Sat 29th
22:05
'Within 48 hours of Goldsmith's standing down on Tuesday, the Lib Dems had leafleted the entire cons...
[IMG: richmond park] The Guardian have a great article which liberally quotes Sarah Olney, the Lib Dems' "prospective candidate" for Richmond Park and has this passage: Within 48 hours of Goldsmith's standing down on Tuesday, the Lib Dems had leafleted the entire constituency and were trying to find a bigger office from which to mastermind their campaign. Nassar Kessell, a party activist who was out on the streets on Friday, admitted that Goldsmith, who fought an unsuccessful campaign to become mayor of London earlier this year, was popular locally. But he was still beatable. "There's no doubt that people like ...
Mark Pack introduces us to Fiona-Natasha Syms. She sounds like a parody but is in fact a possible independent Conservative candidate in the Richmond Park by-election. The public schools' domination of British sport is strengthening not weakening, argues Tim Wigmore. Sean Dodson offers four reasons why listicles and clickbait are killing real journalism. "Unlike a lot of great writers, you can learn from Orwell. I learned for instance that you could be subjective and objective at the same time, that you had to look for the tangible moment, that all sentences must be subjected to the severest literacy test, that ...
Sat 29th
20:01
Highways England to close A49 overnight from Monday - bizarre diversions need urgent action
We have an urgent need to repainted road markings and road studs along the A49 north and south of Ludlow. The markings at the junction of the A49 and the B4365 (the road across the racecourse), for example, are barely visible. The junction needs refreshed lines and new studs to reduce the risks of accidents.... Continue reading Highways England to close A49 overnight from Monday - bizarre diversions need urgent action →
Sat 29th
19:45
Conservative pro-Remain candidate to run as an independent in Richmond Park by-election
With incumbent Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith a Brexit-backer who is standing as an independent in the Richmond Park by-election, another Conservative, Fiona-Natasha Syms, is now also going to run. This time it is a pro-Remainer looking to give pro-Remain Conservative voters a non-Lib Dem choice: Tory voters who don't want Zac, who won't vote Lib Dem (OBV), you have an option. I won't just be focusing on Brexit & Heathrow. Back me. — Fiona-Natasha Syms (@fifisyms) October 29, 2016 Fiona-Natasha Syms was in the national news a few years ago after reacting very critically to one of David Cameron's reshuffles, ...
Current Kings of the North, by Cecelia Holland AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers, ed. Nnedi Okorafor Tolstoy, by Henri Troyat Next books Angels & Visitations: A Miscellany, by Neil Gaiman Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past, by Paul Cartledge Short Trips: The History of Christmas, ed. Simon Guerrier Books acquired in last week The Past Through Tomorrow, by Robert A. Heinlein The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury Who Killed Kennedy: The Shocking Secret Linking a Time Lord and a President, by James Stevens Aurora: Beyond Equality, eds. Vonda N. McIntyre and Susan Janice Anderson Fools, by ...
All the work the council does and the decisions it makes are in the public domain and largely accessible through its website. However as this is often embedded in committee reports and paperwork you need to know what you are looking for or put in an FOI. So in an attempt to make it simpler [...]
Doctor Strange saves our universe from threats that emerge from other dimensions, whilst Luke Cage battles gangsters in Harlem. What does it mean to say two such wildly different stories take place in the same fictional universe? I've mostly kept this spoiler light but have thrown in some more spoilery notes at the bottom. If [...]
What exactly the UK Government promised Nissan for them to invest in new production lines in the UK remains a mystery but denials by government ministers that it did not involve them getting their chequebook at some time in the future are difficult to believe. As Vince Cable says in the Guardian, either Nissan were told that the Government will pick up the tab for any tariffs they have to meet after Brexit, or they are envisaging that the UK will remain in the European free trade area. Suddenly, Brexit is starting to sound remarkably like anything other than Brexit. ...
I was having a conversation with a university friend of mine yesterday and I realised that our culture has come to accept that something is either completely one way or completely the opposite. The topic we were discussing was Russia's ...
So what's it all about? You may have read in the Peterborough Telegraph about a recent incident involving myself and Cllr Seaton (Tory Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital Peterborough), following a meeting instigated by Liberal Democrat city councillors, with the aim of halting Council plans to do a deal and move homeless people into [...]
Sat 29th
13:15'What the hell is going on?' - Farron asks as reports say Hammond briefly given number 2 job because...
Embed from Getty Images Commenting in response to reports that Philip Hammond was given the job of First Secretary of State because of a typo, Tim Farron said: Alistair Carmichael has only been in his job for a single evening and already he's seen off a Government Minister. When No10 are an absolute shambles and can't figure out who the PMs number 2 is you've got to wonder what the hell is going on. This Government needs to deal with the massive job of overseeing Brexit, instead they are faffing about behind the scenes trying to work out each other's ...
