The film describes the proceedings shown as the 21st birthday of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch. That celebration must have taken place in 1948. But in 1947 Laurel and Hardy visited the railway to reopen the line to Dungeness - it had been used by the military during the war. So unless they visited it twice, it is that 1947 visit that is shown here. You can read more about it on the Laurel and Hardy Magazine site. Incidentally, I have never found Laurel and Hardy that funny - they are just two silly men doing silly things.
Ross Pepper has been selected by the Liberal Democrats to contest the Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election, triggered by Conservative MP Stephen Phillips quitting in protest at the government's European policy.
News from the Telegraph that Vince has yet another string to his bow: He has been economist, senior politician and - rather unexpectedly - a ballroom dancer. And it seems Sir Vince Cable unlikely career trajectory is not finished yet, as he makes his first foray as a romantic novelist. Sir Vince, the former business secretary, has been signed up to write a "post-Brexit political thriller", weaving his experience in Westminster into the story of the blossoming lover between a British politician and the heir of an Indian arms manufacturer. The book, due out in June next year, is set ...
On Armistice Day this year, two things occurred separately and yet they are linked. First was I saw a video on Facebook by the Knights Templar International asking if burning poppies should be illegal? Now just to deal with who the Knights Templar International are. This is what their website says: "The Order desires to welcome into membership people who are natural leaders and who share an understanding of the threats we face today globally from radical Islam, liberalism, political corruption, cultural Marxism and anti-Christian bigotry. We welcome those who are prepared to make a stand to defend all they ...
So the world seems determined to ensure that not one source of joy or pleasure remains in existence. While I'm in no doubt as to which is empirically worse, I have to say that from my own personal, limited, perspective, ... Continue reading →
Maghull Town Council has for decades had a Civic Award Night. I was pleased to be invites to the 2016 event and to see such a good turn out in the Town Hall The evening began with the former Mayor presenting a cheque to he chosen charity. The current Mayor June Burns introduced her charity The Honeysuckle Bereavement Service and there was a presentation of the work they do. The awards: Maghull Business Award Strong Guard Security UK Maghull Environmental Award Debbie Jackson (Winner) Maghull In Bloom Maghull Educational Award Rory Millington (Winner) Associated Merseyside Partnership SCITT Brandon Groves Amanda ...
Following the news about the Green Party, comes very similar news from the Women's Equality Party. It isn't putting up a candidate in the Richmond Park by-election either, and instead is backing Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney: WE stand down to stand-up against racism & sexism. @WEP_RichKing and Sarah Olney are committing to put equality first in this election. https://t.co/F0ccIkdoEP — WomensEqualityUK (@WEP_UK) November 11, 2016 Ukip, meanwhile, is backing Zac Goldsmith.
Fri 11th
17:05
Brexit, Trump, this will keep happening again and again until we realise our own failings as Liberal...
I love being a Liberal. Liberals are smart, we embrace logic and reason and apply it to our everyday lives. Our Liberalism is an international brand, with our liberal friends in many nations, all striving to promote liberty and human rights. We also have a sense of civic duty, which compels us to get involved with politics and seek to try and change the world around us. These are all good things, things that led us to get involved in the first place, however they can also lead us into a self-indulging arrogance that results in an opaque view of ...
This week is Youth Work Week. For most of my youth work career a pivotal point in the calendar, a chance to celebrate the difference good youth work can make to young peoples' lives. This year in some ways is no different, the theme is Fair Chances - how youth work helps young people to brighter futures and the National Youth Agency reminds us of the contribution youth work can make in education, out of school, social action and school to work transition. What is different is the barren landscape that is youth work across the country. When I started ...
Last night, 10th November, we had 4 principal council by-elections. From a Liberal Democrat point of view they weren't the most interesting set of elections. However, we did stand and saw an increase in our vote share in all of them. Both UKIP and the Greens saw a continued average slide in their vote, with the Lib Dems returning to second place in the two London by-elections. These two seats, one in Wandsworth and one in Greenwich, are interesting because both had split results in 2014. In Eltham North, Greenwich, Labour had won 2 seats and the Conservatives 1 in ...
