Earlier tonight, I attended the first Friends of Blackness meeting of the new term. Friends of Blackness undertakes both the Parent Council and Parent Teacher Association roles at Blackness Primary School. It was an extremely positive meeting and Gordon Ferrier, Head Teacher, reported a likely very healthy P1 intake for the forthcoming 2016/17 year. There was also a useful discussion about parking issues near to the school and promoting safe drop off and collection of pupils from the school.
Tue 26th
21:50
What a Tory cabinet minister said to me tonight: "I don't know why you Lib Dems aren't doing better"
I don't think this counts as name-dropping because I'm not going to say who it was. But, anyway, I was chatting to a Tory cabinet minister tonight, as you do, who was genuinely curious to know why the Lib Dems aren't doing better in the polls. "I mean, this government is giving you loads of free hits. And Labour's so hard-left there's no-one else around to be the voice of sensible opposition," they said. I defended my party. After all, we were ignored enough by the media when we were supported by 1-in-4 voters and had dozens of MP. Life's ...
It is depressing to think that in a little over a week's time UKIP will probably be represented in the Welsh Senedd. And what a dysfunctional shower they will be, too. The infighting has already started and the factions are forming. Nathan Gill, Welsh UKIP Leader, has suggested that he would not have chosen either Neil Hamilton or Mark Reckless as candidates in the first place. Meanwhile, Hamilton's wife, Christine, has accused Gill of being a 'third rate general'. Never one to avoid the limelight, Farage has waded in to the furore surrounding the racist comments made by lead South ...
[IMG: Kenneth Macleod at his home in Surrey on August 15th 2000] Kenneth Macleod at his home in Surrey on August 15th 2000 Following my visit to interview Westward Television's Kenneth MacLeod in August 2000, he sent me these reminiscences to be included on my website "Westward Shrine". That website is now defunct, so I am republishing these memoirs here to allow them to be able to be read. Childhood days My earliest days were in Kent and my first memories are of Broadstairs, where we lived. It was a wonderful place for a child. I have fond memories of ...
So, the Rabid Puppies have once again got a near clean sweep of the Hugo ballot, with "Vox Day's" choices making up over 70% of the choices, and 100% in many categories. My friend Richard Gadsden has already put together ... Continue reading →
Yet again the puppies have shat on everybody else's carpet. It'll be interesting to see if people take the Scalzi line and vote for people on the slate who are deserving anyway, or if they put the mighty Gneil (for example) below no award - which is what I'll be doing. Happily the ones I nominated that made the ballot were not on the puppy slate so I can vote for them with a clear conscience. NK Jemisin FTW! But I think no award is going to be my most prominent view in most categories... :/ Let's hope the rule ...
Further to the transcript of my interview with Kenneth MacLeod in August 2000 at his home, here is a little clip he kindly recorded for me on the same day to introduce my website "Westward Shrine": Share
[IMG: David Steel] We've just caught up with an interview with David Steel on the BBC Northern Ireland political show The View. (The interview starts 17:58 minutes in) David was responsible for introducing the Abortion Act in 1967, which made abortion legal up to 28 weeks, later reduced to 24 weeks. But the law was never extended to Northern Ireland where the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 still applies. Under that law a woman who procures her own abortion is guilty of a felony and can be given a prison sentence of life, or for up to two ...
Editor: Apologies – we have removed this post at Sally's request and have been promised an update in the morning. * Sally Hamwee is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, and the Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities.
A birthday treat for me, writing on a happy subject. Just for reference, the comedies are generally considered to include: All's Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles, Prince of Tyre The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Twelfth Night The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Two Noble Kinsmen The Winter's Tale Cymbeline Among these, there is one that really stands out for me. I dimly remember the Rowan Atkinson sketch ...
Tue 26th
18:59
"We poor buggers would go on every night and get slaughtered and crucified" - 'Westward Diary' prese...
[IMG: Kenneth Macleod at his home in Surrey on August 15th 2000 when I interviewed him] Kenneth MacLeod at his home in Surrey on August 15th 2000 I used to run a tribute website for Westward Television called "Westward Shrine". You can see it here via the miracle of the Wayback Machine on www.archive.org. Westward Television was the ITV franchise for the Westcountry from 1961 to 1981. I used to love it as a kid, and have always been fascinated in memorabilia about it. After some correspondence with his daughter via a chance internet search, I was extremely privileged and ...
