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PorFavor wrote:According to the BBC David Cameron is unwavering (or glossy and unbending, or something) in his support for Fiona Woolf. The legal representative of the survivors was interviewed and was very good.
Apologies if I make more errors than usual. I've somehow reduced the font-size to microscopic and don't know how to undo it. I can't see a bloody thing.
Yes, I agree, the legal representative of the survivors was very good. He rounded up the concerns by saying that if it were a court case and Woolf had been selected as the judge - she would have had to recuse herself by dint of knowing some of the key people concerned in it ...
Yet Cameron, May and co at the Home Office think we are stupid enough not to spot or care about the double standards - such principles don't apply here it seems.
You'll need deep cleaning with that 'body renewing bar' after you read BTL on this. Shame - the report is pretty straightforward and unknocking in itself.
Labour have clung onto the post of South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, but Ukip saw a surge in support.
Torygraph
'clung onto' .....????
That's pretty pathetic reporting given they got over 50% of the vote.
The Labour vote is virtually unchanged from 2012, 74615 (51.35% of the 145294) then, 74060 (50.02% of 148062) now; that is damned impressive, considering the background to the election, the resources UKIP threw at it and the 'interesting' nature of their campaign. No complacency, presumably some of Labour's vote last time has to have gone to UKIP, but the fact there was no LD candidate seems to have compensated for that.
Congratulations to Alan Billings on a good and positive campaign (that offer to give half the salary to charity was a doozie), and I hope that he can begin to make a difference in restoring faith in those communities during (hopefully short) time in office.
Landmark legal victory for allotments over redevelopment
Farm Terrace plot-holders in Watford quash decision by Eric Pickles to turn site into housing and car park (Guardian)
I've been trying to get a chance to let you all know since this morning but as you might imagine, I've got 'phone calls, texts and emails flying at me left right and centre! Pity poor Sara Jane - she also has to deal with all the press and twitter etc. Twice we've won now but no doubt the Dotty Mare will still try to get her own way. Anyway, I'll read through the rest of today's comments in a moment but first I need to do yet another celebratory 'jig'.
Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.
Landmark legal victory for allotments over redevelopment
Farm Terrace plot-holders in Watford quash decision by Eric Pickles to turn site into housing and car park (Guardian)
I've been trying to get a chance to let you all know since this morning but as you might imagine, I've got 'phone calls, texts and emails flying at me left right and centre! Pity poor Sara Jane - she also has to deal with all the press and twitter etc. Twice we've won now but no doubt the Dotty Mare will still try to get her own way. Anyway, I'll read through the rest of today's comments in a moment but first I need to do yet another celebratory 'jig'.
Congratulations to all of you who took on the fight. You really deserve this win. Yes - sounds as though Watford council are determined to appeal ... but don't let that worry you now - enjoy this.
Landmark legal victory for allotments over redevelopment
Farm Terrace plot-holders in Watford quash decision by Eric Pickles to turn site into housing and car park (Guardian)
I've been trying to get a chance to let you all know since this morning but as you might imagine, I've got 'phone calls, texts and emails flying at me left right and centre! Pity poor Sara Jane - she also has to deal with all the press and twitter etc. Twice we've won now but no doubt the Dotty Mare will still try to get her own way. Anyway, I'll read through the rest of today's comments in a moment but first I need to do yet another celebratory 'jig'.
Congratulation Tizme. Hopefully it will stick at some point.
AnatolyKasparov wrote:The PCC excitement (?) aside, five local council byelections yesterday:
Telford and Wrekin - two separate vacancies here, the first was a Labour hold in an (unusually for them) a fairly rural ward with a tiny Tory-Labour swing since a straight fight in 2011 after UKIP intervened and scored over 18%. Notable that Labour won much more easily in 2003 than 2007 or '11 - that indicates this area is not moving favourably for them demographically, so they will be pleased at this result. The other seat saw an Independent gain from the Tories, in a seat that had seen the Tories beat Labour by almost 2 to 1 in a straight fight last time and even more easily in 2007 (though an Indy won it in 2003) Tory share down by well over half, not far ahead of UKIP who got nearly 24% in another first effort; Labour also collapsing to less than 10% (the fact the Independent was, unusually, distinctly left-leaning may be a factor there)
Castle Point DC - Independent gain from (hopefully this is not too confusing) Canvey Island Independents, this means the council remains hung (a Tory win would have given them an overall majority) CII have won this ward - by big margins in recent years - in every election since 2004, so this was a bit of a surprise; their vote more than halved since their two thirds share this May. Tories (who swept the all-outs here in 2003, but no success since) third with 21% - almost no change - whilst Labour last with their vote dropping further; the days when they ran this council seem very distant now.
