I wrote a piece for Liberal Democrat Voice which went live this morning, in which I suggested that there wasn't an awful lot that Government could do if a collection of the "richest" clubs across Europe decided to form their own league. Naturally, a slew of politicians that suggested that, not only could the Government act, but that it would. I'm yet to be convinced that it's anything but words in the run-up to a bunch of local elections, but we'll see... One of the suggestions as to why a European Super league has emerged now after years of talk ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Bureaucracy

Second paragraph of third chapter: Een allée couverte is meer rechthoekig dan een gewone dolmen, die over het algemeen redelijk vierkant is. De ingang bevindt zich aan één van de twee smalle uitein-den. De twee lange zijkanten en het uiteinde waar de ingang zich niet bevindt, bestaan uit grote, platte, rechtopstaande stenen of draagstenen. Oorspronkelijk was de ruimte tussen de rechtopstaande stenen vaak gevuld met kleinere keien, of stopstenen, maar daarvan blijft na al die duizenden jaren niet veel over. Bij de Belgische dolmens zie je er alvast niets meer van. A gallery grave is more rectangular than a regular ...

As if we needed reminding why vaccine passports are a bad idea, the Independent reports that more than 1,000 clergymen and women from across the UK have written to Boris Johnson to warn against them, describing these passports as an "unethical form of coercion". They also claim the documents could herald a "surveillance state": The message is contained in an open letter from ministers from a number of different Christian faiths. As lockdown restrictions ease, the certificates could play a role in allowing the safe reopening of theatres and nightclubs. Significantly, however, they have not been included in a series ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

The Guardian reports: Six opposition parties in the Commons are urging the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to allow a vote on an inquiry into Boris Johnson's "consistent failure to be honest" in statements to MPs. They want Hoyle to let them table a motion saying that Johnson's conduct should be referred to the committee of privileges, on the grounds that making a deliberately misleading statement to MPs amounts to a contempt of parliament under the Commons rulebook, Erskine May... The letter was organised by the Green MP Caroline Lucas and it has been signed by five other parliamentary party leaders: ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

From the description on YouTube: This 1½ mile standard gauge branch left the Ashford-Hastings line just west of Rye station. It can be joined on the southern edge of Rye at grid reference TQ 920199, where a kissing gate leads on to a narrow waymarked path enclosed by bushes. This is the trackbed, which soon opens out on to a shallow embankment across sheep pastures, with fine views of Camber Castle to the south. The old railway can now be followed, with very minor diversions, as far as the former level crossing on Harbour Road (TQ 936192). Do not turn ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

The news that six of England's biggest (if not currently best) football clubs are intent on joining a so-called European Super League is dominating both back and front pages today, and rightly so. This is a story about football, but not just football: it drives home the point that excessive foreign ownership of many of our industries is not in the public interest, and illustrates the grotesque outcomes we get when we allow market and consumer logic to totally dominate the economy at the expense of citizen and community power. As such, this an issue on which the Liberal Democrats ...

Posted by Ian Kearns and Jon Alexander on Liberal Democrat Voice

One of the reasons that I joined the Liberal Party, as we were then, 54 years ago was because liberals believe passionately in internationalism and in true equality of opportunity. We don't care about the colour of a person's skin ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?

Simon Calder is the Independent's roving travel correspondent. To describe him as "dedicated follower of travel" (with apologies to the Kinks) would be an understatement. Appearing across the networks, he is on his way to becoming a modern day Alan Wicker. Want to know where to travel to? Problems with getting to your destination? Call for Simon Calder. At the weekend, he said that he expected Shropshire to do really well as lockdown is eased and is not as highly rated as it should be. He went on to describe Ludlow as an "absolute joy". Thank you Simon. We owe ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

The breaking news that a group of the most prestigious football clubs across Europe (in reality, Western Europe) are expected to announce the formation of an elite league has triggered widespread reaction across the British (actually, make that English) political spectrum. As Ed Davey put it; This is greed personified, ripping the heart out of the English game, leaving clubs up and down the country to suffer after an awful year. The govt must take all action possible to stop this from happening and save the beautiful game.https://t.co/IX0aPHnfTY — Ed Davey MP [IMG: 🔶] [IMG: 🇪🇺] (@EdwardJDavey) April 18, 2021 ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice
Mon 19th
08:30

Whoniversaries 19 April

i) births and deaths 19 April 2011: death of the much missed Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith (companion to Third and Fourth Doctors, 1973-76; various appearances from then on, culminating in her own series from 2007 to 2011). ii) broadcast anniversaries 19 April 1969: broadcast of first episode of The War Games. The Tardis lands in what appears to be a first world war battlefield, and the Doctor is sentenced to death by firing squad. 19 April 1975: broadcast of first episode of Revenge of the Cybermen. The Doctor, Harry and Sarah arrive at Space Beacon Nerva to ...

YouGov

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 19 APRIL 2021 Forthcoming Road Works Riverside Drive/Riverside Approach - give/take traffic control from Monday 26 April for 2 weeks for sign replacement works. BT Cable Renewal Programme - rolling off‑peak temporary traffic lights at various location from Monday 26 April for 4 weeks - streets affected in order are: Strathmore Avenue (at Hospital Street); Loons Road (at Gardner Street); Logie Street (at Ancrum Road); Glamis Road (at Ancrum Road); City Road (at Pentland Avenue); Charleston Drive (at Yarrow Terrace); Glamis Road (at Elmwood ...