Introducing Doctor Who - An Unearthly Child... The first ever Doctor Who story begins with ordinary people who follow someone extraordinary to a blue box that's bigger on the inside than the outside and travels in time and space. The best idea in the world hits the ground running: William Hartnell's fantastic Doctor; a mysterious girl who's both genius and hopeless, living in a junkyard; mind-expanding maelstroms of light and noise; prehistoric power struggles; throwing people into another time, throwing violence, dirt, role-reversals and every emotional and physical trial at them. Their world, and ours, will never be the same ...
Wed 30th
21:53
Article 127: how the government could have to hold a vote on leaving the Single Market
First it was Article 50 and the mechanism for leaving the European Union which got all the attention. Then Article 50(3) started getting noticed, with its opening for extending – or even effectively cancelling – the two year deadline for leave the E.U. which Article 50 sets out. Now it's Article 127 muscling into the limelight. Article 127 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), that is. It sets out the procedure for leaving the EEA: Each Contracting Party may withdraw from this Agreement provided it gives at least 12 months' notice in writing to the other Contracting ...
"During moments of national trauma, the public turns to the BBC for shared experience and understanding," says Ioan Marc Jones He examines the different ways the corporation handled Aberfan and Orgreave. No one should be given a psychiatric diagnosis at a distance, argues Hannah Jane Parkinson - not even Donald Trump. And she's right. Gillian Mawson blogs about her new book on evacuees during World War II: "Newspapers described court cases involving families, who, for various reasons, refused to keep evacuees. The Stockport Advertiser stated, 'Mr and Mrs Jones of Offerton were charged with refusing to accept an evacuee. The ...
From the Evening Standard today: Zac Goldsmith limped into the last hustings of the Richmond Park by-election an hour late after being struck by his own car. The former London mayoral candidate was not badly hurt but his trousers were "shredded" when a volunteer driving his car clipped him while they were out canvassing. The collision in New Malden happened as he was due on stage at the Richmond Society's hustings - his last chance to debate publicly with his by-election rival, Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney. Arriving an hour late after going home to change, he said he was "so ...
Wed 30th
21:06An excellent source of information about the candidates in the Liberal Democrat committee elections
I've been highlighting some of the candidates for the Liberal Democrat Federal Board, Federa Conference Committee, Federal Policy Committee, Federal International Relations Committee and ALDE delegation, but there's also an excellent source of further information about candidates thanks to Holly Matthies. She has taken up the task of asking all the candidates a set of questions, something which Jennie Rigg pioneered: In previous years, [Jennie Rigg] compiled a list of questions for candidates and published the answers of everyone who replied. This year, since she's standing for one of the positions she didn't think it'd be fair to continue to ...
Massive fail here. I think that the election and various other distractions have really hit my usual rota of book reading, both last month and this. My pathetic total is, er, 3. Fiction (non-sf): 1 (YTD 28) Kramer's War, by Derek Robinson sf (non-Who): 1 (YTD 74) Prime Minister Corbyn: and other things that never happened, eds. Duncan Brack and Iain Dale Comics: 1 (YTD 23) Antarès, Épisode 1, by Leo 800 pages (YTD 56,100 pages) 0/3 (YTD 59/193) by women 0/3 (YTD 12/193) by PoC Reread: 1 (Kramer's War), YTD 14 Reading now AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers, ...
There are clear parallels between the UK's vote for Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in the US. In both countries the "left behind" have taken the opportunity to take a swipe at "the establishment" regardless of the consequences. In the US here is anger that the perceived effects of globalisation have left swathes of the country, the "rust belt" abandoned and with only a minimalist, if that, welfare safety net. In the UK there is growing anger that, while those at the bottom of the pile have suffered the consequences of government-imposed austerity, the fat cats at the ...
[IMG: MTC's KGV hedge 22 08 15] I have covered this rather odd matter before on this blog site but to recap the issue is this. Along Eastway there are hedges both sides of the road that belong to Maghull Town Council. The hedges bound Whinneybrook Field on one side and Glenn Park on the other. Also along the A59 (Northway) The Town Council has a hedge that bounds KGV Park where Maghull Town Hall is sited. [IMG: MTC's Whinney Brook Field hedge 22 08 15] Both of these sites have not been getting their hedges cut over the last ...
Listen to Bob Geldof explain why he wants the people of Richmond Park to vote for Sarah Olney tomorrow. Choice quotes include: "You can't have the settled will of the people of Richmond to stay in Europe betrayed by the poster boy of the Brexiteers." He appealed to pro EU voters to back Sarah Olney to beat Zac. Bob Geldof is as I write this outside a station in the constituency campaigning with Sarah Olney. Fantastic to be out talking to voters with Bob Geldof throwing his support behind the @LibDems in #RichmondPark pic.twitter.com/02PXLacm81 — Sarah Olney (@sarahjolney1) November 30, ...
