Scrapping foreign aid shows Government abandoning world stage Responding to reports that the Chancellor is set to scrap Foreign Aid, Liberal Democrat International Development spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: For too many vulnerable people in need around the world, UK foreign aid has made the difference between life and death. Despite previous assurances, the mask has now slipped and we can see the callous Tories for who they really are. By scrapping foreign aid, the Government is abandoning the world stage and turning a blind eye to the crippling poverty children face around the world. Now more than ever we need ...
It's summertime, not much happening at Westminster, and most attention on the Liberal Democrats was focussed on the leadership contest. Time to catch up with what you might have missed... Cost of tackling food crime soars more than 1000% due to Brexit, Liberal Democrats reveal Boris Johnson put saving his advisor above the national interest Williamson allowing someone else to take the blame for exam fiasco Liberal Democrats: Missed test and trace targets show need for inquiry Cost of tackling food crime soars more than 1000% due to Brexit, Liberal Democrats reveal The Liberal Democrats have revealed the cost of ...
Responding to reports that the Chancellor is set to scrap Foreign Aid, Liberal Democrat International Development spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said:"For too many vulnerable people in need around the world, UK foreign aid has made the difference between life and death. "Despite previous assurances, the mask has now slipped and we can see the callous Tories for who they really are."By scrapping foreign aid, the Government is abandoning the world stage and turning a blind eye to the crippling poverty children face around the world. "Now more than ever we need oversight and scrutiny by retaining the ICAI, the International Development ...
Today I went for a walk along the Brampton Valley Way. Following the route of the old railway line to Northampton, this runs for 14 miles south from Market Harborough, but I made it just to the Waterloo Tearoom at Great Oxendon and back. The route was busy with bank holiday cyclists, dog walkers, joggers and foragers - autumn is already arriving in the hedgerows. The last train ran along here in 1981 and over the years the nature of the Way has changed. It used to feel much more like an old double-track railway: it was wide and there ...
Ed Davey has started to make his announcements of his shadow cabinet on Twitter. Layla Moran made a huge impression during the leadership campaign and has been rewarded with a promotion to Foreign Affairs Spokesperson. Delighted to announce the @LibDems spokespeople for the great offices of state: My friend @LaylaMoran has agreed to take a role in my top team. As Foreign Affairs Spokesperson she will bring the energy and enthusiasm she brings to all her work & hold Dominic Raab to account. 1/4 — Ed Davey MP [IMG: 🔶] [IMG: 🇪🇺] (@EdwardJDavey) August 31, 2020 And taking on ...
40 years ago, on 31st August 1980, Solidarność (English: Solidarity) was formed in Poland. Following the now world-famous protests at the Gdansk shipyard, localised protest against workers' dismissals turned into a wider expression of grievance, and Soldiarity was birthed. Initially, its momentum seemed unstoppable. A self-governing trade union, Solidarity's membership reached an incredible 10million by the end of the year. It is well known that Lech Wałęsa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. It is easy to look back on the 1980s and see the route marched by Solidarity as inevitable, but to take such a view would be ...
August is traditionally a quiet month in the Parish Council year - we take the month off from meetings as both Clerks and Councillors alike head off on holiday. Admittedly, this year is a bit different, what with COVID-19, but the principle remains broadly the same. I've not been idle though, and so it seems appropriate to report what I've been doing. In terms of Council business, I've focussed on Fen Alder Carr, the nature reserve that we took over responsibility for a few years back. Residents will probably know that it has been closed to the public for some ...
A property on the Bramcote/Wollaton border was broadcasting extremely loud music all afternoon today which was upsetting numerous local residents. After receiving a number of complaints about the noise I called on the house and asked them to turn it down. Unfortunately all I received was abuse and attempts (unsuccessful) at intimidation. As a result I had no option but to refer it to the police. I had tried to avoid this but if people don't care about how they treat their neighbours there is little else that we can do. As the property is in the City Council area ...
Not so much this month - several very long books, and my demi-commute is hitting my reading. Non-fiction: 1 (YTD 38) From Barrows to Bypass: Excavations at West Cotton, Raunds, Northamptonshire, 1985-1989, by Dave Windell, Andy Chapman and Jo Woodwiss Fiction (non-sf): 5 (YTD 23) Our Mutual Friend, by Charles Dickens Jerusalem: The Boroughs, by Alan Moore One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel Bring Up the Bodies, by Hilary Mantel sf (non-Who): 3 (YTD 79) A Boy and His Dog, by Harlan Ellison Jerusalem: Mansoul, by Alan Moore The Conqueror's Child, by ...
Mon 31st
16:31
Homeless man jailed for 20 weeks for sitting on the ground 'without reasonable excuse'
The County Gazette wins our Headline of the Day Award. This Somerset newspaper was commended by the judges for its telling vignette of Britain today.
