There is worrying news from the First Manchester bus company which provides services to and from Unsworth. A press release published in this week's Bury Times suggests that there are going to be timetable changes to our local bus services, including cuts to some of our routes. The 95 service will no longer run via [...]
Sorry I've not been around much — apparently dealing with bereavement while also having a sinus infection that won't go away while also fighting a byelection campaign and trying to get some freelance work done is time-consuming and difficult. Who ... Continue reading →
On Thursday 4th May 2017 all of the Greater Manchester councils (including Bury) will hold an election to decide who will be the region's next Mayor. I sincerely hope you will consider voting for the Liberal Democrat candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor Jane Brophy (you can read more about Jane here on her website) but [...]
I was back at Washingwell Primary School in Whickham yesterday, wearing both my councillor and local historian hats. The school was having a visit from the Mayor of Gateshead, Allison Thompson and she was also looking at Washingwell's involvement with the Fugar History Project, run by Sunniside History Society, of which I am deputy chairman. I encountered one of the Snow Dogs when I arrived.
All Unsworth residents and business owners are invited to attend the next meeting of the Whitefield and Unsworth Home Watch Association 7.30pm on Wednesday 29th March 2017 in St. George's Church Hall, Hollins Lane, Unsworth. The guest speaker will be: Mr Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester. AGENDA 1. Intros & Apologies. 2. [...]
Today I have reported two more very deep potholes that have appeared on the roads in and around Unsworth. A pothole I reported on Randale Drive at the junction with Sandown Road last year has re-appeared (primarily due to a poor repair the last time around) and so this has been reported again to Bury [...]
A bit of variety from the stories of Labour and Greens joining the Liberal Democrats. This time it is a Conservative councillor: A Conservative councillor in Wokingham has quit the party - the second one to do so within four months - claiming that "obsessive secrecy" forced him to make the move. But instead of going independent, he has instead joined the Liberal Democrats... He becomes the second Liberal Democrat councillor to join the group in a month after Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey won the Emmbrook seat from the Conservatives after a by-election there. [Wokingham Today]
When I was in Kingsthorpe on Saturday I thought the William IV had the look of a pub that was not going to reopen. Sadly I was right, as the Northampton Chronicle & Echo confirms today. The paper quotes the local Liberal Democrat councillor Sally Beardsworth: "It's always a shame to see a community lose one of its assets. The closure and sale of the King Billy was handled badly by Enterprise Inns. "At least it's been sold to somebody who lives in the village who will have some respect for it. I'm glad it hasn't been sold to any ...
I've finally started to digitise some of the 8mm cine film that was shot by my father, brother and me during my childhood. The earliest reels are from 1964, with the latest being from 1979/80. Most of it is obviously just family stuff, but there are some more generally interesting scenes in amongst the holiday memories. This excerpt is the ... The post St. George's Day Parade, April 1973, Derby appeared first on ten pence piece.
Chris Salewicz has written a terrific obituary of Aloysius 'Lucky' Gordon, a minor player in the Profumo affair, in the Guardian. In there is something quite unexpected: On his release, Gordon discovered that the founder of Island Records in Jamaica, Chris Blackwell, had issued a comedy album about the Profumo affair. Gordon tried to hustle money from Blackwell and, while the entrepreneur was immune to his efforts, he did offer Gordon a job as a cook at the Island Records studio in Notting Hill. Spirited, witty, but never without an air of menace - or a bag of ganja - ...
As the Metropolitan Police had been warning for months that there would almost certainly be a terrorist attack in a London, following those in Paris and Brussels, the Westminster outrage should not have been a shock, but of course it was. Nothing can truly prepare one for the random carnage caused by pure hate. For [...]
Last night Peter Pilkington gained the Dunster and Timberscombe ward of West Somerset Council for the Liberal Democrats: Lib Dem 174 - 49.7% (+49.7) Conservative 115 - 32.9% (-26.7) Green 38 - 10.9% (-29.6) Labour 23 - 6.6% (+6.6) According to Mark Pack, "the two times previously the ward was up for election since it was created there wasn't even a Liberal Democrat candidate". Dunster is known for its castle, yarn market and station on the West Somerset Railway. While Timberscombe has a claim to fame that is close to the heart of this blog. It was for many years ...
