Out in sun delivering latest Henleaze Focus from me and fellow Liberal Democrat councillors. Wonder how many other city wards have a thatched cottage.

Some advice on how to cope with several days of hot weather in Bristol, including a list of some cooler places and how the extreme weather impacts waste collections. news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releas...

Hot weather advice and service updates from Bristol City Council

news.bristol.gov.uk

Watching Question Time special re change to the 7th prime minister in a decade. Four person panel, 1 Labour, 1 Tory MP. I assume BBC tried all 72 Liberal Democrat MPs, all 80+ council leaders, found they all had prior engagements and turned in desperation to an unelected Reform gobshite & journalist

Seven Prime Ministers in ten years is a deep political problem - the biggest cause is our electoral system, totally unfit for multi-party politics, denying millions of people a voice and giving huge “majorities” to a party with a third of the vote, and an unmanageable government.

Joined the remaining Bristol Bus Boycott pioneers and their families at a new civil rights mural in North Street. The 1963 campaign for fair employment on Bristol buses led to the 1965 Race Relations Act.

Makerfield is the most consequential by election in a hundred years and the first to lead to the toppling of a Prime Minister since the Newport by election in 1922, which led to the exit of Lloyd George. Time for a second edition of this book @iaindale.bsky.social ?

Time for Britain to rejoin the EU Single Market, form a Customs Union and forge a stronger European defence pact. The Tory Brexit deal damaged our economy, Labour’s torpor and timidity has hampered recovery and Farage would make it all worse. The Liberal Democrat plan will make things better.

A day in York - first, a couple of churches, All Saints, Pavement, the city’s civic church and St Martin, bombed in WW2 and restored partially in the late 1960s, with a modern organ gifted by Germany.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Whitby Abbey.

Another fab Yorkshire country house visit, to Burton Agnes Hall, built by the Welsh origin Griffith family in 1601. Has a superb and eclectic art collection.

Castle Howard, one of my best ever days out. Wanted to go here since I was a teen viewer of Brideshead Revisted. Magnificent house and parkland.

Delighted to welcome @cllrzoe.bsky.social to the @bristollibdems.bsky.social council group. Zoe has today left Labour and joined us. She’s one of the brightest young talents on the council and will be a real asset to our group. @assoclibdemcllrs.bsky.social @libdemlocalgov.bsky.social

Hot sunshine outside but St Mary Redcliffe church was mercifully cool for the annual historic Rush Sunday Whitsun service. The service was founded in 1493 as annual sermon to the mayor and councillors. The floor is strewn with rushes and councillors are presented with posies.

Moved by young people’s messages on a thousand “empty shirts” on College Green, expressing feelings about the impact of violence on people in Bristol.

Visited Cowbridge Museum, had some photos and cartoons of when Lloyd George was given the freedom of the borough in 1930.

Historic event for Bristol and a lovely moment for all his colleagues as cllr Yassin Mohamud is sworn in as Lord Mayor of the city of Bristol and the first person of Somali origin to hold the post.

First elected to the council in Bristol 33 years ago today. Over periods in and out of office learnt something everyday and hopefully putting it all to good use back on the council now. Cllr official pics were still black and white then!

Best wishes to everyone on St George’s Day. England’s flag belongs to everyone and is a symbol of unity that represents all of us living in England. In Bristol we celebrate the many people, cultures and communities that make our city a welcoming, creative and vibrant place.

There are two sides to being a minister. Reactive - you read briefings, take advice and make a decision. Proactive - set your policy objectives, be curious, ask questions, and make a decision. Starmer seems to be a passive, uncurious man, in office without purpose.

Wishing the Jewish community in Bristol and the West of England, and across Britain a peaceful, happy and healthy Passover Chag Sameach!

Gave a talk at Westbury on Trym library on genealogy earlier this week so today took myself to Bridgwater to visit St Mary’s church where two of my great great grandparents married on Christmas Day in 1871.

Enjoyed meeting several refugees and asylum seekers who are making Bristol their home and the place for their future lives. Thanks MShed Museum, Bristol Mind, SARI and others for putting on the event. My colleague Andrew Varney was reunited with Saboor, who he taught English.

Lovely sunny day to be at the preview opening of the new gorilla enclosure at Bristol Zoo Project

Back from short break in York for a combination of Liberal Democracy and heritage site seeing. Fairfax house plus three great churches, Selby Abbey, Beverley Minster and of course York Minster.

About 40 years ago I remember being interested in a news story about the rescue of Calke Abbey mansion, which was also featured on Blue Peter. Today I finally got round to visiting, on my way to the Lib Dem spring conference. Thoroughly enjoyed it, including almost being blown over by the high wind.

Bristol marks Commonwealth Day. Our city is home to people from many of the 56 member states.

Been attending Bristol’s International Women’s Day. Met lots of groups doing important work in the city. On a panel incl Police Commissioner Clare Moody on “smashing the patriarchy” My answer was to dismantle and disempower it and to replace with much more diverse leadership in politics and society

The T20 Women’s World Cup comes to Bristol in 100 days. It felt like summer already at Gloucestershire county ground at the launch event. Bristol will host West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand, among others, bringing thousands of visitors to the city and encouraging more women and girls into sport.

Purim Sameach! Happy Purim to all my Jewish friends in Bristol and across the country.

Happy St David's Day to all my fellow Welsh people in Bristol and around the world. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus, pawb! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏵