Robin Brown over at the Liverpool Culture Blog notes that the creatures at Murdoch's rag, The Sun have set up a twitter channel about Liverpool FC (http://www.liverpoolcultureblog.co.uk/2010/08/the-sun-opens-liverpool-twitter-channel/ ).
He puts this pathetic attempt to curry favour with a generation on Merseyside too young to remember Hillsborough in perspective:
"Not such a big deal? Maybe to the people of a city accused of the most hideous lies imaginable by the paper after Hillsborough.
"There are some things I think Liverpool needs to get over, but Hillsborough is a taboo. Emotion is still high and raw, and understandably as far as I'm concerned."
The reptiles at Wapping have to be told in no uncertain terms that they'll never be accepted by the people of Merseyside, not just Liverpool fans. That they've resorted to Twitter in the vain hope that memories have faded shows their rank callousness.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Re-Writing History
What are you doing four weeks today? In London, you say? Great! You can take your place outside Waterstone's bookstore in Picadilly, central London, to buy Tony Blair's self-justifying tome, My Journey (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/aug/11/tony-blair-security-book-signing ).
It's been reported that the war criminal agonised somewhat over the title for his self-proclaimed magnum opus. You can imagine the mooted titles that were kicked around among his coterie (The Chosen One, Sucking Up To Dubya, Be Grateful, You Bastards, The Gospel According To St Tony, etc.).
I would have suggested Blair steal the title of Emile Zola's classic, J'accuse, with a picture of Bush's lap-dog looking shifty & defensive. However, as you'd expect, security will be high, as Paul Owen points out in the Guardian piece. Blair won't be signing any personal dedications ("Best wishes to Osama", that sort of thing). Nor will it be permitted to have your photograph taken with him (all cameras & mobile phones must be given up prior to shaking the hand which has the blood of thousands on it; besides, under Section 44 of Tony's Terrorism Act, & as the security goons at the Oldham Echo Arena will readily attest, cameras are weapons of mass destruction).
There are more conditions attached, designed to make the supplicants who take their place in the queue ( & Blair wants you to know your place) feel that it's an audience they won't forget.
Blair's advance for the book is £4.6m. I'm sure he earned it, what with all those pens to replace & A4 sheets to buy, not to mention the odd attack of writer's cramp.
So if you're in the capital on September 8th, why not pop along & let Tony know just how grateful you are that his actions have made the world a safer place.
It's been reported that the war criminal agonised somewhat over the title for his self-proclaimed magnum opus. You can imagine the mooted titles that were kicked around among his coterie (The Chosen One, Sucking Up To Dubya, Be Grateful, You Bastards, The Gospel According To St Tony, etc.).
I would have suggested Blair steal the title of Emile Zola's classic, J'accuse, with a picture of Bush's lap-dog looking shifty & defensive. However, as you'd expect, security will be high, as Paul Owen points out in the Guardian piece. Blair won't be signing any personal dedications ("Best wishes to Osama", that sort of thing). Nor will it be permitted to have your photograph taken with him (all cameras & mobile phones must be given up prior to shaking the hand which has the blood of thousands on it; besides, under Section 44 of Tony's Terrorism Act, & as the security goons at the Oldham Echo Arena will readily attest, cameras are weapons of mass destruction).
There are more conditions attached, designed to make the supplicants who take their place in the queue ( & Blair wants you to know your place) feel that it's an audience they won't forget.
Blair's advance for the book is £4.6m. I'm sure he earned it, what with all those pens to replace & A4 sheets to buy, not to mention the odd attack of writer's cramp.
So if you're in the capital on September 8th, why not pop along & let Tony know just how grateful you are that his actions have made the world a safer place.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Finding The Right Word
I note that Simon Heffer has taken it upon himself to act as a defender of grammatical accuracy at the Daily Telegraph (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2010/aug/04/simon-heffer-daily-telegraph ).
I'm all in favour of choosing one's words carefully & ensuring that the correct words are employed (even though I'm a blogger!). However, Heffer should also understand the offence that inaccurate & bigoted jibes cause. It was Heffer, not Boris Johnson, who penned the infamous Spectator editorial about the people of Liverpool shortly after the murder of Ken Bigley in 2004 (http://www.spectator.co.uk/politics/all/12691/bigleys-fate.thtml ).
There's a particular word for Heffer which could be best described as Chaucerian.
I'm all in favour of choosing one's words carefully & ensuring that the correct words are employed (even though I'm a blogger!). However, Heffer should also understand the offence that inaccurate & bigoted jibes cause. It was Heffer, not Boris Johnson, who penned the infamous Spectator editorial about the people of Liverpool shortly after the murder of Ken Bigley in 2004 (http://www.spectator.co.uk/politics/all/12691/bigleys-fate.thtml ).
There's a particular word for Heffer which could be best described as Chaucerian.
