LibDem Blogs - Archived!

I have just had a visit from two of Lothian and Border's finest. Unfortunatley upon returning from the gym and my weekly grocery shop I was 'treated' to a smashed rear patio window. There was glass all over my kitchen floor, in the dogs water bowl, amongst the laundry that was drying out. Apparently I am not alone and hundreds of calls have been made about smashed in windows across the area. My

Long had I heard whispers about a clandestine email group; a 'Golden Circle' of flaxen haired young liberals for whom LDYS alone has perhaps proven an inadequate philosophical vehicle. Now they have a website which can be found at http://www.goldhorizons.org.uk , where the aim of the group is stated as:"It is more important than ever that we transmit a coherent message of what we stand for to the public, and only through clear understanding of our beliefs can a liberal party grow past a local base into a truly national movement"The website itself is a tad thin on content and ...

About 1/1000th as funny as The Day Today.

Will there be a sillier column published in the Guardian this year than the one Roy Hattersley contributed today? Here is his take on whether to ban smoking in private members' clubs: But the notion that liberty demands that members of gentlemen's clubs be allowed to expose the waiters who serve them to the risk of lung and throat cancer is a sophistication of Mill's theories that can justly be described as original. The claim that the exceptions to the smoking rule have something to do with freedom is absurd. Since passive smoking is a cause of cancer, allowing ...

Thanks go to Bath University Liberal Democrats for providing the only photo I have of the 2005 General Election campaign. The result was pretty lame, but at least we half killed ourselves! Here the extended campaign team and visiting activists enjoy a well-earned beer after a day of poncing around with rosettes. I am hiding, and not visible.

The Apollo Project carries a photograph redolent of the 1960s. Younger readers may have to ask their parents who these people are.

Times Online have published this weekend, some controversial articles about Michael Brown, who donated a record £2.4 million to the Party during the General Election campaign. It's claimed he's wanted in the United States where he could face up to five years in jail for fraud. Businessman who gave £2.4 million is 'shocked' to hear of warrant out for his arrest Another article Funnier money is so disheartening. The revelation that the Party's ex- treasurer, Reg Clark, was encouraging Mr Brown to invest in his own struggling businesses will ...

I'm preparing myself for another battle with the Planning Department. Another planning application has been submitted to build on Weavers Fields. If you know Weavers Fields, the largest park in Bethnal Green, you'll know that there is a big Victorian building that used to be a school, but is now a hostel in the middle of the park. Change of use from a school to a hostel was approved by the Planning Department in 1998 and as part of the agreement it was promised to the local residents that the roads around the building would ...

Some of you will have noticed that I have been rather quiet lately. Some of you may like it that way but I have been having a re think about what I want to do with the blog and what I should spend my time writing about. I have not looked at the blog since the last time I posted a message. I have been horrified by some of the totally inappropriate comments that have been made about third parties

Following Stephen Glenn's posting today decided to have a go and test myself on the BBC's sample Citizenship test. Some very strange questions - managed to pass 13 out of 14.Hadn't a clue about question 7According to the book, where does the myth of Father Christmas come from?Question 8 is just bizarre.Life in the UK explains what to do if you spill someone's pint in the pub. What, according to the book, usually happens next? Would be interested to know what others scored.A News Telegraph report has identified some of the other questions 'Britishness' test questions revealed. Where are the ...

David McLetchie has resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservative Party following continued pressure over the taxigate scandal. He had spent £11,500 on taxis during the first five years and there has been intense scrutiny and questions asked of him about the legitimacy of some of these claims. It of course means that two Davids will not be leading the Scottish Tories the other will not be

Silent Call Campaigner John Hemming MP has welcomed Ofcom's recent announcement on banning silent calls. "All telephone users", he say " should welcome Ofcom's action that will finally end the nuisance of the Silent Call. The use of an informational message will eradicate the worry and stress in relationships caused by Silent Calls. In essence the UK has now implemented the rules used in the

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide released by private motor vehicles in (a) 1984, (b) 1994 and (c) 2004. (John Hemming) A: The following table shows carbon dioxide emissions from the private use of household vehicles: Million tonnes of carbon dioxide 1990 58.7 1991 58.3 1992 59.0 1993 59.2

You may have seen this image before...but it is usually printed the wrong way around.

The BBC have posted a sample Citizenship test. According to their result: You got 13 right! 0-5: Seat in Heathrow arrivals.... 6-10: Seat on the district council......11-14: Seat in Parliament.....15: Seat on the throne I should now be seating in Parliament. Is it too late to demand a recount in Linlithgow and East Falkirk?

In our political system there are many experts who attempt to provide information on specific issue areas. In an increasingly detailed world, it is too much to expect lay observers to understand all the ramifications of a given policy. Many of these think tanks do valuable work sorting the wheat from the chaff and coming up with interesting and innovative ideas. However, increasingly there are self appointed experts whose purpose is solely to lobby for a given point of view, regardless of the evidence. As we have come around to the 18 month anniversary of the entry of 10 new ...

It is not really surprising that many people are finding it difficult to swallow the Government's latest anti-social behaviour measure. The proposal to ban drinking on public transport will certainly have an impact on match days, it will mean that those who are going to get tanked-up will do so before they get on the train. However, there are some legitimate questions to be asked about Labour's priorities here when they open up pubs 24 hours a day and then argue that a marginal measure such as this is needed to combat binge drinking. As if to underline the impression ...