This evening I was at the 12 Star Gallery in Europe House (the offices of the Representation of the European Commission in Westminster, London, rather deliciously, as Europe House located in the building in Smith Square that used to be the Tory Party HQ — remember that picture of a triumphant Maggie Thatcher, waving from [...]
There is a great tradition in British TV of tales of the fantastical and macabre. Doctor Who, which I've obviously written about on here before, is (at least at times) a prime example, but much of the most interesting TV ... Continue reading →
I've been visiting castles for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Wales, there were plenty on my doorstep or to visit on holidays. Wales must have one of the highest concentrations of castles in Europe. I've visited all of them and over the years I've also visited most of the major castles [...]
Tue 31st
22:19
Update on that Australian constitutional crisis sparked by the blog of a former Lib Dem candidate...
Embed from Getty Images Further to my blog this morning, many thanks to William Summers, who has got in touch from Melbourne. He's sent us the link to the original blog post which led to the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, being ruled as ineligible to hold office, turning the Australian government into a minority one. Here is the link to the post. As a recap, William Summers was the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Norfolk North West in 2010, and worked for Norman Lamb as an assistant. He now lives in Melbourne, Australia. The BBC summarises the situation: ...
Embed from Getty Images Bromford Bridge racecourse was opened in 1894 and closed in 1965. Part of Castle Bromwich was then built on it. This poster was issued by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1938.
Embed from Getty Images One of the 13 individual strands that form the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse concerns Cambridge House, Knowl View and Rochdale. These are matters in which the former Liberal and Liberal Democrat MP Cyril Smith is implicated. The Rochdale strand finished hearing evidence last week and you can find transcripts of all the evidence on the inquiry website. For a good summary of the evidence, see the article by Daniel De Simone and Jonathan Ali on BBC News.
"Thirteen years ago two boys died after being restrained by staff in English prisons run by G4S and Serco. Both boys had been in care and lived in children's homes." Carolyne Willow campaigns for transparency on the use of restraint on children in custody. Ian Martin says Yorkshire and the North of England suffer because of the hegemony of power and influence concentrated in London. Urban trees are vital to our wellbeing, argues Eillie Anzilotti. "The presenters of Front Row, the only arts magazine programme on the whole of BBC television, began their new assignments by announcing they could not ...
No Hallowe'en at LDV Towers would be complete without a Pumpkin Parade. As ever, Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton steals the show. Last year, he gave us Trumpkin. This year, he's taking on our own PM in response to a challenge from Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson. I'm doing commissions now. @RuthDavidsonMSP asked for this one. 'Yes Pump Kinister'. @theresa_may #pumpkincarving #Halloween2017 pic.twitter.com/MobN9YrHaK — Alex Cole-Hamilton (@agcolehamilton) October 29, 2017 Post your Lib Dem Pumpkins in the comments. * Newsmoggie - bringing you comment on the Lib Dems whether it's deserved or not
BREAKING: @NottsCC councillor Jason Zadrozny cleared of child sex charges after CPS offers no evidence against him @ITVCentral pic.twitter.com/98XPENveic— Peter Bearne (@pbearneITV) October 30, 2017At the 2010 general election the Liberal Democrat candidate Jason Zadrozny came within 192 votes of gaining the Ashfield constituency from Labour. In the run up to the 2015 election he was arrested on child abuse charges. Yesterday, 950 days later, he was cleared of all charges when the Crown Prosecution Service said no evidence would be presented against him. Jason told BBC News: "Justice has been done, I've said for two and a half years ...
Jason Zadrozny was set to be the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate in Ashfield before being arrested on charges of child sex abuse. Charges against him have now been dropped: Jason Zadrozny, 37, of Sutton Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, faced a total of 24 offences including counts of sexual activity with a male child under 16. The Crown Prosecution Service said no evidence would be offered against the Nottinghamshire County councillor. Mr Zadrozny said he was "absolutely delighted" the case was thrown out. [BBC] The CPS's decision followed additional evidence being presented by the defence as their official statement explains: A file of ...
