John Betjeman travelled on this line in 1962. This colour footage of it was shot six years later - a year before it closed. Click on the picture to view it on the BFI site.
Embed from Getty Images Last July I began a post like this: A myth is growing up about the Liberal Democrat debacle at the last general election. It holds that we lost almost all of our seats because the Conservatives ruthlessly targeted them and won over former Liberal Democrat voters. So they did, but there is little sign that our lost voters went to the Conservatives instead.My assurance was based on my reading of an article by Seth Thévoz and Lewis Baston on the Social Liberal Forum site. Here are a couple of the paragraphs I quoted back in July: ...
Well it seems that Sefton Borough's most prominent wind orchestra has made it in the big time after playing at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall today. [IMG: WP_20160424_18_52_56_Pro] They were a part of a Opera entitled Get Weaving and they sounded great as indeed did all the participants. Leaving Liverpool, Scouse passports in hand and off to that other place at the opposite end of the East Lancs Road (which is usually not mentioned in anything but disparaging terms by Liverpool folk) our brave orchestra went. Yes, Manchester to Scousers is an alien place just like Yorkshire is to those of us ...
It has been suggested to me that the UK's membership of the EEA is separate to its membership of the EU. The EEA agreement is here and the UK is a signatory rather than the EU on behalf of the UK. This actually means that leaving the EU without leaving the EEA has no effect on freedom of movement - one of the big arguments.
In recent months, I've been contacted by a number of local residents who have raised concerns about some vehicles parking on the pavements, in a way that forces pedestrians to step into the road. Whilst I appreciate that these days some households have more than one car, we would ask drivers to show a little more consideration [...]
I was on the BBC Politics Programme (North East) today, debating with the 3 other candidates in the Northumbria PCC election. You can see it on this link. The North East bit starts about 31 minutes in.
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 456th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (17 -,23 April 2016), together with a hand-picked quintet, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. Undeclared Conservative spending in Liberal Democrat ...
There is a sort of unwritten challenge in this meme to try and pick different plays for each day. I don't think I'll manage it, but this question in particular prompted me to delve rather deep. One villainess who operates very much to her own agenda, using men and spitting them out again (and they return the favour to her and her family) is Tamora, Queen of the Goths, in Titus Andronicus. It's a really violent play. One tally has the average rate of atrocities at one every 97 lines. Tamora's bitter feud with the title character drives the narrative; ...
If you're lucky enough or maybe unlucky enough, to receive a visit from a Tory candidate who wants your vote in the local City council elections, you may want to ask them their views on the 'Brown Bin Tax' that they introduced? Despite residents already paying Council Tax, which in theory means they receive services [...]
Scottish Lib Dem Leader Willie Rennie faced two very different interviews this week. The first was with STV political editor Bernard Ponsonby. Willie said he thought we were going to grow because of our record as the strong liberal voice and because of our positive, uplifting plan for Scotland with its transformational investment in education and investment in mental health. Before he was able to talk about all these plans though, he faced quite a grilling over coalition mistakes (he said the Bedroom Tax was one which should never have happened) and over Alistair Carmichael (he said he would still ...
Watch the latest video from the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign: See what Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, the Bank of England and other finance experts say leaving Europe would mean for you and your family. And of course don't forget: If you'd like to know more about the wider topic, see my other European referendum posts, and in particular Nick Clegg's demolition of the anti-EU case.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are making a big play for Labour supporters to vote Lib Dem on the regional list to stop UKIP candidates like Neil Hamilton and Mark Reckless (really) from getting elected. From Wales Online: Jenny Randerson - the former Acting Deputy First Minister who became a Wales Office minister - has intervened in the Assembly election campaign to urge Labour supporters to lend the Liberal Democrats their votes on the regional list in a bid to stop Ukip winning AMs. The former Cardiff Central AM who is now a member of the House of Lords argues that ...
[IMG: 7 best] Many thanks to the 11,000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here's our 7 most-read posts... Paddy has Brexit campaigners floundering on Question Time (21 comments) by Caron Lindsay How the Scottish Liberal Democrats are winning the campaign (26 comments) by Caron Lindsay In conversation with David Laws (21 comments) by York Membery Review: Coalition, by David Laws (19 comments) by Nick Thornsby Who makes the decisions in the EU? (26 comments) by Liz Lynne Undeclared Conservative election expenses unearthed by Channel 4 News (18 comments) by The Voice Is liberalism dead? (37 comments) ...
Commenting on the SNP's manifesto commitment to creating 'new educational regions', Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Liam McArthur said: "SNP Ministers in Edinburgh have snatched control of teacher recruitment policies, moved towards national standardised testing and imposed swingeing cuts on services against the wishes of councils. On the face of if this looks like a [...]
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes has warned of the risks of a 'Big Brother' database impacting on the privacy of innocent motorists as she revealed Police Scotland has built up a store of over 850 million number plate records. Freedom of Information requests by the Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed that 852,507,524 number [...]
Scottish Liberal Democrats Holyrood candidate for Midlothian North & Musselburgh Jacquie Bell will be representing the party at the Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) Hustings tomorrow night (Monday) in Edinburgh at the Augustine United Church on George IV Bridge. Full details of this latest hustings are here:- http://www.independencelive.net/event/749 Lorna Slater will be on the panel [...]
