Cameron struck a sombre note at conference today in a speech designed to suggest he, novice or not, is the prime minister in waiting. Promising to work with the government, Cameron committed the Conservatives to collaborations now and recriminations later.
Sombe and considered, it was a good performance with a promise of explanation and an offer of solutions in his speech tomorrow.
The party faithful loved it, but we'll have to wait and see if this talk of political togetherness will really happen.
By Claire Levens
Tuesday 30 September 2008
Monday 29 September 2008
Paralysed or Smug - which are you?
Birmingham: Sunday night: Just finished my first environmental fringe at Conservative Conference. Like Labour last week, the fringe agenda is dominated by environmental debates. I’ve just been exploring how to create 2020 carbon citizens.
I was reminded of some research that we did about a year ago, which found that consumers were so confused about what it means to live a green lifestyle they took one of two options. Some were paralysed by the confusion, infused with a gloomy fatalism that all is for nothing in the face of impending doom. The second response, equally unhelpful was a misplaced smugness, engendered by the warm glow of a regular recycler, who believes that through recycling all personal environmental responsibilities have been discharged.
I asked the panel how they would solve this problem, created through a morass of messaging. The most interesting answer was that given by Nick Hurd MP exercising his Chairman’s prerogative to answer the question. Nick highlighted a local initiative, funded and promoted by Kirklees council, which cuts through the clutter. Like every other battle of hearts and minds, creating carbon citizens will only result from a personalised invitation. This means a street by street, door to door campaign, providing localised, tailored independent advice about everything from recycling to insulation.
Undoubtedly expensive and utterly time consuming. But, perhaps it is the best use of time any money on the planet.
By Claire Levens
I was reminded of some research that we did about a year ago, which found that consumers were so confused about what it means to live a green lifestyle they took one of two options. Some were paralysed by the confusion, infused with a gloomy fatalism that all is for nothing in the face of impending doom. The second response, equally unhelpful was a misplaced smugness, engendered by the warm glow of a regular recycler, who believes that through recycling all personal environmental responsibilities have been discharged.
I asked the panel how they would solve this problem, created through a morass of messaging. The most interesting answer was that given by Nick Hurd MP exercising his Chairman’s prerogative to answer the question. Nick highlighted a local initiative, funded and promoted by Kirklees council, which cuts through the clutter. Like every other battle of hearts and minds, creating carbon citizens will only result from a personalised invitation. This means a street by street, door to door campaign, providing localised, tailored independent advice about everything from recycling to insulation.
Undoubtedly expensive and utterly time consuming. But, perhaps it is the best use of time any money on the planet.
By Claire Levens
Thursday 25 September 2008
Political Top Trumps
This morning my colleagues returned to the office tanked up with stories of their adventures at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester. Sifting through their goodie bags full of promotional leaflets and useful contact details they showed me their most prized freebie; a set of Political Top Trumps. A special edition of the traditional card game Top Trumps, where each card represented some of the UK’s most influential politicians from the Gordon Brown, to David Miliband and Mayor of London Boris Johnson and contained data on marginality, expenses and value of memoirs.
The cards provoked some excitement amongst our team and we can’t wait until we get some free time to play them. However, I started to think in only a week’s time the information on these cards would become out of date as Gordon Brown is set to announce the reshuffle of his cabinet.
In his attempt to regain political momentum it is obvious that Gordon will have to make some significant changes. So who will become Gordon’s new top trumps?
Will Jacqui Smith remain as Home Secretary? Who will replace Ruth Kelly as she has now stepped down from her position as Transport Secretary?
It is speculated that rising stars Caroline Flint, Liam Byrne and Jim Murphy will move up the ranks while Des Browne and Geof Hoon may have their cards marked.
But the most pertinent move will be that of Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Will Brown keep his enemies close and promote Miliband or demote him even though he claims he is not a threat?
When the reshuffle is announced I believe the media will be most occupied with Miliband’s fate, however is hard to predict his new position in the cabinet as many like myself are not quite sure about the status of the relationship between Miliband and Brown.
