Ken Farnes: The forgotten England fast bowler who died in WWIII remember Trevor Bailey talking about Ken Farnes, but I don't think I've ever seen film of him before today. Farnes stood 6 feet, five inches tall, which made him a giant in the 1930s. In that decade he took 690 wickets at 21.45 for Essex and Cambridge University. He also played 15 tests for England between 1934 and 1939, taking 60 wickets at 28.64. Cricket Web has a good article about him, and describes his last days: Farnes joined the RAF and trained as a pilot, largely in Canada, and returned to the UK in 1941 where he was ... (more) |
Local campaigner wants to see the River Teme given rightsA Shropshire campaigner says the River Teme should be granted legal rights because it has become "unwell". Inspired by the way the River Wye has become the first river in the UK to be given cross-border rights covering it from source to sea, Sam Jones has started a petition which has so far been signed by more than a thousand people. Sam Jones told BBC News: "Over the years I've seen decline. I've been a swimmer, kayaked in the past, I'm an angler... you notice things around you. "It's 30 years since it's been designated a Site of Special Scientific ... (more) |
WATCH: Max Wilkinson's speech to ConferenceCreep glasses and jokes at Robert Jenrick's expense were high on the agenda for Max Wilkinson in his speech to Conference. I am used to being disappointed by Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesperson's speeches. I'd rather a more positive message on immigration but this was better than we have had in recent times. I was glad to see him prioritise tackling violence against women and girls. While I had been worried about the packaging of the campaign about smart glasses,it's an important issue to tackle. Anna Sabine and Wera Hobhouse's amendment at Conference called for it to be very clear ... (more) |
How to capture the Tonbridge ToriesIn 2025, a think-tank director pressed several volumes on Ted Heath, along with Ian Gilmour and Mark Garnett's Whatever Happened to the Tories?, into my hands. That led to a lethal intellectual falling-out with the Conservatives, and then to a thesis: the centre ought to unite. I heeded the call and joined the Liberal Democrats. But such a project cannot live on tactical votes. It requires a serious occupation of the Tonbridge Tory. To do that, you need representatives. Voters can be spoken to in public. Ground is held by people. That means a garrison. Some will want to slot ... (more) |
The bigger your car, the bigger your fuel duty cutAhead of Ed Davey's conference speech, the Liberal Democrats launched their cost-of-transport campaign. With households facing higher costs from the conflict in Iran, the party wants an emergency three-month package: a 10p cut in fuel duty, cheaper rail and bus fares, and lower EV charging costs. The bill is around £2 billion, funded from the extra revenue higher fuel prices generate. There is a clear case for helping people through a sudden shock. But a party that has long argued for tackling climate change should ask a bigger question: are fuel-duty cuts really the best way to help people in ... (more) |
A call for reform with a small "r"Suella Braverman's recent statement on making hymn singing mandatory in English schools shows just how out of touch Reform is with modern British society. Reform UK's proposed "patriotic curriculum," explicitly rooted in Christianity, raises a basic question: what does it mean to be British today? Christianity is central to Britain's history and cultural inheritance, shaping its institutions, architecture, literature, music and traditions. Children should learn about that heritage. But teaching Christianity's role in national life is different from requiring children to take part in Christian practice. That is what the proposal would do: every school would have to make pupils ... (more) |
The Hecklers: a great documentary about the 1966 electionThis letter from me appears in the latest Journal of Liberal History. Oscar-winning American director Joseph Strick also made his mark on British politics with a film for the BBC about the 1966 general election, focusing just on the heckling of politicians. An American unused to culture of heckling at public election meetings, he toured the country with his own film crew to capture what was a major part of election campaigning in a political era that had only started adjusting to the impact of TV. Mass public meetings were still a central part of a politician's campaign diary – ... (more) |
Plaid Cymru take another step into the twilight zoneI have already commented here on the summit of nationalist leaders nine days ago in Cardiff and the mixed messages it sent about Plaid Cymru's prioritites in government. In doing so, I quoted Wales-on-Line's political editor, Ruth Mosalski, who said that throughout the Senedd campaign the First Minister claimed that his first goal was to show people what a Plaid government can do but, she continued, with the jury still out on what his government has actually achieved on the key issues of health, education, and the cost of living, he was now putting the divisive topic of independence front ... (more) |
Liberals debateOn Monday, Conference debated our motion "Restoring Trans Rights", and the motion passed overwhelmingly. As Chair of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, I'm proud of that – proud of everyone who put the work in, proud of the people who got up and spoke, and proud that our party said clearly, again, that it stands with trans people. But there is one thing I want us to carry forward from that debate. We win the argument by making it. We win the vote by voting for it. We do not need to win it by shouting anyone down. There will always be ... (more) |
Lord Bonkers Diary: "Burnham is hiding In The North"I am surprised to see Lord B. inviting a Labour peer to lunch at the Hall. Time was, he would have hunted him with hounds over the hills of High Leicestershire. With this entry, our week at Bonkers Hall comes to a close. Don't forget to download the latest issue of Liberator from the magazine's website. Sunday Cook is pleased I am being "economical - like they are in the church sometimes" by inviting a Labour peer over for lunch. "You must be worried about that Burnham fellow," I remark to him as he fields the gravy boat. "Starmer always ... (more) |