I'm a bit sad today. It's now dark when I do my nightly returning of teenagers to their own homes so that they can plausibly claim that they don't actually live in our house. It's been another day of making ... Continue reading →
Embed from Getty Images Here is a two-year-old Justin Trudeau photographed in 1974 with his mother Margaret and father Pierre. Pierre was then the prime minister of Canada. Also a Liberal, he held the office from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.
Market Harborough leisure centre opened 25 years ago today - thanks to the people on Twitter who have reminded me of this. It was opened by Princess Anne and I was invited. I declined because I was already committed to some Liberator event. There had been a call for a leisure centre in the town for many years before that, not least because the existing facilities were so poor. I once blogged about the old swimming baths - and the campaign and the campaign to replace them - here: I learned to swim in these original baths at evening classes ...
Few people in Unsworth will be surprised to learn that the Post Office currently located at 66 Sunny Bank Road is due to close. The Post Office is actually moving not far away to Manchester Road (the current Bargain Booze shop) which will leave the former post office empty. Many local residents have asked me what is to become of the shop once the Post Office move out and I now have the details. A planning application has been submitted by the owners of the premises as follows: Change of use from post office (A1) to hot food takeaway (A5) ...
Readers will recall that I had declared my battle to shed two stone (28 pounds or, for those of you of a metric bent, 12.8 kilos) in weight won. Of course, the challenge is to keep it off... Or, alternatively, you can attempt to do more. And, so, I've kept up my 10,000 steps a day regime, generally watched my calorie intake, made a few changes to my habitual diet. Nothing dramatic, all seemingly sustainable. It seems to work and I've now lost 16.2 kilos, or 35 pounds. I'm still more walrus than gazelle, although frankly, I'm never going to ...
Can you believe what the average property price in Peterborough is.........? Having seen the latest stats for property prices in our city, I think that local people who are looking at getting on the property ladder here in Peterborough, will need some generous parental support or a fairy godmother! Given that (as of Jan 2016), [...]
Introducing @LibdemNewbiesUK on Twitter (and Lib Dem Newbies UK Facebook Group) Are you new to the Libdem's, have you returned to the Libdem's or are you interested in the promotion of the Libdem's ? You are then please follow @LibdemNewbiesUK on Twitter. @LibdemNewbiesUK would also like photos of #libdempints and other newbies meetings, 140 character notes of why [...]
It is frequently asked how we reach the lower paid and those in poverty who have made up a large proportion of whose who may have been disenfranchised or chosen to vote for UKIP in the past. A big part is about getting the message across in a way which isn't patronising or condescending but it's also the day to day issues that need addressing. Liberal democrat policies need to be addressing these issues. Those who have struggled financially, having fallen in to arrears, or are in rented accommodation are highly likely to be placed on pre-payment meters for their ...
[IMG: Carriageway flooding - Southport Road Lydiate 09 07 16] This is a long-standing problem in Lydiate's Southport Road and despite Sefton Council having tried to resolve it a number of times the flooding keeps on happening after even a moderate fall of rain. It can make the life of pedestrians and cyclists rather difficult though as they need to have good timing and a decent turn of speed if they are avoid an early bath when this road floods. I have raised it yet again with Sefton's Highway Engineers in the hope that a permanent solution will be put ...
Two for the price of one: since the first panels of page 3 are wordless, I'm giving you both the second panel and the second panel with words: Kim: "You're a bit quiet, Hector. What's up?" Hector: "Er, well..."What's up with Hector is that he's in love with Kim, as are many people in the world of Bétélgeuse; this is the climax of the second of the Aldébaran cycles of graphic stories by Leo, and though it starts somewhat unpromisingly with Kim and two other female characters discussing the size of their breasts on the first first page, actually it ...
There are some lovely photo's of Liverpool landmarks in this article about the recent Gay Pride celebrations in the City. It is nice to live in a City Region that takes diversity seriously.
We need you here in Merton. We want you to be one of our two parliamentary candidates. We want the best and that's why we're asking you to think about us. We want to be open, transparent and democratic and that's why we're getting in touch. It's been agreed by our Regional Candidates Chair that we can vote on parliamentary candidates at a members' meeting on the afternoon of 4th September. Well, why us? The numbers At the referendum, the overall borough result was 63% Remain - but it was a fraction over 70% in Wimbledon constituency. Mitcham & Morden ...
