The Little R'Ale House is a micro pub at Wellingborough station and has just celebrated its first birthday. It is based in the old Ammo Room, where the detonators used in fog were stored. There are also a few tables outside, which was welcome in Saturday afternoon's sun.
The South Essex Stirrer offers a critique of Corbynmania from the left: "After the general election, I naively thought that we had reached the point of peak Corbyn and that elements of the left and other radicals would start to think a bit more independently again. Far from that happening, to all intents and purposes, the mania about Corbyn seems to intensified to the point where it has become a cult...a disturbing and weird one." Patrick Barkham looks at the British debate over rewilding. "Elizabeth Anderson is a philosopher on the warpath. Her Tanner Lectures, published in this volume with ...
Tue 4th
20:45
Tory expert on UFOs and the paranormal, Rupert Matthews, finally makes it to the European parliament
Back at the end of 2011, Roger Helmer was still a Conservative MEP. He was minded to retire from the European parliament, but wanted assurances that the first unelected candidate on the party's East Midlands list at the 2009 Euro elections would be appointed in his place. This brought that candidate, Rupert Matthews, blinking into the light. It turned out that Matthews was an author and publisher, and that among whose interests were the ghosts and UFOs. Nothing wrong with that - I have labels for ghosts and UFOs on this blog. But it also transpired that something called the ...
It is Awards season again! At our Autumn Conference the party presents awards to members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have given the party outstanding service and commitment. We need you to tell us who should be considered for these prestigious awards. Nominations need to be completed by an officer of a local party, or of a regional or state executive. Nominations must reach my office by 7 August and the judging panels will make their decision in time for Conference. The nomination form and submission details are on the party website. This year ...
I have a simple view of the world as divided into three great groups of actors: states, corporations and people. The balance between the three fluctuates in the long term and the short term. Neoliberalism - the doctrine that state power is too pervasive and the state needs to be "shrunk" as far as possible - arose from the experience in the mid twentieth century of the rampaging Nazi and Soviet states and the violence and bloodshed caused within and around them. The aim of the prophets of neoliberalism - Hayek, Friedman and others - was to prevent states from ...
As the Liberal Democrat leadership election now appears likely to consist of just two stages – closing nominations, and announcing Vince Cable is the winner – attention now turns to what direction the party will head in under its new leader, with some declaring that the only way forward is for the party to become the herald of the 'radical centre'. This is often linked to claims that what Britain needs is a new centre party and that Macron and Trudeau are examples the party should follow (click on the links to see what I wrote about those ideas before ...
Second line of dialogue of Act 1 Scene 3:ROSE GRANGER-WEASLEY (spotting ALBUS POTTER's loving look at the Chocolate Frogs): Al. We need to concentrate.Though described as the canonical eighth Harry Potter story, the central character is his and Ginny's son Albus, who faces parental disappointment partly because of his friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, son of Draco, and decides to right the wrongs done by the youthful Harry to Cedric Diggory during the events of Goblet of Fire (which I think is the best of the original series). It is enjoyable enough, but I felt the central narrative was a bit ...
Why do so many people yearn for a viable centrist party, and yet so readily discount the already 100,000-strong Liberal Democrats? There are two reasons, and neither stands up to scrutiny.
The Times is reporting discussions between Conservative and Liberal Democrat chiefs of staff. Exclusive – Theresa May's new chief of staff met Lib Dem equivalent last Thursday and discussed working together https://t.co/7uyiCGax1Y — Sam Coates Times (@SamCoatesTimes) July 4, 2017 Before we get all breathless about 'deals' being struck it is worth noting that Times is no suggesting that so much as The Conservatives confirmed that they had spoken about working together on areas on which they agree. The two parties have a number of shared priorities, such as mental health ... And the Press Office is clearly saying 'no ...
Gee Neil. That seems like a bit of a sensationalist headline, do you work for The Sun? Well that is an interesting question disembodied voice that lives only when I want to write in the third person. Many moons ago I did go for a job at that very newspaper but it was not to be. They would tell me no and I would go on to work elsewhere. So yes. The festering civil war. We all know what it is. It is those who oppose Sir Vince Cable against those who don't/are at least willing to give him a ...
It was good to see renovation work taking place on the entrance to Whickham's Chase Park yesterday. The Heritage Lottery Fund is investing £1 million to bring the historic park back up to scratch. The renovation work includes restoration of the entrance and stone gateposts on Rectory Lane. All great stuff. But....... Some of this renovation work could be in vain. Labour in Gateshead are eager
The Liverpool Echo has the story on its web site – see link below I happened to have taken a shot of the Bootle tower blocks quite recently but before the appalling tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London:- So it seemed to be appropriate to take an after the cladding was removed shot:- Nice to see that One Vision Housing, who own the tower blocks, acted so quickly. Their swift response, to what is turning out to be a national tower blocks crisis, has brought them widespread praise. The second photo is amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/ Click ...
Mon, 12:37: RT @jimwaterson: Our Chilcot Report bot has been tweeting all 2.6million words of the Iraq inquiry, every five mins, for twelve months. It'... Mon, 12:56: Half of High-Skilled EU Workers in U.K. Eye Leaving, Study Says https://t.co/8yF755VJSZ Of course. Mon, 16:05: Much have I traveled in Realms of Something or Other. A Song of Ice and Fire Reviewed https://t.co/3uQK4nwaSd And GoT. And LotR. Mon, 18:38: The Area X trilogy, by Jeff VanderMeer https://t.co/P8dDU2F39i Mon, 20:48: Britain plays its hand amateurishly in Brexit poker https://t.co/M13YhfCsq4 Irish Times reports. Tue, 09:57: I have been coming to London for many years ...
