Embed from Getty Images When I visited Pitsford Water last summer it looked like the picture below. But the picture above shows how it looked in the summer of 1976. A BBC News page remembers the drought of 1976. My own strongest memory of that summer is of a coach trip to York. The fields we passed were burnt up and there was fodder put out for the animals. And there were posters all across South Yorkshire trying to recruit men to the coal mining industry. (It was a long time ago.) And on Sunday we shall see that at ...
In a thoughtful post, Mark Mills reminds us that there can be pessimistic liberals as well as optimistic ones. Matthew d'Ancona puts his finger on Labour's problem: "It is New Labour, or what remains of it, that needs to admit its faults, dismantle itself and rebuild from scratch." "By the Victorian era, however, the formality of cat funerals had increased substantially. Bereaved pet owners commissioned undertakers to build elaborate cat caskets. Clergymen performed cat burial services. And stone masons chiseled cat names on cat headstones." Mimi Matthews on a forgotten corner of social history. London was once powered by a ...
I'd read several of Barnes' collaborations with Larry Niven, but this was my first time reading a solo novel by him - also I think his own first solo novel, published in 1983. It's a decent techno thriller set in a degenerated California in about 2020, the protagonists a zero-gravity MMA fighter and a dancer, both black in a world that is still ruled by racism. Gangs, dubious technology and medicine, and self-realisation all feature large in the narrative. I have the sequel and will read it.
Liberal Democrats want to give more freedom to everyone to enable them to live their own lives. However, we also know that freedom for individuals is not enough, and that it must be combined with breaking down the unaccountable powers of the state, in the economy and in society, to enable individuals to fully use [...]
Tue 26th
20:26
"I ask her a gloomy question. She answers with an upbeat reply" - Caroline Pidgeon in The Guardian
[IMG: Caroline Pidgeon at a Crossrail site] Dave Hill has been interviewing Liberal Democrat London Mayor candidate Caroline Pidgeon and doing his customary excellent job: I ask her a gloomy question. She answers with an upbeat reply. "Morale is actually very, very good in the party," said Caroline Pidgeon, who has the possibly onerous honour of being Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor. "We've got tons of new members in London, who are excited and energetic, and that's fantastic." Her party says there are now 10,000 of them in the capital, the highest number for decades. Plus, council by-election results ...
You may have seen the front page lead of today's Guardian: a deeply worrying story about a sudden spike in the number of mental health patients dying unexpectedly in NHS care. It was based on figures obtained by the former health minister Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk. The Guardian quoted Norman's comment on the figures: "Significant numbers of unexpected deaths at the Mid Staffs NHS trust caused an outcry and these figures should cause the same because they show a dramatic increase in the number of people losing their lives," Lamb said. "NHS England and the ...
Embed from Getty Images It's 99 days to go till the Scottish election and Willie Rennie is making a major policy announcement tomorrow. He will be launching his "plan to save Scottish Education." He'll be visiting an Edinburgh nursery tomorrow where he'll be laying out what is being described as a "bold, costed plan." He is expected to say: A Scottish education was once the envy of the world. It has fallen hard and fast. But we have the plan that will put it right back up there. College places cut by 150,000 places since 2007. Only 7% of two-year-olds ...
Significant changes are on the way for Ring and Ride users in the borough. Transport for Greater Manchester Committee have agreed proposals that mean fewer people will be able to access the service from April 4 as the eligibility criteria are changed. People who will be able to use the service will be: – holders of a Greater Manchester Concessionary Plus or Disabled Pass – people aged over 70, who have mobility issues and hold a Greater Manchester over 60 Concessionary Pass. Essentially, unless you are disabled, the service will only be available to people over 70. (C) T4GM The ...
Cllr Keith Holloway has secured a date for a public meeting to look at parking in Cheadle village, and everyone is invited: traders, shoppers, residents and workers. The meeting will be on Wednesday 10th February 2016 from 7pm to 8pm at the Upper Rooms, Cheadle (above Tesco). It will be a workshop format because we believe we can get the best outcome if everyone works together to come up with solutions that work for as many people as possible. Council officers will also be attending. Unfortunately Iain has other commitments so can't make it (but it was important to have ...
Tue 26th
17:26
Lynne Featherstone's "Equal ever after" is out now - how same sex marriage became a reality (with ad...
[IMG: Lynne Featherstone Equal Ever After] Last night, at a glitzy party, Lynne Featherstone's book, Equal ever after was launched. In it she tells the story of her crusade as Equalities Minister to deliver same sex marriage. The launch was attended by Nick Clegg, Jo Swinson, Julian Huppert and many, many more. Sadly, I wasn't there, even though I was in London. I was at a meeting of the Federal Finance and Administration Committee instead. Great to see so many great people here for the book launch. @lfeatherstone @lorelyburt and more #fb pic.twitter.com/aDqh9WsMbW — Julian Huppert (@julianhuppert) January 25, 2016 ...