For some reason, my Google Books homepage suggested that I would like to read this 1814 translation of three political narratives from the original Italian, bound together: Memoir of the Queen of Etruria, Written by Herself and An Authentic Narrative of the Seizure and Removal of Pope Pius VII, with Genuine Memoirs of His Journey Written by One of His Attendants. The first of the three is by someone I had barely heard of, Maria Luisa, a Spanish princess whose husband was Duke of Parma until Napoleon occupied it, and then King of Etruria, a Napoleonic satellite state with its ...
It's time, once again, for another attempt at House of Lords reform. Late last year, the House debated a motion aiming to reduce the size of the House from its current 800-plus, and the Burns Commission, chaired by Crossbencher Lord Burns, a former mandarin, set to work. So, what are the proposals, and what are the potential issues? Size Six hundred peers is the figure that the Commission have alighted on, equivalent to that of the Commons if Boundary Commission proposals are adopted but, in any event, no more than the number in the Commons. This certainly addresses the concerns ...
Embed from Getty Images Governments should empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. This principle is a cornerstone of liberal ideology and nowhere is it more important than in education policy. Whilst in government, The Liberal Democrats empowered disadvantaged pupils by providing schools with extra money to give these individuals the same life chances as their more advantaged peers. We empowered skilled young people by expanding apprenticeships- a move which recognised the rich diversity of talent and ambition we have in our society. Our policies for empowering individuals through education continue to be one of our greatest strengths. But not everyone ...
The maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals could drop to as little as £2 under a government review announced today. The government have launched a 12-week consultation exploring ways to reduce the risk of problem gambling. Gambling campaigner and Liberal Democrat peer Tim Clement Jones, who had a Private Members' Bill calling for a £2 maximum stake, said: "The Liberal Democrats have been calling for the maximum stake to be reduced to £2 for nearly a decade and pressed the issue during the Coalition. "We are glad that the government are finally addressing FOBTs, as these machines are highly damaging ...
It has been reported that the Bank of England believes up to 75,000 financial services jobs could be lost as a result of Brexit, particularly in the event of a no deal in the sector. In response, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: "The analysis by the Bank of England shows what is at stake should the government be foolish enough to takes on a course that crashes us out of the European Union."The financial services sector is extremely important to the UK economy and for job creation. The sector is also a major source of government revenue at a ...
Highways England have not made friends recently following their announcement that improvements to the A1 between the Team Valley and Birtley are to be delayed by a year. Everyone was expecting a start date of 2019 but Highways England have decided that with work also taking place on the A19 in Sunderland, somehow the region cannot cope with two sets of major roadworks. Well, no one likes
A report by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics has predicted that Gateshead's economy would lose £1.09 billion over five years under a hard Brexit. The North East economy as a whole would lose £8 billion. Our region is the only part of the UK to export more manufactured goods than we import and our biggest market, by a long long way, is the EU. A no deal Brexit
The Campaign for Gender Balance (CGB) and the Candidates & Diversity Team are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2018 edition of the Future Women MPs Weekend, to be held in Milton Keynes on 24-25 February 2018. The weekend is an intensive residential training weekend for aspiring female MPs; designed to equip you with the knowledge you need as a candidate. As well as expert advice on your political career the weekend will also give you: • Information and advice on all aspects of the process from planning and winning your selection to standing for Parliament • An ...
The report by Lord Burns on the size of the House of Lords is due shortly. There are currently 800 jobs-for-life members of the upper chamber, bigger than the elected House of Commons. The chances are that there will be a substantial cut in numbers. How this is to be achieved is yet to be announced but expect a great deal of cooperation between Labour and Tories to protect their members at the
Tue 31st
12:26
The problem with British politics? We no longer have either a Conservative or a Liberal party
I have written on several occasions already about how pushing for a "no deal" Brexit – or "clean" Brexit, if you like – is the least conservative thing any government has considered doing at least since the end of the war. But this unconservative streak in regards to Brexit and the Tories runs deeper. The whole language around Brexit used by Tories, almost all Tories, is that whilst Brexit will be a huge upheaval and change the way we do most things, it is necessary. Meanwhile the really hardcore Brexit bunch often sound like full blown Marxists – the system ...
