Picture the scene: It's 2020 and Oscar season is upon us. Film studios, directors and producers are busy touting their wares to the members of the Academy, offering up their prize films to the electorate and soliciting interest - and votes - with adverts, direct mail and parties. Campaigning is in full swing, and you're flattered to be invited to an exclusive screening of the highly rated "The Hat", hosted by the studio chief and followed by a private party with some of Hollywood's finest actors and directors. As costume designer, your part in the making of "The Hat" was ...
This post comes after India Willoughby, media professional and relatively newly minted trans woman, has spent a day and a half on Twitter defending her view that transsexual women are different from trans women. There has been some tortuous logic involved. The argument seems to go something like "transsexual women are those who have or [...]
Announcing the new team, which features two former leaders in the form of Tim Farron and the improbably hip Ming Campbell, current party leader Vince Cable said: I am fortunate to lead such a great, gender-balanced team, which is comprised of the most talented and promising politicians in the House of Commons and battle-hardened, experienced campaigners. The team has a wealth of senior ministerial experience. It also includes the former council leaders of Newcastle and Liverpool, signalling my intention to restore and build on our local government base. In addition to the gender balance that Vince Cable mentions, the team ...
Your lordship, My client, Mr Smith, is accused of driving at fifty miles per hour in a thirty zone, going through three red lights, and nearly knocking over a little old lady before crashing into a parked police car. Now, ... Continue reading →
News from Colchester: A founding member of an independent group has joined the Liberal Democrats in a bid become a borough councillor and cut the scale of a proposed new town. Andrea Luxford-Vaughan, a founding member of the Wivenhoe Independents, has joined the party with immediate effect. A member of Wivenhoe Town Council for ten years, Mrs Luxford-Vaughan has led campaigns on subjects such as home-to-school transport, improved train access and curbing excessive housing development. The married mum-of-two – who will join forces with fellow Lib Dem Mark Cory, a member of Colchester Council's ruling cabinet – said: "Winning the ...
Much of the Severn through Shrewsbury is surprisingly rural. Meanwhile, the large institutional building of Shrewsbury School looks like the former foundling hospital and workhouse that it is. Me? I finished Peter Parker's Housman Country in a pub by the river and then caught the train home.
Commenting on news that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox's new Board of Trade has only one member, Liam Fox, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said: "Talk about a job creation scheme."The Secretary of State, no doubt embarrassed by his lack of a real role in Government beyond accumulating millions of air miles, has had to invent a grandiose title for himself. It will convince nobody."The signing of the first trade deals are years away, whereas the damage to our existing largest trade deal, with the EU, is happening now."
Commenting on official apprenticeship levy figures that show a 61% fall in starts, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable said: "As Secretary of State I presided over a huge increase in the quantity and quality of apprenticeships. It was a system that gave millions a chance to develop new skills and find work. The Conservatives are trashing that legacy. "It is damning that this government are giving new apprentices such a poor deal. Hundreds of thousands of people will lose out from the opportunity to enter high skilled work. ...
Vince Cable has appointed his first team of principal spokespersons since becoming leader this summer.The team includes notable strength in depth on the economy, foreign affairs and local government at a time when the impact of Brexit, social inequality and lack of investment is fostering tensions in these areas. Cable said: "I am fortunate to lead such a great, gender-balanced team, which is comprised of the most talented and promising politicians in the House of Commons and battle-hardened, experienced campaigners. "The team has a wealth of senior ministerial experience. It also includes the former council leaders of Newcastle and Liverpool, ...
What are we doing to our young people? Testing them until the joy is out of learning and school is just one tick box after another. The head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, said The regular taking of test papers does little to increase a child's ability to comprehend. We have completely the wrong approach to learning. We need holistic education for our young people, encompassing the widest range of subjects, building character and instilling the love of learning. This includes the arts. When I was 11, we moved to Missouri. I started at a new junior high school (years 6-7 ...
Second paragraph of third chapter [visiting Medjugorje]: Such has been the impact on the local economy that a cynic might think there's a conspiracy to keep a good story going, and when we're suddenly told that one of the original visionaries is happy to meet and talk I wonder if we're using them or they're using us. This is a book-of-a-TV-programme, made in 2006/7 by Palin as one of his travelogue series, taking in all the former Communist countries of Eastern Europe, plus Turkey, minus most of Russia (represented briefly by Kaliningrad). An average of 14 pages per country doesn't ...
