The Market Harborough woman who gave birth to a catAgnes Bowker, the Market Harborough woman who claimed on 16 January 1569 that she had given birth to a cat, is the subject of the latest short podcast in the BBC's Secret Leicestershire series. The photograph shows the ruined church of St Mary in Arden by Market Harborough railway station, where the story begins. (more) |
Another cockup by this ham-fisted governmentFor years, our political opponent, especially the hypocritical Labour party, have lambasted us for our role in tuition fees during the coalition, conveniently overlooking Labour's role of introducing them in the first place after saying they wouldn't and then introducing top-up fees when they said they wouldn't. This ham-fisted government has messed about with student fees ever since getting back into power, first raising the interest rate and then capping it. Saying they would reintroduce maintenance grants and then not doing so. Now a group of mainly poor working-class students are being told that the people responsible for student loans ... (more) |
Welcome to my day: 14 April 2026 - Hungary for change?I'm in a good mood this morning, following the glorious victory for the Hatters over... the Hatters... I've been doing European politics with the Liberal Democrats on and off since 1989, long enough to know that it's always worth waiting a little before declaring that a change of government is good news or not. Indeed, I've been around so long that I remember when FIDESZ were a welcome part of the liberal family – and Viktor Orban was its leader in those days too. But the news that FIDESZ have suffered what looks like a pretty crushing defeat, despite controlling ... (more) |
No change hereI am reading and enjoying the fourth (?) volume of Alan Bennet's "Diaries," published last month. Here are two highly prescient entries: 7 January 2019: When Trump destroys the world those who are left will look at one another and wonder why nobody stopped him." And, a few days later: 16th January, 2019: ". . .Jacob Rees -Mogg . . .Boris Johnson, 'Sir' John Redwood . . .gentlemen who have never been in two minds about anything except where their own self-interest lies." (more) |
Is the UK moving closer to the EU?The Guardian reports that Ministers are planning to fundamentally reshape Britain's relationship with the European Union, with new legislation that could result in the UK signing up to EU single market rules without a normal parliamentary vote. The paper says that they understand that ministers are bracing to face down opposition to a "dynamic alignment" with the EU from those who "scream treason" over the powers in a new EU-UK reset bill. After weeks of Donald Trump's war with Iran that have exposed the fragility of the UK's damaged special relationship with the US, ministers argue the move will add ... (more) |
11-12 April 2026 - the weekend's press releasesScot Lib Dems set out plans to improve childcare for working families Scottish Lib Dems will fix NHS staffing as almost all GPs retiring early Scot Lib Dems set out plans to improve childcare for working families Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today used a visit to a sports club in the Lothians to set out how his party will give parents more choice and help juggling work and family through funded early learning and childcare. Scottish Liberal Democrats would ensure families can access flexible, affordable and fair early learning and childcare (ELC). As well as protecting the ... (more) |
Ed Davey on Hillary Clinton, restive Lib Dem MPs and chessEd Davey has been talking to Hillary Clinton: "We talked about how we need to fight Reform in the way they need to fight Donald Trump, and she gave me some choice advice, which I'm not going to repeat because that would be unfair on her." He's also been talking to PoliticsHome- that's a quote from an interview they've posted this evening. "Pressed" (as if he needed pressing) to say more his meeting with Hillary Clinton, he added: "She said you have to be very strong and stand up to bullies and don't cave in and cosy up to them. ... (more) |
Roz Savage talks about the first of her solo transoceanic rowsRoz Savage, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, is the only woman to row solo across the the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. She has spoken about the first of those feats to Gloucestershire Live: "When I got up in the morning, I saw Antigua on the horizon. I was just like, I'm going to make it there today if it kills me. "So I just like rowed flat out for the whole day. "I was determined I was not going to spend another day on the ocean." She said arriving on land was just fantastic after such a ... (more) |
"But I walked home through the rain crying..."On Sunday 12 April 1908 David Lloyd George was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was less than five months after the death of Mair, his eldest daughter and best-beloved child. Her death, aged 17, was probably the worst personal loss of his life. He cursed god, when not denying him altogether. For months he was liable to burst into tears at the unexpected sight of a picture of her in a friend's house, and he refused to return to live at the home they had shared, sleeping instead in his office at the Board of Trade where Willie Clark, ... (more) |
Dogs pushing dogs racing dogs pushing dogsWatch two Australian Cattle Dogs, Ruger and Rogue, go racing: And more: This is surely a dead cert for the next Olympics. (more) |