I still can't get my head round Paddy being gone, even nine months on. I am so glad I was in the room at Glee Club to see him tell the Joke in Brighton last September. Paddy influenced a huge part of my development as a Liberal Democrat. I've been inspired by him, I've fought with him (yes, I dared answer back), I've admired the way he dragged us from an asterisk to a sizeable political force and then tried to do it all again. While I may have disagreed with him on a fair few occasions, I sought his ...
BORIS IS WINNING! (PERHAPS) On the face of it, this has not been a great week for Boris Johnson. He has suffered an humiliating defeat in Parliament, which scuppered his no-deal threat, instead requiring the prime minister to apply to the EU for an extension unless he can magic up a majority for a withdrawal agreement by 31 October. He has had to sack 21 Conservative MPs who voted with the opposition to achieve said humiliation, including two former chancellors and eight former Cabinet ministers. He has lost the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, pretty much single-handedly responsible ...
Another walk with John Rogers. This one follows in the footsteps of W.G. Sebald and his book The Rings of Saturn, taking us from Southwold to the lost city of Dunwich via Walberswick. It is a walk I have done myself, thinking of Peter Greenaway's Drowning by Numbers and Malcolm Saville's Sea Witch Comes Home. What really did for Dunwich, incidentally, is that its river changed course. If it had faced solely a problem of coastal erosion the city could have been rebuilt further inland.
With Autumn Conference just days away, the Federal Conference Committee met on Saturday for the selection of amendments, Emergency and Europ motions. You can see the full text of what we selected here: As readers might be aware that the Vice Chair of Federal Conference Committee, Zoe O'Connell, and members of the committee, Jennie Rigg and Sarah Brown have sadly resigned from the Party, and thereby the FCC. In the first instance the FCC wants to express its thanks and appreciation for their service to the Committee and to the party. An election on the Committee was held for the ...
Three Cocks Junction was a railway station in Mid Wales where a line from Builth Wells met the one that ran from Hereford to Brecon. The station closed to passengers in 1962. When I was working in the 1985 Brecon and Radnor by-election I went through the village from which it took its name. Back in Leicestershire, I announced to a friend with an even that deeper interest in railways than mine that "I went through Three Cocks when I was in Wales." Thirty-four years later that inadvertent double entendre has come in useful. Friday What a splendid night! It ...
A memorial service for Paddy Ashdown was held at Westminster Abbey today, attended by four former prime ministers: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Sir John Major. Here is John Major's eulogy for Paddy.
South Glos Council's Streetcare section have told us that the resurfacing works on St Briavels Drive have been delayed as there is considerably more reconstruction required than originally anticipated. These works will now hopefully be completed on 17th September. In the meantime the bus diversions will continue.
Have you say about Sefton Borough's roads, street lighting, public rights of way, cycle facilities, pavements etc. etc. via the survey in the link below:-
Even now with just weeks before the next general election it is impossible to know where we will be with Brexit. For the sake of simplicity, I would like to put Brexit to one side for now. The Tories might find a way to implement hard Brexit by the 31st October and before the next General Election, we shall see. Discuss it elsewhere. There are plenty of other considerations we need to think about. I can see 3 plausible scenarios for the next general election; The Tories squeeze the Brexit Party vote and get an overall majority, or; We have ...
I'm just back from standing on the corner of Sunniside Front Street and Sunniside Road (less than a minute's walk from my house) to watch the Tour of Britain cycle race go through Sunniside. Two minutes of high speed cyclists and support teams captured on video. Enjoy!
Tajikistan is the least known of the central Asian republics — and I don't just say that because it is the only "stan" that I have not yet visited. When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991 and its major constituent states became independent countries, Tajikistan descended into a brutal civil war that would prevent [...]
Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, which takes a look at the news that the Liberal Democrats may run in the general election on a simple 'revoke Article 50' platform. Show notes Keep count of how many Liberal Democrat MPs there are. Monica Harding is the Lib Dem PPC for Dominc Raab's constituency. Demand Better sets out the wider Lib Dem policy plans beyond Brexit. Boris Johnson on Damian McBride. Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more ...
Mon, 12:48: RT @lewis_goodall: Break: Parliament is to be prorogued tonight. No Parliament, select committees or scrutiny of the executive until Octobe... Mon, 12:56: Must-read thread. https://t.co/fsyka5viEd Mon, 13:53: RT @jasonomahony: The day after Brexit. Downing Street. "Thank Christ that's over at last. Bloody Irish! What's next?" "We need to do the... Mon, 16:05: Ohdearwhatapitynevermind https://t.co/0nJNPEn4B5 Mon, 18:49: Cat Country, by Lao She https://t.co/PDw7ylffF0 Mon, 19:16: RT @OxfordDiplomat: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom just said live on TV: I acknowledge the complexities and symbolism of the bord... Mon, 20:31: RT @davidallengreen: Sickening to see MPs who have routinely ...
I can't count the number of people I've spoken to who are just as committed to equality as the next person, but maintain that pushing for further normalisation, rights, and freedoms for marginalised groups would be "rocking the boat". That, essentially, we should be content with our lot. This fatalism, that we should accept any level of discrimination or othering as inevitable, is fatal to any effort to extend further rights and freedoms to all marginalised groups and to defend the rights we have already won. As liberals we champion freedom, equality and liberty of every individual, whoever they are. ...
Tue 10th
10:28
How this one move could finish off Boris Johnson and his party - and it will be self-inflicted
Everyone in Westminster is trying to work out how Boris Johnson wriggles out of the cage he put himself in. He says he won't ask for an extension, yet will obey the law. This appears to be impossible to achieve. There is one way he can do it, of course: get a withdrawal agreement through parliament before October 31st. The latest rumour, no doubt started by Number 10 itself, is that Johnson will ask for the backstop to apply to Norther Ireland only. So, yes, we make the decision to draw the customs border along the Irish Sea in the ...
