LibDem Blogs - Archived!

Still on the Guardian's website, however, is today's article about Adam Curtis showing his documentary series at Cannes: "What happens on US TV now is that you have a theatre of confrontation so that people avoid having to seriously analyse what the modern world is like - perhaps because of the emotional shock of September 11," says Curtis. "People take so-called left or right positions and shout at each other. It's almost like the court of Louis XIV - people taking elaborate positions and not thinking very much."

It seems that the Guardian has pulled Duncan Campbell's article on the ricin plot that never was. I discussed it in this post. The Register has the details and will also point you to sites where you can still read it.

Delighted to see Labour MEPs standing up to their party whip to end the ludicrous opt-out clause in the European Working Time directive. As many people will know, the so-called voluntary opt-out is too often made a condition of being offered employment in the first place. No doubt I'll get a sackful of right wing email now! Only the Greeks currently work longer hours than us, and 48 hours is plenty enough for anyone to be expected to work in 21st century Britain. Director-General of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones claims that this about 'freedom of choice'. Anyone who chooses ...

I spent a fascinating morning at a Conference in Swansea organised by Homeless Link Cymru on homelessness and health care. I only had time to listen to the keynote speech by Social Justice Minister, Edwina Hart, and an absorbing presentation by Dr. Kay Saunders, a GP in Butetown, Cardiff who specialises in dealing with homeless people, before heading up the M4 for a Committee meeting. What became clear from the presentation was that the provision of health services for the homeless is patchy in parts and non existent in the main across Wales. Dr. Saunders is the only doctor ...

Outside a local yacht club: "D'you want that boat? You can have it for nowt, could do it up and it'd be alright. The feller that owns it's gone to Thailand to get married. 85 he is, his sons are a right pair of bastards. He was there for that soo-mani. Sent us a postcard, told us about everything except that bastard great big wave. Turns out he flew 35 missions over germany in Lancasters, so I don't suppose owt scares him any more..."

The Western Mail reports today the Tory Assembly leader, Nick Bourne, has been accused of wasting taxpayers' money after it emerged he had tabled 135 written questions to Ministers in a week - at a cost of £22,545. Apparently, this is the equivalent to the weekly wage of a Premiership footballer. I think I am going to start work on my ball skills straight away.Both parties seem to have a point in this row. Labour whip, Karen Sinclair, is right that some of the questions that have been asked by Mr. Bourne are purely factual and could ...

We were teasing him about whether he had lined up the Hello coverage. Many a true word spoken in jest and he mentioned the names of some people who would be receiving an invitation because "Hello wanted a few more celebrities" - he then hastily pointed out that they were all friends any way. As someone pointed out "it's bad enough feeling obliged to invite Uncle Jack and assorted relatives

It used to be almost a tradition that as many people as possible ate together, in Members Dining Room, after the Wednesday evening parliamentary party meeting. Although it was before my time I am told that it was almost a three line whip when Paddy Ashdown led the party - it was useful to know what was going on and it was a useful opportunity to lobby Paddy. The tradition has gone into something

Phew, at least this means that my blog, and LibDemBlogs are OK. Just wish more people took this view. By having the BBC News links on my site, I'm not stealing readers, but providing them.