For the first time, our Headline of the Day Award goes to the Hinckley Free Press. The judges are well aware that it's many years since Twycross chimps appeared in the PG Tips commercials.
We need a proper Green Recovery Plan to protect jobs People deserve better than this Government's NHS Test and Trace system Government must not use commission as an excuse to stall on tackling racism Government's half-baked merger plan is threat to international aid We need a proper Green Recovery Plan to protect jobs Responding to ONS unemployment figures showing that the number of workers on payrolls has fallen by 649,000 between March and June, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: Every single person losing their job reminds us that coronavirus is a tragedy that cuts across every ...
Responding to the International Development Committee's final report into the 'Effectiveness of UK aid', which warns the 'impulsive' decision to abolish the Department for International Development (DfID) is likely to have dire consequences, Liberal Democrat International Development Spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: "For countless vulnerable people in need around the globe, UK international aid has made a vital difference. We should be proud of that. "All the experts warn that Dominic Raab's half-baked plan is threatening international aid. The Tories should be ashamed for looking at reducing global poverty as nothing more than a political choice. "We need oversight now more ...
Thu 16th
21:25
"The followers of liberalism, as of Christ, should stick up for marginalised groups" - so why do...
"The followers of liberalism, as of Christ, should stick up for marginalised groups" - so why do you only mention JK Rowling and not the marginalised trans people she's attacking?
Politics in Britain is about to enter the summer silly season, though with coronavirus still lurking in the shadows one should not be surprised is Parliament is suddenly recalled after the current session rises. But for Liberal Democrats there is an added inducement to engage in political debate over the coming weeks as a leadership [...]
It's been floated by Boris Johnson, so there will be no more substance to it than there was to his bridge over this Irish Sea, but I like the idea of moving the House of Lords to York. York is a wonderful historic city and the upper house should be elected from the nations and regions and meet well away from London. Not everyone is happy with the idea:Oh dear! This is a misunderstanding of York, which is indeed a lovely city, with a superb Minster. But (sadly) we do also have food banks, and homeless people, and hungry children. ...
The Federal Conference Committee met via Zoom call on Saturday, 11 July for the agenda selection for our first virtual conference. The meeting was a lengthy one, which was in part due to the large selection of varied motions we received, but also to give us breaks from staring at computer screens for a number of hours. As you will be aware, this year we will not be heading to the sunny beaches of Brighton, but instead you will be able to take part in Conference from your own home via our third party provider, Hopin. You will be able ...
Current Our Mutual Friend, by Charles Dickens The Overstory, by Richard Powers Guban, by Abdi Latif Ega Last books finished The Wicked + The Divine vol 9: "Okay", by Kieron Gillen etc "Houston, Houston, do you read?" by James Tiptree Jr The Complete Secret Army: An Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to the Classic TV Drama Series by Andy Priestner The 1945 Retro Hugo finalists for Best Graphic Story or Comic The Ruin of Kings, by Jenn Lyons "The Bicentennial Man" by Isaac Asimov Next books George Eliot, by Tim Dolin Yugoslavia's Implosion: The Fatal Attraction of Serbian Nationalism, by Sonja ...
Thu 16th
17:20
PODCAST - What really happens at the grassroots when political parties push new ways of campaigning?
What impact is digital campaigning having on politics, and is it for the better or the worse? That's what I discuss in the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts with Kate Dommett, Senior Lecturer in the Public Understanding of Politics at the University of Sheffield.
I am very pleased that the Government is finally going to enforce the use of masks in shops. Those of us who are shielding will be in lock down until the end of the month, but we will only emerge cautiously after that. Don't forget that we are at high risk of dying from Covid-19 if we catch it. People have been telling us that in the town centres social distancing is not being observed, masks are not being worn and many shoppers are flouting the rules about queuing and following routes. Don't they realise that they are condemning some ...
Last night saw the first of the specially themed Liberal Democrat party leadership hustings with Layla Moran and Ed Davey. Last night saw the first of the specially themed Liberal Democrat party leadership hustings with Layla Moran and Ed Davey.
Responding to the Government's publication of the membership of its Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:"As Black Lives Matter has shown, the Conservative Government urgently needs to redress institutional racism in the criminal justice system and many other parts of our society."I wish the commission well, and commit the Liberal Democrats to playing a constructive role. But, to guarantee this commission has real teeth, the Prime Minister should commit now to ensuring the recommendations to come don't just sit and gather dust. "Conservative Ministers must not use the commission as an excuse to ...
This week Centre sat down with Layla Moran to explore why she wants to be the next leader of the Liberal Democrats. Below are my thoughts on the interview and some of the key takeaways. However, if you want the full interview, you can find it here. In the first part of the discussion, Layla spoke about her upbringing, how she travelled around the world during her childhood and her love of physics. We also spoke about her proposals for a Universal Basic Income. Layla supports a UBI of "£40-50 a week for an adult, maybe a bit more if ...
The Merseyrail half of Kirkby Station looking towards Liverpool. The Liverpool Echo has the article on its website – see link below:- Whilst long term plans to extend the Kirkby Line of Merseyrail through to Skelmersdale are still in the melting pot a short extension of the line within Kirkby to a 2nd station in that community at Headbolt Lane is very much on the cards as the Liverpool Echo article explains. Maghull residents will immediately spot a likeness in the design of the proposed new Headbolt Lane Station to that of the newish Maghull North Station building – ...