So Vince Cable reshuffled his top team today. There's a very interesting change of language. No longer are they called the Shadow Cabinet. That probably makes sense for a team of 12 MPs out of 650. They will henceforth be known as spokespeople. So who has the top jobs? A full list is here. The team is gender balanced. In fact there is a majority of women – 15 out of the 29. That includes long time Vince ally Dee Doocey who is coming in with a Spokesperson without Portfolio. This would certainly enable her to obtain a profile over ...
Embed from Getty Images Speaking at the Schools Northeast Summit in Newcastle today, the former Liberal Democrat minister David Laws said free childcare for working parents operates as "negative early years' premium" benefiting the wealthy. He also said it almost prompted him to resign from the Coalition. According to the TES, he told the event: "I think it's utterly nuts to have.. an early years offer where the children of two investment bankers can get a 30-hour provision and the children from very disadvantaged backgrounds get 15."David Laws also said: "It's ironic that all of the debate in Westminster and ...
I recently suffered a major bereavement, an event that triggered a decline in my health. Ten years as a carer has taught me that there isn't much help out there. That still appears to be the case as I try to cope in a very difficult situation. Bereavement counselling is only available from charities and there is a three-month-long waiting list. The alternative is the NHS run Talking Therapies which takes you through several hoops before you can even get to speak to a professional counsellor! All this whilst dealing with the arrangements for the person who has passed away, ...
The Chief Executive of Rochdale Council has apologised for letting down the victims of Cyril Smith. It is time that the Liberal Democrats, as successor party to the Liberal Party made an apology to the victims too.So says Ruth Bright, former councillor in Southwark and parliamentary Candidate for Hampshire East, on Liberal Democrat Voice. She goes on to detail the action she wants to see from party: An apology from the Leader of the Liberal Democrats that the party was unknowingly used as a front for Smith's respectability. An inquiry into any remaining evidence about him within the party. A ...
'Their heads are full of cotton hay and rags', according to Prof Higgins. Walk in any British city or town and see if, as you walk, there are any commemorative works of art. War memorials you will almost certainly see. Royalty you will almost certainly see. Famous men you will almost certainly see. Then, look to see how many women are commemorated. Queen Victoria and the Virgin Mary apart, few places have statuary of real women. The statue of Millicent Fawcett, which will shortly be sited in Parliament Square, is, therefore, highly unusual and hugely significant. Of some 925 commemorative ...
My MP Tracy Brabin (Labour) states in her election literature (I kept a copy) that she would "fight for . . .full access to the single market." (I quote her exactly). Consequently, when she failed to vote vote for Chuka Umunna's single market amendment to the Queen's Speech to achieve just that, and failed to sign an open letter from 40+ Labour stalwarts also demanding the policy she said she would fight for, I asked why? I now have a response, (addressed to "Dear Peter," though I've never met her.) As our trading relationship with the EU changes it is ...
Responding to comments by the president of the Prison Governors Association that prisons in England and Wales are "full to bursting" and the number of inmates should be reduced, Jonathan Marks QC, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, said: "The Government must listen when people on the front-line speak up. Prison numbers are sky high and it is this overcrowding that has led to the violence and complete lack of control and discipline in our prisons. "It is time that Theresa May and her Cabinet stopped pandering to the right-wing press and started doing what works to turn prisons into places of ...
Responding to the proposals set out in the Government's Internet Safety Strategy, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey commented: "The substance in this Green Paper falls far short of its ambitious title. "We must make the internet a much safer place - particularly for young people. "But that means the hard graft of better digital education, faster reporting of problems and stronger partnerships with industry. "Regrettably this Government is still in the blame game, scapegoating and castigating internet firms, and failing to see the huge economic benefits of investing in better digital education. "Hopefully this Green Paper will be ...
Commenting on the postponing of a Trump state visit, Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, said: "It is entirely right that when Donald Trump visits he will not be given red carpet treatment. "Trump should be under no impression that the United Kingdom endorses his abhorrent views. "If Trump makes a normal visit in the future, Theresa May must stand up for our fundamental values and use it to pile pressure on Trump to move away from his destructive positions on climate change, civil rights and foreign affairs."
