LibDem Blogs - Archived!

I have written a chapter ("Histories of child abuse") of the book Making and Breaking Children's Lives, which was published on Monday by PCCS Books. Here are some details: Making and Breaking Children's Lives Edited by Craig Newnes and Nick RadcliffeISBN 1 898059 70 5Foreword by Oliver James Making and Breaking Children’s Lives examines how children are hurt in modern society. We hear much about the effects of early abandonment, abuse and lack of attachment, but find that children’s experiences are sanitised through medical diagnoses and frequently the "help" offered is prescription drugs. Nowhere is this more evident ...

The right to be protected from torture and ill-treatment must be considered side by side with the right to be protected from the death and destruction caused by indiscriminate terrorism.Speech by Charles Clarke, UK Home Secretary, to the European Parliament - 7 September 2005 The human body is the best picture of the human soul.Ludwig Wittgenstein

Susanne Lamido seems to like the clock that I've put on this blog. I got the idea after seeing one on Mike Oborski's Blog. Mike has reported that he is recovering from a cancer operation and it is good to see that he is back in action, posting on the blog and attending council meetings.

It's conference time again - Blackpool here we come. Every year, the famous conference packs seem thicker. Every conference the postmen have to make their rounds delivering the packs to delegates. It always a hassle to get hold of mine. The pack doesn't fit the letterbox and I'm inevitably out when it's delivered. I get that dreaded little card advising me to collect my package from the local delivery centre - don't know why they call it local, it's miles away and difficult to get to. Mail in this area is a bit hit and miss at the best of ...

With just over 3 weeks to go to the Livingston by Election the Tory party were the 8th or possibly 9th party to indicate the name of their candidate for the Livingston by election. The reason for the confusion is that the Socialist Party of Great Britain have also indicates they will stand a candidate. However the Tory candidate is Gordon Lindhurst who was their candidate for Linlithgow in 2001

"If Chewbacca the Wookie had played Spartacus, then that scene where all the Roman slaves stand up and say "I am Spartacus" would have been far less effective." Found on David Killick's excellent site, where he freely admits it's not one of his, either. Found by accident looking for sailor and explorer Adam Killick's site: Adam is a James Cook fan who lives in Newfoundland. Cook - a local hero

Plans by the Government to try and revive democracy by replacing ballot boxes with online e-elections have been abandoned. The change of heart came after trials of e-voting in local council elections showed systems were expensive, unreliable and open to abuse. Is this a u-turn forced on the government by the abuse their so-called reforms have attracted? Let us hope so. In the meantime if they really want to increase turnouts and encourage better engagement with the electorate then they might want to consider introducing the single transferable vote method of proportional representation for all Elections.

I have a new contender for quote of the week, one which I feel is going to have to surpass Bertie's effort. American national treasure and former First Lady, Barbara Bush has managed to see the bright side of tragedy on behalf of the people of New Orleans. "So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway. This is working very well for them ." I'm sure Babs is correct. I am reminded of Borat's linguistic anecdote: "in Kazakhstan, 'Bush' is the hair around the test-satchels and 'Barbara', is like to eat". Well, ...