Local decision making – not there to avoid hard decisions
Saturday, December 13th, 2008Disappointing result from the Manchester congestion charge referendum, but not unexpected. The adverts I saw around Wigan from the YES campaign were dull and uninspired – probably not wishing to show people smiling and happy with their shiny new public transport. The NO campaign was easy – don’t let the bastards take more of [...]
Committee on standards in public life report
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008Following my rambling post the other day about lies in politics, I notice that the Standards Committee has published their report of public attitudes towards the standards of conduct of public office holders.
To paraphrase the summary key findings, we the electorate, think that things are getting worse. Standards of conduct are considered low by [...]
Bonfire night problems in Skem?
Thursday, November 6th, 2008I read this article on the BBC news website this morning saying that there had been fire-related problems in the Skelmerdale area (amongst others). I don’t know how it compares with previous years, but in the past I was always very impressed with the work that the local Police would do on Bonfire night to [...]
Some dangerously sensible thinking from Sefton Lib Dems
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008Perhaps…
Sefton Lib Dems reportedly put forward a motion to Cabinet to build stronger Lancashire links between Sefton and Lancashire. The report on “Birkdale Focus” site unsurprisingly takes a pop at their local Tories for not supporting it, but goes on to say that it was passed in the Cabinet vote.
Their deputy leader is quoted [...]
Asda opens £27m green store in Bootle
Monday, November 3rd, 2008Well done to Asda for their “zero waste” target by 2010. They’ve opened a new ‘green’ store in Bootle and I see that Asda’s sorting centre in Skelmersdale is being used to sort and bundle up recycled cardboard and plastic.
Relative truth, relative lies
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008Currently mulling over the truthfulness and not of local politicians at the moment. I had a much longer posting in my head, but I don’t think time will allow… but suffice to say that a letter that we received last week from a local politician has left me wondering if we still actually value truth [...]
Naked Chimney Thief in Pemberton
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008From the BBC news site:
Naked man found wedged in chimney
A naked man found wedged in the chimney of a supermarket in Wigan has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Police officers discovered him trapped in a chimney breast of a Tesco Express store on Ormskirk Road, Pemberton.
… and it goes on…
Read it all here.
I [...]
The US election boiled down into one easy question
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008The Daily Show compared “real america” with the rest of america last night. In doing so, distilled the whole election into one easy question:
What’s your favourite amendment?
a) the first
or, b) the second
genius. It’s about 1:40 into this clip:
Well, who would you trust?
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008A Tory Oxford-Bullingdon Drinking society member-now-shadow-chancellor
Another Ex-Eton / Oxford Bullingdon drinking millionaire financier
or the Russian Aluminium billionaire oligarch
So much for painting Osborne as “not a toff”. He’s in it up to his neck.
His weasel words tonight won’t help, either. I notice that in the q&a that the BBC are showing this evening he insists [...]
Tories block free swimming for unders 16s
Thursday, October 16th, 2008Paul Cotterill reports that the council last night decided to deny under 16’s the right to free swimming in the district’s pools. Despite the fact that the Council could draw from the £40 million that the Government has made available to make this happen.
I know no more than what Paul has written at the [...]