[IMG: Kirsty Williams on Radio Wales] From May, AMs in the Welsh Assembly will get a whopping 18% pay rise, awarded by an independent pay review body. Only the Welsh Liberal Democrats voted against that and they have said that it must never happen again. From the BBC: Kirsty Williams has promised to peg AMs' pay to general rises in the public sector. AMs will get a salary of £64,000 from 5 May, up from £54,000, following an independent remuneration board decision. The Lib Dems pledge would apply to the Senedd term after the 2021 election. Ms Williams said: "It's ...
Would you like to see more 20mph zones introduced in your local area? Peterborough City Council is supposed to be looking at introducing 20mph speed limits across the city in residential areas. The action comes on the back of a previous motion put forward by Liberal Democrats at the Town Hall. Injuries and deaths involving children [...]
If you enjoyed 55 minutes of Stewart Lee talking about comedy, then you may enjoy this hour and 25 minutes of him doing so even more.
Alistair Carmichael has written a coldly furious article for the New Statesman about the vote last night when the Government defeated the Lords' Amendment to the Immigration Bill which would have seen this country do its duty and take a relatively small number of child refugees. Just last week, we saw the Government feign compassion to draw away attention from the calls for accepting 3,000 children, through their own announcement which completely sidestepped the issue of child refugees in danger within Europe, where Europol has estimated that as many as 10,000 unaccompanied children on the continent have disappeared, and will ...
I'm not superstitious, so I don't think that Friday the 13th is bad luck. Anyway, it the latest predicted date for the reopening of Ludford Bridge after it was hit by a reversing tarmac truck nearly ten weeks ago. Work is in progress to complete the stonework up to the parapet. This should be complete... Continue reading We have a new date for Ludford Bridge reopening - Friday 13 May →
Shepway District Council have started a consultation on proposals to introduce a Residents Parking Permit scheme in Castle Road, Granville Parade, Granville Road East, Granville Parade West, Lachlan Way, Lister Way and Parade Road. Download this objection form, complete and post your written objections directly to Shepway District Council (Parking orders), Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone CT20 2QY. Please ensure your email arrives before 4pm on 16th May 2016. 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
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has criticised the SNP on their record in standing up for communities north of the central belt, as he joined Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Aberdeenshire East, Christine Jardine, on the campaign trail. Mr Farron and Ms Jardine today met voters in Inverurie to discuss the impact of the delays [...]
[IMG: Shepway District Council Sandgate Parking Consultation Notice on Granville Parade] Shepway District Council have started a consultation on proposals to introduce a Residents Parking Permit scheme in Castle Road, Granville Parade, Granville Road East, Granville Parade West, Lachlan Way, Lister Way and Parade Road. They are proposing to limit parking in these roads to two hours for non-permit holders. This restriction will be in place 8am-8pm EVERY day of the year including weekends and bank holidays. Only residents and businesses based in the roads named above will be able to get permits. Residents not living in those roads will ...
A year ago I made a ranking of every part of the MCU. But this being Marvel, that universe has grown by 25% since then. So to celebrate the fact Civil War is nearly here, I've done an updated version. 16. Iron Man 2 (2010) Pros: The first film to move beyond hinting at a broader universe and start fleshing it [...]
[IMG: Members of the Committee of the Regions standing in tribute to victims of the Brussels attacks] Members of the Committee of the Regions standing in tribute to victims of the Brussels attacks My Independent opponent made a comment in a recent leaflet that we should keep Cambridge City Council elections local and that he was not going to talk publicly about his views in the EU. That set me thinking. I can see his point, but things are much more interconnected than that. At the very least, the stability brought by the EU means local councils don't have to ...
We all hope that Donald Trump will not be the next US President; even if he wins the Republican nomination, it's unlikely that he will win over a majority of states and voters. But his astonishing success so far, in mobilising the embittered, marginalised and nostalgic, all those who feel they have lost out through rapid economic and social change, has lessons for British politics. The first lesson is that we need to pay much more attention to 'the bottom third' of our society: the children of skilled working class and clerical workers whose communities, and self-respect, have been hit ...
Today the Hillsborough inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing of 96 people. Errors and omissions by the South Yorkshire Police are ruled to have caused and contributed to the deaths on a number of counts, and also errors and omissions by the city council as the ground safety licensing authority, the engineers Eastwood and Partners, Sheffield Wednesday FC and the ambulance service. The behaviour of the fans was ruled not to be a cause, in stark contrast to the views expressed by many at time, not least by the Sun newspaper. Views which are understood to have been promulgated ...