We learned last week that Steven Moffat is stepping down as Dr Who showrunner. Many Whovians couldn't be happier about this fact. John Elledge in the New Statesman notes that: In online geekdom, the reaction to Friday's news that the next series of Doctor Who would be his last was reminiscent of the bit at the [...]
Lynne Featherstone's Equal Ever After reveals how Nick Clegg conducted his reshuffle in 2012, including this moment of drama: [IMG: Nick Clegg reshuffle account from Equal Ever After by Lynne Featherstone] Of course the bulk of Equal Ever After is the story of legalising same-sex marriage and here's what two of the leading campaigners for it have to say about the book: [IMG: Praise for Equal Ever After by Lynne Featherstone]
Tue 26th
16:40Does a perceived distrust of politicians justify redistributing an image meme that was discredited 1...
[IMG: Meme debates] The image meme above went the rounds of social media in November 2014. It was roundly and conclusively fisked by Isabel Hardman on the Spectator Coffee House blog. I noticed that the meme was getting re-distributed a week ago. I pointed out to the people sharing this meme that it had been thoroughly discredited well over a year ago. Interestingly, several replied saying that "most people" think that's how parliament behaves so it's not a problem distributing it. My indignation hit about twelve on the Richter scale. In fact, I can do no better than repeat the ...
There is an interesting article on the Spectator blog by Isabel Hardman, which suggests that David Cameron has decided that social justice will be his key legacy theme as Prime Minister, with his autumn conference speech and most of the announcements so far this year focusing on an 'all-out assault on poverty'. In addition, Isabel Hardman tells us that a private group of Tory MPs has formed to try to help develop a stronger social justice agenda in their party which might help the Prime Minister, and whoever succeeds him, develop a proper Tory plan for tackling poverty. She says ...
[IMG: Sal Brinton Sal @ Crohns & Colitis Rec _2 CROPPED Nov 13] Just before Christmas the Federal Executive (FE) met for an awayday to receive and consider your responses to the governance review consultation. Two of the concerns that you told us about were the lack of diversity of our MPs, and how you felt that all the party committees and structures were hard to understand, and often out of touch. We will be bringing back the next stage of the governance consultation to you in February, and will run a consultation session at the York Federal Conference in ...
The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above Well here's another gun incident in Sefton Borough; they seem so common these days that we could be forgiven for thinking we live in the USA where guns are worshiped by some!
My final of 3 postings of random photos of the Leeds Liverpool Canal through Lydiate only in this case:- [IMG: Looking through Pilling Lane canal bridge at boats moored outside Mersey Motor Boat Club.] Looking through Pilling Lane canal bridge at boats moored outside Mersey Motor Boat Club. [IMG: Narrow boat Desiderata from Warrington near Bells Lane swing bridge.] Narrow boat Desiderata from Warrington near Bells Lane swing bridge. [IMG: Idunhoe at Mersey Motor Boat Club.] Idunhoe at Mersey Motor Boat Club. Click on the photos to enlarge them. The first photo is amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
Despite our Scottish ancestry (goodness knows how many generation back that goes) Jen and I have never taken much to the bagpipes but last Friday we were treated to them twice and on both occasions they were both welcome and very appropriate. The first was at the funeral of former Lib Dem Maghull Town Councillor Joan Blackburn, a true Scot from the Isle of Lewis and a fluent Gaelic speaker. We were piped into Thornton Crematorium to the tune of Amazing Grace. Later the same day Jen and I went to a Lib Dem Burns Night event in the Talbot ...
Saturday yet again saw Federal Conference Committee's agenda-setting meeting, this time for Spring conference in York – now less than 6 weeks away. As well as worrying about which motions would be debated, the committee also received a welcome update on the success of the new Access Fund, discussed details of Friday night's rally and proposals for a new "supporters" conference attendees category. This new scheme will allow members to vouch for friends and family of members to enable them to come to conference without needing to pay commercial rates – more details on that should be available soon. The ...
Cuckoos Hollow is popular with plenty of people, and enjoys a variety of wildlife. The green open space, located in Werrington, has a picturesque lake, that is fed by Werrington Brook and flows into Car Dyke, ultimately being part of the River Welland catchment. Hopefully, now its set to be even better, as large scale maintenance is [...]