Ross Pepper and team whose campaign I will be joining in Sleaford on Friday There are two bye-elections taking place at the moment but you would be forgiven for thinking that there is only one. The metropolitan elite are very ... Continue reading →
In the Autumn Statement, Philip Hammond spoke at length about the productivity crisis in the UK, and how he intends to address it. And doubtless, the creation of higher skilled jobs, of better broadband, of better trains, will all make it easier for UK workers to do more, benefitting the workers and the economy alike. But what if the productivity statistics are wrong? Although they hardly belong to the same generation as me, I have three friends or acquaintances who have yet to reach retirement age, but have pension provisions sufficiently large that they are not seeking employment, nor do ...
[IMG: Charles' blog picture - mayor] Running a campaign on a regional level presents a new set of challenges for Liberal Democrat campaigners. The primary challenge is that the size of the electorate means it is too big to run a traditional targeted Liberal Democrat campaign, but the flip side is that votes matter equally across the whole region. Integrated election [...]
Lib Dem member Maria Munir, from Watford, won widespread global respect and admiration when they came out as non binary to President Obama at a town hall meeting in April this year. Let's remind ourselves of that moment: They spoke to the BBC here about their experience: I just felt this moment of euphoria that finally I would be able to raise and highlight the issue that non-binary transgender people face. If anyone has the power to change things for people like myself across the world, it is President Obama." Maria said their family history made the situation even more ...
The 'fears of old men' edition The Moral Weakness of Pope Benedict's "Last Testament" by James Carroll (the New Yorker) That there is something tragic in Benedict's story does not mitigate its negative weight, but it is impossible to read "Last Testament" without feeling sorry for a man whose life has been so branded by [...]
Yes, it's that time once again, when liberals gather from across Europe to renew old acquaintances, make policy and debate the burning issues of the day. Hang on, wrong introduction, that's the one I meant to write for the Congress taking place alongside it. It is fair to say that the Council meeting isn't as exciting, focussing as it does on rule changes and membership applications. First, the rule changes. There have been some concerns expressed that the way that individual parties are represented in the ALDE Party is not as fair as it might be. Accordingly, a small group ...
The Christmas lights were switched on in Whickham by the Metro Gnomes. The event was organised by Lighting Up Whickham. Hundreds turned up for the event.
The title is not a reference to Labour! While Labour may be doing everything under Comrade Corbyn to consign themselves to being an exhibit in the Museum of the Self-Destructed and Deluded, this post is actually about the museums service in Tyne and Wear. I am one of Gateshead's three representatives on the joint committee that runs Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. The committee is now to be
You may have been emailed by members of the public to ask for your views over sustainability and transformation plans. A suggested response is below. Liberal Democrats have been strongly of the view that this should be open to public scrutiny. However, each area will have their own concerns and views over what should happen [...]
[IMG: Tims card] It's December tomorrow and the shops are already full of bright lights, festive smells and tasty Christmas treats. But Christmas can be one of the most stressful times to campaign. Here are a couple of quick tips for getting the job done in the run up to Christmas. You never know when the weather will [...]
I went to the pub quiz at the Poacher's Pocket in Swalwell on Monday night. The event was to raise funds for the memorial bench in Swalwell Park to Kaitlin Tremlett and Jennifer Fradgley who died in a road accident in August. Our team was called Pinkies, after one of my goats, and by the last round we were in 1st place....until the marks for the picture round came in. Alas, we finished 3rd
Recent political events have revealed tensions between expertise and democracy. Institutions must tap into the know-how of the many, not the few We lack public institutions - a participatory bureaucracy and open parliamentary processes - that know how to tap into the collective intelligence of our communities, and draw power from the participation of the many, rather than the few. It is the absence of these open institutions, and the resulting failure to take account of the views, voices and know-how of the many disaffected people who voted - and those who did not - during the EU referendum and ...
Gateshead East branch had their AGM and annual lunch on Saturday. I'm not a member of the branch but I went along as Lib Dem leader of the opposition in Gateshead to give a report. The guest speaker was Niall Hodson who was elected as our first councillor in Sunderland since 2012. Niall had a barnstorming campaign in the run up to May and I visited the ward he won, Millfield, to help push him
Saturday morning was tightly packed with events for me to attend. After the red kite coffee morning in Whickham, I headed down to Swalwell Community Centre for the Christmas Fayre. Cake purchasing is a requirement, as is buying tombola tickets. This turned out to be a lucky purchase - I won 2 prizes - all chocolate!
