Clear the gallery!Full council last week experienced some disruption. A bunch of Reform supporters were in the public gallery and, rather oddly, also in the well of the council chamber. This area is reserved for councillors, officers and press. The only members of the public allowed to sit in the well (on the edge of it) are those with disabilities which make it difficult to access the public gallery. (more) |
RMT calls three one-day strikes over Midland Main Line safetyThe latest news on East Midlands Rail's unsatisfactory new trains is that the largest railway trade union has called three one-day strikes over its concern that they are unsafe. As BBC News puts it: A union that represents railway staff has announced plans for its members at East Midlands Railway (EMR) to take strike action over "growing safety concerns the company has failed to address". The RMT union said it had been in dispute with EMR since April following the rollout of the 810 fleet (Aurora), which it said had been operating with a "significant number" of faults. It said ... (more) |
The first serving PM to receive the Legion of Honour?The BBC and The Guardian have both recently reported that Sir Keir Starmer was the first serving British PM to receive the French Legion of Honour. Both are wrong. The Times 15 January 1920 David Lloyd George was invested as Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour in 1920. Grand Cordon was the secularist Third republic's name for the Legion's highest grade, today's Grand Cross. The investiture was carried out by Richard-William Martin, the French Chef du Protocol and Olympic silver medallist. Richard-William Martin The post The first serving PM to receive the Legion of Honour? appeared first on Cymdeithas ... (more) |
Harry Chapin: W.O.L.D.Being a DJ? Turns out it's a less than poptastic business. Aided by heavy rotation on Radio 1, with whose DJs it must have struck a chord, this reached no. 34 in the UK singles chart in 1973. Harry Chapin, a talented singer-songwriter, died in a car crash at the age of 38. (more) |
Should the Liberal Democrats support "None of the Above"?'Idiot' or assorted synonyms for 'stupid' have been used to criticise those who do not vote. 'Idiot' itself is derived from the Greek 'ἰδιώτης' referring to anything personal or 'private' individuals who were not political officeholders or professionals, being retroactively applied to those who forwent public engagement in Athenian democracy. In this sense, the first 'non-voters' were considered 'idiots'. However, in our current political climate, we must question this assertion. We are living in a time where faith in democracy and trust in institutions is at record lows, manifesting itself in low voter turnout and increased support for populist disruptor ... (more) |
Will there be a general election?Speculation about a general election was one of the most expected outcomes of the change of Prime Minister. I can't however see an early election happening. Burnham inherits a Parliamentary party of over 400 MPs. The current Parliament has run for only 2 years and has 3 years left to go. Burnham has committed to following the key points of the Labour general election manifesto. Labour's poll (more) |
Extending the school day: A catalyst for economic growthExtending the school day represents far more than an educational reform; it constitutes a strategic economic investment capable of substantially increasing national productivity. In modern economies, where dual-income households have become the norm rather than the exception, the traditional school timetable – often ending between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. – is increasingly incongruent with standard working hours. This temporal mismatch imposes significant constraints upon parents, particularly mothers, who disproportionately bear responsibility for childcare. Consequently, extending the school day would not merely improve educational opportunities for pupils but would also liberate human capital currently underutilised due to caregiving obligations. By enabling ... (more) |
Michelin-starred restaurateur faces jail for using ants as dessert garnishBBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award for this story from Korea. The judges decided to have the trifle. (more) |
It's time to reclaim Cymru FyddSomething has changed in Wales. The 2026 Senedd election saw the end of Welsh Labour's uninterrupted rule since 1999, Plaid Cymru take over the reins of power, Reform settle into its position as the official opposition, and a brand new voting system, to boot. But while so much has changed, there remains one constant: the Liberal Democrats still have only one MS. We could be forgiven for keeping our heads down to focus on "rebuilding" the Welsh Liberal Democrat base, but I believe this would be a mistake. While Welsh nationalists run the government, British nationalists are at the gate. ... (more) |
Can Burnham win the endorsement of Number Ten's most important occupant?Andy Burnham may have hit the ground running with a revamped cabinet and an announcement that he will be getting rid of VAT on electricity bills, but he can't claim to be properly settled in place until he has received the approval of number ten's most famous resident. As the Independent reports, Andy Burnham will be Larry the cats seventh Prime Minister: At 19 years old, the venerable Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office has become a beloved fixture of British public life. During his 15-year tenure, he has frequently appeared outside the Prime Minister's central London residence, often providing ... (more) |