We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled…
By Danielle Thomas
The cards provoked some excitement amongst our team and we can’t wait until we get some free time to play them. However, I started to think in only a week’s time the information on these cards would become out of date as Gordon Brown is set to announce the reshuffle of his cabinet.
In his attempt to regain political momentum it is obvious that Gordon will have to make some significant changes. So who will become Gordon’s new top trumps?
Will Jacqui Smith remain as Home Secretary? Who will replace Ruth Kelly as she has now stepped down from her position as Transport Secretary?
It is speculated that rising stars Caroline Flint, Liam Byrne and Jim Murphy will move up the ranks while Des Browne and Geof Hoon may have their cards marked.
But the most pertinent move will be that of Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Will Brown keep his enemies close and promote Miliband or demote him even though he claims he is not a threat?
When the reshuffle is announced I believe the media will be most occupied with Miliband’s fate, however is hard to predict his new position in the cabinet as many like myself are not quite sure about the status of the relationship between Miliband and Brown.
We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled…
By Danielle Thomas
Tuesday 23 September 2008
All about me
Vintage Brown. Here in Manchester Gordon has said loud and clear that ‘I know who I am and what I am about.’ Just for good measure he also laid out his vision to save the entire world from the global financial system and to care for the nations sick, poor and the elderly. Utterly a conviction politician, his Christian values blazing, Brown’s fight back begins right here, right now.
Perhaps his best sound bite “no time for a novice” was directed at both Davids, Cameron and Miliband. Initial reactions appear to give a thumbs-up for the PM. However, if he wants to see in the spring at Number 10 his actions will still need to speak much louder than his words here today. But at least it is a start.
By Claire Levens
Perhaps his best sound bite “no time for a novice” was directed at both Davids, Cameron and Miliband. Initial reactions appear to give a thumbs-up for the PM. However, if he wants to see in the spring at Number 10 his actions will still need to speak much louder than his words here today. But at least it is a start.
By Claire Levens
Gordon: Glory or Gonner?
So, it's the night before the big speech, but if the press are to be believed, Gordon's speech was written months ago and nothing is going to change it. Funny then, to bump into a senior Minister in the bar tonight, who was on the hunt for one of the speech-writing team.... Seems that some third party endorsement had been recieved from a certain South African former elder-statesman, and the writing team were keen to include it.
So, if the speech contains reference to what the UK has done for Africa under a Labour administration we know it was subbed tonight. If not, well, maybe they just missed eachother in the madness of the Malvern bar...
Gordon knows he has a lot to do tomorrow - he needs to impress the party faithful, bruised and battered as they are by the recent events; needs to reassure the parliamentary party that their seats are safe with him. More than that, he needs to convince the cynical media that he has what it takes...and that is a challenge.
I hope he's sleeping well tonight, because tomorrow he earns the right to stay in the job, or start packing... lets see what the media judgement is....
By Claire Levens
So, if the speech contains reference to what the UK has done for Africa under a Labour administration we know it was subbed tonight. If not, well, maybe they just missed eachother in the madness of the Malvern bar...
Gordon knows he has a lot to do tomorrow - he needs to impress the party faithful, bruised and battered as they are by the recent events; needs to reassure the parliamentary party that their seats are safe with him. More than that, he needs to convince the cynical media that he has what it takes...and that is a challenge.
I hope he's sleeping well tonight, because tomorrow he earns the right to stay in the job, or start packing... lets see what the media judgement is....
By Claire Levens
Monday 22 September 2008
Saints and Sinners?
Saints and Sinners? I really understand the need for certainty, it makes life easy, especially as it permits me to define myself in relationship to you - we are either the same or we are different. On a personal level, it's the way humanity has defined itself for all eternity. On a political level, it's short-sighted, damaging and fundamentally unhelpful.
I've been to two fringe meetings today, one on lottery funding and one on water foot printing. Some of the speakers, and many of the attendees were very quick to define charity and or not for profit as universally good, and anything, and possibly anyone connected with a corporation, or with profit -making as utterly bad. I wonder where this mindset comes from. When did some advocates of the NGO sector, get to determine the organisational morality, and translate that into personal morality.