For many years, I have been at what is today referred to as the intersection, in this case, of culture and politics. As someone who has worked in different ways and continues to in the cultural area, I have always seen the connection. As one, also involved directly in politics, more so. I particularly want to convey this on this excellent political site, contributing so regularly as I do, and appreciating very much all those involved. There is overlap, and rapport between, cultural politics and political culture. This is true of the theatrical stage and on the political stage. Some ...
Wed, 12:56: RT @nwbrux: Where to find the 1945 Retro Hugo Awards finalists https://t.co/uTOuydTBcH A lot of them are online. Thanks, @IanMoore3000. Wed, 15:32: RT @bbcdoctorwho: We're sad to report the death of Maurice Roeves, who had a long career in TV and film, including playing Stotz in 'The Ca... Wed, 16:05: RT @Keir_Starmer: I take that as a 'no'... #PMQs https://t.co/GjpqAqVMmy Wed, 17:11: The Twilight of the Extroverts—and Other Unlikely Facets of the Post-Pandemic Order https://t.co/o4l9CUup7Q... https://t.co/aBmLlbR0S7 Wed, 18:31: The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, by John Bolton https://t.co/CvE28BdcDt Wed, 19:36: RT @hardywolfson: A portal at ...
[IMG: Something is Wrong on the Internet cartoon (From xkcd: https://xkcd.com/386/)] In early June, after massive issues at the Lower Leas Coastal Park coming back out of lockdown (as in previous summers) and after ongoing and lobbying from me and others, a number of changes were made to the Lower Leas Coastal Park terms of use, including the Banning of BBQs, new bins, diversionary signage and overnight closure of one of the car parks to reduce the impact on local residents. These were all hugely welcomed. They will, I'm sure, improve the use of the park in the future. It ...
Thu 16th
10:04
What the Julian Lewis-Chris Grayling affair tells us about the state of the Boris Johnson government
Yesterday, an upset in the world of parliamentary committees took place large enough for people who aren't total politics nerds to notice. The reason was that the government, who wanted Chris Grayling to be the new chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, was undone by Julian Lewis, a then Tory backbencher, who conspired with Labour MPs to get the chairmanship instead. The government retaliated against Lewis by removing the Tory whip from him, the strongest thing they could have done within the boundaries of common law. People are interested in the story for two reasons. One, Chris Grayling has ...
[IMG: Kent Downs fields / flowers (Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent. / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/))] The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a nationally protected landscape and home to some of the most enchanting countryside in Britain. The Kent Downs covers about a quarter of the County of Kent focusing on the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge, stretching from the White Cliffs of Dover to the Surrey and London borders. Within Folkestone and Hythe District the AONB is predominantly found to the north of the district. In recognition of the national and international importance of AONB landscapes ...
A tenet of the liberal standpoint is freedom of speech and ideas – that debate with reasoned arguments is essential to progress and democratic participation. This seems to be a view that is being tested with what many call the "culture wars" of the moment, centred around racism (historic and current), as well as trans rights. The charge is that activists on various sides look to deny people with opposing views the opportunity to express them. From pressuring institutions to cancel speakers, to hounding the opposition off Twitter, impassioned campaigners are trying to redraw the boundaries of what is acceptable ...
Thu 16th
08:30
Whoniversaries 16 July: Robert Banks Stewart, Mark Tonderai, Trevor Baxter, War Machines #4, C-Day
i) births and deaths 16 July 1924: birth of Robert Banks Stewart, author of both Terror of the Zygons (Fourth Doctor, 1975) and The Seeds of Doom (Fourth Doctor, 1976). 16 July 1974: birth of Mark Tonderai, director of The Ghost Monument and Rosa (both Thirteenth Doctor, 2018). He was the first black director of a Doctor Who story (though not the first person of colour - that would be Waris Hussein back at the very beginning). 16 July 2017: death of Trevor Baxter, who was only in one TV story, The Talons of Weng Chiang (Fourth Doctor, 1977) but ...
Thu 16th
07:47
Calling residents and employees of Burway Lane and Parys Road - you are going to get your roads resu...
There has not been much notice of the work on Burway Lane. It could begin as early as Sunday. There is no date yet for resurfacing of Parys Road. But it will happen in the next month. The work on both roads will involve laying a bituminous binder. Grit will be rolled into this and further worked in by vehicles in under 20mph restrictions. This was the technique used on Dinham and Linney. No one seems impressed by the quality of work on those roads or the necessity for doing it. And of course, this technique leads to grit being ...
It may be that the nationalist parties have gone as far as they can in securing independence for their respective countries, but fear not, the unionist parties are at hand to finish the job. The Independent reports that Boris Johnson's government is on collision course with Edinburgh and Cardiff after releasing proposals for a post-Brexit settlement which have been denounced by the Scottish National Party as a Westminster power grab: The plans contained in a government white paper include the creation of an independent body to "monitor and analyse" regulations passed in the four nations of the UK to ensure ...
There has recently been significant levels of flooding on the roadway at the south end of River Crescent that residents brought to my attention. I took this up with the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager who helpfully updated me as follows : "I can confirm we'll arrange for gully cleaning of this street. "We are aware of wider problems in this area and the flooding team are working on a surface water management plan in conjunction with Scottish Water. Our next challenge will be securing funding to implement the improvements identified from the study." Separately, there were also road flooding ...