The following major roads are going to be closed from 8 to 11 August for resurfacing: Shire Way - from Brockworth to Westerleigh RoadWesterleigh Road - from Rodborough to Nibley LaneAccording to the First Bus website, the work will be from 7 am to 5 pm each day. The 47 and X47 will NOT go along Shire Way during the closure, but WILL stop at the Pitchcombe bus stop on Rodford Way. The X49 service will not serve Yate during the closure, but will start and end at Mill Crescent in Westerleigh. Passengers wanting to travel to Yate will need ...
The A4174 Ring Road will be closed for roadworks between the Siston Hill Roundabout and the Dramway Roundabout at Emersons Green from 8pm to 6am every night until 17th August. The M5 Southbound will be closed from 8pm Thursday until 6am on Friday 5th August, due to roadworks at Junction 17 A4018 Cribbs Causeway.
Brexit means Brexit were among the first words spoken by Theresa May when she was anointed by Conservatives as our new Prime Minister. She swiftly followed that up by appointing prominent Brexiteers to key Government roles to direct the UK withdrawal from the EU. Brexiteers argue that the outcome of the EU referendum provides the UK with a clear and unequivocal mandate to take the country out of the EU. Well, not quite: the result delivered confused and conflicting mandates. Firstly, two out of the four countries which comprise the UK voted to remain: overwhelmingly so in the case of ...
“Speak not of lost opportunities for there is never a good excuse.”
[IMG: The LGA Lib Dems support Liberal Democrat council groups across England & Wales] Complaints about council services The Local Government Ombudsman has published details of the complaints about local council services over the past year. If you are in opposition and your area has a significant level of complaints you may find the following report helpful (council by council breakdown from page 22) Draft press release below [OUR [...]
Human augmentation will force sport to confront questions that it has so far resisted. So what improvements to the human body are acceptable in sport? Humans are improved by technology. For instance, I'll venture that you were vaccinated at an early age against multiple diseases, a technology that has altered the biological fabric of your body in such a way as to enhance your performance against various debilitating, even fatal, diseases. Athletes are humans too, and they sometimes look for a performance improvement through technological enhancements. In my forthcoming book, The Edge: The War Against Cheating and Corruption in the ...
[IMG: Winning Here] Newport by election Members will have heard that last Thursday we had a superb by-election result in St Julian's ward in Newport. Carmel Townsend held the seat vacated when her husband, Ed, died. Ed had won the third seat in three member St Julian's ward in May 2012 by just a single vote. Left [...]
I've seen a lot of posts on Facebook and heard questions at Lib Dem socials about how to recruit more women and diverse candidates for council elections. There seems to be a real willingness to do it but not always a clear idea of how. Here are my three top tips – I'd be interested in what others have done. SET TARGETS. Look at the demographics of your area and propose that your local party Exec or campaign team buy into the idea of taking some action and agreeing targets. You could decide that 50% of target council seats will ...
For a period of about three to four weeks following EU referendum polling day, the political news agenda in the UK was epically mental. Every fifteen minutes there was a new, huge story: someone had resigned from something, every political party seemed in meltdown mode, careers were up and then down and then finished within the space of 24 hours. We arose every morning to the experience that people who wake up from a lengthy coma must have, with the country completely changed. Eventually that was going to subside and so it has. There is still plenty going on, particularly ...
John Lanchester is a restaurant critic, journalist and novelist ( his novel "Capital" is the best page- turner that I've come across in years) who has turned his hand to explaining economics to the general reader, and does it very successfully.. His recent article on Brexit in the London Review of Books is, in my view, exceptionally perceptive. Read it at: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n15/john-lanchester/brexit-blues. but here are a few mots justes to whet your appetite "Billionaire James Goldsmith founded the Referendum party in 1994 and stood against David Mellor in Putney in the 1997 General Election, coming fourth with only 1518 votes. ...
[IMG: danfeature] Daniel Coleman was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland at the Westminster and Scottish Parliament Dundee West election campaigns. In both, all his efforts were targeted solely at the Dundee City Council's Strathmartine ward. All leafleting and door-knocking was concentrated on the target areas of the target wards throughout 2015 and 16 – building recognition [...]
I seem to be popular, and thus busy, at the moment, thanks to my beloved Party. First the by-election, which took up most of May. Then, the aborted European Parliamentary selections - we were just five days of publishing the advert when the process was finally abandoned just days after the Referendum. Next came the snap General Election that might never be, and the job of Senior Returning Officer for my Regional Party. And now that that's pretty much out of the way, I've got the International Relations Committee to take care of. That isn't all, of course. I have ...
