Sammy Going South, Suez and the end of the British EmpireWritten for Terence Towles Canote's 13th Annual Rule, Britannia Blogathon. We British have a habit of turning military debacles into victories. The retreat from Dunkirk, for instance, has twice been the subject of a film (in 1958 and 2017) and also forms an important part of the action in Atonement from 2007. But the Suez Crisis of 1956, whether because of the deceit it involved or its abject failure, has proved too shameful a subject for British cinema to tackle. This unsuccessful attempt to overturn Egypt's nationalisation of the Suez Canal, made together with France and Israel, and in particular ... (more) |
How Lib Dem Councillors get things done on temporary accommodationPaul Walter wrote about the Temporary accommodation debate in his diary earlier It was a great and sobering debate. I just wanted to highlight two things that Lib Dems have done. Prue Bray spoke about what her Council in Wokingham has done to reduce the numbers of people in temporary accommodation and to make it a lot safer for those who are. She said: Temporary accommodation is a subject that could drive us to despair, but I want to give you some hope by telling you how a Lib Dem council is making a real difference. I am really proud ... (more) |
Paul's conference diary (2) - things get interestingOne of the highlights of Brighton is that it's got a great running track. You just poodle out to the promenade – chunter westwards for (in my case) 2.5 k and then turn round and go back. Job done. The sloshing about of the sea and wind also gives quite an invigorating awakening at 7 o'clock in the morning. After an instant porridge for breakfast, I was in the main auditorium to hear Gideon Amos MP make an excellent speech in the debate on the Mortality of Children living in temporary accommodation. Here's an astonishing fact to stop you in ... (more) |
Paul's conference diary (1)Thanks to the wonder of Traveline.info and an ingenious chain of five buses, I travelled to Brighton (and will travel back) free on my senior bus pass (Thank you – I know, it's so hard to imagine that I am entitled to one) and saved, I'm told, 55500g of CO2, compared to driving. In the process I learnt some valuable lessons in extreme bussing: Always have "fall back" buses scheduled a little later, in case you miss your connection. Never look at your phone when waiting for a bus. ...Because you may look up just as your bus is passing ... (more) |
Lib Dems need a 25-year vision that sets out how we'll change BritainLib Dems desperately want a message that cuts through. Something that lifts our standing in the polls with the same gravity-defying ease as we've seen Reform and the Greens achieve. But I'm afraid there is no single magic phrase or policy position that will do that. (Nor, by the way, is there some charismatic new leader who could instantly rally voters to our cause. We don't do leadership cults.) If we want to cut through, we have to be authentic. True to ourselves. True to our values. People are disillusioned with politicians of all stripes. They see no vision, just ... (more) |
Shock as 16 tonnes of soil mistakenly dropped in ShrewsburyThe Shropshire Star, and not for the first time, wins our Headline of the Day Award. There's more about the scheme to improve the Abbey Foregate area of the town in a BBC News report. (more) |
Lord Bonkers' Diary: Fifty Shades of Earl GreyThis should keep the literary types among you happy, though I doubt that Ofsted will be so pleased. Wednesday History is all the rage on the electric podcasts, so I have taken advantage of the papers in my library to write a revisionist biography of a leading Whig statesman. You wouldn't believe what the fellow got up to! I won't say it's racy, but I happen to know that the Well-Behaved Orphans have got hold of a copy of the manuscript and are loaning it out to my domestic staff at half a crown per chapter. "Coo!" one young inmate ... (more) |
Observations of an ex pat: KompromatDonald Trump has undermined history's most successful defence alliance. He is engaged in an all-out trade war with America's closest neighbour and ally. He is threatening to take control of the territory of another ally. His tariffs have destabilised the world trading system. His repeated attacks on American elections have damaged confidence in one of the cornerstones of US democracy. He is crude, rude and politically divisive. He has cut support for democratic Ukraine while repeatedly accommodating authoritarian Russia. And finally, he has embroiled the United States in a Middle East war that is pushing up energy and food prices ... (more) |
What's on at Conference today?I'm feeling quite sad this morning. I'm not able to be at Conference this year as my husband and I get to grips with our new normal following a life-changing diagnosis a couple of months ago. I'm missing everyone, but at least being at home means I'm not in the whirlwind so I can keep up with what's going on and let you all know about it. Also I can watch the Strictly launch show. So what can everyone in Brighton look forward to today? In the main hall, I'd be wanting to speak on the heartbreaking and disgraceful situation ... (more) |
Torchwood, Dr Who and centuries of history at the edge of GowerRhossili is one of the most spectacular bays in Gower, with its sweep of unbroken golden sand stretching from Worm's Head to St Cenydd point, and just the one solitary building standing on Rhossili Down Commons above it. Overlooking the beach, which is a popular destination for surfers, is the highest point on Gower, rugged cliffs that are often used as a launch point for hang gliders. Rhossili Down and Cliffs are among the larger of the commons on Gower covering 354 hectares in total and also boast prehistoric stone circles, cairns and burial chambers.. Rhossili Down is predominately composed ... (more) |