The Joy of Six 1564"If there is one consistent theme running through Farage's political career, it is his striking ability to make enemies out of friends. He seems to be running out of allies. That helps to explain why rumours about his own future, including speculation that health concerns could eventually force him to step back, carry so much weight." Nigel Farage won his by-election but, says Zoe Grunewald, that victory has failed to reinvigorate his party. Xueyu Geng asks if Britain's railways can cope with ever‑more extreme heat: "Railway assets have very long lives: a track, bridge or embankment built or substantially renewed ... (more) |
The Highland cows of Much WenlockOn my way to see the ruins of Wenlock Abbey this morning, I met these fine creatures. Perhaps they are on a religious retreat? (more) |
Lib Dems at the Edinburgh FestivalIf you happen to be visiting Edinburgh in the next few days, you'll find that choosing the Fringe show you want to go to is even more challenging than working out your Conference diary. Over the four weeks, 3649 shows take place over 268 venues, for a total of 53000 performances in the biggest cultural festival in the World. And that's before you start on the Book Festival. Two Scottish Lib Dems are performing in shows this week and beyond. Fife Council candidate Eliza Twaddle appears in The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse. The dead have risen! But that ... (more) |
Let's celebrate: LDV turns 20 next weekOn 27th August 2006, LDV burst onto the blooging scene with a post suggesting that Simon Hughes was "certain to be challenged for the party presidency." Word reaches the Voice that weeks before the position had been advertised in Lib Dem News, party officials in Cowley Street received a call requesting a copy of the nomination papers for party President - the caller was not acting on behalf of Simon Hughes. Word also reaches us that one potential candidate is positioning himself to blitz Autumn Conference with an army of supporters bearing nomination papers, to seize the momentum. A Presidential ... (more) |
The Creation: That's How Strong My Love IsThe Creation sound good today and all sorts of prominent musicians cite them as an inspiration, but they failed to make it big in the Sixties. It's a shit business. (more) |
Reform civil war?The Mirror reports that Reform UK has suspended one of its highest-profile supporters as cracks start to show in Nigel Farage's party. The paper says that Tim Montgomerie criticised Mr Farage after he refused to attend the Clacton by-election count on Friday. They add that he also hit out at combative frontbencher Zia Yusuf, suggesting people "cannot behave like a child" in politics and lifting the lid on internal rows: Mr Montgomerie has previously been critical over the way Mr Farage has responded to questions about an undeclared £5million 'gift' from crypto billonare Christopher Harborne. It is understood the Reform ... (more) |
Right to Roam plans mass trespass in Andy Burnham's MakerfieldThe Right to Roam campaign is panning a mass trespass in the prime minister's Makerfield constituency to publicise its call for a public right to access the countryside on our doorsteps and roam responsibly over England's land and water. The trespass will take place on Sunday 13 December. Its location will be revealed nearer the date. You can sign up for more information on Eventbrite. Right to Roam says: There's a right to roam over just 1 per cent of the constituency. Despite big swathes of Makerfield being Green Belt land, local residents are shut out of the countryside that's ... (more) |
An old canal warehouse at Ellesmere in ShropshireThis former canal warehouse, with its thumping great ghost sign, is to be found by the canal basin at Ellesmere in Shropshire. The basin is at the end of a short arm off what is now called the Llangollen Canal. I took plenty more photos of the town and its canal, which I'll post another day. (more) |
TinderboxStaring at ash, we cried for rain to wash away the summer's dust but neither cleanse nor sully us. We shrank in our complacency. We danced and called to the domains of mystery and rainmakers pretending to have influence – while pipes ran dry, resources drained. (more) |
Diversity, standards, and the treatment of Professor Jason ArdayAn Open Letter from BLAC Lib Dems The tragic story surrounding Professor Jason Arday has left many of us deeply troubled. Let us be clear: plagiarism is unacceptable. Academic standards matter, and allegations of academic misconduct must be investigated properly and fairly. But we also need to ask a bigger question about the culture in which this controversy has unfolded. There is a growing anti-inclusion movement in Britain — one that has imported much of the American culture war and increasingly portrays diversity, equality, and inclusion as threats to standards rather than essential parts of a healthy society. At its ... (more) |