LibDem Blogs - Archived!

Via Jonathan Calder, I bring you Tim Ireland’s Art of Looking Concerned. It’s easy to take the piss when it’s Tories, but I’m uncomfortably aware that a) this is the sort of thing that the Lib Dems run extensive training courses on at conferences, etc. and b) that I began looking at the photos from [...]

Larry Elliott writes in today's Guardian about agricultural subsidies and free trade: The story of Europe's pampered cows is a familiar one but always worth retelling. Each head of cattle in Europe gets a subsidy from the taxpayer worth $2.20 a day at a time when half the world's population - 3 billion people in all - scrapes by on an income of less that that. Rightly, the comparison has been a cause of outrage, and is one of the reasons why the European Union has been under pressure in the current round of global trade talks to make ...

Last Sunday was my second attempt at speaking at Speakers corner; I wouldnt say that I was any better prepared than last time, but a little bit of confidence and familiarity helped me give a better speech than my previous faltering feeble attempt. We even managed to attract a member the press who observed [...]

by Jabez Clegg How Tuesday afternoon might look. Lou: "So here's your ballot paper... you've got four choices. Now, which one are you going to vote for?" Andy: "That one!" [points to Fox's name] L: "Liam Fox. Now are you sure?" A: "Yeah." L: "But you said his aggressive American-style conservatism would keep the party out of power for a generation. You said Ken Clarke was the man who could appeal to the public." A: "Yeah I know." L: "So who do you want to vote for?" A: "That one!" ...

The funniest posting of the day is over at Bloggerheads. They analyse some Tory campaign photographs from Guildford. Doesn't sound promising? Trust me.

My experience and views of drugs are these. I used to smoke cigarettes; I occassionally relapse after a few alcoholic drinks. In the past I have tried cannabis. I do not regard this as being a big deal, not least because I have never been a regular user and it isn't preferable for a couple of glasses of wine and a Marlboro light - a pleasure that I have forsaken for the sake of my health. I have never used any other drugs. I have been in the presence of people who have been using other drugs, however. It is ...

Okay, I admit it... I'm slightly obsessed by the Tory leadership contest. Back in August, I thought it was dull, didn't care. Now I find it fascinating, albeit in a Big Brother / X-Factor kinda way. The annoyingly compulsive PoliticalBetting.com is currently running a prediction thread for the 1st round of voting. I've guessed as follows: David Davis: 64 David Cameron: 53 Ken Clarke: 44 Liam

David Cameron's campaigning website is quite impressive but somebody should tell him he's nicked our words Freedom, Fairness & Trust I was curious to see who was supporting him after all the hoo-ha about his life at uni played out in the media over the past couple of weeks . An article in today's Independent - Tory leadership: The candidates' remaining hurdles The news this evening is referring to the leadership contest as the Tories own 'Big Brother' - one person in the house being evicted tomorrow. ...

Anyone who caught Bremner, Bird and Fortune will have shared in the treat of Genesis’ Jesus He Knows Me playing over a medly of Bush and Blair. Superb. On a related musical note, anyone depressed at our impending collective demise at the hands of bird flu, should cop a load of Life is Sweet by Natalie Merchant (she of 10,000 Maniacs). It’ll cheer you up, I swear.

I warmly welcome Lord Redesdale’s suggestion that the UK’s entire 14,000 population of morris dancers should open the Olympic Ceremony. The only rider I would add is that only one should be allowed to leave.

It's great to be able to mention some of the good things happening in the borough. The Safer Neighbourhood Scheme that residents have been pressing for, is expected will cover the whole borough by 2006. Those already set up are achieving positive results.A report in this weeks Islington Gazette refers to the one currently operating in Finsbury Park - No-go zone for sex and drugs An exclusion zone will be set up around two crime-plagued estates in a bid to drive out prostitutes and drug dealers. The zone will cover the Andover Estate and Six Acres Estate which straddle the ...

One of my favourite species is the false killer whale, for no other reason than for its name. Here are some false killer whale-related facts (all courtesy of Wikipedia): False killer whales are not in fact whales, but cetaceans, and neither are killer whales. Both species kill dolphins, which seems a bit mean. [...]

They always say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. David Cameron oviously liked our 'Freedom, Fairness, Trust' theme as he's now using it in his leadership campaign! With the 'electable but not very Tory' Ken Clarke falling into fourth place, it's now down to Cameron to be the best hope for the Tories as an electable choice of leader. Davis and Fox have as much chance of winning a

The following text appeared in this morning’s MediaGuardian email, referring to a story in both the Telegraph and the Mirror: The BBC’s inquiry into John Humphrys’ alleged comments about ministers being lawyers amounted to a single phone call, the Today presenter claimed yesterday. While it is a simple matter of record that a number of ministers including [...]

Well I got through Conference.But I was so angry at the organiser controlling everything and not giving me the information to do my job that I'm standing against him for the organiser position. Now its up to the electorate.Its an old adage but Its one I live by. Don't get Angry - Get Active. Very quiet on the job front, just more rejections. I wont be working at the local Disney store over Christmas. Whilst it upset me, it would have upset the bank manager more had I got the position so I suppose that ones a draw. ...

Font changed, as least for a trial. Happy, Richard?

by Jabez Clegg A theme of this blog has that NuLabor have failed to do their homework on the EU, and so underachieved (we said so here). Wolfgang Munchau in the today's FT (at least the international edition - I´m in Brussels this morning)is saying the same thing. He points out that Blair had planned on hosting Merkel at the upcoming summit, but finds himself facing Schröder's last fling instead. His conclusions (in the subscribers section) are pretty depressing. "For Blair, the best strategy now would be to use this otherwise superfluous EU summit to prepare for an eventual ...

Oh, Ireland. Land of happy trolls and cloudy stout, and let us all remember that we have a second cousin near Skibbereen, so deciding which rugby team to back is tricky. Despite its trendsome image and celtic tiger economy, the republic’s march towards a tolerant and modern society remains palpably sluggish outside of Dublin. A study released last week suggests that where a rape allegation is made in Ireland, significant numbers of the gardaĺ consider their role is to decide in the first-instance whether it is genuine. The research suggest that if the woman has had a drink or, God ...

This story on the impact of rising gas prices on British firms is rather depressing confirmation that NuLab has neglected energy issues. Depletion of UK supplies is having the worst possible impact on British firms. On Saturday, OFGEM had grim news for business: "We are not hiding from the fact that if you have that 'one in 50' winter, its going to be tough - really tough," he (Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan) says. "But its going to be tougher on industry and commerce than on the consumer." The solution is that large businesses will be forced by ...

It is actually rather sad that things have got to this stage. The Western Mail this morning reports that Culture Minister, Alun Pugh, is due to speak at the inaugural meeting of a new Welsh Language Forum in Y Ganolfan Arts Centre, Porthmadog on Thursday evening. Two hours have been set aside to hear the public's views about the development of the language.The Forum is considered by Mr. Pugh to be a "listening shop", which could facilitate a new dialogue between politicians and the public. But the development of future policy will remain the responsibility of the Assembly Government. ...