<< Apr 2010 Georgie Porgie, Pudding and Pie ... Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 - 6:46 pm
Well, what do you know? I got a letter from George Osborne today wanting to know whom I'll be supporting at the next General Election. I wasn't going to vote Conservative in the first place, Georgie, but telling me in the letter that David Cameron has promised to make you Chancellor of the Exchequer if he wins has only put me off even more.
Mine's a Lib Dem vote, George. Vince the Victor - and looking like the best Chancellor we could have Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 - 12:09 pm
Britain's first ever "Chancellor's Debate" on TV last night clearly showed Vince Cable as the audience's favourite. They applauded Vince a lot more, and he was the only one who made them laugh too. However it wasn't just about going down well with the audience. It was also about being honest about the current financial climate, being open to working with the other parties and showing the best ways of rescuing Britain, no laughing matter for the thousands who have lost their jobs. Vince was best at that too.
Click to link below to see how David Cameron tries to cope with an interview where he's asked about the practical effects of the Tories' alliance with homophobic parties in the European Union:
He does not come across as the next leader of the country. He doesn't come across as the leader of his own party.
Acknowledgements to Stephen Tall of Lib Dem Voice. Requiem Friday, March 26th, 2010 - 11:46 am
I've just listened to the Requiem by Maurice Durufle on Radio 3. I've sung it with a choir I used to belong to. Several of the people I sang it with have since died; the music is incredibly nostalgic, almost like a physical pain. The musical director of the choir died at the age of thirty. There's a very special bond with people who have sung together. Rest in peace JJ, Robert, Muriel, Martin and Carol.
Here's a link to one of the choruses, the ethereal In Paradisum (In Paradise) from Requiem : It will start playing if you open the link.
In Paradisum Hurray! President Obama drags US into the ... 20th Century Monday, March 22nd, 2010 - 5:02 pm
At long last the United States has dipped a toe into the 20th Century. Only 65 years after Britain launched our National Health Service America has got one. And about time too! Well done President Obama. Conservative candidate's brick for "new harbour wall" Sunday, March 21st, 2010 - 9:15 am
Conservative candidate for the Western Isles, Sheena Norquay, has dropped a rather large brick by calling for a "new harbour wall" for Achmore, a village with no coast on the island of Lewis. Apparently it's a favourite topic of local people for sussing out which incomer politicians know anything about the island. Tee hee!
Here's a link to the story on Mark Pack's blog, Lib Dem Voice:
Mark's blog Outsider wins so-called two horse race Saturday, March 20th, 2010 - 2:49 pm
Happy New Year to all those who celebrate New Year according to the Persian tradition, including Nader and family. I hope you all have a great day and that the occasion will be a spur to greater freedom for the Iranian peopel and to talks and better understanding between Iran and the West. President Obama is leading the way.
And those of us who celebrate New Year on other dates also feel the first day of Spring is a special day: a time of new life and new hope.
Travelodge says Bradford is Britain's least attractive city! Friday, March 19th, 2010 - 12:12 pm
The Travelodge assessment of Bradford's charm, or charmlessness, is a tad unfair in my opinion. Classifying it as "dangerous, ugly and boring" is somewhat uncalled for.
The city really isn't dangerous - I'm not at all frightened of it. Boring? Not really, quite a few interesting events happen there throughout the year. Ugly? Yes, you've got me there! Bradford is a city with some fairly impressive architecture of the Victorian prosperity flaunting kind. But for ages now there's been what we refer to as "the great big hole" at Forster Square. It seems no-one can afford to do anything about it. Now that's been added to by a right mess in the previously attractive square by City Hall and on top of all that the former central police station is being dismantled.
What a sight for sore eyes!
The person responsible for the less than attractive Bradford City Centre? Why it's Kris Hopkins of course, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Keighley.
Further to yesterday's post on Grove Mills I've been having a conversation about it and the person I was talking to pointed out one or two mitigating factors as far as Skipton Properties is concerned.
He was saying that the economic situation has changed a lot since the original planning permission was granted. As he put it, "At the time it was OK to build housing aimed mainly at the market for young, single well off chaps. But now the need is for homes for families. Converting the mills as they stood would maybe create loft living space for single people but if you're going to house families it might be necessary to start from scratch and build separate houses."
In addition government guidelines are pushing towards more house building all over the place.
Well, I'm no apologist for Skipton Properties, but I have to be fair - and as long as they are building more affordable housing for families I admit there could be a good side to it. Thanks to Nader for this little film Thursday, March 18th, 2010 - 9:03 pm
Having spotted our parliamentary candidate Nader Fekri's reference to this little film about Lib Dem chances in the election I couldn't resist putting a link in my blog too:
Particularly fun because I spotted one or two people I know. Well, five or six. Little bit local to here, wasn't it?