The Chasm Claims Its Victims
John Harris often maintains a naive faith in the Labour Party to be an effective vehicle for social & economic change (if nothing else, New Labour's legacy has been to render the party's brand tainted for a generation at least).
However, he's spot-on in dissecting the cant spouted by the ConDem coalition, particularly Osborne's nauseous mantra that "we're all in this together", in a piece on the Guardian's Comment is Free site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/08/north-south-divide-soon-become-chasm ).
As local Lib Dems phone & email all & sundry, on condition of anonymity, of course, to voice their despair at their electoral prospects, & describe Warren "War Zones" Bradley in terms which could be politely described as robust, Harris proffers the withering observation: "Given that the Lib Dems seem to be confining any progressive pull on the government to issues of crime,punishment and civil liberties, plans for the economic and social fabric represent Conservatism red in tooth and claw - and only 24% of the electorate fancied anything like that. Needless to say, precious few of them lived in the places where the cuts will really bite."
In the space of 48 hours the Tories have revealed their true base & venal impulses, despite current attempts to deny that they really want to follow in Thatcher's footsteps & snatch milk from the mouths of young children (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10912177 ).
As the Equality Trust website points out (http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/ ), the severity of the cuts will deepen the chasm that Harris refers to with adverse consequences not just for those most vulnerable; the quality of life for the middle class also suffers when "austerity" measures tip more of the working class into the recepticle marked underclass.
In a point which will have a ringing resonance on Merseyside, Harris declares:
"In the real world, of course, millions of Britons live in places where market forces have never begun to fill the void left by the demise of the manufacturing and heavy industry, and the public sector is the chief means via which life can tick over. In these places, chop the state down, and far from boosting private enterprise, you weaken it - a simple truth evident in waning business confidence and the dread possibility of a double-dip recession."
It's "a simple truth" which that supposedly savvy local businessman Phil Redmond chooses to ignore as he proselytizes Cameron's Do It Yourself society.
However, he's spot-on in dissecting the cant spouted by the ConDem coalition, particularly Osborne's nauseous mantra that "we're all in this together", in a piece on the Guardian's Comment is Free site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/08/north-south-divide-soon-become-chasm ).
As local Lib Dems phone & email all & sundry, on condition of anonymity, of course, to voice their despair at their electoral prospects, & describe Warren "War Zones" Bradley in terms which could be politely described as robust, Harris proffers the withering observation: "Given that the Lib Dems seem to be confining any progressive pull on the government to issues of crime,punishment and civil liberties, plans for the economic and social fabric represent Conservatism red in tooth and claw - and only 24% of the electorate fancied anything like that. Needless to say, precious few of them lived in the places where the cuts will really bite."
In the space of 48 hours the Tories have revealed their true base & venal impulses, despite current attempts to deny that they really want to follow in Thatcher's footsteps & snatch milk from the mouths of young children (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10912177 ).
As the Equality Trust website points out (http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/ ), the severity of the cuts will deepen the chasm that Harris refers to with adverse consequences not just for those most vulnerable; the quality of life for the middle class also suffers when "austerity" measures tip more of the working class into the recepticle marked underclass.
In a point which will have a ringing resonance on Merseyside, Harris declares:
"In the real world, of course, millions of Britons live in places where market forces have never begun to fill the void left by the demise of the manufacturing and heavy industry, and the public sector is the chief means via which life can tick over. In these places, chop the state down, and far from boosting private enterprise, you weaken it - a simple truth evident in waning business confidence and the dread possibility of a double-dip recession."
It's "a simple truth" which that supposedly savvy local businessman Phil Redmond chooses to ignore as he proselytizes Cameron's Do It Yourself society.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Big Al Machray's Found That Report...Or Has He?
A month after the incident, the Oldham Echo has admitted that the security goons at the venue that bears its name threatened amateur photographer Mike Evans with the anti-terror police for aiding & abetting a 9/11-style attack on the Liverpool waterfront...or something along those lines(http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/07/fighting-terrorism-at-echo-arena.html ).
Ben Schofield's terse, three-sentence account of the affair, however, views matters in less of a journalistic & more of a PR context as he quotes the venue management's regret (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/08/05/echo-arena-reviewing-security-policy-after-amateur-photographer-threatened-with-terror-police-100252-27004198/ ).
There are, however, a few caveats to consider. Tim Banfield, the Echo Arena manager, states the venue is "reviewing our policy on photography." That's not an apology for a deeply distressing incident involving Mr Evans. Nor is it an admission that their "policy" on photography outside the venue has no basis in law. Secondly, nowhere in Schofield's diminutive dispatch is Mr Evans mentioned by name. Thirdly, Mr Evans' disability, confining him to a wheelchair, as well as his treatment for cancer last year, is omitted from the piece. Instead, it is left to one of the commenters, Tourman, to highlight this fact.
