Decisions taken at Cheadle Area Committee this evening: It's OK Club, based at St Cuthberts Church in Cheadle and helping people with mental health problems, given a grant of £1,000 for a football table, computer games, Wii, exercise classes, art and massage. Planning application 59845 – two storey extension, 157 Stanley Road, Heald Green approved. Planning application 60421 – conversion of 17 Church Road (corner of Church Road and Elm Road) from retail with first floor flat to two-floor cafe was approved but only on the proviso that there's no kitchen or food preparation. We understand that it's likely to ...
Meols Ward Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Nigel Ashton and Jo Barton are holding their next advice centre on Saturday 13th February from 11 am to 12 noon at St John's Primary School, Rufford Road, Crossens. We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in. We also hold a monthly advice centre in Churchtown, at Cafe Moo Moo on Cambridge Road (by the junction with Preston New Road, next to Boots) on the fourth Thursday of every month (except December) from 10:30 - 11:30 am.
And so we reach the last video from Uncertain Truth. This was a series of three programmes featuring interviews with Sir Karl Popper in 1988. The first programme, where the other participant was Ernst Gombrich, looks at the understanding of history. It takes up two videos: Watch part 1 Watch part 2 The second programme, where the other participant is Sir John Eccles, looks at language. Watch part 3 Watch part 4 And this third programme where the other participant is Anthony Quinton, looks at human knowledge. Watch part 5 As I said when introducing the first of these videos, ...
From the Olney Pancake Race website: On Shrove Tuesday every year the ladies of Olney, Buckinghamshire compete in the world famous Pancake Race, a tradition which dates back to 1445. The 2016 race will be held on Tuesday 9th February. The race starts at 11:55am. Children from Olney schools also take part in their own races. Olney competes every year against the women of Liberal, Kansas, USA. This is a friendly competition in its 67th year in 2016.My photograph shows the sign on the churchyard wall in Olney that marks the finishing point of the race,
Norman Lamb has said that the Junior Doctors' strike scheduled to take place from 8 am tomorrow should be a wake up call for the Government: If strikes go ahead tomorrow this should be a wake-up call to the Government that it needs to take a more constructive approach to resolving this dispute. They cannot solve the capacity and funding problems in the NHS by forcing this contract on junior doctors. Growing demand for services, coupled with a funding settlement which doesn't keep up, are the fundamental problems facing health and care and yet the Government is refusing to take ...
Read more about Hookland.
Tue 9th
19:44
@NeedhamFC versus @GraysAthleticFC - as relegation rears its ugly head, can the Marketmen turn thing...
Welcome to a cold Bloomfields, on a windy evening with a pitch that doesn't look to have improved much since I was here for the VCD Athletic game a few weeks back. Since that rather sorry home defeat, not much has gone right for the Marketmen, although Saturday's nil-nil draw at basement dwellers Lewes at least halted the run of grim outcomes. At least the visitors, Grays Athletic (unbeaten in 2016, apparently) may have brought along some support - we'll see if the attendance is better than the 135 who turned out to brave the risk of hypothermia for the ...
I know exactly what I was doing 10 years ago tonight – knocking up in Rosyth, getting people to the polls in the Dunfermline by-election. There was a really good feeling in the air. Earlier in the afternoon, I'd been out and about in Dunfermline and people were beeping at us as they drove by, or giving us thumbs up signs. It started to feel as though we might pull off an historic victory in Gordon Brown's back yard. The BBC certainly didn't. When they initially announced the result, their graphic said "Labour hold" around a live feed of Willie ...
Welcome news, and another smart use of Parliamentary procedures to gain publicity for a campaign by Tim Farron and his team: Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is submitting a bill to end the ban on men who have sex with men donating blood. In England, Wales and Scotland, men who have sex with men are deferred from giving blood for 12 months, while in Northern Ireland a permanent ban remains in place. Critics say the current rules do not reflect modern screening technology, and there have been shifts in other countries to systems based on individual risk... Mr Farron told ...
Alongside the job adverts for Lib Dem Membership Development Manager and Research Officer and Parliamentary Assistant for Tim Farron, here's another one – to be the new Lib Dem Head of Press. I hope that whoever gets the role doesn't have a penchant for fake snow and disguising men in wigs and dresses. The Head of Press will lead a small but effective media team to promote the Liberal Democrats and the party Leader Tim Farron in regional and national media. Salary: £35,000 per annum Benefit: 8% Employer's Pension Contribution Tenure: Permanent Hours: Full time 40 hours per week Location: ...
