The disturbing folklore behind Alan Garner's storiesGrim Jim and his disembodied hands are new to me, but this is a good video. Though he talks mostly about Garner and his first two books, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath, there are passing insights into other fantasy writers too. (more) |
The Burnhamites will not hurt them for they are tough as leatherI was impressed by Andy Burnham's speech to the Labour Conference and I hope the Liberal Democrats will sound warmer about his talk of electoral reform, return to the European Union and improvements to social care than they have so far. But that isn't going to stop me the final verse of a song written to celebrate the acquittal of five Tollesbury men charged with piracy in 1894: The Tollesbury men and Mersea men Know how to stand together; The Burnhamites will not hurt them, For they are tough as leather. That comes from an article by Helen Matten in ... (more) |
The geography of Liberal Democrat potential (LDN#214)Liberal Democrat Newswire #214 came out last week and you can now also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #214, which takes a look at the geography of Lib Dem support, includes advice on how to react to stories about hung Parliaments, explains why "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" is bad political advice, and more. First, though, congratulations to the new Lib Dem councillors since last time – Tim Murray, Fred Hulls, James Hartley, Mark Stephenson, ... (more) |
The sun still shines on PM BurnhamThe Labour Party has had a successful Conference, burnished by a very successful speech from Andy Burnham. Next week we shall endure the Tories tarnishing the shine with predictable scorn and cries of unaffordability, unjustified optimism and Death Taxes, with no mention that it is largely their 14 years of misrule that has brought the country to this sorry pass (along with 40 years of multi-party acquiescence to misguided neo-liberal policies . I hope we Liberal Democrats will confine ourselves to constructive suggestions rather than knee-jerk opposition for the sake of opposition. It is refreshing to have a prime minister ... (more) |
Vince Cable writes: Drill, baby, drill...or notNow that the Prime Minister is back from his trip to see Donald Trump and has enjoyed the emotional warm bath of his party conference, he rejoins the world of hard choices. The budget looms. A more immediate question is to decide on whether to proceed with drilling for gas and oil in the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields in the North Sea. The politics are awful. Environmentalists regard the issue as central to the government's credibility on climate change. The Labour v Green battle in Camden provides context. On the other hand, rejection of the developments will send a negative ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1584"The judge told him he did not qualify for asylum and asked the 13-year-old to make a choice: a promise of a $3,000 stipend from the Department of Homeland Security to return to Honduras without his mother and family, or a deportation order. 'I don't know,' Angel said before beginning to cry. 'I have no one. I have nothing.'Julia Conley reports on monstrous US deportation hearings where children are given no legal representation. Steven Beschloss thinks the Republican mid-term candidates now deserting Donald Trump have left it too late. "Feltham was described as the most violent YOI at the time ... (more) |
Vampire Weekend: Cape Cod Kwassa KwassaI heard this late one long ago night on Radio 3's Late Junction and thought I had discovered an obscure band to like. Then I discovered they were the most fashionable new band in the world. (more) |
123 days in power: putting our new strategy for urban Britain into practice[IMG: Picture of Southwark Lib Dems surrounded by diamonds and placards with achievements] Last week at Liberal Democrat Conference, I was delighted to pass an amendment to our party strategy making clear that, if we are serious about growing our party, we must become more relevant to people living in urban areas, diverse communities and younger generations. Our recent electoral successes give us an extraordinary platform. But we cannot be satisfied with consolidating our support only where we are already strong. We should be ambitious about winning and governing in cities and diverse communities across Britain too. For Southwark Liberal ... (more) |
Andy Burnham's speech was good: Here's how Lib Dems can make the implementation betterChris Bowers talked about the lack of a "Yesss" moment at our Conference yesterday. Well, like buses, if you wait long enough, several come along at once – the problem is that they were in the speech of the leader of another party. Andy Burnham's speech yesterday was quite simply one of the best I have ever heard from a UK politician. It had heart and soul and ideas and emotion and mission. I had goosebumps and it's a long time since a speech has done that to me. I'd have to go back to Obama for that. A speech ... (more) |
Farage fails the cool, calm leadership testIf there is one thing we should expect from a future Prime Minister it is that s/he can keep their head in a crisis, that they should be able to assess a situation, gather all the evidence, and then draw up a plan of action, not jump to conclusions on the basis of rumour and incomplete information. When it comes to Nigel Farage's reaction to the arrest of five men on suspicion of terror offences near RAF Fairford, Marina Hyde in the Guardian hits the nail on the head. She says that for a guy who supposedly valorises the wartime ... (more) |