Even when the Oldham Echo attempts to do PR, it is grotesquely inept.
Ben Schofield's terse, three-sentence account of the affair, however, views matters in less of a journalistic & more of a PR context as he quotes the venue management's regret (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/08/05/echo-arena-reviewing-security-policy-after-amateur-photographer-threatened-with-terror-police-100252-27004198/ ).
There are, however, a few caveats to consider. Tim Banfield, the Echo Arena manager, states the venue is "reviewing our policy on photography." That's not an apology for a deeply distressing incident involving Mr Evans. Nor is it an admission that their "policy" on photography outside the venue has no basis in law. Secondly, nowhere in Schofield's diminutive dispatch is Mr Evans mentioned by name. Thirdly, Mr Evans' disability, confining him to a wheelchair, as well as his treatment for cancer last year, is omitted from the piece. Instead, it is left to one of the commenters, Tourman, to highlight this fact.
Even when the Oldham Echo attempts to do PR, it is grotesquely inept.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Foul
When Sly Bailey, chief executive of Trinity Smoking Mirrors has finished sacking staff whilst awarding herself a cool £670,000 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/jun/17/slybailey-mediabusiness & http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/07/trinity-mirror-sly-bailey-pay ), she might like to address the divergent, not to mention dubious patterns in her fiefdom. Yesterday's Media Monkey blog on the Guardian site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2010/aug/02/mirror-football ) reports on a charming piece from the Mirror Football site, linking the use of video technology in the Football League this season with the recent trial of Jon Venables: "It was good enough for Jon Venables in his recent trial and it will be introduced by the FA this season. We're talking video technology for disciplinary hearings."
And on it continues in a way which evokes the phrase, sewer journalism.
Given that the Mirror's stable-mate, the Oldham Echo has extensively quoted Denise Fergus in the light of Venables' trial, it shouldn't be too much for Bailey to look into the matter & issue a fulsome apology. Should it?
And on it continues in a way which evokes the phrase, sewer journalism.
Given that the Mirror's stable-mate, the Oldham Echo has extensively quoted Denise Fergus in the light of Venables' trial, it shouldn't be too much for Bailey to look into the matter & issue a fulsome apology. Should it?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Fighting Terrorism At The Echo Arena
Yes, I know the weather's lousy & you can't believe it's July. However, if the weather does improve over the weekend, you may wish to visit the waterfront. What could be nicer, carbuncles notwithstanding, than to gaze out over the river on a sunny afternoon? Well, a word of advice: should you venture there, don't take any decent photographic equipment with you when you're near the Oldham Echo Arena.
Why? Well, the security goons there might just suspect that you're doing a bit of reconnaissance for Al-Qaeda (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Disabled_photographer_in_waterfront_terror_threat_update_news_300536.html ).
Amateur Photographer's article relates how amateur snapper Mike Evans from Runcorn -- who is confined to a wheelchair due to severe osteoporosis of the spine, is accompanied by a carer wherever he goes & underwent chemotherapy for cancer last year -- was warned by security guards outside the venue on July 15th not to take photographs using his DSLR model; compact cameras & mobile phones were, he was informed, permitted. Failure to comply, the goons warned him, would result in the anti-terrorism police being called under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act. This clause in the legislation has been used against photographers, both amateur & professional, in London over the last year.
Amateur Photographer magazine quotes a spokeswoman for the venue: "Apologies to the gentleman...We have no issues with amateur photographers taking non-commercial images of the exterior of the buildings."
Just as well this doesn't apply to the interior of the buildings, where concerts have been disfigured by violence & aggressive, drunken behaviour. We all recall the negligible level of security at the abandoned Morrisey gig (http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-in-haze-of-drunken-hour.html & http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/11/oldham-echos-mood-music.html ).
The venue spokeswoman added the delightful & charming point that the Arena is on private land & should be contacted before photographs are taken of the building.
Amateur Photographer helpfully provides the venue's phone number: 0151-475 8888. So if you wish to let the venue know just how pleased you are to see the Arena taking such a tough stand against international terrorism, particularly against home-grown Al-Qaeda operatives masquerading as wheelchair-bound cancer sufferers, pick up that phone.
Oh, by the way, the incident hasn't been reported by a particular publication. Can you tell which one? Oh well, maybe Big Al Machray has misplaced the report. What do you reckon?
Why? Well, the security goons there might just suspect that you're doing a bit of reconnaissance for Al-Qaeda (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Disabled_photographer_in_waterfront_terror_threat_update_news_300536.html ).