It's really a bit frustrating that, having finished the third book of the trilogy (after I voted for both previous books in the BSFA and Hugo ballots last year and the year before) and again hugely enjoyed it, I now find that I can't really express why I like this book, and these books, so much. I guess a lot of things come together: the fish-out-of-water leadership of Breq, the central character; the interplay between the other established characters from previous books; the humorous social and linguistic malapropisms of the Translator; the completely overt yet subtly done political threads in ...
[IMG: Janet_LocalPub_web] Marketers and advertisers know that social proof is one of the key techniques used to sell a product or service, what you need to know is that it's also key for winning elections. Put simply social proof is the idea that other people will conform to a behaviour they observe others doing under the assumption [...]
In a U-turn that took pretty much everyone by surprise, George Osborne has revealed that the Government is taking more money than expected from council and police forces – and asking local residents to make up the difference with higher council tax. The Coalition helped councils to freeze council tax – as Stockport has done for four or the last five years. Now, the Conservative government has taken the opposite approach. It was announced just before Christmas that Osborne would take millions of pounds more than previously planned from the Police and local councils – and he expects council tax ...
From Saturday 6th February, Stockport and six other Greater Manchester councils' libraries networks will operate a shared online catalogue system - giving access to 2.8 million books and other items held by the participating library services. People in Stockport will be able to search for books in any of the participating councils' collections, reserving items using their existing Stockport Libraries card. Manchester, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, and Trafford councils are all included in the shared Library Management System (LMS) scheme, as are Blackburn with Darwen Council - with Tameside joining later this year. The Library Management System will make it ...
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have today secured agreement from the Welsh Government that cuts to universities and rural councils will be mitigated. Last year the Welsh Liberal Democrats agreed a two year deal to allow the Welsh Government's budget to pass in exchange for the implementation of key policies such as extra investment in schools and 5,000 new apprenticeships. However, the party had made clear that it could not support unfair cuts to rural communities or such severe cuts to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales as proposed by the Welsh Government in the Draft Budget 2016-17. Following numerous ...
During his leadership campaign, Tim Farron said that he would submit a Bill to end the ban on gay men giving blood. Today he's making good on that promise. From Pink News Mr Farron told PinkNews: "The current law which bars sexually active gay men is scientifically and socially outdated, deeply and unjustly stigmatising, and urgently needs to change. "In 2016 I cannot see why we can't support an evidence based approach. "I hope my bill today is another stage in the long running campaign to deliver equality." The Blood Donor (Equality) Bill is described as "a Bill to make ...
Gertrude Bell was one of the most extra-ordinary women the North East of England has ever produced. Amongst her many "achievements", was helping to draw the borders for what became the modern day state Iraq. The Getrude Bell Archive at Newcastle University reports she is: ...the subject of a new exhibition showing from 30 January - 3 May 2016 at the Great North Museum. It features content drawn from Newcastle University's Archive with significant loans from the British Museum, Imperial War Museum and others to tell her unique story of adventure, discovery, and political intrigue....The more eagle-eyed geographers may spot ...
[IMG: life on mars 2] Sam Tyler did it in Life on Mars – and in March I'm going to do it to raise money for Stockport young carers – the Mayor's charity. Unlike Sam, I've no desire to plunge to my death and wake up in 1973 so I'll have ropes and safety gear to abseil down Stopford House. Please sponsor me. My aim is to raise £500 for our young carers in Stockport over the next month and I need your help to do it. I've never abseiled before, or done anything like it, and I'm not great ...
During his leadership election campaign, Tim Farron set out a number of priorities on how he wanted to rebuild our party. One of those key pledges was to make our party more diverse to ensure we reflect the society we seek ... Continue reading →
[IMG: Dunkirk refugee camp] As a child in school, I remember learning about human failings throughout history and wondering repeatedly: how did so many people effectively neglect the problems they faced? So many years later, I still have the same question swirling around in the recesses in my mind. Last week simply brought this to the forefront of all I think about, thanks to the rude awakening that was our office's fact-finding mission in Calais and Dunkirk. These failings of humanity to pay attention to and help fellow human beings in a humanitarian crisis are still prevalent today. What's worse? ...
