In 1573 Bishop's Castle was made a borough by a charter granted by Elizabeth I. This film shows the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the charter in 1973. This charter, and a later on granted by James I, were kept in a locked box at a local bank. For many years, as BBC News reported in 2011, they could not be consulted as the key to the box had been lost: Town Clerk Diane Malley said: "In the 1970s we did have access to the charters because for a short time they were on display in the town hall, ...
"There is only one conclusion that we can possibly draw ... if nothing changes radically between now and 2020, Labour is headed for disaster." Public Policy and the Past tells it like it is. Zaid Jilani argues that our celebration of Martin Luther King today is based on a simplistic view of him that passes over his more challenging views. "David Litvinoff was, by nature and temperament, a wanderer between worlds: between the Chelsea set and hardcore criminals, between Soho and the East End, between the Scene and Esmeralda's Barn, between Lucian Freud, George Melly, Peter Rachman, the Krays, John ...
Thursday's Front Row on Radio 4 had an item on Historic England's forthcoming exhibition Our There: Our Post-War Public Art, which opens at Somerset House on 3 February. The item runs from 7:38 to 12:32, though the opening one on how Elton John now fits in touring around the school run makes good listening too. Sarah Gaventa, the curator of the exhibition, talks about some of the lost works she would like to locate (if they have not already been melted down). I blogged about Historic England and its quest for these lost public artworks in December. One of the ...
Current Watership Down, by Richard Adams (a chapter a week) Touch, by Claire North Streetlethal, by Steven Barnes Sorcerer to the Crown, by Zen Cho Last books finished Dry Pilgrimage, by Paul Leonard and Nick Walters Uprooted, by Naomi Novik Royal Blood, by Una McCormack Last week's audios [Bleak Expectations] "A Restoration Re-ruined, Only Even Worse", by Mark Evans [Bleak Expectations] "An Already Bad Life Made Worse but Sort of on Purpose", by Mark Evans [Bleak Expectations] "A Happy Life Broken and then Mended a Bit", by Mark Evans [UNIT: Extinction] Bridgehead, by Andrew Smith [UNIT: Extinction] Armageddon, by Matt ...
Saturday sees the first English [Liberal Democrats] Council Executive (ECE) of 2016. Put out the bunting! I wrote a short explanation of what the body does just over a year ago. The first part of the meeting contains the usual reports from officers of the English Party (Chair, Treasurer, Vice-Chair and Candidates) and its reps [...]
This should be the base for a Liverpool City Region Parliament Yesterday I heard a really unspectacular speech from Greg Clark the Secretary of State for Local Government. In it he claimed that local government would be healthier because we ... Continue reading →
[IMG: DA Logo] The Liberal Democrats have had a strong and flourishing relationship with the South African Democratic Alliance (DA) for many years, and we continue to work together through the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) and the Young Leaders Programme. In this series of profiles of our liberal sister-parties overseas, Luke Akal, ALN Coordinator, gives an account of the DA: On 27-30 January this year, the 13th annual Africa Liberal Network (ALN) General Assembly is being held in Johannesburg, hosted by South African member party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). The DA is a shining light of liberalism on the African ...
This week Republicans vs Democrats, Trump vs the National Review, and Avatar vs cultural irrelevance. Against Trump (National Review) "It is unpopular to say in the year of the "outsider," but it is not a recommendation that Trump has never held public office. Since 1984, when Jesse Jackson ran for president with no credential other [...]
[IMG: House of Lords] Last week saw the largest Government defeat yet in the Lords during this Parliament, putting a brake on Conservative plans to cut trade union funding to the Labour Party. The move they are attempting to make MUST be coupled with a fair cap on individual donations to get ALL the big money out of politics. Ministers repeatedly allege that their bill is not about party funding, but this is arrant poppycock. Plainly, it IS party funding reform but it is for one party only. This attempt to tilt the political scales in a Conservative direction is ...
