[IMG: 220px-the_little_stranger_sarah_waters] The Little Stranger, Sarah Waters This is the ninth book plucked from my #40booksby40 list. I've read all Sarah Waters' other novels, loved each of them in their different ways, but had put off The Little Stranger: ghost stories aren't really my thing. But I should have realised that, though this is an homage to the genre, Sarah Waters isn't really telling a ghost story. Set in the aftermath of the Second World War this is a story about that very British obsession, class, and our inability to feel at ease with it. It's told by Dr Faraday, ...
After I had photographed the Duchess of Sutherland passing through Market Harborough, I caught the train to Leicester. When I arrived she was still there. The other trains and low sun presented a new challenge, but I am glad I met the old girl again.
It is a great tragedy that a tiny number of people, whom I regard at best as foolish and at worst as wicked, are trying to erase the tiny sum of money—£500 million—spent on homeopathy in the health service.So said David Tredinnick, Conservative MP for Bosworth, in the Commons earlier this month. The debate was on cancer strategy, and Tredinnick ended by asking if he could meet the minister (David Mowat) to discuss the £200m of new funding that has been announced for cancer services. Alarmingly, the only conclusion you can draw is that he wants to see some of ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:Raef stood up in the prow, his face wet with spray. He had not sailed these seas in fifteen years. He had tasted the salt tang on his lips now the first time he left the shore, at the far side of this ocean. The harsh edge in the wind made his blood race.I had expected this to be a non-genre historical novel; in fact although it's based fairly closely on the historical events of the 1014-1016 period in and near England, the central character, Raef, has magical powers and is contending also with dark forces ...
Second paragraph of third story ("The Feast", by Stewart Sheargold):Ben Jackson brushed a cold snowflake from his face, wrapped the large coat tight around himself, and stepped from the TARDIS. Stepping out into the unknown was like testing his land legs after time spent at sea. He gazed about. They had landed in a cramped alley, the crooked, dilapidated houses arching inwards to meet one another. Coopers' barrels lined the wall near a stout wooden door. Must be a pub, Ben thought cheerfully. He could do with a drink. It was the simple things he missed, travelling with the Doctor. ...
Voters will have to bring identification to polling stations for the first time next year, as part of a crackdown on electoral fraud. Sky News understands a series of pilots will be set up in which voters will have to produce a document such as a driving licence, passport or utility bill to prove their identity. Ministers have decided to adopt a series of recommendations contained in a hard-hitting report by former cabinet minister Sir Eric Pickles, who said he feared abuse of Britain's electoral system was widespread. [Sky News] That Eric Pickles document is a rather problematic basis for ...
The Electoral Commission has fined Mr Laurence Taylor £4,000 for failing to include the proper identification details (called 'an imprint') on a newspaper advertisement.
Tue 20th
18:34
BBC, Farage and Berlin – Dark days indeed as the UK turns its back on those who have nothing
I was utterly disgusted to hear the comments of Farage, the new darling of the BBC, today. To try to make political capital on the back of the appalling Berlin terrorist attack is bad enough but to attempt to pin the blame for the attack on Merkel was utterly shameful. I may not share Merkel's general political views but she was brave enough and had enough human compassion to take the lead in helping refugees from the middle east. Compare that with the UK government all but turning its back on fellow human beings. Goodness me what is happening in ...
[IMG: Tims card] Last week's blog post from Cllr Neil Fawcett, had some great ideas of ways you can use the Christmas break to make sure you are ready for a Flying Start in the New Year. I got in touch with a couple of teams to see what their plans were for the festive season when it [...]
A statement was issued this afternoon from Ian Kilby MRTPI IHBC, Planning Services Manager at Shropshire Council. He says that the decision to allow the housing off Foldgate Lane is wrong but he is not going to do anything about it. He has the backing of Mal Price, the cabinet member for planning. George Candler,... Continue reading Shropshire Council speaks out on why it will not challenge Foldgate Lane housing →
It's time multinationals paid more tax. And the way to do that is with a point of sales tax. Embed from Getty Images Tax avoidance is huge. Take Google: The company generated more than GBP17billion in UK sales between 2005 and 2013, but paid only GBP52 million in Corporation Tax on UK profits for that period. Even George Osborne's subsequent back taxes deal with Google, announced earlier in 2016, netted only an additional GBP130million, including interest. A tax recorded at the point of sale would be harder to avoid than Corporation Tax. It won't matter if a salesman is based ...