Neath/Port Talbot - Labour hold, with both their share and the fairly derisory one of the third placed Tories little changed on a previous by-election here a year ago, whilst UKIP moved to fill the gap previously occupied by Independent and Residents candiates (2012, 2008 and 2004 have all seen this three member ward topped by a locally popular Indy, followed by two Labour seats) and took second with over 34%, a big increase on 2013 but still well behind Labour. This used to be the base of the local "celebrity" candidate Captain Beany, who took the runners up spot last year under his real name - no show this time, though.
North Ayrshire - SNP hold in a small town/rural ward that contains the tourist friendly Cumbrae islands; though given the recent poll findings that have caused so much excitement north of the border, it may be worth noting that their share was down on 2012 - though not much on 2007 when they did worse against the trend - in a division where they have returned 2 out of 4 councillors on both occasions. Independents - 4th last time - move into the runners up spot, just ahead of the Tories who improved slightly on 2012 (as they have done in most by-elections since then) whilst Labour dropped from 2nd to 4th - though there was actually no Labour to SNP swing overall! UKIP last with less than 4%.
"Your bins policy is interesting and one to watch – I certainly hadn't heard of it but am glad it's working so successfully. And I'm pleased that you're separating out food-waste, too. Here we have one general recycling bin to each 'square' – that's two small blocks averaging 18 'dwellings' in total facing each other – but four paladins for general-waste. The recycling bins are usually full-to-overflowing within three days whereas the paladins are usually just over half-full by the time the weekly collection happens. We've recently persuaded the Council to collect the recycling weekly (instead of fortnightly) but it's on a trial basis. Of course, once someone has lugged their recycling bag(s) down to the bin but found it full, they just tip it into the general-waste paladins instead. A few of us do take it back indoors but that just means we are putting even more in when we finally find the bin has space in it... This borough doesn't operate a food-waste scheme, unlike the borough next door which does general-waste, general-recycling, food-waste, and green-waste. We will carry on pressing our council to 'extend their recycling offer'..."
that was LadyCentauria last night.
Bury's policy is based around 240l wheelie bins, and it works. Gray bin for general waste - that's the one that's now 3 weekly - blue for glass and plastic, green for card and paper all on a 3 weekly cycle. Brown bin is food and garden waste, and that's every 2 weeks. So Bury 'will stink' will it? What of? Plastic wrapping? Styroform packaging? Broken utensils and crockery? You can sense the stench from here.
It'll work, and that's what pisses off the Tories. 12 months hence, when our recycling rate's over 60% and no-one's moaning, all the protests will be forgotten and Pickles will look an even more abject and ridiculous figure than he cuts now. And if it works in Bury, watch the floodgates open elsewhere as other councils do the same. And I hope they all tell Jabba to fuck off.
pk1 wrote:Tim Fenton alluded to a culling over at the Torygraph.
Matthew D'Ancona is off:
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Iain Dale @IainDale · 31m 31 minutes ago
So which idiot in Telegraph Towers thought "I know, let's get rid of our star political writer 6 months before the election?" Defies belief.
D'Ancona is / was one of the better ones. Have to agree with him there.
James O'Brien @mrjamesob · 4h 4 hours ago
Irredeemably shameful. RT: “@krishgm: Home Office refusing to even take requests for interviews for Theresa May on the child abuse inquiry”
Thanks RR2 and Refitman. I certainly intend to raise a glass or three tonight and enjoy this victory. We're all determined to fight on though if needs be. I shall also be celebrating the PCC election outcome.
Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is under fire after it emerged that a high profile scheme to release any unused public land to the public has failed to free up anything, despite being launched over three years ago.
Launching the "Community Right to Reclaim Land" plan in 2011, then housing minister Grant Shapps suggested that it would help put hundreds of acres of public sector land to use for housing, businesses or leisure facilities...
Not a good day for Pickles then. Why have nearly all the applications made so far been turned down?
Radio 5live news ran the election story as 'Labour hold on by around 300 votes', although they did then go on to explain that this was their majority over 50% of first preferences, and their majority over UKIP was over 17,000.
I dunno about that Tizme. Another couple of months delay so it puts back the date when anything damaging emerges from it.
