tag:,2008:/726 2008-11-24T18:27:39Z Mark Thomas writes from the editor’s chair at the Liverpool Daily Post Movable Type Enterprise 4.21-en tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://726.107452 2008-11-24T17:53:52Z 2008-11-24T18:27:39Z

The big headlines in today's pre-budget statement had been so well trailed in "leaks" to the Sunday papers and the BBC that the reduction in VAT to 15% and the planned increase in income tax for high earners to 45p...

Mark Thomas The big headlines in today's pre-budget statement had been so well trailed in "leaks" to the Sunday papers and the BBC that the reduction in VAT to 15% and the planned increase in income tax for high earners to 45p in the pound came as no surprise this afternoon. The VAT move will free up £12.5bn for consumers, always assuming that retailers are a bit fairer with their customers than the banking community and pass the reductions on in full. That has to be good news, both for the retail and manufacturing sectors. It should be particularly welcome for the motor industry, representing a significant saving on the cost of new cars, and will hopefully therefore benefit Jaguar and Vauxhall here on Merseyside. We will have to pay for it in the long term, of course, which is why measures like the 0.5% increase in national insurance for all taxpayers, and the proposed 45p tax rate for people earning more than £150,000 a year have come in. Mr Darling has obviously calculated that the mood of the British people has swung against the high earners who, I heard it stated on the radio this very morning "are to blame for the mess we are in". That may be true in some cases, but people on high earnings tend to include the entrepreneurs and business superstars who help drive the economy, people whose skills will be vital when Britain eventually starts to recover. It is to be hoped we don't face a return to the bad old days of a brain drain of our brightest and best to countries with more enlightened fiscal policies. There is plenty in the fine print that should also be helpful, like putting a hold on the planned increase in corporation tax for small businesses from 21% to 22%, and Mr Darling's announcement that lenders have agreed to give struggling homeowners three months grace on mortgage arrears before taking repossession action. One can understand the social argument for putting up the duty on tobacco and alcohol to cancel out the VAT reduction - but I have to say, I am less convinced of the wisdom of doing the same thing to petrol. In all cases, it is to be hoped he remembers to take the duty increase off again when the VAT goes back up. (Fat chance, I hear you cry!) Yes, the environment is important, but so are the road hauliers who help keep our economy on the move, and they could have done with the added stimulus of this cut, even if oil prices are dramatically down on the highs of this summer. But the bottom line on all this is that the British economy, like the global economy, is in crisis on a scale unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. Whatever the political and social arguments for and against today's package, the acid test will be if it helps to mitigate some of the effects of the recession, and pull us out of it sooner. If it does that, then there can be few real arguments that it was the right thing to do. We must all keep our fingers crossed. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.57929 2008-10-09T14:50:08Z 2008-10-09T15:10:32Z

I hope many of you who use our websites have been finding their way onto the two live blogs we are running at the moment, on the world economic crisis and on the Rhys Jones trial. As regular visitors to...

Mark Thomas I hope many of you who use our websites have been finding their way onto the two live blogs we are running at the moment, on the world economic crisis and on the Rhys Jones trial. As regular visitors to liverpooldailypost.co.uk will know, we have been experimenting with live blogs for some months now - one of the many pioneering innovations we have brought you. Now I'd like to hear what you think about them. I think it is a great way for us to interact with our audience, pretty much instantaneously, as events unfold. From the Liverpool Sounds Concert and La Machine to a day in the life of the production of our newspaper, we've found it a great way to keep you updated and informed, answer your questions and bring events to life for people who can't be there in person. They are still online, too, as a lasting reminder of some pretty exciting days. In terms of the world economic crisis, we've pooled resources with some of the other Trinity Mirror morning newspapers around the UK's major cities to bring you news and expert analysis, and a platform for your own comments, questions and concerns. The Rhys Jones trial is attracting understandable and widespread interest, and our online, up to the minute coverage will ensure that nobody who wants to follow the case will miss any of the developments. In this case, because of the legal rules we have to observe, we can't throw it open by publishing your comments and questions during the trial, but do please still send them to us. We can respond privately to your questions, and will look to publish some of the most interesting comments when the trial is over. I would also really welcome feedback from you on how useful or engaging you find our live blogs, and what you would like to see us do to improve them. Just fill in the comment box at the bottom of this article and send it in. It would help us with our efforts to give you the website you want, and I would be delighted to hear from you. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.55785 2008-09-11T13:18:57Z 2008-09-17T15:39:47Z

It was great, and not a little surprising, to see England perform so well in their 4-1 away win against Croatia last night. I also thought, though, that it was quite instructive to hear the way the Croatian supporters reacted...

