Back to Hallaton. Historic England describes Hallaton Castls as "the finest example of its type in Leicestershire," that type being a Norman motte and bailey castle. Chris Tweed took this drone footage of the castle in 2023, and the Gatehouse website says of it: Unusually 600m from church and most probably a new site. The chosen site has some defensive features but is overlooked to the west. Built not on the top of a rise, but on a false crest to be as visible from the old Leicester Way as possible. If this has been a purely defensive structure it ...
Peter Chambers takes us back to a Doctor Who story from the Jon Pertwee era that warns against being seduced by the prospect of cheap and abundant energy. Inferno is the final serial of the seventh series of the Doctor Who classic era, broadcast in 1970. The Doctor was played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw was played by Caroline John. The writer was Don Houghton and script editor Terrance Dicks. This was the final serial with Liz Shaw, and the one that Caroline John liked the best. Today we would say that the writers gave the companion ...
Responding to the Prime Minister's speech on supporting UK businesses following Trump's tariffs, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: Donald Trump has launched an assault on the global economy which threatens thousands of British jobs and family finances with another pasting in the midst of a cost of living crisis. The Government needs to break from its policy of cowering in the corner and stand tall with our Commonwealth and European allies against Trump's tariffs through a new economic coalition of the willing. The strategy of hoping Donald Trump will be nice to us has not survived contact with reality. ...
Labour Councillors in Merton have come up with a way of cutting down on scrutiny from opposition councillors - led by 17 Liberal Democrats. Last week's Council meeting saw Labour force though a whole series of changes to the constitution which will drastically affect the ability of Opposition Councillors to hold them to account. The draconian new rules: Limit accountability on key issues by halving the number of questions to Cabinet Members. Reduce the publication of key information on the administration's performance and whether it's meeting its own promises, by abolishing 'strategic theme reports' and questions. Stifle debate on issues ...
In this year's debate I chose to speak about the cuts we haven't made, to ensure our residents still get the support and facilities they need despite the difficult financial pressures we, and councils across the country, are facing. Budget 2025 livestream Like councils across the country, Sutton has seen ever increasing demand for its social care services. These are the services that support our elderly population; children and adults with special needs or disabilities; and families facing homelessness. And in order to meet that demand with the dwindling funding we receive from the government, we have had to make ...
In May 2024, Councillor Ruth Dombey stood down as Leader of the London Borough of Sutton. This was my vote of thanks to her delivered at the 20th May Council meeting: For 12 years, Ruth has led this council with grace, dignity, and compassion. And with a lot of hard work. As leader, Ruth has been the face of the Council, attending hundreds of events. And Ruth attends happily, as enthused by this aspect of the role as much now as when she became leader. And wherever she goes, she connects with people, leaving a positive impression. But Ruth has ...
It didn't take the judges long to give our Headline of the Day Award to the Mirror. In fact they've knocked off early and gone down the pub.
As I never tire of telling people, I've been in the Party all of my adult life, having joined, as a teenager, the Scottish Liberal Party (Livingston Constituency Liberal Association, to be exact, for that is how we did things back then) in the febrile months between the 1987 General Election and eventual merger and the creation of the Liberal Democrats. I have stood under the Party banner in student elections (I once stood for Glasgow University SRC President against a certain Nicola Sturgeon – whatever happened to her? – we both lost!). However, I have never been a candidate ...
I like trains. And no, not in a "isn't that locomotive interesting" sort of way (although there's something about a black-painted electric locomotive that calls to me). But I like travelling by train, albeit in comfort. And now that I'm officially aged, it costs rather less to do so. And we older people get discounted Interrail tickets accordingly, of which I approve hugely. It would, under such circumstances, be churlish not to take up such an opportunity, and so I bought myself a "ten days in two months" Senior first class Interrail ticket a while ago. I did rather dither ...
With the new Liberator out, it's time to spend another week at Bonkers Hall - and for once I'm posting Monday's entry on a Monday. We find Lord Bonkers on one of his favourite perches... Monday "We're above the chimbleypots!" exclaims my young companion, taking in the view. Yes, you find me on the roof of St Asquith's with a Well-Behaved Orphan, he being more accomplished at shinning down a drainpipe to summon help than most of my acquaintances. For once, it's not suspicion of the Elves of Rockingham Forest that has driven me up here - I know they ...
Like many consultants, I've been working hard recently to get a better understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and to explore its impact both on my clients and on the way in which I work. It's clear that AI has its benefits. And, indeed, I use various forms of AI in my everyday work. But I'm still approaching it with caution. At least for the moment. We use the term AI as an umbrella for all kinds of different things. Many of them are things that we were doing before, but which have been 'rebadged' to make them sound more exciting. ...
Mon 7th
10:36
Further thoughts on Parliamentary Candidates' debates: thinking beyond First Past the Post
In a previous article, We Need Election Debates for a Parliamentary Democracy, I wrote about the current deficiencies in our broadcasted election debates, a recent innovation in British politics given their debut in 2010. In short, I wrote about how First Past the Post has resulted in a failure to scrutinise the vast majority of parliamentary candidates, with candidates able to actively avoid limited public forums and tempted into committed egregious behaviour when in office that erodes public faith in politics. This in turn has resulted in election debates misrepresenting general elections as quasi-presidential elections for a Prime Minister, especially ...
And before I start, yes, this really is me this week. Last week's article was something of a play on the Liberal Democrat Voice April Fool, although even my colleagues thought that it was credible. Perhaps I should be troubled by that... Greetings from the Czech Republic, where I'm off interrailing. And yes, most of this week will be on trains, but I get to enjoy the scenery and allow my mind to wander a bit. One of the great things about the past forty years is the impact of increased freedom. Freedom to travel, freedom to trade with minimal ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 7 APRIL 2025 Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) - closed until August 2025 for construction works. Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) - temporary traffic lights until August 2025 for construction works. Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) - closed until August 2025 for construction works. Scottish and Southern Energy Networks Elmwood Cable Renewal Scheme - temporary traffic lights and road closure from Tuesday 4 March for 12 weeks insofar as it affects the West End Ward : Ancrum ...
The Independent reports that Labour's biggest financial backers are among the loudest voices pressing Sir Keir Starmer to have a much more ambitious approach to his Brexit reset in the wake of Donald Trump unleashing an international trade war by imposing sweeping tariffs. The paper says that Trade unions, who were previously divided over Brexit and still provide more than half of Labour's campaign funding, are now at the forefront of a new push for much closer ties with the EU: Armed with a survey by pollster Peter McLeod - who has carried out research for Labour and the unions ...
