Jonathan Meades on the BBC on the BBC's own buildingsThanks to Illuminations Media for pointing me to this Jonathan Meades video from 1989. (more) |
A period of silence is called forThe Independent reports on comments by Tony Blair, criticising Keir Starmer's slow support for Donald Trump's war on Iran, reportedly telling an event: "We should have backed America from the very beginning". The paper says that the former prime minister told a private Jewish News event on Friday that Sir Keir should have let the Trump administration use British airbases to strike Iran: He reportedly added: "If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security ... you had better show up". Sir Tony's comments were made in private on the understanding that he would not ... (more) |
It's International Women's Day!It's International Women's Day today and this year's theme is Give to Gain. From the IWD website: Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise. Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women's advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world. What will you Give to Gain gender equality? What does Give to Gain mean to you? Lib Dem Women, the official ... (more) |
Couple tried claiming neighbour's land with gnome"Surrey. It would be Surrey," remarked one of the judges as they made our Headline of the Day Award to BBC News. He also suggested you seek professional legal advice before attempting to claim your neighbour's land. (more) |
Thomas Telford's St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth, may face closureA Bridgnorth church designed by Thomas Telford has serious structural problems, reports the Shropshire Star: In a statement the church said that the issues are not cosmetic and "go to the heart of whether St Mary's can continue to serve the town". The statement also says: St Mary's Church is one of Bridgnorth's most cherished buildings used both as a place of worship and a key community venue - but beneath its beautiful exterior, serious structural problems are putting its future at risk. A recent study led by Oliver Architecture has revealed that without significant investment, the church could face ... (more) |
Labour's youth guarantee won't fix a broken systemImagine you're 20 years old. You left school at 16 with a handful of GCSEs, a mother with a disability, and no money for college. You've worked a few zero-hours shifts at a warehouse, but the anxiety that's been sitting on your chest since you were 14 has made regular employment feel like an impossible ask on most days. You want to do something. You've looked at courses. But Universal Credit requires 35 hours a week of job searching, and if you stop, the money stops. So the course stays a thought, and the job search goes nowhere, because there ... (more) |
The UK must not become complicit in another illegal war — Nor distracted from Israel's continued crimes in Gaza and the West BankAs Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, we unequivocally condemn the latest unilateral and unlawful US-Israeli military action in Iran and urges the UK Government not to be complicit by allowing the US to use British military bases to attack Iran. The Iranian people have a right to live free from a brutal regime; however, regime change from the skies can only unleash more bloodshed and regional mayhem - particularly when one of the instigators is an indicted war criminal like Benjamin Netanyahu. The devastating human cost is already evident, including in the killing of 165 Iranian schoolgirls and staff in ... (more) |
Parent? Guardian? Expecting? Tell us your thoughts on childcare at Conference[IMG: Parents holding baby with words Tell us your views on childcare at Conference] I was listening to Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, a German MEP answer a question on the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine at a forum in Copenhagen. She was momentarily interrupted by the gurgles of a 4 month old sat on the knee of a friend from the Danish Radikale party. As Zimmerman remarked that it was good to get her interested in defence policy so young, it struck me that I had rarely, if ever, seen children so comfortably integrated into British political spaces. We have ... (more) |
Chaos: Down at the ClubJohn Bromley was a nearly man of Sixties pop. His Manchester-based band played hard-to-get with Mickie Most, with the result that the producer signed Herman's Hermits instead. In 1969 he brought out an album of his McCartneyesque songs, Sing, on which he was backed by the band Les Fleurs de Lys. The Riff, quotes a now-vanished Facebook post of his about his success as a songwriter for other artists: English songwriter John Bromley has written over 200 works with over 60 recorded and performed worldwide by major artists such as Shirley Bassey, Sacha Distel, Petula Clark, Richard Harris, Paul Anka ... (more) |
Tom Arms' World ReviewTexas is a bright red, far-right Republican, conservative state. It has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate for 37 years. That may be about to change. And if it does the repercussions will rock the White House. Primary elections for one of the Lone Star state's two Senate seats were held by both the Democrat and Republican parties this week. One of the recognised barometers of political success is the size of the voter turnout. The turnout for the Democrat primary was highest in the state's history. The winner was Texas State Representative James Talerico. A middle-of-the-road Democrat ... (more) |