Munira Wilson routs David Frost on the effects of BrexitAn overused term on social media, but @munirawilson SCHOOLS Lord Frost on #Brexit here - and it is glorious! DF: "Anyone can come up with anecdotes." MW: "These are not anecdotes, but cold hard facts. Your Brexit is damaging our economy that your gov't left on its knees." ~AA pic.twitter.com/VDT0rwd1nN — Best for Britain (@BestForBritain) March 24, 2025 Three years ago an "ally" told The Sunday Telegraph earlier that David Frost was a "proper Conservative" with "star quality", who could even be a future prime minister. There was little sign of star quality when Frost debated the effects of Brexit ... (more) |
WATCH: Mike Ross's speech to #ldconfMike Ross is one of our best hopes of winning a mayoral election in May. The Hull Council leader is our candidate for Hull and East Riding Mayor. We run the Council in Hull and have a long track record of vigorous, incessant campaigning there. Here is Mike's keynote speech to Conference this weekend. (more) |
Steve Winwood: Dear Mr FantasyBefore he ever saw a Hammond organ, Steve Winwood was a brilliant guitarist and jazz pianist. Here he is at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2007. (more) |
Why we must protect non binary identitiesEditor's Note: This is the speech Adrian would have given had they been called in the heavily over-subscribed debate on the Free to be who you are policy paper in Harrogate Firstly a big thank you to our mover Christine Jardine MP for spending the time in talking at length with so many of us to bring together a wide-ranging motion which covers many topics which for those of us who are at the core of campaigning for LGBTQ+ rights are extremely pleased to have one concise paper to refer to. I want to speak particularly to lines 112-113 - ... (more) |
West End weekly ward surgery tonight #dundeewestendOur joint weekly ward surgery takes place tonight. This week it is as follows : Blackness Library (Tuesdays 5pm - every week during school term time) All welcome - no appointment necessary! (more) |
Tractor tax could cost 200,000 jobsThe Independent reports that new research has found that more than 200,000 jobs could be lost because of the government's so-called tractor tax. The paper says that the move would also cost the economy £14.9bn, according to a study by the independent consultancy CBI-Economics, which was commissioned by the group Family Business UK and looked at more than 4,000 businesses and farms across the country: Nearly a quarter of family businesses - 23 per cent - and almost one in five family farms - 17 per cent - said they had cut jobs or halted recruitment since the planned tax ... (more) |
Measles was good business for Mr Sowerberry in Oliver TwistEmbed from Getty ImagesOur reading today is taken from chapter 6 of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: The month's trial over, Oliver was formally apprenticed. It was a nice sickly season just at this time. In commercial phrase, coffins were looking up; and, in the course of a few weeks, Oliver acquired a great deal of experience. The success of Mr. Sowerberry's ingenious speculation, exceeded even his most sanguine hopes. The oldest inhabitants recollected no period at which measles had been so prevalent, or so fatal to infant existence; and many were the mournful processions which little Oliver headed, in ... (more) |
Market Harborough's friendship park gets ready to openMarket Harborough's new mini-park is due to open at the end of the month, and today I noticed that its name sign has gone up. This is the project that so outraged the local Conservatives - it must be that parks are woke, or maybe friendship is? Maybe they both are? For news of plans for a much larger park just outside the town, see my story Harborough District Council buys land for rewilding project. (more) |
Mental health crisis, or mental health failure?There is much talk about the crisis in mental health. A significant number of young people are not in employment or education, and there is a big rise in autism and ADHD diagnoses. There is an odd dichotomy between the advice you read in newspaper problem pages, like Philippa Perry's in The Guardian, and treatments offered on the NHS. In the former, childhood experiences are considered, with links made to current problems. The unique complexity of each individual and their situation is recognised. As a mental health professional, I found that this approach is the most helpful in bringing about ... (more) |
Young carers and SEND educationI was pleased with the motion at conference on Sunday, where conference overwhelmingly voted to back the SEND education motion. The debate consisted of those who had experienced that system as a child, facing adversity at school, others were parents who had to navigate the system where waits for EHCPs are well over the legal limit, or schools simply do not provide support. In this article, I wish to highlight the issues that a third group face, our young carers. We are the party of carers, and thus I was disappointed not to see any young carers voices emphasised in ... (more) |