The Council has received several expressions of interest in the Gatley Rec building after putting it on the market. [IMG: gatley rec board] The idea came from the local community – the building has long been an eyesore in the park but there's not been the money to do anything with it. Hopefully it can be put to good use and again become a local asset. The Lib Dem team have also had the waste bin outside Gatley Memorial Park replaced. The old concrete bin on Northenden Road, by the bus stop, had broken and only the base remained. A ...
[IMG: Sandgate Granville Parade Kiosk / Toilet Block] Andrew Beggs & Associates: Commercial Estate Agents BEACH SIDE KIOSK SANDGATE KENT OFFERS INVITED INITIAL 1 YEAR LEASE Contact Agents for further details. Gresham House, Quarry Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 5HA 01303 266984 enquiries@andrewbeggs.com www.andrewbeggs.com Published and promoted by Tim Prater, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone, CT20 3BYPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Listening to Today, this morning there was a spokesman for the Vote Leave Campaign, John Moynihan. When challenged by the figures of the cost of membership quoted on their campaign website, he had to admit that the listed figure was gross costs, and that the EU spends money in the UK, on farmer subsidies for example and, in a memorable phrase "the bridges to nowhere up in the far reaches of Scotland." Congratulations John Moynihan. You have just lost the Scottish vote and made clear your small nationalistic, Anglo-centric selfishness. Let us examine this strand of thought. As many readers ...
[IMG: Selection_270] Forever Manchester administer a number of community funds that cover Stockport including the CDL Fund and the Stockport Fund for community and voluntary groups. You can find out more information and apply here.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is a great speechmaker. Indeed, for many people in the audience for his last conference speech - his first as party leader - it was the best speech like that which they'd heard. But the conference speech format not only for Tim Farron but for all British party leaders is old and very traditional. Being daring and modern means showing a video first or sticking a hashtag on the podium where the cameras might sometimes pick it up. In other words, not being very daring or modern. Even as venerable a tactic as mentioning a ...
Using the Freedom of Information Act, Norman Lamb has obtained figures showing an increase in deaths among mental health patients over three years from 1412 to 1713, of these, suicides have risen from 595 to 751. The Guardian quotes Norman Lamb: Significant numbers of unexpected deaths at the Mid Staffs NHS trust caused an outcry and these figures should cause the same because they show a dramatic increase in the number of people losing their lives. NHS England and the government should set up an investigation into the causes of this as these figures involve tragedies for families around the ...
Place North West is reporting that the much-hated Pacer trains still running on many local lines are finally to be replaced, starting in 2018. In total there will be 281 new carriages with the first of the new trains delivered by October 2018. The deal will be financed by Eversholt Rail Group. Arriva promises the new 100mph trains will include air conditioning, audio and visual on-board passenger information systems, power sockets and tables, cycle racks, toilets, digital CCTV systems, and free wifi for passengers. Some long-overdue good news!
If there is something that unites British Labour Party people, from rightist Blairites, to Brownites, through to the leftist Corbynistas, it is that the Labour government of 1997 to 2010 should not be held responsible for the financial crash of 2008/09, and the terrible state of government finances that followed. They are made indignant by Conservatives (and Liberal Democrats) who go on about how Labour is to blame for the financial mess the government left the country in in 2010, when the budget deficit had ballooned to over 10% of GDP. But the public finds the Tory line more convincing. ...
A consultation is currently taking place to ask the public to have their say on proposals to change ways to access Information, Advice and Guidance services. The consultation outlines proposals for change to ensure all services that currently provide Information, Advice and Guidance are aligned into a more streamlined approach which will provide four levels of access. These are: · "Self Service" where customers or customer representatives can access or apply for services themselves. · "Supported Information Advice and Guidance" support to enable those who need it to build the skills and confidence to access the self-serve offer. · "Enhanced ...
The Liverpool Arena would not have been built without support from the EU, neither would the L1 shopping Centre or the new Exhibition Centre Last night I attended the first meeting of strongerin in South Liverpool. This is the campiagn ... Continue reading →
Colin Delany makes an excellent point about the problem Donald Trump has as a result of having too much money: As a candidate, [Donald Trump's] riches confer independence. If he ends up the Republican nominee, he certainly has the ability to self-fund his White House campaign without building a base of donors, whether big or small-dollar. But could this financial freedom actually hurt him?... The imperative to raise money online forces campaigns to build infrastructure that has a strategic value beyond the immediate cash-on-hand. The people and technology behind a presidential-level fundraising program help win elections in other ways. A ...
When one surveys the landscape of the current Labour Party, the fact that a split doesn't loom larger in a lot of the PLP's thinking could baffle some with a less than voluminous knowledge of British political history. The membership seems to have turned to or been infiltrated completely by the far-left; given the way Labour now elects its leaders, this is an impossible obstacle to get round. Sure, the PLP still nominates those who are able to run – for now. But any route back looks hard to manage from where things currently sit. The "Corbyn way" seems set ...
