I remember seeing this clip from the 1973 film The Optimists of Nine Elms on Clapperboard, an excellent film programme for children that Chris Kelly introduced on ITV in those days. Peter Sellers used to claim that his father had taught George Formby to play the ukulele, though I don't know the truth of that. You can hear Martin Cathy and Dave Swarbrick performing I Haven't Told Her elsewhere on this blog.
London Liberal Democrats earlier today published the official shortlists of those seeking to be the party's candidate for London Mayor or a list candidate for the London Assembly in the 2020 elections. Party members across London will be balloted to make the final pick – one Mayor candidate and eleven list candidates (ordered from 1 to 11, with the higher a candidate is, the better their odds of being elected in the proportional representation system used for electing the list). Ballot papers will be sent out via email or the post, which is a good prompt to make sure the ...
Having made Sunday's Lib Dem Voice Golden Dozen with a post asking "Whatever happened to Adur Liberals?", I am pleased to report that there is still life in the party in that part of West Sussex. A report in the Worthing Herald tells us about a debate in Lancing. What should be done about the town's former police station? The paper says Members of Lancing and Sompting Liberal Democrats released a statement last month calling on the council to provide social housing on the site. Doris Martin, chairman of the Lancing and Sompting Lib Dems, said: "We urge Adur District ...
A guest post from long-running Lib Dem activist, digital campaigner and shortlisted Lib Dem Mayor of London candidate, Rob Blackie: Brexit is the biggest moral and political issue of our time. This weekend's march is also a huge opportunity for us to win new supporters. There are two distinct groups we can reach. Strong supporters of staying in the EU Around one in five people strongly support staying in the EU. These people are willing to join the party, volunteer and donate money. But at present many of them don't know that the Lib Dems are completely against Brexit. Or ...
After live-tweeting an academic event at University College London for my day job yesterday, I needed a restorative pint on the way back to St Pancras. I made my way through darkest Bloomsbury before coming across The Resting Hare on Woburn Walk. It opened a year or two ago and its website explains how it got its name: The architect behind Woburn Walk, Thomas Cubitt, noted the tameness of the hares on his early morning constitutional. After the opening of Woburn Walk, the newly laid paving stones became a magnet for the local hares, who could easily be seen late ...
Moran to move amendment to deliver votes at 16 Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran will today [17/10/2018] move an amendment to the Overseas Electors Bill to lower the voting age to 16 for UK citizens living abroad. The Overseas Electors Bill, which proposes extending the right of UK citizens living abroad to vote in UK elections, will be debated at the Public Bill Committee today [17/10/2018]. Ms Moran is moving her amendment in the wake of the Welsh Assembly supporting plans last week to introduce votes at 16. Ms Moran said: If we are happy to allow a 16 ...
Responding to the news that Canada has legalised the recreational use of cannabis, former Health Minister Norman Lamb said:"Theresa May should follow Justin Trudeau's lead in this liberal and sensible approach to legalising cannabis. As the former Home Secretary, she should know full well that the Government has lost control of drug-related crime in this country; and that the criminal market is causing violence in many communities. "An independent expert panel, which I set up in 2015, estimated that by legalising cannabis in the UK we could raise up to £1 billion annually in taxes, money that could be invested ...
Responding to Michael Gove's comments that there might not be a Brexit deal until December, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said: "The Conservatives are making a mess out of Brexit."Theresa May is trying to run out the clock and push Parliament into a bad deal, or no deal at all. The future of this country must not come down to diplomatic filibustering."MPs must not allow this form of legislative blackmail. Instead they must give the people the final say on Brexit and an option to remain in the EU."
The talk of the town today has been the slapping of a parking ticket on a bus. This happened yesterday. The bus was a scheduled service parking outside the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Mill Street. It is a parking bay dedicated to local buses. But this seems to matter not one jot to Shropshire Council's civil enforcement officers. One in four of their yellow tickets are cancelled. But they remain slap happy. I have received a long stream of complaints on penalty charge notices being slapped on cars and vans. I have no sympathy whatsoever with people who park in ...
