The Independent has a disturbing report on the number of suicides by railway train and the measures which hard-pressed railway police are taking to reduce it. I had a feeling that this grisly way of taking ones own life was on the increase, but the fact that there were hundreds of such fatalities every year came as a shock. Do the people who give up their life in this way realise the traumatic effect it has on railway staff and particularly on drivers?
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
From the People's Republic of Islington
- or that's what the commentariat (and yes, that is a word that was coined before Mr Corbyn uttered it yesterday and one that will surely be in the next round of dictionary revisions) would have you believe. My response on hearing the speech live on BBC-Parliament was the same as that of Caron Lindsay who expressed it far better than I.
It was a nice touch to have a young trainee lawyer of clearly south Asian heritage to make the introduction as a constituent of Mr Corbyn's. (I wish we could get across that the Liberal Democrats welcome liberals and social democrats from whatever background. Our image of overwhelmingly pink faces must put minority ethnic people off, but I would assure them that the door to the party is open. It just needs a little push.) She embodied the basic appeal of Mr Corbyn, as an assiduous local MP who genuinely cares for people - a quality he shares with Tim Farron, but of course the policies in the national arena are what count.
I would only add that the objection to Mr Corbyn's use of pre-published text in his speech is rather synthetic. Very few political leaders produce genuine innovations on the public platform. Their speech-writers are prone to make use of hand-me-down tropes and even whole sections supplied by pressure groups. If Mr Corbyn found a neatly-expressed passage which encapsulated his own political philosophy, so what? It is the content which should be criticised, not its origin.
It was a nice touch to have a young trainee lawyer of clearly south Asian heritage to make the introduction as a constituent of Mr Corbyn's. (I wish we could get across that the Liberal Democrats welcome liberals and social democrats from whatever background. Our image of overwhelmingly pink faces must put minority ethnic people off, but I would assure them that the door to the party is open. It just needs a little push.) She embodied the basic appeal of Mr Corbyn, as an assiduous local MP who genuinely cares for people - a quality he shares with Tim Farron, but of course the policies in the national arena are what count.
I would only add that the objection to Mr Corbyn's use of pre-published text in his speech is rather synthetic. Very few political leaders produce genuine innovations on the public platform. Their speech-writers are prone to make use of hand-me-down tropes and even whole sections supplied by pressure groups. If Mr Corbyn found a neatly-expressed passage which encapsulated his own political philosophy, so what? It is the content which should be criticised, not its origin.
EU wonks duck critical electoral issues
At first sight, this assessment of The Reform of the
Electoral Law of the
European Union (in pdf form) should have been welcome. A rationalisation of the different voting systems for the European Parliament in the constituent nations is surely overdue and the EU has the power to impose it - that is, if the Parliament and the Council of Ministers can agree. At present, as I understand it, the only requirement is that the electoral method must be proportional.
However, the Reform is concerned too much about process and the representation of parties. It does not tackle the iniquity of party lists which put too much power in the hands of managers and reduce that of the people to prefer individual candidates.
However, the Reform is concerned too much about process and the representation of parties. It does not tackle the iniquity of party lists which put too much power in the hands of managers and reduce that of the people to prefer individual candidates.
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
UKIP's real aim
Swansea Lib Dem leader, Councillor Chris Holley, said he was baffled by UKIP.
"What I don't understand is why they are standing in the Assembly elections or the local elections in Wales," said the former council leader.
"It must now become clear to everyone that Ukip is just a one issue party. On every other issue they are the same as the current Conservative Party in Westminster."
The reason is, of course, to cream off more public money in the form of salary and expenses in order to fund their atavistic isolationist campaigns against European cooperation. If elected, any UKIP AM will clearly spend as little time in Cardiff as his or her comrades do in Brussels and Strasbourg.
In particular, I am informed by one of his erstwhile constituents that Mark Reckless has given no indication that he intends to give up his seat on Medway Council in Kent.
Monday, 28 September 2015
Frank Tyson
For too short a time, Frank Tyson was the spearhead of the England attack. As I recall, injuries curtailed his career. One of the intriguing "what-ifs" of cricket history is the dream of that triple attack of Statham, Trueman and Tyson being kept together.
Jonathan Calder has reported that Tyson has just died in Australia. He has also posted a helpful video reminder of what county and Australian batsmen had to face.
Jonathan Calder has reported that Tyson has just died in Australia. He has also posted a helpful video reminder of what county and Australian batsmen had to face.
Tim Farron's first speech as leader (continued)
Lord Greaves has responded to the Guardian in a letter about the paper's commentary on the Farron speech:
Your pat on the head is ironic but still welcome. It is 51 years
since I was first present to hear a leader’s speech at a Liberal
Assembly - the annual inspiration by that great Liberal Party
leader, your own Jo Grimond. I do think that Tim Farron’s speech
this year, in presentation and context and content, is the best
I’ve heard in all the years of Liberal and Liberal Democrat
conferences since then.
