Ramadan seems like a good idea to me

Last night I went to an Iftar at the Leeds Grand Mosque in Hyde Park. Its not the first time I have been to one of these breaking of the fast events but it seemed unusually moving for some reason. In atomised times the sence of fellowship and brotherhood amongst attendees was impressive. The main thing though is just what a sensible idea Ramadan is. A month where you spend less, give more to charity, try to behave better, study your traditions, spend more time with family and examine your relationship with food and drink. I'm probably sounding like the Daily Mail but when you compare it to the mass consumption of Christmas or selling Hallowe'en tat in the first week in September it makes you think. We always think of "Intergration" as a process where "Incommers" assimilate to British Culture and the "Host" takes on little of the other than made up dishes like Chicken Tikka Massala.

Of course many of the accents in the Mosque were broader Yorkshire than mine ever will be and which aspects of British culture do we want Muslims to adopt? Binge Drinking? The highest heroin adiction rate in Europe? One third of the continents unsecured personal debt?

I was quizical about the seperation of Men and Women ( although Christianity has hardly got that one cracked) but generally came across an open, tolerant community that is growing in the area and becomming more assertive in public affairs. It'll be a good thing if they do as we need the political capital replacing that is drained away by multi occupancy Housing.

I suspect it was one of those events that I will mull over for a while.

Bunker Mentality

I went for my much put off IT training today on the Councils new system. Despite having a blog I'm really very technophobic and didn't enjoy the experience. The highlight was finally getting to see the Councils' Peace and Emergency Planning Unit (PEPU) where responses to major disasters are coordinated. I'd like to tell you that it was a Pentagon style bunker 10 floors beneath the City with a retina scan to get in. However it was a very ordinary open plan office with a lot of free computers. If the apocalypse hits Leeds I don't think PEPU will survive much longer than the rest of us. What particularly depressed me was the lack of any natural day light. It made me think of the 80's drama "Threads" which scared my childhood imagination.

Other depressing news (IMHO) is that the Councils new IT system will have a "chat room" style facility allowing Councillors to have real time discussion with collegues on line. Given that we already have vintage round robin email rows god alone knows what the impact of chat rooms will be.

The only shaft of light in the afternoon was having a good chin wag with Cllr Jack Dunn ( Lab , Ardsley and Robin Hood ) which I have always thought was the best ward name in Leeds. Not surprisingly he was all for a snap election. Perhaps soon we'll be running an emergency response of our own.

Pudsey Constituency Supper Club Launch Event

For a party of our size it still amazes me that Leeds lacks any Liberal Democrat discussion events. Even allowing for the strong anti intellectual streak that runs through the party all work and no play makes Jack and Josephine a dull focus deliverer. Why have we no "Politics and Pizza" style event of our own?

I'm hoping to put that right on Thursday ( the 27th) as at 8pm we are launching the Pudsey Supper Club. ( www.pudseylibdems.org.uk ) Its at the Grey Horse Pub, Horsforth, LS18 ( googling generates good links and a map - its also on flock together) our topic is

" Golden Brown? How do the Liberal Democrats respond to our new Prime Minister? " the speakers will be Cllr David Ward, PPC Bradford East ( Yorkshires' top non held target seat ) and Cllr Jeanette Sunderland ( Group Leader, Bradford MBC ). We have invited the Euro Candidates and we'll be having a report back from Conference.

The venue and format may not work but its an attempt to have a monthly informal, fun and stimulating event where we can think a little. I promise pot holes will never be on the agenda!

Autumnal

I can't explain why but the biggest change as I have got older is increased sensitivity to the seasons. Even on a week by week basis I seem to notice something about the angle of the Sun, bird life or the state of trees. Perhaps its living in such an urban enviroment that has resensitised me to what greenery we do have. I have always liked Autumn as it seems to suit my sometimes melancoly personality. Certainly I think Leeds 6 does autumn well. The most surprising patches of greenery have survived the landlord assault and seem all the more valuable as a result. I stoped today and just looked at the scrub greenery that has collonised the waste land behind my house. I held some amazing bunches of blackberries in my hand and they seemed to almost radiate the power of the sun. The day before I stood at my favourite spot in Headingley about three quarters of the way up Bainbrigge Road. St Michael's spire towers above you and the trees but looking down the road the wind gentle dislodged a shower of leaves. The sound was incredible and it looked like brown rain for about 30 seconds as they spirialed down wards. I'm not sure what point I'm really making other than perhaps a sence of loss that urbanites like my self have somehow lost touch with nature. Perhaps our urbanisation as a society is what makes us treat nature with such contempt?

Not In Brighton 2

Although I have been paying more attention than most members of the public I have viewed the Conference entirely through the media. I must say it's looked pretty grim. The party seems to be fizzing with ideas and some good ones at that but the pre ordained media agenda has been Ming, Ming and Ming. This is not fair but it is what has come across. I'm not sure Ming has helped him self by saying a woman will be a candidate when he goes or Nick Clegg ruling him self in. Harmless in themselves the comments validate rather than repudiate the media narritive. That narritive being that we have a regency rather than a leadership and the whole confernce has been a dress rehersal for a contest that is comming.

Personally I was rather impressed with David Laws' performance on News 24. Half an hour of TV that asked the question " perhaps I should be Leader? " with out mentioning the issue but focusing on policy.

We'll see if we get our usual post conference bounce in the Polls. Perhaps we'll benefit from people being reminded we exist. However we now need a herculean efort to refocus on policies like pupil premiums rather talking about ourselves.

Not In Brighton

Strictly speaking party Conferences are redundant and have been since the days of the telegraph let along the Internet. The reason that they endure is simple and very clear to me today as I sit in a Civic Hall office rather than sampling the sea air in Brighton.

I have spent the day trying to help people with problems and make my area a bit better. Its an awful business and frequently very frustrating. Unfashionable though it is to say it its an honourable trade but as we all know one that is despised by the public.

The reason I wish I was gossiping in a conference bar rather than in Autumnal Inner City Leeds is simple. Its the heard mentality of the oppressed. Political anoraks and activists are a minority within a minority. For one week of the year in a faded sea side towen you becomme normal. The ideas you are about are mainstream and your obessions fashionable. Most of all though you are among other birds of bright plumage, people who try to make the system work. It doesn't matter that it often doesn't youare among a breed that knows the struggles.

Thats why Conferences are popular and even in our wired age will not die and why I wish I was in Brighton. Not the sea, the sand, the plotting or the policy but the acceptance that what I do is noble or at the very least not worthy of contempt.

Back In the Firing Line

I seem to have woken up from an extended working Holiday. For the whole of August I have been pottering around either Leeds Parks or Cumbria doing unusually large amounts of Council reading. I've also done more than usual " Civic Hall " time trying to wressle with the officer core in office hours which can be at a premium when you have a job.

Alas its all over. Apart from being a bit broke the long stretch to Christmas has started, the Council has come back to life and the next stage in the electoral cycle start. ( As in 3 years out of 4 a third of Leeds Council seats will be up next May)

I usually love Autumn , my favourite month, particularly as this area has such good tree cover. Its odd for me to yearn after Summer as much as I do but its time to buckle down and look at Legacy. Thankfully Local Councillors don't have the option of bombing Iran but as I enter my final 8 months on the Council I can't help but wonder what I have and haven't achieved.