Why do we accept that leaving the EU is going to happen, when we believe that doing so is harmful to our country? Why do we pussy-foot about, saying that we want a referendum on the terms of our leaving, when we could say, if the people who want to stay in are perceived to be becoming a majority, then there should be another referendum? And there are plenty of reasons to suggest that sufficient leave voters could change their minds in the next few months. We know that misleading and untruthful information was knowingly peddled by Leave leaders, such ...
Benefit sanctions forcing people to use food banks, study confirms Twitter Seconded Twitter FAO @tainkirrahe Twitter RT @peterjukes: This is why we joined the common market, folks. Will cost MORE to subsidise all these car makers than EU membership Twitter RT @franklinleonard: Trying to imagine a tweet that goes "Movie A is about a white, straight, rich man. But here's why it relates to eve... Twitter @enterstageleft Instagram New phone has arrived with an app called ArtRage on it. Impressive array of brushes, easily... Gumby and dog are the best pals | The Verge Lovely doggie is lovely (story via ...
Embed from Getty Images Tim Farron has announced his new Shadow Cabinet team, saying: I am pleased to announce my new Shadow Cabinet team. Together we will provide the strong Liberal voice that Britain desperately needs to stand up to this Tory Brexit Government. The Tories have no plans to protect the interests of the country in the wake of Brexit. Labour is in disarray. Only the Liberal Democrats can confront the Government and stand up for people's jobs and livelihoods. My new Shadow Cabinet team combines a wealth of experience in business, local government, Europe, social issues and environmental ...
As you know, this site is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who fit in responding to submissions, comments, occasionally, to hilarious effect, spam and other correspondence. It takes some effort to keep LDV on the go. At the moment, I am having to take a lot of time away from the site. My husband is still seriously ill in hospital and the next couple of weeks are going to be intense, particularly when he is moved from a hospital five minutes down the road to one an hour away. Before anyone says it for me, I know that's ...
The combined Liberal Democrat frontbench team spanning the House of Commons and Lords has been reshuffled a little by party leader Tim Farron. The main change had already been announced – the return of Nick Clegg, covering Brexit, a role in which he is supported by Sarah Ludford in the Lords. Other changes include Brian Paddick taking over from Alistair Carmichael as Shadow Home Secretary, with Alistair moving over to Shadow First Secretary of State. Don Foster comes in at Business, replacing Lorely Burt who moves to cover Equalities in place of Meral Ece. Cathy Bakewell takes over from Zahida ...
The last meeting of Lydiate Parish Council (25th October) seemed quite positive about going ahead with a project to resurface the tennis courts at Sandy Lane Playing Field and in doing so make the courts multi-use. [IMG: cropped-Lydiate-Parish-Council-Logo-e1372273297819] This had been the plan for a few months but the September meeting of the Council indicated that some Council members were doubtful about taking the project forward due to the cost and worries about future use of this caged sports area. [IMG: This is the present run-down condition of the Sandy Lane Park tennis courts surface. ] This is the present ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2016 Perth Road (Glamis Road to West Park Road) - closed for one week for gas main renewal.* *This unfortunately represents the work by Scotland Gas Networks being completed late - it should have finished around now. I contacted Scotland Gas Networks to express concern given the continued disruption to residents, bus services, etc. Their Team Manager advised me yesterday : "I'm afraid you're correct about the work running behind at present. This is because of a number of problems we hit in ...
Sat 29th
07:55First constituency poll in Richmond Park shows Lib Dems can win - if party can set the agenda
Richmond Park opinion poll A telephone poll commissioned by the Evening Standard gives us the first polling of the Richmond Park by-election campaign: 56% (-2) – Zac Goldsmith 29% (+10) – Sarah Olney/Lib Dems 10% (-2) – Labourset 5% (-5) – Other What the Richmond Park poll figures mean It shows the Liberal Democrats in the sort of clear second place that has been the springboard for past victories. It also, crucially, shows that the party will need to persuade voters to make the election about Brexit in order to win: Zac Goldsmith in the lead, but Liberal Democrats in ...
Google's former happiness guru developed a three-second brain exercise for finding joy Savour the moment! (tags: Lifehacking psychology ) Inside the Trump Bunker, With 12 Days to Go Looking especially at the future of its direct marketing database... (tags: Uspolitics ) Cognitive bias cheat sheet What's wrong with the way you think? (tags: psychology ) Home Office Rules Unpacking the political philosophy of Theresa May. (tags: ukpolitics )
Don't forget to turn the clocks back tonight !!
On Sunday 23rd October Planting Up Whickham had a maintenance day on Church Green to prepare the flower beds for winter planting. I shot this short video on the day.