[IMG: gary-johnson] There has, naturally, been much discussion over the last few days of how and why events the morning of 9 November came to unfold the way they did. One persistent theme that has emerged has been that the fault lies with third party candidates (in particular, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein) and the people that voted for them. I have personally heard a surprising amount of people from our own party make this case - people you might think would be tired of hearing third party politics so casually dismissed! Let's leave aside, for now, the fact that ...
Jack Stilgoe and Roger Pielke Jr: As they recover from Donald Trump's shock victory, US scientists must ask themselves three big questions. Donald Trump has won. Science and scientists played almost no part in the campaign. Now, scientists must consider how they fit into a Trump future. This won't be easy. Many scientists are scared. In the tribal world of US politics, many now find themselves on the outside looking in. Most university scientists are Democrats, and the 2017 President, House and Senate will all be Republican. For this group, nothing portends disaster more than the elevation of a long-time ...
As a party we seem to be in a bit of a puzzled place at the moment with regards to Brexit now there's a chance our MPs will have a vote on Article 50. Should we reject any attempts to invoke Article 50 and risk being labeled as anti-democratic – potentially putting many of our current MPs seats at risk? Should we put some red lines down in the hope of getting a decent "soft-Brexit" deal and drive away many thousands of new members? It really is a Catch 22 situation. Or is it? Is there not an alternative that ...
It's been a while since I've blogged (!) I got locked out for ages, but the events of this week have spurred me on to get back in........ Still reeling from the result in the States this week I am reminded of the work I did on behavioural economics. The fact that people are more motivated by fear of loss than the prospect of gain. Any campaign that plays on people's fears, that focuses on the negative rather than the positive, whether we like it or not, will often be more effective than the positive campaigning we all crave. For ...
Fri 11th
13:08Perhaps the world needs Donald Trump. But we will have to learn our lessons the hard way
Just how much of a shock was Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential election? As we had seen with the UK general election in 2015 and, to a lesser extent, this year's EU referendum, the polls and last minute predictions were confounded. But, for this observer at least, the sense of shock has worn off. Trump's success not only corresponds with the widely documented social unrest of white Americans (working class or not – https://i.redd.it/dei5tr2kuatx.png), it fits into a far wider picture which we have seen develop across the western world in recent years. Trump's use of Brexit to ...
Tim Farron MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Westminster, says: "We will vote against Article 50 unless it allows the people a vote on the deal, because the will of the people must prevail - both on departure and destination. "The government has no plan and their haphazard approach is leading us towards a disastrous version of Brexit which risks jobs, communities, security and the economic health of the nation."
West Lancs Council Planning Committee last night rejected the planning application to erect 12 turbines on land in Great Altcar Parish between Lydiate and Ince Blundell. The local campaign group HALT ran the successful fight against the turbines. [IMG: HALT poster] It may seem odd that I am supportive of the rejection of these turbines as I am very firmly a supporter of renewable energy. However, what I could not never understand about this particular application was that the turbines, their massive concrete foundations and the access roads to service them would all be on the highest grade of agricultural ...
Will Liverpool support Mayor Anderson's call for a referendum for an additional 10% rise in council tax First of all let me acknowledge that Liverpool Council is in a difficult place. In 2010 Liverpool was getting approximately 80% of our ... Continue reading →
I was asked recently to come up with some points which might be helpful when campaigning against Brexit. I wrestle constantly with finding a compelling narrative which cuts through a mind set which seems to trap half the population. I hope nevertheless some of the following (probably familiar) wording why Brexit is bad for Britain may be of use: To preserve and promote British prosperity: The pound's 15% collapse since the referendum is forecast to result in 3-4% inflation next year affecting our living standards. To preserve and promote British exports: Outside the EU, our access to our major export ...
Last night, 10th November, we had 4 principal council by-elections. From a Liberal Democrat point of view they weren't the most interesting set of elections. However, we did stand and see an increase in our vote share in all of them. Both UKIP and the Greens saw a continued average slide in their vote, with the [...]
A public meeting is to be held to discuss major proposals for improving hospitals covering the St Albans district. Local NHS organisations are reviewing health services in order to meet the rise in demand from a growing and ageing population. They have completed the first phase which involved looking at options for enhancing emergency and [...]