My computer has been "down" for the past 48 hours so I have been unable to give immediate responses to the atrocities committed at Westminster. On reflection I still find my feelings are a combination of sympathy, admiration and embarrassment. Sympathy, obviously, for the relatives of those who have died, for those who must live with life-diminishing injuries, and those with minor injuries or who are traumatised by the shock of what they have witnessed. Admiration for those, and especially PC Keith Palmer, who did their duty and ran towards the danger in order to help, rather than ran away. ...
Fri 24th
16:25
Why politicians should tread carefully before using Quantitative Easing to build infrastructure
At a time when politicians grapple with how to use the tools at their disposal to reduce inequality of opportunity and outcome, quantitative easing {QE) can seem like an easy option. To those blessedly unversed in the intricacies of the monetary policy tool that has dominated more than anything else the economy of the UK since the financial crisis, QE sounds like, 'printing money and spending it on infrastructure.' If only it were that simple. QE is a policy of central banks to buy the bonds issued by their own governments, the aim being to push interest rates down and ...
Couple of recent updates. NOW TV have chosen to block the dev channel slot on their hardware. I respect their choice, but this does mean that the FilmOn app will be removed if you have it installed. Several people have asked for a work around or suggestions, the answer is to get a full Roku. Products from Amazon.co.uk [IMG: Roku Streaming Stick] -2% Roku Streaming Stick Price: £39.00 Was: £39.99 [IMG: Roku 2 Streaming Media Player (4205E) with Faster Processor (2015 model)] -23% Roku 2 Streaming Media Player (4205E) with Faster Processor (2015 model) Price: £54.00 Was: £69.99 [IMG: Roku ...
Bismark is quoted as having said that "politics is the art of the possible" and in perpetuating a nuclear defence policy that can never be realised, the Liberal Democrats have succeeded in stepping out of the debate on nuclear weapons. The policy of having a part time submarine which probably isn't carrying any nuclear warheads is neither possible nor deterrent. This position is the sort of contingency that is adopted by fence sitters who do not expect ever to have to implement the policy that they have adopted and quite frankly for a party that aspires to government it is ...
Fri 24th
14:16
Until centrism can unite around a single figure and/or force, it will continue to lose ground
I chaired an event at Lib Dem spring conference in York last weekend. It was about 2017 and the challenges ahead. During the Q&A, one chap from the audience asked me "who is the main figure that centrists can unite around?" – the fact that even he, a Lib Dem activist, didn't think it was Farron probably tells a tale of its own. He either consciously or unconsciously highlighted the major problem for centrists at present: the field is scattered, with all of the major players in separate camps, sure that their camp is the one that will eventually be ...
So, what was the most enduring memory of the York Liberal Democrat Spring Conference? Tim Farron taking on the Tories in a rousing final speech, or Nick Clegg in blistering form on Brexit? The feisty debate on faith schools, or the brief flirtation with unilateral nuclear disarmament, cunningly timed to coincide with England's Grand Slam decider? Or was it York itself, magnificent in the spring sunshine, giving us the perfect backdrop to the #libdemfightback? Well, for me, the abiding memory is being a part of a vast hopeful army of conference newbies, who, like me, had chosen to get up ...
Following the terror attacks in London, the flags were at half mast outside Gateshead Civic Centre yesterday. I'm still trying to comprehend what drives people to murder randomly selected innocent people as part of a political war. Or perhaps there is nothing to comprehend. ISIS is simply a cult of death, modern day Nazis.
In order to "incentivise employers to think differently about their recruitment and skills decisions and the balance between investing in UK skills and overseas recruitment" (Lord Nash in the Lords on Tuesday) the government has decided to introduce an Immigration Skills Charge, a tax of £1000 per employee, per year, paid in advance by an employer wishing to recruit a skilled worker from outside the European Economic Area. It does not apply to everyone, of course. Exceptions have been made for a variety of post-graduate scientists (including social and humanities scientists), research and development managers, and higher education teaching professionals. ...
What's this about? The Liberal Democrats have called for an "NHS Passport" to secure the rights of the 59,000 EU citizens working in the NHS, in response to figures revealing a sharp rise in nurses from the EU quitting the health service. Got any stats for me? Over 2,700 EU nurses left the NHS in [...]
Fri 24th
11:42
Lydiate – Land North of Turnbridge Road – Our response to planning application for 34 dw...