Tue 31st
11:15Cable: Comments from Goldman Sachs boss shows threat of Brexit to our financial sector
Embed from Getty Images Responding to these comments, Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable said: This highlights very real concerns about the threat of Brexit to our financial sector. The UK financial services industry generates over £65 billion in tax revenue each year. That is vital funding for our schools and hospitals that would be lost if companies move jobs and operations abroad. This should serve as a timely reminder to Theresa May of the consequences of an extreme Brexit for our economy and public services. * News Meerkat - keeping a look-out for Liberal Democrat news. Meerkat photo by Adair ...
Mon, 12:56: RT @BrettArends: Today's math question. How did Russia's massive interference NOT swing an election decided by 0.06% of voters? Mon, 15:00: RT @p_loughnane: Reports of Catalan leaders turning up in Brussels has been putting me in mind of this poem, "Belgium", by Catalan great Jo... Mon, 16:05: Why Spain's crisis in Catalonia threatens your European investments https://t.co/DbGk8hgnqq Serious warning from @BrettArends. Mon, 17:29: Space Helmet for a Cow: The True, Mad Story of Doctor Who, vol 2, 1990-2013 by Paul Kirkley https://t.co/oHNECD7xUg Mon, 20:48: Thread. https://t.co/rAnWCJvjuf Mon, 21:03: RT @jonlis1: The main thing undermining Britain's negotiating position is ...
miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 30-10-2017 I posted The Blood is the Life for 30-10-2017 to my dreamwidth blog Alt-texts: The Ultimate Guide - Axess Lab RT @hollyamory: Here's a great explanation for how you should describe your images on the web. Hate Crime Experts Criticise Co-op RT @StopFundingHate: In case you missed it: Hate crime experts challenge @CoopUK over its advertising Zeynep Tufekci: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads | TED Talk RT @TEDTalks: Intelligent machines have learned to control you — and we don't know how they did it: @zeynep ...
Tue 31st
09:45Australian constitutional crisis triggered by former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate
[IMG: Australia satellite plane] This is all a bit bizarre. The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Barnaby Joyce, together with four senators, has had his election declared null and void by the country's High Court. There will be a by-election to fill the Deputy PM's seat, which has been vacated by this ruling. There will also be recounts in the four senate seats. All this was due to infringements of rules pertaining to dual citizenship. Australia's constitution bans anyone holding dual citizenship from sitting in parliament. Mr Joyce discovered that he had joint New Zealand citizenship by descent from his ...
Recently I complained about how government incompetence was now routine. One example of this is the government's reform of benefits, known as Universal Credit. It is a particularly good example of what I was talking about. It is a misconceived idea, poorly executed. Interestingly, the political conventional wisdom is that Universal Credit is a sound ... Continue reading Universal Credit is a bad idea badly implemented
Greater Manchester Police are looking for children across Greater Manchester to design this year's official GMP Christmas card. The winning drawing will be digitised and sent to partners, agencies and individuals who support GMP throughout the year. This year they are asking people to "Look for the Crook". Our Christmas Crook is on the loose over the festive season and we are sending three of our special detectives out to find them. We would like children to design a card that shows the Christmas Crook causing mischief. There are two age categories for this competition - age 10 – 14 ...
Happy Movember Many of you will know Movember as the month where lots of people grow a moustache. But do you know the reason behind the month of the moustache? The Movember Foundation exists to help prevent early death for men across the world and Movember itself was created to highlight some of the most common illnesses that affect men's lives. Mental health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. You can help protect our fathers, brothers, sons and friends by helping to draw attention to these health problems. Go to†uk.movember.com to find out more about how you can get involved this ...
If there is one thing that we should learn from the current widespread political upheavals, it's that Bill Clinton's famous dictum that it's the economy that drives electoral behaviour is a woefully inadequate statement. I suspect that few believe that Brexit will not result in economic harm to the UK. Yet the latest YouGov poll [...] The post It isn't the economy, stupid, any more... appeared first on Radix.
