Embed from Getty Images The first Liberal Party leadership election I followed was the one between David Steel and John Pardoe in 1976. I can recall two incidents from the campaign, the first of them being that Steel's camp suggested Pardoe wore a wig. (Years later someone from that era told me there might have been something in it.) The second is that the Steel-supporting Clement Freud (MP, panel-show contestant and rapist) produced a quotation from A.A. Milne to describe Pardoe's campaigning style: With one loud Worraworraworraworraworra he jumped at the end of the tablecloth, pulled it to the ground, ...
... which you can find in the sidebar to the right, or by clicking here, mostly because I have finally caved and created a booze wishlist at Master of Malt. So if any of you ever want to buy me something there's stuff on there ranging from less than a tenner to... well, lots. (I have mostly done this today because it will cheer me up because I am Still Poorly with post-conference germs and feeling sorry for myself and losing my voice and everything) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
With potholes in the news again and local elections hoving into view, now is a good time to repeat that standard advice: pothole photos don't have to be boring. In fact, no political campaigning photos have to be boring. Far too many political 'action' photos show someone staring at a camera from a distance as if the message to convey is, 'hey look: I'm a lonely person who is scared of coming too close to a lens'. Or, if you're lucky, several people standing static in a line all looking at the camera. I say if you're lucky, because at ...
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of this blog post, I want to address a common misconception about me. Most people who actually know me in real life would say I'm pretty emotionless. The truth is in fact very much the opposite. It is just I can can put up a facade that keeps my true feelings from slipping out. Very few get to the point where the barrier is lowered and the ability to see my true self becomes available as it were. So anyway lets go back to last Friday. It had been quite an emotional ...
This morning I went to hospital to see my consultant for blood test results. I was expecting to get the go ahead to start my second chemotherapy cycle on Wednesday. My white blood cells (neutrophils) had other ideas. For treatment to continue as scheduled, they needed to be above 1,000 per millilitre (2,000+ is considered normal). Unfortunately my count was ... The post Neutropenia appeared first on ten pence piece.
Phillip Hammond, the UK Chancellor of Exchequer makes jokes about the lovable heroes Pooh and Eeyore, while delivering his budget statement to Parliament. Meanwhile. life is not children's story and certainly no happy ending for millions of people who are enduring continuing economic suffering in their daily lives. There seems to be no sense of [...] The post New alliance, new party or new movement? It doesn't matter which appeared first on Radix.
These fairly gentle volunteer-led walks are ideal for those who want some reasonably gentle exercise in the company of friendly local people who will make sure you or your loved ones don't get lost! https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder/walk-durham
25 years ago on 21st March, Sergeant Bill Forth was murdered while on duty in Sunniside. At 2pm tomorrow, the police will be laying a wreath at the memorial to Sergeant Forth on Sunniside Front Street. Residents are very welcome to attend.
Second paragraph of third chapter:If the forces of darkness became too powerful, the White Guardian was able to use the Key to reset the balance. Otherwise the universe would fall under the control of the Black Guardian and slip into eternal chaos - with Time itself perhaps ceasing to have meaning.Promotional video: This is really rather gorgeous - clearly rips off the British Museum's excellent podcast and book with similar titles, but a good idea is worth imitating. Tribe and Goss list 100 important objects in the Whoniverse in chronoligical order (ie from the early universe to the far future, ...
I was excited to be speaking with many of our dedicated members, and many energised new members at the fantastic conference in Southport this past weekend. To my joy, I found that mental health is still very much a key focus for our Party. In Coalition, thanks to Norman Lamb, Paul Burstow before him, and Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister, government finally had a focus on Mental Health – something shamefully ignored by previous governments. We introduced the first ever waiting times for some areas of mental health, and enshrined "parity of esteem" in law - the requirement for ...
(500) I posted The Blood is the Life for 19-03-2018 to my dreamwidth blog Transgender people are born that way, a new study has found Former tennis champion and Wimbledon commentator @martina talks about the pay inequality at the BBC "John McEnroe makes at least £150,000 - I get about £15,000 for Wimbledon." And yes, his hours are longer, but not ten times longer. War shaped my childhood - don't let Brexit risk our peace Patrick Stewart is heartfelt and eloquent in this. (500) I posted Responding to the Policy Paper on Immigration and Identity to my dreamwidth ...
