Tim Farron MP in GatesheadOn Saturday 7th September 2024, MP Tim Farron met Lib Dem campaigners battling Labour to win the Bridges by-election in Gateshead. Tim gave an impromptu speech covering how Labour had won the general election by default but there was no great enthusiasm for Starmer. He also wished local campaigners a successful campaign before heading to meet local voters with by-election candidate Jonathan (more) |
Judy Collins: Farewell to TarwathieFarewell to Tarwathie was written by the Scottish poet George Scroggie (1826-1907) and published in his 1857 collection The Peasant's Lyre. Scroggie lived on Tarwathie Farm, which is in Aberdeenshire. It takes the form of a paean to his homeland by the protagonist, who is about to leave for Greenland on a whaling trip. This Judy Collins recording of it can be found on her 1970 album Whales and Nightingales. She was by then an internationally known artist, having had a hit with Joni Mitchell's song Both Sides Now. I love the clarity of her voice here. The whales on ... (more) |
Reform's by-election leafletWe keep a close eye on opposition literature in the Bridges by-election in Gateshead. Today I'm having a close look at the Reform Party's publication. There is frankly not much to write about. The leaflet has very little to say. Let's at least start with the imprint. It fails to show the name of the party and the name of the candidate though presumably the agent and candidate are the same (more) |
Tom Arms' World ReviewGaza In a month it will be first anniversary of the start of the Gaza War. There is no end in sight. The two sides - Israel and Hamas—have two diametrically opposed positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will accept nothing less than the total destruction of Hamas. He might reluctantly accept a temporary ceasefire if the Israeli Defence Forces or Mossad manage to assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. That would enable him to retrieve at least some of the hostages. But once those hostages are returned expect the attacks to resume. Hamas leader Sinwar is holding out ... (more) |
Al Pinkerton MP writes: The Falkland Islands - a liberal's guideEditor's Note: Our new MP for Surrey Heath, Dr Al Pinkerton, was, until his election an Associate Professor of Geopolitics specialising in international borders and boundary disputes. Next Sunday, at Conference, he'll be chairing a fringe meeting about the Falkland Islands at 11:30 am in the Regent Room at the Grand Hotel. Speakers include Lib Dem Peers Jeremy Purvis and Julie Smith and two members of the Falklands Islands Legislative Assembly. Here, Al writes about the history of the Falklands and the values we Lib Dems share with the islanders. Think of the Falkland Islands and you'd be forgiven if ... (more) |
Fairtrade Fortnight - 9th September - 22nd SeptemberFraser is a member of the Dundee Fairtrade Forum and is pleased that Dundee is again participating in Fairtrade Fortnight that runs from tomorrow - 9th September - until 22nd September. The Fairtrade Forum has encouraged local schools, churches and community groups to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. This year, it is 30 years since products with the Fairtrade mark first appeared on shelves in the UK. As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, the University of Dundee is holding a curry tasting event this coming Wednesday - 11th September - at 12 noon - all welcome! (more) |
Delayed justice could cost livesThe Mirror reports that a survivor of the Grenfell Tower disaster has warned more lives could be destroyed as those responsible may not face justice before 2030. The paper says that the Inquiry into the 2017 fire, which claimed 72 lives, blamed "decades of failure" by those in power and "systematic dishonesty" from building firms for the tragedy, and as a result police are under pressure to speed up the criminal probe into the Grenfell disaster as families have already waited seven years for the Inquiry's findings. Shockingly, the Metropolitan Police has said it needs from 12 to 18 months ... (more) |