It would be far more helpful for all parts of society if we each recognised that, even in the current economic climate, profit is the engine of money, that agent of change. Money may change situations for good or for ill. And granted, not all companies are responsible. However most people professionally engaged in the begetting of profit do not do so at the expense of all their principles and scruples. Likewise those engaged in advocacy and campaigning do not have the monopoly on appropriate / right responses.
Perhaps we can agree on this, at least. The social and economic issues we face, as a nation and as a planet will require our best thinking and best policymaking to manage, let alone solve. It's just possible that some solutions might be found from with the business community, and delivered by the NGO community. Perpetuating the myth that profit and business is entirely beyond redemption, and charity above scrutiny, may be comforting in it's clarity. Shame then that clarity alone, especially when mis-guided will hinder rather than help solve the big issues we face as a nation.
By Claire Levens
I've been to two fringe meetings today, one on lottery funding and one on water foot printing. Some of the speakers, and many of the attendees were very quick to define charity and or not for profit as universally good, and anything, and possibly anyone connected with a corporation, or with profit -making as utterly bad. I wonder where this mindset comes from. When did some advocates of the NGO sector, get to determine the organisational morality, and translate that into personal morality.
It would be far more helpful for all parts of society if we each recognised that, even in the current economic climate, profit is the engine of money, that agent of change. Money may change situations for good or for ill. And granted, not all companies are responsible. However most people professionally engaged in the begetting of profit do not do so at the expense of all their principles and scruples. Likewise those engaged in advocacy and campaigning do not have the monopoly on appropriate / right responses.
Perhaps we can agree on this, at least. The social and economic issues we face, as a nation and as a planet will require our best thinking and best policymaking to manage, let alone solve. It's just possible that some solutions might be found from with the business community, and delivered by the NGO community. Perpetuating the myth that profit and business is entirely beyond redemption, and charity above scrutiny, may be comforting in it's clarity. Shame then that clarity alone, especially when mis-guided will hinder rather than help solve the big issues we face as a nation.
By Claire Levens
Party On
So the political circus has rumbled into Manchester this week. Everyone's here already, and it's only Sunday afternoon. The mood is good too, perhaps the sunshine has something to do with it, or perhaps it's very early in the week... but the coppers are in a good mood, and I've only been told off for going the wrong way twice in four hours! And, none of the food at the lunchtime fringe was deep-fried! Things are looking up.
More importantly, if the quality of the first fringe meeting I went to is anything to go by, we're in for a good conference. The Big Lottery Fund are about to consult on spending priorities for 2009 - 2015. They have some tough questions to think through, covering issues as diverse as whether they should fund the people in most need, or fund a geographical spread of projects throughout the land... Go on, think about it, to me they should fund the people most in need, but then who determines need, and on what basis. Add to this the reality that lottery tickets are disproportionately bought by the poor, but the lottery funding doesn't always reach those areas, and you get into some interesting political turf.
We have a client interest in sports funding, which, because of London 2012, is receiving significant amounts of lottery money at the expense of other arts and community projects. It was a contentious decision, but in my judgement the right one. But, here's the rub, as the glow fades on the British success as BOTH sets of Games this year the real funding challenge for sport, good causes and the arts, is how to secure long-term funding beyond 2012. Failure to do so, will make a mockery of the legacy promise and undermine all the sacrifices the arts community is making now.
We'll be making these, and other points to policymakers throughout the week.
Ahhhhh, Labour conference, where else would you want to be.....?
By Claire Levens
More importantly, if the quality of the first fringe meeting I went to is anything to go by, we're in for a good conference. The Big Lottery Fund are about to consult on spending priorities for 2009 - 2015. They have some tough questions to think through, covering issues as diverse as whether they should fund the people in most need, or fund a geographical spread of projects throughout the land... Go on, think about it, to me they should fund the people most in need, but then who determines need, and on what basis. Add to this the reality that lottery tickets are disproportionately bought by the poor, but the lottery funding doesn't always reach those areas, and you get into some interesting political turf.
