Here's my Twitter list for the Liberal Democrat peers, which lets you follow all of them who are on Twitter in one convenient place.
This film was made by the BBC in 1955 as part of a series called Cities of Europe. Two boys are mute witnesses to a long day in London taking in the sites, some of which are now lost to us. The Pool of London and bombsites. Fleet Street and Westminster Abbey. Piccadilly Circus and Theatreland. If you enjoy this you may also like All That Mighty Heart, which shows London a few years later.
Mon 9th
18:37
Corbyn 'If the government can't negotiate a Brexit deal, they should make way for one that can'
Well here we are with JC in full Brexit cry saying what the Tories can't negotiate Labour can! It would be funny if it were not so wrong headed. JC's Labour have been in Teresa May's back pocket with regard to Brexit for far too long – they're like two peas in a pod. Yes, sensible Labour voices like Sadiq Khan keep challenging the Labour Leadership's barmy stance on Brexit but JC and his shadow cabinet keep on running for the cliff edge with the Tories. What on earth can JC do to negotiate a good Brexit? There is no ...
My heart pounded as I left the stage. A man walked up to me. "Hi mate, what's your name? I'm doing the summation for the motion and want to mention you." "Ryan," I said. "Great, thanks!" He ran back to his spot in the front row. I take my seat and let out a sigh ... Continue reading Liberal Democrat Conference - Bournemouth 2017
Third entry:Anonymous. The Re-Conquest of Ireland, A.D. 1895. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis and Co., 1881. A short future-history pamphlet detailing the disastrous consequences of the 1881 Land Act. The establishment of Land Courts to fix fair rents for impoverished tenants leads to a flood of spurious claims against decent, hardworking landlords, who are beaten or assassinated if they dare to defend their income. The Land League and the Fenians, having learned that the overgenerous British government will acquiesce to Irish demands when threatened with agitation, parliamentary obstruction and agrarian violence, continue to preach revolution and rent defaulting. The situation is made ...
Vince's conference speech had a lot of good policies and ideas, but the party is still failing to communicate a compelling vision. We are not giving enough people a good reason to vote Lib Dem at the national level, despite the gaping hole in the middle of British politics. Here is a speech Vince could give to start communicating that vision. Building a Future for Britain* Britain is getting poorer and weaker. This is not what we were promised. Low wage growth has seen real incomes fall and, thanks to Brexit, our economy has gone from the strongest in the ...
Things look different from bottom up. So when we think about the future, we have to do so fully conscious of the assumptions we make about our own prejudices. Where do you sit? Looking down on us below or up to those above us? It took me almost a life-time to recognise this in myself. [...] The post The objectivity and prejudices of decision-makers – and how to dispose of them appeared first on Radix.
This is the ninth of my posts based on a recent tour of the eastern half of the USA. I visited a number of sites relevant to African American history. To mark Black History Month, I am relating some of the things I saw, in the order I saw them. I enjoyed a visit to the wonderful US Capitol "Visitor Center". At presumably astronomical expense, a fantastic underground visitors' entrance has been built on the east side of the Capitol. You enter it and are taken on a tour of the US Capitol where you go up inside the centre ...
The Liberal Democrats have said that now Theresa May has raised the possibility of ousting Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, his position is untenable. Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake MP said: "He must go. The Prime Minister has talked about moving him, but that raises the question of what department would be lumbered with him. "When Theresa May made Boris head of the diplomatic service she certainly disproved the unkind suggestion that she lacks a sense of humour. "There are so many areas where there would be a certain justice in leaving him to solve the mess he has created. "Northern ...
I don't blog often, because every piece I write ends up being re-drafted at least ten times (which takes entirely too long, and I like sleep too much), but I do read a lot of blogs. Last week I came across the Clean Coder blog, and in particular (memetics and coding, I thought, this will be heavenly). Like anyone attempting to learn code, in my case about 20 years too late, I've heard of Uncle Bob Martin. He seems like a near mythical figure to me. So I'm a little hesitant to start my first ever blog post about ...
One of the worst scandals in the NHS is the provision, or lack of it, for children with mental health problems. "Stick with us" is a major report by the Children's Society about more than 150,000 missed CAMHS appointments in 2016. It is estimated that, at £290 per appointment, they cost £45m last year - much less than it would cost to collect proper data about child mental health. The last proper data was collected in 2004, so it's not just the present government who are to blame. These figures, obtained by FOI requests to providers of specialist CAMHS services, ...
Sun, 12:56: How I learnt to loathe England https://t.co/ZT3OPtjvU6 A Dutch former immigrant reflects. Sun, 21:51: Sunday reading https://t.co/OX4xEQwcvQ Mon, 04:51: RT @kevinhorourke: They'll refuse to pay money that they already promised to pay unless they get something that wasn't on agenda when they... Mon, 10:45: Rex Tillerson at the Breaking Point https://t.co/xxV0ssLFGi Grimly fascinating.
