This post first appeared on the Radix blog... I have written elsewhere about the uplifting effect that the Metropolitan Police commissioner has had on UK public life. So I am sorry to see her criticised by the stodgiest corners of the UK chattering class for her peaceable approach to the Climate Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in Easter Week. I felt very much the reverse. I am not sure of the effectiveness of demonstrations of any kind, having learned about campaigning at the feet of the great Des Wilson ("Yes, I know you are making them think," he used to say to ...
Govt must be more ambitious in greenhouse gases 2050 target Responding to the expected announcement that the Climate Change Committee has recommended 2050 as the date the UK becomes a net-zero greenhouse gas emitter, Liberal Democrat Climate Change Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: This report tells us the very minimum we need to do to cut our greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero, but this Tory Government must be more ambitious. We have a responsibility as a country in the face of a climate emergency facing the entire world. We saw only last week that some in the cabinet are refusing to ...
Just a quick post to say thank you one and all for your comments and views of my last post, the response has been literally overwhelming!!! It took 12 years to pluck up the courage to write my last piece, and I thank you all for reading. There is more to tell, and blog entitled [...]
There is a take going round, from Remainer celebrities like Emma Kennedy, from journalists like Ian Dunt, and even from people who I'd expect to have more sense, that the European elections are a great missed opportunity for Remain parties ... Continue reading →
I just finished my second (and a half) watch through of The West Wing (TWW), probably the greatest, and most optimistic, political drama ever made. A few things struck me...
We were back in Pelaw and Heworth ward this evening for another canvass. Admittedly we were in an area that is normally good for us anyway but the returns tonight were the best so far for this local election campaign, not just in this ward, but in all our target and defended wards. It seems that the vote is firming up well and people have read our literature. I'm not complacent. The final
The London diplomatic corps was out in force this evening at the Carlton Towers Hotel in Belgravia for the 11th annual Diplomat of the Year Awards, organised by Diplomat magazine. The publication has actually been going for more than 70 years, and I have written for it on occasions in the past, but the awards [...]
Wikipedia explains: The Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge crossed the river Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal linking the towns of Runcorn and Widnes. Completed in 1905, it was Britain's first transporter bridge and the largest of its type ever built in the world.It continued in use until 22 July 1961, when it was replaced by a through arch bridge, now known as the Silver Jubilee Bridge. The transporter bridge was then demolished.This footage was shot at the very end of its life.
Thursday night is local by-election night and it is made more enjoyable by the previews Andrew Teale produces every week. You can find them on the Britain Elects site. Go there today and you will also find his preview of this week's local elections. I strongly recommend it:If the Tories are having a bad night Hinckley and Bosworth may be vulnerable to the Lib Dems.
I arrived home to find a glossy Conservative election leaflet through my door. In it the two Tory candidates make this claim: We've recently been working with Neil O'Brien MP to reinstate the footbridge, we're pleased to confirm this has now been completed and is back in use.But the bridge has not been reinstated: it is a new arrival. Until it was closed without notice at the end of 2015, the way across the railway here was by a foot crossing. You can see it in the photograph above.
Carmarthenshire Liberal Democrats have selected Leena Sarah Farhat as the prospective Westminster and Senedd candidate for Carmarthenshire East and Dinefwr. A computer science student at Aberystwyth University, she is passionate about rural communities in Wales. She has campaigned for better care for the elderly, improved Welsh language provision, and the devolving of broadcasting and legal jurisdiction to Wales. Given how often I've talked about the need to improve the party's diversity, it's also great to add that she is a young, female candidate from a BAME background – all areas the party tends to under-represent. And apologies for missing her ...
There are lots of media reports about the Spanish general election all over my newsfeeds today. Which is great: we should know more about elections in other countries that are not the USA. Here's how they all go: The Socialists are forming a government!The Conservatives lost half their seats!The Fascists are in parliament again!No-one got elected for the Stop Bullfighting party! ...what none of these stories mention is that the Citizens party jumped from 32 to 57 seats - also doubling its parliamentary representation and moving from fourth party to third party. Indeed they nearly took second place what with ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:But this blessed persistence in which affection can take root had been wanting in Gwendolen's life. It was only a year before her recall from Leubronn that Offendene had been chosen as her mamma's home, simply for its nearness to Pennicote Rectory, and that Mrs. Davilow, Gwendolen, and her four half-sisters (the governess and the maid following in another vehicle) had been driven along the avenue for the first time, on a late October afternoon when the rooks were crawing loudly above them, and the yellow elm-leaves were whirling.Way back in the summer of 2002 we ...
Today is the 110th anniversary of the introduction of the People's Budget by David Lloyd-George, then the Chancellor in the Liberal government of HH Asquith. Lloyd George's aim was to wage "implacable warfare against poverty and squalidness" and to make poverty "as remote to the people of this country as the wolves which once infested its forests." Backed up by radical policy in support of the Liberal welfare reforms, it was an example of what liberalism can do when it does not split the difference and sit on the fence. But 110 years on, our society faces a similar range ...
Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I discuss a leaked memo from Change UK about the Liberal Democrats, a bold claim about Tony Blair from Stephen and how the local elections may help change the course of British politics... Show notes Our previous podcast episode about Change UK / The Independent Group That Change UK memo Local election predictions look promising for the Lib Dems The Liberal Democrat Euro campaign launch Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's ...
The Huffington Post has the article on its website – see link below:- Well the so called Dementia Tax went down like a lead balloon when Teresa May proposed it during the 2017 General Election and it was probably a significant factor in her losing her majority in the House of Commons. So, with that in mind, it takes a brave Tory to come up with another form of taxation aimed at the over 50's this time just days before the 2019 local elections with the Tories already staring down the barrel of an electoral gun. With thanks to ...
Following my posting of yesterday about the criminal damage to the bridge the latest news is that the bridge can be opened manually and it was today at 12 noon to let a large number of queuing boats through. The top photo shows boats waiting to travel through to Liverpool, whilst the lower one is of boats waiting to travel north toward Scarisbrick marina etc. My understanding is that the bridge will be manually opened each day. I'm not aware of the detail of the openings but I'm sure boat owners will be getting up to speed via the Canal ...
Sun, 12:56: Long but worthwhile thread. https://t.co/lwT2wjwOAS Sun, 14:48: About Puberty Blockers https://t.co/5Hl4UrTy37 Busting the transphobes' myths. Sun, 16:05: Leuven in 48 hours https://t.co/rJpRMv0m6x @heywatsupcourt writes. Sun, 18:04: A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara https://t.co/XyHce5k61e Sun, 20:48: The Canonization of Richard Holbrooke https://t.co/kYsXvIXLZZ Interesting review of a new biography. Mon, 10:01: RT @carljackmiller: It's 1985. James Burke is walking around in some hills. And then he delivers a scintillating piece to camera about how... Mon, 10:45: Utterly glorious. Must... avoid... obvious... metaphorical... comparison. https://t.co/OvpN86o1lS
Fascinating and useful data as ever from Paula Surridge, looking at how the Remain supporters of Labour and Conservative compare on overall values.
Responding to reports of a bullying culture in department that handles asylum claims, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:"The working conditions of this unit are symbolic of a failing Home Office and failing Government. "Sajid Javid has been in his job for a year and there are no signs that the Home Office is set to change under the Conservatives. "There must be a serious investigation into this department at the Home Office. Liberal Democrats are calling for a complete Home Office overhaul, removing the hostile environment and the culture that the Conservatives have fostered."
Thursday, 2 May 2019 is polling day for the Local Elections. Your local vote matters. Bury Council is making important decisions about the future of our local community. Make sure your voice is heard. Polling stations are open 7am to 10pm. You do not need your polling card to vote. If you have a postal vote this can still be taken down to the polling station on Thursday.
This is a difficult one. Whereas I fully understand that the police and prosecutors are keen to avoid trials collapsing due to the last minute revelation of mobile phone data, the impact on victims of having to suffer this additional intrusion could potentially prevent them coming forward in the first place. The Independent reports that in future rape and domestic violence victims will be forced to give police access to their phones and social media accounts or face their cases being dropped. They say that new forms being handed out across England and Wales warn that if a complainant refuses ...
Polling Day for the local elections is Thursday 2 May 2019. Polling stations are open 7am - 10pm on Thursday. You don't need your polling card to vote. Any questions or need a lift to the polls call us on polling day 07976 831 686. Polling stations are: Baguley Crescent and Heywood Old Road areas Mobile Unit Baguley Crescent Simister Lady Wilton Hall Parrenthorn, St Margaret's and Polefield areas St Margaret's Community Centre, St Margaret's Road Heaton Park area (Heaton, Hampden, Milton - etc - everything between Heywood Road and Bury Old Road) Carlton Club, Bury Old Road Nursery, Langley, ...
I have written elsewhere about the uplifting effect that the Metropolitan Police commissioner has had on UK public life. So I am sorry to see her criticised by the stodgiest corners of the UK chattering class for her peaceable approach to the Climate Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in Easter Week. I felt very much the reverse. [...] The post "So the climate's killing us, but at least we got to work on time!" appeared first on Radix.
West End Community Council has received funding from Sustrans Scotland's Places for Everyone programme, to develop ideas to enhance a section of Perth Road, to create an accessible, quality 'high street' for everyone. This is the first phase of an ambitious three phase project to transform Perth Road into an area which is safe, accessible and attractive, creating a desirable destination that people will want to visit, shop and linger in. This first phase seeks to gather survey evidence, engage with both the community and stakeholders and formulate a placemaking plan which will subsequently feed into further funding applications to ...
The new episode of "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs" is now up! This one is on Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley, and features threats of violence against beloved TV presenters, spurs that jingle-jangle-jingle, and street-sweeping as ... Continue reading →
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ijmxd-af7d92 Welcome to episode thirty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs. This is the last of our three-part look at Chess Records, and focuses on "Bo Diddley" by Bo Diddley. Click the full post to read ... Continue reading →