[IMG: ALDC Master Logo (for screen)] Six principal council by-elections were held yesterday, five of which resulted in holds. There were two second place finishes for Liberal Democrats in Southwark (LB) and Hertfordshire (CC). In the London contest, Lauren Pemberton-Nelson polled 14.5% with an 8.2% vote share increase from 2014 in Faraday ward, with Labour holding their seat comfortably with over 60% of the vote. Shailain Shah was also a runner-up in the Bushey North by-election polling 19.9%, with an increased vote share of 5.8% from two years ago. The Conservatives held the seat with 52.6%. The Tories also successfully ...
Fri 22nd
14:45
I am furious that the old ways live on in Shropshire Council - information is power and it lies in t...
I am disappointed in Malcolm Pate, the new leader of Shropshire Council. When he replaced Keith Barrow, he promised greater openness and a more democratic council. Today, he has reverted to 100% Barrow mode. He is striding on with the old fashioned and often dictatorial ways of working that defined Barrow's regime. At this very... Continue reading I am furious that the old ways live on in Shropshire Council - information is power and it lies in the grasp of the council leader →
The Southport Visiter has the story and the league table on its web site – see link above I have always thought that exam league tables of schools are just one factor in deciding what is or is not a good school. On their own these stats show only one aspect of school life and I would like to see other factors being published which give a more rounded review of the good and bad points of each school.
Creative collaboration and the power of creative pairs. From Lennon and McCartney to Jobs and Wozniak, plus hundreds more in fields including technology, art and business – creative collaborations are an incredibly effective way to spark innovation and create great work. In this episode of The Creative Life I look at how the idea of 'creative collaborations' and 'creative pairs' can revolutionize the way in which you work. If you are a songwriter go find someone to co-write with, if you are an entrepreneur look for a co-founder, if you are a musician find other musicians to play and experiment ...
[IMG: winninghere] Back in November, I entered the Liberal Democrats' Agenda 2020 essay competition. The aim was to write a short essay on 'what does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today?' and I posted my entry here on the blog as well. The entries to it have now all been read, and mine is one of those that made it through onto the final shortlist. So you can now read mine as well as the other eight on the shortlist and decide on which one you think best captures the meaning of what it is to be a ...
[IMG: Mick Taylor and fellow Todmorden Lib Dems out and about] Mick Taylor and fellow Todmorden Lib Dems out and about I am currently helping in a small local by-election for Todmorden Town Council. Amongst the things I have been doing is making sure that we use Connect properly. Imagine my frustration then when I discovered that it is not possible to add the voters who have come on to the register just in time to vote in the by-election. I have taken this up with the powers that be but have been told that they can only cope with ...
Not for the first time, The Press wins Headline of the Day.
Immigrants, fear of them, suspicion of them or jealousy of them, played a minor part in last year's general election and is likely to play a major part in the forthcoming referendum on EU membership. Those who claim to be worried about immigration remain unconvinced by the evidence that immigrants add to economic growth, pay more into the government kitty in taxes than they take out in benefits or the use of public services, and are often highly innovative people who contribute enormously to our way of life. Michael Marks, an immigrant from the Polish part of the then Russian ...
Embed from Getty Images Commenting on the Prime Minister's European referendum speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said yesterday: The Prime Minister is calling on businesses to step up and join the campaign to remain within the European Union. I call on him to step up and make the case himself and not hide behind businesses. He needs to lead, not follow. The Liberal Democrats are the only party united in the case to remain. Together the EU has created the world's largest free trade area, delivered peace, and continues to give the ...
Democracy and idealism do not sit well together. Idealists have the motivation to form political parties and keep them going. But in order to win power the party must bring on board people and, policies, that the idealists disagree with, in order to win round those less committed to politics. And these floating voters come to matter more to the party's managers than the the idealists. Because the idealists have nowhere else to go. In Britain, the latest challenge to this process comes from Britain's Labour Party; in America the Republicans seem to be doing something similar. This all seems ...
Embed from Getty Images Responding to Government comments in the Lords that they will not support a cross-party commission to secure the future of the NHS and social care, Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, said: It is extremely disappointing to hear Lord Prior rule out the idea of a cross-party commission to secure the future of our NHS and care services this morning. Former Health Ministers from across the political spectrum agree that a commission is necessary, as do numerous patient groups, think tanks and medical royal colleges. For the Minister to dismiss this idea out of hand will ...
