Following Thursday's bombshell High Court decision that forces Theresa May to get parliamentary approval before taking Britain out of the EU, Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer is suddenly one of the most important figures in British politics. [Politico] But what is he doing with this opportunity? This: Starmer told POLITICO that Britain's membership of the single market will have to "lapse". Kier Starmer's pro-Europeanism leaves Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the shade by comparison. But even with Starmer Labour are giving up on Britain's membership of the Single Market. Good thing there is an alternative.
"We are living in dangerous times and it is the duty of all of us who believe in freedom and the rule of law to make our voices heard. I may be branded a 'remoaner' or even a traitor but now is not a time for liberals to be bullied into silence." Stephen Williams on why the judges were right - and the Daily Mail wrong - about Article 50. "The Leave campaign has had a monopoly over the value of freedom at the rhetorical level. but when it comes to actual arguments, the campaign's understanding of freedom is one-sided ...
Embed from Getty Images There are some of us who will fight, and fight, and fight again, to save the party we love. We will fight, and fight, and fight again, to bring back sanity and honesty and dignity, so that our party - with its great past - may retain its glory and its greatness.So said Hugh Gaitskell at the Labour Party Conference in 1960 opposing a motion advocating unilateral nuclear disarmament. But it's not what Stephen Phillips said today. He threw in his hand and left the fruitcakes to take over the Conservative Party. BBC News quotes him ...
The new Liberator is on its way to subscribers, so it is time to spend another week with Lord Bonkers - whether you want to or not. Monday One of the more encouraging developments of recent weeks is the number of Labour members who, despairing of their own party's chances of ever returning to power, have elected to join the Liberal Democrats. Many of them, I am pleased to report, are now housed in a re-education camp here on the Bonkers Hall Estate. (For those who know this part of the world, it is to be found at Boggy Corner.) ...
According to the Safer Peterborough Partnership Community Safety Plan 2016-2017, over 18 brothels and 55 off street sex workers were identified locally, as a result of Operation Pheasant. The details were disclosed in formal report presented to city councillors, which also stated a package of support was provided to victims, which ranged from providing access to sexual [...]
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe as the Australian Prime Minister talks about his lack of popularity.
ALDC monitors and records the results of council by-elections on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. All our by-election results are also posted on our website. Yesterday saw ten principal council by-elections across the country with Lib Dem candidates contesting all but one of them. The highlight of the night was a Town Council win for Steve Hartley [...]
The Mindless Ones are going to be doing Thought Bubble this year as usual (or at least Gary Lactus, The Beast Must Die, Bobsy, Illogical Volume, Mr. Attack, and myself will be). I've always had a bunch of my books ... Continue reading →
... is all I ever seem to post these days, isn't it? I have been back to the quack to discuss my test results. The quack did a manual exam* and has booked me in with the vampire** and the batscanner***. I am still in constant pain, and the bleeding is still constant. If I am grumpy with you at all, this is probably the reason. I can at least now self-medicate with gin. * Yes, THAT kind of manual exam. And I had to explain to her what a mooncup was. And having my uterus prodded at from all ...
Issue 381 of Liberator is on its way to subscribers. This issue's free sample online content is from Tony Greaves on the people who have joined Labour's Momentum and whether they pose a threat to the Liberal Democrats, and from David Grace on why Liberal Democrat MPs should be ready to oppose Brexit. Elsewhere the issue has Michael Meadowcroft's explanation of why the Leave campaign's mis-selling means the referendum result should be overturned. Jennie Rigg wonders if Brexit supporters are in the grip of a cargo cult and Tom Clifford looks at the context of the far right's growth in ...
The legal decision this week defended an 800 year old principle After the appalling lies and distortions of the Referendum campaign including some from both sides the Brexiteers have come into full flood. Vainly I looked to see if it ... Continue reading →
Brexit has changed the face of Britain before it even takes effect. An ugly face of our country has been unmasked and dark forces unleashed. The 16 million who voted to Remain in the European Union have been branded traitors by the more hot headed Brexiteers. Foreigners have been abused on public transport and businesses [...]
[IMG: canbury-park-road-600] The sign above the shop front says 'Free delivery' – just as relevant for a by-election HQ as it was when it was a Chinese restaurant. Today Floella Benjamin cut a yellow ribbon across the door and formally opened our second office in the Richmond Park constituency, alongside Sarah Olney, our candidate, and Susan Kramer, former MP. We must have had 100 volunteers through the door today, from the party's Chief Exec Tim Gordon to members from all over the country. There is plenty to do – admin tasks as well as delivering and canvassing – with encouragement ...