Following Ed Davey's election as Lib Dem leader, Layla Moran is taking up a new role.
According to an article in today's Guardian by Nesrine Malik the "plot " to drop "Land of Hope and Glory" (LOHAG) et al from the Last Night of the Proms was a piece of "fake news" created by right-wing propagandist to stir up among their followers the idea that our "glorious heritage" was under threat from we woke liberals and Liberals. The article is worth reading, and explains how the technique is being used in the US to create a debate about the totally false idea that Joe Biden will empty the prisons and defund the police. M/s Malik argues ...
I am a bureaucrat, thus my days are usually spent in an office, in a town centre location. I go for a walk at lunchtime every day, mostly to get my 10,000 steps a day, but occasionally to pick up the odd thing that I need - a loaf of bread, perhaps, or a birthday card, or a sandwich. At least, I did, until five months ago. I haven't been back to my office since. It has been an interesting time. Without the need to catch a community bus at about 7.45 every morning, I can sleep in a little ...
On Saturday 29 August this blog published a post under the headline Former Liberal Democrat leaders reveal themselves in their advice to Ed Davey. In it we alleged that Sir Nicholas Clegg, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, had "reduced the party from 62 to 8 MPs over two general elections". It has been pointed out to us that this is incorrect. We apologise to Sir Nicholas and to our readers for this inaccuracy and have corrected the post. We have made a donation to the Bonkers Home for Well-Behaved Orphans in recognition of our error. You see, though ...
Full disclosure – the author has been working from home since mid-March. With increasing pressure being placed upon office workers to return to their town and city centre offices, in order to save the economy, little attention seems to have been paid to the flip side of having hundreds of thousands of workers operating from their homes. The imminent death of Pret, and of small businesses in the urban cores, is being waved at us as a means of provoking us to go back to our daily commute. Yet, yesterday, evidence emerged that, whilst there is undoubtedly damage occurring, there ...
Sun, 12:56: RT @XiranJayZhao: decided to do a separate thread for this so here we go: how Song dynasty poet Lu You poem-liveblogged his descent from ca... Sun, 14:30: Splendid visit to the Fondation Folon in La Hulpe. Wonderful art (which we can't photograph, so here are some sculptures). https://t.co/wASU21tIV6 Sun, 14:48: Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo movie review (2005) | Roger Ebert https://t.co/ftvp2CvSsD One of the greats. "Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks." Sun, 16:05: Grandmother thinks denying me inheritance will make me straight : entitledparents https://t.co/k1jwSv4G7G Extraordinary, and sad. Sun, ...
Readers of this blog site won't be surprised that I'm very much in favour of tackling the scourge of pavement parking although I also think such a move needs to go hand in hand with tackling cycles being ridden on pavements too, other than by small children. The link below is to the Government's consultation on the matter:- My most recent blog/rant on the matter is available via the link blow:- But and it's a BIG but even if the law/guidance is changed will Councils and/or the Police actually enforce? History seems to indicate they won't as the ...
Members of the House of Commons are often described as some of the most sophisticated voters in the UK, and yet judging by the behaviour of many of them, either this description is a myth, or they are so sure of themselves that they think they can get away with anything. Why else would there be so many reports of sexual harassment in the workplace of the Houses of Parliament, and why else would it be necessary to introduce unconscious bias training for MPs and to set up a group to tackle racism in parliament after staff raised concerns about ...
i) births and deaths 31 August 1932: birth of Roy Castle, who played Ian in the Doctor Who and the Daleks movie with Peter Cushing (1965). 31 August 1991: death of Gerry Davis, script editor of Doctor Who from The Celestial Toymaker (First Doctor, 1966) to part 3 of The Evil of the Daleks (Second Doctor, 1967), co-writer of The Tenth Planet (First Doctor, 1966), The Highlanders (Second Doctor, 1967), and Tomb of the Cybermen (Second Doctor, 1966-67), and sole credited writer of Revenge of the Cybermen (Fourth Doctor, 1975). 31 August 2005: death of Michael Sheard, who played Rhos ...
It's been a long time coming. But this morning ministers have launched a consultation on banning vehicles from parking on pavements in most areas. Currently the ban only applies in London. I would welcome the ban being extended to the rest of the country. It is time to reclaim our pavements from thoughtless car and van drivers. The government's consultation is asking for opinions on three options. Keep things as they are but clarify some technicalities in the legislation. Give civil enforcement officers working for councils the power to issue penalty charge notices where there is an obstruction. Enforce an ...
Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action is working in partnership with Dundee City Council to provide an exemption letter to people who have a health condition or disability who are unable to wear a face covering safely in order to support any difficulties they may be having. People may have an acceptable reason not to wear a face covering if: • They have a health condition where a face covering would be inappropriate because it would cause pain, severe distress or anxiety • They cannot apply a covering and wear it in the proper manner safely and consistently • They need to take medication ...
