It's a shame we're on the way out of a strong international institution just at the time people are carrying out state sponsored executions with military grade nerve agents in our quiet pizza restaurants. Tonight, we've called for a series of sanctions against Russia in the wake of their alleged attack on British citizens. We agree with the government that Russia is either directly or indirectly complicit in the attack and suggest five things we could do: Boycott the World Cup in Russia and finding an alternative venue. Seize the UK-based assets of those implicated in this attack, and previous ...
You know, I actually wrote Autumn Statement in the headline and had to change it. Old habits die hard. I'm so used to the Big Budget being in March and that ritual of having to go and fill up with petrol the night before in case the prices went up... Anyway, here's what Lib Dems have been saying about Philip Hammond's statement, starting with Vince: The Spring Statement was a non-event. The OECD gave us the clearer picture – that the economy is bumping along the bottom of the G20, well behind the likes of Australia, Canada and the Euro ...
This is the ninth year that I have blogged about my BSFA votes, though I haven't consistently noted my choices in this category (I did so for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016). This year we have one monograph, two essays and two series of blog posts, leading to the usual problems of comparing apples, oranges and mangoes. I think I have to take form as well as content into account; a series of blog posts will always be under a disadvantage for me in that it doesn't represent a complete structured argument, and the reading experience (unless you ...
Another snippet from my chat with Vince on Sunday. He talked a lot about young people in his speech, showing that the Liberal Democrats have a lot to offer the younger generation who stand to lose so much from Brexit. I observed that he seemed to be saying to young people: "I've got your backs." Exactly. That partly reflects the new membership in the party – as you know it's doubled and most of the new members are young and they came into a party that's relatively old. But the average is now lower than the Labour Party and the ...
This blog first appeared on the Radix site: Ten years ago, my book about the rivalry between Columbus, Cabot and Vespucci was published (Toward the Setting Sun, still available!). And for me, two facts became pretty apparent - first, the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong that Columbus and Cabot worked together and then fell out. Second, their respective contracts with the monarchs of Spain and England were revolutionary and remarkably similar. I won't go into the details here but I have done elsewhere: what the contracts do is give them royal protection to take a slice of every shipment from ...
A nerve agent – like Polonium in the Litvinenko case – is the sort of murder weapon used to send a signal. It is the sort of murder you want people to know you are guilty of because it burnishes your "strongman" image. And there are elections due. They will be rigged of course, not because they have to be for Putin to win, but because neglecting to rig the elections would show weakness. So the Prime Minister's statement yesterday struck the right tone. This attempted murder using a weapons-grade nerve agent in a British town was not just a ...
Alright, not perhaps the most glamorous subject in the world, but for those of us who rely on public transport, buses are absolutely core to our options. Ros wanted to remind the Minister that, for rural communities, buses provide a much needed connection to local services... I thank my noble friend Lord Bradshaw for tabling today's debate and for being so effective in keeping the woes of the bus industry on the agenda because buses tend to get overtaken by railways.Like the noble Earl, I shall use my time to speak about rural bus services in England, where there is ...
Mon, 12:19: RT @AntoinetteNikol: #SelmayrGate https://t.co/VTkIpFLIJn Mon, 12:56: Why Europe Is Giving Teens a Free Month of Train Travel https://t.co/1iN2gdIIZV Free inter-rail for 18-year-olds - brilliant! Mon, 16:05: RT @echidnabot: My daughter held this in front of me as I spoke to clients on a conference call yesterday. #ThisIsWhatImUpAgainst https://t... Mon, 16:34: RT @nigreenways: Unveiling the new @nigreenways website - images, info, progress updates, resources, maps for (count them) 61 potential gre... Mon, 16:53: It's OK, @julianHjessop has done it. https://t.co/BSkPuCyR3X Mon, 17:38: RT @ColinVerteuil: Thing is, Selmayr is done. If he survives this, he'll be severely diminished, too close ...
Here's A Powerful Letter To Parkland Students From The Survivors Of the Dunblane tragedy I've remembered a thing I promised to do at #ldconf: run a Twitter poll It's a very important poll, and your vote could make the difference. People are sharing how many women writers they were taught at school - and it's really depressing For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It A welcome and powerful mea culpa from National Geographic here. YouTube, the Great Radicalizer This is not, by any means, a surprise. But the implications are terrifying. What ...
I did actually take my laptop with me to conference, but with one thing and another I never actually got it open... Realistically, this means that most of what I might report back is common knowledge now; everyone knows what motions passed and what fell and what Vince said in his speech. So I'm going to confine my comments to three big points, and then throw things open for questions. There may be a follow-up post if things get especially interesting... Anyway: The Venue The actual convention centre was... a bit of a curate's egg. It had a lot more ...
It's been another odd week, with the strikes across the university. However, we have taken the opportunity to put research into practice, and we also met between ourselves for a seminar of sorts. Within any cultural institution, it is critical to find vibrancy within (and sometimes in spite of) the institutional frame. And, since universities are imbricated as cultural institutions in the UK, we have attempted to cultivate this vibrancy despite the frame in which we find ourselves, in a practice of passionate thinking, radical empathy, and resistance of interior institutionalisation. Radical Empathy and Passionate Thinking Image Source: psichoblog-gfs.blogspot.com In ...
