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Detectorists: Better Late than Never
I came late to detectorists. To be accurate, everything (three series and one special) other than the 2022 Christmas special had been broadcast before I’d even heard of it. That’s how out of touch with current TV I am. I like Mackenzie Crook. I like him as an actor, because no matter what the director… Continue reading
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By Elections 30th March 2023: The Good Week/Bad Week Index
Three council by-elections yesterday: Labour hold in Heath (Barking & Dagenham) LibDem gain from Con in Westgate (Gloucester) Plaid Cymru hold in Aethwy (Anglesey) Labour’s vote share dropped quite a bit (-12%) in Heath, but then when you start from 74%, there’s only one way to go. Th addition of LibDem and Green candidates made… Continue reading
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Old New Writings
Back in the early Seventies, these were among the go-to books to look for on my weekly visit to the local library. This obviously marks me out as someone now in an upper age bracket, but I can at least qualify this by saying that, while I was borrowing them from the adults’ library, I… Continue reading
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Latest Reading 17th March 2023
I have just finished the Complete Poems of William Blake (Penguin edition) When I worked in a bookshop, I got to know a lot of customers. One in particular was a youngish guy: fiercely intelligent (degrees in law and medicine), strong opinions on politics, and very well read. He also had mental health conditions. Quite… Continue reading
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By Elections 16th March 2023: The Good Week/Bad Week Index
Two council by-elections yesterday: LibDem hold in Cottenham (South Cambridgeshire)Con gain from SNP in Dunblane & Bridge of Allan (Stirling) LibDems hung on in Cottenham, seeing a big decline in their margin of victory over the Cons. Possible factors include Labour reappearing on the candidate list, and the Cons making much of traffic restrictions in… Continue reading
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By Elections 9th March 2023: The Good Week/Bad Week Index
There were three council by-elections on Thursday Labour held in Tottenham Hale (Haringey) and Heston West (Hounslow). The Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the SNP in Corstorphine/Murrayfield (Edinburgh). The LibDems did well to come second in both of the Labour holds, from a long way back in 3rd in Tottenham Hale behind the Greens, and having not… Continue reading
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By Elections 2nd March 2023: The Good Week/Bad Week Index
There were six council by-elections on Thursday (one of the three counting on Friday took a long time, so I wasn’t able to post yesterday) Labour held in Oxford and Oxfordshire despite a strong IndependentLabour also held in Newcastle; the turnout was extremely low, possibly because it’s such a safe ward, but the LibDems and Greens will take some comfort… Continue reading
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By Elections 23rd Feb 2023: The Good Week/Bad Week Index
Two by elections yesterday, in Wrexham and Aberdeen. In Wales, Plaid Cymru held off a challenge from Labour and retained their seat. In Scotland, SNP failed to match them: although they led on first preferences, there was a significant swing to Labour, and Labour gained the seat (from Con) at stage 8. Remember that Scotland… Continue reading
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By Elections 9th Feb 2023: The Good Week/Bad Week Index
Five by elections yesterday, in Cheltenham, Dartford, Denbighshire, Hertfordshire and North Yorkshire. Cheltenham and North Yorkshire were LibDem gains from Con, Denbighshire a Con gain from Labour, Hertfordshire a Lab hold, and Dartford a Con hold. GWBWI LDm +145Lab +21Grn +1Con -84 Lab decent in Hertfordshire, but nearly cancelled out by poor in Denbighshire.Con very… Continue reading
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The Good Week/Bad Week Index
The Aim:To create a mathematically calculated index to assess each major party’s performance in the week’s council by-elections; taking out subjective views, party spin, and expectations management; and relying only on information that is consistently available for all by elections. Nearly every week, there are a handful of by-elections to vacant council seats. Some seats… Continue reading
About Me
I work in a library, and in an escape room (these are two separate things). I also sit on the local adoption panel.
I live in Worthing in West Sussex with my wife, two children, and a dog.