Labour is allowing a much needed and potentially innovative school to close in a deprived area of LiverpoolFollowing the announcement of the permanent closure of the LIPA junior school, I have asked the City Council's Director of Children's Services seven key questions about the build up to the closure and the future of the children. I am doing this because I believe that this is a much-needed facility in a part of the city which lacks the quality cultural infrastructure that is available to children who live in wealthier areas. The children of the Kensington, Toxteth, Granby and Vauxhall areas have as much right to access a good life via the arts as do children in wealthier ... (more) |
Another failed Reform defence in a council by-electionTwo principal authority council by-elections this week, both Reform defences as councillors elected last May have stood down, part of a widespread trend of Reform shedding councillors. Here's what the voters decided: Cramlington South West (Northumberland) Council By-Election Result: [IMG: 🌳] CON: 34.2% (+9.0) [IMG: ➡] RFM: 26.1% (-13.3) [IMG: 🌹] LAB: 23.0% (-5.8) [IMG: 🌍] GRN: 14.3% (New) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: 1.6% (New) [IMG: 🔶] LDM: 0.9% (New)No SDP (-6.6) as previous.Conservative GAIN from Reform UK.Changes w/ 2025. — Election Maps UK (@electionmaps.uk) 2026-04-16T22:36:01.858Z These by-election results round-ups cover principal authority by-elections as it's only those for which comprehensive ... (more) |
Labour civil war?The Independent reports that Wes Streeting has become the first senior cabinet minister to appear to suggest that increased defence spending could be found from welfare savings. The paper adds that the health secretary said that "the money has to come from somewhere" in a move interpreted as backing Labour's former defence secretary and ex-Nato secretary general George Robertson earlier this week, but has since issued a clarification denying that he specifically wants to slash benefits to fund defence.: However, they say that there is growing alarm at Sir Keir Starmer's failure to decide on the UK's defence spending, with ... (more) |
15 April 2026 - the glitch-affected press releases (part 2)SNP candidate laughed at for education comments Responding to SNP candidate Deirdre Brock's comments on education at a hustings on Wednesday night, Scottish Liberal Democrat Edinburgh and Lothians East list candidate Jane Alliston Pickard said: It was utterly bizarre to see a wannabe parliamentarian declare that basic skills are no longer needed. People in the room were literally laughing at her. Then again, when your only real goal is pushing SNP plans for breaking up the UK, perhaps it helps to have kids who are mathematically illiterate. Education can be transformational but under the SNP Scotland is no longer the ... (more) |
Reform bar chart shows Gateshead is Lib Dem/Reform battleThank you Reform for publishing the above bar chart showing Gateshead is a battle between Reform and Lib Dems. It speaks for itself! (more) |
Reform's attack on Lib Dems in GatesheadReform are circulating a leaflet in Gateshead which is packed full of attacks on the Lib Dems. With the meltdown of Labour, Reform's leaflet shows just how much the local elections in Gateshead have become a two horse race between Lib Dems and Reform. In their leaflet, Reform attack Lib Dems for being focused on local issues."Like other wards, in Low Fell they [the Lib Dems] 'focus' on minor (more) |
13-15 April 2026 - the glitch-affected press releases (part 1)With apologies to all, as it seems as though my primary e-mail account has decided to glitch, only accepting some but not all e-mails directed to it... here are some press releases that have been issued over the past few days that we missed... Legislate to make schools smartphone free, says Cole-Hamilton Scot Lib Dems comment on Green manifesto launch Scottish Lib Dems launch plans to revive high streets Scot Lib Dems warn of "farming fuel crisis" as red diesel prices soar Legislate to make schools smartphone free, says Cole-Hamilton Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today set out ... (more) |
16 April 2026 - the press releasesChamberlain: Peach ballot key to holding SNP to account on secrecy and broken promises Vote to cut the cost of living urges Scot Lib Dem leader Scottish Lib Dems lay out manifesto plans to tackle violence against women Greene: Tory downfall due to Findlay and Badenoch's leadership Chamberlain: Peach ballot key to holding SNP to account on secrecy and broken promises Speaking ahead of the SNP's manifesto launch, Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader and campaign chair Wendy Chamberlain MP has urged Scots to use their peach ballot paper to give their verdict on the SNP's record of secrecy and broken ... (more) |
The Mouse That Roared (1959)I had somehow avoided seeing The Mouse That Roared until a few weeks ago. Perhaps because I'd seen its sequel, The Mouse on the Moon, I expected a gentle comedy where the action all took place in the fictional European statelet of Grand Fenwick. So I was surprised to find that much of the film is set in New York. That was not the only surprise. With its satirising of Cold War thinking and the multiple roles played by Peter Sellers, it looks forward to Kubrick's Doctor Strangelove. Grand Fenwick declares war on the USA, reasoning that when it is ... (more) |
Council by-election results scorecard 2025-2026Here's the tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held between the May 2025 and the May 2026 local elections: Con Lab Lib Dem Green Reform SNP Plaid Ind/ Other Net Con [17] +2 (+2/0) -9 (+3/-12) +2 (+2/0) -20 (+3/-23) -1 (0/-1) – +2 (+3/-1) -24 Lab -2 (0/-2) [16] -5 (0/-5) -8 (0/-8) -30 (+1/-31) – -2 (0/-2) -7 (0/-7) -54 Lib Dem +9 (+12/-3) +5 (+5/0) [35] +2 (+4/-2) -2 (+2/-4) +2 (+2/0) – +4 (+4/0) +20 Grn -2 (0/-2) +8 (+8/0) -2 (+2/-4) [8] +2 (+2/0) – – -1 (0/-1) +5 Ref +20 ... (more) |