A discussion on the Better Nation Blog about proposals for the Scottish Parliament to make smacking children illegal reminded me of this poignant poem by Stan Kelly. It is about an abused child who is likely to grow up to become a replica of his abusive father, but his Ma' still loves him to bits because he is her baby. A fantastic poem, made into a fantastic song by Cilla Black: Oh you are a

There were 2 by-elections yesterday: Newcomen Ward, Redcar & Cleveland UA. Result to follow. Batchwood Ward, St Albans DC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 1002 (55.1%, +14.2), LD 395 (21.7%, -2.7), Con 347 (19.1%, -7.8), Green 76 (4.2%, +2.5). Swing of 8.5% from LD to Lab since May 2011. This is a fantastic result for Labour in a part of Hertfordshire where we had seemed to be suffer...

It is the turn today of Liberal Democrat President Tim Farron for a personal reflection on the year in The Guardian: In 2011 Westmorland and Lonsdale has had some of the lowest unemployment figures across the whole of the UK. On the surface this sounds like a fantastic statistic; however, it does not take into consideration the

On behalf of the committee, I would like to wish each and every one of our readers a happy, relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and a fantastic start to the new year, when we look forward to building on our successes and seeing BUCF through 2012 stronger than ever. Take care, and we look forward to

But Paris is almost entirely unanimous on one point: that Epstein’s very readable piece is predicated on an assumption of competence by the UMP dirty tricks department that’s nothing short of fantastic. “That lot couldn’t conspire their way out of a paper bag” is the consensus. It’s not the most flattering of explanations but it

Ann Coulter makes the case for Mitt Romney, with her usual eloquence. Here's a slice: So now, apparently, we have to go through the cycle of the media pushing Newt Gingrich. This is going to be fantastic. In addition to having an affair in the middle of Clinton's impeachment; apologizing to Jesse Jackson on behalf of J.C. Watts -- one of two black Republicans then in Congress –- fo...

Hi all, please support this release to support the strike on november 30th - see information below. It's a fantastic idea that we can try and get in the charts for Nov 30. And the fantastic Robb Johnson was part of it so it must be good!! (Ps you can see the latest Robb song at ) Marshajane The TUC has brought together a group of public sector staff as The Workers to re-record the classic song...

Ragged Trousered Philanthropists Robert Tressell Tuesday 1 November, 6.00pm As construction workers across the country protest the decision of eight building contractors to leave the JIB national agreement, we return to Tressell's classic novel for inspiration. Robert Tressell died from tuberculosis in 1911, his fantastic socialist work on conditions in the building trade remained unpublished...

Sadiq Khan MP, Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the resignation of Louise Casey as Commissioner for Victims & Witnesses, said:

I have just watched an old edition of Antiques Road Show on BBC sign zone. As is usual in all of these antique programmes it contained the obligatory I bought this in a boot sale for next to nothing item that turns out to be valued at £1000. When this happens it is always seen as fantastic, brilliant, wonderful – which it must be for the purchaser. But why do these programmes never spare a