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"I am convinced that there is no weakness in Britain today that cannot be overcome by the strength of the British people. On this day I remember words that have stayed with me since my childhood and which matter a great deal to me today. My school motto: I will try my outmost. This is my promise to all of the people of Britain. And now let the work of change begin."
He promised "change" but, largely, didn't deliver it. That's when left wing parties really get hammered (as recently shown even more starkly in France)
Still, history will recall that he rose to the occasion when it was most needed (after the 2008 financial crash) That cancels out quite a few negatives.
I hadn't read your post prior posting part of Brown's speech, AK. I intend no criticism of your post. I wasn't prepared to be as moved as I was by Brown's speech.
I'm a Labour party member because Labour is mostly decent, well-intended and often capable of very successful government.
My advice, again, is to stop talking about "The Single Market". For ever. Keir Starmer gets this. It belongs in the past. We need to talk about what we want for people, not an agreement that people are suspicious of and that for many didn't seem to improve their lives.
What are you on about? The UK is much, much richer than in 1993, and a lot richer than it would have been absent the Single Market. It has been worth thousands of pounds per head. That increased wealth in turn enables lots of lovely things like hospitals to be paid for.
Five local council byelections last week, the first since the GE:
East Cambridgshire DC - Tory hold with just under 60 per cent of the vote in a two member ward which voted for Independents in its original incarnation in 2003, but the Tories duly took both seats in 2007 and went on to make this very safe. How safe is shown by the fact their share was actually modestly down on 2015, but they were still way ahead of the LibDems who went up by 4 per cent since then. Labour 3rd and last with 15%, very little changed on last time or indeed 2011.
Stockton-on-Tees - Tory hold, with a modest increase taking them to just over half the vote. This ward has duly returned three Tories since the initial election on these boundaries in 2005, but in the three elections since then they have been pressed fairly hard by a local Independent group and an Indy duly finished runners-up this time - though dipping a few points to just under 30%. Labour down by a similar amount, indeed almost the same as the last placed LibDems who got 3% - they actually came second here 12 years ago, but subsequently fell away to the point they did not even stand on GE day in 2015.
Powys - this was either the final piece of business from the 2012 elections or the first one from last months; the question arises because this vacancy arose through nobody even standing then for this rural single member division after the long standing Independent incumbent stood down. They had been unopposed in 1999 and 2004, seeing off another Indy in 2008 and (narrowly) a LibDem in 2012 before calling it a day - so generally not a great deal of electoral competition here down the years. That changed this time, however, as no fewer than six hopefuls stood. And with that actually *not* including the LibDems who came close last time, the winner in a fragmented field was the Tory candidate who scored just under 30 per cent - making this a gain for them at the first time of asking. Not far behind was the first of three Independent candidates, followed by Plaid on 18% and the Greens on 14%. Two more Independents brought up the rear, but whilst the first of them still polled respectably the other (a non-local who had stood elsewhere as a Tory just last month) came last with the grand total of 2 (TWO) votes. Ouch!
South Gloucestershire - Tory hold, their share of 48% almost unchanged from two years ago in a ward that has duly returned two members for them since boundary changes for the 2007 elections. However that did not make this one totally uninteresting as Labour more than doubled its share from 2015 to come second with over a third of the vote, leapfrogging the LibDems who were also little changed from then. The apparent discrepancy on the above is explained by the absence of UKIP this time after they finished third with some 17% - ahead of Labour - on GE day in 2015, further proof that - as shown in several places a few weeks ago - their absence won't automatically benefit the Tories.
Sheffield - Labour hold, but they were run close by the Greens in a ward that split 2Lab/1Grn in the all-out elections last year. Both parties saw an increase since then (the first election since significant boundary changes) but it was Labour who, with 45%, finished on top by a few points. Greens may be disappointed to have just missed out due to the salience of the "tree factor" locally (the Labour run council is chopping a number of them down, claiming it is necessary to save money) but given their GE results (poor here, as they were almost everywhere) the result can still perhaps offer some encouragement. Last year there was a crowded field amongst the also rans with Tories/UKIP/Ind/TUSC all standing, but they were nowhere to be seen now which meant the only other candidate was a LibDem - they won seats in these parts back in pre-coalition days, but their 12% was slightly down on last year despite the reduced competition.
http://www.cer.eu/about" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Centre for European Reform is a think-tank devoted to making the European Union work better and strengthening its role in the world. The CER is pro-European but not uncritical. We regard European integration as largely beneficial but recognise that in many respects the Union does not work well. We also think that the EU should take on more responsibilities globally, on issues ranging from climate change to security. The CER aims to promote an open, outward-looking and effective European Union.
Why do England's high-rises keep failing fire tests
Scotland learned a lesson (to coin a phrase) in 1999. Unfortunately, it appears that the lesson wasn't necessarily learned elsewhere.
In Scotland, a change to building regulations in 2005 made it mandatory for builders to ensure that any external cladding "inhibited" fire spreading. The new regulations were introduced following a fatal fire in a Scottish tower block in 1999.
...The flats were owned by North Ayrshire Council, who ordered the removal of plastic cladding and PVC window frames as a precaution "at whatever cost" so they could be replaced with safer materials.
...The then local MP, Brian Donohoe, ...was also concerned that tower blocks across the UK which used similar cladding could be at risk, and the Labour MP pushed for a parliamentary inquiry into the extent of the problem.
The review - by the select committee on environment, transport and regional affairs - was set up quickly and reported back in January 2000.
It said the evidence received during the inquiry suggested most external cladding being used in the UK did not pose "a serious threat to life or property in the event of fire".
But the report added: "Notwithstanding... we do not believe that it should take a serious fire in which many people are killed before all reasonable steps are taken towards minimising the risks."
Second, we have launched a programme of research and events
on the economic causes of populism, to be concluded in the spring of
2018. Many of the factors driving populism in the UK – such as resentment
at stagnant living standards and inequality, discontent about migration,
hostility towards elites and a sense of powerlessness – are present across
the EU. http://www.cer.eu/sites/default/files/a ... t_2016.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The term is derived from the French ramequin, a cheese- or meat-based dish baked in a small mold. The French term is derived from early modern Flemish rammeken, which translated to 'toast' or 'roasted minced meat', itself apparently from ram 'battering ram' + -kin 'diminutive', but it is unclear why
TechnicallyRonVerified account @TechnicallyRon 23h23 hours ago
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So in summary, my taxes have been used by a power hungry woman trying to cling to power by bribing some complete bastards. Cool.
Kyle GriffinVerified account
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Lacking votes, Senate GOP leaders abruptly delay vote on health care bill until after July 4th recess.
If I'm not here, then I'll be in the library. Or the other library.
My advice, again, is to stop talking about "The Single Market". For ever. Keir Starmer gets this. It belongs in the past. We need to talk about what we want for people, not an agreement that people are suspicious of and that for many didn't seem to improve their lives.
What are you on about? The UK is much, much richer than in 1993, and a lot richer than it would have been absent the Single Market. It has been worth thousands of pounds per head. That increased wealth in turn enables lots of lovely things like hospitals to be paid for.
What a shame the Lexiters are winning.
(1) that isn't from 92 but 2000. The shock that happened was the financial crisis of 2007. Nothing to do with the single market.
(2) why would anyone rational think the solution to this was to leave something that has made us all so much richer? It is like suggesting that as you have a persistent cold, the solution is to cut your legs off.