[IMG: tower-hamlets] I've supported the Lib Dems for as long as I can remember, but until now, only ever from the comfort of my sofa. I've always been interested in politics, I studied the subject at college and university, but never felt compelled to get involved. So what prompted me aged 36 to join the party? Well, on the face of it, it's easy: Brexit. The referendum result was my call to arms. Like many others I joined the party a few days after the vote, realising that it was time for apathetic liberals (small l) like myself to stand ...
Trump and Brexit: why it's again NOT the economy, stupid | British Politics and Policy at LSE RT @RobDotHutton: Most interesting read of the morning: Trump and Brexit: why it's again NOT the economy, stupid via @LSEpoliticsblog Suggestions for Fighting Back | Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! If you're ready for practical suggestions: Putin applauds Trump win and hails new era of positive ties with US | US news | The Guardian RT @waltisfrozen: Holy shit. Russia *admitted* they helped swing the election to Trump. Twitter RT @Wriggy: Your Twitter feed is probably full of politics so here's a dog who thought ...
[IMG: Shepway District Council Sandgate Parking Consultation Notice on Granville Parade] Received from Shepway District Council, their formal response to my objection to the Sandgate CPZ (basically telling local residents that they are ignroing the hundreds of us that made objections), and my response to their email.... 08/11/2016 Dear Sir/Madam Sandgate East Proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Consultation Thank you for your comments on the recent consultation for a proposed TRO in Sandgate. Your comments were included in the analysis and reported to the Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr Malcolm Dearden. He has carefully considered the arguments on both sides ...
Fri 11th
09:39Tim Farron: 'Unless the government agrees to a referendum on the final Brexit deal, the party will v...
[IMG: Tim farron photo by liberal democrats dave radcliffe] This morning, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has laid out a red line on Article 50 and said unless the government agrees to a referendum on the final Brexit deal, the party will vote against Article 50 in the House of Commons. Tim Farron said: Millions of people are deeply worried by the government's handling of Brexit. So my position is very clear: the Liberal Democrats believe that the people are sovereign. They must decide whether or not they agree with the deal that the government reaches with Brussels, which means ...
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! Brexit: the problem with promising a second referendum | Stephen Tall The problem with the Lib Dem position on vetoing Article 50 http://bit.ly/2fHgkDR (me, 6 weeks ago: argument still stands) How Half Of America Lost Its F**king Mind This is a very good explainer of "the deplorables" ?How Half Of America Lost Its F**king Mind http://bit.ly/2forNHg Would Bernie Sanders have done better ...
Fri 11th
09:26
Lib Dems will vote against invoking Article 50 unless referendum held on outcome of negotiations
As a follow-up to the Liberal Democrat plan for Britain in Europe, party leader Tim Farron is today making clear that the party will only support invoking Article 50 if a referendum is also held on the outcome of the talks.
What Donald Trump said on the campaign trail in regards to foreign policy (actually, all policy areas for that matter) was mixed and often contradictory, so it is hard to know what he will and will not do as president. However, most of what he said on the Middle East was reasonably consistent (by his standards) so I can make a few measured guesses as to what might follow. None of it is very good news for Syrians in particular or for the world generally. The US have been fairly indecisive in Syria, and for most of the last two ...
On behalf of residents, I recently raised with the City Council the poor road condition at the Edward Street/Forest Park Place junction - see below :I raised this with the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and thermal repairs on the defects have now been carried out : Forest Park Place is currently identified for surfacing in 2019/2020. As this is some time off, the thermal patching meantime is welcome.
2016 has been a dreadful, dreadful year.
Every year, we see people buying millions of poppies to support the Royal British Legion. Everyone has a different reason for buying and wearing a poppy. The reasons can be extremely personal. There are those who choose not to wear a poppy. They choose to wear white poppies or they choose to wear no poppy at all and they have their own reasons for it. It must be remembered that the choice to wear a poppy is just that a choice. In recent years, we have seen people hounded for not choosing to wear a poppy regardless of what their ...
Since Brian Wilson's solo recording career became an ongoing project, he has more or less alternated between albums of new material and recordings of other people's songs, done in his own style. What I Really Want For Christmas could just ... Continue reading →
