Photo of Redhill Airfield from Geograph © Carl Ayling What with the events depicted taking place some 40 years ago, many of the protagonists in the real-life events in A Very English Scandal are now dead. Norman Scott is still with us and has been interviewed about the series, but Jeremy Thorpe, David Holmes and Peter Bessell are all dead. What has become of Thorpe and Holmes's co-accused John Le Mesurier (no, not the actor) and George Deakin is a mystery to me, other than that the latter's nephew was the guitarist in Black Lace. I thought Andrew Newton, who ...
Embed from Getty Images Rupert Thorpe's editors had some terse words for him before he left for Prince Harry's Invictus Games in Toronto: "Get that effing picture." That picture — the money shot, as Thorpe calls it — is the first one of the prince and his Toronto-based girlfriend, Meghan Markle, side by side, in their first official public outing as a couple.Rupert Thorpe? Yes, this CBC story is about that Rupert Thorpe. The son of the former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe with is first wife Caroline, Rupert is now a press photographer. In fact he appears to be something ...
It's disappointing that there hasn't been a more constructive approach to parking by the authorities to parking in our historic market town. Shropshire Council has been hell bent on imposing a standardised model of parking operations. Ludlow Town Council is taking an over-the-top approach to parking in the market area, including banning motorcycles. This is driven by an obsession with regulation at the expense of a coherent plan for managing the town centre. I have no idea why Ludlow Town Council is consulting on a plan to ban motorcycles from the market area without first drawing up a plan to ...
Ormskirk Station – The train in the foreground is Preston bound. The one behind it is Liverpool bound. Well it's because of railway engineering work and the part closure of Liverpool Lime Street Station throughout the summer but hey at least it's a service on the Ormskirk – Preston Line on a Sunday. Of course the caveat must be, are Northern capable of delivering the service based on their inability to deliver a regular service on many of their lines at presently? The service will operate every Sunday from June 3rd up to and including July 29th. You will find ...
Another fun (yet educational) video from CGP Grey, taking a look at geography. Alas, Scandinavian passports don't feature.
Given the popularity of making public my database of voting intention opinion polls, I've now published my database of the annual local election results in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) since 1973. Get LocalBase here These are summary statistics for each year's round of local elections. For individual ward results, I'd recommend the excellent publications by Michael Thrasher and Colin Rallings. As with those opinion polls records, I'm very aware of the missing information, imperfections in presentation and potential errors. However, likewise I hope that the absence of such a long run of data in convenient online form all in ...
Well done, everyone. Here is the map with the final official results. (This map and the map below are from Jason Kelleher at Irish Political Maps, on Twitter as @IrishPolMaps.) Although there was a narrow majority against the repeal of the Eighth Amendment in the Donegal constituency, the more liberal votes in the southern tip of the county, which is electorally attached to Sligo and Leitrim, are sufficient for us to state that every one of the classic Twenty-Six Counties voted in favour of repeal. It's interesting to contrast with the vote in favour of the Eighth Amendment back in ...
It's summer and the radio is playing in the next room. You hear harpsichord-like notes opening a new song. What is it? It's this Motown classic. A decade later Gladys Knight was mellow and middle of the road, but this 1966 single is a thumping celebration of female sexuality.
Strangers became friends at Brussels Airport as the Daughters and Sons of Eire flew home to vote to bring their Country into the 21st Century. Now we must spread that fight to Northern Ireland The day before the Irish referendum ... Continue reading →
My Political Capital Rating is 65. Political capital: is the trust, goodwill & influence a politician has with the public and other political figures. This goodwill is a type of invisible currency that politicians can use to mobilize the voting public or spend on policy reform. Advertisements
Sat, 12:56: RT @AdamBienkov: Prometheus was chained alone on a rock for eternity so an eagle could repeatedly peck out his liver. https://t.co/Y1EwUfqP... Sat, 13:49: RT @KeithMillsD7: Two tallies are complete Dublin Central (76%) and Galway East (61%). Working my algorithms through #marref and that sugge... Sat, 13:50: RT @JaneSuit: Constituency level predictions from exitpoll. Only Donegal to vote No? Ireland is a changing #8thref https://t.co/RX81IQ8lpq Sat, 13:55: RT @IrishPolMaps: Complete tally map - overwhelming support for #RepealedThe8th, only Donegal seems to be going towards No, for the time be... Sat, 15:02: The 2018 Hugo finalists for Best Dramatic Presentation, ...
I used a car journey yesterday to listen to Nick Clegg's podcast, Anger Management, yesterday. I was a bit perturbed that he's only been talking to white men of a certain age so far, but am reassured that this is going to change soon, with Harriet Harman and Elif Safak coming up. I decided that yesterday's sunshine was too lovely to be spoiled by listening to the chat with Nigel Farage, so I listened to the Know your Frenemy chat with George Osborne instead. I still have some time for the coalition and the things that the Liberal Democrats brought ...
The Guardian reports that Eurotunnel has issued a stark warning that UK businesses and consumers will face serious economic costs if the government adopts either of the post-Brexit customs models being considered by Theresa May's government. They say that the intervention by the Channel tunnel operator, coupled with a claim by the company that the necessary technology to prevent delays at the borders may not be ready until several years after Brexit, will add to growing pressure on Theresa May to face down hardline Brexiters by keeping the UK inside the EU customs union. We can but hope: With just ...
As the clock ticks and the days go by contractors are battling to get Maghull's new 2nd railway station ready for the big opening day on 18th June. Here are the latest photos taken on Friday 25th May:- Things do seem to be moving on quickly so it looks like the deadline will be met I guess.
As tomorrow is the Victoria Day holiday, my Monday surgeries will not run as normal. However, I can be contacted at any time on 459378 or at esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk. My Thursday evening surgery at Blackness Primary School this week takes place as usual - details here.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has branded an increase in food waste from the House of Commons as "shameful" and has called for surplus food to be donated to charities. Ms Moran has revealed through parliamentary questions that there has been a 116% increase in food waste from the House of Commons in just three years. The House of Commons Commission confirmed to Ms Moran that in 2015/2016 there was 130,384 kg of waste, which has since dramatically rocketed to 282,133 kg in 2017/2018. Commenting, Ms Moran said: "It is damning that there has been a 116% increase in food ...
Responding to reports that a scheme to protect Afghan civilians who worked as interpreters for the Army has not resettled a single person in the UK, Liberal Democrat Armed Forces Spokesperson Jamie Stone MP said: "As the parent of someone who served several times served in Afghanistan, I am keenly aware of the UK Government's duty of care to all Afghan civilians who bravely assisted our forces."Their work no doubt saved lives, and we must look after theirs. "Ministers must re-double their efforts and ensure criteria for resettlement are fit for purpose."
There's Dark and then there's Darker Street. Blake would have understood. You need a drink at The Salmon afterwards.
