If you wonder why the pundits grumble about modern batsman not being able to play for a draw, consider the Oval test match of 1975. It was the last test of a four-match series, so the authorities had decreed that it would last six days. Australia batted first and made 532-9, including this century by their captain Ian Chappell. In reply, England could only manage 191. Wikipedia takes up the story: Chappell asked England to follow on; with two-and-a-half days of a six-day Test remaining, defeat seemed almost inevitable. Still further resistance from Edrich (96) and Steele (66) saw England ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

The Liberal Democrats have criticised the lack of detail in the Government's paper on new customs arrangements after Brexit. It comes after Brexit Secretary Davis claimed that lack of clarity over the Government's Brexit plans was a deliberate attempt at "constructive ambiguity" as part of the negotiations. Proposals for new custom arrangements in the paper include "new innovative facilitations," "technology-based solutions" and an "innovative and untested approach." Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael commented: "It's clear that 'constructive ambiguity' is code for 'we don't have a clue.' "The government has effectively narrowed down its options to having a hard border, ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Embed from Getty Images He will do it in a book to be published by Bodley Head on 5 October, reports the Guardian: How to Stop Brexit (And Make Britain Great Again) will, said the publisher, see the former leader of the Liberal Democrats show that there is "nothing remotely inevitable" about Brexit - and lay out how readers can help to stop it. "He argues that it is the democratic right of voters to review Brexit and to change their minds if they wish to," said the publisher on 15 August. "Clegg explains precisely how this historic mistake can ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England
Tue 15th
20:00

Six of the Best 717

Jonathan Fryer calls for a patriotic front against Brexit. "A heavily bureaucratic process known as a carnet was required. This meant the machines had to be shipped back to France every year ("for a holiday", as my director put it) and updated models returned. We were unable to carry out work for our Bull customers while the lengthy process of satisfying customs regulations took place." Tim Holyoake remembers life before the European single market. Steven McCaffery reviews two new books about the Troubles in Northern Ireland that should sound alarm bells about the future. The benefits system should be a ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Well, it's one way of avoiding answering questions as showcased a few years back by then Alberta Health Services President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Duckett.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack
Tue 15th
13:31

I Aten't Ded

I've just only had one full night's sleep since Thursday. Proper post tomorrow.

Posted by Andrew Hickey on Sci-Ence! Justice Leak!

Hardly a day goes by on my social media feeds without some form of the following conversation: Commentator/political has been: What we really need is a new moderate centre party in the UK, standing up for all the internationalist, tolerant liberal values that Corbyn and May have abandoned. Liberal Democrats: Helloooooo!!!!! Every time somebody calls for a new centre party, a puppy dies, goes the tweet. It is always more an observation than a plan. Starting from 0% and 0 MPs and councillors is always going to be harder than starting where we are. But I don't think the commentators ...

Posted by Joe Otten on Liberal Democrat Voice

This is a crossposting from the New Weather blog. There is a truism about fish, who are said not to wonder overmuch about the nature of the water they are in, simply because they are swimming in it. I have to say I find that pretty unlikely. There would be many other reasons why they might not think about it - fish are not known for the depth of their thinking - but I'm sure they are actually concerned. Still, we understand the general idea - it is hard to see whatever we swim in that clearly. In the same ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog

The government today are suggesting that a temporary customs union be set up between the EU and UK. Since we already have a customs union across the EU, of which the UK is part, in effect the government are asking for a delay to the full implementation of Brexit to avoid the economy and business prosperity from being dragged over a cliff. All this raises the issue of what is the point of what the

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

South Glos Council is consulting on waiting restrictions in the streets around the Town Centre and about reducing the Leisure Centre and Kennedy Way car parks from 12 to 4 hours maximum stay. You can find the full details and a plan of the proposals here - you need to give your views by THIS FRIDAY, 18 AUGUST. The roads affected are: Broadway, Church Road, Cleeve Road, Elmgrove Crescent, Firgrove Crescent, Gleneagles, Highway, Home Orchard, Kennedy Way, Lawns Road, Link Road, Melrose Avenue, Orchard Close, Painswick Drive, Ridgeway, Stanshawe Crescent, Station Road, Sundridge Park, Swan Field, The Glen, Tree Leaze, ...

Posted by Paul Hulbert on Focus on Sodbury, Yate and Dodington
YouGov
Tue 15th
11:00

My tweets

Mon, 13:26: RT @sfmnemonic: By all means, compare these shitheads to Nazis. Again and again. I'm with you. Mon, 15:07: RT @DickLiberty1: #OnThisDay 1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the longest-running release in film history, opens in London. Mon, 15:17: RT @Merck: https://t.co/a1PNQZism5 Mon, 16:05: Vassiliou: there is no new strategy for talks https://t.co/hDjHL2RruV Same Cyprus commentary from former President. Tue, 07:52: RT @JolyonMaugham: Hammond and Fox agree that web-footed, beaked, aquatic bird, that quacks, shall not be referred to as a "duck": https://... Tue, 10:45: The secret lab hidden inside a famous monument https://t.co/FCjmH0UHip Not just *a* monument, *the* ...

