ALDC by-election report 13th AugustThere were two principal authority by-elections across England, Wales and Scotland this week, both held on Thursday 13 August. The Liberal Democrats were not defending either seat, with Reform UK defending Almondbury on Kirklees MBC and Labour defending Honiton St Michael's on East Devon DC. It was an excellent night for the Liberal Democrats, with gains in both wards. In Almondbury, Paola Davies returned to the council just three months after losing her seat as Reform swept all three positions at the May local elections. In Honiton St Michael's, Rhys Wallis took a seat which Labour had won in 2023 ... (more) |
A Canterbury Tale, Richard Rorty and Stanley KubrickGuy Stagg understands A Canterbury Tale: A Canterbury Tale suggests that love of country does not mean some romanticised retreat into the past, but rather drawing on England;s heritage to navigate the uncertainty of the modern world. As a result, the film floats free from its origins as wartime propaganda to become one of cinema's most beautiful explorations of history and belief. Though the pace is slow and the plot dreamlike, it finds space for art and nature, friendship and love, nation and faith - all the things people sacrifice their lives for. I'm reminded of something the American philosopher ... (more) |
Buy an 'honour' says Labour think tank - they are just like the ToriesSome people reading this might think that I am a little biased when it comes to defending the honours system, after all both my wife and I have a CBE which is the second highest civil honour. But this is not about the position of Erica or I, it is a defence of a system in which anyone can be nominated for an honour by anyone. The applications are then impartially vetted by people expert in the field and then a recommendation is made to the Prime Minister who issues an invitation to accept the award on behalf of His ... (more) |
Lib Dems gain seats from both Reform and LabourTwo principal authority council by-elections this week and two Liberal Democrat gains – adding to the other two councillors the party had already picked up this week. Almondbury (Kirklees) Council By-Election Result: [IMG: 🔶] LDM: 43.9% (+14.5) [IMG: ➡] RFM: 27.0% (-10.0) [IMG: 🌳] CON: 13.2% (+4.4) [IMG: 🌍] GRN: 8.7% (-8.0) [IMG: 🌹] LAB: 4.5% (-3.4) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: 2.6% (New)Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform UK.Changes w/ 2026. — Election Maps UK (@electionmaps.uk) 2026-08-14T06:04:07.364Z Note that Reform under-performed compared with the one full poll carried out for the by-election, a topic that I will return to in the next ... (more) |
Another Reform UK misdemeanorIt doesn't seem as if elected Reform officials can keep out of trouble. The Independent reports that a Reform councillor has been suspended after resurfaced social media posts appeared to show him calling for the Commons speaker to be hanged. The paper says that in response to a post about then Commons speaker John Bercow, an account linked to Kirklees councillor David Rowan wrote on social media in October 2019: "Hang the Dwarf". They add that in another post, which has not yet been deleted, the account also made homophobic comments, having said he doesn't believe "gays should have kids ... (more) |
Council by-election results scorecard 2026-2027Here's the tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held between the May 2026 and the May 2027 local elections: Con Lab Lib Dem Green Reform SNP Plaid Ind/ Other Net Con [9] +1 (+1/0) +1 (+3/-2) -2 (0/-2) -4 (+3/-7) -1 (0/-1) – +2 (+3/-1) -3 Lab -1 (0/-1) [8] -1 (0/-1) -1 (+2/-3) -3 (+2/-5) – – 0 (+1/-1) -6 Lib Dem -1 (+2/-3) +1 (+1/0) [15] +1 (+1/0) +1 (+1/0) -1 (0/-1) – +1 (+1/0) +2 Grn +2 (+2/0) +1 (+3/-2) -1 (0/-1) [6] – – – – +2 Ref +4 (+7/-3) +3 (+5/-2) ... (more) |
The plague pits and passageways of Green ParkJago Hazzard charts the evolution of London's Green Park station from its 1906 opening as Dover Street to its modern role as a major interchange. You can support Jago's videos via his Patreon page. (more) |
Politics at SchoolWhen I was a secondary school student at a single sex council Grammar School in Newcastle in the mid-sixties some subjects crept into staff-student conversations in unlikely ways. An enlightened Anglican priest decided to include some sex education in his Religious Education efforts. The English teacher had no worries about students looking at the world hrough current party political eyes. We could do that because we were not short of youthful activists. There was Henry, an old-style Conservative, who would struggle to find a home in today's Tory party. Julian was what some would call soft-left Labour. Robert was Labour ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1561"My husband, son, and I have been locked up for months - despite being permanent residents with no criminal record. It is an unendurable, unending nightmare." Maryam Tahmasebi writes from the hell of ICE detention. Femi Owolade argues that Black academics suffer when life stories eclipse scholarship: "Academics are ... expected to have stories that capture attention. University websites, media profiles and press releases often lead with biographies before discussing research. Stories of hardship, resilience and unlikely success have become part of higher education branding. The academic is no longer just a scholar but an integral part of the university's ... (more) |
Conservative councillor Heather McLain joins Lib DemsGloucestershire Live reports news of Heather McLain joining the Lib Dems in Tewkesbury: A Conservative councillor has defected to the Liberal Democrats after the "final straw" of the selection of an ex neo-Nazi as a Tory candidate in Somerset and Kemi Badenoch's comments about councillors. Heather McLain, who represents Severn Vale North at Tewkesbury Borough Council ... also said she has been very impressed with the "collaborative approach" of the Tewkesbury Lib Dems. Tewkebury Borough Council's Lib Dem leader Richard Stanley said his group is "absolutely delighted" to welcome her. Sign up to get the latest news and analysis (more) |