I had planned to deliver my patch of 200 Focuses in Dunston Hill in between the Gateshead Council cabinet at 10am and health scrutiny committee at 1.30pm. Alas, Cabinet didn't finish until midday so the delivery started at 4.30pm instead. The lead Focus story is about the plans for the housing development to the south of Whickham Highway. We also had an article about Europe - a call for EU
What a depressing spectacle we witnessed in the House of Commons today. A government which had just had a kicking from the Supreme Court for trying to do something unconstitutional should have been subdued and its representatives should have had their tails between their legs. But why should it, when its main opposition party lay prostrate in front of it. Rather than look sheepish, David Davis was smug. It should be so different. We should be building up to a dramatic parliamentary occasion. Gavin Williamson, the Government Chief Whip, shouldn't be able to sleep at night because he's worried about ...
Quoting Michael Crawford the other day led me to this video. It is historically interesting, in that it shows him as a teenager in the premiere of Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde at Orford church in 1958. And the tribute Crawford pays to Britten is moving. Britten and boys. Britten and boys. I don't think it would have been a shock to anyone if the composer's centenary year in 2013 had been the spur for disturbing revelations, but none came.
I have learnt not to underestimate Lord Bonkers. You may think he is just some old buffer sleeping off a good lunch in front of the fire, but here he makes important observations on the way to combat the rise of the far right. Karl Popper and Woody Allen, eat your hearts out. Wednesday I remain convinced that he would have the pews removed from St Asquith's and make us all sing 'Shine, Jesus, Shine' if he were given half a chance, but I have to say that Farron is making a pretty good fist of leading the Liberal Democrats. ...
For the past few days everyone has been tweeting this clip from Manhattan. Whatever your view of violence (and Woody Allen), it represents a wonderful skewering of a certain. self-satisfied, view of the world.
When the Soviet Union collapsed it seemed that liberal philosophers who came to prominence in the Cold War years, such as Karl Popper and Isaiah Berlin, would go permanently out of fashion. But the rise of the far right across Europe, and the election of Donald Trump in the US, suggest that we can learn from thinkers who understood tyrannies of right and left. Here is Karl Popper talking about the paradox of tolerance. The passage comes from volume 1 of The Open Society and its Enemies: The so-called paradox of freedom is the argument that freedom in the sense ...
Tue 24th
19:14
Axing of oak tree on Whitcliffe Common fells the reputation of Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Today, Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) carried out its plans to fell an oak tree on Whitcliffe Common. The trust has reacted badly throughout an affair that has divided our town. We need to learn the lessons from this. For this oak tree, and the wildlife that sheltered in it, it is over. It has been felled and it is nothing other than wood chips. The freezing fog this morning was probably not the best time for all the bugs and beasties that live in oaks to find a new host. I guess they are now on their way to compost. ...
Tue 24th
18:30
Lib Dem MPs on three line whip to vote against Article 50 bill unless it includes a referendum
Rather relevant given my earlier comments about the importance of Liberal Democrat Parliamentary unity on Europe is today's news that there will be a three line whip for the party's MPs to oppose legislation to trigger Article 50 unless it contains provision for a referendum to be held on the outcome of Brexit negotiations. This is in line with the position which Tim Farron has been consistently taking. Meanwhile, the noises from the Liberal Democrat group in the House of Lords are that although it will also look to add a referendum on the outcome of Brexit talks to the ...
One positive thing about Brexit is we are actually having a debate about our place in the world and what type of immigration we want which I'm not sure many other countries are doing. We will find this comes to the fore as we want to have trade deals with the UK, China and India and find that a number or even all of those countries demand increased levels of immigration to the UK On the day the Supreme Court have decided that Parliament must have a vote on Article 50, it is at least the case that there will ...
Now that the Supreme Court has decided that it is up to Parliament, and not the Government, to decide whether or not to trigger Article 50 it is up to us to put the machinery of our much vaunted democracy (of which Brexiteers are so anxious that we should take back control) into action. Step One: write to your MP. I've just written to mine as follows: Never forget that the referendum was unnecessary. It was an internal party political affair of the Conservative Party. Leave won with 37% of the electorate (a restricted electorate which excluded millions) that had ...
Guys, if you've been to LDConf you've surely seen the bundles of papers you get in the full conference pack? Imagine, oooo, about double that. And from what I have heard from more seasoned FCCers, this is not a particularly hefty meeting. Going to need a ring binder per meeting by the looks of things. I mean theoretically I could do it all electronically, but between their insistence on using formats I don't use and therefore the lack of ease of note-taking, it was easier just to print it all out. YAY the environment! FCC: not for the dyslexic. [IMG: ...
[IMG: Instagram picture 2] In May 1997, three ALDC staff were elected to Parliament: Paul Burstow, Howard Sykes (who didn't stand), Andrew Stunell and Jackie Ballard.
