Photo from Network Rail Jacob Rees-Mogg's public personality is as carefully constructed as that of any film star. So lazy satirists who think they can hurt him by making jokes about him being old fashioned are missing the point. The overegged quaintness is a way of disguising Rees-Mogg's real nature as a thoroughly 21st-century financier. Another important aspect of that constructed personality is its sheer disagreeability to anyone of a remotely liberal sensibility. "You may dislike me," it seems to say, "but there's nothing you can do about me." In part Rees-Mogg is playing the public school buck he never ...
I welcome guest posts on Liberal England. This list of the 10 most recent is pretty concentrated on the Liberal Democrats, but I am happy to publish posts on subjects far beyond the Lib Dems and politics. If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, please send me an email so we can discuss your idea. Why am I a Liberal Democrat - Simon BeardHow the Revoke policy harmed Lib Dem chances - Michael MullaneyUnionism is making the Scottish Lib Dems irrelevant - Mark StephensWith Valour and Distinction: The 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the First ...
Thu 17th
17:59
Covid Watch: It's official - we are still in Tier 2 - a bitter blow to town that is celebrated for i...
No one will think this is a surprise. But many will think it a disappointment. Ludlow, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin will remain in Tier 2 until after Christmas. The mood music has been against lowering our tier status for the last week. Covid-19 rates have been rising locally and nationally. We have the high risk Christmas relaxation in social mixing ahead of us. That's a populist gesture from Boris Johnson which has no support from the scientists he once claimed were informing his policy. The decision not to move to our area to Tier 1 is a grim blow ...
Current Gormenghast, by Mervyn Peake Perdido Street Station, by China Miéville Macro Life, by George Zebrowski Utopia For Realists, by Rutger Bregman Last books finished Amadeus, by Peter Shaffer The Company Articles of Edward Teach, by Thoraiya Dyer/Angælien Apocalypse, by Matthew Chrulew Our War: Ireland and the Great War, ed. John Horne 2010: Odyssey Two, by Arthur C. Clarke Above, by Stephanie Campisi/Below, by Ben Peek Next books Planetfall, by Emma Newman The Anything Box, by Zenna Henderson
This post first appeared on the New Weather blog... "We created 400 clone towns nobody loves. We shouldn't get upset - job losses aside - about changing them." So said Mark Robinson, co-founder of landlords Ellandi and chair of the government's High Streets Task Force, on the BBC. If we were more self-obsessed and rather less busy, we might reply, something like 'we told you so'. Because one of the origins of New Weather, was in the highly prominent and successful Clone Towns campaign of 2003-8, where the organisation's founders first met. We even remember the moment that Andrew Simms ...
[IMG: Census 2021 - 21st March] Households across Folkestone and Hythe District will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets. "A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities ...
This title is about health equity issues, however, not building better houses. Professor Sir Michael Marmot, author of the Marmot Review – Health Equity in England Ten Years On which was published in February this year, has led a follow-up study called Build Back Fairer: The Covid-19 Marmot Review. The new report highlights how inequalities in social-economic conditions before the pandemic contributed to the high and unequal death toll from Covid-19. The enduring social and economic inequalities in society mean that the health of the public was threatened before and during the pandemic and will be after. Just as we ...
The Guardian reports that dog, cat and ferret owners will have to follow new rules if they wish to travel to the EU or to Northern Ireland with their pet following Brexit. From 1 January, people travelling from Britain with pets and assistance dogs will need to ensure they have an animal health certificate (AHC) instead of a pet passport no earlier than 10 days before travel, the UK government said on its website. British pets required only a passport while their country was part of the EU. Only vets officially allowed to inspect animals for export can issue the ...
South Glos Council is consulting on a proposal to change Heron Way from a 40 mph limit to 30 mph. It's always been a bit of an oddball, as a single carriageway 40 mph road in the middle of the Birds housing estate. We've seen a few near misses ourselves, particularly for example with vehicles speeding down the hill to the roundabout just when families and children are crossing the road after school closing time, when traffic coming from Scott Way is also heavier. You can see the full details and comment officially to South Glos Council on this link: ...
