From Clay to Kiln - Celebrating the Evolution of Ceramics at DJCAD #dundeewestendFrom the Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee : From Clay to Kiln - Celebrating the Evolution of Ceramics at DJCAD Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee Now on and until 30th January 2026 (Open Monday-Friday, closed for Christmas 22nd December - 2nd January) From Clay to Kiln brings together pieces from the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design collection along with key works from recent graduates whose practices have shaped - and continue to shape - the history and legacy of ceramics at DJCAD. The exhibition has been curated by recent DJCAD graduates ... (more) |
Keir Starmer's democratic deficitLabour have never been natural democrats in my opinion and that has once more been borne out by their record in office since the last general election. They are in the process of restricting the right of people to demonstrate, proscribing protest groups like Palestine Action, proposing a crackdown on what demonstrators can chant, ramping up the use of facial recognition, introducing compulsory ID cards, and doing away with jury trials. Now, as the BBC reports, elections in some local councils are facing further delays, amid an escalating blame game over Labour's planned overhaul of local government in England. The ... (more) |
Anger in Shropshire as Bentlawnt loses its post box and mice take over the nearest alternativeThis just in from Shropshire Live: Anger is mounting in the small Shropshire village of Bentlawnt as residents remain without a post box, months after its sudden removal, with Royal Mail failing to respond to repeated pleas for its return. The essential village service was removed from its position outside the old shop without any community consultation. Despite persistent lobbying, local residents and politicians say they have been completely ignored by the postal giant. Bentlwant's councillor happens to be Heather Kidd, the Liberal Democrat leader of Shropshire Council. She is quoted in the story: "What worries me is that the ... (more) |
Bunny councillor hops away from the ConservativesAndy Edyvean, a former deputy leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, has left the Conservative Party and now sits as an Independent, reports BBC News: In an email to colleagues, Edyvean said he took the "difficult decision" over a "worrying decline in the standards" at a council he "was proud to serve". One point of interest here is that Edyvean is the councillor for Bunny ward, which wins our Ward of the Week Award. Bunny is a village a few miles south of Nottingham. I have a memory that the conversation between Brian Clough and the chairman of Nottingham Forest, in ... (more) |
Erasmus+ ProgrammeStudying abroad, ability to learn another language, facing quite a few challenges, trying to fit into a new cultural environment, enhancing my identity and appreciating my own heritage, the list is long and it is hard to put it into words, I know that I have benefited hugely from being able to study in Croatia and Italy. Although I am often very critical of the Labour Government, I am actually pleased that they are looking into re-establishing the Erasmus+ scheme. I strongly disagree with quite a few opposition politicians e.g. Priti Patel, who calls it a "Brexit betrayal". Let just ... (more) |
Liberal Democrats must act now to prevent deaths on hunger strikeThere are moments when Parliament must intervene not because it is politically convenient, but because failure to act would be morally indefensible. This is one of those moments. Lawyers representing several Palestine Action linked prisoners have now warned that their clients may die without urgent ministerial intervention. Some have been on hunger strike for more than 40 days. Medical collapse, loss of consciousness, and dangerous blood test results have already been reported. These are not speculative concerns. They are immediate, time sensitive risks. The Liberal Democrats exist to hold government to account when power is exercised without humanity or scrutiny. ... (more) |
From the River to the Sea . . .This phrase, or variants of it, has a long history and invokes different meaning to different people. We all need to realise what we may mean by it is not what those who hear it understand by it. The roots of this phrase or slogan seem to be in the time of the British Mandate rule in Palestine, and it comes from the Revisionist (i.e. right wing) Zionism movement led by Ze'ev Jabotinsky, the movement that also produced the Jewish Terrorist groups, Irgun and Lehi, and the ideology of what is now Likud led by Binyamin Netanyahu. It was the ... (more) |
XTC: The Ballad of Peter PumpkinheadThis single was the first CD I bought. I liked it so much I bought it even though I didn't yet have a CD player. This is my thousandth blog post of the year, a feat I haven't managed since 2016. I've no particular ambition to do it again, and I'm starting to write more for other outlets now, but you never know. (more) |
Our West End street surgery tonight #dundeewestendWe are holding a Thursday street surgery tonight to speak with residents on any local issues or concerns they may have. Should you have an issue you wish to discuss with us, e-mail us at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk or call Dundee 459378 and we will be pleased to meet you - many thanks. (more) |
Farage under pressure to apologiseThe Mirror reports that Nigel Farage's denial of alleged racist comments he made when he was a schoolboy has been torn apart by his former peers. The paper says that some 25 former pupils and one ex-teacher have come together for the first time to express "dismay and anger" at the Reform UK leader's reaction to the allegations in recent weeks: Mr Farage has been facing increasing pressure to apologise after his former peers alleged he made racist and antisemitic remarks at school. Claims include Mr Farage saying "Hitler was right" and making references to Nazi gas chambers at his ... (more) |