We have a client interest in sports funding, which, because of London 2012, is receiving significant amounts of lottery money at the expense of other arts and community projects. It was a contentious decision, but in my judgement the right one. But, here's the rub, as the glow fades on the British success as BOTH sets of Games this year the real funding challenge for sport, good causes and the arts, is how to secure long-term funding beyond 2012. Failure to do so, will make a mockery of the legacy promise and undermine all the sacrifices the arts community is making now.
We'll be making these, and other points to policymakers throughout the week.
Ahhhhh, Labour conference, where else would you want to be.....?
By Claire Levens
Friday 19 September 2008
Team Paralympic GB outperform Olympic counterparts
Paralympic athletes returned home on the 17th September from the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, a month after the close of the Olympic Games.
Team Paralympic GB outstripped expectations in Beijing as they flew home with twice as many medals as their Olympic counterparts, 102 in total placing them second in the leader board for the third Paralympic Games in succession. Team Paralympic GB was behind host nation China and ahead of the USA and Australia.
With four gold medals and one silver, cyclist Darren Kenny was Britain’s most successful individual competitor, while swimmer David Roberts took his overall Paralympic medal haul to 11 with four golds in the Water Cube, and Lee Pearson won three more equestrian golds to take his personal tally to nine.
In my opinion, the Paralympic Games were very reminiscent of the Olympic Games in August. Team Paralympic GB rode to their victory collecting 12 out a possible 16 medals for cycling and excelled in the rowing and equestrian events, rather like their Olympian colleagues.
Furthermore, London Mayor Boris Johnson received the Paralympic flag in the closing ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium where we witnessed the reappearance of the red bus which was previously criticised by Chinese in closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The Paralympians will join the heroes parade in Central London on 16 October 2008, announced by Mayor Boris Johnson last month.
Boris Johnson was delighted with the performance;
“They have delivered for us – now we must deliver for them, and for all disabled Londoners and visitors. Our team have tremendous heart and ability. It is up to us to provide the infrastructure so that they can excel. I have no doubt we will.”
Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes have set the bar very high for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
By Danielle
Team Paralympic GB outstripped expectations in Beijing as they flew home with twice as many medals as their Olympic counterparts, 102 in total placing them second in the leader board for the third Paralympic Games in succession. Team Paralympic GB was behind host nation China and ahead of the USA and Australia.
With four gold medals and one silver, cyclist Darren Kenny was Britain’s most successful individual competitor, while swimmer David Roberts took his overall Paralympic medal haul to 11 with four golds in the Water Cube, and Lee Pearson won three more equestrian golds to take his personal tally to nine.
In my opinion, the Paralympic Games were very reminiscent of the Olympic Games in August. Team Paralympic GB rode to their victory collecting 12 out a possible 16 medals for cycling and excelled in the rowing and equestrian events, rather like their Olympian colleagues.
Furthermore, London Mayor Boris Johnson received the Paralympic flag in the closing ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium where we witnessed the reappearance of the red bus which was previously criticised by Chinese in closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The Paralympians will join the heroes parade in Central London on 16 October 2008, announced by Mayor Boris Johnson last month.
Boris Johnson was delighted with the performance;
“They have delivered for us – now we must deliver for them, and for all disabled Londoners and visitors. Our team have tremendous heart and ability. It is up to us to provide the infrastructure so that they can excel. I have no doubt we will.”
Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes have set the bar very high for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
By Danielle
Friday 12 September 2008
The end of the World as we know it
So I will start off by stating the obvious (as has been stated in dozens of newspapers over the last few days) – it obviously was not the end of the world on the 10th September.
That was the day when at 9.30 am local time, 300 feet below ground near Geneva, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built became operational, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Concerns were expressed - in particular by the German chemist Professor Otto Rossler - that black holes created by the LHC will grow uncontrollably and "eat the planet from the inside".
These claims were dismissed by Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University who said that the LHC is "feeble compared with what goes on in the universe. If a disaster was going to happen, it would have happened already."
Either way, these worries about the end of the universe seem to be pounced on as a newsworthy hook, but whatever the headline, I think it is great that a science story has been such a big part of the news coverage over the last week.