To read Nader's blog click on the link on the right hand side of my blog. The Destruction of Grove Mills Thursday, March 18th, 2010 - 4:48 pm
So now Skipton Properties has demolished Grove Mills altogether! I understand they were supposed to keep the facade to fit in with the planning permission they were granted. I wonder just how and why things have changed. Local people are devastated. The Town Council tried to stop it.
I wonder why that building firm's name crops up over and over again in similar contexts. It seems they get permission for something and then may well strain the rules to the limit. This time maybe even Bradford Council will realise that local people are absolutely fed up.
This is another example of why Keighley Council ought to have more power over Keighley decisions.
Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems were all over yesterday's news broadcasts and feature in today's newspapers. Of course there are some with vested interets who say people have never heard of Nick Clegg. Really??? Could these newspapers have been doing their job properly then?
For a viewpoint free from the vested interests of Mr Murdoch and his cronies see today's report of Nick Clegg's speech at the Lib Dem conference in The Independent:
Nick Clegg's speech at today's Spring Conference at Birmingham:
Nick's speech "I will vote for the Lib Dems." Saturday, March 13th, 2010 - 12:47 pm
Yasmin Alibhai Brown has just pledged support for the Lib Dems in a discussion on the BBC News Channel this lunch time.
Apparently Colin Firth, Kate Winslett, Andrew Motion and Brian Eno have also said they'll be supporting us, though I believe Brian Eno has supported us previously.
The Lib Dem convert I'm most pleased about, however, is Edward McMillan Scott, MEP. He has left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats because he cannot stomach the Tories' decision to go in with some appallingly right wing parties in the European Parliament (which are nearer to the BNP than to any other British party). Edward McMillan Scott has shown that there are decent people in the Conservative party. I personally know people who tell me that they are liberals at heart, but they have been members of the Tory party because they felt it was the only way to get into office. Not any more, it's not. I'd love to welcome those lost souls into the Lib Dem party where they belong.
If you believe in fairness come and join us!
By the way I have to question David Cameron's judgement in presiding over this alignment of his party with racists and homophobics - not only that, but trying to force decent minded MEPs to go along with it. What happened to "Mr Nice Guy"? Caravan dumped, then burnt out Thursday, March 11th, 2010 - 10:59 am
On 5th February I was contacted by a man who lives in my ward to ask for help with getting a dumped caravan shifted. It was near a first school and next to a playground. He had contacted the police who told him to contact Bradford Council; they told him to contact the police. You know the kind of thing. So he was a bit stuck as to what to do and phoned me.
When I contacted Bradford's Cleansing Department I spoke to a very helpful official who said they had indeed logged the request and had been in touch with the private contractors they use and had asked for the job to be done. As far as he knew the caravan had already been removed. It was good to hear they were dealing with the matter, but I told him the caravan was still there. He said he would get the contractors on to it; the job should be done by Monday 8th March.
I called the resident and told him what was happening and that his request had indeed been logged. I asked him to let me know if the caravan was still there after the date I'd been given.
The gentleman phoned again last night. No, the caravan was still there.
He phoned again about half an hour later to tell me the caravan was now on fire and about five teenaged lads had been seen running away. I suggested calling the Fire Service and the Police. He said the fire service was already there.
This morning I spoke to the man at Bradford Council. As before he was courteous and concerned. He said he would get them to do the job today.
Hope he's successful. Let the Train take the ... Travellers from Skipton to Colne Thursday, March 11th, 2010 - 7:15 am
The campaign for a rail link to be restored between Skipton and Colne certainly has my support. The Skipton to East Lancashire Railway Action Partnership (SELRAP) is leading the campaign. Many years ago my father used to advocate the revival of the railways as carriers of goods to cut down congestion on the roads and cut down on fuel consumption. The need is even greater today.
As Norman Baker, Lib Dem Shadow Transport, says: when government spends on the roads it's "an investment" but if it's on the railways then it's somehow - a handout.
I'm pleased to find that many eminent Lib Dems support the campaign, Norman himself, Diana Wallis (MEP) who is a patron, Chris Huhne, a certain young man by the name of Nick Clegg and many more. SELRAP has the support of politicians of all the main parties and of well known people from outside politics.
The precedent for victory concerning railway lines was set by the brilliant campaign to keep open the Settle to Carlisle line. Like the present campaign there was support from politicians of all parties. I wish SELRAP every success.
For a link to the campaign's website click on the link below:
The former editor of The New Statesman, former Labour supporter, John Kampfner, has pledged to vote Liberal Democrat.
His reasons are that in power Labour has, on the whole, not been on the side of ordinary people - but has sided with the rich; their judgement has been flawed (for instance on the Iraq War); and their main aim has simply been to get themselves re-elected.
