PM must implement an immediate national circuit breaker Liberal Democrats: Government must fix failing test and trace system PM must implement an immediate national circuit breaker The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has today called for an immediate national circuit breaker to "correct the failing test, trace and isolate system" and keep people safe. The call follows annoucements in both France and Germany of new nationwide lockdowns. The Liberal Democrats have also called for a united approach to keeping family gatherings safe during the festive season, now backed by Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford. Leader of the Liberal ...
I was watching Countryfile earlier this evening and red kites got a mention. A reintroduction programme began at the start of the century and now they can be seen all across Britain. So if an ecological niche is vacant, an animal will fill it given the chance. Which made me think of my favourite Fortean theory - the idea that big cats are living wild in the British countryside. There is a film coming on Britain's Big Cat Mystery - you can see the trailer above. Its YouTube page boasts: This film adds substance to folklore and myth to establish ...
Following news reports this evening, I have just sent this letter to Kamal Ahmed, the BBC's Director of News and Current Affairs: Dear Kamal I first wrote to you in March this year, when I, along with Trans Media Watch, expressed disquiet at the bias evident in the BBC's reporting of the Harry Miller case [...]
Thu 29th
21:46
Only Fools and Horses star David Jason 'nearly killed by giant sugar cube' while filming PG Tips adv...
The Independent wins our Headline of the Day Award for this story of a happy deliverance.
Last week Jonny Oates published his memoir "I never promised you a rose garden" (BiteBack). Jonny is best known to most Lib Dems as Nick Clegg's Chief of Staff during Coalition, and as our current spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change in the House of Lords. Many years ago Jonny was the twenty-something political assistant to the Council group in Kingston, and I first met him then, so I skimmed through the book to find the chapter where he talks about people I know. It is, amazingly, halfway through, so there was obviously a lot I didn't know about him. ...
Thu 29th
17:59
Covid Watch: Telford and Wrekin to move to Tier 2 at 12:01am Saturday - Shropshire unitary still at ...
The government has ruled that Telford and Wrekin will move to Tier 2 (high alert) restrictions from one minute into Saturday morning. The main impact will be on those socialising indoors and businesses that rely on people socialising indoors. We are fighting a disease of that dies with loneliness. Until we get a major rollout of a vaccine, we must distance ourselves further from each other. If you are in Telford and Wrekin from the end of tomorrow, you will not be allowed to pop into the pub for a drink with your mates after work. Unless, that is, your ...
Current Titus Groan, by Mervyn Peake Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values, by Robert M. Pirsig Ash: A Secret History, by Mary Gentle For the Love of God, Marie!, by Jade Sarson Last books finished This Must be the Place, by Maggie O'Farrell Wild Life, by Molly Gloss Kessler, by John Brason Next books Borderline, by Mishell Baker SS-GB, by Len Deighton
Following Lib Dem conference voting in favour of the principle of a Universal Basic Income, the party is now developing the details. Here's the party advert on how you can take part in the next stage. There is an opportunity to contribute to the design of a Universal Basic Income policy. The recent party conference passed the motion Universal Basic Income, which commits the party to the principle of a Universal Basic Income, while leaving the detail and in particular the funding of this to be addressed by the Federal Policy Committee (FPC). The FPC is therefore advertising for a ...
One of the recent stops on Ed Davey's listening tour was St Albans, where with local MP Daisy Cooper he met local businesses.
Yesterday Lib Dem Leader, Ed Davey, and the Leaders of the Welsh and Scottish Liberal Democrats and Naomi Long the Leader of our sister party, Alliance in Northern Ireland, made a joint declaration about Christmas preparations. They challenged the Prime ... Continue reading →
[IMG: Gurkha Memorial Stature, Folkestone] On Armistice Day, 11th November, we remember the brave soldiers who gave their lives or suffered for us in war. Over 90,000 Gurkha soldiers served in the British Army during World War One, of whom more than 20,000 were wounded or killed. Armistice Day marks the end of the War and is a day to remember and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Read about two brave Gurkha soldiers who both were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during the War, Britain's highest military award for bravery. Published and promoted ...
Thu 29th
14:47
The "Planning for the Future" White Paper - it must have friends, but they're awfully shy...
I'm not what you'd describe as an expert on planning. Yes, I do have to consider planning applications as part of my role as Chair of a small Parish Council, but I'm rarely involved in anything other than pretty straightforward stuff - Gateway 14 excepted, of course. And we're not decision makers in any sense, just statutory consultees. That's not to say that I don't take an interest however, and in my new guise as a member of the NALC National Assembly, there is a greater obligation upon me to at least understand the wider issues that impact on the ...
This week it was announced that Jim Wallace is to be the next Moderator of the Church of Scotland for 2021-2022. Jim is currently a member of the House of Lords, having previously been MP for Orkney and Shetland (from 1983 to 2001). He was our party Leader in Scotland for 13 years. In 1999 Jim was elected as MSP for Orkney and became Deputy First Minister of Scotland. The Moderator chairs the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which meets in May, and then acts as an ambassador for the Kirk at civic and public events throughout the ...
