This photo, taken in 1992 or 1993 as far as I can recall, shows the estuary of the River Erme in Cornwall. Other estuaries on the South West Coastal Path have a bridge or a ferry, but you have to wade the Erme at low tide. I arrived a bit before then, but took local advice and crossed a little downstream from where the guidebook said. I had no problems.
The third and final scandal of tuition fees is the neglect of part-timers and other options for alternative study. I make the case for a lifetime learning fund - and discover that I agree with Vince.
Embed from Getty Images In a BBC interview this morning Tim Farron told Emma Barnett that he decided to resign the leadership of the Liberal Democrats after the election a couple of weeks into the campaign. But I share the confusion of two fellow Lib Dem bloggers - Andrew Page and Neil Monnery - about the muddled way Tim's resignation took place if that is the case. Lord Bonkers has had his say and you can also download a pdf of an article by Liz Barker from the Liberator website. Liz pours cold water on "Lib Dem Voice conspiracy theorists". ...
When Tim Farron came up and cooked my breakfast 3 days before the election, I had a feeling it would be the last time I saw him as leader. I'm not sure where that feeling came from, but it turned out to be right – unless I randomly bump into him in the next six days. A few days after his resignation, when I'd almost calmed down, I wrote: In trying to piece together the events of this week, I hear, though, that Tim had returned to Westminster in a positive mood. Friendly sources close to him tell me that ...
In an interview with the Guardian published tonight, Vince Cable sets out some lofty ambitions for the party: I ask him what would constitute success for his leadership. "If there is a significant improvement in our vote share, and a sense that we are back in the frame as a serious party being listened to," he says. He is not looking merely at picking up the odd seat - his age doesn't permit him that incremental approach - but is more interested in driving up popular support. "You could come from third to first very quickly." He is encouraged by ...
So headlines The Guardian on an interview with Vince Cable which contains two significant policy sections, after first a nod towards Vince's health: Cable is ... a young 74. I meet him at Waterloo station - under the clock as tradition dictates - and he easily outpaces me in the dash for the 3.20pm to Twickenham. The first of the significant policy sections is on Europe, confirming Vince Cable's support for referendum to be held on the terms of Brexit: Cable stands by his suggestion that we may never leave the EU. "The Brexit process is going to get very ...
You know some towns have plaques featuring inventors, playwrights and musicians? Well Market Harborough has this (via @alistaircoleman) pic.twitter.com/KCRsXrOaq7— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) July 13, 2017This sign caused some hilarity on Twitter today - and at least it gave Jeremy Vine a break from playing Bermuda Triangle by Barry Manilow. What it commemorates is the innovative traffic calming measures - raised crossings and kerbs and so on - that were put installed in the town centre after the bypass opened. They sound commonplace today, but were innovative then. So much so that the government provided the money for them as a ...
There's good news and bad news about the long-awaited cycle track between Yate and the Railway Path, the cycling "superhighway" between Bristol and Bath. At the moment the Yate Spur only comes out as far as the T junction on the B4465 south of Westerleigh. B4465 T junction to Broad Lane (Cornerways) - inside the farmer's field up to the former Cornerways Nursery - Construction starts this month, taking 4 monthsBroad Lane - has already been upgradedBroad Lane to Nibley Lane Corner - the "Westerleigh bypass" - being designed, awaiting fundingNibley Lane Corner improvements - recently consulted about - on ...
The second scandal of tuition fees and student loans is that we are perpetuating an outdated system that needs dragging into the digital era - and should be funded by technology profits.
The new Liberator is on its way to subscribers, which means that it is time to spend another week in the company of Rutland's most celebrated peer. We begin with the inside view on recent events that we have all been waiting to read. Monday I have seen active service in two worlds wars (details still hush hush, I am afraid). I was at the General Post Office, Dublin, when the Easter Rising broke out (I had only gone in to buy a stamp). I went canvassing in the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election. But never have I seen scenes ...
The Independent have an article up about some YouGov numbers that will be taken as definitive proof by the Left that Jeremy Corbyn was the sole reason behind the unexpected Labour surge in the election. "Just 6 per cent of Labour voters backed the party because of their local MP" it's called, and it thankfully provides a link to the numbers. True enough, only six percent of self-identified Labour voters say they did so because of their local MP. The Left will say this undercuts the "people voted Labour despite Corbyn" narrative. Yet it's worth pointing out that only 13% ...
Our Headline of the Day comes from the Yorkshire Post. Uniquely, this case has led to two of these prestigious awards. The first went to The Press.
The Liberal Democrats are preparing for new leadership at a time when a gaping vacuum continues across the British political spectrum. Our strong and motivating voice is needed more than ever. The challenge is how to make it heard. I wrote earlier advocating broad brush changes to the party (Get clever, get brave and reform to win,). I now follow up with four examples of initiatives that could give us high, positive impact with minimal paperwork. First, investigate bad practice. In March, the party brilliantly uncovered EU nurses quitting the NHS through a Freedom of Information request. There needs to ...
I've uploaded the third volume of my Beach Boys book as epub and mobi files to Patreon. Backers can find them here. The book will be going on general release in a few days, and I'll be contacting Patreons on ... Continue reading →
(here for those who missed it) Roxy has a new course of different antibiotics in case the thing she has was resistant to the other antibiotics. If they don't cure it she might have to have x-rays and things. Once this thing is cleared up she needs to go see the doggy dentist again, too, which is a joy. She's probably going to have to have a couple of extractions. Thanks to all who offered to send spoons (and gin). I have managed to slip a bottle of Opihr onto the Ocado order for Sunday, so I think I'll be ...
Vince Cable has boldly challenged the received Westminster wisdom that the referendum vote is irreversible. Here are three good reasons why he is right. Leavers did not vote for Brexit to make us poorer.. A very thorough YouGov inquiry carried out on the eve of the referendum into what motivated Leavers found that very few "expect, or would tolerate, a hit to their living standards .... They were almost unanimous in believing Brexit was a cost-free option." There was no evidence of any willingness to make economic sacrifices to achieve such aims as reducing immigration or regaining sovereignty. Brexit is ...
Fri 14th
11:53
Bootle – The things folks will do to find out what's going on in Sefton Council's bunker
Bootle Town Hall What an odd story (see link to the Liverpool Echo's web site above), with clearly more to come. Bootle Town Hall is a really nice building although sadly having been bombed during WWII it not as grand as it once was because of a 1960's refurbishment. A previous posting of mine from 2014 about this significant building can be accessed via the link below:-
Facebook's and eBay's monopolies are very different from, and scarier than, Google's. But what about Amazon? | The Reinvigorated Programmer One of those rare posts where the comments are worth reading too miss_s_b | AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH I posted AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH to my dreamwidth blog [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Thu, 12:56: A Wrinkle In Time film coming https://t.co/Rtm8OqdJhV Looks very promising! Thu, 15:20: RT @worldcon75: Two days left! Online voting in #TheHugoAwards closes at 23:59 Pacific Daylight Time on 15 July 2017! https://t.co/ZbsOLGF... Thu, 18:35: HWJN / ح و ج ن by Ibraheem Abbas https://t.co/ye7xDcbMlG Thu, 22:26: RT @davidallengreen: The day the whistling stopped. https://t.co/QJHrMBPf4B Fri, 10:11: Viscount jailed for offering money for killing of Gina Miller https://t.co/P8S2Mnpf2o Good.
While picking over the bones of our, what could charitably be called, 'middling', general election campaign, many Lib Dems have called on the party to develop a new identity of some kind. A single issue that we can define ourselves with. I respectfully think that such an approach is unlikely to lead to the electoral promised-land that some have hoped for. I am yet to be convinced that there is such an issue, but even assuming one exists that the public likes, there is an underlying paucity at heart of the party in terms of councillors, vote share, seats and ...
I'm not a cynical person by nature. Wait no, that is a lie. I'm extremely cynical and when bleary eyed this morning I sat there on the sofa and saw the news that Tim Farron had decided to quit before the General Election, I was caught up in mixed emotions. First of all I was tired (that had nothing to do with the news, I was just tired) then I was kinda pissed off and then I started wondering whether it was actually true. I'll tell you why I have some issues with the truth of this confession. First of ...