Local Liberal Democrats have responded to an increasing level of complaints about Thameslink by launching their own petition. Local councillor Chris White, who is also Leader of St Albans Liberal Democrats, said: 'This issue – after the state of the roads – is one of the commonest grumbles from local residents across the district. 'Around Christmas [...]
Thirty-five years ago, Labour's "Gang of Four" — Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rogers — met at Dr Owen's home in Narrow Street, Limehouse, where they signed the Limehouse Declaration, which would soon lead to the formation of the Social Democrat Party, the SDP. Last night, just a few doors down the [...]
Fri 22nd
10:25
Carmichael on crime figures: Preventing violent and sexual crime needs to be the priority
Embed from Getty Images Remember the incredulity of many women when George Osborne announced in the Autumn Statement that the "Tampon Tax" was a bad thing, and he was very sad that he couldn't do anything about it, but he'd put the money it raised to women's charities, like refuges Holly Baxter summed it all up very nicely in a piece in the Independent at the time. Give a woman a tampon and she'll use it for free; teach a woman to pay tampon tax and she won't even cost anything extra to the state when she gets raped, attacked ...
Today I'm launching plans for fewer lorries and a rush-hour ban for HGVs in Central London. https://t.co/WJH0Jp13br pic.twitter.com/tNdmyErcTM — Caroline Pidgeon (@CarolinePidgeon) January 21, 2016 Key elements in Caroline Pidgeon's plan include: Introduce a peak-time ban on HGVs in central London Make use of the River Thames for more freight traffic and during riverside building works Require future large-scale planning permissions to include measures to reduce construction traffic She says, As Mayor, I want a new strategy for freight traffic on our roads that includes incentives for switching commercial deliveries to cargo bikes where appropriate, encourage the use of greener ...
You can read all the articles that have caught my attention this week here: https://delicious.com/stephentall Below are a selection... Decline and Fall: how Coalition killed the Lib Dems (almost) | Stephen Tall My take a la La Beckett on the LibDems' electoral catastrophe. Let's call it The Tall Report http://bit.ly/1T3Q8RY Error Page I've quite a lot of time for Stella, but sheesh this is drearily vacuous guff http://bit.ly/236VYGz Lib Dem MP playing key role in cooperation with Labour and Greens 7 things LibDems need to do in 2016 by @markpack. (I'd add: Get a pro-reform line on the EU) http://bit.ly/22Z77sT ...
Sitting in the office yesterday afternoon, the phone rings. None of the guys are around so I pick it up. Someone with a very heavy accent on the other end asks for me by name. "Speaking." "Oh. I was wondering if you'd like to be on our TV programme today." "Which channel?" I thought she said this: "Arte". "The Franco-German channel?" She didn't answer and so I took that as a yes. The rest of the phone conversation continued in a rather ramshackle fashion, but I excused it. It was nice to hear some continentals get interested in the Brexit ...
I doubt Wednesday's meeting will make it quickly to the top of the YouTube ratings but for those who want to see what really goes on it's a welcome service. The first hour and a half of the meeting, with the Teaching assistant Motion starting at minute 39, can be found here. The motion on the DLI Museum can be found here
Fri 22nd
08:59
2015 opinion poll error same as the one that caused Lib Dems to be over-estimated in 2010
It had always seemed to me likely that what went wrong with the polls in 2015 had a heritage in 2010, in that in both cases the polls over-estimated the party which seemed to be doing best at appealing to younger, lower turnout voters (Labour in 2015, Lib Dems in 2010). Yet the real experts crunching through the evidence from 2015 have – until now – pretty much ignored the possible 2010 link. Which makes this press release today very interesting: BES reveals longstanding flaw in opinion polls Flaws which made the opinion polls wrong in 2015 also explain errors ...
