The Joy of Six 1458

"Sounding like a mob boss when speaking at Trump’s press conference at the weekend, secretary of state Marco Rubio told the world that the message of the Venezuelan intervention was that when this president says he is serious about wanting something, he gets it. The problem for Europe is that the one thing that this President covets above all is Greenland." Simon Nixon argues that Donald Trump’s "Donroe Doctrine" poses an existential threat to NATO and Europe.

Cliff Mitchell accuses Northamptonshire's two Reform-run councils of ignoring the reality of climate change across the county: "As predicted by climate scientists, Northamptonshire is seeing drier summers as well as wetter winters. Droughts are happening more quickly and becoming more intense. When combined with frequent winter floods, this leads to soil damage and erosion, reduced crop yields, and impacts on livestock grazing and biodiversity."

"It might seem silly or not worthy of attention to look into the Trump administration’s aesthetic decisions, all of the gold ornamentations smeared all over the Oval Office and ballrooms and Arc de Trumps, and etc, but the aesthetic is a way to make the political physically present. It’s a way to rally people’s energies. It’s a way to make it seem like things are changing and like Trump is keeping his promises when he’s actually not." Erin Thompson says Trump’s gilded White House makeover is all about power.

Robin Eagles discusses his work identifying Black voters in 18th-century elections.

"The BFI website suggests that Hell is a City is 'unaccountably overlooked; and suggests that it was ‘as important a film as Room at the Top’ ... They put this down to 'critical snobbery towards its solidly commercial director Val Guest' as well the fact that it was one of the very few non-horror films made by Hammer Studios, not known for its high-brow output." David Rudlin watches Hell is a City, which was filmed  largely on location in Manchester and Oldham in the autumn of 1959. 

Lynne About Loughborough goes in search of the town's forgotten Football League club.

Northampton Labour councillor joins the Liberal Democrats

A Labour member of West Northamptonshire Council has crossed to the Liberal Democrats after becoming increasingly concerned”= with the party's national leadership, reports NLive Radio ("The station that loves Northampton):

West Northamptonshire Cllr Farzana Aldridge said she left Labour after feeling the party was moving away from "community-focused and forward-looking politics", adding that she is committed to serving the residents of her Kingsley and Semilong ward.

Her defection means the Lib Dem group now hold seven seats on West Northants Council (WNC), just one behind the Labour group, which now has eight elected members. Reform UK is still in charge of the council with 41 seats.

The radio station goes on to quote the Lib Dem group leader Jonathan Harris:

"Farzana is a very capable and hard-working councillor who cares deeply about her community. Her skills, experience and enthusiasm, along with her strong commitment to represent residents in her ward, will make her a great addition to our team. It is clear that Farzana shares our core values of liberty, equality, human rights, internationalism, environmentalism, democracy and community."

Jonathan Harris chosen as Lib Dem PPC for Daventry

Jonathan Harris, who represents Brixworth ward on West Northamptonshire Council, is to stand for the Liberal Democrats in Daventry at the next general election.

He has an extensive career in leadership development and change management and has worked with many different types of organisations in sectors including engineering, retail, financial services, construction and the motor industry. He continues to work in the UK, Europe and internationally. 

Jonathan wants to build on his experience in local government and fight for causes that affect everyone in the Daventry constituency, particularly the cost of living, rural isolation, the lack of investment in transport, the broken care system, the underdevelopment of social and affordable homes, supporting small businesses, championing nature protection and fighting for action to tackle the climate crisis. 

He has also seen how the government’s disastrous Brexit deal has damaged many small businesses and farmers alike.

Jonathan says:

"The Liberal Democrats offer positive alternatives to the way that this government have run this country and I look forward to meeting people with a positive message of hope."