The £5 billion machine has been described as a 17-mile racetrack around which two streams of protons - building blocks of matter - run in opposite directions before smashing into one another. The protons will reach 99.99% of the speed of light. At the current time, sub atomic particles have just been fired around the tunnel, the first collisions are expected in a month.
I think the machine is absolutely amazing, and really hope that it will actually help to answer some of those remaining mysteries of the universe. Physicists hope to learn more about the origins of mass by learning about the Higgs boson — known as the “God particle” because it is thought to lend mass to matter. The LHC should also answer difficult questions about gravity and dark matter - the "glue" thought to hold the universe together.
I wonder what will happen if we do actually find the answer to all these questions though….
That was the day when at 9.30 am local time, 300 feet below ground near Geneva, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built became operational, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Concerns were expressed - in particular by the German chemist Professor Otto Rossler - that black holes created by the LHC will grow uncontrollably and "eat the planet from the inside".
These claims were dismissed by Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University who said that the LHC is "feeble compared with what goes on in the universe. If a disaster was going to happen, it would have happened already."
Either way, these worries about the end of the universe seem to be pounced on as a newsworthy hook, but whatever the headline, I think it is great that a science story has been such a big part of the news coverage over the last week.
The £5 billion machine has been described as a 17-mile racetrack around which two streams of protons - building blocks of matter - run in opposite directions before smashing into one another. The protons will reach 99.99% of the speed of light. At the current time, sub atomic particles have just been fired around the tunnel, the first collisions are expected in a month.
I think the machine is absolutely amazing, and really hope that it will actually help to answer some of those remaining mysteries of the universe. Physicists hope to learn more about the origins of mass by learning about the Higgs boson — known as the “God particle” because it is thought to lend mass to matter. The LHC should also answer difficult questions about gravity and dark matter - the "glue" thought to hold the universe together.
I wonder what will happen if we do actually find the answer to all these questions though….
Wednesday 3 September 2008
Sweat in the City
Catching my breath after running for the train home last night, I started to read one of the free London papers and came across an article about a new campaign to get young women like myself fitter, happier and healthier.
Sweat in the City is a new campaign launched by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) and Fitness Industry Association (FIA) which offers 3,000 young women in London free 12-week gym membership. The scheme is an excellent start to fulfilling the promises of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy which aims to increase nationwide participation in sport.
I’ve been meaning to sign up at my local gym however was deterred by the £43/month fees, so I couldn’t wait to get on line and sign myself up for some freeness. After visiting the Sweat in the City website I became even more excited as I discovered there were no strings attached to this scheme.
As long as you are aged 16 – 24, live in one of the 33 London boroughs, do little or no exercise and not currently a member of a gym – you are eligible for 12-weeks free gym membership worth £180, fortnightly group sessions and exercise tips and advice. All you have to give in return is weekly online feedback on the scheme and commitment to attending the gym at least 3 times a week.
So I have jumped on boarded, registered and selected my three choices for preferred gym club. All I have to do is wait for an email to confirm there are still places available and all being well I will commence my fitter, happier and healthier life on 29 September 2008 – I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.
By Danielle Thomas
Sweat in the City is a new campaign launched by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) and Fitness Industry Association (FIA) which offers 3,000 young women in London free 12-week gym membership. The scheme is an excellent start to fulfilling the promises of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy which aims to increase nationwide participation in sport.
I’ve been meaning to sign up at my local gym however was deterred by the £43/month fees, so I couldn’t wait to get on line and sign myself up for some freeness. After visiting the Sweat in the City website I became even more excited as I discovered there were no strings attached to this scheme.
As long as you are aged 16 – 24, live in one of the 33 London boroughs, do little or no exercise and not currently a member of a gym – you are eligible for 12-weeks free gym membership worth £180, fortnightly group sessions and exercise tips and advice. All you have to give in return is weekly online feedback on the scheme and commitment to attending the gym at least 3 times a week.
So I have jumped on boarded, registered and selected my three choices for preferred gym club. All I have to do is wait for an email to confirm there are still places available and all being well I will commence my fitter, happier and healthier life on 29 September 2008 – I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.
By Danielle Thomas
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