So, for work reasons, I shall be in the USA (specifically Orlando in Florida) for a week from Thursday 25th October to Thursday 1st November. I'm absolutely bricking it. I've never been outside the EU before, haven't been on a plane since I was 13, I have no idea how to behave in customs, I haven't got travel insurance, and ARRRRRRRRRRGH. Boss is paying for everything, but even so. Anyway, if any of you is near Orlando there may be an opportunity for drinks or something? IDK. I'm basically surfing a wave of panic right now. [IMG: comment count unavailable] ...
Monday afternoon Theresa May in parliament looked like a rabbit caught in headlights because it became clear she had no answers. There was plenty of blusters, but it was also clear that she was very unsure of herself. Taking stock on some of the comments made reveals the misdirection by Tory politicians. Do you remember Liam Fox claiming that a free trade deal with the EU would be "the easiest in human history?" Alternatively, David Davis who envisaged that we would by now have signed dozens of free trade deals with many countries, in fact, they were queuing up to ...
My heart sped! Beats quickened, intensified by sound, rising and inspiring: a duo sharing songs – by reeded living breath, by hammered vibrant strings – in forms which forswore words to throw off sentiment and strip their meaning bare; mere sequence graced by notes, patterns based in number, yet speaking to our souls. Advertisements
The coalition government has always been difficult for Dutch social liberals; but that never discouraged us from taking responsibility in the national interest. Both the VDB of the years 1901-1946 and my party D66 (founded 1966) have suffered electoral losses because they participated in coalition governments (and Dutch politics always have those), limiting their ability to build profiles on all possible subjects. Another similarity is that the VDB was the first in the 1930's to attack principle the pro-Nazi party NSB, and under the party leadership of Alexander Pechtold (2006-2018; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pechtold ) we were and are the first, and the ...
The BBC has the story on its web site – see link below www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-45877305 What I'm about to say will not be at all popular in some quarters but my view is that if you treat people like wild animals don't be surprised if they behave just like that. Prison has to be about reform where that is possible. Yes there will always be a hard core that are probably beyond any kind of reform but if we are to look upon ourselves as being a civilised society we have to treat prisoners in a humane way. I also worry ...
In 50 years, total tax receipts will cover projected spending on healthcare, long-term care, pensions and pensioner benefits. But nothing else. Continue reading →
Second paragraph of third chapter: Even so, Josh didn't have high hopes when they finally reached the dining room. He was used to carryout meals, or eating on the run in fast-food places, because his mother was always rushing off somewhere or too busy rehearsing or studying parts to do any cooking. Uncle Ryan said that Aunt Stacy was a great cook, but it was obvious that he was totally bowled over by his new wife. He probably thought that everything she did was great, no matter how bad it was. In any case, it didn't seem possible that the ...
When the late,great Ken Dodd sang his most well-loved song, "happiness"and made people happy he was singing about the most important thing in our lives that keeps us from needing the NHS If I wanted to make a controversial statement ... Continue reading →
miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 16-10-2018 I posted The Blood is the Life for 16-10-2018 to my dreamwidth blog On new political parties and their prospects for success (tl;dr: they haven't got much prospect) 'Hyperalarming' study shows massive insect loss - The Washington Post We're all doomed. Least gifted children of wealthy parents graduate from college at higher rates than most-gifted from low-income families, study finds (US data) March with LGBT+ people For a People's Vote on October 20th Gay Star News is arranging this. If you like what you see here (or even if you don't) ...
