January 2011
New Year cheer for community pubs following...
Norwich South MP Simon Wright has welcomed a pledge made by the pubs minister Bob Neill to review rules that prevent some closed community pubs from reopening as pubs. A public consultation will review restrictive covenants, which are used in the sale of a building to restrict the use by new owners. Large pub companies have used covenants to limit competition, which has resulted in some pubs being...
Very very happy New Year -- Robert Halfon (Con)
Just to say a very very happy new year to all my blog readers and friends. I hope 2011 is peaceful and prosperous for everyone. by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.compromoted by Russell Perrin on behalf of Robert Halfon all at Harlow Conservatives, Latton Bush centre, Harlow, Essex http://blogm.in/CRxyRwww.roberthalfon.blogspot.compromoted by Russell Perrin on behalf of Robert Halfon all...
Pickles: Councils’ New Year resolution must be...
Every council’s New Year’s resolution must be to open up their finance books to the public, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has said. (continues…) http://blogm.in/CRxxp
December 2010
New Year cheer for community pubs following...
Norwich South MP Simon Wright has welcomed a pledge made by the pubs minister Bob Neill to review rules that prevent some closed community pubs from reopening as pubs. A public consultation will review restrictive covenants, which are used in the sale of a building to restrict the use by new owners. Large pub companies have used covenants to limit competition, which has resulted in some pubs being...
UK ‘strongly regrets’ Belarus decision on OSCE...
Minister for Europe, David Lidington, has issued the following statement tonight. http://blogm.in/CRpDZ
Revolving door keeps spinning. -- Paul Flynn (Lab)
The Daily Mail caught up with the ‘revolving door’ scandal this morning. But they omitted the main point. Shame. They are trapped by their political agenda into making it an anti-Labour story. While they quoted me at length, they omitted my main charge probably because it involves a Tory. The body that lays down the rules is chaired by a former Tory minister who sent his CV into…...
Referendum misinformation. -- Glyn Davies (Con)
I am a Conservative Member of the House of Commons representing the Welsh seat of Montgomeryshire - to which I was elected in May 2010 with a swing of 13.2% against the supposedly ‘resurgent’ Liberal Democrats. There was one larger swing somewhere else in the UK, but against demoralised Labour. It was a spectacular result. Many commentators, searching for an explanation blame Lembit...
Congratulations to locals honoured -- Mark...
At least three local residents have been honoured in today’s announcement of the New Years Honours List. ‘Tracker’, (Tom Attenburgh), known to thousands of Scouts and cubs and their families through his work with the Scouting movement; George Kerr, for his work with judo, currently with the Junior Judo Club in West Bowling Street; and Stephen Blackmore, Keeper of the...
Prime Minister David Cameron delivers New Year...
Prime Minister reviews his Government’s first months in office and looks ahead to 2011 http://blogm.in/CRQ35
Mark Reckless Welcomes Eastgate House Funding --...
Mark Reckless has welcomed the news that Eastgate House in the heart of Rochester has been awarded a first round pass with development funding of £80,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The HLF grant will go towards a three year … Continue reading → http://blogm.in/CR9t1
New year honours for Wycombe -- Steven Baker (Con)
The Bucks Free Press are reporting local recipients of new year honours. Amongst them are an OBE for Cllr Mimi Harker with MBEs for Chauhdry Shafique and Bryan Edgley. Many congratulations to all the recipients: I know their awards are thoroughly deserved after many years of dedicated service to our community. And via Newcomer of 2010 – thetorydiary, http://blogm.in/CR9t7
Will 2011 be the year of local TV? -- Douglas...
According to Guido Fawkes “decentralisation of our broadcasting culture would really create a more plural media.” Aye to that. And with a bit of luck, 2011 could see Jeremy Hunt’s vision of a properly local TV network achieve take off. Creating a framework that allows local TV to flourish - and without public funds - would give a real boost to localism. A patchwork of local TV...
Quote of the day – Sean Corrigan on political...
Truly, in political economy we do not ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ like Newton claimed to do in the hard sciences, but rather we allow each new generation of intellectual pygmies to perpetrate the same old errors over and over again. via Sampson – The Currency under the Act of 1844 » The Cobden http://blogm.in/CR9sx
This is a crisis of capitalism, not just British...