Twitter RT @WorldAndScience: Locals have painted A cement mixer from the 50's that was to heavy to move to look like an abandoned NASA capsule. Celebrity Big Brother viewers DISGUSTED by Renee Graziano and Christopher Biggins over offensive biphobic comments - Mirror Online The sky is blue, the Pope is catholic, Biggins is horrifically biphobic: NHS England » August update on the commissioning and provision of Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PREP) for HIV prevention RT @Juvelad: Please read @NHSEngland statement - link here - @LGBTLD @normanlamb @Greg0wen -keep campaigning as now appealing! New film version of Swallows and Amazons novel filmed ...
I've just got home from my watch and wait appointment at the hospital. I'm feeling somewhat nervous, as they've asked me to go for a PET/CT scan due to the visible increase in size of the lumps in my neck since the last time I was there. My blood tests are still ok even though I've felt increasingly more tired ... The post Nervous appeared first on ten pence piece.
[IMG: Drop stitches not bombs] Despite not being as high on the news agenda the refugee crisis is still ongoing, with thousands of people seeking safety arriving on Europe's shores every week. The Lib Dems have been proud to stand up for refugees and campaign for the UK to offer help and safety. Tim Farron was the first party leader to visit Calais, Lesvos and Idomeni. He has led the campaign for the UK to take in 3000 unaccompanied refugee children from Europe. Our peers in the House of Lords have worked tirelessly to pressure the government to take in ...
Tim Farron wants to fight for a tolerant country, but how can the argument be won over immigration?
The Independent and the BBC report what must surely be the final chapters on the Cameron 'chumocracy' honours awards. They run with the news that the ex-Prime Minister's attempt to award a peerage to former Tory treasurer, Michael Spencer, who has been involved in a major City scandal, has been "blocked" by the honours committee and that businessman Ian Taylor, who was reportedly in line for a knighthood, has said he does not want his name to go forward. From what we understand it is not unknown or even a recent phenomena for the honours committee to block appointments. Nor ...
[IMG: 2015 Best Overall Campaign image for web] The ALDC Campaigner Awards embody excellence in campaigning and we don't give out awards to just any local party - the winners are the best of the Liberal Democrat campaigners across the Country. Categories this year include - Best by-election campaign Best fightback Best Innovation Best Literature campaign Best Squeeze campaign Best Community Campaign Overall Campaigner Awards Winner For more details about each category, please look here. To submit your nomination with relevant examples of artwork and photos, please fill in the linked form and send any supporting material to claire.halliwell@aldc.org. The ...
With the Scottish Water infrastructure works currently in the Nethergate/Perth Road shopping area and hopefully concluding later this month, the work then moves to the Blackness Road area running up City Road and adjacent streets to the Lochee Road area. Scottish Water has advised of a consultation event about this tomorrow as follows : What we are doing : We are upgrading the water pipes to ensure you continue to enjoy clear, fresh drinking water, and reduce the chance of pipes bursting. The work will involve the lining and flushing of existing water mains in and around the Blackness Road/City ...
Southern Railways have a dilemma now. Are they going to treat their staff like human beings or are they going to allow them to be captured by the great nutcrackers - between the RMT and the Department of Transport - that grind everything very small indeed? So that you can understand this as the strike looms, this is the Real Blog guide to acronyms in the Southern business: RDW: Rest Day Working. This is the process whereby the company drums up enough staff to do the overtime they need to get a basic train service, when they no longer have ...
WFC 2016: Programming Thoughts Another major screw-up. (tags: Sf sexandgenderandsexuality ) Policy or Project? France, Germany, and EU Defense A reality check on the mythical EU army. #fb (tags: eu germany france ) Putin's 'Human Rights Council' Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results Oops. (tags: ukraine russia ) 7 Things I Did To Reboot My Life Wil Wheaton writes. (tags: lifehacking ) Dark Ages royal palace discovered in Cornwall - in area closely linked to the legend of King Arthur Wow. (tags: archaeology )
We've already dealt with the touring Beach Boys - Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, and (for a while) David Marks - and with Brian Wilson's live performances. But what of the other surviving Beach Boy? After Al Jardine discovered he was ... Continue reading →
