more homes built within easy walking distance of Cheadle village centre.
Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner is currently consulting on a roughly 3.3% rise in the police element of the Council Tax for 2016-17. This equates to £5 a year on a Band D property – a little less or more depending on your Council Tax banding, or about 10p a week, and is the equivalent of around 70 police officers. The Police and Crime Commissioner is asking for our views by 27 January 2016, there is more detail and you can take part in the consultation here. Bury Council has yet to agree its proposals for Council Tax next ...
Some very welcome news concerning the derelict properties on Heys Road. After many years of complaints and lobbying, the Council has now confirmed that it will demolish the two properties which are on the corner of Heys Road and Holyrood Road. 131 and 133 Heys Road have been empty for 10 and 17 years respectively and have been a serious eyesore for at least the last decade. The demolition will start on 25 January 2016 and the costs of this work will be recouped by the Council selling the land for new housing. [IMG: iltk6c6edqug73zx4i8a] Residents from quite a wide ...
And so we come to what seemed, for sixteen years, as if it would be the last ever new Beach Boys album. Brian Wilson had spent much of the mid-1990s working with Andy Paley on several dozen new songs, intended ... Continue reading →
It seems that barely a day goes by without one or more crashes on key roads in the area bringing traffic to a halt. Police are appealing for witnesses after a BMW lost control speeding through the Gatley lights and caused a seven-car pile up, closing Kingsway for several hours on Monday night. On Tuesday it was a three-car crash at Portwood Roundabout causing long queues on the M60. And we all know these aren't isolated events – at the moment it's more surprising when there isn't a rush-hour crash somewhere on the network around Greater Manchester. Accidents sadly happen. ...
I was all set to write a blog post about the Learning the lessons from defeat taskforce report – Margaret Beckett's report into Labour's 2015 general election defeat – but frankly it's not a very good report. Hence I share it here as much as anything as an example of how not to do an electoral post-mortem – short of evidence, heavy on avoiding admitting anyone did anything wrong (read the report and you'll struggle to find much of a suggestion that Ed Miliband was not the most talented Labour leader ever), and so on. For learning the lessons, take ...
Wed 20th
08:55Global thinking, Local vision - What the Liberal Democrats can learn from how Coca-Cola operates in ...
Embed from Getty Images With the exception of Cuba and North Korea Coca-Cola is sold in every country on earth. Altogether, 1.7 billion servings of their products (the group has a portfolio of around 500) are sold every day, and that number is increasing year on year. While Africa produces around 10% of the company's total revenue and volume the group expects this to double in less than six years, meaning that by 2020 the continent will boast more Coca-Cola consumers than the US and Europe combined. While the comparison of a political party and the sales strategy of a ...
Two new planning applications have been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Application Number: 59582 Registration Date: 05/01/2016 Location: 13 Guest Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3DJ Proposal: Conversion of existing cellar with installation of lightwell and creation of stepped access at side Application Number: 59622 Registration Date: 05/01/2016 Location: 1 Pine Grove, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3DR Proposal: Single storey extension at side and rear; Porch at front & infilling of front side of rear extension (amendment to approved planning application 58813) Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further information or help with these. The details will be on the Council's website here. Tim ...
[IMG: bigpav] Welcome to Gatley's newest shop – Big Pav's on Pendlebury Road (behind the Tatton cinema and Horse & Farrier) sells motorbike parts and fashions and we wish him every success. You can find out lots more about Big Pav's Parts Shop on his Facebook page.
Sinderins Court Yesterday morning, I met with the residents' association that represents the tenants at Sinderins and Pennycook Courts. We had a good discussion about various local issues, primarily around the changes to the warden arrangements implemented last year. I am in discussions with Home Scotland about a review meeting with the tenants regarding the revised arrangements.
I have slammed the decision of TSB to propose closure of the Perth Road Branch of their bank at the end of March. Since last Thursday when the letters breaking this bad news started arriving with local TSB customers, I have been contacted by many residents upset and concerned at the loss of the last Perth Road bank branch. The TSB's Perth Road Branch is extremely well-used, always busy and has long-standing professional and friendly staff. The loss of the Perth Road TSB would be a great loss to the West End. It comes less than two years after the ...
Referendum madnessDirect democracy's attractive flaws. (tags: netherlands eu democracy voting )Carswell wrong on snooper rightsQuelle surprise. (tags: ukpolitics eu humanrights internet )Headline on Malheur occupation is inaccurate, irresponsibleUrsula Le Guin writes to the Oregonian. (tags: uspolitics )Five planets visible in the pre-dawn sky, 20 Jan-20 FebWorth getting up early for. (tags: astronomy )Cameron cut funding for English lessons, wants to deport women who can't speak itFighting radicalism by threatening to deport mothers for not taking classes that you've cut anyway. Yeah, right. (tags: waronterror ukpolitics migration )Horsewhipping for JesusMuscular Christianity, 1867 (tags: religion )How the UK's housing crisis builds a ...
*cackle* The police believe a lot of psychology myths that are relevant to their work [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