Embed from Getty Images Willie Rennie is up in Aberdeen today, speaking to the local Chamber of Commerce. A major theme of his speech is the need to improve education. Schools budgets in Scotland are really struggling after 9 years of a Council Tax freeze. Liberal Democrats have implemented the Pupil Premium in England and successfully made the case for it in Wales. Scotland is still lagging behind, despite a growing attainment gap. Willie will say: To get fit for the future our children and young people deserve the best education. Just look at the reports from recent weeks: the ...
A fairly significant new planning applications has been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Application Number: 59633 Registration Date: 11/01/2016 Location: Land To The Rear Of 315 Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1JA Proposal: Erection of 5 no. dwellings [IMG: Screenshot 2016-01-20 08.50.39] 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: Royal naval memorial to those who served at HMS Ringtail, Burscough during WWII] This memorial is to Royal Naval Personnel who served at HMS Ringtail, Royal Naval Air Service, Burscough September 1943 to June 1946. HMS Ringtail was for radar training and as a base for squadrons disembarking or working up for shipboard operations during World War 2. Burscough, West Lancashire, UK. www.lancashireatwar.co.uk/hms-ringtail/4586007873 I have always been vaguely aware that Burscough once had a significant airfield but it was only recently that I started to wonder about it. [IMG: This scan of a 1958 based Ordnance Survey map shows ...
From Blether Tay-Gither : The January Blether will be on Tuesday 26th January at 7pm in Madigan's Food Emporium and Bookshop, Castle Street. This month we are excitedly launching our very first CD, "Stories From The Hat." Those who contributed to the CD are invited to re-tell the story they told. CDs will be available for sale at a very reasonable £5. So, please come along and snap one up!
[IMG: Inside Birkenhead Town Hall] Inside Birkenhead Town Hall The Liverpool Echo has the story on its web site – see link above
Fri 22nd
07:34We Ludlow councillors have told health managers we want to keep Shropdoc - please do the same today
Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups have been running a rather quiet consultation in Shropdoc. The CCGs are suggesting we will have to ring the national 111 number as the first port of call for out of hours medical advice in future. This will bring us into line with national arrangements. This might... Continue reading We Ludlow councillors have told health managers we want to keep Shropdoc - please do the same today →
2015 was warmest year on record. Official. (tags: climatechange ) Confessions of a politics lecturer The truth about StatesmanorSkatesman.com (tags: ukpolitics funny ) After Empire: An Era of British Decline @petemartin7 on the past, present and future. (tags: ukpolitics eu uspolitics ) Everything You Need to Know about the Moldova Protests Report from the ground. (tags: moldova ) 6 Quick Ways to Spot Fake News Good advice. (tags: internet )
The exact moment 'Suicide Squad' fails Harley Quinn - disappointing but not surprising. Report: 'Star Wars' toymakers were told to exclude Rey Farewell to 'inspiring' Lesley - Chair steps down from BBI role G4S Leaked Emails Show Bosses Knew Of Red Door Issue Equated With 'Apartheid' For Years Before U-Turn I see a red door and I want it painted black... 16 years ago, a doctor published a study. It was completely made up, and it made us all sicker. "We Have a Serious Problem" - The New Yorker on Trump Bayer is suing *Europe* for saving the bees GCHQ-developed ...
Figures published this week show that 4,848 people waited over 8 hours from arrival until admission, transfer or discharge from Welsh A&Es. Despite improvement on the 12 hour wait figure, 1,888 people were still waiting over 12 hours in Accident and emergency departments. This follows claims from Dr Robin Roop, head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Wales (RCEM), that hospital emergency departments in Wales are "on the edge" with staff shortages and long waiting times. He also said too many people are waiting over 24 hours in A&E. It's absolutely appalling that over 4,000 waited over 8 ...
Monday's edition of The Daily Mirror reports that Nigel Farage has admitted he still wants the health service to be scrapped and replaced with a US-style private insurance-based system. They say that the UKIP leader was caught on video in 2012 telling supporters he would "feel more comfortable" with a privatised health system. As we've seen before, this would prove to be a very bad strategy. When the bombshell video emerged last year, panicking UKIP spin doctors insisted Mr Farage's views have since changed. But in a new BBC interview to be aired this morning, Mr Farage says ditching the ...
