The conference shopLast photos from conference (I promise). In the olden days when we had only 11 MPs, getting a full set of MP mugs was affordable. Now, with 72 MPs, the cost if a bit more challenging if buying the full set!Guaranteed to be seen from a considerable distance (and probably from low earth orbit, Lib Dem must have fashion accessories were on sale at the conference shop. Put on one of those sweat (more) |
Meet the kids at the LibraryTomorrow, Whickham Voluntary Library will be holding their Easter fair and I will be there with Nettle, one of our nanny goats, and one of her babies. They will be there to raise funds for the Library. At the last fair, they raised £119. (more) |
We would all wallow in affluence if we shared more equitably.In the early 1950s the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Richard Austin Butler (arguably the best conservative prime minister we never had) told us that if the British economy grew at an annual rate of 3% we would double our standard of living in 25 years. In other words, be twice as rich. Butler didn't spell it out, but if we continued that rate for another 25 we would double it again, thus becoming four times as rich as in the early 50s. Well, we never quite made a steady rate of 3%. Other countries did, some by much more, ... (more) |
The last episode of Shoestring: The Dangerous GameThis post is written for the 12th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon on Terence Towles Canote's blog A Shroud of Thoughts. Click on the image above to go to a video of The Dangerous Game.Shoestring was different. Both the character and the programme were different. A rare BBC show built around a private detective, it ran for two seasons and was screened in 1979 and 1980. Eddie Shoestring, Radio West's "private ear", was a modern hero - so modern that he had suffered a breakdown after working with computers - and his eccentricities immediately cohered to form a believable ... (more) |
First canvass teamTuesday wasn't just used by Gateshead Lib Dems to deliver leaflets. It was also used to send out our first canvass team. The Pelaw and Heworth Team - Councillors Paul Diston, Amanda Wintcher and Ian Patterson - headed out to canvass in their ward. The results were in line with expectations. In other words, we were happy with the returns. (more) |
Bridges action eveningOn Sunday just gone, Gateshead Lib Dems had an action day in Bridges ward. Alas, with some of us at conference in York, there were bundles left over. Therefore, an additional action evening was held on Tuesday.The plan was to deliver the manifesto leaflet.I didn't get to deliver my usual patch. Instead, I was sent out with Cllr Leanne Brand to some of the steepest streets in Gateshead! Most (more) |
Springtime in SunnisideToday is the end of winter and the start of spring. I snapped this photo this morning on my way to feed my livestock. Everything is starting to grow and Plant Up Sunniside have surpassed themselves with the planters they look after. The one in the photo is on the Kingsway/Sunniside Road junction. (more) |
Dog solves murder: Labrador cracks 160-year-old case when he digs up bottle of Victorian poison in the gardenPhoto by Grant Durr from Unsplash The judges bid you unclutch your pearls, because the Mail receives today's Headline of the Day Award. They also say this story reminds them of that time the head of the victim on a notorious 19th-century murder was found in David Attenborough's garden. (more) |
ALDC by-election report, 19th MarchThere was one principal council by-election this week, on Tuesday. After a previous absense on the ballot here, we were able to stand a canddiate. In Wales, vote splintering meant that Reform UK were able to gain this seat from an independent, albeit with an unconvincing share of the vote. Thank you to Sam Warden and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag. Pembrokeshire County Council, Milford Hakin Reform UK: 179 (27.1%, new) Conservative: 144 (21.8%, +0.5%) Independent (Bridges): 106 (16%, -14%) Green Party: 85 (12.9%, new) Liberal Democrats (Sam Warden): 57 (8.6%, new) Independent (Edwards): 52 (7.9%, ... (more) |
Reform suspends Stuart Niven as Scottish Parliament candidateThe Guardian brings news of trouble for Reform's candidate selections in Scotland, including the suspension of Stuart Niven: Reform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party faces growing attacks for fielding candidates making Islamophobic remarks. Reform confirmed on Friday morning it had suspended Stuart Niven, its candidate for Dundee West, after The Herald revealed he had been struck off after diverting tens of thousands of pounds of Covid grants into his personal account. Nigel Farage used to boast about how good Reform's candidate vetting ... (more) |