Amateur Photographer's article relates how amateur snapper Mike Evans from Runcorn -- who is confined to a wheelchair due to severe osteoporosis of the spine, is accompanied by a carer wherever he goes & underwent chemotherapy for cancer last year -- was warned by security guards outside the venue on July 15th not to take photographs using his DSLR model; compact cameras & mobile phones were, he was informed, permitted. Failure to comply, the goons warned him, would result in the anti-terrorism police being called under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act. This clause in the legislation has been used against photographers, both amateur & professional, in London over the last year.
Amateur Photographer magazine quotes a spokeswoman for the venue: "Apologies to the gentleman...We have no issues with amateur photographers taking non-commercial images of the exterior of the buildings."
Just as well this doesn't apply to the interior of the buildings, where concerts have been disfigured by violence & aggressive, drunken behaviour. We all recall the negligible level of security at the abandoned Morrisey gig (http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-in-haze-of-drunken-hour.html & http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/11/oldham-echos-mood-music.html ).
The venue spokeswoman added the delightful & charming point that the Arena is on private land & should be contacted before photographs are taken of the building.
Amateur Photographer helpfully provides the venue's phone number: 0151-475 8888. So if you wish to let the venue know just how pleased you are to see the Arena taking such a tough stand against international terrorism, particularly against home-grown Al-Qaeda operatives masquerading as wheelchair-bound cancer sufferers, pick up that phone.
Oh, by the way, the incident hasn't been reported by a particular publication. Can you tell which one? Oh well, maybe Big Al Machray has misplaced the report. What do you reckon?
Losing His Balance
"Professor" Redmond's off on his holidays. Well, I suppose he's earned it. After all, playing the fawning sychophant for "Dave" Cameron must be tiring. It means that we're denied his pearls of wisdom in the Daily Ghost for a few weeks. However, there's no need to fret, David Bartlett has stepped in to fill the void, as he informs us on his, erm, blog (http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/2010/07/daily-post-column-walking-the.html ).
The result? A seamless continuation of the exceptional prose & insight which normally graces that column.
Bartlett looks at the Liverpool Waters debacle & tries to maintain a distinctly neutral stance on the issue (the piece, after all, is titled, "Walking the World Heritage Site tight rope"). Alas, Bartlett's high wire act comes to grief when, in attempting not to upset Peel Holdings, he goes so far as to plug its case:
"Peel, one of the biggest landowners in the North West, is seen by many as the great hope for regenerating north Liverpool -- long identified as not having benefited as much as it could or should have from the city's wider renaissance."
So Peel is "seen by many" as the catalyst for north Liverpool's regeneration, is it? If "by many", Bartlett is referring to a small clump of self-important, self-appointed experts around the vicinity of Oldham Hall Street, I suppose that's fair comment. It is, however, a distortion of the reality. The risible notion that Kirkdale, Walton & other blighted areas of the north end can be transformed by a wave of Peel's magic wand should be shoved off Bartlett's tight rope immediately. In addition, "the city's wider renaissance" is a phenomenon largely confined to the city centre itself; the leafier parts of the city's south end have always been more affluent than the north end.
As Redmond recovers from his self-promoting exertions, he can be pleased to know that Bartlett's high wire act is morphing into a clown routine.
The result? A seamless continuation of the exceptional prose & insight which normally graces that column.
Bartlett looks at the Liverpool Waters debacle & tries to maintain a distinctly neutral stance on the issue (the piece, after all, is titled, "Walking the World Heritage Site tight rope"). Alas, Bartlett's high wire act comes to grief when, in attempting not to upset Peel Holdings, he goes so far as to plug its case:
"Peel, one of the biggest landowners in the North West, is seen by many as the great hope for regenerating north Liverpool -- long identified as not having benefited as much as it could or should have from the city's wider renaissance."
So Peel is "seen by many" as the catalyst for north Liverpool's regeneration, is it? If "by many", Bartlett is referring to a small clump of self-important, self-appointed experts around the vicinity of Oldham Hall Street, I suppose that's fair comment. It is, however, a distortion of the reality. The risible notion that Kirkdale, Walton & other blighted areas of the north end can be transformed by a wave of Peel's magic wand should be shoved off Bartlett's tight rope immediately. In addition, "the city's wider renaissance" is a phenomenon largely confined to the city centre itself; the leafier parts of the city's south end have always been more affluent than the north end.
As Redmond recovers from his self-promoting exertions, he can be pleased to know that Bartlett's high wire act is morphing into a clown routine.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Last Stand Against Consumer Culture
Seven Streets has an interesting piece on the Last Stand festival which takes place in Crosby Village this Saturday (http://www.sevenstreets.com/filter/last-stand-festival-crosby-sainsburys/ ) in protest against the proposed Sainsbury's store in the area. It will be three times the size of the current store. Seven Streets explains:
"The festival stems from the ABetterCrosby group, which wants Sainsbury's to develop the Village more sympathetically, pointing to two Art Deco buildings it says will be demolished to make way for the new store."
