The Old Trafford stadium is 100 years old today. Still think they could do a lot more for their neighbourhood. Gordon Brown has had a good day in the polls; or at least the lead is shrinking; unlike Chelseas’s.

This story highlights just how out of touch Tories are. Gating schemes don’t just deter burglaries and anti social behaviour, they can create communal spaces that give pride to neighbourhoods.

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It’s proved to be one of the most controversial proposals in recent years. I’m deeply disappointed that we were never allowed by the ruling Conservatives to properly scrutinise the proposal, to look at alternatives, or to test the amounts required to restore Ashes cricket. The suppression of debate in council or executive has been scandalous. [...]

The conservatives have come up with their answer to the My David Cameron site based on that strange Cameron photo. I’m therefore not sure I’m supposed to appreciate the Conservative equivalents; but apart from one or two they’re not bad. The Winterton picture is the winner

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Manchester Evening News Article. It’s good coverage on this controversial school closure. The Tory led council has got itself into a complete muddle over this issue and the anger of parents is completely justified. The sensible approach is to put the brakes on all decisions and start consulting properly.

Support the campaign. It benefits the global economy, it benefits the poor and preserves normal transactions; a Tobin tax for the 21st century. Read more here robinhoodtax.org.uk.

It sounds complicated, but actually it isn’t. A tiny tax on bankers has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year – giving a vital boost to the [...]

I was listening to Radio 4′s ‘Start the Week this morning. Stewart Brand, an American environmentalist from the 60s, was promoting his book in which he turns heretic in supporting the urban over crowded shanty existence against the rural idyll of village life, and goes on to support nuclear power, and gm crops in Africa. [...]