Tue, 12:17: Eating lunch comfortably outside - in the middle of October! (@ 黑板 Kokuban Schuman in Brussels) https://t.co/4dKU4KZk07 Tue, 12:28: RT @gavreilly: Reply from @MichaelDHiggins' campaign to @seangallagher1, after Gallagher left a letter at the Áras last night complaini... Tue, 12:56: How Genetic Sleuthing Helped a Kidnapped Girl Recover Her Identity https://t.co/TTTfmZ8tu0 ...but not to justice for her mother's murder. Tue, 16:05: Confessions of a Fake News Writer https://t.co/6SKBkZbjDP Chilling. Tue, 18:29: About Time vol 8: 2007, Series 3, by Tat Wood and Dorothy Ail https://t.co/43F3E1tb3J Tue, 20:48: World map shows newest and oldest international borders https://t.co/XfsW6cBbHt All tide ...
Earlier in the month your local councillors met with Heaton Park managers and representatives from Bury Council's Highways team to look at some of the problems with parking in the residential areas around Heaton Park. The concerns we raised were around the significant parking problems that residents can experience who live near to the park. The particular areas we raised were: St Margaret's Road and Close, Middleton Road/Baguley Crescent, the Upper Wilton Street Area, the Milton Road area and Carver Avenue. We identified different types of parking pressures: – Very major events (Parklife, Bonfire Night) where a proper traffic management ...
A new, innovative, 'Red Bag' scheme has launched across Bury to ensure care home residents receive quick, personalised and effective treatment should they be admitted to hospital in an emergency. The scheme, which launches this month, will see care homes for the elderly in Bury provide their residents with a Red Bag. The Red Bag contains a patient passport holding important information about the individual's health, medication and personal decisions. It also has space to store personal belongings such as glasses, slippers, hearing aids and dentures - items which are often easily lost during an emergency admission - along with ...
Wed 17th
10:26
Another look at a post-Brexit trade deal with the US. The question is not whether it would be good o...
An article in the Telegraph this morning declares, "US ready to negotiate free trade deal with UK 'as soon as' Britain quits the EU, says Trump envoy". This, of course, has nothing to do with the timing of May having to come to terms with the EU on the Irish backstop question this very day. I would never suggest such a thing, obvs. The bun fight that emerges is predictable: Best for Britain, the anti-Brexit group, are quoted in the same Telegraph article as saying a US-UK trade deal "could be a disaster for the UK and shred our animal ...
It was in France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, that the South Korean President began, on October 13, an eight-day visit to Europe to explain his strategy of détente and reconciliation with North Korea. It was important for Moon Jae-in to speak one-on-one with Emmanuel Macron, who until then had been rather [...] The post The courage of the South Korean president appeared first on Radix.
Bury Libraries and Archives has been awarded Archive Service Accreditation, the UK standard for archive services. Throughout the UK there are 2,500 archives.141 archives have gained accreditation meaning that Bury has joined the top 5% of services to earn this prestigious award. Archives Service Accreditation defines good practice and standards and supports the development of excellent archive services. During the accreditation process, the panel were particularly impressed by the positive, enthusiastic and dedicated staff who work hard to deliver a high quality service. Whether you are interested in the history of Bury or want to research your family's past, Bury ...
This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week. The week aims to bring people together, to stand with those affected by hate crime, to remember those we have lost, and support those who need our ongoing support. Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person's: disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity. More information about the week and what it stands for here. How can I report hate crime? In an emergency call the police 999, if it is not an emergency call 101 ...
Just to let people know about Healthwatch Bury's upcoming public meeting to be held on Monday, 22nd October 2-4pm at Bury Unitarian Church, Bank Street, Bury, BL9 0ND The meeting will include updates on Fairfield General Hospital and BARDOC (the organisation which runs the current Walk-In centres).
On 15th October, Sheffield South East selected me as their parliamentary candidate. The city has six constituencies. Sheffield Hallam members selected Laura Gordon to replace Nick Clegg last year, leaving five Sheffield constituencies needing candidates selected that evening. Though Sheffield Central was contested (congratulations to Shaffaq Mohammed), the remaining four were not. Sheffield South East is not a target seat. Although 40 members were present, only two were eligible to vote in my selection. Had I not attended, I may still have won. In uncontested selections at both council and parliamentary level, candidates understandably do limited preparation for their speeches ...