[IMG: send-theresa-may-a-message] SIGN UP TO HELP ON POLLING DAY For the past two and a half weeks, Claire Halliwell HQ Manager here at ALDC has been working in Richmond Park as candidate aide for Sarah Olney. I caught up with Claire at KickStart to find out a bit more about life on the campaign trail. "It is [...]
We don't often run UKIP press releases on here, but in this case it is justified to prove a point. Apparently Zac Goldsmith doesn't much like being described as UKIP-backed. Goldsmith very cross last night that we are telling people he is endorsed by UKIP. Here is their official statement backing him . Please R/T pic.twitter.com/PXG6oVWja1 — Lib Dem Life (@libdemlife) November 24, 2016 Just a reminder of the UKIP statement just after Goldsmith resigned. UKIP Chairman Paul Oakden said "On Tuesday 25th October Zac Goldsmith MP announced that he was resigning as the Conservative MP for Richmond Park, in ...
So, I'm drifting back to LDV slowly and gradually. My husband is now recovering from his heart surgery at home. It's still quite incredible to think that only 10 weeks ago, he was enjoying his best health in years. All that changed with what we thought was Flu but turned out to be an infection in his heart which damaged one of his heart valves – a pretty complex one, too. My gratitude to the surgical team who sorted this out is unrivalled. I have been more scared during this time than I have ever been in my life. That ...
EU amazed that Brexit plan covers whole side of A4 RT @thedailymash: EU amazed that Brexit plan covers whole side of A4 'Snoopers law creates security nightmare' - BBC News RT @zoeimogen: 'Snoopers law creates security nightmare', says web's inventor Twitter What fresh hell is this? Council budgets are so slashed that crossing patrols have to be commercially sponsored? Twitter Niggle Faridge: the Blue WKD of politics Vegans furious as Bank of England admits 'trace' of animal fat in £5 notes ... wait RENDERED BEEF FAT? Has anyone told the Hindus? And is it halal or kosher? That's not just ...
[IMG: footpath-lights] After protracted negotiations with a range of council officers, and helped over the line by the generosity of Project Genesis, Councillors Derek Hicks, Alex Watson and Owen Temple are delighted that pedestrians and cyclists will no longer be in the dark on one of Consett's busiest routes. We're throwing some light into the Energy Reduction Programme Black Hole that is the popular footpath and cycle-way that links Consett with the Grove and Moorside. The agreed solutions will result in lights being sited on Project Genesis land alongside the path, ensuring that local people feel safe once again as ...
Everyone is pooing on polls these days, saying they are all terribly wrong so why should we listen to them. Only they aren't really all that incorrect when you examine them closely. On Brexit, the telephone polls got it pretty close to bang on, while in America they said Clinton would be ahead in the popular vote by 2% and it looks like she will win that by around 2%. So I think people getting angry at the polls should relax a little – and the people now saying they are completely wrong are well, completely wrong. This comes into ...
Martin Roche wrote an eloquent piece, with a follow up, calling for Liberal Democrats to brand themselves: The Party of Freedom Though generally well received some thought the branding conflicted with other values; fairness, equality, and community. Many thought the slogan linked us to the excesses of market ideologues and libertarians. Are fairness and equality such rivals of freedom? Is someone's freedom not limited if they lack decent housing or other basic needs? Is their freedom not limited if they cannot access information or lack the education needed to make use of it? Is someone's freedom not limited if they ...
Wed 30th
07:19
Environment Agency says "No" to below ground petrol tanks above aquifer on Bromfield Road
The Environment Agency has stated in no uncertain terms that it objects to plans to sink petrol storage tanks at the proposed garage on the junction of Bromfield Road and Coronation Avenue. In its objection, the agency says: "We would question the need for the design change which could, ultimately, increase the risk to groundwater."... Continue reading Environment Agency says "No" to below ground petrol tanks above aquifer on Bromfield Road →
New Montenegrin government Delighted to see Srdjan Darmanović foreign minister, AA Pejović EU minister! (tags: montenegro ) Juncker's time is running out Glorious from @Stollmeyer_EU (tags: eu ) Kitchen gadgets review: Food Sniffer - 'It smells fishy to me' More tech madness - thanks, @katyusha13! (tags: internet cooking funny ) Why wait for Merkel? Theresa May should guarantee the status of EU nationals now Agree. (tags: ukpolitics eu brexit ) Why Can't We Remember Our Early Childhood? It has to do with language. (tags: psychology ) What's Your Country Best in the World At? Belgium: cashless payments. (tags: maps ) ...