Members of the Liberal Democrat conference this year were not
“doggedly cheery” as you suggest. The years we were dogged were
during the coalition, determined to see it through, to promote
Liberal policies and to stop the Conservatives doing their worst.
The mood now is of some relief that we are free of the Tories
combined with deep anger at what their worst now means for people
in this country and in the rest of the world.
This had to be a transitional speech but throughout it Tim
headlined and emphasised our Liberal tradition, our Liberal
beliefs, our Liberal cause. And in his return to Grimond’s famous
appeal to march his troops to the sound of gunfire he reaffirmed
our historic role as the campaigning radical force in British
politics, based firmly on the Liberal left and actively promoting
those progressive causes that the other major parties shy away
from.
This is our role and our destiny. So watch this space because
it’s ours.
There have also been comments from Mark Pack, Stephen Tall, Paul Walter and Caron Lindsay. So, rather than dissect the whole speech, I will just pick out a few passages which struck me:
But you know, I have never felt so common as the day I entered the House of Commons. I have never met so many well-spoken, expensively educated people. It doesn’t make them bad people. But it does make me feel like an outsider. But that’s fine, because Liberal Democrats are outsiders.
This is a line which should be dropped - or seriously modified - if we want to be considered seriously as a party of government again. It also comes perilously close to whining.
I think about the Ugandan Asians offered a safe haven by our parents from that murderous tyrant, Idi Amin. And it makes me realise the pride I feel in Britain when we do show such generosity of spirit.
That generosity should be seen in the light of history as set out here. Neither the Conservative government at the time of the expulsions nor the previous Labour government which had nullified the East African Asians' passports covered themselves in glory. But after some initial suspicion most British communities welcomed the immigrants, from whose contribution we are still benefiting.
Business needs stable economic conditions to thrive and grow. A strong, fair, liberal and sustainable economy is the essential core that enables people to succeed, shape their own futures and get support in times of need.
The Liberal Democrats are proud of our economic record in Government and we will build on what we have achieved so far to develop a strong and clear liberal vision for the British economy into the future.
That’s why we remain committed to the abolition of the structural deficit.
Our commitment to clearing the deficit by 2017/18 is right.
Not ending the deficit now means leaving the next generation to clear up our mess, and that’s simply unfair. By ignoring economic realities, Britain would be choosing more austerity, not less.
But what is equally unfair is to place the burden of ending that deficit on the backs of the poorest and lowest paid – we must all play our part, based on our ability to pay.
That, George, is what “being all in it together” really means.
So that’s the Liberal Democrat economic approach. Invest in infrastructure, innovation and innovators. Pay off our debts and share our burdens fairly.
That’s the common sense approach. Ambitious government, social justice, economic competence.
This is a point which needs to be continually made, within the party as much as outside. The Liberal Democrat party is heir not only to Beveridge, Lloyd George and the young reforming Winston Churchill who introduced economic justice; and to Roy Jenkins, the great social reformer; it is also heir to William Gladstone who practically created the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer as we know it today. Nor should we forget that Roy Jenkins, when Chancellor, also balance the books.
There will be calls for unfunded government spending from another seaside resort this week and, while it would be unfair to blame the Conservatives governing alone totally for last month's surge in the deficit, George Osborne has made a number of decisions which will dent future government income. We need to emphasise our financial responsibility along with our social conscience.
Your pat on the head is ironic but still welcome. It is 51 years
since I was first present to hear a leader’s speech at a Liberal
Assembly - the annual inspiration by that great Liberal Party
leader, your own Jo Grimond. I do think that Tim Farron’s speech
this year, in presentation and context and content, is the best
I’ve heard in all the years of Liberal and Liberal Democrat
conferences since then.
Members of the Liberal Democrat conference this year were not
“doggedly cheery” as you suggest. The years we were dogged were
during the coalition, determined to see it through, to promote
Liberal policies and to stop the Conservatives doing their worst.
The mood now is of some relief that we are free of the Tories
combined with deep anger at what their worst now means for people
in this country and in the rest of the world.
This had to be a transitional speech but throughout it Tim
headlined and emphasised our Liberal tradition, our Liberal
beliefs, our Liberal cause. And in his return to Grimond’s famous
appeal to march his troops to the sound of gunfire he reaffirmed
our historic role as the campaigning radical force in British
politics, based firmly on the Liberal left and actively promoting
those progressive causes that the other major parties shy away
from.
This is our role and our destiny. So watch this space because
it’s ours.
There have also been comments from Mark Pack, Stephen Tall, Paul Walter and Caron Lindsay. So, rather than dissect the whole speech, I will just pick out a few passages which struck me:
But you know, I have never felt so common as the day I entered the House of Commons. I have never met so many well-spoken, expensively educated people. It doesn’t make them bad people. But it does make me feel like an outsider. But that’s fine, because Liberal Democrats are outsiders.
This is a line which should be dropped - or seriously modified - if we want to be considered seriously as a party of government again. It also comes perilously close to whining.
