LibDem Blogs - Archived!

I got 111Mike Worthington ...Sorry Mike Bagnall got 184 Tamany Hall won.

Tonight on BBC4, Jerusalem: An Anthem for England: Complementing the Last Night of the Proms, this film looks at the popularity of one of England's favourite hymns and asks, should Jerusalem be adopted as a national anthem? BBC4, quiet isn't it? The answer to this is an obvious "yes", if only for the look on Ariel Sharon's face when our Prime Minister visits Israel and steps off the plane to

It will only be rescued if the Government announces a bill legalizing the hunting of social workers with dogs. You can tell it's autumn because tanned politicians have sleazed back onto the TV after summer hols. Sadly, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy popped up in the Guardian. Having not been heard of over the summer I'd hoped we (the Liberal Democrats) had gone and got a new leader with a metabolism that exceeds that of a tree-sloth, but no. Another parliamentary session of failing to put our foot on the neck of the ailing Conservative ...

Hands up anyone who remembers Les Kellet. Last year, Jonathan Calder reminded us that the popularity of sports can go down as well as up. He cited speedway and show jumping as examples of sports that once commanded the nation's attention but no longer do so. One sport that Jonathan didn't mention, but to which his argument applies, is wrestling (the 'all-in' variety with Big Daddy and Giant

A forgotten figure of post-war British politics is Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller, Tory Attorney-General from 1954 to 1962, then (as Lord Dilhorne) Lord Chancellor from 1962 to 1964. He was a notoriously aggressive prosecutor of Official Secrets cases - the satirist Bernard Levin nicknamed him "Sir Reginald Bullying-Manner" (and later "Lord Stillborn"). His daughter, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller,

Earlier this week I heard Ruth Kelly say that her department is "responsible for parenting". So did Martin Young: Oddly though, I took my son out on a train-trip to Cheltennam yesterday and most of the parents we saw were busy being responsible themselves. Even in Ruth's absence.Quite. But give New Labour a few more years...

A relatively clever identity fraud was found today. Someone re-registered someone else's electoral roll entry from Yardley to Sparkbrook. Then they applied for 3 credit cards. As far as I can tell no money was charged to the cards and the police have been involved. The response of the police appears to be that they are not sure what offence has been created. I would think myself that it is a

After reading the BBC's story about the possible return of the fuel protestors, I described them as "self interested fools with regard only for their own pockets. Thugs, bullies and racketeers". Then somebody asked me why... The fuel protestors, despite their claims to be representing "motorists" are largely made up of commercial hauliers. Their complaint is not about the price of fuel as an

Everyone in the USA from the President downwards seems to agree that the response to the Katrina disaster was, at best, inadequate. Disagreement is about the "why" and the "who", and that debate seems to be taking a predictably partisan course. Needless to say, the White House and Fox TV are leading the smear campaigns. For a more intelligent analysis, read this Actually Existing posting. Phil

Welsh Education Minister, Jane Davidson, today sought to bring some clarity to the debate on powers that will pass to her in April, to close down sixth forms around Wales. However, her letter to the Western Mail raised more questions than it answered.She is now arguing that "Elwa's power to propose changes to sixth form provision under the Learning and Skills Act covers circumstances in which such reorganisations may embrace more than one local authority or involve a foundation or voluntary aided school or a further education institution. Such proposals would be beyond the powers of any one local authority ...

Brian Gardner, The Socialist Party Candidate, as apposed to the Scottish Socialist party, has started a by election blog. So I take it that is another candidate throwing their hat officially into the ring to join the Lib Dems, Labour, Tories, SNP, SSP, UKIP, Greens. Making 8 so far clearly with names.

Last night in the persistant drizzle I completed a goal I never though I ever would. As a Liberal Democrat in West Lothian I have delivered to each of the houses I ever seriously considered buying. Last night while out in Fauldhouse I completed the set. The house when I last saw it was overgrown with ivy through the upper floor no bathroom a terrible kithcen and a number of trees threathening to