Embed from Getty ImagesAnother passage from Rumer Godden's An Episode of Sparrows, the novel filmed as Innocent Sinners: It was a strange thing that up to the age of seven children were noticeable in Catford Street; the babies in their well-kept perambulators and the little boys and girls in coat and legging sets were prominent, but after the age of seven, the children seemed to disappear into anonymity, to be camouflaged by the stones and bricks they played in; as if they were really the sparrows the Misses Chesney called them they led a different life and scarcely anyone noticed ...
Welcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention polls for the next general election, along with the latest MRP projections and party leadership ratings. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email, The Week in Polls: General election voting intention polls PollsterConLabLDGrnRefLab leadFieldwork Opinium 16% (-10 21% (-1) 12% (-2) 10% (+3) 34% (+2) -13% (vs Ref) 1-3/10 GB Find Out Now ...
Lib Dem Friends of Palestine have put out a statement on the Trump "peace plan" for Gaza. They say that the "flawed Trump 'peace plan' offers only a temporary pause in the genocide and denies Palestinians sovereignty and self-determination." President Trump's '20-point plan' for Gaza presents itself as a pathway towards peace but in reality promises only a temporary reprieve from the violence while denying Palestinians sovereignty, political unity and the right to self-determination, which are essential for achieving permanent peace. Negotiated between the United States and Israel without input from Palestinian representatives, it offers a ceasefire without guarantees and ...
I'm running to be a member of two Liberal Democrat committees this year: the Federal Policy Committee, and the Federal Council. I've decided to run for each for a number of reasons. I already ran to be a member of Federal Policy Committee in 2022, so this is my second attempt at getting elected to it. Policy is what really drives me politically: I've campaigned inside the party on areas from universal basic incomes to immigrant rights to LGBT+ rights to the economy, and I think I have a good "middle ground" view where I don't get so lost in ...
Woke up this morning, Found Reform UK had provided me with the material for another blog post: Northamptonshire Police are reviewing the circumstances surrounding a free event co-hosted by a Reform UK election candidate in Corby, at which members of the public were supplied with a 'generous and tasty' buffet. Lee Duffy, who already represents Lloyds ward on Corby Town Council, is Reform UK's candidate in October 9 election for the vacant Lloyds and Corby Village seat for North Northants Council (NNC). The by-election for the seat had been triggered by the resignation of Corby Reform UK councillor Robert Bloom ...
You want to trust the Police. You want to feel like they have your back if you need them. You want to know that if you or anyone you love found themselves on the wrong side of the law, they would be treated fairly and humanely. You would hope that in a relatively liberal democracy a quarter away through the 21st century all of the above would be a given. And then Wednesday's Panorama comes along highlighting yet another utterly toxic culture in a Police station. And of course racism and misogyny features highly. Some horrific examples of behaviour from ...
Trump's "Eternal Peace Plan" for Gaza is an ill-conceived hodge-podge. Despite that, it may succeed because it is the only show in town. It is also Donald Trump's best shot at the elusive Nobel Peace Prize. To truly succeed it needs buy-in from Hamas. But why should they accept it? The plan calls for their disbandment, surrender of all weapons and exile from Gaza. The Plan makes no mention of the West Bank where Israeli settlers are daily forcing Palestinians out of their home. As for the role of the Palestinian Authority, it is allowed a role "after reform." But ...
Home Group - the largest Housing Association in the West End Ward in terms of houses in its ownership - is organising a fun day community event for its customers and all interested residents living in the area next Tuesday - 7th October - at The Friary on Tullideph Road from 11am to 2pm. The Home Group team is keen to engage with customers, identify their priorities for their home and community and provide an opportunity to speak with Home Group Scotland staff and other local organisations. All welcome! You can find more information about the event at www.homegroup.org.uk/blog/dundee-family-fun-day
The Wales-on-line website has a fascinating article about a forgotten village buried beneath waves in Swansea bay. They remind us that the Bristol Channel was once an expansive, forested land, with semi-fossilised ancient tree stumps occasionally exposed at the lowest tides until it was drowned by the melting of ice-age glaciers millennia ago: However, evidence suggests that land existed beyond Mumbles Head as recently as four centuries ago. Medieval accounts tell of a bridle path from Penrice Castle to Margam Abbey that led travellers far past the headland of Mumbles. It's believed that Grove Island, or Green Grounds as it ...