Responding to the Scottish Governments publication of 'Scotland's place in Europe' Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: "This whole report is one expensive exercise in Christmas window dressing as the only option the First Minister really wants to succeed is Scottish independence. "The First Minister has ruled out keeping the UK in the ... Continue reading 'Scotland's Place In Europe' Branded as 'XMAS Window Dressing' by Rennie
Fundraising matters. In the system we have in the UK, where the law permits large amounts to be spent on elections, minimal state funding of candidates and no restriction on how much donors can give, you have to raise funds to have a chance to compete and win on polling day. Email fundraising is a type of fundraising that can really work for Liberal Democrats if it is done right. When I stood for the European Parliament in the South East in 2014 we ran an email fundraising campaign that raised a significant six-digit figure (an amount more than twice ...
My previous posting of 26th November refers – see link above I had an e-mail from Arriva yesterday asking me to contact them about this incident, so today I rang them. Frankly, although the chap I spoke to was trying to be helpful I did not really make much progress in gaining a clear understanding of why that Southport bound 300 did not stop for the elderly lady who was clearly waiting for it and had her hand out for the bus to stop. The nearest thing I got towards an understanding was that because of the close proximity ...
Amid the humanitarian catastrophe that has been the siege and fall of Aleppo, both supporters and opponents of earlier calls for military action by the West against Assad have been claiming vindication by events. Perhaps some are relieved that the TV pictures of bloodied children in rubble can be attributed to Russian bombs rather than Western ones. Embed from Getty Images And perhaps we are guilty – as the EU is supposedly guilty of welcoming closer ties with Ukraine – of seeing a potential for good in the Arab Spring. Torment nobody with the promise of freedom and democracy unless ...
Call me a silly old traditional liberal but I tend to believe much of the reporting I read. So when I heard that many Republican members of the US Electoral College were thinking of switching sides I thought "this sounds promising". I read with interest pieces like this one, asking "What does it take to be a rebel, when your instinct is to follow the herd? That's the question that comes to mind when you consider the Hamilton Electors, the growing movement of Republican electors who are choosing not to vote for Donald Trump next Monday". Or this piece, who's ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today warned SNP ministers that patients can't be expected tolerate long waits at A&E this winter as new statistics showed the worst weekly performance since January and the super hospital in Glasgow recording its worst week on record ever. In the week ending 11 December, performance against ... Continue reading Cole-Hamilton Slams SNP Over 'Worst Ever' A & E Figures
Courtesy of the London Assembly came this ruling a few years back: On 15 June 2009, the Assessment Sub-Committee of the GLA's Standards Committee met in private and considered a complaint from Mr Shaun Lee, a member of the public, concerning the conduct of Mr John Biggs, London Assembly Member. Set out below is a brief and general summary of the complaint: In a letter dated 23 February, John Biggs' Personal Assistant responded to correspondence from the Complainant to explain that John Biggs was not related to the Great Train robber, Ronald Biggs. In response to this, the Complainant wrote ...
It's easy for UK researchers to focus on the downsides of leaving the EU. A House of Lords report today calls for a more positive approach Theresa May made sweeping changes when she was catapulted into Downing Street. New departments were created, and the government had acquired a fresh mission - navigating our way out of the EU. Science and research could easily have been squeezed out of a picture dominated by migration, trade and market access. In fact, the reverse is happening: the PM wrote in July that she wants "a positive outcome for science as we exit the ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP today called for a thorough investigation into a recent incident where a man lay dead in his van for several days after officers seemingly failed to respond to reports of the incident. Reports in the Daily Express today reveal that a victim was discovered in a van last ... Continue reading Rennie Concerned Over Latest 'Failed To Respond' Police Scotland Case
Bury Council's offices are closed to the public for regular services from 5pm on Friday 23 December up to and including Tuesday 3 January 2017. Some individual services operate, more information here. [IMG: screen-shot-2016-12-20-at-08-25-53] Throughout the Christmas and New Year period residents can continue to report a problem and make a payment online. Please be aware that the Council may not process reports or payments until Wednesday 4 January 2017. Payments Report a Problem Adult Care Connect and Direct one stop shop at Textile Hall will be closed from Monday 26 December until 10am on Wednesday 4 January. You can ...
