LibDem Blogs - Archived!

We were paged to be told that Patsy Calton was swearing in at 3:30. Went along as also wanted to sit on on the early speeches in the Health and Education debate. I knew that Pats had been ill and I knew what the problem was and in my heart of hearts I knew that she would probably, physically, be showing the effects of that illness. Theory is one thing but the reality was heartbreaking and a

David Laws has started off by arranging team meetings for 8:30 in the morning which is practically unheard of. He has a point though as there are unlikely to be many diary clashes.

I am not one to worry about the tabloid hate figure of the week, but it's hard to resist Julie Atkins. She is the mother whose three daughters gave birth aged 12, 14 and 16. Her grandchildren's names are Amani, T-Jay and Lita, but it's a free country. She was on the regional TV news here in the East Midlands last night, complaining that she has been unfairly treated and misquoted by the press. I am quite prepared to believe it, but I could not help laughing when she said: "I never said I blamed the school. It's the government's ...

As somebody who supported the establishment of the Welsh Assembly because I wished to see greater democratisation of government in Wales, I have a great deal of sympathy with the merging of Quangos such as the WDA, the Wales Tourist Board and ELWa with the Welsh Assembly Government. However, in his criticism of that move Professor Kevin Morgan has identified an important point.His first point is most telling. He says that real accountability relies on real scrutiny. A narrow and self-referential scrutiny system based solely on accountability to ministers will create a democratic deficit. Insufficient time and competence to deal ...

A typical Boris Johnson blog entry, you just can't beat 'em.Any chance we can make him a national treasure?PS. Yes, I know he is a Tory, but still, the guy is a legend.

Labour Party apologists who have commented to postings on this site have been at pains to stress that their party machine has no choice but to expel supporters of Peter Law MP AM. After all it is in the party rules. However, the purge seems to be spreading beyond this group of people.Elena Evans, a Labour Party member in the Islwyn Constituency for 20 years now faces expulsion for writing a letter to the Western Mail. In her letter she complained about hypocrisy and double standards in the Party but at no point did she advocate voting for Peter ...

This one is strictly for those with an interest in the internal policy debates of the Liberal Democrats. (If you are going to fall asleep in here, do please try not to snore.) The Westminster Bookshop says it has got hold of new stocks of last year's The Orange Book, the oddly timed collection of essays from some of the brighter Lib Dem MPs. Some regarded it as the work of the Devil, but see my more measured review here.

Charles Clarke is trying to sell us the insidious ID card scheme again. Basically the message is along the lines of 'it's not that bad - it's not compulsory and we're not going to include too much data'. Mr Clarke, the detail is almost irrelevant. Once you have an ID card in place you can easily: Increase the scope of data held Make it compulsory Increase the cost Make the data available to other groups or agencies All on the basis that 'it's in the national interest'. The only ...

This dispute in Liverpool is interesting because it it not unique. I have heard of a large number of instances when Council Officers (and particularly senior council officers) have used the Standards Board as a threat against Councillors. In at least three authorities the leader of the council has been removed from office for things which vary, but would not normally be judged as being

Following Simon Hughes's criticism of his party's local income tax policy on Sunday, some of his fellow Lib Dem MPs have begun to fight back. In a story headed Flagship Tax Policy Must Stay, Say Top Lib Dems, the Scotsman reports that the Liberal Democrats will not abandon this policy after all. Senior Liberal Democrats today insisted it was "inconceivable" their flagship tax policy could be