Wed, 12:56: Missed this announcement! Hooray! https://t.co/FtWzXdrRNf Wed, 13:03: RT @Glasgowin2024: Join us on 10th November for Tiffani Angus (@tiffaniangus) in conversation about her new novel Threading the Labyrinth (... Wed, 14:45: Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne A story of its time, full of the new wonders available in 1872 - the Suez Canal, the rail links across the United States and India. Really fun. #nwbooks https://t.co/GvQmaz7heb https://t.co/rAhT8kWRE1 https://t.co/yqSWSuAxrR Wed, 15:30: Blind Voices, by Tom Reamy Author died just before this, his first novel, was published. A travelling freak show comes to town, and brings sex ...
Although the portraits are captioned 'Brighton', Jane and Sake Deen Mahomed lived in Cork in the late eighteenth century. This summer, I had the pleasure of attending the virtual launch of a new exhibition entitled 'Mixed Race Irish Families in Britain, 1700 - 2000' by the Mixed Museum and The Association of Mixed Race Irish (AMRI). Researched by my Irish Lib Dem colleague, Conrad Bryan, the exhibition explores the social reactions to mixed-race Irish families in Britain over the course of three centuries. The Irish Community in Britain has traditionally been looked upon through the prism of negative stereotypes. There ...
The Guardian reports on the findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission that the Labour party was guilty of unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination over antisemitism within the party, adding that there were "serious failings in the Labour party leadership in addressing antisemitism and an inadequate process for handling antisemitism complaints". The EHRC inquiry found that Labour, under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, was responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act, connected to harassment, political interference in antisemitism complaints, and inadequate training to those handling the complaints: The EHRC uncovered what it said was inappropriate interference in ...
Thu 29th
10:09
Why RingGo Is Hard to Use for F&H Parking Permits [Part 2 - the You HAVE to be Joking Edition]
In Part 1 of "Why RingGo Is Hard to Use for F&H Parking Permits", I explained the problem I was having renewing my Folkestone and Hythe Residents Visitor Permit Application. Since sharing that overnight, I've had two other people tell me they have the exact same problem. This includes one person who is due to renew by tomorrow, or his permit expires. Its both happening to others, and has been for at least weeks. I also had a helpful lead on Twitter from Darren who had the same problem, but found a workaround (see below). That inspired me this morning ...
Dropped kerbs are really important because they allow people with disabilities, the elderly, folks pushing prams etc. to travel around a community without facing the trip points and obstacles which pavement kerbs can present. Over the past 25 years or more Sefton Council has (like other councils) been installing dropped kerbs particularly at junctions to make things easier for pedestrians but I've recently been made aware of a location where dropped kerbs could do with being installed – see photo below:-. This site is on the eastern side of Northway/The A59 roughly half way between the Kenyons Lane junction and ...
Thu 29th
08:30
Whoniversaries 29 October: the First Doctor regenerates (also Gareth Thomas, Nigel Havers)
i) births and deaths 29 October 1935: birth of Michael Jayston, who played the Valeyard in 1986. 29 October 2010: death of Mervyn Haisman, co-author of The Abominable Snowmen, The Web of Fear and (uncredited) The Dominators (all Second Doctor, 1967-8) ii) broadcast anniversaries 29 October 1966: broadcast of fourth episode of The Tenth Planet. The Cybermen are defeated, but when Ben and Polly return to the Tardis, the Doctor collapses and his face shimmers and changes. Will Doctor Who ever be the same again??? 29 October 1977: broadcast of first episode of Image of the Fendahl. The Doctor and ...
Free six-week digital skills courses are available over the next two months thanks to Bury Adult Learning and Bury Libraries. Bury's Adult Education services says: "The realities of lockdown and social distancing over the past months have shown how invaluable digital skills are, with shopping, work, education and connecting with family and friends all happening online and with new technologies. On these courses, you will learn basic tablet/smartphone skills, how to communicate with others using email, how to buy goods and services, access public services and search for information, how to share photos with friends and family using email and ...
Bury Council has announced its not going to complete the 'pop-up' cycle lane down the A56 on Bury New Road. The Government has given Bury Council money, to make cycling and walking easier during the Coronavirus pandemic, and the Council announced that a segregated cycle lane would be introduced right through Prestwich on the A56 (St Mary's Park to the Salford border). You can read the Bury Times story from July here. Two toucan crossings have been put in, and white paint has been painted for half the way (St Mary's Park to Scholes Lane). We've been told that this ...
Transport for Greater Manchester have made some pretty devastating changes to the subsidised bus network in our local area. The 90 bus, which has been every 40 minutes from Simister to Prestwich Tesco has (under various numbers) been around for many, many years. Not only did it provide a good service for Simister, but also a handy route for people who lives right along Heywood Road and Whittaker Lane areas up towards the village. Other buses have been re-routed to provide some sort of service. The hourly 96 Simister to Manchester service is now re-routed via the village to provide ...
"Take extra care this Autumn - stay at home, stay safe and protect our emergency services" is the message from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services ahead of bonfire night. Festivities will look very different this year as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, with organised displays cancelled across Greater Manchester and Government restrictions banning household mixing. With more people expected to celebrate at home, firefighters are calling on people to take extra care and remind themselves of the Halloween, Bonfire and firework safety advice that is available at Safe4Autumm.com. Full statement from Greater Manchester Fire here.
From the City Council : Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating road safety improvement works. The Order is expected to be in force for 6 days from 2nd November 2020. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months. The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all westbound vehicular traffic in Pentland Avenue from City Road to Scott Street. An alternative route will be available via City Road and Scott Street. Queries should be addressed to the Network Management ...