Many in Liverpool will aware of Tesco's influence in planning decisions across the city, so there's a distinct sense of deja-vu here.
The Crosby group has its own website which has been up & running since April of this year (http://www.abettercrosby.com/ ).
As the group remark on their website, the Crosby Herald was keen to present Sainsbury's plans in the best possible light earlier this month (http://www.crosbyherald.co.uk/news/crosby-news/2010/07/01/crosby-sainsbury-s-would-have-positive-impact-say-consultants-68459-26760563/ ).
Not surprising when you consider that the Herald is part of the Trinity Smoking Mirrors group.
"The festival stems from the ABetterCrosby group, which wants Sainsbury's to develop the Village more sympathetically, pointing to two Art Deco buildings it says will be demolished to make way for the new store."
Many in Liverpool will aware of Tesco's influence in planning decisions across the city, so there's a distinct sense of deja-vu here.
The Crosby group has its own website which has been up & running since April of this year (http://www.abettercrosby.com/ ).
As the group remark on their website, the Crosby Herald was keen to present Sainsbury's plans in the best possible light earlier this month (http://www.crosbyherald.co.uk/news/crosby-news/2010/07/01/crosby-sainsbury-s-would-have-positive-impact-say-consultants-68459-26760563/ ).
Not surprising when you consider that the Herald is part of the Trinity Smoking Mirrors group.
When The Cuts Hit Home
A cynical view of yesterday's delegation from Liverpool to Westminster which lobbied the Tory Education Secretary Michael Gove over the local impact of the ConDem cuts in the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) programme would be that it's designed to look good in the local press. As far as effective lobbying is concerned, it's a non-starter; the government is deaf to the pleas of local authorities. Now if you were a bank or an oil firm, well, that might be different.
Among yesterday's delegation was Lib Dem councillor for Cressington ward, Paula Keaveney. Cllr Keaveney has blogged about it, downplaying the fact that her own party is just as enthusiastic about the bleeding stumps approach as the Tories (http://paulakeaveney.blogspot.com/2010/07/schools-delegation-to-london.html ).
Indeed, so keen is Cllr Keaveney to put the best possible gloss on a grim situation that she trills:
"There are two new academies --one in South Liverpool-- waiting for news about their building funding situation. They are in a slightly different situation as they weren't included in the earlier BSF announcement. The minister said we should hear about this very soon. So watch this space."
Yes, watch this space, indeed. It'll be interesting to see if Cllr Keaveney blogs in response to the likely thumbs-down message from the education department over the two academies.
Cllr Keaveney unsuccessfully stood against Warren "War Zones" Bradley for the Fib Dem leadership after the local elections. Like Bradley, she, too, is aware that the ConDem coalition spells disaster for the local party (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10573767 ).
Among yesterday's delegation was Lib Dem councillor for Cressington ward, Paula Keaveney. Cllr Keaveney has blogged about it, downplaying the fact that her own party is just as enthusiastic about the bleeding stumps approach as the Tories (http://paulakeaveney.blogspot.com/2010/07/schools-delegation-to-london.html ).
Indeed, so keen is Cllr Keaveney to put the best possible gloss on a grim situation that she trills:
"There are two new academies --one in South Liverpool-- waiting for news about their building funding situation. They are in a slightly different situation as they weren't included in the earlier BSF announcement. The minister said we should hear about this very soon. So watch this space."
Yes, watch this space, indeed. It'll be interesting to see if Cllr Keaveney blogs in response to the likely thumbs-down message from the education department over the two academies.
Cllr Keaveney unsuccessfully stood against Warren "War Zones" Bradley for the Fib Dem leadership after the local elections. Like Bradley, she, too, is aware that the ConDem coalition spells disaster for the local party (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10573767 ).
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Less Of The Gimmicks, Joe
This blog was prepared to grant Joe Anderson his honeymoon period after taking the reins from Warren "War Zones" Bradley. The Fib Dem leader, whose tenure did for Liverpool what BP did for clean beaches, got his marching orders last May & it was hoped by many that a change of leadership meant a change of culture & a change of approach. However, reading this press release from the city council (http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/News/Call_for_sites.asp ), the most charitable spin you could put on it is that muddled thinking is at work on Dale Street.
After all, no one can claim ignorance of the changed situation facing local authorities in the UK since the election (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/may/24/cuts-local-government-loses-2bn ). Yet the council release inquires ominously, "Do you know any land or premises in Liverpool that may be suitable for development or redevelopment?"
Well, yes, I do, since you ask. There's a few monstrosities in the vicinity of the Three Graces which certainly should be redeveloped...with a wrecking ball.
If the council is thinking of areas in the city where genuine, sustainable development is urgently needed, we can all think of at least a few places off the top of our heads. More to the point, we also know they are not in the city centre. However, the notion that the council wants the people of the city to volunteer such information is downright bizarre; are the city fathers so unaware of what should be priority areas in Liverpool?
