Category Archives: Housing and transport

EXCLUSIVE – Ed Miliband confirms Labour will back re-opening of Oxford-Cambridge rail link

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

Summary Ed Miliband’s visit to Cambridge I was on my way into town to spend an afternoon behind a few mugs of coffee and a laptop when I caught news of Miliband’s rescheduled visit to Cambridge which was cut short … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Campaigning, protesting and demonstrating, Housing and transport, Party politics | 1 Comment

Cash for Cambridge?

Posted on April 2, 2013 by

Summary Why the demands for £1billion for Cambridge should not be at the expense of northern cities Some of you may have seen the headline in the Cambridge Evening News. ‘Spend £1 billion on Cambridge – not the north’ I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Business economics and finance, Cambridge, Employment and job hunting, Housing and transport, Party politics | Leave a comment

Beeching, Marples and Britain’s lost railways

Posted on March 30, 2013 by

Summary Some thoughts on the 50th anniversary of the report that devastated Britain’s network of branchline railways, with a look to the future. Many moons ago, I wondered why there were no train lines linking Cambridge to towns like Bedford … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Housing and transport, Party politics | 2 Comments

Three Labour shadow ministers come to visit Puffles!

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

Summary What happens when politicians listen and engage with people? It’s a risk any politician runs the risk of when they announce they are going to visit Cambridge: They run the risk of being ambushed by the local dragon fairy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Housing and transport, Party politics | 1 Comment

On the buses…and the trains

Posted on January 28, 2013 by

Summary On Labour’s consultation on public transport policy The consultation looks like it’s open to all, and closes on 28 February 2013 I randomly picked up on this via Twitter, raising eyebrows (in a value-neutral way!) over both the nature … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing and transport, Party politics, Public administration & policy | Leave a comment

“It’s about living standards, stupid!”

Posted on October 31, 2012 by

Summary Why it’s not just about the economy – some thoughts on the Resolution Foundation’s Commission on Living Standards report The Resolution Foundation’s report has got the bubbles of Whitehall and Westminster incredibly excited. It was embargoed until stupid-o’clock last night … Continue reading →

Posted in Business economics and finance, Data, science and statistics, Housing and transport, Party politics, Public administration & policy | 2 Comments

Parliamentary inquiry into private rented housing

Posted on October 21, 2012 by

Summary About time too – and you can submit evidence to it! The Communities and Local Government Select Committee is to hold an inquiry into the private rented housing sector. And not before time. All too often it’s felt like … Continue reading →

Posted in Campaigning, protesting and demonstrating, Charities and Big Society, Housing and transport, Law and legal issues, Mental health, Party politics, Public administration & policy | 10 Comments

Traingate – West coast mainline debacle

Posted on October 3, 2012 by

Summary Once the blaming has been done, then what? I picked this up in the early hours just before sleepfail, astonished at both the decision and the timing of its announcement. For those of you not aware, the decision by … Continue reading →

Posted in Business economics and finance, Housing and transport, Law and legal issues, Public administration & policy | 2 Comments

Cambridge railway station woes

Posted on July 18, 2012 by

Summary It’s my station and I’ll moan if I want to. But for those interested in contributing positively towards Cambridge transport, please respond to the County Council’s transport strategy consultation! Cambridge Station: It seems slightly random for a blog to feature … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Housing and transport, Public administration & policy | 7 Comments

Politicians, the banks and houses

Posted on July 8, 2012 by

Summary Navigating the tangled web of politicians, banks and the housing crisis There was something about the final paragraph of Nick Cohen’s piece in The Spectator that someone tweeted to Puffles that caught my eye. Rather Miliband and Balls (like … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing and transport, Party politics, Uncategorized | 5 Comments