Mark Thomas It was great, and not a little surprising, to see England perform so well in their 4-1 away win against Croatia last night. I also thought, though, that it was quite instructive to hear the way the Croatian supporters reacted as it became clear they were to lose their first ever home competitive international fixture. Now admittedly, droves of them headed for the exit long before the final whistle, as their chances of salvaging something from the match evaporated. But those that stayed continued to chant, cheer and do all in their power to urge on their side. What a sharp contrast to the behaviour of home England fans, particularly since our national side has returned to the rebuilt Wembley stadium. Fabio Capello talked before the match about how the England players preferred away fixtures. That is perhaps unsurprising when the first bad touch by a player is sometimes jeered and derided by his own supposed fans at home matches. I know the crazily inflated wages earned by our top players make a lot of supporters believe they have the right to expect a perfect performance every time they play. While I would agree that total effort should be the least we can expect, I also think that confidence plays a huge part in allowing players to really play to the peak of their talents. If Capello can coax a few more performances like last night's out of his team, some of the doubts and fears that seem to paralyse their performances at Wembley should start to fade, but that process will certainly be helped if "supporters" remember the definition of the word, and try to support rather than destroy the players they are watching. Next time England turn out at Wembley, memories of last night should ensure them a rousing welcome. Let's hope the crowd can keep their patience and enthusiasm if the side is drawing nil-nil with twenty minutes to go. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.55415 2008-09-05T18:01:28Z 2008-09-05T18:04:15Z

The radio airwaves and website forums of Merseyside have been buzzing with angry reaction to our announcement that we are shifting printing of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo to Oldham. Much of the indignation stems from misunderstandings, so today...

Mark Thomas The radio airwaves and website forums of Merseyside have been buzzing with angry reaction to our announcement that we are shifting printing of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo to Oldham. Much of the indignation stems from misunderstandings, so today we would like to set the record straight. Our newspapers will continue to be researched, written, designed and created in the heart of Liverpool, to provide the best and most in depth news coverage of Merseyside. Hundreds of people will continue to be employed by us here in Liverpool to achieve that. Our company has decided that we will in future print the newspapers in Oldham - which, as anyone who lives there would tell you, is as much a part of Manchester as Southport is of Liverpool. That hard decision was taken to keep our business viable in the very difficult economic circumstances the world is facing at present. Our current presses at our Old Hall Street base are reaching the end of their useful lives, and the cost of replacing them here would have been astronomical. Our company owns a print works in Oldham, which we can expand for £7.5m to cover our Liverpool printing needs - a fraction of the cost of rebuilding from scratch in this city. That has a direct impact on around 100 of our loyal, committed and hard-working colleagues here in Liverpool. Some will be able to take new jobs in Oldham if they choose, but others face redundancy. That is a cause of enormous regret to all of us here, but there is simply no alternative if our newspapers are to continue to be printed. To those who suggested that they would not read our newspapers again because of this decision, we can only ask what they think this will achieve? Our commitment as champions for the Liverpool city region is not changed one iota by this sad but inevitable business decision. We hope you will continue to support us, too. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.54743 2008-08-27T14:57:11Z 2008-08-27T15:09:42Z

I couldn't help but feel a little bit sad this afternoon, as I wondered back up Old Hall Street towards the office from the sandwich shop and saw a Superlambanana being put on a low loader ready to be towed...

Mark Thomas I couldn't help but feel a little bit sad this afternoon, as I wondered back up Old Hall Street towards the office from the sandwich shop and saw a Superlambanana being put on a low loader ready to be towed away. The 10 week Go Superlambananas festival is drawing to a close, and over the next couple of days the 120 Superlambs are being collected up from their locations across the city. Many of them will be back for one last appearance, when 70 of them are paraded on St George's Plateau on September 8-9, before they are finally auctioned off for charity. I think the imagination demonstrated in so many different bright, witty designs has been fantastic, and they have brought a smile to everyone's faces this summer. The processions of parents and children "doing the Superlambanana tour" armed with a camera to get souvenir pictures with as many of the models as possible have become part of the landscape of the city centre, and they must have been a major boon for mothers and fathers trying to think of ways to entertain their children during the school summer holidays. Everyone has enjoyed having them around, and as we revealed recently, thought is being given to the creation of a second generation of more durable Superlambs, and giving them a more permanent home in the city. I hope it happens. The city will feel a little bare for a while, as we all have to get used to the sight of our streets without their special summer guests. Whether you are a visitor or a resident, something about the sight of a Superlambanana really cheers you up. And that has to be a good thing. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.54508 2008-08-22T14:51:30Z 2008-08-22T15:29:52Z

This is agony! I have just had a sneak preview of a secret that is going to blow everyone away next month, and I can't tell you what it is. For a journalist, this is a subtle form of torture....