Instagram photo Three being feet [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments

In my last proper post I examined the idea of neoliberalism, a set of ideas that is at the heart of modern economic policy. I concluded by saying that most people think it has failed. But how can we move on? The first point to make is that the two central insights of neoliberalism seem ... Continue reading Neoliberalism's three blind spots and how we move on →

Posted by Matthew on thinking liberal

Moggmentum, those right-wing enough to be into that sort of thing call it. What started as a quasi-joke has taken on a life of its own. Seems there really are enough Tory activists out there in thrall to the Moggster. This is mostly still being treated as a very remote possibility by the right of centre press. The expectation is that someone currently in the cabinet will take the mantle, whenever May should step down. The only this is, the Tory leadership pretty much never goes to the people the right-wing press think will get it, so Jacob Rees-Mogg, should ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com

The Monday after was induction day and James was walking arm in arm with Amelia into the John Lennon Arts and Design building, neighbouring the Cathedral. They went into the main lecture theatre and sat down at the top. He rested his feet on the wall in front that separated the balcony from the rest of the lower seats. It was empty except for them. But then what did they expect? It was half nine and the induction started at ten, but Amelia loved to be early so he'd agreed to be dragged along. Not every time though. 'I was ...

Posted by Matthew Metcalf on Matthew 'Mec' Metcalf - The Mec Journal

Shropshire Council is proposing a major overhaul of parking arrangements and charges across the county. I have said before that this scheme is wrong for our town and will damage trade. Parking in Shropshire is a profitable business for the council. We need to ensure that whatever changes are approved for Ludlow, they are aimed at benefitting our town. Although the consultation on parking changes poses a threat, it also creates an opportunity for us to reorganise our car parks and on street parking. This post looks at how we might use our off-street parking more efficiently, especially the Upper ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

Whatever motion we debate at Conference next month, we already know that the majority of us oppose Brexit. We all need to persuade the people around us of what a developing calamity it is. We also need to take the lead nationally. No new party is required to campaign on this: the Brexit Exiters are us. But we need to shout about it, not leave it to retired government ministers and would-be leaders from other parties to grab the limelight. For the country is in dire need of Brexit being called off. Poverty worsens. Austerity bites harder as living standards ...

Posted by Katharine Pindar on Liberal Democrat Voice

Residents will be familiar with the tennis courts at St Mary's Park in the middle of Prestwich. Traditionally these have been free to use, and are the busiest tennis facility in Bury. Bury Council has recently announced changes which mean that the courts will now require booking on a paid basis, followed a court resurfacing and improved fencing at the site. A number of residents have been in touch with concerns about this, particularly as this means there won't be a 'turn up and play' free facility left in the area. We're also worried that the Council has not particularly ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

[IMG: Companies House advice on dead names] A topic that comes up frequently in Trans circles is the problem of "Dead" (I.e. pre-transition) names, something that many trans people are reluctant to make public for a whole variety of reasons. Unfortunately, many forms ask for this information with the assumption that most people who have changed names have only done so because they have married. I ran into this problem myself just over a year ago, in the context of a charity I became trustee of as a result of my role as a councillor. Neither Companies House nor the ...

Posted by Zoe O'Connell on Complicity

This is cross-posted from the New Weather blog... There is a truism about fish, who are said not to wonder overmuch about the nature of the water they are in, simply because they are swimming in it. I have to say I find that pretty unlikely. There would be many other reasons why they might [...] The post How the banking crash shaped the world we live in appeared first on Radix.

Posted by David Boyle on Opinion - Radix
eUKhost

Abson Road, a popular cut-through between Pucklechurch and Wick, will be closed to all traffic from 21 August to 1 September for essential resurfacing work (patch repairs to defective areas). Diversions will be in place (see map image), access to properties and amenities fronting the site and whose only access is from the closed road will be available at all times although delays may occur. The work will start at approximately 7.30am and remain in place until approximately 4.30pm. These works will create a significant amount of noise and South Glos Council apologises in advance for any disruption caused.

Posted by Paul Hulbert on Focus on Sodbury, Yate and Dodington

I have not blogged about the Trust for a while now but it recently purchased an original postcard as depicted below:- Whilst the used postcard is not in the best of condition it is a very significant shot of the part of Station Road in Maghull (in the 1920's?) where Frank Hornby first lived (at The Hollies) and where English Heritage installed their Blue Plaque on 6th July 2000. The plaque had been requested by Maghull Town Council to celebrate the town's most famous resident and it sparked a local historical plaque scheme promoted by the Town Council. Hornby's house, ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

 

Dissension is starting to stir about Theresa May's approach to Brexit in the Tory Party but it is not yet clear to what extent it will divide the Tory Party as it has done in the past. At least one former Minister has indicated her willingness to quit if the final deal is not to her liking or in the Country's best interests. As the Guardian reports, former business minister Anna Soubry believes that her party may split if the present course is persisted with. She has also said she would be willing to resign from the Tories and join ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

A community fund has been created to support local communities affected by the attack at the Manchester Arena on 22nd May 2017. The fund will assist local groups and organisations to host events and manage initiatives to counter hate and emerging unrest, and should look to promote cohesion within communities. Any events should be inclusive, with each aiming to bring together a broad mix of people from different backgrounds to learn more about their local communities. We would particularly like to see events that can bring communities together who do not normally meet on a regular basis to enjoy activities, ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

Looking to become more confident online? FREE Online Basics sessions in Prestwich & Radcliffe – learning how to use IT and the Internet in a relaxed environment. Fridays at Prestwich Library.

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

Nominations are being sought for Bury's annual celebration of sporting excellence, the Bury 2017 Sports Awards. – Volunteer of the year, – Coach of the year, – Sports achiever of the year, – Disabled achiever of the year, – Community club of the year, – Unsung hero of the year, – Changing lifestyle recognition award, – School contribution to PE and sport, – 'I Will If You Will' sporting female of the year award. The winners will will go on to represent Bury at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards on Friday 17 November at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford. To ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone