Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

This is particularly noticeable in Cambridge but could apply anywhere else as well. In Cambridge, The University of Cambridge is this huge institution that casts a metaphorical shadow over our city, and has political and economic gravitational forces that few town people can ignore. Local history tells us that when the colleges and the UniversityContinue reading “Our institutional structures and systems seem designed to break up communities and keep us fragmented”

I popped along to a town/gown gathering on a cold November evening to find out what the post-Lockdown generation of students were looking for from local councils and town-based climate organisations. Turns out there is more that Town could be doing (without a huge increase in spending/resources) to help newly-arrived undergraduates hit the ground runningContinue reading “What is Town’s offer to Cambridge’s undergraduate students when it comes to community and climate action?”

The vote to leave the EU back in 2016 didn’t happen in a vacuum – rather it was the culmination of a wider set of multiple failures of politicians and political institutions over an extended period of time, as Dr Mike Galsworthy told an audience of Cambridge for Europe activists at Sidney Sussex this evening.Continue reading “Civic and democratic renewal must be at the heart of pro-EU campaigns in the UK”

Ministers continue to impose cuts on Cambridge City Council and local government generally – despite repeated warnings from MPs. (The majority of whom go on to vote for further cuts when Chancellors introduce their annual budgets). The two pieces of news today were the headline from BBC Cambridgeshire about the state of Cambridge City Council’sContinue reading ““Cambridge City Council faces £6m budget cuts” – yet finances are already unsustainable”

I don’t think anyone expected to see former Prime Minister David Cameron step out of the car at Downing Street this morning to become Foreign Secretary on the morning that the latter sacked his firebrand now former Home Secretary. It had political correspondents consulting with political historians about who was the last Foreign Secretary toContinue reading “A bold move by Rishi or a desperate attempt to stop the inevitable?”

The videos are now up – although my tech equipment seems to be showing its age! I’ve split the videos into two parts: Opening speeches and first half – filmed by Chris Rand (who was also hosting) Second half and closing speeches – filmed by Antony Carpen (me). “Who are the candidates again?” See theContinue reading “Queen Edith’s by-election hustings – 09 Nov 2023”

It was meant to be the war to end all wars, but it never was. The violence in Central London today reflects the continued public policy failures of generations of ministers to learn the lessons from, and deliver the hopes of a now long-passed generation that lost so much. With the events unfolding in CentralContinue reading “Remembering the hopes and dreams of those left behind after the Great War”

“If you are curious about organising, and want to get a sense of what a civic alliance does, come along!” they said. So I did. As did many others. I briefly wrote about the announcement here to help spread the word. Above – from one of a trio of photos here by the organisers. TheContinue reading “Citizens UK arrives in Cambridge”

Another day, and another article making a case for the growth of Cambridge. Only this one is heavily caveated in ways that headlines cannot reflect This is from a follow-up article by Oxford economics researcher Ben Ramanauskas, formerly of the Taxpayers’ Alliance and also adviser to Liz Truss when she was Trade Secretary under BorisContinue reading “Is there a case for turning Cambridge into ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’?”

From the Queen Edith’s Community Forum: “Make a date to be in the audience next Thursday night (9 November) for the Community Forum’s traditional “Meet The Candidates” event. All four candidates (Cons/Greens/Labour/LibDems) for the vacant position representing Queen Edith’s on Cambridge City Council will be there: Venue: St Johns Church on Hills Road. When: 7pm, and will endContinue reading “Queen Edith’s by-election hustings – Thurs 09 November 2023”