Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year 2014 "Well written, funny and wistful" - Paul Linford; "He is indeed the Lib Dem blogfather" - Stephen Tall "Jonathan Calder holds his end up well in the competitive world of the blogosphere" - New Statesman "A prominent Liberal Democrat blogger" - BBC Radio 4 Today; "One of my favourite blogs" - Stumbling and Mumbling; "Charming and younger than I expected" - Wartime Housewife
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Embed from Getty Images David Campanale, the former prospective Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Sutton and Cheam who was deselected in 2023, and the national party are oceans apart when it comes to the compensation he deserves for suffering religious discrimination. The Guardian reports: Campanale's schedule of loss, seen by the Guardian, puts his claim at £788,740.75, including…
I've been to Clun today, making use of one of the last workings of the 745 bus from Minsterley to Ludlow. It's going to be replaced by a community transport scheme that sounds as though it may even be better for residents, but it will no longer be possible to get to Clun, as I did today, by catching the early bus from Shrewsbury to Minsterley. Anyway, here's a souvenir of Clun and of this…
Shakespeare knew all about the River Trent's fondness for changing its course. Here's Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1 : Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here, In quantity equals not one of yours: See how this river comes me cranking in, And cuts me from the best of all my land A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out. I'll have the current in this place damm'd up; And here the smug and silver…
I fancied a train ride today, so I went down to Newport in South Wales. I even managed to cover some track that was new to me – Hereford to Newport. One reason for going there was St Woolos' Cathedral. Ever since I learnt that it isn't the Victorian rebuild I had imagined and has a history dating back to the sixth century, I have wanted to see it. The photo above shows its twelfth-century…
The Independent wins our Headline of the Day Award. After they had announced their verdict, I told the judges I didn't receive any training when I was a councillor all those years ago. They asked if I lived in a shoebox in the middle of the road.
"If there is one consistent theme running through Farage’s political career, it is his striking ability to make enemies out of friends. He seems to be running out of allies. That helps to explain why rumours about his own future, including speculation that health concerns could eventually force him to step back, carry so much weight." Nigel Farage won his by-election but, says Zoe Grunewald , that…
On my way to see the ruins of Wenlock Abbey this morning, I met these fine creatures. Perhaps they are on a religious retreat?
The Creation sound good today and all sorts of prominent musicians cite them as an inspiration, but they failed to make it big in the Sixties. It's a shit business.
The Right to Roam campaign is panning a mass trespass in the prime minister's Makerfield constituency to publicise its call for a public right to access the countryside on our doorsteps and roam responsibly over England’s land and water. The trespass will take place on Sunday 13 December. Its location will be revealed nearer the date. You can sign up for more information on Eventbrite . Right to…
This former canal warehouse, with its thumping great ghost sign, is to be found by the canal basin at Ellesmere in Shropshire. The basin is at the end of a short arm off what is now called the Llangollen Canal. I took plenty more photos of the town and its canal, which I'll post another day.
Photo: Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service I may be in Shropshire, but our Headline of the Day comes from the BBC News Leicestershire pages: Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to Aylestone Meadows after Nell "must have decided to cool-off in the canal near the Packhorse Bridge" but suddenly became stuck in the waterway. A technical rescue team from Southern Station and…
"Toby Young stole his status and career. And in every sinew of his body, he knows that. For most people, imposter syndrome is an irrational insecurity; Toby Young should feel that way. He was an imposter at Oxford, he was an imposter in journalism, an imposter in New York, an imposter in education, and most recently has set himself up as the boss of an imposter 'Union', acting as if anyone can…