[IMG: sefton-church-painting-by-harold-s-scott] Click on the photo to enlarge it I came across a 2017 calendar the other day and this was the January picture. I took to it straight away and it turned out that the calendar was of the paintings of Harold S Scott. Of course Sefton Parish is now in Sefton Borough, indeed the Borough takes its name from the historic village, but it was in West Lancashire until local government reorganisation in 1974. What a lovely painting of a church that is close to my heart because I was choir boy there around 1970 when it was ...
What's this to do with? Ahead of a recent meeting of Full Council at the Town Hall, local campaigners and residents of St Michael's Gate, Parnwell, said it was time Councillor, David Seaton, Conservative Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital Peterborough, should stand down, following the disastrous agreement between the City Council and Stef & [...]
The Guardian has the story on its web site – see link above This is an interesting intervention on a number of levels but it actually helps to expose the weakness that Labour is presently suffering from. Firstly, whilst Keir Starmer is attacking Tim Farron Labour is actually leaking party members to the Lib Dems. Secondly, Labour is all over the place with regard to Brexit, having adopted more positions than the Kamasutra since the EU Referendum. Thirdly, Labour is in a difficult bind in that many of their MP's represent areas that voted to leave the EU, although ...
Time and time again parents and teachers tell us that they are concerned about class sizes. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have listened to these concerns, looked at the international evidence, and in Government can today announce a new £36m fund to address infant class sizes. Evidence shows a positive connection between smaller class sizes and attainment, particularly for pupils from poorer backgrounds. We want to create the space for teachers to teach, pupils to learn and better support all of our students. This investment, linked to our other reforms, will: Improve early years' attainment; Have a significant impact for poorer ...
Airy Fairy LD assertion: London is easiest for meetings! Everyone can get there, and if you're poor you can always claim expenses! Reality: In order to claim expenses, you have to: 1, have enough money to be able to pay out in the first place in the hopes that you'll get your money back at some unspecified date; 2, have enough money that the risk of your claim being rejected is bearable; 3, get receipts for everything. Getting receipts for Oyster Travel is FUN! Especially if you only use Oyster a couple of times a year and are crap at ...
Like many of the 48% I woke up on the 24th June shocked and horrified by the news. Months later I realized I felt marginalized and disenfranchised. I had been a Labour supporter and voter all my life and felt the party was no longer representing my views. I contributed (modestly) to Sarah Olney's campaign and was emailed when she won with a link to the Lib Dem party and thought why not? They do actually represent my values and views. I signed up, a week later I received my membership pack and I thought great and forgt all about ...
Getting old needn't be too scary with the help and support available in Liverpool Regular readers of this blog will know that In November I presented some awards at the Social Workers Award night. I realised then just how long ... Continue reading →
One rarely gets far in a debate about liberal philosophy or policy before somebody decries 'neoliberalism'. This much-used term acts as a handy catch-all for every aspect of liberalism with which the commentator disagrees. And its use is likely to be met by two responses: large numbers of people will pile in to agree that 'neoliberalism' is terrible, while those who defend the idea under discussion will deny that it is 'neoliberal'. This is because commentators use 'neoliberalism' like Justice Potter Stewart uses hardcore pornography: they don't attempt to define it, but they feel they know it when they see ...
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has written to Jeremy Corbyn to call on him to clear up 'once and for all' his party's position on Article 50. Dear Jeremy, I am writing to you about the upcoming vote on the triggering of Article 50 in Parliament. As we both know the Government will shortly bring forward a Bill to trigger Article 50 and begin the process of negotiating our departure from the European Union. The result of the referendum was close and no one has had a say on what type of Brexit the government should seek to pursue. There ...
It's hardly breaking or surprising news to say that Robert Caro's Master of the Senate, a volume of biography covering Lyndon Johnson's time as Majority Leader of the US Senate, is as brilliant and enjoyable as it is long. But...
It's official: the Supreme Court has ruled that parliament must vote on the triggering of Article 50. May can either accept this ruling or, surreally, appeal to the European Court of Justice. I would love it if she did the latter, but it's very unlikely. In the run up to the decision, which emerged as expected, ICM did a poll for the Guardian on several Article 50 related questions. The Guardian ran with "26% of voters want second referendum on Brexit once final deal is known", which I think was supposed to tell me that a quarter of people wanting ...
In the last few minutes the supreme court has ruled that the government cannot trigger Article 50 using perogative powers but must hold a vote in Parliament. The reasoning seems to be that triggering Article 50 would cut off a dynamic source of UK law, would be a change to the UK constitutional arrangements, and this can only be done by an act of Parliament. The court also ruled that there was no obligation on the government to consult devolved administrations. There is a summary of the judgement on the supreme court website here. Gina Miller, the plaintiff, has responded: ...
Bromley Heath Viaduct will undergo a £5.9 million maintenance programme to strengthen the 1960s structure and provide improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. The improvement works will be carried out west bound, between the Bromley Heath roundabout and the Hambrook / Bristol Road junction. Work will begin in June/July this year for a maximum duration of one year, but South Glos will try to secure additional funding to accelerate the work programme and reduce the timescale. Essential maintenance of the viaduct structure will be combined with improvements to widen the shared footpath for cyclists and pedestrians, which means that the total ...
