A NEWS item on BBC Radio 4 about QE2’s 40th anniversary round-Britain cruise mentioned its ports of call as Newcastle, Firth of Forth and Clydeside. Curiously, no mention of Liverpool, Cunard’s former famous home port, especially after overcoming the serious worry that the new landing stage would not be ready in time.
Still, with only a multi-million pound budget to spend, how can Liverpool Culture Company expect to make much impact? Or does Radio 4 know something we don’t . . . ?
LIVERPOOL city council leader Warren Bradley boasted that the cruise landing stage was finished on time and on budget. Was this the same landing stage that was once promised for last year, but then delayed, but to be ready in July for the liners Maasdam and Prinsendam. But wasn’t? In fact, is it the same Cllr Warren Bradley?
IT MUST be funny – I heard it from a Scouser: Watching the start of the 2007-8 Clipper Round the World Yacht race on Sunday from Princes Parade with an impressive fire boat water cannon display, one woman said to her husband: “The police should have one of those to clear the yobs off the streets.� And they would help clear the litter, pavement pizzas and other detritus of weekend merry-making.
THE public will have one last terrific, matchless view of QE2 from Princes Parade. Given that this is an established public right of way, with open access supported by Mersey Waterfront, let us hope that the authorities do the decent thing and keep it open, eh, chaps?
FOR reasons best known to itself, West Derby local Labour party has chosen Enfield Southgate voters’ 2005 reject Stephen Twigg to fight the seat after Bob Wareing lost an open selection contest. Halton, meanwhile, is already represented by MP Derek Twigg (no relation). With two Twiggs in our neck of the woods, will there soon be talk of a Labour branch office?
FANCY that: As our politicians head off to the seaside for the conference season, one imagines they are set for one long round of politicking, meetings and briefings. In the local govern-ment’s First magazine, Lib-Dem Cllr Richard Kemp, of Liverpool Church ward, reveals all (readers of a sensitive disposition should turn away now). Cllr Kemp writes: “Life at a Lib-Dem conference is gruelling. We start meetings from 8am and finish drinking at 7am! We train and drink, we talk and drink, we pass resolutions and drink, we sometimes drink and pass resolutions – which is not thought to be in the right order. But we do work hard!� No doubt such diligence should be properly rewarded. Trebles all round.