© Leicestershire Police A wonderful photograph of an Edwardian country-house cricket team. Better still, the players are all women. Even better than that, the only man in the photograph is this blog's hero J.W. Logan, who was Liberal MP for Harborough between 1891 and 1904 and again between 1910 and 1916. You can see another photograph of him on his Wikipedia entry, where happily he is now called Paddy Logan. It has clearly been edited by someone who reads this blog. I am sure Mr Logan's suffragette daughters will be among the players and it will have been taken at ...
Responding to the news that Allied Healthcare will file for protection from creditors, Liberal Democrat former Health Minister Norman Lamb, said:"The implications of this potential corporate failure could be really serious for those who depend on the company for home care."The financial difficulty that Allied Healthcare faces is symptomatic of a sector in serious trouble. Across the country providers have been withdrawing from the provision of local authority commissioned care and focusing instead on the private market. We face the prospect of those with money getting good care and those without, suffering. "It seems everyone except the Government recognises a ...
Responding to Jeremy Hunt's letter to large tech corporations, leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:"Although clearly action must be taken to address the disproportionate power of large tech corporations, Hunt is wrong to threaten this sector with more ill-thought-out legislation. "Technology and social media are here to stay, and we must establish a long term solution rather than allow MPs to rush out with outrage and criticism, making erratic, piecemeal changes every time they want to score political points."As outlined in my speech earlier this week, we need an independent standards body with the ability to hold the ...
Responding to the leaked EHRC letter revealing that ethnic minorities may be disproportionately affected by new electoral identification rules, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:"The government has proven itself unable to strike the right balance between preventing the very limited electoral fraud we see, and encouraging as many people as possible to vote."After the pilots for this May's council elections, ministers must guarantee the evidence is reviewed independently, and make clear they that will act if there is any sign that ethnic minorities were put off voting by these new ID tests."
One of the meetings I had this week was with highways officers and I took the opportunity to raise the on-going battle over the use of the area to the south of Marley Hill and Byermoor villages for illegal, off-road motorcycling. We are working with police and the council to tackle this and I'm pleased to report that the next action is to place signs (see above) around the site, the content of
Scottish members left Conference at Aviemore in upbeat mood, motivated to get out there and make sure that we secure a vote on the final Brexit deal. We had some lovely weather in a beautiful location and an agenda full of interesting fringe meetings, a bit of controversy in the Conference hall and some highly informative training. We were also really thrilled to welcome a fair few members of federal party staff who met with key seats and provided training in campaigning, the new data protection legislation and fund-raising. Staffing and office bearer changes meant that this Conference was put ...
Much of our canvassing in Dunston Hill and Whickham East ward in recent weeks has been in parts of the ward where Labour are normally relatively strong. So yesterday we headed into the Watergate Estate. I was pleased with the responses we received. Generally, our support is holding up and the biggest moves were from hard to soft Labour. The Lib Dem vote was towards the higher end of
On Monday 30th April, Spotted Unsworth: Uncut will be hosting a special Question Time-style debate. The three Unsworth ward local election candidates vying for your vote on Thursday 3rd May will be on the panel, to answer questions from the moderator and local residents. The debate starts at 7.30pm at Hollins Community Centre and the [...]
SIX Town Housing are inviting green-fingered residents to show off their gardening efforts in their annual competition. The competition aims to celebrate the hard work of residents living in homes Six Town Housing manage across Bury. The judges are looking for attractive gardens and impressive hanging baskets belonging to tenants, along with schools, youth clubs [...]
We don't have a library anymore in Unsworth or Whitefield (Bury Labour closed them), however you can now download and read or listen to thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks from Bury libraries through Borrowbox. The following information is provided by Bury's library service: Want to know more? It's Borrowbox Week from 24 to 29 April, [...]
Liverpool Lib Dems local council has been recognised by the clean air group UK100 for meeting stretching clean air targets. As the only Party that has produced a manifesto we probably won't be joined by other Liverpool Parties!! Group agrees ... Continue reading →
Pick your favourite sport. Now pick your favourite team or, if it's a sport for individuals, your favourite sports star. Next think of their deadliest rival.
An extraordinary story over the last few days from Belgium, which I have not seen covered in the international press at all. Antwerp has the most visible Jewish community in Belgium. Many belong to the Hasidic (or at least Haredic) tradition; they are particularly associated with the diamond trade, where Antwerp is literally a world leader - about 85% of the world's rough diamonds, 50% of cut diamonds, and 40% of industrial diamonds are traded in Antwerp each year. There are 18,000 Jews in Antwerp, of whom around half are estimated to be members of the Orthodox traditions (as they ...
One of the Conservative election posters featured in the excellent collection Dole Queues and Demons: British election posters from the Conservative Party Archive by Stuart Ball contains David Lloyd George and chocolate.
When I first saw that a motion on decriminalising abortion had been put on the agenda for Scottish Conference, I was delighted, but unsure that it would pass. We've tended to shy away from what many people feel are issues of conscience, although the Scottish Party has form for leading the way on equal marriage before the 2010 election. The issue of abortion is an emotive one, though and was bound to provoke more controversy. The motion was written and presented by Jess Insall, the 15 year old activist who persuaded us to adopt policy calling for gender neutral school ...
At the Liberal Democrat spring conference, members voted to make improving the party's diversity one of our main priorities. Agreeing the principle is, of course, much easier than bringing about the reality. As the Alderdice report highlights, we need a cultural change in the party which is the responsibility of all of us to bring about. A key part of that will be the future for the party body Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats (EMLD). Here Merlene Emerson, EMLD's membership officer, writes about the plans to relaunch as the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality (LDCRE). What's in a name? by ...