The latest reports estimate unemployment in Britain rising to nearly 3 million in 2011. It is assumed that this is all because of Osborne’s unprecedented orgy of spending cuts. Of course they will play a big part, but they’re certainly not the whole story. IMF, OECD and EU figures show that there is currently a financial surplus in the private sector of $3 trillions (roughly £2 trillions)...
New Year Message from Malcolm Bruce MP -- Malcolm...
2011 will be a challenging year for everyone as measures for bringing down the deficit will require public agencies to retrench and reform. Nevertheless, it offers opportunities for the North East as an important energy and food producing region. Our region is less dependent on public spending than the rest of Scotland and has a resilient private sector which can thrive given sensitive government...
UK requests withdrawal of Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador...
The Foreign Office has informed Mr Philippe D Djangone-Bi that, as of 31 December 2010, he is no longer the Ambassador for Cote d’Ivoire to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. http://blogm.in/CR9ss
Your family – LibDem manifesto commitments...
Lib Dem Manifesto p.49 “We will protect existing childcare support arrangements until the nation’s finances can support a longer term solution: a move to 20 hours free childcare for every child, from the age of 18 months.” We have extended 15 hours free early education to all disadvantaged two year-olds, while keeping the free offer of 15 hours early education for every three and four year-old. We...
My 2011 predictions: the wisdom of the crowd --...
I was about to do a blog called “Predictions for 2011”. Top of my list was going to be: 1. Inflation will increase 2. European countries will eventually discover that you can’t borrow your way out of debt 3. The internet will continue to disperse power and open up hierarchy in weird and wonderful ways …. At which point I thought I should practice what I preach. ...
2011: New Year’s Honours for Service personnel and...
121 UK Service personnel have been granted state honours by Her Majesty The Queen in her annual New Year’s Honours list. http://blogm.in/CR9sL
Get the most out of your broadband -- Ofcom
Broadband has become such an integral part of our daily lives that many of us would now be completely lost without it. Broadband has become such an integral part of our daily lives that many of us would now be completely lost without it. We use it to keep in touch, to do our work, to watch TV, do our banking and book our holidays. We use it to buy… http://blogm.in/CR9sC
New patent application arrangements will save...
Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox has welcomed new arrangements for filing patents in Europe which will cut costs for UK businesses. http://blogm.in/CR9sR
We few, we happy few -- Steven Baker (Con)
I found myself reflecting on my last EU-related rebellion and some words spoken privately to me by a senior Conservative MP at the time. It put me in mind of Henry V, for better or for worse. In Act 4, Scene 3, once Gloucester, Bedford, Westmoreland, Exeter and Salisbury have agreed upon the fearful odds http://blogm.in/CR9rw
UK calls on Russia to respect the principles of...
Statement following the sentencing of Mikhail Khodorkovsky on 30 December. http://blogm.in/CR9s7
Paying taxes is a duty, not an option to be...
One of the most odious aspects of Big Business today is that minimizing the tax paid – so-called ‘tax efficiency’ – is justified, indeed to be supported and approved. In fact it’s part of the ugly face of corporate capitalism that employing an army of accountants to fabricate every arcane and artificial device to get round their social duty to make their fair contribution to the society on which...
'Mark Reckless Welcomes Eastgate House Funding' --...
Mark Reckless has welcomed the news that Eastgate House in the heart of Rochester has been awarded a first round pass with development funding of £80,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The HLF grant will go towards a three year … Continue reading → http://blogm.in/CR2DD
'Will 2011 be the year of local TV?' -- Douglas...
According to Guido Fawkes “decentralisation of our broadcasting culture would really create a more plural media.” Aye to that. And with a bit of luck, 2011 could see Jeremy Hunt’s vision of a properly local TV network achieve take off. Creating a framework that allows local TV to flourish - and without public funds - would give a real boost to localism. A patchwork of local TV...
'UK requests withdrawal of Cote d’Ivoire...
The Foreign Office has informed Mr Philippe D Djangone-Bi that, as of 31 December 2010, he is no longer the Ambassador for Cote d’Ivoire to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. http://blogm.in/CR0C4
'Britain’s plan to tackle malaria and save lives'...