Mark Thomas This is agony! I have just had a sneak preview of a secret that is going to blow everyone away next month, and I can't tell you what it is. For a journalist, this is a subtle form of torture. We want to tell people exciting and interesting things that they don't already know. It's how we make our living, but more than that, it's our passion - the buzz that drives us on. French artistic company. The food - and I'm talking lavish salads, beef bourguignon, a wonderful cassoulet - was to die for. If you could get tables at this place, they would be queueing round the block!) Anyway, the great reveal comes on Friday, September 5. It will be a moment of fantastic theatre - as long as nobody blabs and spoils the moment. The other day a picture grabbed by an enterprising amateur photographer came in to us, and for a moment our hearts sank. It was a great piece of initiative by the photographer in question to get this picture, of La Princess in rehearsal. But if it was published, it would ruin the surprise for thousands of people. I rang him up, and I'm pleased to say he was a good guy who got the point immediately and promised the secret was as safe with him as it has been with us, and our friends in the rest of the local media like the BBC, Radio City, Granada TV and our own sister paper the Liverpool Echo. We all want this to be great, and that is why we are not going to be the ones to spoil the big surprise. In the unlikely event that you happen to stumble across the big secret, I'd urge you to keep it too. But one thing I can tell you. Ring Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7 in your diary, and be ready to come to Liverpool, and bring your kids. It will be special. ]]> tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.51972 2008-07-16T13:50:32Z 2008-07-16T14:57:24Z

I took a trip to Royal Birkdale last night, after being invited to the Golf Writers' Annual Dinner, and it has certainly whetted my appetite for the weekend ahead. We were entertained by speeches from Peter Allis, Europe's Ryder Cup...

Mark Thomas I took a trip to Royal Birkdale last night, after being invited to the Golf Writers' Annual Dinner, and it has certainly whetted my appetite for the weekend ahead. We were entertained by speeches from Peter Allis, Europe's Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo, and reigning Open champion Padraig Harrington - a fantastic line-up for a golf nut like me! The tented village is looking very impressive, and from the odd glimpse I got of the famous links themselves, the place looks in fine fettle. There are some tough decisions to be made over the next few days, with the Tall Ships on the Mersey and the world's best golfers slugging it out up the road. If ever there was a case of wanting to be in two places at once, this is it. It's a great problem to have, though, and another reminder of what a remarkable year 2008 is turning out to be. We would love to hear from you with your experiences of the Open, and I hope lots of you will participate in our live blog coverage of all four days of the Tall Ships visit to the Mersey. And whatever you do, get out there and enjoy it all! tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.50994 2008-07-03T14:52:28Z 2008-07-03T15:03:15Z

The Liverpool Daily Post recently picked up an award for its innovative newspaper website, liverpooldailypost.co.uk We won it because we are constantly innovating, taking advantage of the latest technological breakthroughs to keep our historic brand at the forefront of the...

Mark Thomas The Liverpool Daily Post recently picked up an award for its innovative newspaper website, liverpooldailypost.co.uk We won it because we are constantly innovating, taking advantage of the latest technological breakthroughs to keep our historic brand at the forefront of the digital revolution that is sweeping the newspaper industry. Listen to the podcast here]]> tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.47504 2008-05-21T13:59:31Z 2008-05-21T17:37:28Z

China seems to have been flitting across my personal horizon quite a lot over the last week or so. We've all been moved by the coverage of the earthquake tragedy in Sichuan, with the focus on individual human stories managing...