[IMG: Spot the tweeting councillor (picture via Colchester Chronicle)] Spot the tweeting councillor (picture via Colchester Chronicle) Walking home from the Council meeting on Thursday night I was struck with the initial idea for this blog post. The agenda for Wednesday's meeting was a pretty light one- the one big contentious motion had been withdrawn from the agenda, so the only things we'd be voting on would be a set of policies that had been reviewed at the last meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee. The Governance Committee is no one's idea of a glamorous assignment within the Council, ...
But when we call upon these brave souls to do their duty, lets us please be damned sure that we know what we're doing. And that it's worth the sacrifice we're asking them to make. Continue reading →
I suspect that most of the rest of the world is bemused and dismayed that almost (I hope) half of those likely to vote in the US Presidential election can possibly support a disingenuous maverick such as Donald Trump. Yet we are experiencing similar irrationality here in the UK. Yesterday the High Court ruled that it would be illegal for the government to proceed with Brexit without first gaining the approval of parliament. This is a perfectly reasonable and rational decision based on the facts. Since the 3rd June the following has been available in the House of Commons Library ...
For the first time our Headline of the Day Award goes to the New Scientist.
Message from Neighbourhood Watch: We are reminding residents to keep their homes secure and report suspicious behaviour over the Firework weekend. Last year 18 burglaries occurred in St Albans between November 5 and November 8, when many people were out attending firework displays. Therefore, we are urging residents to leave lights on when going out to a firework [...]
Fri 4th
13:05
Lower Alt Wind Turbines – West Lancs Planning Committee meets on 10th November to determine wh...
Readers of this blog site will be aware that Labour members of West Lancs Planning Committee were not prepared to make a decision on this most controversial of planning applications a couple of weeks ago so it was deferred. They can't keep ducking the issue so it's back before them on 10th November. The Planning report has changed a bit and is detailed below but the substance of the recommendation, to reject the application, is as it was in my view. The deferment last time was supposedly because the Labour members had not had time to read the papers and ...
[IMG: A shot of the recently lost 311 route] A shot of the recently lost 311 route From the Merseytravel Web Site – A Merseytravel spokesperson said: "Following feedback from the public at the initial consultation stage and further discussions with councillors and bus operators, a decision has been taken to delay the implementation of the Sefton Bus Network Review. This will allow for further time to assess the consultation findings. "The proposals will now be published at a later date for people to be able to give their views. As a result the original start date for the changes ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37872899 The BBC has the story of the latest Tory MP to resign over Brexit – see link above. The trouble is the Brexiters did not and still do not have anything like a common platform via which they can pursue their many, varied and indeed conflicting objectives. Of course our Prime Minister has told us that 'Brexit means Brexit', which is about all she has had to say on the matter in public. She does that because she understands that it means massively differing things but wants to keep all Brexiters on board. However, that's like trying to keep ...
Yesterday I posted a tongue in cheek tweet: Leavers will obviously be happy with the outcome, because it restores sovereignty to Parliament, which is what they campaigned for. It is never a good idea to use irony in social media, especially as it now appears that Stephen Phillips, a Leaver, is leaving Parliament to protest about the Government's approach to the concept of Parliamentary sovereignty. If this is correct then it shows that he is a principled Leaver and that he understands that the issue of Parliamentary sovereignty covers all issues - not just Brexit. I would like to have ...
[IMG: The LGA Lib Dems support Liberal Democrat council groups across England & Wales] Commenting on IFS analysis showing business rates devolution will leave 119 councils worse off, while only benefitting 52 councils, Lib Dem Treasury Spokesperson, Susan Kramer, said: "This Government bottled real reform of business rates that could have created a simpler system that supported both businesses and local councils. Instead they are embarking on a process [...]
[IMG: voice_hillary-clinton] I was in the room normally used for phone banking when I heard the speech drifting in from the TV screen next door. This was the Virginia Democrats office and I was listening to Michelle Obama. The First Lady was laying out a clear argument for putting her friend Hillary in the White House. To some extent I knew arguments already. I had watched the TV debates, listened to the commentators, heard Hillary surrogates tear apart Trump's 'locker room banter' nonsense and soaked up every detail of the policies a Clinton Presidency would pursue. But this was different. ...
[IMG: #OurDay is the day to celebrate all of the important work done by local government] Taking place on 15 November, #OurDay is the LGA's annual tweetathon to showcase the many and varied things councils up and down the country do to deliver the best for residents. Please sign-up to the thunderclap and use the twibbon to help spread the word of this fantastic day for local government. We have also produced a toolkit to help councils [...]
A number of residents have been in touch about the overnight motorway diversions that have been affecting Heywood Old Road. I wanted to report back from discussions with the Highways Agency on this issue. I am told that Heywood Old Road is an established emergency diversion route for motorway closures and apparently its use for the Manchester Smart Motorways works with the local highway authorities and the emergency services. The motorway closures are needed to install new gantries and refurbish existing overhead gantries, which the smart motorway will need to operate. Highways England recognise the need to minimise the number ...
Just to let residents know about an application from Hunters Grill (99 Heywood Road near the Metrolink Bridge) They have applied for a variation to a Premise Licence. This is for Late Night Refreshment (indoors and outdoors) from 23.00pm until 4.00am the following day. If people have any queries please could they let us know in the next week to meet the objection period.
The right wing response to yesterday's High Court judgment regarding Article 50 has been over the top. I was going to say predictably over the top. But I'm not sure I would have predicted that it would have been quite so recklessly vitriolic. The Daily Mail's front page declaring the three High Court judges to be "Enemies of the People" is surely Exhibit A. But the usual suspects - the Express, the Sun, the Telegraph - all pursue similar lines of attack. The fact that their arguments are either constitutionally illiterate or utterly hypocritical seems almost beside the point. The ...
I am not always an admirer of Durham County Council! Yesterday, however, we had a briefing on how it is handling the resettlement of Syrian refugees under the government's scheme and I was impressed by the way the team is tackling the task: positively, thoughtfully and sensitively. Here are the highlights: 28 refugees, men women and children in family groups, have been re-settled from refugee camps in the Middle East so far as part of a commitment to re-settle 200. This is our part of the government's agreement to resettle 20,000 nationally. Housing and support packages have been provided in ...
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! YouGov | Beware the phantom swings: why dramatic bounces in the polls aren't always what they seem Fits my priors; makes sense ?Beware phantom swings: why dramatic bounces in the polls aren't always what they seem http://bit.ly/2fsNhHc History proves private school bursaries will fail | News Private school bursaries = "single least cost-effective social-mobility intervention of all those they had tested" http://bit.ly/2eiihoo ...
Today's media is packed with over-the-top reactions to yesterday's High Court ruling that Theresa May cannot invoke Article 50 so as to start formal exit negotiations with the EU without Parliament's support. A number of MPs and newspapers have gone completely over the top, alleging that unelected Judges are seeking to subvert the will of the British people, and issuing grave warnings if MPs try to derail the process. But isn't this what they were arguing for all along, that British courts and the British Parliament should reassert their sovereignty? Robert Peston sums it up on his Facebook page: It ...
There has been a further update on the work on the Motorway bridge which start next week. Highways England have made some changes to how they will deliver the scheme, following comments and concerns which had been raised. The plan is now to maintain traffic flows through the day, with traffic lights after 18.30 each day. Works are due to start from 7 November 2016 until end of March 2017. The majority of the works will take place between the hours of 08:30 and 23:00, Monday to Friday. Weekend and overnight working will be necessary to suit certain operations. Temporary ...
Back in August of last year, I reported that residents had asked me when the now disused (and rather horrible) toilets in Ancrum Road next to the Lochee Park children's play area, would be demolished and the council advised that demolition would take place in October (that's October 2015!) I have continually reminded council officers over many months about the delays in this happening - and they were finally demolished last week - only a full year late! See photo (right) : I am now anxious to see the area properly restored and added to Lochee Park as part of ...
Yesterday evening I gave an interview to BBC local radio about the High Court judgement. It emerged that the station had been receiving emails from listeners saying it was time to take to the streets to protest. It would have been easy to dismiss the emails as hysteria from a few right wing extremists but this morning's tabloids clearly show that the British constitution is under attack from much of the traditional right. The Daily Mail never ceases, of course, to push the boundaries of the unacceptable, as it has consistently since the 1930s. Today's headline has the three judges ...
Fri 4th
08:05
If the Supreme Court upholds yesterday's ruling, it will actually be the best thing imaginable for T...
The government were disappointed by the High Court ruling yesterday that stated parliament needs to be the one to trigger Article 50, not the government via Royal Prerogative. While May needs to make as big a show of disappointment about this in public as possible, in private she may be very glad about the decision the court has come to. The government will appeal and it then goes to the Supreme Court. But it is unlikely they will find differently than the High Court has. The government threw everything at the first case and lost, so it is difficult to ...
I was recently asked by an ex-boyfriend of mine why I write. He asked this because he said that when we were together we never discussed our passions. My answer was this: "Truthfully I don't know... I just know that ...
Three Things to Know About the Brexit Court Ruling Instant comment from me! (tags: ukpolitics eu brexit ) May the best wo(man) win (with images, tweets) A Storify of our 2 November meeting. (tags: Uspolitics ) Explainer: what is the challenge to Bob Day's Senate seat all about? Wow. Australia, eh? (tags: australia elections ) Why did Brexit happen? An ex-Yugoslav view from my former colleague @PedjaBajovic. (tags: ukpolitics brexit serbia montenegro bosnia croatia Scotland ) Cambridge gets a memorial for Syd Barrett Good. (tags: music ) How Macedonia Became A Global Hub For Pro-Trump Misinformation Wow. (tags: uspolitics macedonia ...