Two massive decisions affecting our local area are to see delays over the Christmas period. Bury CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) have decided to defer a decision on the future of Prestwich and Bury Walk-In Centres to it's January meeting (15th January 2017). Hopefully this will give it time to consider the massive public opposition to the closure..... Greater Manchester Strategic Framework Consultation Extended In addition the deadline in the consultation on the Greater Manchester Strategic Framework (the plan to destroy 20% of Bury's 'green belt land' (nearly 50% in Whitefield, Unsworth and Prestwich) has been extended to the new year. ...
[IMG: New Registers are now on Connect] Last week Connect went offline for the Annual Electoral Register Update. Below are a few top tips from Tim Pollard in Lib Dem HQ about updates you need to do since the December Electoral Register Update. Whenever new people are added to the register you will need to update your walks and sort any new properties added to [...]
Introducing The Trip of a Lifetime Trailer... "Do you wanna come with me?" The Doctor calls us all to begin Doctor Who all over again. With a bang. Last time in my Ten Reasons To Watch... was the very first Doctor Who story and the second 'beginning' I'm recommending. There are more to come. This fantastic trailer heralded the advent of another - Doctor Who's biggest rebirth. Past. Present. Future. Ghosts. Aliens. Explosions. I love a well-made trailer. This 2005 one is the best I've ever seen. It aired running up to the stories starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper ...
Now is that portion of every year when people begin writing epitaphs for the twelve-month period that is just about to elapse as well offering predictions for what is directly ahead. Given what transpired in 2016, from Brexit to Trump to everyone with talent seemingly dying, pundits are quicker to see the back of this year than they usually would be. There is also a trope around the idea that 2016 is as bad as it gets; that the year was a one-off, never to be repeated. The inference is that 2017 must by extension be better. I'm not convinced. ...
If you are part of the conventional liberal "elite" like me, 2016 has been marked by two colassal acts of democratic self-harm: Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. It is easy to understand why the pound sunk after Brexit. By why has the US dollar being doing so well after the election of Donald ... Continue reading Why did the dollar rise with Trump but the pound fall with Brexit? →
Earlier this month First Manchester buses announced plans to close their depot in Bury. Buses based there would be run from neighbouring depots (e.g. Manchester or Bolton). First Manchester say that closing the Rochdale Road depot in Bury is the "best solution to enable us to further invest in front line services". They say they are "not proposing significant changes to the number of vehicles or drivers operating those services". The proposals are now being consulted on, and are due to be introduced in April 2017. We have written to First Manchester asking them for more information on how that ...
Andrew Newton was told to look for Norman Scott in Barnstaple, but went to Dunstable instead. I don't suppose he ever got to Whitstable.
Last year, to the dismay of hundreds of local people who'd signed a petition, the planning committee refused the application to allow land at Beech Hill Farm, Westerleigh to continue to be used for storing caravans. The applicant appealed and this week it was announced that the appeal had been allowed and the use can continue. This will be a relief for many local caravan owners, and there will be a few less cars parked on local estate roads because of caravans on driveways. To read the decision, go to the planning applications search page and search for the reference ...
Please note deadline for applications is 4 January 2017! Parklife Festival is inviting local community groups to apply for grants from their 2017 Community Fund. The fund, collected from contributions made at the festival by guest list attendees, is now open to community groups based near Heaton Park. Special consideration will be given to groups and projects that support parks and green spaces and youth projects. [IMG: eyddim7fdetkc9tgplhe-jpg] The Bury part of the fund covers Sedgley, Holyrood and St Mary's Wards, with individual award limits of £1,000 and a deadline of 4pm on Wednesday 4 January. You are required to ...
Sarah Olney, the winner of the Richmond Park by-election, yesterday made her maiden speech in Parliament.