Mark Thomas China seems to have been flitting across my personal horizon quite a lot over the last week or so. We've all been moved by the coverage of the earthquake tragedy in Sichuan, with the focus on individual human stories managing to personalise so effectively the enormous, almost incomprehensible death toll. These awful events, and the desperate relief efforts, were only too fresh in the minds of the audience last Friday night at St George's Hall for the recording of the second of this year's BBC Radio Four Reith Lectures, Chinese Vistas. The lectures are being delivered by Professor Jonathan Spence, an Englishman who has made the USA his home and is the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University and one of the world's foremost experts on Chinese history. It is quite a coup to have one of these lectures in Liverpool in this, their sixtieth anniversary year. Two of the four lectures are taking place in London, and the other one in New York. Liverpool was chosen because of its strong historical ties with China, and of course because of our European Capital of Culture Year. The lecture itself, on the subject "English Lessons", was very thought-provoking, and flagged up some issues about our past relations with the Chinese which do not necessarily reflect our nation in the best possible light. Interesting audience, too, with some excellent questions from members of Liverpool's diverse Chinese community, and from a Wirral sixth form student currently studying Mandarin, with a clear view to the burgeoning business opportunity China represents. The lectures will be broadcast on Radio Four and the World Service next month. Fast forward, skipping over Saturday, and my regular visit to Chinese doctor Juli Xiang for an acupuncture session at her Hoylake clinic (she's wonderful, by the way, if anyone has ever considered seeking out acupuncture from a genuine medical expert in the field), and yesterday I was visited by Dr Kerry Brown, Chief Operating Officer of the Liverpool Shanghai Partnership. We had a fascinating discussion about the growing economic power of China and the opportunities it represents for Liverpool. Kerry worked in China for several years, and has a level of insight into the workings of the Chinese state and its people that represent a valuable asset for the Partnership and for Liverpool. He told me, for instance, that the population of Shanghai is now growing at around half a million a year - more than the population of Liverpool - and that there are now more Chinese language websites in the world than any other language. The emergence of China as an economic superpower, probably the pre-eminent economy of the 21st century, is going to have an impact on all our lives. It is a very different country, with a very different outlook on world affairs and of course on human rights issues. Seeing the way it has thrown open its borders and welcomed support and help from the international community in the wake of the earthquake disaster is heartening, and in sharp contrast to events in Burma. But it is still, by western standards, an authoritarian and repressive country, and the way it interacts with us in the years to come is going to be as fascinating as it is unpredictable. There are some very interesting developments in terms of Liverpool's own relationship with China in the wings, news of which we hope to be able to bring you in the Liverpool Daily Post in the next couple of weeks. The editorial team will be using that as the peg for a more in-depth exploration of Liverpool's historical, current, and future links with China. Should be intriguing stuff, and we would be very interested in hearing from you with your own stories and experiences of China, whether they be family connections or your own business relationships with the country and its people. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.46526 2008-05-12T12:34:50Z 2008-05-12T12:55:15Z

I'm on the warpath. I make no apologies. If you can't use a blog to have a damned good rant from time to time, then what's the point of having one? The target of my ire is the unbelievable, moronic...

Mark Thomas I'm on the warpath. I make no apologies. If you can't use a blog to have a damned good rant from time to time, then what's the point of having one? The target of my ire is the unbelievable, moronic idiots who managed to turn my morning dog walk today into a rather unpleasant experience. My dog Dyson is getting on a bit now, but he does look forward to his morning stroll on Wirral's Moreton common and along the sea wall. We do this through rain and shine, and have battled through some pretty miserable weather over the last few months, so I was really looking forward to the rare treat of striding out in the sunshine in shirtsleeves for a change. But what confronted us when we got there? A sea wall not just littered, but absolutely strewn, with food cartons, crushed beer cans and bottles, many of them shattered into nasty little green shards. This walk is a wonderful free resource for everyone, and at weekends like the one we have just enjoyed, the place is bustling with people out to take the air and enjoy the view or some exercise. It is also a magnet for some spectacular sea birds, and there are often a healthy smattering of bird watchers out among the joggers, cyclists and my fellow dog walkers. Sadly it appears as though this weekend the warm weather has attracted some people who can't enjoy such a delightful resource without wrecking it for themselves and others. I would imagine some poor souls from Wirral council's environmental team will have the unpleasant job of getting out and tidying it all up before it causes injury to people and pets, or damage to the wildlife. It is sad that our council tax money has to be used on this job, because if people had the basic decency to take their rubbish home with them or dispose of it properly, there would not be a job for them to do in the first place. What should have been a relaxing walk for me ended up not being great for my blood pressure. I just can't understand the mentality of people who can be this inconsiderate and stupid. If any of them are reading this, I hope they feel ashamed, but I doubt if they have the imagination. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.45846 2008-05-02T17:51:34Z 2008-05-02T17:54:43Z

It has been a while since we have had a local election in Liverpool that has produced much in the way of drama or excitement, but this year always promised to be different, and it did not disappoint. The Liberal...