Mon, 12:56: RT @DanielFerrie: Draft #Brexit agreement online: https://t.co/iUGHDxNrT3 Mon, 18:24: Monday reading https://t.co/VNny4wujJL Mon, 20:48: 'Landscape' ahead of the Hungarian elections https://t.co/xU1DMHA12p The stakes are high, says @NiedermullerMEP. Tue, 09:04: RT @JP_Biz: December: 'We agree there should be a backstop option in the Withdrawal Agreement.' February: 'We don't agree with this legal t... Tue, 09:05: RT @jonworth: This is spot on. "Brexit analysis: Deal is a holding of the line for Ireland" by @patricksmyth1 How yesterday's "deal" in Br... Tue, 10:45: 'I forget my PE kit deliberately' - the boys who hate sport https://t.co/u93FuUEX8w Yep. This was me. Tue, ...
Wera Hobhouse has revealed further details of her bill to outlaw upskirting. Offenders could end up with 2 years in prison. From the Evening Standard: Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who tabled the Bill, said changing the current law to make it easier to prosecute would allow the law to "catch up with technology". It could also mean that members of the paparazzi would be prosecuted for taking shots of celebrities where their underwear is deliberately shown The move comes after data published by the Press Association last month revealed girls as young as ten among the alleged victims who ...
There is a glaring paradox at the heart of Britain's Conservative government at the moment. On the one hand, the government is criticising Russia and accusing it of various kinds of interference in British life (including attempted murder) while on the other hand it is pursuing a course that will facilitate one of the Kremlin's [...]
The collision of two of my favourite worlds will keep me well occupied until June 26th when the Democrats choose their candidate for New York Governor. Yesterday, Cynthia Nixon, who played my favourite character in Sex and the City, Miranda Hobbes, announced her candidacy with a very effective video. I love New York, and today I'm announcing my candidacy for governor. Join us: https://t.co/9DwsxWW8xX pic.twitter.com/kYTvx6GZiD — Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) March 19, 2018 The Democrats already hold the seat, of course. Andrew Cuomo seeks his third term and won in 2014 with 54% of the vote in the General Election. He ...
The Guardian carries details of another interesting report by the Resolution Foundation in which they argue that Council tax is an outdated and regressive levy on households that should be scrapped in favour of a progressive levy on property. It is just a shame that they don't seem to understand that this matter is devolved to the Welsh Government and that it is not for UK Ministers to change the system this side of Offa's Dyke. The thinktank argue council tax has become almost flat-rated in some areas to leave it resembling the much maligned poll tax of the early ...
Peter Kilfoyle yet again hits out at the state of Labour in Liverpool. You might see his words of wisdom repeated in Focus!! This is yet another spot on blog by former Labour Minister and Liverpool Walton MP, Peter Kilfoyle. ... Continue reading →
Sefton Park Palm House It's hard work being a roadie for the flute player transporting all that heavy gear:-) Seriously, Maghull Wind Orchestra performed another great concert in Liverpool's wonderful Sefton Park Palm House last Sunday. Conductor Phil Shotton was not a well man but despite that he led the band to play some lovely music in a quite breathtaking venue. Here are some shots of the concert:- Orchestral Conversations Full Palm House Band leader Phil Shotton – Lost in the Jungle:-) The lead photo is also amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
Come along to the event below to hear the results of 'Dundee Decides' - Community infrastructure developments for the West End and across the other seven Dundee council ward areas. Be part of the launch of the new Local Community Plans. The plans are based on the findings from the Engage Dundee consultation. Free entry - register through the Eventbrite link here or call 435855.
Responding to yesterday's announcement by the Gambling Commission that they have recommended a £30 or lower stake for Fixed-Odds-Betting-Terminals, Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesperson in the House of Commons, Christine Jardine said: "The Gambling Commission's recommendation is simply not enough and we will be continuing to push the Government for a £2 limit to help protect people from damaging and costly addictions to these machines. "Social responsibility should come before profit making from gambling and a limit of £30 will still leave people vulnerable to losing huge amounts of money that they cant afford. "Even with the addition measures recommended the ...
Commenting on calls from the Resolution Foundation to radically reform the Council Tax system, leader of the Liberal Democrats Leader Vince Cable, said: "It has long been clear that council tax is no longer fit for purpose. What was meant to be a temporary replacement for the disastrous poll tax has itself become so deeply unpopular and seen to be unfair, that it can no longer be used for increasing the revenue base of local government. "Not only is council tax regressive in relation to income, but it is also based on property values almost three decades out of date. ...
