VIDEO: Ed Davey takes up post at Department of Energy and Climate ChangeFrom the Department of Energy and Climate Change: (more) |
Why my library needs savingBecause I'm made that way, I suppose, I do kind of collect new kinds of organisations, especially if they seem to pre-figure the future. One such is the Upper Norwood Library. It is red brick and 111 years old (I believe Bilbo Baggins was also eleventy-one at the beginning of The Hobbit). There are computers, but it hasn't been taken over by the boneheaded technocrats and cleared out of books altogether. It is always lively. But what is really interesting about it is that it is independent, run by a local board and funded jointly by the two London boroughs ... (more) |
Chris White writes: The next local elections after May this year will be in November.It is likely that a number of our cities will, by Government diktat, be holding referendums in May as to whether to move to a mayoral system. Some of these will give the go-ahead and Liverpool is anyway likely to jump straight to a mayoral system by use of a council resolution. The mayoral contests will be on the same day as those for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). There are still some who, in relation to PCCs, are fondly imagining that Liberal Democrat candidates won't be needed. This is despite the fact that it abundantly clear that the Conservative ... (more) |
is ed miliband...?is ed miliband...? (more) |
BBC Judge and Jury?Chris Huhne resigns, having no choice following allegations, as I understand by his ex-wife, who suddenly if I've got this right, confessed to having taken penalty points for a speeding offence (way back in 2003), some years later in 2011, which should have gone taken by her then husband. Both will now appear in court to answer charges of perverting the course of justice, now I cannot help thinking, the rights and wrongs of this will be decided by a jury, however I cannot help thinking that the over the top coverage being played out just now on the BBC's ... (more) |
Innocent until proven guilty, but...Two stories of interest in similar ways in two completely different fields, both accused of crimes, both not yet proven guilty, both stepping down from a position of responsibility (one walked, one pushed). Chris Huhne You would have to have no interest in politics not to know that Chris has been having a rough time of it for a while, now it is official that he will be charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly having his then wife (Vicky Pryce) take penalty points on her driving license that were actually incurred by Chris. As such Chris has ... (more) |
Nick Clegg on being Nick Clegg in The House magazineDeputy Prime Minister gave a wide-ranging interview to The House magazine, in which he discusses how it's right for the two coalition parties to differentiate themselves once a stable government was formed: In the run-up to the general election, you may remember, the tabloids were screaming, saying that if there was a hung Parliament locusts would descend from the sky and the sun would be blotted out, you know... so we needed for those first few months to show the most important thing of all, which is this is a government that works, and actually works rather well. Of course, ... (more) |
10 Minute Rule Bill: Deadline extended to end of SaturdayThere is an article in today's South Manchester Reporter about the 10 minute rule bill. I have agreed to extended the deadline to saturday to allow their readers to make suggestions too. We've had over a dozen suggestions so far . ... Continue reading → (more) |
Deja vuMany years ago, when I was an SNP member and the party was briefly without Alex Salmond's leadership, I sent a polite e-mail querying the dropping of LGBT issues from a draft manifesto. The response, from someone who was already rather senior and is now a Scottish Government Minister, contained the phrase "not a priority for the people of Scotland" - which was the defining moment in my decision to leave the party, because the "people of Scotland" I wanted to work for certainly included LGBT people, and it damn well was a priority for them. (I note that LGBT ... (more) |
Planning application at Jenny WrenA little later than usual, but there is one planning application to report in King's Hedges last week: it is for the replacement of the "existing post sign with double legged sign (internally illuminated)" at the Jenny Wren pub on Campkin Road.Full details can be seen at the relevant page of the City Council's online planning website. If you prefer to look in person the reference number is 12/0081/ADV.As always in case of difficulty contact the team. (more) |