I am looking forward to having the Covid-19 vaccine. Well, not the actual act of having a jab in my arm (twice), but because it will open up my life. Apart from a short window in the summer, we have not had any social visits in our home since March and we still only leave the house for walks or for medical reasons. We can both be confident that we will be called in for the vaccine at some point in the New Year. But it appears that an unknown number of eligible people may be missed. Thousands of people ...
Wed, 13:06: RT @PennyRed: My Highly Unexpected Heterosexual Pandemic Zoom Wedding - https://t.co/M5Jftg4JpR In case anyone needs cheering up. Wed, 15:01: Pyramids, by Terry Pratchett As always, very good fun, with lots of material packed in tightly with wit. Not as deep as his later books, which is hardly surprising. #nwbooks https://t.co/fQdEG3ptet https://t.co/FVwFB50NlV https://t.co/64PvMzZDqQ Wed, 15:35: The Wise Man's Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss I really loved this as much as I loved the first volume, perhaps even a little more.#nwbooks https://t.co/OJzuFOlX4G https://t.co/Mb4dkdJmRo https://t.co/fIuEtvh9B1 Wed, 15:37: RT @padzor: @nwbrux They were great books - I just wish there was some chance ...
Leeds councillor Stewart Golton has been selected by the Liberal Democrats for the May 2021 West Yorkshire Mayor contest.
Communicate "dash"from radical to archivedevanescence "dot"
i) births and deaths 17 December 1929: birth of Jacqueline Hill, who played the First Doctor companion Barbara Wright from 1963 to 1965 (she is the first regular cast member to actually appear on screen), and then returned to play Lexa in Meglos (Fourth Doctor, 1980). 17 December 2009: death of James Cairncross, who played Lemaitre/Stirling in The Reign of Terror (First Doctor, 1964) and Beta in The Krotons (Second Doctor, 1968-69). (he's also the parson in Tom Jones.) ii) broadcast anniversaries 17 December 1966: broadcast of first episode of The Highlanders, introducing Fraser Hines as Jamie. The Doctor, Ben ...
Bury's first community vaccination centre opened on Tuesday (15 Dec) at what was the Prestwich Walk-In centre on Fairfax Road. This is the first of several centres which will be set up across Bury over the coming weeks, in addition to those operating at hospitals for their patients. Bury residents aged 80 and above who are able to travel will be invited to receive the vaccine. Residents who are eligible for the vaccine will be notified by their GP, either by letter or by phone - people should not turn up or call their GP until they are contacted. Nationally, ...
Just to wish all local residents a very happy Christmas. Here's to a happy and healthy 2021. Bury Council and the local police are making their annual carol service online this year. This can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/buryparishchurch 'live' at 7pm Thursday 17th, or as it is recorded, watch at any time. Many of our local Churches have Christmas services which must be pre-booked because of maximum numbers, most also offer online worship. (CoE, Methodist, Catholic.)
Volunteer-led walks around some of the borough's most scenic areas are back in the New Year. The weekly Bury Walk With Me events are back from the first week in January and provide a great chance to get some exercise, fresh air and the company of others - in the safe outdoors! Due to Covid restrictions, people need to phone up and book their place on the walks - don't just turn up. The first walks are as follows: Bury Hospice Walk and Talk: Tuesday 5 January at 10:30am. (Bookings taken each Monday between 2pm-4pm on 07786 935 276)BEATS (Longer) ...
Bury Town Hall and most non-critical services will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 23 December 2020 and will reopen again at 8.45am on Monday 4 January 2021. Some services will be operating with different opening times with key details below. For the full and up to date list see this post. Customer Contact Team Closed from 5pm Wednesday 23 December 2020.Open 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December (for help with urgent food or medication supplies related to coronavirus and for rubbish, recycling and environment-related enquiries only).Open for business as usual from 8.45am on ...
From Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action : "We are pleased to announce a collaboration with the Companionship Society at the University of Dundee and are overwhelmed by the number of students keen to be pen friends with older people. They have their pens and notepads poised but we need pen friends for them to write to. Can you help? Why not make it our New Year's resolution to sign up to something completely different and make friends with someone you wouldn't normally be in contact with. Do you know someone who might like to do this? Why not sign up ...