Tim Farron has revealed that he decided to resign as leader "about two weeks into the election campaign". In an interview with Radio 5live, the outgoing party leader said he "put the issue to bed" early on. In relation to the conflict he felt between his religious faith and his secular position as leader of a liberal party, he said: "I thought there isn't a way forward out of this without me either compromising or just causing damage to the party in the long run." This naturally raises questions and criticisms, but not necessarily those focused on whether he had ...
Just to let residents know about recent planning applications in your area. Please just let me know if you have any queries. Demolition of existing garage colony and erection of 1 no. detached dwelling with detached garage Garage Colony at Lilac Grove, Prestwich, M25 3DT Ref. No: 61635 | Received: Fri 16 Jun 2017 | Validated: Wed 21 Jun 2017 | Status: Registered
The British like to think they invented the law. It is true that thanks to empire and successful European wars, British law is the foundation of many of the world's legal systems. It is certainly the cornerstone of the American judicial system and the old imperial countries. British lawyers rewrote the law books in Germany following World War Two and contributed heavily to the European Court of Justice with which they are currently having so many problems. Actually, the principle that the rule of law MUST underwrite civilized societies dates back to at least ancient Egypt. It is there where ...
Just to let residents know about recent planning applications in your area. Please just let me know if you have any queries. Revised house type and layout to plots 3 and 4 Nutt Farm, Nutt Lane, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2SJ Ref. No: 61675 | Received: Mon 26 Jun 2017 | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2017 | Status: Registered
Just to let residents know about recent planning applications in your area. Please just let me know if you have any queries. Single storey extensions at front and rear; Two storey extension at side and rear 111 Heywood Old Road, Middleton, Manchester, M24 4QL Ref. No: 61689 | Received: Thu 29 Jun 2017 | Validated: Mon 03 Jul 2017 | Status: Registered
Outgoing Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has revealed in an interview with the BBC that he made his decision to stand down as leader before the general election: In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live's Emma Barnett, Mr Farron said that under his leadership, the party had "left intensive care and is back relevant". "My job was to save the party," he said. "The Liberal Democrats still exist and we're moving forward." Mr Farron faced repeated questions about his views on gay sex during the campaign, and when he announced his resignation, said he had found it impossible to ...
Ninewells Community Garden is having a volunteer day on Saturday 29th July between 10am and 3pm. A relaxed session to continue the seasonal gardening tasks - all welcome but please bring a packed lunch. No experience necessary - just meet at the garden!
The links above take you to the the left leaning Guardian and the right wing Telegraph newspaper web sites. Whilst the stories in themselves are not linked they both illustrate the precarious nature of Teresa May's weak and wobbly government and the threat that we all face from a hard Brexit (supported by opposition Labour as well of course) and that huge deficit that the UK is carrying around on its back. Add into that the inevitability of another recession within the next 5 years and frankly it could depress the most optimistic of us. Going for Brexit ...
Seven council by-elections this week, spanning Scotland, northern England and southern England. Of most interest to Liberal Democrat eyes was a defence of a Lib Dem seat in Three Rivers, triggered by the death of the former Lib Dem leader Ann Shaw. Won comfortably on a previous occasion, the party did however get defeated in this ward in the 2015 nadir. This time? Nearly two-thirds of the vote for Phil Williams and the team: Chorleywood S. & Maple Cross (Three Rivers) result: LDEM: 63.7% (+4.6) CON: 26.6% (-2.0) LAB: 7.2% (+0.1) UKIP: 1.2% (-4.0) GRN: 1.2% (+1.2) — Britain Elects ...
What else can you call a piece of potential legislation that seeks the elusive outcome of Brexit whilst rolling back or preying on the democratic advances of the last few decades around devolution and human rights? Theresa May's Great Repeal Bill is an extraordinary power grab by Ministers intent on undermining democratically voted-on devolution settlements, whilst allowing them to indulge hobby horses such as attacking the enshrinement of human rights into UK law. It makes Henry VIII's reformation look like a picnic in the park, whilst utilising mechanisms that the Tudor King initiated to effectively by-pass Parliament, where the Tories ...
The hidden scandal of tuition fees and student loans is the reactionary impact of the whole system. Liberal Democrats should take the lead in demanding a radical overhaul.
