I believe this is Tammy Wynette's last ever hit. It has also I believe the only reference in pop music to an icecream van. Unless my reader knows better...
12 August 2011
11 August 2011
Anti terror laws not to be invoked in Parliament recall
The 'Dolce and Gabbana' riots (which unsurprisingly seem to have been postponed in the north of England due to rain) will not see the police taking anti-terror powers, so I hear.
Thursday's debate in Parliament will simply be a platform for pointless self congratulatory politicians to offer up trite soundbites about how best to deal with the unrest.
One might think that politicians might have better things to do with their time (like spending it with their families) and let the police get on with their job. A job which it now appears they have found some appropriate tactics that catch up with the organised gangs who are driving the looting.
Thursday's debate in Parliament will simply be a platform for pointless self congratulatory politicians to offer up trite soundbites about how best to deal with the unrest.
One might think that politicians might have better things to do with their time (like spending it with their families) and let the police get on with their job. A job which it now appears they have found some appropriate tactics that catch up with the organised gangs who are driving the looting.
9 August 2011
Lib Dems should vote against using terror powers on Thursday
Parliament is to be recalled in response to the 'Dolce and Gabbana' riots.
The question being asked on the interweb is - is it to enact powers contained in Labour's anti-terrorism legislation?
Stephen Glenn has a good post about what this might entail.
This would be an illiberal overeaction. What this situation needs is good police intelligence to find out where the organisers are targetting in advance and robust police tactics on the street.
Anti-terror powers would appeal to the right wing mob - but have little practical effect other than to curb the liberty of the 99.99% of Londoners who are going about their law abiding business.
Lib Dem MPs should vote against these draconian powers if proposed by the Tories (and no doubt supported by Labour).
The question being asked on the interweb is - is it to enact powers contained in Labour's anti-terrorism legislation?
Stephen Glenn has a good post about what this might entail.
This would be an illiberal overeaction. What this situation needs is good police intelligence to find out where the organisers are targetting in advance and robust police tactics on the street.
Anti-terror powers would appeal to the right wing mob - but have little practical effect other than to curb the liberty of the 99.99% of Londoners who are going about their law abiding business.
Lib Dem MPs should vote against these draconian powers if proposed by the Tories (and no doubt supported by Labour).
8 August 2011
London riots - report from the front line...
I'm off to bed.
As Mark Pack has pointed out via twitter 99.99% of people living in London are not involved in lifting high value items out of shop windows and claiming it's some sort of anti police protest.
As Mark Pack has pointed out via twitter 99.99% of people living in London are not involved in lifting high value items out of shop windows and claiming it's some sort of anti police protest.
7 August 2011
Eric Pickles - time for a reshuffle?
Eric Pickles has been in the spotlight on a number of Lib Dem blogs - including two of my favourites - Liberal England and Eaten by Missionaries for his comments on town centre parking.
Pickles place in the cabinet is somewhat of a mystery. He's not a great communicator as this clip from Question Time at the height of the MPs expenses scandal shows:
His department is also somewhat of a mystery. For a government committed to localism (and it genuinely is - partly because of Lib Dem influence and partly because 13 years of Labour central command and control patently failed) his department is struggling for a role.
Pickles seems stuck in a contradiction - abolishing central command rules on things like town centre car parking, but yet claiming at the same time it will have some magical national effect of meeting the Daily Mail agenda.
The fact is - if you stop controlling things from the centre then local authorities will do different things. And that will include banning cars from town centres, or jacking up car park fees or agreeing out of town developments at the expense of existing town centres. And that is surely the point of localism.
But the question then is - what is the point of the DCLG?
Pickles place in the cabinet is somewhat of a mystery. He's not a great communicator as this clip from Question Time at the height of the MPs expenses scandal shows:
His department is also somewhat of a mystery. For a government committed to localism (and it genuinely is - partly because of Lib Dem influence and partly because 13 years of Labour central command and control patently failed) his department is struggling for a role.
Pickles seems stuck in a contradiction - abolishing central command rules on things like town centre car parking, but yet claiming at the same time it will have some magical national effect of meeting the Daily Mail agenda.
The fact is - if you stop controlling things from the centre then local authorities will do different things. And that will include banning cars from town centres, or jacking up car park fees or agreeing out of town developments at the expense of existing town centres. And that is surely the point of localism.
But the question then is - what is the point of the DCLG?
6 August 2011
5 August 2011
Friday favourite 18
Braveheart is probably the worst film ever made about Scotland and Trainspotting definitely one of the best.
So here you can enjoy both in just 100 seconds!
So here you can enjoy both in just 100 seconds!
4 August 2011
Gibson torture enquiry rethink needed
News that civil liberties groups will boycott Sir Peter Gibson's enquiry into UK citizen's 'war on terror' torture claims and what Labour government officials knew is a blow to the enquiry - and the government's liberal credentials.
The excuse from Malcolm Rifkind that he 'cannot recollect an inquiry that's been proposed to be so open' is entirely irrelevant as previous government's have always allowed the security forces off the hook through excessive secrecy.
While it is the case that certain information regarding security issues would always need to be examined in private, drawing up terms of reference so restrictive that those actually representing the detainees feel they cannot reasonably take part is clearly wrong.
Liberal Democrats in government need to prove they make a difference and are leading a new style of open and deliberative politics. Here is a simple issue for the Deputy PM and colleagues to take a stand and make a liberal and democratic difference.
The excuse from Malcolm Rifkind that he 'cannot recollect an inquiry that's been proposed to be so open' is entirely irrelevant as previous government's have always allowed the security forces off the hook through excessive secrecy.
While it is the case that certain information regarding security issues would always need to be examined in private, drawing up terms of reference so restrictive that those actually representing the detainees feel they cannot reasonably take part is clearly wrong.
Liberal Democrats in government need to prove they make a difference and are leading a new style of open and deliberative politics. Here is a simple issue for the Deputy PM and colleagues to take a stand and make a liberal and democratic difference.
Lembit morfs into Life of Brian...
I received an email earlier encouraging me to put my number one next to Lembit Opik's name in the ballot for Lib Dem Mayoral candidate. His pitch reads like a surreal version of the 'What have the Romans ever done for us' sketch from Life of Brian.
Apparently Lembit:
- Has brought us peace in Northern Ireland
- Is a match for Ken and Boris in the character stakes (abusing journalists and getting lovers pregnant one assumes)
- Won Newcastle City Council for the Lib Dems
- Is a vote winner among central and east European voters
- Will do a deal with Bob Crowe (yes seriously)
- Will encourage housebuilding by refusing to sell land to developers
- Oppose a ban on something that isn't being banned.
One might say he's not the campaigning messiah - he's a very naughty boy...
Apparently Lembit:
- Has brought us peace in Northern Ireland
- Is a match for Ken and Boris in the character stakes (abusing journalists and getting lovers pregnant one assumes)
- Won Newcastle City Council for the Lib Dems
- Is a vote winner among central and east European voters
- Will do a deal with Bob Crowe (yes seriously)
- Will encourage housebuilding by refusing to sell land to developers
- Oppose a ban on something that isn't being banned.
One might say he's not the campaigning messiah - he's a very naughty boy...
2 August 2011
UN appear to have Assad in their sights (at last)
The weekend's massacre in Hama appears to have roused the UN from its blind eye regarding Assad's Syria. But the wheels of diplomacy turn slowly and it will be weeks before any action is taken (if at all).
Perhaps they need to appoint some sort of envoy who could knock heads together?
Perhaps they need to appoint some sort of envoy who could knock heads together?
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