In the last few days we've had some tantalising hints that Labour may be willing to support a public vote on the Brexit deal. John McDonnell said on Friday that Labour weren't ruling it out. Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry said on Marr that if there were sufficient public demand, Labour might think again. So should we all breathe a sigh of relief and think that this might happen any time soon? Not a chance. For a start, Emily Thornberry's threshold to determine what might be a suitable level of public demand to get them to change their minds was ...
Working in a press office, you have to keep abreast of the news. So we were talking about the man who was hospitalised with thunderclap headaches after eating the world's hottest chilli. Which naturally put me in mind of this record. Wikipedia explains: Thunderclap Newman was a British rock band that Pete Townshend of the Who and Kit Lambert formed in 1969 in a bid to showcase the talents of John "Speedy" Keen, Jimmy McCulloch, and Andy "Thunderclap" Newman.Townshend played bass on Something in the Air, though he was not there to mime on this television appearance. Jimmy McCulloch was ...
It's hard to be optimistic about the state of Britain these days, not just because the country's economic growth rate has sunk from the top of the OECD countries to the bottom as Brexit looms but also because of the tensions now evident in society. The EU Referendum result left the UK deeply divided, and [...]
Sat, 12:56: Excellent overview on Ireland, the UK and Brexit. https://t.co/rNKrvp4sCP Sat, 13:03: Started Cycle with #cyclemeter at 13:03, on a new route, see https://t.co/uWERxiPUtN, Cyclemeter will speak your replies to me. Sat, 15:17: Finished Cycle with #cyclemeter, on a new route, time 1:03:08, distance 15,46 km, see https://t.co/uWERxiPUtN, average 14,69. Sat, 15:52: Mrs Miniver, film and book https://t.co/yiHMvZLy7L Sat, 16:05: The case of Prick vs Prick https://t.co/QFNgAO5xTz 'This is a dispute between a tattoo artist and a retailer of cac... https://t.co/gRAqujIe7n Sat, 16:42: "According to my research, you live half an hour longer for every 30 pages you read. ...
Here is Vince Cable's speech to Scottish Conference yesterday. He challenged the SNP to back a People's Vote on the Brexit deal, saying that their silence on the issue was embarrassing. He said he had been working with them perfectly well on issues like the customs union and he single market and called on them to put the national interest above their party interest. He also made it clear that the Scottish Conservatives, without whom Theresa May would not be able to form a Government, are wholly signed up to the hard right Tory-UKIP agenda. He said that he was ...
Sun 22nd
10:45
Bus company apologies for abusive behaviour by Kidderminster to Ludlow bus driver on Friday
I wrote up the story of the last bus from Kidderminster yesterday morning. It was a seriously bad journey. Reflecting on it, I am amazed how calm the passengers were. They argued with the driver but he was leading the abuse. We have now heard from the bus company and the main driver on the route. I publish the responses below. I couldn't ask for a better response. There are still many questions about why this occurred. We'll pick up those first thing tomorrow. Josie Greenhouse said on Facebook yesterday: R & B Travel are absolutely devastated by this turn ...
As if they had not done enough to disrupt good race relations in this country through their mishandling of the Windrush generation and the targeting of long-standing immigrants for deportation, the Tories have jumped feet first into yet another row over race. As the Observer reports, the equality and human rights watchdog has warned that Government plans that will force people to prove their identities at polling stations in May's local elections risk disenfranchising members of ethnic minority communities. They say that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to the Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, raising its ...
It's been just over one year since the Snap General Election was called on my first day e as Director for People. It was one heck of a start and it's been a heck of a year. Out of the window immediately went my careful plan for membership development, training for volunteers, online fundraising and candidates. The roadmap to 2020 was suddenly obsolete. It was terrifying, but fast paced and fun. This job is not dull. Working for the party is challenging and can be frustrating but ultimately rewarding. One year in and no one's 'To Do List' is getting ...
We're used to seeing Vince outlining his Liberal Democrat vision in typically thoughtful style. Action shots are more likely to be gliding effortlessly across the dance floor in a graceful and flawless foxtrot. We're used to seeing Willie Rennie dialling the fun in any photo opportunity up to the maximum level. When Vince came to Aviemore yesterday to speak at Scottish Conference, he got a taste of photo-ops, Rennie style – and he loved it. He threw himself, quite literally, into the spirit of the occasion when he found himself next to a sign saying "Jump and Smile Adventure Park" ...
Clieves Hill in Aughton provides wonderful views over West Lancashire and Sefton to the coast, views like this:- But beware if you try to park your car in the viewing lay-by as there are some monster sized potholes in it:- Note:- Lay-by potholes reported to Lancashire County Council 21 04 18 Click on the photos to enlarge them The lead photo is also amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
The City Council released information last week about the roads and pavements it intends to resurface over the current financial year. In the West End, these are as follows : Adopted Footway Programme 2018‐19 Milnbank Road (Rosefield Street to Easson's Angle, both sides)Minto Place (East leg, East & North sides) Unadopted Footway Programme 2018‐19 Glamis Drive (West End only)Menzieshill Road (South footway)Oxford Street (East footway) Non‐Adopted Asset Programme 2018‐19 Balgay Park (Various footpaths)Ninewells Avenue (Both paths Perth Road to Ninewells Drive)Pentland Avenue Steps Carriageway Programme 2018‐19 Tullideph Road (Lochee Road to Ancrum Road) As I indicated in the Courier last ...
