Lots of Midland main line goodness. The many closed stations along this stretch were more in evidence in 1960.
I am known to be a fairly placid soul, and so when I suggested to a sympathetic ear this evening that I had a fairly radical proposal to improve future meetings, it was borne of much frustration. And so, whilst it is unlikely that any member of Federal International Relations Committee will read this, this seems like a good time to speak up on behalf of Committee Secretaries everywhere... The lot of a Secretary is not an exciting one. The drama, assuming that there is any, tends to happen elsewhere. But, if you are one of those people who do ...
Embed from Getty Images Tom Brake is in good form in a Liberal Democrat press release from today. He says: "Duterte is one of the 21st century's most sinister leaders and Liam Fox has flown halfway around the world to grovel to him. The fact that the first visit made by Fox since triggering Article 50 is to the Philippines shows just how low this government is willing to stoop in order to secure even a minimal trade deal in the future. "According to UK trade statistics, the value of our exports to the Philippines are just £500 million a ...
The song was famously sung by Andrea Bocelli who happened to be a favourite of my late father Lance and it's probably as apt a heading to a blog post as any for what in many ways is a bittersweet juncture in my life. Because after much reflection and deliberation, I decided some time ago that I would not be submitting my name for re-election to Ceredigion County Council and Cardigan Town Council in 2017. Back in 2014, I wrote this blog post on the 10th anniversary of my election to local government which explored those tentative early steps and ...
Scottish Water is writing to residents in Blackness Street to unfortunately advise of a further delay in completing infrastructure works in the street. This is due to the deteriorated condition of the existing water main which meant a requirement to change the method of mains upgrade to open cut replacement. This has meant progress has been much slower than anticipated as it is necessary to lift, clean and relay the old cobble stones to ensure the area is reinstated correctly after the new pipe is installed. Open cut which means full replacement of pipes and is a longer process than ...
In addition to the Thrasher/Rallings predictions for this May's elections, we have those from Conservative peer Robert Hayward. Years ago, he was the Conservative candidate the Diana Maddock and the Liberal Democrats beat to win a famous Parliamentary by-election victory in Christchurch. More recently he's carved out a well-respected niche as a fair commentator on each party's electoral prospects ahead of the May rounds of local elections. He also called both the 2015 general election and 2016 European referendum right. Here are his predictions which are for England, Scotland and Wales (unlike Thrasher/Rallings, who predicted England only): Liberal Democrats: +100 ...
Once again, our Headline of the Day Award goes to the Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser.
I've often written about the importance of standing Liberal Democrat candidates in all elections. Of course, it's not always easy to do so, which is why Cornwall Liberal Democrats deserve particular congratulations for standing a full slate of candidates for this May's elections. To do that has required running 123 (!) candidates. No mean feat getting all that sorted and done correctly, on time. It looks to me like this is the largest number of Liberal Democrat candidates which has ever been found for one council's elections. Although back in the dim and distant past there have been some cases ...
There seems to me to be little point in Gateshead Council holding on to buildings and land it no longer uses or needs for another purpose. That is not a reason for selling off important local assets still in use, or which could have an important community use in the near future, as Labour are attempting to do with part of Chase Park in Whickham. Nevertheless, an asset such as the old Gateshead
Postal ballots for the 2017 elections to Neath Port Talbot county borough council (and to the town and community councils in the Neath area) will land on doorsteps in the week ending 22nd April. Voting in person will take place on Thursday 4th May. Liberal Democrat candidates are: AberavonCen Phillips Bryncoch South Frank Little CadoxtonSheila Kingston-Jones CimlaCharley Cross Coedffranc NorthKeith Davies Coedffranc WestHelen Ceri Clarke Sandfields West Tehani (Taz) Taylor If there is no web page indicated,please address correspondence for Neath wards to neathlibdems and for Aberavon to aberavonlibdems both at hotmail.co.uk.
Tue 4th
15:52
On Jeremy Corbyn's continued obliviousness to the issue that matters most to most of us...
Jeremy Corbyn has been one of the political heavyweights of the past 18 months. He came from left field to sweep to power as the leader of the Labour party and then followed that up by winning a second leadership contest. He was entrenched as the man in place to take it to the Conservative Party and lead the voice of the opposition. He had it all but chose to stumble and after a while the media are starting to notice. Take today for example. Corbyn made a speech and it didn't even get a soundbite on the lunchtime news. ...
What's this about then? As detailed in the Council Budget consultation document, in the 7 years to 2017/18, Peterborough City Council has "seen its Government funding cut by £57million, which equates to over 50 per cent of its Government grant." What else does the document say? It also claims: A total of £178 million has been saved [...]
Meols Ward Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Nigel Ashton and Jo Barton are holding their next advice centre on Saturday 8th April from 11 am to 12 noon at St John's Primary School, Rufford Road, Crossens. We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in. We also hold a monthly advice centre in Churchtown, at BoxTree Kitchen for Queenscourt café, Manor Road/Cambridge Road, roundabout, fourth Thursday of every month (except December) from 10:30 to: 11.30 am.
I was very pleased to hear that Sutton was joint winner with Lambeth for the Small Business Friendly Borough Award presented by London Councils and the Federation of Small Businesses. Our award was for the 'Best Programme of Support' by our Opportunity Sutton Team for the Pop Up Sutton Entrepreneurs Market. Pop Up Sutton is an [...]