Longtime readers of this blog will recall that I have previously written about the census in some detail. And if you've been about the last day or so, you'll have seen the fuss over the news that the Office of National Statistics might make declaring your sex optional in the 2021 census. The full details are not known as the Sunday Times story is from a leaked report and contains few details. This did not stop the Times breathlessly rushing to get quotes from two well-known anti-trans "feminists". It seemed no trans people were asked for quotes. The misreporting around ...
You know, I never understood why you gun control people don't all join the NRA. They've got two million members. You bring three million to the next meeting, call a vote. All those in favour of tossing guns... bam! Move on. It is one of the most memorable lines in every political anorak's favourite TV show, The West Wing. Although steeped in high fantasy, the strategy from Congressman Skinner does present some food for thought - if you want to defeat your enemy, why not do it from within? It'll be less bloody, it may even mean a quicker and ...
Mon 9th
09:40
Why the idea of a "progressive alliance" is a bad one - an excerpt from "Apocalypse Delayed"
The following is an excerpt from my book "Apocalypse Delayed: Why the Left is Still in Trouble". If this is anyway interesting to you, you can find the book here. After the exit poll came out at 10 p.m. on 8 June 2017, the BBC interviewed several pundits on what it all meant. Zoe Williams of The Guardian was the first that night to bring up the idea of the 'progressive alliance', saying that a supposed informal pact between the 'progressive' parties - Labour, Lib Dem, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru - had led directly to the Tories failing to get ...
Nibley Road will be closed between Badminton Road and Westerleigh Road from 9pm on 11th October to 6.30am on 12th October so work can be carried out.
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 9 OCTOBER 2017 Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) - westbound nearside lane closure for 3 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works. A85 Riverside Drive - prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for 9 weeks for works to the sea wall. Prohibitions will only be in place when required. Blackness Road (at Rosefield Street) - temporary traffic lights ...
I was horrified at the proposal, contained in George Kendall's recent article that we cut tax credits to fund lifelong learning accounts. (I assume George was also referring to Universal Credit, the successor to tax credits, and I speak of them here interchangeably.) Like George, I've canvassed on council estates. I, however, recount emotional conversations with families for whom tax credits are the saviour that stands between them and impoverishment. I remember the anguish in a mother's voice, juggling her hospital job with caring for her two young sons, as she talked of how the Tory's tax credit cuts could ...
It is not often I agree with John Major, but on universal credit he is bang on the money. He has described the Tories' flagship welfare reform as "operationally messy, socially unfair and unforgiving". Universal Credit combines six working age benefits into a single payment, it is one of those Government schemes that seemed like a good idea at the time but which has proved immensely difficult to implement and full of unintended consequences. It is little wonder that more than a dozen Tory MPs have urged ministers to pause the roll-out of the policy amid concerns that claimants could ...
With the schools now closed for the October holidays, my usual weekly ward surgeries do not recommence until after the school holidays. However, I can still be contacted on any local issues or concerns through my e-surgery - just e-mail esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk. Surgeries recommence on Monday 23rd October - surgery details are available here. I can also be contacted at home at any time on 459378 and also during office hours at my Dundee City Council office on 434985.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41392959 The BBC has the story on its web site – see link above Trump often seems to be on missions that few can get their heads around and yes, I know, we have some pretty strange politicians of the far right over here too. What I like about this insight is that it probably hits the spot in that Trump may well be someone who simply hits out at whatever is irritating him at any particular moment. It's also the case that folks are probably learning how to push his buttons. So when he berates the NFL footballers for ...
The Merseyrail half of Kirkby Station looking towards Liverpool. I have posted previously about the bizarre severing of the Liverpool – Preston railway line at Ormskirk which leaves a great 15 minute service from Ormskirk to Liverpool and a far from impressive irregular service from Ormskirk to Preston. My posting about the Liverpool – Preston Line is available via this link:- But there's another of these bizarre serverings on the Merseyrail network at Kirkby where the Liverpool – Wigan Line is in effect chopped in two. In some ways this is actually more bizarre than the severing at Ormskirk ...
Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Daniel Lewis, Nigel Ashton and Jo Barton are holding their next advice centre on Saturday 14th October 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.
AI professor and author Toby Walsh discusses the dangers of 'stupid' artificial intelligence with Jack Stilgoe. Professor Toby Walsh has recently published a book - Android Dreams - giving a researcher's perspective on the uncertainties and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Here, he explains to Jack Stilgoe that we should worry more about the short-term risks of stupid AI in self-driving cars and smartphones than the speculative risks of super-intelligence. Continue reading...