UKIP's only Welsh Councillor has quit the party in a row over the imposition of outside candidates and failed MPs as Assembly candidates in May's election. The Political Scrapbook site reports that Kevin Mahoney, a councillor in Vale at Glamorgan County Council, will now designate himself as an 'Independent' in protest at the parachuting in of Farage favourites Neil Hamilton, Mark Reckless and Alexandra Phillips. He is quite explicit in his reasoning: The thought that I would ever sanction the candidacy of Neil 'cash for questions' Hamilton, the rejected-by-English-voters-at-the-General-Election, ex-Tory from Kent, Mark Reckless, or Nigel Farage's very close friend ...
I have some ideas for some of the categories, but the problem is I will not nominate anything I am not personally familiar with, and there are some categories I have not read/seen/etc enough things in. So, I have nearly two months till deadline; I am going to ask for recs. What do YOU think ought to win awards in the following categories? Rec me stuff, I shall try to check it out, and then if I like it, it might get a nom from me:Best Novella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words) Best Novelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words) Best ...
Today saw the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race at the House of Commons in aid of the charity Rehab. You can read all about it and find some amazing looking pancake recipes from the likes of Paul Hollywood, Rick Stein and Gino D'Acampo in the official brochure here. Apple pancakes with Apple Brandy Custard is the one I want to eat most. Here, courtesy of Terry Stacy, is the Lib Dem contingent of Kate Parminter, Rupert Redesdale, Susan Kramer and Dominic Addington in action. [IMG: Lib Dem Peers Pancake team] Where's the pancake? [IMG: Kramer pancake race] Kate still has ...
First, a bit of history to put this matter in its correct historical context. My posting of 7th December 2014 refers – see link below:- Well we have moved on to February 2016 since then and little or nothing has seemingly happened despite the big promises of 2014. No bandstand (but folks living in Liverpool Road South and Brendale Avenue are probably grateful for that I guess), no big investment is new play equipment across Maghull's parks and no progress on the plant heritage centre. [IMG: Maghull Town Hall] This latter project, when I got to the bottom of ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35521061 The BBC has the story on its web site Readers of this blog site may have twigged that the editor has some dyslexia type issues (words missing, letters in the wrong order etc.) so I am pleased to see this employment tribunal case being won. I am of a generation where dyslexia was not really picked up by schools like it is today so it does beggar belief that a major employer has fallen foul of not making reasonable adjustments for it.
Tue 9th
11:42
#ItsBack - Erection of 5 dwellings and access from Gunthorpe Road (Planning Application)
Sadly, it has come as no shock to learn that developers have returned for "another go" at getting planning consent on land located to the rear of 20 Gunthorpe Road. As you may recall, myself and my colleagues, previously opposed the application, after referring it to the Councils Planning Committee. This latest one is for [...]
Tue 9th
11:20
Peter Black AM's speech to Welsh Lib Dem Conference: Ambition and fairness at heart of Lib Dem housi...
On Sunday, Peter Black, AM for South Wales West, a man with almost as many portfolios as there are days of Christmas, gave his keynote speech to Welsh Conference. He called on both Wales' Labour Government and the UK's Conservative Government to do more to help the Tata steel workers set to lose their jobs. He also unveiled the Welsh Lib Dems' plan to tackle the housing crisis by building 20,000 more houses and implementing a rent to buy scheme. He also touched on political reform, devolution of power, the arts, broadcasting and sport. That's quite something in just 15 ...
Mon, 12:52: Integral z² dz from 1 to the cube root of 3 times the cosine of 3π over 9 = log of the cube root of e. (Tx NGibbins) https://t.co/WPpUdFaJZc Mon, 16:53: An old-school reply to an advertiser's retro threat https://t.co/p3oBDCTmO4 via @delicious Mon, 18:34: No Official Umbrella, by Glyn Jones https://t.co/4MnbNOy5D5 Mon, 18:37: Mathematical limericks https://t.co/9EeIdsw7hV Mon, 20:05: Seven steps to winning a referendum https://t.co/XpCXCeMGP5 via @Euractiv Mon, 20:48: An old-school reply to an advertiser's retro threat https://t.co/sRLS1p2nXG Hooray! Mon, 23:59: RT @BradStaples: APCO's @nwbrux outlines seven steps to winning a referendum - advice on how to avoid ...
