Today has been an interesting day, with a regional review of the recent General Election campaign (from a Liberal Democrat perspective) and then listening to a Radio 4 programme describing a "thirty year itch". The theory behind the latter was that a consensus is broadly established in British politics which lasts for about 30 years, [...]
The long-mooted scheme to straighten the railway line through Market Harborough station is finally to become reality. This summer a new car park will be built on the east side of the line and in a couple of years the tracks will be slewed to pass through the existing car park on the other side. The result will be that the train coming towards us in the final photo will keep going straight on. And we are promised longer platforms, no gap to mind and even a footbridge with lifts. The station building itself will not be affected. I took ...
Good news. I am able to run this feature again because two blogs were added to the LibDemBlogs aggregator in June. Louis Milan: A Liberal Perspective is a new blog. Louis writes of the Queen's speech: Perhaps most notable about the Queen's Speech earlier today was that which was omitted, rather than that which was included. No mention of the manifesto pledges on fox hunting, grammar schools, the triple lock on pensions, free school meals or the Winter Fuel allowance, only highlights the weakness of Theresa May's government, not being too controversial to ensure that she can keep her job ...
Paddy Ashdown's been at it again. He has reportedly embarked on a new career writing fiction. This, however, proves the old adage that truth is often stranger. Not the reports of involvement in plotting to depose Tim Farron as leader (for more of that, subscribe to Liberator and read Radical Bulletin in the forthcoming issue). The Federal Board was, to say the least, surprised to receive a paper from the former leader which had to be seen to be believed. Putting aside his frequent Mark Twain quotation of not interfering - "don't speak to the helmsman, don't spit at the ...
So some good soul has compiled together a picture gallery of all of the European legislative chambers, you can find the original here. This has inevitably ended up in Twitter arguments between correct people and the idiots who think hemicycle debating chambers are a good thing. Now because I have too much time on my [...]
From Malcolm Saville's The Fourth Key (1957): When Mr. Walters put the glasses down he was wildly excited. "I have amazing news for you - and indeed for every bird-lover in the country," he whispered. "As I suspected, the birds you saw and which I have been watching for fifteen minutes are bee-eaters. I believe there are at least three couples and they are nesting at the end of the tunnels made by sand-martins in the sandy cliff below us. Bee-eaters rarely come to Britain because our summers are often cold and wet. They breed on the sunny coats of ...
Back in January I managed to score signed copes of the three spinoff novels based on the Doctor Who spinoff, Class; and having watched the whole series, I went to the books to maximise my Class experience. (I wonder if there were comics as well? Perhaps Big Finish will do audios in due course.) Joyride, by Guy Adams Second paragraph of third chapter:"Of course it is, The biggest. The best."Set between episodes 2 and 3, this is a decent self-contained story of alien tech exploited by nasty humans - the "Joyride" of the title allows people to take over other ...
Sat 1st
16:35
Well that didn't take long! Vince answers the Brexit, freedom of movement and single market question...
Vince Cable is likely to be the sole nominee for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats. It is good to see, though, that he's behaving like he is in a contest. He's aware of what's on the minds of members and activists and responds accordingly. People had raised concerns about his position on freedom of movement and the single market and he answers them here in a pragmatic and straightforward way. He also explicitly says that Brexit could be avoided if we are willing to consider some changes to the status quo. What's also interesting is the acknowledgement that the ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:As I walked towards it, I noticed it was some kind of refill station. Cars were parked there, under a horizontal canopy and stationed next to simple-looking fuel-delivery systems. It was confirmed: the cars did absolutely nothing for themselves. They were practically brain dead, if they even had brains.A novel about an alien who is sent to contemporary Cambridge to wipe out all knowledge of a particular mathematical theorem, and observes the weirdnesses of human society from the viewpoint of an outsider. It didn't really work for me; I found the protagonist a bit too detached, ...
In February last year, Labour on Gateshead Council moved the following motion: "Council notes the upcoming referendum on our membership of the European Union, which will occur before 2017 but which could be as early as June 2016. Council welcomes the benefits that Gateshead residents receive from UK membership of the European Union, in particular: Job creation
It's a stressful time in the world at the moment isn't it? I've also had, recently, a personally sad time, and one of the ways in which I cope with stress is ranting on this blog. So, since this is my blog, I'm going to rant about some of the ways in which I cope with stress. A day in a nutshell Yoga Since November last year I've been on a health and fitness kick. I've made "lifestyle changes" and I'm pretty impressed with myself! I am proud to say that I'm now one of those totally irritating people who ...
Europe and immigration are two issues which are both central to why many Liberal Democrat members are active in politics. They are also issues on which many party members were looking forward to seeing what candidates for the party leadership had to say on the matter, especially given the different views expressed as to what the party's future line should be on both. Although it now looks very likely that there will not be a contest for the post, Vince Cable has, in a very welcome move, set out his views on both topics at some length over on his ...
Fri, 12:56: Finnish diplomats in Brussels dance to celebrate midsummer and 100 years of independence https://t.co/COWABYQTdl Yes! Fri, 16:05: Programming Brexit: How will the UK's IT sector fare? https://t.co/gf082Se9Ew With analysis gleaned from LinkedIn profiles. Fri, 18:55: June Books https://t.co/VcqyPt0z6A Fri, 19:43: RT @simonharley: I've found Jacob Rees-Mogg's motorcycle. https://t.co/IomX9Njs3w Fri, 20:48: Health workers in Syria rush to vaccinate 320,000 children amid sudden polio outbreak https://t.co/we9mIngXoN *gulp* Fri, 21:21: RT @johnlegend: I see Melania's campaign to end cyber bullying is off to a slow start Sat, 09:05: RT @Channel4News: Simone Veil, the iconic feminist politician who legalised abortion in France ...
Open Letter to Vince Cable If you're a lib dem member please do sign this. miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 30-06-2017 I posted The Blood is the Life for 30-06-2017 to my dreamwidth blog [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
It now appears that Vince Cable will be unopposed in the upcoming party leadership election, and so party members will not receive the opportunity to quiz him at hustings on his record and policy views> Many of us within the party are concerned by this. We believe that in a democratic party, it is imperative that the leader receive proper scrutiny. We need to know that the candidate is up to the job. The leader of the party must be able to deal with uncomfortable questions. As we've seen in the recent election campaign, the inability to give a straight ...
Embed from Getty Images 1987 used to be a pivotal election, frequently referenced. The birth of modern media management, the death of the Alliance and a story of how one inaccurate leaked set of poll figures could panic a whole party; this was an election full of drama and long term significance. But it is also now an example of how much evidence and knowledge dies if it predates the internet. Because 1987 was the election when the exit poll got it wrong, but that was forgotten rather than wheeled out, tweeted about and dissected in the lull when people ...
As the Liberal Democrats are about to take on a new leader, one question looms large. Why, in its various incarnations, has this mainstream political party failed to win power for almost a hundred years? While we blame variously the right-wing press, the voting system and so on, the truth may lay closer to the party itself that needs structural modernization in three distinct areas - mission, message and management. With the centre ground deserted, we have been handed an open goal, but have yet failed to score. Unless we act now with fast, brave and clever leadership, that goal ...
From the City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Virgin Media cable repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Westfield Place (at its junction with Perth Road), Dundee This notice comes into effect on Sunday 2 July 2017 for 1 day. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes are available via Perth Road / Roseangle The one way order relating to Westfield Place will be rescinded for the duration ...
The A49 is shut at Onibury north of Ludlow until the early hours of 10 July but you can still get to Ludlow easily. Our town is open for business and visitors as usual. If you are coming to Ludlow from the Shrewsbury direction, take a left onto the B4368 in the middle of Craven Arms. That's the roundabout outside Harry Tuffins. After 6km (3.7 miles), turn right onto the B4365. That takes you through the village of Culmington and across Ludlow Racecourse before returning the A49. Please take care on this route. Its suitable for cars and for coaches. ...