Carl discussing the issues of the day at a meeting in Liverpool Central Library, The Liverpool Echo covered Carl Cashman's recent manifesto launch – see link above You will have to persevere with the Echo article as it unfortunately takes a long time to load up. My own account of the launch last week can be accessed via this link:-
Our calendar already has a Black Wednesday (along with a Bloody Sunday and a Black Monday) so the options for a suitable appellation for last Wednesday, when Mrs May triggered Article 50 for us to leave the European Union, are slightly limited. "Dismal" Wednesday? "Disastrous" Wednesday (no, not really - we shall survive, but poorer and with less prestige), "Dismaying" Wednesday (a pleasantly unexpected pun), Stupid Wednesday (hardly strong enough). So "Self-harm," because it's the most accurately descriptive. I've been interested , and actively involved at a minor level, in British politics for most of my adolescent and all of ...
It is that time of year, the time of year where I write a blog post about my fantasy baseball team that not even ten people will read. It is lucky I don't worry too much about my readership numbers for blog posts like this isn't it...? So I'm back with my Fratton Yankees. I still have not won this darn league despite having a fantastic squad. I've made the playoffs four straight years but haven't been victorious at the end. Last year I was the overall #1 seed by a considerable margin but tripped over in the playoffs. The ...
Good mental health is more than the absence of a mental health problem, say the Mental Health Foundation. This Mental Health Awareness Week, 8-14 May 2017, is going to look at mental health from a new angle. Rather than ask why so many people are living with mental health problems, they will seek to uncover why too few of us are thriving with good mental health. With people struggling to cope with the demands of life and stuck on getting through the day, they will explore: – how many of us are surviving or thriving, and the difference between the ...
The Council Leaders who sit on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority have delayed the next phase of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. A revised version of Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, due out in March, has been delayed by six months. The proposals, which at present include plans to decimate Greater Manchester's greenbelt, will now be out in <strong>September</strong>, with consultation period extended from six to 12 weeks. There was a massive public response to the first stage of consultation with over 25,000 responses received. Many local people have campaigned against the proposals to destroy so much green belt land. Liberal ...
Rt Hon Jo Grimond. One of the finest orators I have ever heard and a huge liberal in thoughts, principles and practice Okay it is confession time. For the past 18 months I have been lurking in the Lib Dem ... Continue reading →
Greater Manchester Councils have annoyed that the Phase 2 consultation on the "Greater Manchester Spatial Framework" is to be delayed until September 2017 – partially due to the huge number of the responses from members of the public received (over 25,000). Although the delay is good news, it certainly doesn't the issue has been won. There is no indication yet that the current (Phase 1) proposals to build on 47% of Prestwich's green belt will be changing. More information in the story below.
As predictably as UKIP politicians dressing in tweed, calls to return to Imperial measurements have being doing the rounds in the media within days of Theresa May triggering Article 50. Whilst this may sound trivial, the passion and practicality runs very deep. Embed from Getty Images The Active Resistance to Metrification has removed or vandalised thousands of metric road signs. The "metric martyrs" championed in sections of the press, sold goods illegally using only Imperial measurements. At the same time we currently use the same metric units as the counties we have over 90% of our overseas trade with, a ...
In 1739 Britain went to war with Spain on the pretext of a slight caused eight years earlier when a British Merchant ship Captain, Robert Jenkins lost his ear after Spanish coastguards boarded his ship. There is no evidence that the ear was exhibited before the British Parliament, but I suspect that if Michael Howard had been around at that time he would have brandished it (or one very like it) at the despatch box. Those of is arguing to stay in the European Union often made the point that it has guaranteed over sixty years of peace in Europe. ...
This Saturday is the first ever 'Bury Pride event'. Bury Pride will support the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate equality and diversity right here in Bury. Bury Pride will be held on Saturday 8th April 2017 and will be absolutely FREE to all members of the community. You can register for your free ticket here: https://www.fatsoma.com/mobile/products/e2igalq4 A parade runs through Bury town centre. At The Elizabethan Suite, there will be around 30 stalls from a range of local LGBT and family-friendly businesses, offering products, information and merchandise. Bury Pride is a family friendly affair, with activities and performances suitable for all ...
GMCA have agreed to delay the Phase 2 consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework to September. The full report considered by the GMCA is here (it's not very detailed). (Page 25) Highlights are: The report considered by Council officers says: "The current published timetable provides for consultation on the Publication Plan in June/July. In the light of the consultation responses received and the further work needed it is recommended that consultation on the next stage of the plan should be moved to September. The regulations require a formal consultation of at least 6 weeks. It is proposed that all ...
Happy Local Election Nomination Deadline Day! If you are planning on standing for election on May 4th, you have until 4pm today to get your nomination papers in. As I expect to be posting the 2017 candidate list in the next few days, it is an appropriate day to post the final part of the series on openly trans politicians in the UK, which started as part of LGBT History Month. (For earlier years, see part one covering 1986-1999 and part two, 2000-2010) LGBT History Month is now long past, but as a result of the first two parts I ...
The Studio Church, at the junction of Heaton Street and Bailey Street near Heaton Park are asking for people's memories of the old Heaton Park Congregational Church? They are looking for any memories that people have of the old Church, whether they attended worship there, one of the many groups that met there or went for some other purpose. They are aiming to put on an exhibition in May about the history of the Church and incorporating these memories. Details below, apologies that the first drop-in event has already happened.
Michael Howard's lunatic hint that Britain could go to war with "Spanish-speaking" Spain over Gibraltar shows just how far the Brexit extremists have got so carried away with their referendum victory. The absurdity of talking about a friend and ally as a possible target for military action in defense of a British colony shows that in 2005, Britain was right to reject the Howard-led Conservative