... which I suspect they won't publish:(to the tune of Jerusalem) And did the Brits In Ancient time Pinch all your country's wealth from you? And did we pinch Your words as well To add to England's language true? We shall pretend the world is ours By some divine right or something But really we're the bestest thieves You see we even nicked this tuneIf you want to have a go, you can find the details, such as they are, at the bottom of the page detailing the winners of their last competition. [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
[IMG: International Office_with text] Supported by the Liberal Democrats International Office, the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) has grown to become the largest network of liberal parties outside Europe, with 47 member parties from across 30 African nations. Taking place from 27 - 31 January 2016, the ALN held its 12th General Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa, hosted by South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). With the theme of "Winning elections: the strategies, policies and solutions for success", the General Assembly brought together nearly 80 delegates from 30 countries across the continent to discuss strategies to win elections ...
The Westminster rumour mill grinds out the possibility of another general election within less than two years time on the basis of Cameron stepping down earlier, his successor calling a general election based on the move, and Labour not being able to possibly stand in the way of it. This scuttlebutt comes via that amazing source of all things happening within Conservative Party HQ: the Labour Party. Writing on Labour List, shadow minister for small business, Toby Perkins, has said that this relatively up coming general election is a real possibility and that: "If Labour is confronted with a general ...
[IMG: Denis Healy, Lib Dem] Great to see Denis Healy added to the list of Liberal Democrat Police & Crime Commissioner candidates. A view that of course is in no way influenced by the fact that it reminded me of the best Labour leaflet headline, ever. But back to the present. These are set of elections which, as Judith Woodman put it so eloquently a few days ago, it is crucial the party takes seriously. So here's the full story about Denis: The Liberal Democrats have announced that Denis Healy will be the Lib Dem challenger in May's Police and ...
I read this article in last week's Economist. The implications are quite extraordinary for anybody follows the political debate about school provision. One of the central ideas of the right, school choice, is in collapse. The article concerns school voucher schemes in the USA. In a number of areas vouchers are distributed to poor families, so that they can use them to get places for their children in private schools. The article takes a case study from a large scheme adopted in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. One interesting feature for policy wonks was that the vouchers were distributed randomly, which ...
Tue 9th
08:30Burt: Leaked letter shows some of problems with Tory politically motivated attack on Trade Unions
This weekend a leaked letter from Skills Minister Nick Boles showed that the Government is considering conceding certain points on the Trade Union Bill in the face of almost certain defeat in the House of Lords. Liberal Democrat BIS spokesperson Lorely Burt had this to say: We are pleased that the Government apparently recognises the need to allow electronic balloting of trade union members if they want to impose voting thresholds on unions. We hope they will therefore listen to Liberal Democrats who have tabled amendments to the Trade Union Bill to allow electronic voting. This leaked letter shows just ...
I have today launched my February 2016 Update to West End Community Council. Subjects covered include: • Perth Road Branch TSB closure • West End road safety improvements • Glamis Road area - pedestrian safety The Community Council meets tonight at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall at 7pm - all residents welcome. You can download my Update here.
This little gem is from last Friday's PM on Radio 4 and probably means that my licence fee has been well worth it for these 90 seconds of Shirley wit alone. Enjoy: We shall miss Shirley from the Lords, but it's great that she's going to continue to be active in politics and particularly in the EU Referendum. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Is it ok to perve over a centuries dead French General? Because DAMN Alexandre Dumas's dad was HOT. Cartoon Network cancelled Young Justice because too many girls were watching it. Badass of the Week: Julie D'Aubigny, La Maupin, my new hero It's Been 20 Years Since This Man Declared Cyberspace Independence When white women talk over black women we sound kind of similar to men... Wring Out the Clowns: Rory Bremner in Hebden Bridge [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Hertfordshire County Council, the Local Education Authority, has confirmed its intended support for school building maintenance for 2016/17, and it is £0. Responding to a question by Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet member for Resources, Paul Zukowskyj, County officers confirmed the Government grant for school repairs will not be topped up by a single penny from [...]
As the Beach Boys were falling apart, Brian Wilson's solo career was getting a second wind. After the abortive efforts to produce a Beach Boys album, he guested on four tracks on an album, The Wilsons, by his eldest daughters ... Continue reading →
I was asked yesterday was I post modernist, i instantly answered yes and then had to think what that actually meant. Oh i know its supposed to be a philosophical movement, that we have moved beyond a modern era, toward a more or is that less traditional future. That the world progresses in a state of flux. With no conformity but at the same time conforming with the agenda of change. But who am I. Yes I like looking at the world in different ways, I have not been a Liberal Democrat for the past 30 years to believe that ...
