The Battle of the Atlantic celebrations take place in Liverpool this bank holiday weekend - now you can download our special online guide to the event.

We've compiled all the information you will need into a handy pdf format that you can download to your phone or tablet device and keep with you through the weekend, ensuring you don't miss a thing.

As well as each detail and the timings of when events will happen, it also includes a map showing what ships will be where.

DOWNLOAD the guide here: BOA_pocket_guide[1].pdf

Liverpool Labour councillor Louise Badock is bidding to become an MP for her hometown of Stockton.

Cllr Baldock has represented the Kensington and Fairfield ward in Liverpool since 2006, and is up for re-election in 2014. She is currently the chair of the finance and resources select committee.

As a former member of Labour's National Executive Committee you'd have thought she stands a good chance of landing the nomination for the Stockton South seat.

You can check out Cllr Baldock's campaign website HERE and her Facebook site HERE.

Last week Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne MP made a speech to the think tank IPPR North putting full employment back at the heart of Labour's narrative on the economy and welfare.

The past few years - and the past six months in particular - it's sometimes felt like the progressive left has defined itself in reaction to what we're against - the benefits cap, bedroom tax, workfare.

We've perhaps been quicker to say what we're against and slower to set out a concrete alternative.

FORMER Thai president Thaksin Shinawatra said, following his deposition in 2006 while on a visit to the UK, that "I'm very disappointed by the mature-democracy countries. I was ousted by a coup d'etat."

In recent weeks, one of Merseyside's longest-serving political leaders, whom mature democracy placed at the helm of one of our councils several times over the course of four decades, was ousted, that being Cllr Marie Rimmer in St Helens.

However, without being too pedantic, Mr Brocklebank should point out that there were some subtle differences between how events unfolded in the Far East and how they unfolded just down the M62: for one, Mr Shinawatra left many thinking that perhaps he knew the coup was coming, given that he decided to take his family and most of his possessions with him on his trip to Britain (and his chequebook, too, for he went on to buy Manchester City while stuck for something to do).

There are huge links between music and the American Civil Rights Movement - nowhere more so than in Memphis, Tennessee.

As mentioned in my last post it was also the city where Martin Luther King Jr was shot.

On a recent visit to Memphis I toured the Stax Museum, which carries on the legacy of the famous Stax Records. In segregated America is was a rare haven where black and white people worked alongside each other as equals.

The studio spent 15 years across the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, turning out hit after hit from stars such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, Booker T, & the MGs, and many others.

It's legacy was almost lost when the studio was declared bankrupt in 1975. The museum opened 10 years ago to tell its story.

While in Memphis I sat in on a panel discussion with some of the big names from the Stax heyday. Here are some highlights about their memories of the studio and Martin Luther King Jr:

We like to talk about freedom a lot. And rightly so, because it is the cornerstone of human existence.

But it hasn't always been the case, and still isn't the case for too many still today.

I recently traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to write about a number of different aspects of the city and I thought I'd share some of my experiences.

And the story actually starts on my flight over to Newark (for a connection to Memphis), when I watched Lincoln on the inflight entertainment system.

Liverpool council has announced this afternoon that it has brought in a PR consultant, after failing to find anyone good enough to do the job full time.

Former head of PR at Coventry council Mark Fletcher-Brown will be paid £650-a-day for a total of 75 days work. He started at the end of March and will remain with the council until September.

On a pro-rata basis If Mr Fletcher-Brown were to work for the council five days a week for a year (260 days) he would pocket £169,000. As it is he will make £48, 750 for his 75 days.

Liverpool council describe him as a "leading communicator", who has worked with more than 75 public sector organisations. He describes himself as "commsmeister" on his Twitter profile. He is director of Reputation. You can also read more about Mr Fletcher-Brown on his Linkedin page.

There is quite a bit of talk of late, suggesting that Labour Party leadership should conduct behind-the-scenes talks with the Liberal Democrats about the possibility of having a coalition Government with them post-2015.

Frankly - I think a coalition between the Labour Party and the Lib Dems would be a travesty.

Another five year coalition may keep the media and political heavyweights excited, but the public do not have faith or trust in politicians as it is.

You probably missed this gem of a tweet from an account purporting to be from former Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley to current Lib Dem leader Richard Kemp.

He has however been quick to deny any involvement, which followed the defection of Rosie Jolly from the Lib Dems to Labour.

Her defection sparked an angry email from Cllr Kemp in which said her efforts had been "below what we expect of a Lib Dem councillor".

The user of twitter account @wazza23666 sent Cllr Kemp a message which stated: "you're a complete t*****, your quotes regarding Rosie just about sums you up. Once a d*** always a d***.......

MANY a Merseyside eyebrow was raised earlier this week by the revelation that the region's, ahem, sperm banks are running so low on resources that they've had to resort to drafting it in from... of all places, Manchester!

But the smirks that may be across the faces of many a Mancunian this week (and Mr Brocklebank can only imagine the chants of Manchester United fans from the Anfield terraces on their next visit) will not be limited to this particular story.