Moreover, the term "(re)development" is, of course, often employed as a euphemism for retrograde planning decisions (& Liverpool is no stranger to those over the last five or six decades).
The charitable view that muddled thinking prevails could be advanced when you consider that as a consequence of the ConDem cuts, there's as much chance of Whitehall being generous with local government as there is of Sharon Green owning up over her Facebook page. The swingeing cuts imposed by Whitehall provide the context for local government over the forseeable future. To infer otherwise is disingenuous, to say the least.
Given that reality, it would be welcome for Joe Anderson to discourage juvenile scribblers in the council's PR department from asking the people of Liverpool to do what should be the council's job. Indeed, the council release all but gives the game away about the reality facing the city as the cuts bite when it mumbles apologetically at the end of the piece, "Putting a site forward does not guarantee that the council will allocate it or support its development in the future."
Perhaps it's a local manifestation of the Big Society, you know, the idea that we can all volunteer to do basic services, as Professor Redmond's mate "Dave" Cameron urged last week.
It may seem paradoxical to some, but at a time of impending cuts, the scale of which will make the 80s look like an age of enlightenment & generosity, openness & transparency is demanded of the city council leadership. Secretive & unattributable meetings with those who have already had a malign effect on the entire city (http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/liverpool-waters-english-heritage-hold.html ) merely prolong the malaise afflicting local & national politics.
What do you say, Joe?
After all, no one can claim ignorance of the changed situation facing local authorities in the UK since the election (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/may/24/cuts-local-government-loses-2bn ). Yet the council release inquires ominously, "Do you know any land or premises in Liverpool that may be suitable for development or redevelopment?"
Well, yes, I do, since you ask. There's a few monstrosities in the vicinity of the Three Graces which certainly should be redeveloped...with a wrecking ball.
If the council is thinking of areas in the city where genuine, sustainable development is urgently needed, we can all think of at least a few places off the top of our heads. More to the point, we also know they are not in the city centre. However, the notion that the council wants the people of the city to volunteer such information is downright bizarre; are the city fathers so unaware of what should be priority areas in Liverpool?
Moreover, the term "(re)development" is, of course, often employed as a euphemism for retrograde planning decisions (& Liverpool is no stranger to those over the last five or six decades).
The charitable view that muddled thinking prevails could be advanced when you consider that as a consequence of the ConDem cuts, there's as much chance of Whitehall being generous with local government as there is of Sharon Green owning up over her Facebook page. The swingeing cuts imposed by Whitehall provide the context for local government over the forseeable future. To infer otherwise is disingenuous, to say the least.
Given that reality, it would be welcome for Joe Anderson to discourage juvenile scribblers in the council's PR department from asking the people of Liverpool to do what should be the council's job. Indeed, the council release all but gives the game away about the reality facing the city as the cuts bite when it mumbles apologetically at the end of the piece, "Putting a site forward does not guarantee that the council will allocate it or support its development in the future."
Perhaps it's a local manifestation of the Big Society, you know, the idea that we can all volunteer to do basic services, as Professor Redmond's mate "Dave" Cameron urged last week.
It may seem paradoxical to some, but at a time of impending cuts, the scale of which will make the 80s look like an age of enlightenment & generosity, openness & transparency is demanded of the city council leadership. Secretive & unattributable meetings with those who have already had a malign effect on the entire city (http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/liverpool-waters-english-heritage-hold.html ) merely prolong the malaise afflicting local & national politics.
What do you say, Joe?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
On Song
During my stay in London last week, I came across this crude, but accurate & effective ditty about London mayor Boris Johnson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2MLyV7wsAE .
After all, let's not forget his approval of comments made by Simon Heffer in a Spectator editorial about Liverpool in the wake of Ken Bigley's murder.
After all, let's not forget his approval of comments made by Simon Heffer in a Spectator editorial about Liverpool in the wake of Ken Bigley's murder.
Friday, July 23, 2010
What Would Bobby Grant Say?
"Dave" Cameron's new best mate Professor Redmond has been moved to pen what is by his standards a semi-coherent missive via the good offices of Oldham Hall Street (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/views/liverpool-columnists/phil-redmond/2010/07/23/phil-redmond-give-the-big-society-a-chance-to-make-a-real-difference-92534-26913829 ).
Calling himself "a natural red" (in the political rather than footballing sense), Redmond claims that, contrary to a line in Cameron's speech in Liverpool on Monday, he doesn't wish "to run the museums with volunteers."
However, he contradicts himself just a couple of short paragraphs further on when he muses:
"Could, perhaps, our volunteers help extend our existing opening hours, not cut them back, nor replace staff and, if so, perhaps offer a model for other public bodies to also extend, not reduce their services?"