Jusrt six months after the House of Commons voted by a 355 majority to spend nearly £25 billion renewing Trident it transpires that it may not work, or at least not work as expected. That is one very expensive trading standards case. Ministers were adamant yesterday that they could not discuss the details for national security reasons. MPs were livid that they had been asked to pass the motion without all the facts. This is not how a parliamentary democracy should work. Given that the facts were out in the open Ministers should have been open to proper scrutiny. More ...
Dr Zulfiqar Ali will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for next month's Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election. Dr Ali is a consultant cardiologist who has lived in Stoke with his family since 2001. He was born in Kashmir, Pakistan, and has three children. He served as a Cllr from Hanley West / Shelton ward in 2008 to 2011 and was Deputy Group Leader 2009 to 2011.He was the party's candidate in Stoke-on-Trent Central in 2015. His campaign will focus on why it is vital for Stoke's prosperity that we remain in the European Single Market (he was a passionate Remain supporter in ...
Bury Council at its Cabinet meeting this week (Wednesday 25 January 2017) is considering a final stage of consultation on its review of Library Services. The two options proposed for consultation are: – Option 1 – Close 11 libraries (keeping Bury, Ramsbottom and Prestwich) – Option 2 – Close 10 libraries (keeping Bury, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and Prestwich) Although this is obviously a relief for Prestwich (the second most used Library in the Borough) it is not good news for the rest of the Borough who will lose an much loved local service. We are concerned that the Council has not ...
Residents will recall that, last March, I attempted to get Dundee City Council to undertake a new consultation with residents and local businesses on ways to improve West End parking. My motion then attracted 12 votes but I was outvoted by 15 SNP and Conservative councillors so nothing has been done since to tackle this vital issue. Last night, at the City Development Committee, I revisited the issue and proposed the following new motion : "Committee notes with concern that, following the consultation exercise in 2012 in part of the West End Ward relative to a possible residents' parking scheme, ...
The Kingfisher Trail is a "14 mile recreational route which connects the rural West Pennine Moors to the urban communities of Bolton, Bury and Salford, which passes through the western side of Prestwich at Phillips Park and Drinkwater Park. Events coming up include: [IMG: screenshot-2017-01-24-08-23-39] This Saturday (28th) the team will be at Philips Park taking part in the Feed the Birds Day along with the Friends of Prestwich Forest Park and Greater Manchester Ecology Unit. You'll be able to make a bird feeder, see the special nest box display and be given guidance on how to attract birds to ...
The Times has run a series of articles highlighting the harm that rises in rateable values and business rates will cause rural businesses. Yesterday, the newspaper had a first page headline: "Punitive business rates threaten rural way of life." I am sure there were a lot of responses and four of us were lucky enough to have our letters published in today's edition. My letter, as you might expect, concentrated on the impact on business rates hikes in Ludlow. I said "Our fear is that these independent shops will fold and will be replaced by the chain retailers": "Our fear ...
There have been a number of developments and news items concerning Metrolink over the last few weeks which may be of interest to residents: New Metrolink Operator KeolisAmey, has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester as the new operator of Metrolink, taking over from summer 2017. KeolisAmey are aa joint venture partnership between two companies – rail operator Keolis and infrastructure specialists, Amey. The major shareholder in Keolis is SNCF, the French nationalised railway company. Their biggest other UK operation is being part operator of Southern Rail. We have already asked Transport for Greater Manchester what assurances they have ...
Do you have the skills to help support an amazing local charity that supports over 250 local residents? The Creative Living Centre is seeking new Trustees and a new Chair of Trustees [IMG: clc-logo-1] The Creative Living Centre, is a charity supporting adults experiencing mental health problems through an integrated set of activities, therapies and support. We are looking to appoint a number of new Trustees and a Chair of the Board of Trustees. The role will be to provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees and ensure that the Centre is able to fulfil its mission in ...
The GOP of 2017 is the most extreme party coalition since the Civil War Slate reads the runes. (tags: uspolitics ) Brexit: Berlin business leaders unimpressed with UK's message German industry will not press Merkel to do a UK-friendly deal. Surprised? (tags: eu brexit ukpolitics germany ) Kosovo, Serb dispute threatens to derail Balkan peace Old problems resurface. (tags: serbia kosovo )
[IMG: Vote] You don't have to be one of those fancy poststructuralists or a dyed-in-the-wool discourse analyst to find the narratives around Brexit fascinating. But it probably helps. Much discursive work was done in advance of the Referendum vote to obscure the issues - to promise in vague terms that we could have our cake and eat it. But the real work started after the vote. The referendum result itself tied very little down, so power had to be exerted to shape the future trajectory. The Conservative government was elected in May 2015 with a mandate to stay in the ...
