Newsnight is carrying an interview with a now 60 year old John Lydon. So just to make you feel old here is a 30 year old John with Rise...
After I had lunch at the Whyte Melville in Boughton, I blogged about the Victorian novelist the pub is named after and the days when I used to play chess for a team that was sometimes named after him too. Last time I was in Northampton I photographed the working men's club where we played. It is now a pub called The Fox and Quill.
Back in 2013 I blogged about a study being run by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF - prop. S. Tall). Conducted on an impressive scale - involving 4009 pupils from 100 schools across 11 English local education authorities - it set out to test the notion that teaching children chess improves their performance at school. The results are now in. While a number of earlier studies carried out in other European countries have supported the idea that chess has wider educational benefits, but the EEF study failed to find any. I have written too many press releases about scientific papers ...
Planting Up Whickham is a group of volunteers who took on the task of maintaining flower beds and public open spaces in Whickham Village after the decision by Gateshead Council to stop paying for the service. The group recently had a maintenance day on Church Green though I was not able to attend. I was however phoned after the event and asked if I was interested in the dumpy bag of grass
Yorkshire Day in York begins this year at Micklegate Bar, at 11.41am, with a landmark 40th annual reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity. The readings are in Old English, old Norse, Latin and modern English, the four languages used in Yorkshire since the earliest known written reference to the Ridings, appeared in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles of 876. Micklegate Bar is where the West Riding meets the City of York. The readers will then walk the walls to Bootham Bar for the North Riding, theninside Monk Bar for the City and finally to Walmgate Bar for the East Riding. ...
Yorkshire Day at Redcar in the North Riding of Yorkshire, takes place at the town clock on the High Street from 10 am to 4pm on Yorkshire Day, Monday 1st August 2016. Actor Chris Foote-Wood (brother of the late much loved comedienne Victoria Wood), will once again be leading the proceedings. Chris, who comes as a different character each year, will read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at 11.41 am as Henry Bolckow a Victorian industrialist and Member of Parliament, acknowledged as being one of the founders of modern Middlesbrough. The Declaration will be read in the presence of the ...
And so another week in the company of Rutland's most popular fictional peer draws to its close. Lord Bonkers' Diary: Ryan Coetzee's barbecue at the Hall 2 You have no doubt read what happened next in the newspapers. So let me just pay tribute to the doctors and nurses of the Royal Rutland Infirmary for coping with so many cases of food poisoning, and I can honestly say that the Rutland Fire Brigade excelled itself. Let me also praise the Well-Behaved Orphans: armed with buckets, they formed a human chain to bring water from my ornamental lake before the professionals ...
Apparently Jim Wells MLA told the Belfast Telegraph is the sue the BBC over reporting the story about the Lesbian couple he encountered while out campaigning for the 2015 Assembly elections. He claims that the comments were "doctored" and "misrepresented what he said" He goes on to say that he will "stop at nothing to clear his name". Well if he is to do that I cannot hold back on some truth that I have promised members of my family that I would not ever disclose. I also am lifting the gentleman's agreement I have with one of the BBC ...
Lethbridge-Stewart: Beast of Fang Rock, by Andy Frankham-Allan Second paragraph of third chapter: Hamilton pulled in a few favours and Fang Rock was once again off-limits for all but essential personnel and Owain, who Lethbridge-Stewart had asked to remain at the lighthouse, along with the BBC cameraman, one James Ratcliffe Saunders. Meanwhile a D-Notice 05, covering United Kingdom Security & Intelligence Special Services, was given to BBC-3. All those on the rock, including the keepers and the chap from Trinity House, had been held for a few hours while statements were taken; they were all released with a stron warning ...
In May of this year (following a number of road traffic accidents on Parr Lane, outside the Co-op store), I asked Greater Manchester Police to conduct a road survey to see if we could determine how serious the speeding traffic had become. During June and July local residents may have noticed the survey box and cables appeared at the junction of Parr Lane and Chadderton Drive (see picture) and this has subsequently been removed, once the survey came to an end. Greater Manchester Police's Territorial Support Section – Specialist Operation Branch have now written back to me with the results ...
Long before Robert Harris's Fatherland and CJ Sansom's Dominion, there was Len Deighton's alternative history based on the Nazis winning, SS-GB.
Have your say on new powers for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Greater Manchester is seeking your views on the powers that the City Region needs to drive forward its ambitious programme of growth and reform. [IMG: gmconsult] We're living through the most exciting changes to how England is governed for generations. Greater Manchester has led the way on 'devolution agreements' that move decision-making on crucial public services like local transport, housing, health and skills training closer to local people. Please tell us whether you agree or disagree with the powers proposed for the GMCA and let us know why ...