Allegations in the Independent that Individuals paid by the right-wing US news organisation were working as senior unpaid UKIP volunteers have been drawn to the attention of the police and the Electoral Commission. The paper says that a Labour MP has written to the Metropolitan Commissioner, Cressida Dick, and to the Electoral Commission watchdog, to find out if claims of illegitimate foreign donations to UKIP linked to the pro-Donald Trump Breitbart website, in the run up to the Brexit referendum have been fully investigated. This follows revelations from two UKIP whistle blowers that they filed complaints to the Commission over ...
Network Rail say: "Our work to increase capacity at Bristol Parkway will continue over the first three weekends of November during planned closures of the station" "The project includes the extension of the three existing platforms and the construction of a fourth to serve GWR's new fleet of Intercity Express Trains. We're also improving the track layout to allow more trains to use the station. The new platform is due to come into use in December 2017" Bristol Parkway Station will be closed as follows:Sat 4 - Sun 5 NovSat 11 - Sun 12 NovSat 18 - Sun 19 NovM4 ...
Greater Manchester roadworks are reporting a number of minor roadworks in Prestwich scheduled during November, but the only significant ones are on Bury New Road and Bury Old Road. On Bury New Road the A56 works continue right through the village, and there are specific pavement works near Sherbourne Court (both sides) and carriageway 'incursions' near the White Horse. On Bury Old Road works at the junction of Heywood Road are scheduled now until 1 November. For full details of the minor works search for Prestwich at gmroadworks.org
Heaton Park bonfire night is on Sunday 5 November. The bonfire at Heaton Park will be lit at 7.30pmm, with the funfair remaining open between 5 and 9.30pm. Bury Old Road is closed during the evening for safety reasons. Heaton Park have asked visitors to leave bags at home, and there will be fast-track entry lanes for those arriving with no bags. Fireworks, sparklers, or alcohol will be confiscated. For more information visit www.manchester.gov.uk/bonfires.
Shropshire Council has published its draft plans for development in Shropshire up to 2036. In its consultation on preferred scale and distribution of development, the council is proposing that 28,750 dwellings are built between now and 2036. Ludlow will be expected to provide 1,000 new homes over that period, a build rate of 50 homes a year, along with space for an additional 11 jobs a year for the growing population (other jobs will be created in existing employment space). We will only need to find land for an additional 146 homes because large unplanned developments have been approved at ...
From Sheena Wellington : Wednesday 1st November, Lunchtime Recital, 1.15pm - 1.45pm Free, donations welcome Change of programme : Our announced guest Lorraine Wilson has had to reschedule her visit to 7th February 2018 but the distinguished Irish harpist and fiddle player, Sylvia Crawford, has kindly agreed to be our guest on the 1st November. Sylvia, from Co. Armagh, combines both a classical and a traditional music background. She graduated in music and ethnomusicology from Queen's University Belfast, and in arts administration from NUI Galway. She is currently completing a Masters by Research at Dundalk Institute of Technology on music ...
I went along to the first public meeting of this new volunteer community group last night in Lydiate Village Centre. It was pleasing to see Lydiate residents turning out for the meeting where we all learned about progress in setting the fledgling group up. John and Madelaine Harrison came from the Maghull in Bloom volunteer group to give advice and assistance which was gratefully received. The plan is to try to start with some spring planting in 2018 possibly via some 'gateway planters' on Lydiate's boundaries with Maghull, Aughton and Down Holland. Other ideas are being considered too but the ...
And so, a relatively quiet day has come to an end at LDV Towers. Thank you to our contributors, readers and those of you that have added to the debates here. Time for some final thoughts... We now know that the identity of the thirty-six Conservative MPs alleged to have behaved inappropriately is now known by at least two media outlets, following the Channel 4 report earlier this evening. It does trouble me that there is a risk that, in having the information, but not making appropriate use of it (and that doesn't necessarily mean publication as much as passing ...