Has Liam Fox finally got it? Have we witnessed the biggest damascene conversion since St. Paul started the trend all those years ago? It is doubtful, but if our Brexiteer Trade Secretary cannot recognise the contradictions in his own position over US steel tariffs then he is even less self-aware than I had given him credit for. As the Mirror reports, Liam Fox has highlighted to MPs how the muscle of the Brussels-based European Commission is key to the UK tackling Trump's 25% tax on steel imports. The tariffs, which come into effect on March 23, will not apply to ...
It's not good news. South Glos tell us: "We have completed a detailed survey of this road after possible subsidence issues were found before Christmas. There is a slippage and we need to carry out significant reconstruction works to make the road safe. Work will start imminently and we aim to complete the works and reopen within 14 weeks" "Upper Chalkley Lane will remain closed to traffic until the reconstruction is complete. Access only, pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders can continue to use the road. Diversion in place. We apologise for the inconvenience caused while we carry out these emergency repairs"The ...
Tue 13th
08:57
Yesterday's session in the House shows why I'd still rather have Theresa May as prime minister over ...
I think it's fair to say I've never been the greatest fan of Theresa May as PM. I have often ranted here about her failings as leader of the Conservative Party and of the country. I even dismissed her in the opening page of my last book as "crap". However, if it came down to a choice between her and Corbyn, I'd still take her. Yesterday was a great example of why that is. May was giving an update to the House on the investigation into the Salisbury poisoning case. I'll quote her here, and apologies for such a long ...
Ten years ago, my book about the rivalry between Columbus, Cabot and Vespucci was published (Toward the Setting Sun, still available!). And for me, two facts became pretty apparent – first, the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong that Columbus and Cabot worked together and then fell out. Second, their respective contracts with the monarchs of [...] The post Columbus, Cabot and Amazon appeared first on Radix.
Just to let residents know about recent planning applications in your area – just three this month on Cedar Avenue, Hastings Road and Tamworth Avenue. Please just let me know if you have any queries. Single storey/two storey side extension and new front porch 11 Hastings Avenue, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 6UR Ref. No: 62537 | Received: Tue 06 Mar 2018 | Validated: Tue 06 Mar 2018 | Status: Registered Single storey extension at rear 6 Cedar Grove, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3DY Ref. No: 62516 | Received: Wed 28 Feb 2018 | Validated: Wed 28 Feb 2018 | Status: Registered Single ...
The BBC has a video about the 50 anniversary of this iconic car – see link above When I'm asked what my first car was I say a red Escort MK1-ASP and those who know about cars respond by saying 'I've never heard of an Escort ASP' or words to that effect. So what was an Escort ASP? – All Spare Parts! Caricature of a Ford Escort Mexico – Every 'Boy Racer' wanted one of these in the 1970's The car was knocking on when I bought it 3rd or 4th hand in 1976 and frankly it felt like ...
The following information is from Computers4Africa. Computers 4 Africa helps councils, schools, businesses and individuals by providing an alternative to IT disposal for working equipment. This repurposes and reuses items giving them a second life whist complying with the WEEE Directive. It's easy to donate your old IT to Computers 4 Africa and we will be in your area soon. Where: (Former PC World) Angouleme Retail Park, George Street, Bury BL9 0BZ When: Tuesday 20th March 10am-5pm & Wednesday 21st March 9am-4pm Donated equipment is securely data wiped, refurbished and sent to schools and community projects across Africa. We accept ...
There are exciting times ahead here at OASIS – the following information is provided by OASIS: We are looking to extend our opening hours and activities and have lots of great ideas for families, including after school groups, family film sessions, lunches and more. But in order to make these plans a reality, successful and affordable for all, we need to run it with the support of volunteers. So therefore we are asking CAN YOU HELP? Or do you know of someone who could? Volunteers can be from all walks of life, mums, dads, grandparents, people wanting to gain work ...
When the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill returned to the House of Commons, the Liberal Democrats secured a significant victory following the government's acceptance of crucial amendments tabled by Liberal Democrats peers in the House of Lords. Led by Lord Sharkey, the Liberal Democrats campaigned in the House of Lords to end the scourge of cold-calling in relation to pensions, claims management and other financial services. The Government have now committed to a total ban on pensions cold-calling, as well as prohibitions on other forms of cold-calling if these are shown to be detrimental. The Lib Dems also secured a ...
Prestwich Carnival 2018 comprises of a Fun Day on Saturday the 23 June, with funfair and various activities from 1pm to 5pm in St Mary's Park, with the Big Day on Sunday 24 June. (Please note the parade this years is 1 hour earlier at 12 noon.) The great team behind the Carnival are looking for people get involved as volunteers and to take part in the various aspects of the Carnival.For more information visit www.prestwichcarnival.co.uk and see how you could be part of the 94th annual Prestwich carnival.
Twenty minutes after Vince finished speaking yesterday, I was sitting in a room with him, his wife Rachel Smith eating delicious egg sandwiches. We only had a few minutes to chat, but we covered a fair bit of ground. I did the geeky party hack thing and started by asking him about his ideas for the party. I mean, he was talking about open primaries, wasn't he, when he said this? Our sister Liberal Party in Canada, under Justin Trudeau, leapt from third to first in a 'first past the post' system every bit as unforgiving as ours. I have ...
I have today launched my West End Community Council Update for March - you can download this here. The Update covers the following issues : • West End residents' parking • Dog fouling issues • West End recycling changes The Community Council meets at 7pm tonight at the Logie & St John's (Cross) Church Hall in Shaftesbury Terrace - all welcome!