Mark Thomas It has been a while since we have had a local election in Liverpool that has produced much in the way of drama or excitement, but this year always promised to be different, and it did not disappoint. The Liberal Democrats have had a tough year, dominated by the fall-out from the Mathew Street fiasco, and Labour seriously fancied their chances of resting the city away from overall Lib Dem control. And they succeeded - for a few minutes. Then, like a rabbit from a hat, the Lib Dems produced disaffected former Labour councillor Natalie Stewart, and control of the city was back in their hands. It was a very close call, and it is perhaps not surprising that Council leader Warren Bradley now faces a challenge for his position from within the ranks of his party. For those of us who observe political events in the city from a neutral perspective, the worst case scenario from this election would have been a hung council. That would have led to rows, controversy and deals being struck to secure votes, with minority party representatives finding themselves holding a disproportionate degree of power. Liverpool needs clear leadership, and certainly does not need endless political in-fighting to marr such an important year in terms of the city’s future well-being. However, so slender is the Lib-Dem hold on Liverpool now that it would only take one councillor to cross the benches, or a change of control of one seat in a by-election, to throw everything back in the melting pot. Whoever is to lead the party, and therefore the city, needs to be capable of ambassadorial skills of the highest order to help Liverpool capitalise to the maximum on its 2008 opportunity. He or she will also need the tact and patience to keep every member of the Lib Dem group happy, content, and on-message. It is no small task. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.45421 2008-04-29T06:45:37Z 2008-04-29T06:47:35Z

LOOKED at from the perspective of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the national strike – the first in 21 years – will no doubt be considered a success. The walk-out by thousands of teachers closed or partially closed up...

Mark Thomas LOOKED at from the perspective of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the national strike – the first in 21 years – will no doubt be considered a success. The walk-out by thousands of teachers closed or partially closed up to 8,000 schools in England and Wales, forcing working parents to stay at home or find childcare. In Liverpool, every secondary school except one was closed. Meanwhile, thousands of school children will have no doubt enjoyed an unexpected extra day off from the classroom. But, as far as everyone else is concerned, what exactly has this strike achieved? The NUT is demanding a 4.1% pay rise, rather than the 2.45% on offer, with leaders describing the one-day strike as the opening move in what will be a long- term campaign over pay. However, quite apart from the disruption in schools, the effects on the wider economy could also be serious, with working parents forced to stay off work to look after children as schools lie empty. It is estimated that businesses could lose at least £68m in lost working hours, plus the additional disruption of having to fill in for absent staff. The teachers’ strike is just part of a wider manifestation of discontent with the Government’s pay policy, with teachers being joined by lecturers, civil and public servants, disrupting thousands of schools, colleges, Jobcentres and Whitehall departments. This is despite government figures showing that wages of public sector workers have risen faster than those of people in the private sector. It is important that both the Government and all those who are protesting about its plans to reform public sector pay get to grips with a situation which will only do children’s education, and the wider economy, a great deal of harm if it is not settled soon. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.45052 2008-04-23T19:12:56Z 2008-04-29T06:47:36Z

What great news today to learn that Rod Holmes has been appointed as the new chairman of The Mersey Partnership. All too often we find ourselves in the newspaper business having to question the wisdom of eyebrow-raising appointments to senior...

Mark Thomas What great news today to learn that Rod Holmes has been appointed as the new chairman of The Mersey Partnership. All too often we find ourselves in the newspaper business having to question the wisdom of eyebrow-raising appointments to senior roles in public life, so it makes a refreshing change, as the advert used to say, to be able to applaud a really excellent choice. Regular readers of our website or the Liverpool Daily Post newspaper will be familiar with Rod as the man who has been at the heard of the £1bn Grosvenor Liverpool One project, set to open its first phase at the end of next month. It has been a project so big, and of such complexity, that it almost defies belief, but Rod has not only managed to co-ordinate the whole project, but to do so with a quiet, calm authority that few facing such a challenge could match. You won't find Rod shouting from the rooftop of Debenhams about his achievements, either. He is a consumate networker, who has been a fine ambassador for Grosvenor at countless public and civic events, but he is always as quiet and unassuming as he is courteous and gentlemanly. He is no softy though. You don't do the kind of job he has done without having an edge of steel. I find Rod a thoroughly likeable chap, but he has certainly not been shy of letting me know about it on the rare occasion when we have got a fact wrong about the project in the Daily Post. The Mersey Partnership is the key agency charged with bringing inward investment to the Liverpool City Region, as well as promoting us as a tourist destination. Rod is not a native of Liverpool, but he has certainly taken the city to his heart, and joins a distinguished list of able and gifted "foreigners" who we have been proud to welcome as adopted Liverpudlians. It is great to know that, in this high profile new role, he will be continuing to work for the good of Liverpool. If his work with TMP is anything like as impressive as the job he has done with Liverpool One, we can look forward to even brighter days ahead as our regeneration continues. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.42408 2008-03-26T18:16:52Z 2008-04-29T06:47:36Z

SO the makers of the world’s cheapest car now own one of the most famous luxury marques on the road. Tata, the Indian firm that has brought us the £1,300 Tata Nano car, has sealed a £1.15bn deal with Ford...