The Stern Review, published yesterday, has the potential to create a more diverse, patient and outward-facing research culture in Britain's universities Even in late July, the machinery of higher education and research policy grinds on. Yesterday saw the publication of Lord Stern's review of the research excellence framework (REF), which puts in place the final piece of a jigsaw of reforms that began with Greg Clark's December 2014 science and innovation strategy, followed in quick succession by a review of the research councils, a green paper, a white paper, a parliamentary bill, and a rearrangement of Whitehall responsibilities for universities ...
As the human rights situation in Turkey worsens, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Tom Brake has called for Turkey to be suspended from NATO and for the refugee deal between Turkey and the EU to be scrapped. He said: Erdogan's ongoing purge of newspapers, academics, teachers and judges has nothing to do with Turkey's security and everything to do with blocking any opposition to his increasingly authoritarian rule. Today's news that dozens more media outlets have been shut should send shivers down the spine of any person who believes in a free and open society. The preamble to NATO's founding ...
Fri 29th
14:16
The Tory energy policy mess - stalled, obstructed and scrapped nuclear, renewables and home efficien...
I wonder if Theresa May's pause for thought on Hinkley Point C will also mean a rethink about the Tories' sceptical and obstructionist attitude to renewables and energy efficiency. I am open minded about the role of nuclear energy, as long as the costs can be brought down. I hope the new government, as it [...]
Move over Larry and Palmerston, there is a new cat in town and he has his own instagram account. According to Buzzfeed, the Treasury has got its own cat called Gladstone, the third official mouser in Whitehall. Like his fellow Westminster felines, Gladstone is a former stray who's been recruited to catch the mice overrunning the department. He arrived at his new home at the end of June but the fallout from Britain's vote to leave the European Union meant the public announcement was put on hold: The decision to recruit the cat was taken by the Treasury's former acting ...
[IMG: ALDC Master Logo (for screen)] What a fantastic set of results again. With by-elections on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week we have seen a great deal of success amongst Lib Dem teams. On Tuesday night in East Hampshire, the Lib Dems increased their vote share by a massive 43.6% in The Hangers & Forest ward having not stood there in 2015. Sadly this still meant coming second, with the Conservatives holding the seat by just 9 votes. News on Wednesday was extremely positive with a gain in Totnes. Labour had failed to stand a candidate in a seat ...
[IMG: Terraced housing] Thanks to Tony Greaves for the template press release below, which could be adapted for use in your area. Lib Dems 'Disappointed' by Minister's Response to Brownfield Question Tony Greaves said he was disappointed by the response from the Government Minister when he asked about their policy on housing development on brownfield land in areas like [...]
What a fantastic set of results again. With by-elections on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week we have seen a great deal of success amongst Lib Dem teams. On Tuesday night in East Hampshire, the Lib Dems increased their vote share by a massive 43.6% in The Hangers & Forest ward having not stood there [...]
[IMG: 13697258_1800176716867492_7695840931455289339_n]
On the day after I won my first election in May, while still elated and shattered in equal parts, my agent told me that is it typical for the first three months after election season to be relatively quiet and that I would have plenty of time to adjust to my new role. I can think of many words that might apply to these last three months in politics. 'Typical' and 'quiet' are not among them. Nationally, as the EU referendum has triggered both a change of government and an opposition leadership election, the mood of our country is uncertain ...
Fri 29th
11:47
Merseyrail – Labour-run Merseytravel Committee needs to be clear what they are looking for in ...
[IMG: A present 507/508 EMU Merseyrail unit at Crescent Road level crossing - Birkdale, Southport.] A present 507/508 EMU Merseyrail unit at Crescent Road level crossing – Birkdale, Southport. The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above I have blogged previously about the worrying potential loss of train guards once the new fleet of Merseyrail trains is introduced and agree with the RMT union campaign to keep train guards for passenger safety reasons. My concern all along has been that Labour-run Merseytravel have been unwilling to say whether they are specifying guards on the new trains or ...
[IMG: Poppy wreath at war memorial (By Caroline Ford (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)] The Sandgate branch of the Royal British Legion has been established for many years and is now trying to encourage some new members to join. You don't need to be a veteran - young and old, ex-service and never in service welcome! The meetings take place on the second Monday of every month in the Gurkha mess at Shorncliffe Camp. At most meetings there are home made cakes, scones or bread pudding all made by one of ...
[IMG: Coffee Morning] We attach a draft press release below for your local area on Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning, urging residents to take part in local events this September Join the World's biggest coffee morning this September Councillor Name is urging residents across AREA to join Macmillan Cancer Support's flagship fundraiser World's Biggest Coffee Morning, returns on [...]