Could, perhaps, someone volunteer to approach Redmond & point out that such "a model" IS tantamount to "running the museums with volunteers"?
Moreover, as Redmond knows all too well, but won't admit, the ConDem cuts mean that both opening hours & staff will be cut across the board; Redmond is guilty of intellectual dishonesty.
Incidentally, Redmond really should acquaint himself with trade union history if he thinks that "the Trade Union movement itself was founded on volunteers" & continues to rely upon them. Such a reading of history is, at best, partial &, at worst, misleading.
Meanwhile, as Redmond establishes himself as Cameron's Merseyside representative (even though he doesn't live in the region), another local effect of the ConDem cuts in the Department of Transport has been signalled with the impending cancellation of the second Mersey crossing & the electrification of the Liverpool to Manchester rail link (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/07/23/second-mersey-crossing-and-railway-electrification-schemes-on-verge-of-collapse-92534-26914297/ ).
Perhaps we could arrange an army of volunteers to ensure both projects go ahead. What do you think, Phil?
Calling himself "a natural red" (in the political rather than footballing sense), Redmond claims that, contrary to a line in Cameron's speech in Liverpool on Monday, he doesn't wish "to run the museums with volunteers."
However, he contradicts himself just a couple of short paragraphs further on when he muses:
"Could, perhaps, our volunteers help extend our existing opening hours, not cut them back, nor replace staff and, if so, perhaps offer a model for other public bodies to also extend, not reduce their services?"
Could, perhaps, someone volunteer to approach Redmond & point out that such "a model" IS tantamount to "running the museums with volunteers"?
Moreover, as Redmond knows all too well, but won't admit, the ConDem cuts mean that both opening hours & staff will be cut across the board; Redmond is guilty of intellectual dishonesty.
Incidentally, Redmond really should acquaint himself with trade union history if he thinks that "the Trade Union movement itself was founded on volunteers" & continues to rely upon them. Such a reading of history is, at best, partial &, at worst, misleading.
Meanwhile, as Redmond establishes himself as Cameron's Merseyside representative (even though he doesn't live in the region), another local effect of the ConDem cuts in the Department of Transport has been signalled with the impending cancellation of the second Mersey crossing & the electrification of the Liverpool to Manchester rail link (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/07/23/second-mersey-crossing-and-railway-electrification-schemes-on-verge-of-collapse-92534-26914297/ ).
Perhaps we could arrange an army of volunteers to ensure both projects go ahead. What do you think, Phil?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wanted: A Budding Bigot
Some things defy satire. So it is with Roy Greenslade's observation that The Sun is looking for a new Kelvin MacKenzie (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/jul/22/sun-journalism-education ).
Yes, Murdoch's minions are on the look-out for someone who can be a natural successor to the creature who's done for journalism what King Herod did for neo-natal care. So if you happen to know an ignorant, semi-literate, obnoxious waste of space who spreads lies about tragedies, fosters xenophobia & likes the sound of his own voice, you know what to do.
Yes, Murdoch's minions are on the look-out for someone who can be a natural successor to the creature who's done for journalism what King Herod did for neo-natal care. So if you happen to know an ignorant, semi-literate, obnoxious waste of space who spreads lies about tragedies, fosters xenophobia & likes the sound of his own voice, you know what to do.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Last Stand
Reluctant to talk &, understandably, wary of individuals arriving on the scene to ask questions, the occupants of the Peace Camp in Parliament Square were monosyllabic in their answers to my queries on Saturday evening. London mayor Boris Johnson has now obtained a court order, allowing the Metropolitan Police to clear the site any day now. Though the points they make about Iraq & Afghanistan are prettty much unarguable, they've done themselves little favours with some aspects of their stay. On Saturday the camp looked a little forlorn & bedraggled, as those surviving members of the camp, set up after an anti-war demo in May, shared food with just a handful of Central London's homeless population.
A Tale Of Two Cities
As circumstances would have it, "Dave" Cameron's Big Society speech in Liverpool (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jul/19/david-cameron-big-society-launch & http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/19/big-society-vanguard-communities-confusion ) coincided with a short city break for me in London (just a tube station away from Notting Hill, in fact). However, I was amused to see Professor Redmond escort "Dave" & arch-Thatcherite Eric Pickles for the benefit of the cameras.
Yes, the Big Society, indeed. As someone remarked to me in the Westminster Arms pub earlier, that phrase may well go the way of Back To Basics, as even the Daily Mail readers slowly realise that the cuts will hit them, too. The irony of a Tory Prime Minister lecturing people on the need to do more for themselves & not rely on the state in a city like Liverpool is so rich as to be obscene.
Cameron's now on his way to Washington where Obama might give him, ooh, 20 minutes.