Trees taken out at the end of Maghull's Turnbridge Road I thought it may help others (who may wish to make their own comments) if I published here the representations that Sheila and I have made to Sefton Council's Planners with regard to the recent planning application for this site. Tree felling machinery at work on the site in September 2016. I am sure others will have additional ideas about how their representations should be framed but this is what we have said:- ***** Planning Services Sefton Council Magdalen House 30 Trinity Road Bootle L20 3NL Yr Ref DC/201700456 Land ...
After a first gain from the Conservatives in West Somerset yesterday, the UK-wide picture now looks like this: [IMG: No automatic alt text available.]
When Farron announced that we were pushing for another referendum on Europe, I agreed with those who accused the Lib Dems of ignoring democracy because we didn't like the result. While I still sympathise with these criticisms, I have eventually come around to the party's position. Or at least - I think that there is a strong principled case for it (I still have some practical questions). This case is based on accountability. Election results are not the be all and end all of democracy, they are part of a wider process. In a General Election, this process involves political ...
Fri 24th
09:51
Woman drove with men lying on bonnet outside SAS camp in Credenhill, Hereford Magistrates Court hear...
The Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser provides our Headline of the Day.
Whatever the arguments for and against the annual ritual of the change from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time, it happens this weekend, at 2 o'clock in the morning on Sunday . Don't forget the old adage .."Spring forward, Fall back" So we put the clocks forward at this time of the year. Mind you "Spring forward, Autumn Back" doesn't quite have the same ring ....
The failure of Justice Secretary, Liz Truss to defend three judges smeared as "enemies of the people" in the wake of a high court ruling on Article 50 was a particular low-point for the UK's unwritten constitution and the Conservative Government itself. Newspapers were targeting independent judges, who were doing their job of interpreting democratically decided legislation, and all we had from the politician whose job it is to defend them and the rule of law, was silence. Quite rightly, the UK's most senior judge has now spoken out on this shameful episode. Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd ...
The EU is worried about losing their American nuclear umbrella. The UK is worried about losing their European market and their seat at the European top table. Britain has nuclear weapons. The EU has markets. Is there a fit? If so, the result could be a tectonic strategic shift with far-reaching political repercussions. My sources say there is enough of a fit for Prime Minister Theresa May to be thinking of offering to extend the British deterrent to EU countries in return for Brexit concessions. This is most likely to be in cooperation with the French. The reaction of the ...
From Blether Tay-Gither : Our March Blether will be on Tuesday 28th March - at 7pm in Madigan's Food Emporium and Bookshop, Castle Street. This meeting sees us celebrate 10 Years of storytelling in Dundee. Join us for stories and cake! Special guest is Jess Smith. Seats are limited so please let us know ASAP if you are coming by contacting e-mailing sheila@blethertaygither.co.uk or by phoning 01334 474836.
Congratulations to Peter Pilkington, elected to West Somerset District Council with an amazing gain from the Conservatives last night. In a ward that we didn't stand in last time. Dunster & Timberscombe (West Somerset) result: LDEM: 49.7% (+49.7) CON: 32.9% (-26.7) GRN: 10.9% (-29.6) LAB: 6.6% (+6.6) — Britain Elects (@britainelects) March 23, 2017 There was another good increase in vote share from a standing start in Herefordshire: Leominster South (Herefordshire) result: GRN: 40.8% (+10.1) IOC: 18.3% (+18.3) CON: 17.8% (-8.7) IND: 14.9% (+14.9) LDEM: 8.2% (+8.2) — Britain Elects (@britainelects) March 23, 2017 Another by-election in Blackburn will have ...
Tim Farron has shown British politics the meaning of political leadership. On Brexit, his fight for the public to be allowed a further say and against ultra-Brexit that no-one voted for has been bold. In contrast, the leader of the supposed official opposition has dithered. The unelected Prime Minister pursues a course she herself described as a catastrophe. Too much of our future is falling under the Brexit axe, which people were reassured by the Leave campaign would not happen. So, straight after business in the conference hall was concluded on Saturday, Tim Farron was able to join a large ...
Marine Le Pen, no longer enemy of the euro Rhetoric meets reality. (tags: france eu ) Peter Robinson on Martin McGuinness The human dimension. (tags: northernireland ) A 130-Year-Old Fact About Dinosaurs Might Be Wrong You don't know what you don't know! (tags: dinosaurs fossils ) Inside Alabama's Auto Jobs Boom: Cheap Wages, Little Training, Crushed Limbs Really horrifying. (tags: uspolitics death factories ) President Trump's cascade of false claims in Time's interview on his falsehoods Lies about lies. (tags: uspolitics )