9 Non-Threatening Leadership Strategies for Women Bill Clinton wore a fetching navy pantsuit to honor Hillary Clinton's nomination for US president Ohio Attorney Jailed For Wearing Black Lives Matter Pin Ahhh, the land of the free. Life on a low income in the UK today | JRF RT @jrf_uk: Stories: Hear from families living on a low income: #solveUKpoverty The Most Likely Age of Sex Offenders: They Aren't Old People—They're 14. - Hit & Run : Reason.com RT @PornPanic: Laws designed to protect children are instead harming them The Most Likely Age of Sex Offenders: 14 [IMG: comment count unavailable] ...
It's hard to believe last year's Tory party conference was only last year. Back then Cameron seemed indestructible and Osborne was the assumed next prime minister. It is amazing to think that less than eleven months later, here we are, both of their political careers over. Or are they? We live in such strange political times, writing anyone or anything off is dangerous. But the fall of Cameron and Osborne makes me think that perhaps we are entering a period in which prime ministers will come and go with reasonable regularity. Winning the Tories their first majority in over 20 ...
Let me be clear at the start, the thought of the UK being represented abroad by Boris Johnson and Liam Fox is both unpalatable and embarrassing. However, Plaid Cymru calling for Wales to have its own foreign policy and 'ministry for international affairs'is not the answer. In a sign that we are now fully into the silly season the Western Mail takes the proposal seriously and gives it undeserved coverage without once asking the key questions of 'how will this nonsense work?' and 'Isn't this a call for independence by another name?'. At which point the story should have been ...
Local residents braved the rain to launch their Village Green Application for parts of Harthill & Calderstones Park A major step forward to save parts of Harthill and Calderstones Park from development has been made this week when local residents ... Continue reading →
Wikipedia will be holding an "edit-a-thon" on Liberal History at the National Liberal Club on Wednesday 24th August. All are welcome. This edit-a-thon is a collaboration between the Club and the Wikimedia Foundation (which runs Wikipedia), to get better, more in-depth coverage of liberal issues and liberal history in the online encyclopaedia, updating and expanding articles. Wikipedia is the seventh-most-visited website and the world, and is the first port-of-call for many basic background facts, so the National Liberal Club thought it would be helpful to offer its backing to improve coverage of liberal issues. The NLC will be making its ...
Last night saw the official opening of Ludlow Museum at the Buttercross. It is fair to say that this project has taken much longer to bring to fruition than anyone thought it might. But it now looks likely that the museum will be fully open from mid-August. That's good news because this is a great... Continue reading Ludlow Buttercross - an ace museum with a nice town attached →
You can read all the articles that have caught my attention this week here: https://delicious.com/stephentall Below are a selection... Sponsored: 64% off Code Black Drone with HD Camera Our #1 Best-Selling Drone–Meet the Dark Night of the Sky! Owen Smith Unveils 20 New Policies For A Labour Government As He Makes Keynote Leadership Election Speech Just seen Owen Smith's 20 pledges. It's like someone let a first-time blogger write a manifesto http://huff.to/2axNupU We used to have a silly season. Now there's no escape from absurdity | Rafael Behr | Opinion | The Guardian "The preposterous has turned plausible, and it ...
Nick Clegg is following the Vince Cable playbook for generating media coverage and plaudits.
Councillor Ade Adeyemo has been selected as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Solihull Constituency, formerly held by Lorely Burt (2005-15).
From the City Council (arising out of the recent road damage at the above junction - this temporary traffic order is to allow for road reinstatement next week, following investigation by Scottish Water as to the cause of the damage) : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 : SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of emergency manhole and carriageway repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Polepark Road (at its junction with Brook Street, Brewery Lane and Edward Street), ...
[IMG: LDV FANTASY FOOTBALL] The English Premier League kicks off a fortnight tomorrow, on Saturday 13th August, and LibDemVoice has revived its Fantasy Football League to mark the occasion. So if you fancy pitting your soccer selection skills against fellow party members then here's your chance. To enter all you have to do is click on this link. Simply register your details, pick your team, and away you go. If you need the joining code at any point, it's 527124-155741. And for those who don't feel they have the insider knowledge to compete, you can always choose the 'auto-complete' option ...
No one told me to 'go home' for 16 years. Then we voted for Brexit Shameful. (tags: migration ukpolitics eu ) An Eight Point Brief for LEV (Lesser Evil Voting) Noam Chomsky endorses Clinton in his own special way. #fb (tags: uspolitics )
After the unusual sequence of a Tuesday by-election (good Lib Dem result) and then a Wednesday by-election (even better Lib Dem result) this week, Thursday brought a more usual round of by-elections. A spectacular gain in Cornwall: Newlyn & Goonhavern result: LDEM: 24.4% (+24.4) CON: 23.1% (-23.0) IND: 16.1% (+16.1) MK: 15.9% (-28.1) LAB: 7.6% (-2.2) IND: 7.4% IND: 5.3% — Britain Elects (@britainelects) July 28, 2016