So, an election took place, and six members of the new Federal International Relations Committee were elected. So far, so good, especially as one of them was me. But what happens next? Naturally, the Committee has to meet, and someone has to organise that. But who, and who makes sure that all of the members are invited? Indeed, who has the job of finding out who the members are? In the case of FIRC (no sniggering at the back, Jennie...), the questions are made more complex because it isn't always easy to establish who you would ask in the first ...
Just to wish all residents the very best for the Christmas period and for a happy and healthy 2017. [IMG: screen-shot-2016-12-20-at-08-34-02] Emails from us will take a break until the new year!
I had a very useful discussion yesterday with Lynn Wadland, the council's technical Energy Adviser, who has been assisting private tenants who have no central heating or ineffective heating. There is assistance available for qualifying private tenants (elderly tenants, those who are vulnerable and those with dependant children) on low incomes to get central heating - help with improved glazing and insulation may also be available. For households who do not qualify, help via the Warm Home Discount may be available as an alternative. Lynn can be contacted as follows - e-mail - lynn.wadland@dundeecity.gov.ukoffice phone - 433189mobile - 07985 872725 ...
Only on weekends and bank holidays are GP services limited. On all other days surgeries are open from 8am to 6.30pm as normal. Additional GP appointments to be made on weekends, into the evenings until 8pm and even on bank holidays. Patients are advised of the appointments by their own surgery, but the appointments may be at another practice and not with your usual doctor. December 23rd, 28th, 29th and 30th are normal working days so surgeries will be open as normal from 8am until 6.30pm. Many pharmacies in Bury are open as normal over the festive holidays. Pharmacists offer ...
A ruling from the Charity Commission yesterday, has determined that Jediism, the worship of the mythology of Star Wars, is not a religion. This marks the release of the latest Star Wars film, episode 3.5, Rogue One, which in deference to the Charity Commission's ruling does not feature (spoilers?) a single proper Jedi Knight, though there is a blind kind-of-Jedi monk, with whom is the force, and who seems to do as much damage with a stick as a proper Jedi does with a light sabre. I'll confess I was ignorant that the Charities Commission's powers and competence extended to ...
Ahead of the Scottish Governments publication on its options for Scotland after the EU referendum, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP today has called on the SNP to recognise that the best chance Scotland has at protecting its interests by staying in the European Union is to let the public have a say on ... Continue reading Rennie: 'SNP Need To Heal Brexit Divide'
As far as I am aware the following are the planned meetings for January 2017 Thursday 5th January - Planning and Development Committee Thursday 12th January - Finance Committee Thursday 19th January - Full Council Tuesday 24th January - Events Committee Thursday 26th January - Planning and Development Committee All meetings are due to start at 6:30 pm and will be at Arms Evertyne House As ever please check with the council if you intend to go to any of the meetings
I Regret to Inform You That My Wedding to Captain Von Trapp Has Been Canceled The Baroness reports. (tags: internet funny )
That the Welsh Government have reached agreement with their UK counterpart on the fiscal framework around tax powers so quickly is a significant achievement. The Scottish took their negotiations right up to the wire. According to the BBC, the agreement means that the Welsh Government can borrow for capital spending to pay for building and infrastructure work up to £1 billion, twice the current limit. It means that the devolution of income varying powers can go-ahead, assuming that the Welsh Government is prepared to support a Legislative Consent Order for the Wales Bill. The LocalGov site sets out the details: ...
It's never a promising sign when a Minister comes up with a proposal to promote integration that requires some of the most integrated members of civil society to swear an oath declaring their commitment to it whilst leaving many of those who are supposedly the problem unaffected. And so, Sajid Javid's idea that civil servants should swear an oath of allegiance to 'British values', is a pointer towards an administration who are desperate for anything that might deflect even a little attention from the elephant in their particular room, Brexit. Sajid, I joined the Civil Service precisely because I believe ...
The following was first published on Lib Dem Voice, here. It has given rise to a number of comments which, whilst I've not been able to address them individual, I'm sure I will revisit in further pieces. Is a Progressive Alliance the way forward? Since the last general election - and even more so since the EU Referendum and the election of Donald Trump in the United States - there has been talk of a need for a "Progressive Alliance" between Labour, Lib Dems and Greens, in an effort to beat the Tories. Much of this talk has come from ...
