Environment and Post OfficesThe resignation of the dynamic Chris Huhne from the Department of Energy and Climate Change is a blow, but it is unlikely to be a mortal one because the most probable successor is Ed Davey. (Incidentally, I am glad that charges have finally been brought against Chris and Vicky Pryce, his estranged wife, because it will enable the matter to be cleared up one way or the other. Public suspicion, whipped up by a hostile press and tory bloggers, has been hanging over them and the government for too long.) Ed Davey has been an acknowledged success in BIS, not ... (more) |
Dismay at Gove's downgrade of Engineering Diploma[IMG: Engineering Student] Image CC Engineering at Cambridge Leading figures in the engineering, business and education sectors have strongly criticised Education Secretary Michael Gove's decision to downgrade the school Engineering Diploma from the equivalent of five GCSEs to just one. The Engineering Diploma is available for 14-19 year olds and combines engineering theory with practical experience as well as complementary study of science, maths, English and information technology. It can be taken at a Foundation, Higher and Advanced Level. Dr Mike Short, President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, published an open letter to the government noting how industrial ... (more) |
City broadband concerns highlightedSimon Wright MP and the Norwich Lib Dems are campaigning for better broadband in Norwich. At this week's Full Council meeting, Cllr James Wright highlighted the fact that there are areas of Norwich that do not have access to consistently high internet speeds. He also called on City Hall to play its full part in the 'Say Yes to Better Broadband in Norfolk" campaign. [IMG: Simon Wright MP and Cllr James Wright are saying YES to broadband ] Cllr James Wright, Liberal Democrat Group Leader at City Hall, commented: "There are pockets of the city that suffer from a poor ... (more) |
Chris Huhne goes, but is this the Rule of Law(s)?So Chris Huhne (and ex-wife Vicky Pryce) is to be charged with perverting the course of justice as a result of allegations that the former Environment Secretary Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change allowed or persuaded his wife to accept speeding penalty points on his behalf in 2003. Mr Huhne strenuously denies the charges (and one can't help but wonder whether Ms. Pryce will be less keen to repeat her allegations now that she is being charged as well) but it has not saved him. He has been forced to resign from the Cabinet. It's an odd business, ... (more) |
Chris Huhne protests innocence as he confirms resignation from CabinetChris Huhne has just made the briefest statement outside his Central London flat. He has confirmed that he is stepping down as Energy and Climate Change secretary. He protested his innocence and stated that he was confident that a jury will find him not guilty.His statement in full is:The CPS decision to launch a prosecution is deeply regrettable. I am innocent of the charges and I intend to fight this in the courts. I'm confdent that a jury will agree. So as to avoid any distraction from my duties or my trial defence I am standing down, resigning as Energy ... (more) |
Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce to be charged with perverting the course of justiceThe Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has just announced that Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne and his former wife VIcky Pryce will be charged with perverting the course of justice. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday 16th February. It is expected that Chris Huhne will now step down from the Cabinet. Keir Starmer emphasised that Huhne and Pryce have the right to a fair trial and that nothing should be said or reported that could influence that. He said:All the available evidence, including the new material, has now been carefully considered by the CPS ... (more) |
Chris Huhne protests innocence as he confirms resignation from the CabinetChris Huhne has just made the briefest statement outside his Central London flat. He has confirmed that he is stepping down as Energy and Climate Change secretary. He protested his innocence and stated that he was confident that a jury will find him not guilty. His statement in full is: The CPS decision to launch a prosecution is deeply regrettable. I am innocent of the charges and I intend to fight this in the courts. I'm confdent that a jury will agree. So as to avoid any distraction from my duties or my trial defence I am standing down, resigning ... (more) |
Chris Huhne Charged. Chris Huhne Resigns. Everyone forgets you are innocent until proven guilty.I am just so bored of this story. I am even more bored that people still think that charges is a presumption of guilt. We have seen in recent months people just being arrested is enough for the mob and the media to presume guilt and yell it from the roof-tops. Look at Rebecca Leighton. Everyone said she was guilty because she was arrested and described as the saline nurse killer. Turn out she wasn't guilty and was in fact totally innocent. Look at Chris Jefferies. Arrested over the murder of Jo Yeates and you know what – he wasn't ... (more) |
The Land, The Land!A cause dear to the heart of many traditional Liberals is a land tax. The cause continues to be fought within the Liberal Democrats by ALTER. Land value taxation had some adherents among Labour Party thinkers of the early twentieth century, too. Now I see that Mark Drakeford, the AM for Cardiff West, has revived Labour Party interest. (more) |
Friern RoadAt last I've had some fly-tipping removed. You can see the before and after photos: It always feels good to get a long term bit of eco crime fixed. This 'little' problem only took 12+ months and 4 attempts to get it fixed. Mobile phone photos can be a god send. Hopefully this now makes the recently opened bus drivers toilet more attractive. (This bus drivers toilet solving the worst eco problems for this patch of Friern Road). (more) |