Wikipedia gives the basics: The station was originally opened in 1844 by the West London Railway but closed shortly afterwards. It reopened in 1862 and began catering for Great Western services the following year. In 1872 it became part of the Middle Circle train route that bypassed central London. The station was bombed during World War II and subsequently closed. It reopened in 1946 but the limited service to Clapham Junction was recommended for withdrawal in the 1960s Beeching Report. The main-line station was revitalised later in the decade as a terminus for national Motorail, and upgraded again in 1986 ...
It's early days but Gateshead Lib Dems have launched a YouTube channel to report on what's happening on the council and throughout Gateshead. Here's the first video - Cllr Ron Beadle talking about the Gateshead flyover.
BBC News wins out Headline of the Day Award. The judges were relieved to read: The South African Civil Aviation Authority said the impact sent the helicopter crashing to the ground. No-one on board, including the penguin, was hurt.
Oakham's Big Pop Flop say the headlines. And: Organisers blame fantastic rumours of a rowdy and dangerous evening for failure This is the Stamford Mercury for Friday 26 August 1966, reporting events the previous weekend: The much publicised big beat show on Saturday night Oakham proved to be very much off-beat. With The Kinks as the star attraction, supported by three other well-known "pop" groups, the promoters hoped for a crowd of between five and six thousand on the agriculturkl show ground, but only just over 2,000 turned up. "It was a financial failure and we're bitterly disappointed. We had ...
Via the amazing political scientist Richard Rose's website comes this photograph of people working on the election night projections at the 1959 general election. Richard Dimbleby, David Butler and slide rules all feature: [IMG: 1959 election team at work with slide rules]
... a healthy reminder of the benefits of putting up more council candidates, including in town and parish council elections given their increasing importance in a world in which large unitary authorities are spreading. The Melksham Independent News has the details: The Liberal Democrat group is set to gain control of Melksham Town Council after the town council elections on 1st May, following the release of the official list of candidates. An election will take place in only one ward - Melksham North - after the number of candidates standing in the remaining wards did not exceed the number of ...
Being an absolute lover of politics, I often fill my term-time Saturday evenings with attendance at the University of Oxford's Labour Club's social 'Beer and Bickering'. This is a social event which features three motions on various pressing political topics, decreasing in seriousness throughout the night. One fantastic feature of this event is that continually reminds me why I'm a liberal - and why liberalism matters. Part of the reason I attend is that I love being one of the few people who breaks up the total consensus of opinion on most topics. Motions have included 'this house would introduce ...
I must say Lord Bonkers is taking the prospect of the abolition lightly, but then he's been here before. Sir Keith Joseph spent the early Sixties trying (and failing) to get rid of the county. Thursday So the British government is again pledged to wipe Rutland off the map. I'm told that when a Labour junior minister discovered that councils are not All The Same Size, he started screaming and had to be sent home in a taxi. Well, we've been here before, and it remains the case that half a dozen sharpshooters dug in outside Uppingham can pin down ...
As solo consultants we can, quite literally, work pretty much anywhere in the world. And with Zoom and Teams and other technological developments, we can quite frequently do it without even leaving the comfort of our own offices or homes. But while it's great to be able to think globally, it's important to think locally, too. Because the most enduring connections – in works as in life – are the ones we make in person. And the most valuable connections are the ones we make with people in the community around us. I was listening to a podcast the other ...
Thu 10th
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Could you help make Lib Dem policy on economy, international security, democracy or primary healthca...
The Federal Policy Committee is looking for party members to sit on four new policy working groups. You need to apply by Monday 21 April. These groups will consult, consider evidence and bring policy papers to future conferences. The subjects are: A thriving economy: Boosting productivity and getting the economy growing strongly and sustainably is critical for improving people's living standards and wellbeing, expanding opportunity, and raising money to spend on public services and defence. A new policy working group will build on our 2024 general election manifesto to further develop our distinctive Liberal Democrat narrative on why the economy ...
Does anyone seriously believe that Trump has won over tariffs? He has backed down from the most severe positions because of the chaos it was creating in the world but particularly in the USA. At the end of the day Trump has decisively lost the trade war that he started. Yesterday's climbdown does not make the USA currently a good partner. Trump has changed his mind on tariffs and trade as regularly as he has changed his socks. While he remains President there can be no certainty of the intentions that he is forcing on America and the World. Only ...
Unfortunately, I had to miss Friday at Scottish Conference for family reasons. As I arrived in Inverness in the afternoon, my phone started going wild and I realised that Jamie Greene MSP had joined us. His arrival brings our MSPs to five and means that we can now be an official group in the Parliament. This will give us more committee places and speaking time. Willie Rennie will be joining the Corporate Body as our official business manager. Watch that moment here. Alex Cole-Hamilton introduced him and clearly enjoyed himself doing so. The most exciting day at Conference in ages ...
Although our Tuesday ward surgeries do not take place during the school holidays, we are nonetheless still holding a Thursday street surgery tonight to speak with residents on any local issues or concerns they may have. Should you have an issue you wish to discuss with us, e-mail us at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk or call Dundee 459378 and we will be pleased to meet you - many thanks.
You would think that Nigel Farage might have learnt by now, that of all people he associates with, Donald Trump is on a downward curve of popularity amongst UK voters. Nevertheless, here he is in the Independent, claiming that his friendship with Donald Trump could help the UK in their tariff negotiations with the US. The paper says that the Reform UK leader, who has long supported the US president, has previously said he thought the tariffs were "a bit excessive". And speaking to BBC Breakfast yesterday, Farage hailed his relationship "Not just with President Trump, but half of the ...