Mark Thomas SO the makers of the world’s cheapest car now own one of the most famous luxury marques on the road. Tata, the Indian firm that has brought us the £1,300 Tata Nano car, has sealed a £1.15bn deal with Ford for the sale of Land Rover and Jaguar. The agreement, although long expected and much discussed, will no doubt be the subject of hand-wringing and clever quips among so-called petrolhead television presenters. But to bemoan sale of these two brands to a lesser-known name (at least as far as the Western motor industry is concerned) is to lose sight of a fundamental truth: realistically, just how many credible buyers were there for Jaguar? This is a brand synonymous with luxury and prestige yet it has not flourished in recent years. Now Tata is prepared to invest in, develop and protect the Jaguar name - the company has made clear it is not about to move production to India - and we should all wish them well in this endeavour. It is heartening to read the congratulations of India’s commerce and industry who lauded the Tata family for flying the flag for the sub-continent’s private sector. And it is wonderful news that not only are the workers in the Halewood factory able to feel their jobs are now safe, but colleagues in the nearby transmission plant have also been given assurances for their future. Jaguar has been making losses for years now and Ford had struggled to turn that trend around. For a some time now the Jaguar name has been burdened with Mondeo comparisons, something BMW and Mercedes have never had to contend with in trying to market their luxe models. Meanwhile, Land Rover is thriving and sales are on the up - particularly in the Freelander market. Tata has come in and snared a tasty morsel in Land Rover. For the good of the British motor industry we should wish them well and hope they have not bitten off more than they can chew in acquiring the Big Cat as well. tag:www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk,2008://260.41334 2008-03-14T14:20:34Z 2008-04-29T06:47:36Z

An appeal was launched today to open a new school for bullied children in Liverpool, to carry the name of murder victim James Bulger, who would have celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, March 16. His mother, Denise Fergus, has...

Mark Thomas An appeal was launched today to open a new school for bullied children in Liverpool, to carry the name of murder victim James Bulger, who would have celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, March 16. His mother, Denise Fergus, has given her full support to the £1m campaign by the Red Balloon charity. I was covering Liverpool as a reporter for the Press Association when James was abducted and killed by schoolboys Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in 1993, and I went on to write a book about the case, working in co-operation with Denise and her family and the Merseyside Police squad who investigated it. I suppose I can claim to have been as close to that awful tragedy as any journalist could have been. It goes without saying that it was unbelievably harrowing for James's parents and wider family, and I don't think anyone whose life was touched by the case, however peripherally, was not left deeply affected by it. When a story becomes as big as this one was, attracting headlines around the world, it never really ends. Years of international legal debate followed the conviction of the killers by an adult court, and then of course there was the controversy surrounding their eventual release back into society. But even when nothing material has happened, there always seems to be another anniversary coming around to remind everyone of the full horror of what happened. Every time, all the terrible memories of those dark days of 1993 come flooding back, even for me. Sometimes I find it a little disquieting. The anniversary of a notorious murder will not be lost on the relatives of the victim as a time of fresh mourning and deep reflection. What is really served by digging over the coals of the case in the media, other than fuelling our own morbid fascination as a society with such terrible events? This, however, is different. The 18th birthday of her late son could have been a day for Denise to mourn privately, in which case she should have the right to do so untroubled by the glare of media attention. She has chosen, however, to use the occasion in a powerfully positive way, by utilising the nation's deep and enduring sympathy for what she went through in the loss of her son to create something important and meaningful as a permanent reminder of his life. She hasn't chosen the easiest course, but she has certainly chosen a courageous one. I hope everyone supports her in her aim, and that its outcome is successful. If you would like to support this appeal, you can send a cheque or postal order payable to Red Balloon James Bulger House Appeal, to Red Balloon James Bulger House Appeal, PO Box 1305, Liverpool, L69 3LB. You can also make a donation via the Red Balloon website, www.redballoonlearner.co.uk