I think about the Ugandan Asians offered a safe haven by our parents from that murderous tyrant, Idi Amin. And it makes me realise the pride I feel in Britain when we do show such generosity of spirit.
That generosity should be seen in the light of history as set out here. Neither the Conservative government at the time of the expulsions nor the previous Labour government which had nullified the East African Asians' passports covered themselves in glory. But after some initial suspicion most British communities welcomed the immigrants, from whose contribution we are still benefiting.
Business needs stable economic conditions to thrive and grow. A strong, fair, liberal and sustainable economy is the essential core that enables people to succeed, shape their own futures and get support in times of need.
The Liberal Democrats are proud of our economic record in Government and we will build on what we have achieved so far to develop a strong and clear liberal vision for the British economy into the future.
That’s why we remain committed to the abolition of the structural deficit.
Our commitment to clearing the deficit by 2017/18 is right.
Not ending the deficit now means leaving the next generation to clear up our mess, and that’s simply unfair. By ignoring economic realities, Britain would be choosing more austerity, not less.
But what is equally unfair is to place the burden of ending that deficit on the backs of the poorest and lowest paid – we must all play our part, based on our ability to pay.
That, George, is what “being all in it together” really means.
So that’s the Liberal Democrat economic approach. Invest in infrastructure, innovation and innovators. Pay off our debts and share our burdens fairly.
That’s the common sense approach. Ambitious government, social justice, economic competence.
This is a point which needs to be continually made, within the party as much as outside. The Liberal Democrat party is heir not only to Beveridge, Lloyd George and the young reforming Winston Churchill who introduced economic justice; and to Roy Jenkins, the great social reformer; it is also heir to William Gladstone who practically created the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer as we know it today. Nor should we forget that Roy Jenkins, when Chancellor, also balance the books.
There will be calls for unfunded government spending from another seaside resort this week and, while it would be unfair to blame the Conservatives governing alone totally for last month's surge in the deficit, George Osborne has made a number of decisions which will dent future government income. We need to emphasise our financial responsibility along with our social conscience.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
TTIP
Cecilia Malmström, the EU commissioner for trade, gave an important speech in the US last Thursday. In her Isaiah Berlin lecture at the Yale Club, Ms Malmström expressed confidence that the negotiations between the US and EU would continue to make progress.
She stressed that transparency would be a key feature of the final treaty. I understand from a talk given by Catherine Bearder MEP in Bournemouth that Ms Malmström has already negotiated away the secret tribunals to settle claims of unfair treatment by companies; these will now be heard in open court. It is also worth repeating that public services like the NHS will be specifically excluded from these claims. Being a Swede, and with a background in consumer protection, Ms Malmstöm can be relied on to ensure that EU standards will be maintained. In some areas, US consumer protection is higher than ours and the final TTIP agreement will incorporate the best of both.
The recent Volkswagen deception points up the differences between EU and US vehicle safety regulation and testing. In earlier years, we had the breast implant scandal. A common standard will remove the anomalies used to their advantage by manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic.
However, the major benefit will be to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are disproportionately affected by trade barriers and differing standards.
She stressed that transparency would be a key feature of the final treaty. I understand from a talk given by Catherine Bearder MEP in Bournemouth that Ms Malmström has already negotiated away the secret tribunals to settle claims of unfair treatment by companies; these will now be heard in open court. It is also worth repeating that public services like the NHS will be specifically excluded from these claims. Being a Swede, and with a background in consumer protection, Ms Malmstöm can be relied on to ensure that EU standards will be maintained. In some areas, US consumer protection is higher than ours and the final TTIP agreement will incorporate the best of both.
The recent Volkswagen deception points up the differences between EU and US vehicle safety regulation and testing. In earlier years, we had the breast implant scandal. A common standard will remove the anomalies used to their advantage by manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic.
However, the major benefit will be to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are disproportionately affected by trade barriers and differing standards.
Saturday, 26 September 2015
Rail Wales
The latest issue of Railfuture Wales' magazine came through the door yesterday. On the back page is a photo of a new set of posts and booms outside Swansea station, ready to take the wires for the Hitachi electric train depot. So there is physical evidence to back Stephen Crabb's "total commitment" to electrification west of Cardiff. However, he did not guarantee the original timetable which depends on Network Rail's competence.
Elsewhere, there is a table showing the entries and exits, based on ticket sales, to Welsh rail stations in 2014 and the two previous years. I was surprised to see that Neath comes ninth with 820,188 movements, trailing the stations on the right as well as Cardiff Bay, Pontypridd and Trefforest. Cardiff Bay has seen a remarkable jump of around 28% over two years from 793,382 to 1,019,348. Port Talbot does not show at all, presumably being lumped in the "others" column at less than half-a-million movements per year. The reconstruction of the station may have affected the figures, which will no doubt also be impacted by the imminent redevelopment of the surrounding area.
 |
| Clipped from a pdf on the site of the Office of Rail Regulation |
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