[IMG: slot-machine-159972_960_720] We thought you would find two news stories from the LGA this week helpful. They are in the names of our group spokespeople on these subjects but feel free to localise them with your names. If you are planning to submit a motion on fixed odds betting terminals then you may also want to refer [...]
Dreadful stuff from Ted Cruz: In other Trump news, the BBC has me talking about the Donald Trump sick bags ("Make America regurgitate again"): Mark Pack ... said political memorabilia becomes headline-worthy when it "captures the spirit of the election." "The Trump sick bags certainly seem to do that," he said. "They are a good example of how humour can capture the strength of emotion people have over a political issue, in ways that are hard to match with straight words without sounding [like] ranting."
Tue 26th
12:07
Response to the Hillsborough Verdicts on behalf of the Liberal Democrats of the City Region
They'll Never Walk Alone – We Will Always Remember Them Today's verdicts are a vindication of the 96, the relatives of the 96; fans of LFC as a whole and of the City of Liverpool in its entirety. 27 years ... Continue reading →
Tue 26th
12:05
EURef Roundup: Obama, Clinton for Remain, Le Pen for Leave, Recruitment hit by Brexit risk, Bognor a...
Obama issues trade warning. Defending his right to express a view, the President said: I don't anticipate that anything I've said will change the position of those who are leading the campaigns in one direction or the other, but for ordinary voters I thought it would be relevant to hear what the president of the United States, who loves the British people and cares deeply about this relationship, has to say. Hillary Clinton also "warns against Brexit vote", reports the Telegraph. Britons could need visas to visit Europe, says pro-Brexit Justice Minister. Marine Le Pen is looking to come over ...
Formby is famous for asparagus growing this historic agricultural heritage is being celebrated by some interesting sculptures in and around the dunes and woodland. Here are a couple an interesting wood carvings/sculptures related to the cultivation of asparagus that I have come across whilst walking the lovely dunes of the Sefton coast:- [IMG: Digging up the asparagus r] [IMG: Asparagus Trees] Click on the photos to enlarge them The National Trust has an Asparagus Trail to walk if you visit their Formby Point site – see link below:- [IMG: Asparagus Trail - Formby Pine Woods] The first photo is ...
Green light to the Halton Curve rail scheme by Liverpool City Region Authority. There's every chance that this one will be announced to death as every step towards the opening of this rail curve seems to be the last green light only for more to pop up as someone/some organisation needs to be seen to be giving the last green light, if you get my drift. The following is from Merseytravel in response to the Liverpool City Region Authority giving their green light on 15th April. 'This will open up leisure and work opportunities by offering new connections between Liverpool, ...
Tue 26th
11:45
We can get more bus shelters for the Gunthorpe area, if we can stop the Tories getting elected!
One of the reason, why I am hoping to see three Lib Dem FOCUS Team councillors elected for the Gunthorpe area, on May 5th, is to then ensure that we get more bus shelters along the number 2 route in Gunthorpe, like the stop on Coniston Road, between Campbell Drive and Ambleside Gardens! Over the [...]
The jury in the Hillsborough trial has just delivered its verdict. It confirms what Lib Dem Hame has long known – that the 96 Liverpool fans that went to watch a football match in April 1989 were unlawfully killed. We salute everyone that has tirelessly worked to achieve this verdict: the victims families, the support [...]
So the verdict is in, and we have the truth. QUESTION 6: Determination on unlawful killing issue Are you satisfied, so that you are sure, that those who died in the disaster were unlawfully killed? Yes or no. Yes QUESTION 7: Behaviour of the supporters Was there any behaviour on the part of the football supporters which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the Leppings Lane turnstiles? Yes or no. No. Was there any behaviour on the part of the football supporters which may have caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the Leppings Lane turnstiles? Yes ...
It's seller beware as eBay's buyer guarantee is exploited by scammers | Money | The Guardian RT @andrewducker: It's seller beware as eBay's buyer guarantee is exploited by scammers Instagram My favourite instagram of the day: miss_s_b | A poll posted A poll on #dreamwidth Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival RT @VisitCalderdale: The Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival returns this week, 28th April - 1st May @Welcome2Yorks Manchester's Tallest New Skyscrapers | Manchester Confidential RT @davepage_mcr: Looks like @AngryBeetham is going to be the little brother of the Manchester skyline soon Riyad Mahrez becomes first African to land PFA gong | The ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie today said that the SNP have paid lip service to the challenges facing Scotland's island communities as he joined local candidate Liam McArthur on the campaign trail in Orkney. During his visit, Mr Rennie visited a farm with Mr McArthur to discuss the problems that delays to EU payments [...]