Veteran BBC journalist slams broadcaster's bias on doctors' strike, and much more | The Canary RT @PlingetheElder: Veteran BBC journalist slams broadcaster's bias on doctors' strike, and much more via @thecanarysays Twitter RT @thejimsmith: I salute you, ostensible vandal. Twitter RT @indy100: The BBC has been accused of covering the EU more negatively than Putin Untitled RT @indy100: The BBC has been accused of covering the EU more negatively than Putin Jennie Rigg (Brighouse, WYorks, The United Kingdom)'s review of Shadow and Bone 3 of 5 stars to Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo UK ploughs ahead with plan ...
Tim Farron was on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, putting in an other strong performance. What was unusual is that he was on the studio rather than the gorgeous Lake District countryside. You can watch what he has to say here: WATCH: @timfarron calls for UK to take in 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees #marr #marrshow – https://t.co/ZSa6syI6cC — The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) April 24, 2016 He talked about the "joyful challenge" of leading the party, of the party's success in terms of seats and vote share in local government by-elections, of how Labour, "the worst opposition in history" ...
What is good about the video below is that it simple takes part of the arguments of the people who wish to leave the EU and puts them together. I have looked at this issue before. UKIP used to propose the EEA which means not having a vote and just being consulted on the rules that the UK has to follow.
This reached number 6 in the UK singles chart in 1966 and number 8 when it was re-released in 1972 (which is when I remember it from). In view of the turn 2016 has taken, I better point out that Roy C - Roy Charles Hammond - is still with us. Read more about his career on his own website.
Residents in South Somerset can rest assured that if they have received a poll card for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections on May 5, they are on the electoral register and do not need to re-register specifically for the EU Referendum on June 23. Registration for the PCC elections closed on April 18. Anyone who missed that deadline can register to vote in the EU referendum as long as they are eligible and do so before June 7. You can register to vote at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Remember: if you have a poll card for May 5 you are registered ...
The Tory-controlled city council has made millions of pounds worth of cuts in recent years, while also reducing or selling off services! For the last couple of years, Liberal Democrats at the Town Hall, have called for the local authority to move all council staff into new offices which are being built as part of the South [...]
Sun 24th
10:15
Federal Conference Committee so far fails to extend unfairly implemented early bird discount for Aut...
It's been four days since registration for the Autumn Conference opened. It's three days until the initial early bird discount expires on Wednesday, 27th April. If you want to register, click here. I suggested last week that having a discounted period that expired a) before payday for most people and b) in the middle of an election. The party should not be handing out a double whammy to those on lower incomes. More affluent members will be able to take advantage of unbudgeted expenditure before they get paid. Those who are struggling at the end of each month will not ...
If you live in the bounds of Yeovil East, or have friends and relatives that do: In your opinion, what does Yeovil East need, how can it be improved, what's wrong, or right with the area? Please leave comments at bottom of page, or if you would rather email me. Thank you in advance...
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe:
When Labour has moved to the unelectable far left (however admirably unpolitician-ish Corbyn may be) and the Tories are hell bent on ruining the lives of teachers, junior doctors and the disabled, just to shrink the state, we need a party that actually will do good for the country more than ever. Look at Canada, electing the inspiring Justin Trudeau, and implementing that shared liberal idea of making life better for everyone. protecting the disadvantaged, and the disabled, caring for the environment yet -here in the UK – being able to save the economy from the worst recession since the ...
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Meeting of the Friends of Balgay, which took place at the Mills Observatory. The guest speaker was Kate Treharne, Dundee's community allotments officer, who spoke eloquently about community gardens in the city. Kate has done great work across the city and her passion and enthusiasm shines through! There was a display on "Balgay - then and now" at the meeting which was very interesting :
Needless to say, those who favour Britain leaving the EU were none too pleased with the president of the United States' speech on the subject this Friday gone. Their reactions ranged from the somewhat sensible (the fact that America would never sign itself up to something like the European Union) to the downright barmy (Boris committing political suicide by revisiting the Obama birthers saga). One of the theories that has done the rounds in the more Eurosceptic portions of the UK press is that Obama went one step too far by suggesting that if Britain left the EU, it would ...
Liberal Democrat victories in Parliamentary by-elections have been rare since 2010 but this week one such contest saw a former Lib Dem MP storm to victory with 100% of the vote. What was unusual about this particular by-election was that all the other candidates were Liberal Democrats as well, the total electorate amounted to three individuals and they too are members of the party. As the Independent reports, this rather arcane process saw John Thurso fill the vacancy caused by the death of hereditary peer Eric Lubbock, Lord Avebury, which only another Liberal Democrat can fill: Under existing Lords procedures, ...
The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above Well I suppose that every new winner of a rail franchise in the UK will make promises like this; it's always a new dawn and a much more spectacular one than any previously. The big issue will really be how we look upon Arriva's running of the Northern Franchise in say two years. Will we all feel it has been much better than the previous operator? That's the only test that matters really.
