Thomas Cook's statue outside Leicester stationTomorrow's Guardian will report: Thomas Cook was heading into insolvency on Sunday night as the world's oldest holiday company faced a collapse that will strand 150,000 UK holidaymakers overseas and put 9,000 British jobs at risk.The company is the victim of technology - who needs a travel agent when you can do it all online yourself? - and of the uncertainty and weak pound caused by the expectation of Brexit. Meanwhile, the company's founder appears to be taking things philosophically. (more) |
Little River Band: It's a Long Way ThereThis is another of those records that I heard once on the radio years ago and could only identify when they invented the internet - Sympathy and Say It Ain't So Joe are other examples. I only recently tracked this one down because I was convinced the opening lines (which are really all I remember from it) mentioned "something in the air" and searching for that fills your screen with Phil Collins and Thunderclap Newman. The mystery is how I came to hear it at all. The Little River Band were big in the US but enjoyed much less success ... (more) |
The 2019 Hugos, part twoI ended the first installment with the close of nominations and the announcement of the finalists. One point that should be flagged up to future administrators is the issue of finalists with a large number of nominees, each of whom could therefore be entitled to a place in the (very full) pre-ceremony reception and the Hugo losers party, as well as to a Hugo finalist pin each and potentially even to a trophy each if they win. One finalist presented us with a list of sixteen different people whose names they wanted to see listed as part of their team. ... (more) |
Willie Rennie's speech to Federal Conference: Lib Dems stand for the majority of ScotsWillie Rennie made a keynote speech to Liberal Democrat Conference on Tuesday. It was the best speech I have ever heard him make. A very clear statement of why the Lib Dems stand up for the majority of Scotland's people – along with some literary advice for David Cameron. Jenni Lang's introduction is worth watching too for a wee secret. It's becoming a tradition to spill some beans about Willie when introducing him for a speech. Borders candidate Jenny Marr told Scottish Conference how he'd turned up to a Wintry canvassing session in Aberdeenshire wearing pyjamas underneath his clothes to ... (more) |
Liberal Democrat podcastsWelcome to my list of podcasts mainly from or about the Liberal Democrats. Do let me know of any additions or corrections; thank you! Lib Dem Podcast With John Potter from Preston and Richard Kemp from Liverpool, this podcast does what it says: covers the Liberal Democrats, especially with chat about how members can get involved and how to win elections. Never Mind The Bar Charts Hosted by myself and Stephen Tall, Never Mind The Bar Charts features talk about the Liberal Democrats, British politics and a few stray digressions. Occasionally features Brexit and increasingly features guests. On The House ... (more) |
The speeches that got awayIf you put time and energy into writing a Conference speech, went through the agonies of sitting through the debate and didn't get called, don't let your effort go to waste. Send it to us at voice@libdemvoice.org and we will put it up here. Also, let us know which speeches made at Conference were your favourites and we'll clip them on here. If you did get called to speak, watch yourself on the Livestream on the party's YouTube channel. (more) |
Politicians working in PartnershipI've taken some stick lately for cooperating on a number of issues with the Mayor of Liverpool. The criticism has come because at the last two standard council meetings there has only been one motion moved at each. On both ... Continue reading → (more) |
Call for new national parks, though not in Shropshire - should we declare our own?South Shropshire could benefit from extra funding under the umbrella of a new National Landscapes Service if recommendations of a report to the government published yesterday are accepted. There will be new national parks but not in Shropshire. My proposal last year to create a Shropshire Hills National Park failed to gain widespread support. A government commissioned review is calling for a new national park in the Chilterns and says that the government should also consider creating national parks in the Cotswolds and Dorset. I would not be surprised if other areas of outstanding natural beauty unilaterally declare themselves to ... (more) |
HS2 – It's in a bit of a pickle – But it should still be builtAn HS1 train stands at St. Pancras Station in April 2009. My good friend Phil Holden has recently been commenting at length (Phil is rarely short of words) on the pickle that HS2 finds itself in. Here's a link to Phil's blog posting on the matter:- phlhldn.blogspot.com/2019/09/take-h-out-of-hs2-now.html And here's my comment on what Phil has said:- Well Phil you've blown a whistle on HS2 with your full head of steam aimed at the chief promoter. Anyone would think you are trying to shunt him into a siding or even send him to Barry scrap yard where steam engines went to ... (more) |
Party awards for Lizzie Jewkes, Roderick Lynch, Alice Bridges-Westcott and Bernard GreavesOne of the best bits of Federal Conference is that bit just before the Leader's Speech (before the bit where they pass round buckets and demand all your money like you have any left at the end of Conference) where the Party President announces the winners of the Party Awards. It was great to see some fantastic people honoured this year: First up was the Patsy Calton Award, awarded by Liberal Democrat Women in honour of Patsy Calton, our much loved MP for Cheadle who died in 2005. Delighted to see my friend Lizzie Jewkes win the Patsy Calton award ... (more) |