Well this is good news: [IMG: Jim Messina] The US consultant who helped David Cameron to secure election victory is helping to prepare the campaign to keep Britain in the EU. Jim Messina, who was paid almost £400,000 by the Conservatives to help to identify and target key voter groups, has been appointed to the cross-party "remain" campaign group. Mr Messina's involvement underlines the extent to which the in-out referendum is likely to mark a further switch to digital campaigning. [The Times] Prior to working for David Cameron, Jim Messina was Barack Obama's campaign manager.
Tue 26th
08:32
With lights out over much of Ludlow early this morning, it's time to rethink streetlight policy
I am fond of early morning walks with Mel the Collie. But in recent days, I've noticed a lack of streetlights. Some lights are on all night. Others are part-night lights. These turn off at around midnight and resume their task of lighting our streets at around 5.30am. In the last few days, the part-night... Continue reading With lights out over much of Ludlow early this morning, it's time to rethink streetlight policy →
A couple of days ago, on Twitter, Tilt Araiza asked me "did you once do a "what music is" post? I was trying to explain what harmony is to a friend and, well, I'm a drummer," and when I said ... Continue reading →
Yesterday, I attended the latest meeting of the Jericho House support group, a regular meeting at which a number of us discuss fundraising and other projects to support this important facility in the West End Ward, that assists those recovering from alcoholism. We had a useful discussion on a number of matters including the proposed Open Day at Jericho House aimed at local organisations working in the field, to showcase the work of Jericho House. This will take place in April.
Tue 26th
07:59EURef Round-up: Exit would be "disaster" says Citigroup, 82% polled see it as a "risk", Sturgeon for...
In the Guardian, Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP, has objected to the possibility of the referendum being held on 23 June. Her reason on is very odd. She says it would be "disrespectful" to Scotland due to the Scottish parliament election in May. She seems to overlook the fact that the whole UK is voting in one or more election and May and 23 June gives six clear weeks – comparable to a General Election campaign. 82% of people consider that leaving the EU would be "a risk" reports the Independent. IN campaign chairman Lord Rose is urging people ...
I get a lot of people asking what's happening with the proposal for an out of town store at Rocks Green. The proposal was first announced in the summer of 2014. The planning application was submitted the following January. But nothing seems to have happened of late. I am concerned that this application is beginning... Continue reading There's not been much progress on the Rocks Green supermarket application →
The Pope's digital guru His Holiness online. (tags: religion ) Don't call this Government pro-European A Moldovan speaks out. (tags: moldova ) Cameron on Muslim women: shoddy and shameful Good on @RobinLustig. (tags: ukpolitics migration islam ) Toxic Workers Great paper by @MichaelHousman and Dylan Minor on the cost of hiring assholes. (tags: work ) UK Doomsday Nuke Subs Still Run Windows XP The bombs are perfectly safe; we're the ones in trouble! (tags: ukpolitics war nuclear ) Shakespeare Scholar Arrested and Held by UK Immigration UK government celebrates 400 years by waging war on Shakespeare experts. (tags: shakespeare ukpolitics ...
Steven Moffat has produced some great Doctor Who. So how did he become so hated? Have Your Say on the draft Council Budget - This Wednesday in Brighouse Alice Cooper's guillotine up for auction Labour seen as 'indistinguishable from the Tories' to Scottish voters, leaked internal report warns Electoral pacts won't bring electoral reform - depressing but almost certainly true from Nick Barlow Although I have to say, I keep coming back to this line: "imagine that you're the person who has to tell a Labour candidate they have to stand down in favour of UKIP because of the PR ...
Blyth Town Council has the following meetings scheduled for February Tuesday 2nd February : Allotments Committee Thursday 4th February : Environmental Services Committee ( formerly Assets Committee , and still described as such on the council's website ) Thursday 18th February : Planning and Development Committee Tuesday 23rd February : Events Committee Thursday 25th February : Staff Committee ( The business of this meeting will be heard "in Part II" ) All meetings will be held at Arms Evertyne House, starting at 6:30 pm The meeting due to be held on Thursday 11th February of the Community Grants Committee has ...
Wales winning in the digital revolution will be a top priority for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty Williams AM will state today in a keynote speech. In a wide-ranging speech hosted by the think-tank Gorwel, Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, will argue that the lack of connectivity is one of the biggest barriers facing Welsh businesses and she will "throw down the gauntlet to those only obsessed with Tech City in London". Kirsty Williams AM is expected to say: "There is a basic hurdle Britain needs to get over. That is 'connectivity'. Bridging this digital divide will ...
