Labour Leadership Vote MatchAs so many other Liberal Democrats that I know have tried Vote Match, I thought I should. It's the questionnaire that shows how closely you match the views of the various Labour leadership contenders. Also, like many Lib Dems I came out as closest to Diane Abbott. The full figures were: Diane Abbott – 71% ... (more) |
Andy Coulson accused of knowing about widespread phone hackingSo says the New York Times in its detailed report on what the News of the World got up to with phone hacking during Andy Coulson's time as editor: A dozen former reporters said in interviews that hacking was pervasive at News of the World. "Everyone knew," one longtime reporter said. "The office cat knew." One former editor said Coulson talked freely with colleagues about the dark arts, including hacking. "I've been to dozens if not hundreds of meetings with Andy" when the subject came up, said the former editor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The editor added that ... (more) |
No FT, no comment? Not for me...I've been quoted twice, in successive days, by the Financial Times – a career highlight I can't allow to pass un-self-hyped. Yesterday, the FT covered the publication this week on Lib Dem Voice of the results of our members' survey, which was completed by almost 600 Lib Dem members. Under the surprisingly accurate/straight headline, Lib Dem members give poll boost to Clegg — you can tell this was the FT: any other paper would have searched its damnedest to pick out a negative slant — both Mark Pack and myself are quoted: Nick Clegg and his fellow senior Liberal Democrats ... (more) |
My Song of the Month: August 2010Last month going to my first live gig in what seems likes far too long I decided to do a new monthly feature. I thought I'd do a new feature at the end of each month let you share the song of my month. It may be the song that means something to me, the one I couldn't stop singing (out loud or in my head), the one I kept presses play and repeat on various formats, the one that sums up my month, its moods, its events etc. Therefore I was going to post this one before a minor ... (more) |
Take Back Parliament in EssexJust a brief note to say that I've been informed of a Take Back Parliament (the organisation campaigning for a Yes vote in the referendum on the voting system next year) meeting for Essex that's happening next Tuesday. It's at 7.30pm in the Charles Peters Lounge of Chelmsford YMCA. I'll be going along with at ... (more) |
Vote Match Labour Leadership EditionThose nice people at Vote Match have developed a nice Labour leadership edition to help Labour Party members decide who to vote for in the ongoing contest. Andy Burnham isn't included because he didn't get his information to them in time. Clearly I don't have a vote in this contest, and nor would I want one, but I tried it anyway. Vote Match has been pretty accurate for me - it picks up my liberal, peace loving hippy tendencies and always tells me to vote Liberal Democrat. For Labour leader, it suggested my closest match, with 78%, was Diane Abbott. ... (more) |
Inter-Religious Council at the United NationsThe Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation, Moon Hyung-Jin, has been in London this week, on his first ever visit to the UK, promoting the idea of an Inter-Religious Council at the United Nations. The idea was first mooted 10 years ago by his father, Moon Sun-Myung, head of the Unification Church — a body ... (more) |
Goalposts at lastAfter many false starts the goal posts will be fitted in Rosewarn Park next Tuesday 7th September. The pitch was marked out just recently.After the installation there will be football match so the young people can use the pitch to celebrate their acheivement in raising the money for this project. Well done to the young boys who raised the money for this helped by Nich Gardham from... (more) |
The Independent View: Confronting conspiracy theories is a classic case of civic society trumping central governmentConspiracy theories, an increasingly popular dinnertime conversation, are often otherwise dismissed and ignored. At most they are regarded as the amusing yet ultimately harmless hobby of a fringe, irrelevant few. They are neither of these things. They are a powerful social phenomenon. In many contexts they demolish trust between government and communities. In some, they are dangerous. On Sunday, Demos released a report, The Power of Unreason. In it, we looked at the role that conspiracy theories play in radical and extremist groups. Analysing over 50 such groups, we found conspiracy theories to have a strong functional value that play ... (more) |
Stay and Play - tomorrow in Rosewarn FieldStay and Play in Rosewarn Field organised by First Steps Family and Children's Services for all children aged 0 to 5 in the area on 3rd September (tomorrow) from 12 noon to 2pm. (more) |