True. I was thinking in terms of how Fiona Woolf was clearly not the right person for the job. Plus the abuse survivors don't have any faith in her. And of course politically speaking its yet another example of Cameron's woeful judgement.
Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.
Might get better yet because apparently Survation will tweet latest voting intention from Survation/Unite Rochester & Strood by-election poll at 6.30pm
Kevin Maguire @Kevin_Maguire Oct 30
Jim Murphy needs to do a better job with his own Scotland campaign than he did running David Miliband's leadership bid
Stephen Cavalier @stevecavalier Oct 30
@Kevin_Maguire - does Jim Murphy have a more left-wing brother?
Kevin Maguire
@Kevin_Maguire
@stevecavalier As a veggie he'll never have to eat a bacon sarnie in public
Matthew d'Ancona @MatthewdAncona · Oct 30
Every good house has a black cat #blackcatday
Have I missed it?
Have read that black cats often miss out on homes because people prefer tabbies & tuxedo cats etc., which is sad.
Yes - but is there really a Black Cat Day? And was it yesterday - or is it today, Halloween? If it's today I will have to mark the occasion with my 3 deepest black furry friends .... look out a tin of their finest for them.
Kevin Maguire @Kevin_Maguire Oct 30
Jim Murphy needs to do a better job with his own Scotland campaign than he did running David Miliband's leadership bid
Stephen Cavalier @stevecavalier Oct 30
@Kevin_Maguire - does Jim Murphy have a more left-wing brother?
Kevin Maguire
@Kevin_Maguire
@stevecavalier As a veggie he'll never have to eat a bacon sarnie in public
Maguire should be more concerned about how the stock of his poster boy Balls is plummeting, tbh
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB · 27s 27 seconds ago
The local NHS rather than immigration the top issue for Rochester voters ahead of by-election. See Survation chart
Kevin Maguire @Kevin_Maguire Oct 30
Jim Murphy needs to do a better job with his own Scotland campaign than he did running David Miliband's leadership bid
Stephen Cavalier @stevecavalier Oct 30
@Kevin_Maguire - does Jim Murphy have a more left-wing brother?
Kevin Maguire
@Kevin_Maguire
@stevecavalier As a veggie he'll never have to eat a bacon sarnie in public
Maguire should be more concerned about how the stock of his poster boy Balls is plummeting, tbh
Agree with that. The wounds obviously still ache. And he's possibly not aware of just how dangerous cheese and salad can be.
We're helping sponsor a cat pen with CPL and it is occupied by a lovely, feisty 15 year old called Pepper, so if anyone in that area could give her a home....
Nick Robinson @bbcnickrobinson · 53m 53 minutes ago
Is time catching up with the longest-serving Home Secretary for more than 50 years? Theresa suddenly doesn't look so Teflon.
I think she may need a blast of the FTN Home Secretary's water cannon. But sadly ... no one has imported the wonderful water cannon smiley from yesterday. Sniff.
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Eh? - not sure I quite get that. Time to read the full post.
Ah, I see - the full title reads 'EXCLUSIVE: Survation has Mark Reckless moving to a 15% lead in Rochester'.
Labour down 9% but Lib Dems on 1%
Considering the NHS is supposedly the top issue in this election, for Labour to be so far down is seriously worrying. That said, byelections aren't known for their sensible and logical outcomes. Anthony Wells always says that people might think or say they are voting based on particular issues, but it doesn't always work out like that in practice.
I noticed a prominent letter from a local UKIPer in the Bury Times, aka, the Shitty Times, this last week, going on about how the NHS is safe with UKIP. Unless I'm mistaken, that's a smokescreen, and if their policies now (assuming have one) are like the 2010 manifesto, then the NHS is manifestly not safe with UKIP as they'll sell the whole bloody thing off even quicker than the Tories - and I imagine for the same financial rewards that the Tories and FibDems have thus far enjoyed.
On edit - removed numerous typos and omissions. Why don't I read before I bloody post???
18:21
Michael Mansfield QC, whose name has been mentioned in connection with leading the inquiry, tells BBC Radio 5 Live he wants to know about the other candidates the Home Office approached for the role: "What kind of trawl have they made? Nobody knows this."
Yes I'd like to know about that too. According to something else I read - there were just 3 on the list. 2 failed on due diligence.
If they didn't even have the basic understanding that they should consult the survivors as part of the process ... what on earth did they use as their criteria for the role?