Kampfner says David Cameron's "political pitch is an unedifying pitch of the shallow and the alarming."
However he sees the Lib Dems as being a party of principle:
"Alongside a million other voters, I deserted Labour in protest at Iraq, in favour of the Liberal Democrats – the only party to oppose the war. My decision to back the Liberal Democrats in 2010 is based on a more fundamental appraisal of Labour's record, together with a positive assessment of the Lib Dems' platform.
He concludes by saying:
"Their [The Lib Dems'] analysis of the failures of the deregulated market has been consistently, and painfully, accurate. Their tax reform plans, taking 4 million low-paid workers out of tax altogether, are the most redistributive of any party, alongside green taxes, a "mansion tax" on high-value properties and the closing of tax loopholes (on pensions and capital gains) exploited by the rich. The Lib Dem approach to criminal justice, human rights, foreign and social policy is close to mine."
See:
John Kampfner's article The Question I want to ask Labour is ... Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 - 4:04 pm
Are you going to support the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives if there's a hung parliament? Norman Lamb calls for Better Deal for Carers Monday, March 8th, 2010 - 1:31 pm
Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb, is today calling for a better deal for carers. This article is on our national website,
Labour has neglected carers says Lamb, Mon 08 Mar 2010
“Labour’s cuts are already biting across the NHS and their failure to cut back on waste means that it is the most vulnerable who are losing out," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.
Commenting on the report by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers which reveals that only 23% of the money allocated to help carers was used in this way, Norman Lamb said:
“The Government has completely neglected the vital work that carers do and this report is further evidence of the scale of the problem.
“Labour’s cuts are already biting across the NHS and their failure to cut back on waste means that it is the most vulnerable who are losing out.
“This report highlights the need for a guarantee to respite care which only the Liberal Democrats are committed to.” Details of new Jon Venables case should not be Released Monday, March 8th, 2010 - 12:15 pm
I am very much of the opinion that the details of any new case against Jon Venables, one of the murderers of Jamie Bulger, should not be released.
If there is to be a new trial it would be totally unfair on any present day victim for a trial to be dropped, just because of public curiosity. It would also be a travesty of justice, if a child is involved, to give details which might give away that child's identity.
It is not necessary to know anything more yet. Oh no he's not! Oh yes he is! Oh no he's not! Friday, March 5th, 2010 - 1:11 pm
He's a non dom!
Oh no he's not!
Oh yes he is!
Oh no he's not!
Watch out Dave, he's behind you!
Or is that backing you?
Well anyway, thanks to Lord Ashcroft the Conservative party's a bit of a pantomime. Good fun, isn't it? Tell us what you want; what you really, really want! Thursday, March 4th, 2010 - 11:05 am
According to past polls over 50% of the electorate would vote Lib Dem if they thought we'd win.
If there isn't going to be a majority party anyway, they might as well vote for the folk they'd really like to win - it isn't going to let in the party they hate.
Poll after poll is forecasting that neither Conservative nor Labour will get an overall majority in this year's General Election. This means that there is no need to vote against the party you don't want. You can safely vote for the party you do want. For half of UK voters this is the Liberal Democrats. It would leave the all other parties having to divvy up the remaining 50% between them.
If it isn't necessary to vote Labour to keep the Tories out, or to vote Tory to get Labour out, then everyone is free to vote Lib Dem and get what they really want!
Vince Cable is already the "People's Chancellor". Let's make it happen. A very Good Reason why General Elections should be held on the Same Day as Local Elections Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 - 12:52 pm
While the rest of us wait to see which date Gordon Brown decides to hold the General Election, as if Britain were his private feifdom, I should like to point out an excellent reason why this year's General Election ought to be held on the same day as the Local Elections, 6 May.
I believe there should be a fixed four year term with the elections for our parliaments taking place on the same day as the local elections.
We can't afford not to.
Elections are very pricey things. If the General Election is held a month earlier or a month later than the Local Elections the whole thing will have to be paid for twice.
Two separate dates mean double the number of poll cards to be printed and posted out, double the number of postal votes, double the number of venues to be hired as polling stations, double the number of polling station staff to be paid from 7 a.m. till 10 p.m., double the number of counting venues to be hired, double the number of counting agents and supervisors, double the number of police on polling day duties.
The extra cost will run into - well, I should think millions.
So what's more important to Gordon Brown, Britain getting out of debt or holding the election on the date he thinks will give him the most advantage?
We shall see. Forget the political pundits, this is what the real money is on ... Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 - 12:37 pm
With the majority of polls forecasting a hung parliament at the next General Election it's interesting to see what the real money is showing.
Punters and pollsters seem to agree then - a hung parliament is likely. This is good for anyone who does not trust any particular group of politicians with too much power. That'd be most people then.
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