It is often suggested that, as a liberal, I should carry a torch for free speech. And, it's true, I do strongly support freedom of speech. You would therefore think that, in theory, I would therefore be supportive of the Free Speech Union, Toby Young's latest attempt to get noticed. Unfortunately, as it turns out, Toby doesn't actually believe in free speech, at least he doesn't appear to believe in free speech for those who disagree with him. That doesn't really come as a great surprise, as he seems to begrudge the notion that with freedom of speech should come ...
When we moved to Market Harborough in 1973 its Conservative MP was John Farr, who was to be knighted 11 years later. He once toured my school without speaking to a single student (or pupil as we may still have been then). Sir John died in 1997 and was remembered like this in Chris Mullin's diary, later published as A Walk-On Part: John Farr, a ruddy-faced knight of the Shires with whom I formed an unlikely alliance over the Birmingham Six, has died. He dropped dead while out grouse shooting, which I am sure he would regard as a good ...
Putting my life back in order will be more of an undertaking, but I can at least start returning Liberal England to normality. So let's begin by looking at what Lord Bonkers got up to last year. February The old boy was fully in support of Harry's decision to elope with Meghan Markle: Congratulations to the Duke of Sussex for making it over the wall and quitting the Royal Family, together with his delightful wife and child. In my experience his family are a ghastly crew - in my young day it was common knowledge that the Jack the Ripper ...
With the end of another quarter, another update to PollBase, my database of British voting intention opinion polls since 1943 is now up. In addition to the another three months of polls, this update includes: An additional poll from the 2017-19 Parliament. Addition of a poll from the 1938 Oxford by-election. Enjoy! P.S. For the very latest polls, see my polling scorecard. Get polling news and analysis by email Sign up here if you would like to receive the Polling UnPacked occasional email newsletter, highlighting the best in analysis and news about British political opinion polling from a carefully curated ...
Out of Africa won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1985, and also five others, Best Director (Sidney Pollack), Best Screenplay - Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score (John Barry) and Best Sound. Meryl Streep and Klaus Maria Brandauer lost in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor categories. That year's Hugo winner, Back to the Future, got four Oscar nominations and won one (Best Sound Editing, where it beat Out of Africa). The other Best Picture nominees were The Color Purple, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Prizzi's Honor, which I ...
[IMG: Twitter logo] For years now we've rolled our eyes around mid morning when Donald Trump woke up and found his phone and Twitter app. "Oh god, what now?" we would groan as we read the latest instalment of populist bile. This week, entirely predictably, it all got dangerous and people lost their lives. Families are mourning loved ones whose deaths were entirely preventable. And the events which led up to them were highly predictable. Twitter, who have for years hosted his most outrageous statements without taking action finally lost patience with Trump, permanently banning him from their platform, citing ...
These questions are answered by Dr Catherine Beanland, Portcullis Surgery; Dr Caron Morton, Station Drive Surgery; Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health for Shropshire. Where will we get vaccinated? What are the priorities for vaccination? When will I get vaccinated and why are other areas getting vaccinations first? How will I be contacted when my vaccination is due? Which type of vaccination will be offered and will I have a choice? How long will it take for me to be immune from Covid-19 after the vaccination? I am a retired health professional. Can I help with the vaccine rollout? Can ...
These questions are answered by Dr Catherine Beanland, Portcullis Surgery; Dr Caron Morton, Station Drive Surgery; Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health for Shropshire. If we are given the first dose with one vaccine and the second with the other, how might this alter the effectiveness of vaccination? Why is the second dose being delayed and do we have to have it? Why are individuals not first screened for pre-existing immunity with an antibody test before being offered the vaccine? Should people who have had Covid-19 still have a vaccination? Must I have a vaccination if it is offered, especially ...
These questions are answered by Dr Catherine Beanland, Portcullis Surgery; Dr Caron Morton, Station Drive Surgery; Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health for Shropshire. Can you tell us about the vaccines and virus? Is the new variant of Covid-19 here in Shropshire and, if so, what impact will it have? Vaccine development and testing usually happens over several years. What is the evidence that these vaccines are absolutely safe to vulnerable people including pregnant women? Does it matter if young people catch Covid-19? This article is first in a series. Andy Boddington and Tracey Huffer, Shropshire Councillors for Ludlow North ...
We all have many questions about vaccination. In early January, we asked people to submit their questions to an expert panel. We received around 100 responses which we condensed into 18 questions. We would like to thank the expert panel for answering these questions at a time when they are working flat out to protect people not just from Covid-19, but also from other health problems, including those that peak at this time of the year. Andy Boddington and Tracey Huffer, Shropshire Councillors for Ludlow North and East Our panel is: Dr Catherine Beanland, Portcullis Surgery Dr Caron Morton, Station ...
It's getting scary out there. Yesterday, the number of new daily Covid-19 cases in the UK topped 60,000. The Directors of Public Health for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have issued warnings that cases in both council areas are rising rapidly. Cases are rising every area in the county except in the Bishop's Castle area. Shifnal and Wem have particularly high rates of infection, as does much of Telford & Wrekin. There were 15 cases in Ludlow in the seven days to 3 January. Further afield, London has declared a major incident as its hospitals hit capacity. We all fed ...
US President Donald Trump has been suspended permanently from Twitter. There's a certain sense of shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted, but even so I feel a sigh of relief. Trump used the platform to spew out a constant stream of lies and hateful propaganda, slandering Democrats and whipping up public anger [...]
Liverpool City Council never ceases to amaze me although by now I should be beyond surprise. This time it's a proposal to levy rents and service charges for St John's Market which will effectively close it for good. Since the ... Continue reading →
Our Ed has got himself in the Sun two weeks in a row. He has signed up to the paper's scheme to provide volunteers to help with the rollout of the Covid vaccine. I'm really proud to join this effort as a Volunteer Responder for the Jabs Army. Getting these vaccines out is so important and we're all going to have to pull together to get through this difficult time.https://t.co/h1CO0IJxl4 — Ed Davey MP [IMG: 🔶] [IMG: 🇪🇺] (@EdwardJDavey) January 8, 2021 It is certainly going to be some job to get this vaccine rolled out. My Dad, who has ...
Sat 9th
08:30
Whoniversaries 9 January: The Rescue #2, Terror of the Autons #2, Jack takes over Torchwood
i) births and deaths None. ii) broadcast and production anniversaries 9 January 1965: broadcast of "Desperate Measures", second episode of the story we now call The Rescue. Koquillion is unmasked as Bennett; the Didonians kill him, and Vicki leaves with the Tardis. 9 January 1971: broadcast of second episode of Terror of the Autons. McDermott is killed by the chair; the older Farrel by the doll; and the Doctor and the Brigadier are abducted by Auton policemen. 8 January 1981: filming of the regeneration scene from the Fourth Doctor to the Fifth. 8 January 2013: broadcast of fourth episode of ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING 11 JANUARY 2021 Hawkhill - traffic control for up to 2 weeks for street lighting column removals.