Parliament shutdown will not silence Lib Dem campaign to stop Brexit Responding to Boris Johnson shutting down parliament, Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson said: The Liberal Democrats, along with other opposition parties, voted against the Prime Minister's election this evening. We will not allow him to use an election to sneak through a dangerous No Deal Brexit, for which he has no mandate. We relish the chance to take on Boris Johnson in an election, but only once Article 50 has been extended. And thanks to cross-party legislation, the Prime Minister must request an extension to Article 50 rather than ...
This '1829' map (see below) is interesting as clearly many of our present railway lines are missing from it, although the map must have been drawn later as the Liverpool through Kirkby line (Liverpool & Bury Railway) is also depicted (as are other lines) and that did not open until 1845. Look how Lydiate is spelt (you'll need to zoom in on the photo) – LIDIATE Click on the photo to enlarge it. Note. Map photographed in the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Manchester
For all the drama yesterday of Parliament being prorogued, Welsh MPs singing Calon Lan in the chamber, the government being forced to publish key documents, and losing another vote to hold a General Election, their sixth since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, the real political substance was to be found in Dublin. There, whilst Boris Johnson fidgeted besides him, the Irish Prime Minister set out the stark reality of a no-deal Brexit - as the Guardian reports, it is not the clean break that the Brexiteers are claiming: In a tough message to his British counterpart on the steps of ...
Last week was the monthly meeting of Bury Planning Control Committee. This is the meeting made up of the 11 Councillors who represent the various wards of the borough of Bury. The committee determines planning applications for certain major developments and others where objections have been received. Liberal Democrat Councillor Cristina Tegoloreports back: Prior to the Committee meeting, a site visit took place in respect of planning application 63324, at the Moutheath Industrial Estate off George Street in Prestwich. At the meting this application received approval but we raised some concerns: We discussed a proposed development to the south of ...
Tuesday 10 September 2019 is World Suicide Awareness Day, with the simple message – its good to talk, and we can help. On average there are 18 suicides a year in Bury, more than three-quarters of them men. From 10am to 3pm on 10th and 11th September, staff from the Samaritans, Bury Council, the CCG and other Bury Suicide Prevention Group members will be on The Rock in Bury offering free training. There are services in Bury who can help: go to http://ow.ly/NJWY50vZpdi Samaritans: call 116 123. Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service - a confidential information service for people ...
Two major sporting attractions are coming to the Bury area this weekend: The Bury 10K Run takes place on Sunday 15 September 2019. It is not too late to enter which can be done here. The race starts at 9.30, and there is information about road closures is here. If you want to sponsor local Prestwich Councillor Michael Powell, who is raising funds for Bury Hospice in the race, you can do here! Cycling Tour of Britain comes to Bury for the first time in 15 years on the Saturday when it passes through Ramsbottom. The final day of racing ...
Victims and witnesses of crime are being asked to share their experiences of the police and criminal justice system to ensure that people in Greater Manchester are getting the best support possible. A new survey has been launched to find out why victims and witnesses did or did not report a crime to the police, their experiences of the service they received from Greater Manchester Police and the courts, what support they accessed to help them cope and recover, and their experiences of the support. The survey will contribute to future decisions about which victim support services the Greater Manchester ...
Mass displacement is one of the most pressing global issues of our time. Many more people are being driven from their homes than ever before. In our forthcoming book, Refugia: Radical solutions to mass displacement, Nicholas Van Hear and I document the failure of the international refugee regime and provide a radical alternative to it. According to the UNHCR, more than 70 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by the end of 2018, including nearly 26 million refugees (over half of whom were under 18), 41 million internally displaced people, and 3.5 million asylum seekers. The overall figure has been ...
Below are planning applications in the last month. Please just let us know if you have any queries. [IMG: This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is planning-application-300x109.jpg] Single storey extension at side and rear 29 Newtown Street, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1HURef. No: 64615 | Received: Mon 26 Aug 2019 | Validated: Mon 02 Sep 2019 | Status: RegisteredFirst floor/single storey rear extension; Rear dormer extension; Raised patio area; Rear roof ext... 39 Simister Lane, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2SURef. No: 64576 | Received: Tue 13 Aug 2019 | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2019 | Status: RegisteredSingle storey ...
The Community Council meets this evening at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall at 7pm - all residents welcome! Here's the agenda : WEST END COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETINGTUESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2019 AT 7.00PMLOGIE AND ST JOHN`S (CROSS) PARISH CHURCH HALL(ENTER FROM SHAFTESBURY TERRACE - OFF BLACKNESS AVENUE) 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES2. MINUTE OF MEETING JUNE 11TH 2019 AND MATTERS ARISING3. CORRESPONDENCE4. POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE5. PERTH ROAD PLACEMAKING PROJECT UPDATE6. CHANGES TO LOCAL BUS ROUTES7. WEST END PARKING UPDATE 8. PLANNING UPDATE 9. COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 201910. OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED ON BEHALF OF WECC11. AOCB - MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT12. ...
Lib Dem Lords Leader boycotts Parliament shutdown Today, Lib Dem Leader in the Lords, Dick Newby, and the Labour Lords Leader, Angela Smith, have refused to participate in the Royal Commission that will prorogue Parliament. In addition to this, Liberal Democrat peers will boycott the House during the ceremony which shuts down Parliament. Speaking ahead of the shutdown, Liberal Democrat Leader in the Lords, Dick Newby, said: The attempt to shut down Parliament by Boris Johnson is authoritarian and anti-democratic. The fact that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom wants to silence the people and their representatives shows that ...