This post is taken from my Padua address at the launch of Radix Italy (see full text). Everywhere in the world we are seeing a movement of people wanting to take control of their own lives. Wanting the structures of government to move closer. To be able to listen, to be flexible, and to tailor [...] The post Separatism will only work as a vision of cross-border co-operation appeared first on Radix.
The Media Watchdog Is Already Talking About How It Could Regulate The InternetWhat could possibly go wrong?Deliveroo boss: giving workers better rights will add £1 to meal costYou can't make us treat workers like PEOPLE! It'll cost you a whole quid more! Brexit: Philip Hammond becomes first Cabinet minister to admit 'no deal' could ground all flights(contains autoplaying video, sadly) When someone is acquitted of rape, it does not mean the accuser is lyingI Bullshitted My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week... Jesus New Zealander accidentally steals cat thinking it's his... and spends a bunch on anxiety medication ...
Wed, 14:04: RT @davidallengreen: All-purpose Brexit thread. 1. Well. Wed, 17:13: RT @Peston: It's ghastly for EU migrants here and UK migrants in EU that PM could not give guarantees about their future residency rights i... Wed, 18:29: The Red Leaguers, by Shan F. Bullock https://t.co/Ga74gtsJhX Wed, 18:48: RT @Ed_Miliband: What a bunch of mad lefties... https://t.co/yq1rPjX1ej Wed, 23:17: RT @georgeeaton: It's called the First Amendment, pal. https://t.co/cjHDFgorg8 Thu, 07:45: That was *very* close! https://t.co/aYXuw7ey1S Thu, 07:56: Treat myself to first class ticket on IC1739 @nmbs - actually second class much less crowded! Why bother? Thu, 09:52: Time for the ...
The main drawing room – what was effectively the "Oval Office" – of the First Confederacy White House in Montgomery, Alabama. This is the twelfth 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. You're in the heart of the Jefferson Davis rebellion empire! I had just walked up to the door of "the first Confederacy White House", across the road from the ...
The British parliament will soon debate electoral reform, thanks to a citizens' petition. This campaign looks hopeless, but then so did Brexit not that long ago – so am I being too pessimistic? This was one of the issues that first drew me into politics, back in the 1970s, along with Europe (I was an ... Continue reading Electoral reform: is there any hope?
Are you a community group looking for advice on how to apply for Member Awarded Funding or Area Wide Grants? If so, you can book a 30 minute slot between 10am and 1pm on Monday 6 November. The sessions take place at the Council Offices, Badminton Road, Yate, BS37 5AF. To book a place, please contact the team on 01454 865865 (Mon-Fri 9am to 4pm) or email grants@southglos.gov.uk. It would be useful to know when booking which subject area you are interested in.
The Chief Executive of Rochdale Council has apologised for letting down the victims of Cyril Smith. It is time that the Liberal Democrats, as successor party to the Liberal Party made an apology to the victims too - not for any direct responsibility but the fact that he was able to use our party as a front for the "big Cyril", "national treasure" image which helped him cover up earlier crimes. Cyril Smith is not a figure from ancient Liberal Party history. He was a Liberal Democrat MP for his last three years in parliament, he died in 2010 and ...
One of the weaknesses of devolved government in Wales is the apparent belief amongst ministers that passing legislation is sufficient to show their commitment to a specific cause without having to follow-through by modifying their behaviour in other ways. The Well-being of Future Generations Act is the best example of this tendency. This legislation was meant to create a framework to force public sector bodies to work in a more sustainable way. These bodies need to make sure that when making their decisions they take into account the impact they could have on people living their lives in Wales in ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41559669 The BBC has the story on its web site – see link above I suppose that this rather sad and worrying state of affairs is not really new news as we have all heard the warnings from doctors, nurses, NHS unions, health charities and various health watchdogs along these lines for quite a long time now. As one of the richest counties in the world it shows how poor we are at running our own health service, or at least how poor the politicians are who run it for us. But rest assured Boris is going to bring in ...
The new Dundee City Council adult learning newsletter is now available and you can download it here. In addition to details of the Job Shop at the Mitchell Street Centre, there is detail of activities right across the city. There's also a update about Harris Education and Recreation Association :
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-41582616 The BBC has the story on its web site – see link above Great news that the Mersey is going to have another iconic crossing from tomorrow but the tolls? I my view neither should be tolled, old or new bridge. It's time for tolls to be phased out everywhere on the national road network; they are a throwback to the past and have no place in modern society.