People With Autism Spectrum Conditions Make More Consistent Decisions "their choices were more consistent and conventionally rational than those of control participants" [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Writing in the Financial Times, Nick Clegg shows how, as on many other issues, British politicians are wrongly blaming the EU for the consequences of decisions taken in Britain affecting immigration from EU member states. Crucially, there is far more latitude for member states to apply restrictions to freedom of movement than is commonly appreciated. The Belgian authorities aggressively deport EU citizens who do not work and cannot support themselves. Under EU law, the UK authorities could do the same for EU citizens who have failed to find work after six months. Access to Spanish healthcare requires registering with the ...
Tue 4th
10:12
The strangest thing about the general election is that it actually changed almost nothing
The result of the snap election was so unexpected that for a few head spinning weeks afterwards, it seemed as if we might be entering some sort of new political era. Yet as the dust settles, what is surprising now is just how little has changed. The Tories, in practice, command a majority that is eerily similar to the one they had going into the general election (albeit, this one requires DUP goodwill which does make it much more volatile). The Lib Dems are a rump compared to their pre-Coalition heyday; the SNP have most of the seats in Scotland; ...
... on top of all the other things detailed in my last post, Roxy has got bronchitis. She had developed an awful cough, which got dramatically worse over the weekend, so we took her to the vet yesterday morning. When I said "we're going to the vet" she did her "I know where that is!" face and guided Alisdair all the way there, which was very sweet. But then when we got to the driveway of the vet she remembered that sometimes she gets stuck with needles in there and didn't want to go in. Then she cried all the ...
Back in April we reported about the works to the Bromley Heath viaduct on the Ring Road. We are pleased to tell you that the West of England Joint Committee has agreed extra cash so that the works will be speeded up, so that the project (and the traffic problems) will only last 33 weeks rather than 50 weeks or so. Traffic management will be put in over the weekend of Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 July, and the actual maintenance work will start on Monday 24 July. Bearing in mind that the traffic diversions and holdups will affect drivers ...
Taken from More Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box - an excellent guide, marred only by a chapter from myself, to what the evidence really says about politics and elections.
Bury Council's Cabinet met last week to consider the future of Bury's 14 Libraries. The meeting was the end of a nearly year-long process to review the library provision across Bury. The outcome is that TEN libraries will close. Ainsworth, Brandlesholme, Castle Leisure, Coronation Road, Dumers Lane, Moorside, Topping Fold, Tottington, Unsworth and Whitefield. FOUR Libraries will stay open: Bury central library, Ramsbottom, Radcliffe and Prestwich. Radcliffe had been threatened with possible closure, but the conclusion of the review is that this should stay open. Opposition Leaders are no longer allowed to vote on the Cabinet (we had our votes ...
The second Prestwich Artisan Market last month brought in 2,500 visitors and raised more than £420 for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.The event boasted more than 40 specialist artisan traders at the Longfield Suite and around the Prestwich Fountain. The next market will be on Sunday 24 September and the Prestwich Artisan Winter Market takes place on Sunday 17 December.
Tue 4th
07:11
Ludlow looks to be last in Shropshire for parking machines to be converted to new £1 coins
If I ever obtain an old one pound coin these days, I pocket it. This is not out of nostalgia but in the hope of helping a desperate visitor who finds that Shropshire Council's parking machines don't take the new coins here in Ludlow. I have been trying for weeks to find out when Ludlow's machines will be converted. I have failed to get an answer. But it looks like it will be at least the end of this month before our parking machines are converted to the new pound coins. Meanwhile, machines in Shrewsbury and elsewhere have already been ...
Greater Manchester Councils have punished a list of roadworks for July. Full details are here. In addition to the works on the A56, the most significant item is works now scheduled to start on 24 July to 18 August outside the Islamic Centre on Bury Old Road (just south of the Woodthorpe). This includes Multi-Way traffic lights. Details are: Road Name Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Bury. Location Outside 6 – Outsideislamiccentre(evens).includingseveralroadcrossings... Works Dates 24/07/2017 – 18/08/2017 Work Type MAJOR Roadworks Authority Bury Council Works Promoter Cadent Gas Limited Works Promoter Contact No. 0845 672 3723 Works Reference AZ009–1000573025 Traffic Management ...
Road safety experts at Bury Council are inviting parents to attend a series of free child car seat clinics during July. These events have proven hugely popular in previous years, and enable the team to give potentially life-saving advice to families. The child car seat clinics will run from 10.30am to 3pm at the following venues: Thursday 6 July _ Aldi, Crostons Road, Bury Friday 7 July - Aldi Ramsbottom Tuesday 11 July – Asda Pilsworth Wednesday 12 July Asda Radcliffe Friday 14 July – Tesco Prestwich Officers will give advice on all matters relating to car seats and road ...
The first of a week-long look at Colin Baker's first season as Doctor Who.
Tue 4th
00:23
I must grudgingly acknowledge that American English is just about tolerable (sometimes)
As it is Fourth of July, an American themed post seems in order. And more specifically, one about American English. Pride and prejudice It has been the soundtrack to my life ever since I moved to Korea. If you learn English in this country you learn to say 'soccer' and spell 'colour' without the 'u'. [...]
