The tactical voting choice to stop Reform in Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor contestWho is the best choice to vote for if you want to see Reform defeated in the Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor contest on 1 May? Tactical voting website recommendation The StopReform tactical voting website is clear with its recommendation: [IMG: Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor - tactical voting recommendation to stop Reform] As the site explains: This is a new election. The most recent local election results (in 2023 and 2024) over the same area show the Lib Dems ahead of Labour in both areas, Hull and East Yorkshire, which means that the Lib Dems are better placed to ... (more) |
Observations of an ex pat: The big splitThe possibility of a "Big Split" between Europe and America has taken another giant leap forward with a take-it-or-leave-it Ukraine plan from President Trump. In addition, there are dangers of widening chasms opening up between EU and European members of NATO. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and chief negotiator Steve Witkoff were expected in London this week for talks on Ukraine with key European leaders. But at the last minute they pulled out, saying that the president was tired of negotiations and demanded that all sides accept an agreement hammered out in Moscow between Witkoff and Putin. The proposal ... (more) |
Latest voting intention and leadership ratings opinion pollsWelcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention polls for the next general election, along with the latest MRP projections and party leadership ratings. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email, The Week in Polls: General election voting intention polls PollsterConLabLDGrnRefLab leadFieldwork Find Out Now 20% (nc) 20% (-2) 14% (nc) 13% (+3) 28% (nc) -8% (vs Ref) 23/4 GB YouGov ... (more) |
Temporary Traffic Order - NethergateFrom the City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Scottish water ironwork repairs being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in a westbound direction in Nethergate ( from its junction West Marketgait to its junction with South Tay Street ), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Tuesday 29th April 2025 for two working days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Vehicular access for residents will be maintained where possible. Diversions are available ... (more) |
Water bosses could face jail for cover-upsThe BBC reports that law-breaking water company executives face tougher punishments, including possible prison sentences, under new powers that have come into force in England and Wales. Their website says that bosses who fail to co-operate or obstruct investigators looking into sewage spills can now be jailed for up to two years: The government said the threat of tougher sentences would act as a "powerful deterrent". At the same time a highly critical report from the public spending watchdog accuses the government and regulators of failing to manage risk and drive investment in the water sector, contributing to higher bills ... (more) |
Plan to build bungalow next to Craven Arms Fire Station rejected after inspector warns firefighters could see into windowsNot for the first time, the Shropshire Star wins our Headline of the Day Award. I always knew that photo of Craven Arms fire station would come in handy. (more) |
Restoring the Crumlin Arm of the Monmouthshire and Brecon CanalI blogged the other day about the threat to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Here is a more hopeful story: the restoration of its Crumlin Arm, which once linked the canal to Newport and its docks. That Wikipedia entry makes it sound enticing: The canal started at a basin in Crumlin and ran through the villages of Newbridge, Abercarn and Cwmcarn now under the A467. The canal then reached Cwmcarn lock now under the grass at the end of the present canal. The canal crosses the Pontywaun aqueduct and follow the side of the mountain above Crosskeys and Risca this ... (more) |
Lessons from the Lords #2: the importance of email for local news coverageWelcome to the second of what may turn out to be, in decreasing order of likelihood, an occasional set of blog posts, the start of a regular series of blog posts, the birth of a new email list or the emerging first draft of my next book: some first impressions from the House of Lords, which I joined in February 2025. One of the first things you are giving after joining the House of Lords is a pack of example maiden speeches given by other peers. It is a hard copy rather than an electronic document, in part perhaps because ... (more) |
2025 Local Election PreviewIt's a curious thing when Local Elections happen and the party with the most to lose is the official opposition, not the Government, but that's what is likely to happen this year. After 1997 the Tories had a lengthy lost weekend at a national level, but in fact started reviving at council level the year after. That is highly unlikely to happen this year. The Conservatives are defending a high watermark, a freakishly good result for them in 2021 created by the short-lived vaccine bounce that put wind in their sails for a few months. This year the Tories are ... (more) |
Ed Davey, Nick Clegg, Paddy Ashdown... and hedgehogsEd Davey has posted this charming photo of him and Victoria Collins visiting a hedgehog sanctuary in Harpenden. It puts me in mind of a Liberal England post from New Year's Day 2016: Today in someone's review of the year I came across an interview Nick Clegg gave to the Evening Standard on the eve of the general election: Looking back at the campaign, it is the comic moments he remembers. For instance, his first visit was to a hedgehog sanctuary, with Paddy Ashdown. Ashdown muttered under his breath to Clegg: "When I was in the Special Boat Service we ... (more) |