The economic models that are used to inform climate policy currently contain an unhealthy dose of wishful thinking. Technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the air are assumed in the models that avoid dangerous climate change - but such technologies do not yet exist and it is unclear whether they could be deployed at a meaningful scale. The scenarios modelled for the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report assume the large-scale deployment of technologies that achieve negative emissions that draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and permanently store it. But whether such proposed methods could be deployed at a material scale ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie yesterday called on Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to distance herself from Home Secretary Theresa May after she called for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights. Commenting, Mr Rennie said: "The European Convention on Human Rights is a British invention and is fundamental to protecting [...]
The Home Secretary made her first intervention into the EU referendum debate yesterday with a sizable speech on the topic. Given many had assumed she would be on the Leave side of the debate a few months back, the substance of the speech made for an interesting listen. I'll start with the positives. I liked that May has been the only person thus far on the Remain side to point out that the sovereignty question is actually not as simplistic as it is often made out to be: ".....no country or empire in world history has ever been totally sovereign, ...
Earlier in the month was the regular meeting of Bury's 'Full Council'. The Lib Dem Group asked our full allocation of four questions: (summaries below – full answers here) – Children in Residential Care Mary D'ALbert asked about the recent report that "Thousands of police visits 'criminalise' children in care homes", and could we be assured that children from Bury that are placed in residential care homes outside of the Borough are monitored, and are not the subject of such action. Answer: We currently have 23 young people in residential care out of approximately 300 children and young people in ...
I have been fortunate enough to travel to many places. In fact, the number of countries I have been to has generally kept pace with my calendar age. Today seems like a day to reflect on the places I have been, in seven-year cycles. I was born in Belfast, and celebrated my 7th birthday in Washington DC. In the meantime I had also been to the Republic of Ireland, Italy, France and Canada, for a total of 6 countries before my 7th birthday. By 1981, we had had family summer holidays in Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Spain (with a side trip ...
Just to let residents know that work has now started on the Bailey Street Play area (off Heaton Street). The work is to partially replace worn out play equipment, and some work to improve the usability of the site which is a great facility for our area. We asked residents for their views earlier in the year which have been taken into account by the Council's officers who have planned the work.
Last night in the House of Commons 294 Conservative MP's chose not to allow 3,000 desperate and vulnerable children sanctuary in Britain. The children are currently trapped in refugee camps in Europe and many have already gone missing, with many believed to have been taken by traffickers or sold into prostitution. The government, which won [...]
Bury Council have just announced a small but important U-Turn on the proposals for Bury New Road. The proposals which had been agreed included provision for cycle lanes in both directions, but these were to be immediately inside of the new permanent parking bays. Many people, including us and including cycling organisations told the Council right through the consultation and through the decision making process hat this was dangerous, as there is a real danger of serious accidents for cyclists being caused as the cycle lane is in the exact space that car doors will open from the parking bays. ...
NHS Junior Doctors are taking industrial action today and tomorrow (26-27 April 2016, 8am-5pm), including withdrawal of cover from A&E departments. Essential care will be provided by senior staff. The NHS is asking us all to make sure that we help the NHS cope by choosing the right service and attending A&E only if it is essential. The full advice form the NHS is here. A&E departments will still be open, and it is important the people do still attend A&E with serious and critical problems that are detailed in the advice.
From Blether Tay Gither : Our April meeting will be tonight - 26th April - in Madigan's Tea Emporium, Castle Street, at the usual time of 7.30pm. The Theme this month is "Earth, Wind and Fire." We will be joined this month by three apprentice storytellers as part of their Storytelling Centre accreditation process. All welcome!
Today's Western Mail reports (no link at present) that UKIP have already started planning for their possible entry into the Welsh Assembly before the electorate have even finished casting their votes and are fighting amongst themselves over the spoils. This presumption appears to be catching. I appeared at an event recently at which the UKIP representative turned up with two companions who he introduced as the people he is going to employ as his staff once he is elected. He may have a shock when he sees the rules for employing staff, which are rigorously applied so as to ensure ...
Following the success of the Tour of Pembrokeshire, the Welsh Liberal Democrats will create an active travel fund to encourage the development of new active travel infrastructure. The party's Cycling Charter, includes proposals to: 1. Create an active travel fund to encourage the development of new active travel infrastructure and make progress towards a target of £10 per person per year cycling investment. 2. Work with local government to roll out 20mph zones in residential areas. 3. Make a commitment to teaching every school child to safely cycle and encourage walking and cycling by providing support for route development and ...
