I think this one is less widely believed than it was, but it never does any harm to give it a hoofing. No, the Victorians did not cover table legs and piano legs because they thought they were indecent. For a witness let's summon Professor Strange, under whose name I contributed a few columns to Clinical Psychology Forum. This one was in the February 2004 issue: The truth - and I am indebted to Matthew Sweet's 2001 book Inventing the Victorians for what follows - is that the Victorians did not cover the legs of their pianos at all, unless ...
Augustus Carp presents some remarkable figures in his latest report on councillors who have resigned the whip or joined another party. It doesn't just continue, it gets worse. One would have thought that the run up to the last major local elections - held not quite two months ago - would have prompted wavering councillors to reconsider their political affiliations then, but it seems not. Since 1 May there have been 154 identifiable instances of councillors changing their stated political allegiances. Some of these changes have led to an ostensible change of control of the Council. The net figures are: ...
Sometimes our party or, at least, its leadership, leaves me with my head in my hands. This past weekend and, indeed, today is one such occasion. On Wednesday at Prime Minister's Questions, or deputy PMQs as it was as Starmer was at the G7 in Canada, our own deputy leader Daisy Cooper reminded the House of Commons of the Lib Dems brave and right leadership of the opposition to the Iraq War back in 2003 and warned against the UK once again backing another United States misadventure in the Middle East. Well all I can ask is: what happened between ...
I have woken most mornings since President Trump came to power with a feeling of foreboding as I switch on the radio in the morning to discover his latest announcements. Add to that a sense of déjà vu when events in the Middle East top the news and I can't say I start the day in the best of spirits. Back in 2002 an American President was convinced that regime change in a Middle Eastern country would put a stop to terrorism carried out by so called Islamic groups and avenge the atrocity that occurred on the 11th September 2001, ...
Doing great work as a solo consultant is all very well. But at some point you need to tell people about it. You might have a report to prepare, a presentation to give or a video to record. And such things need not only to be good; they need to look good, too. I've tried out quite a lot of graphics and audio-visual tools over the years. And I've found some of them to be real game-changers in how I present my work and get people on board with my ideas. So I want to share some of them with ...
Manuela Perteghella believes Britain will one day rejoin the European Union. Asked in an interview with the Europe Street news agency if she thinks such a move will ever take place, the Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford upon Avon replies: "In my opinion yes, because it is important for the UK to have partners who care about the future of Europe. ... When I speak in schools, it is clear that young people want closer ties with Europe. They know the rights they have lost with Brexit and they want to experience Europe without hurdles, so I hope the new ...
"We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us," said Winston Churchill, defending the decision to retain the adversarial layout of the House of Commons during its post-World War II reconstruction. Looking at the way our political system functions today, it's hard not to agree with him. Entering the Palace of Westminster, one is immediately immersed in centuries of history. The very walls radiate tradition. Westminster Hall — where Queen Elizabeth II lay in state — dates back over 900 years. The weight of British history is tangible, steeped in the legacy of empire. Statues and paintings abound, memorialising ...
Today is an incredibly special day. Our wonderful Thursday and Friday editor Mary Reid celebrates her Ruby Jubilee. We are sure that everyone she ever taught, anyone who has been on the receiving end of her patient and generous help with their articles for this site, anyone whose campaign she has helped, anyone whose problem she solved as a councillor, anyone who has benefitted from the Conference access fund she pushed for, anyone who has benefitted from her wise advice, anyone who has enjoyed her incredible hospitality, will wish her the most fantastic of celebrations. The above, by the way, ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 23 JUNE 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. Scottish and Southern Energy Networks Elmwood Cable Renewal Scheme - temporary traffic lights and road closure from Tuesday 4 March for 19 weeks insofar as it affects the West End Ward : Ancrum Road (at Peel Street) - temporary traffic lights for 2 weeks; andTullideph Road (City ...