Yes, the Big Society, indeed. As someone remarked to me in the Westminster Arms pub earlier, that phrase may well go the way of Back To Basics, as even the Daily Mail readers slowly realise that the cuts will hit them, too. The irony of a Tory Prime Minister lecturing people on the need to do more for themselves & not rely on the state in a city like Liverpool is so rich as to be obscene.
Cameron's now on his way to Washington where Obama might give him, ooh, 20 minutes.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Compare & Contrast
The good & the bad of journalism have been on display this week. The good came this evening on Channel 4 News when its irrepresible & forensic anchor Jon Snow handled millionaire Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, caught fiddling his expenses, magisterially (http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/expenses+zac+goldsmith+mounts+defence/3713082 ).
Goldsmith, said to be worth a handy £20m, shamelessly tried to evade the evidence against him, claiming he had been stitched up & showed his true class by warning Snow, "You want to watch it."
Well, I was watching it & it was worthy of Paxman at his best.
The bad has been provided by Trinity Smoking Mirrors (who else?!) as they sat on the story about the farce at NML. Wayne's been ahead of them all week with the story (http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com ).
David Fleming's rank mismanagement & ineptitude at one of the blots on the Liverpool waterfront has caused some red faces on Oldham Hall Street. However, if you only read the Daily Ghost & Oldham Echo, you'd be largely oblivious to the considerable charge sheet against Fleming.
Goldsmith, said to be worth a handy £20m, shamelessly tried to evade the evidence against him, claiming he had been stitched up & showed his true class by warning Snow, "You want to watch it."
Well, I was watching it & it was worthy of Paxman at his best.
The bad has been provided by Trinity Smoking Mirrors (who else?!) as they sat on the story about the farce at NML. Wayne's been ahead of them all week with the story (http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com ).
David Fleming's rank mismanagement & ineptitude at one of the blots on the Liverpool waterfront has caused some red faces on Oldham Hall Street. However, if you only read the Daily Ghost & Oldham Echo, you'd be largely oblivious to the considerable charge sheet against Fleming.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Before The Storm Breaks
That well-worn phrase, the calm before the storm inevitably comes to mind with the publication of the latest unemployment figures (http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/apr/21/unemployment-claimants-constituency-data ).
Overall, the figure is down. However, the caveat to contemplate is that there has been a growth in part-time jobs at the expense of full-time employment. It is also necessary to point out that the ConDem cuts haven't yet had time to be reflected in any statistics. Factor those in to subsequent jobless figures & you'll begin to see exponential rises in unemployment. The Guardian piece has a breakdown for each parliamentary constituency.
17.30 UPDATE: By way of clarification, I should have pointed out that these were the benefit claimant figures, not the unemployment figures, per se.
Overall, the figure is down. However, the caveat to contemplate is that there has been a growth in part-time jobs at the expense of full-time employment. It is also necessary to point out that the ConDem cuts haven't yet had time to be reflected in any statistics. Factor those in to subsequent jobless figures & you'll begin to see exponential rises in unemployment. The Guardian piece has a breakdown for each parliamentary constituency.
17.30 UPDATE: By way of clarification, I should have pointed out that these were the benefit claimant figures, not the unemployment figures, per se.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Delivering The Home Truths About Tom & George
James McKenna's stirring address at the Spirit of Shankly rally outside St George's Hall last Sunday is now on the SoS website: http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/Independence-Day-Rally-Videos.html .
It is worth noting, however, that James' bluntly-expressed opinion of Chris Bascombe, ex-Liverpool FC reporter on Oldham Hall Street & now hired hack for Murdoch's News of the World, didn't make the final edit. Maybe the lawyers put in a phone call. That said, James was spot-on.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Seven Streets Refuses To Be Shanghaied
About a month ago David Bartlett was belatedly alerted to the Seven Streets website & remarked how impressed he was with it (http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/2010/06/check-out-this-new-website.html ).
Alas, David may now rue those words, as Seven Streets has followed the good Professor's lead (http://profchucklebuttychronic.blogspot.com/2010/06/liverpool-show-and-on-show-to-world-new.html ) & taken a sensibly dispassionate & sceptical look at the city's, erm, presence at the Shanghai Expo (http://www.sevenstreets.com/features/shanghai-expo-liverpool/ ).
Seven Streets' piece couldn't be further away from the mindless cheerleading the Daily Ghost & Oldham Echo have done for this waste of money.
Alas, David may now rue those words, as Seven Streets has followed the good Professor's lead (http://profchucklebuttychronic.blogspot.com/2010/06/liverpool-show-and-on-show-to-world-new.html ) & taken a sensibly dispassionate & sceptical look at the city's, erm, presence at the Shanghai Expo (http://www.sevenstreets.com/features/shanghai-expo-liverpool/ ).
Seven Streets' piece couldn't be further away from the mindless cheerleading the Daily Ghost & Oldham Echo have done for this waste of money.
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