The British Government today unveiled landmark plans to tackle malaria and prevent deaths during pregnancy and childbirth in a move that could save an unprecedented number of lives. http://blogm.in/CR0Bp
'Home Office, IPS and UKBA staff recognised in New...
http://blogm.in/CQszW
'Minister congratulates happy couples on the fifth...
http://blogm.in/CQsz6
'Britain’s plan to tackle malaria and save lives'...
http://blogm.in/CQsz4
'Home Office, IPS and UKBA staff recognised in New...
Staff from the Home Office and its agencies have been recognised for making a difference, in the 2011 New Year Honours List. http://blogm.in/CQrNN
'Minister congratulates happy couples on the fifth...
The fifth anniversary of the introduction of civil partnerships is being celebrated today. http://blogm.in/CQrMn
'Quote of the day – Sean Corrigan on political...
Truly, in political economy we do not ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ like Newton claimed to do in the hard sciences, but rather we allow each new generation of intellectual pygmies to perpetrate the same old errors over and over again. via Sampson – The Currency under the Act of 1844 » The Cobden http://blogm.in/CQrMM
'New Year Message from Malcolm Bruce MP' --...
2011 will be a challenging year for everyone as measures for bringing down the deficit will require public agencies to retrench and reform. Nevertheless, it offers opportunities for the North East as an important energy and food producing region. Our region is less dependent on public spending than the rest of Scotland and has a resilient private sector which can thrive given sensitive government...
'New Year Message from Malcolm Bruce MP' --...
2011 will be a challenging year for everyone as measures for bringing down the deficit will require public agencies to retrench and reform. Nevertheless, it offers opportunities for the North East as an important energy and food producing region. Our region is less dependent on public spending than the rest of Scotland and has a resilient private sector which can thrive given sensitive government...
'Number 10 staff select two charities to support...
The Cabinet Office has today published the Giving Green Paper outlining the Government’s plans to help build a stronger culture of giving time and money to support charities and voluntary organisations. The Green Paper outlines plans that are already underway to enable civil servants to contribute to their communities and develop a “civic service”. Staff within the Prime Minister’s Office have...
'This is a crisis of capitalism, not just British...
http://blogm.in/CQbpb
'New patent application arrangements will save...
http://blogm.in/CQYfW
'Noughties were nice years for rivers' --...
http://blogm.in/CQYfN
'UK calls on Russia to respect the principles of...
http://blogm.in/CQYfF
'Behavioural Insight team launches health report'...
http://blogm.in/CQYd6
'New patent application arrangements will save...
Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox has welcomed new arrangements for filing patents in Europe which will cut costs for UK businesses. http://blogm.in/CQXps
'New patent application arrangements will save...
Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox has welcomed new arrangements for filing patents in Europe which will cut costs for UK businesses. http://blogm.in/CQXps
'Your family – LibDem manifesto commitments...
Lib Dem Manifesto p.49 “We will protect existing childcare support arrangements until the nation’s finances can support a longer term solution: a move to 20 hours free childcare for every child, from the age of 18 months.” We have extended 15 hours free early education to all disadvantaged two year-olds, while keeping the free offer of 15 hours early education for every three and four year-old. We...
'My 2011 predictions: the wisdom of the crowd' --...
I was about to do a blog called “Predictions for 2011”. Top of my list was going to be: 1. Inflation will increase 2. European countries will eventually discover that you can’t borrow your way out of debt 3. The internet will continue to disperse power and open up hierarchy in weird and wonderful ways …. At which point I thought I should practice what I preach. ...
'Noughties were nice years for rivers' --...
The last decade has been the best for rivers since the industrial revolution, the Environment Agency said today. http://blogm.in/CQRJM
'UK calls on Russia to respect the principles of...
Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken following the sentencing of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in Russia on 30 December. http://blogm.in/CQLkS
'Behavioural Insight team launches health report'...
A discussion paper on applying behavioural insight to health has been published today by the Cabinet Office. http://blogm.in/CQLkD
'CHRISTMAS MAIL SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF ROYAL MAIL' --...
http://blogm.in/CQ68j