LibDem Blogs - Archived!

The news report tonight - fires in Hemel Hempstead have finally been put out. Now the investigations and clean up will start. We are quite some way from the incident and haven't noticed the streaking of the sky since Sunday - smoggy in the early hours, some dark heavy patches of clouds during the day but nothing to write home about. This afternoon was different. Around 2.45 pm looked up and observed the stranges sight I've ever seen in the sky in UK - was quite spectacular. Directly above where I was standing was clear blue sky with bright sunshine ...

The Tory Party is in a rather chipper mood. They're cock-a-hoop, over-the-moon, on cloud nine. For they have elected a new leader. A man who will usher in a new political dawn, who can take the fight to Mr Blair's Labour Party, and win the next election. He has united the Conservatives, promised to lead the party from the centre, bested Mr Blair at Prime Minister's Questions, boosted party

Earlier this evening I quoted from and linked to a BBC story which told how Charles Kennedy had used today's shadow cabinet meeting to reassert his authority. Click on the link to that story now and it reads very differently: Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has faced calls from senior MPs for him to improve his performance or stand down. Mr Kennedy was confronted at a meeting of the what the party calls its "shadow cabinet" on Tuesday. BBC News political editor Nick Robinson said a number of the most senior Lib Dem MPs had lined up at the ...

...got an email on the the 'and finally' slot on the Today programme. Woke up to a row about the remake of 'The Dambusters' film (1954). The argument? Should the remake feature Wing Commander Guy Gibson's (the leader of the raid by 617 squadron) dog's name: it was a black lab and in 1943 was called 'Nigger'. I'm inclined to let history accuracy (warts and all) stand and a debate ensue. What

All this talk of schools being closed in Hemel Hempstead because of the Buncefield oil depot fire takes me back. I lived in Hemel between the ages of 3 and 13. I went back there a few years ago, only to find that both the primary schools I went to have been demolished. That's when you know you are getting old. The first I attended was Fields End JMI. It was a large post-war building of glass and concrete, but it has been pulled down and replaced by a housing estate. It is so lost that I cannot find a ...

The other day I commented that some Lib Dem MPs are obviously briefing against Charles Kennedy. Today the BBC reports [but see this later posting]: Tuesday's meeting of what the Lib Dems call their "shadow cabinet" was seen as an opportunity for Mr Kennedy to stamp his authority on warring factions within the party. A spokesman said he was angry at the persistent gossip and rumours about his leadership. The spokesman also reiterated the point that Mr Kennedy was re-elected unopposed as party leader at the start of the parliamentary term. After the meeting, a ...

by Steve Travis Whilst on holiday in Australia I read the excellent "Tommy", by Richard Holmes. In it, I came across the following quote from Osbert Sitwell. Written in 1946, it discusses the impact of joining large continental alliances whilst only funding an army capable of fighting small Colonial wars: Even today you see references to the immense achievements of the Liberal administration of 1906 - 14, but can any government whose policy entails such a lack of preparation for war as to make that seeming solution of difficulties a gamble apparently worthwhile for an enemy, ...

The Council intends to carry out carriageway resurfacing and footway works along the length of Chilton Road . It is important that this work is undertaken to ensure that the carriageway remains safe and serviceable. Cllr David Dixon following calls from local residents has asked for several years for this to happen and hopes that residents will be equally as pleased. The works are to be carried out as part of the Surfacing 2005/ 2006 – Urban Contract which is currently underway and is ...

The Main Post Office in Bathgate is set to close under plans released today. A new post office will then be relocated in the Spar shop in the town. Although this is only 150 metres away from the current location it is relying on the long term commitment of the Spar to maintain the post office on its premises. Recently the Carmondean Post Office was under threat when Safeways was taken over by

Mark Thomas and Rob Newman Live Last night I went to the Warwick Arts Theatre with some friends to see Mark Thomas and Rob Newman. I had seen some of Mark Thomas’s stuff on video for some work I did at university but I had no idea of what Rob Newman was like and so was not sure what to expect. I was very pleased at the end of the night, as they were both good and full of laughs. Mark Thomas came on first and managed to go through a wide range of subjects. The joke ...

Something's coming ... ... and this little boy is getting very excited!

For those of you you haven't seen it - this is our wedding photo, Me and my beautiful wife (her fan club cryed the day she said "I do") Robin

University of Wolverhampton Students Union On Thursday 8th December 2005 we had our second union council meeting. It was the first I attended as the last one was on the same day as Eid. I had proposed two motions the Environment and Ethics motion and the National Identity Cards motion. I was very pleased to find that both were passed with huge majorities. We also spent a great amount of time discussing a no smoking policy for our union. We decided to settle on a partial ban with a possible referendum on the issue in ...

This is my first entry on our blogg - I've been working hard at Southwark Lib Dems and haven't had the time to sit down and write one! Yesterday I handed in my notice to Southwark Lib Dems. It was a tough decision to make. I've been working in politics for nearly 4 years now and have been involved in 3 sets of elections (2 locals, 1 euro, 1 general and 1 county) which has involved around about 45 counts. Politics is a tough business with a fast pace and tight deadlines. Over the past ...

Apparently this is part of the legislation for the Australian Taxation Office: For the purpose of making a declaration under this Subdivision, the Commissioner may: a) treat a particular event that actually happened as not having happened; and b) treat a particular event that did not actually happen as having happened and, if appropriate, treat the event...

Paolo di Canio is at it again (hat tip: Eric McErlain). It's pretty obvious that di Canio is an idiot and deserves to be punished. What I find more interesting is the significance of where he did it - Livorno, seen as an Italian Communist stronghold. Lazio, of course, is known for its fascist sympathies, and has been home to a few unsavoury incidents in the recent past, most notably Sinisa Mijhalovic and his spitting at Patrick Vieira, for the heinous crime of the colour of his skin. Why is it that football clubs have started taking on these identities, ...

Today I am excited by news that Robin and I have been placed as school governors at the same primary school in Mitcham. It will be my second school governor placement (I had to leave my post in Newbury when I moved to London as it wasn’t feasible to return for meetings) and Robin’s first. We are both very into education and I really enjoyed the role before so I’m looking forward to it! Last night, Anthony, Robin and I went out recruiting in the ward. We spoke to several of our supporters and it was particularly encouraging when we ...

I am very pleased to have been able to go to a load of brilliant gigs recently. I saw Fish in Cirencester a couple of weeks ago on his 'Return to Childhood' tour, it being 20 years (where did they go) since Marillion's Misplaced Childhood album was released. The first half of the show was a variety of his solo material and the second was a full run through of the album. This is one of my all time favourite albums and it was a delight to hear it played in full. I then went to see Opeth in Oxford. ...

I had fun playing a certain rotund white-bearded gentleman yesterday evening at Jimmy's school kids' club christmas party. It probably sounds a bit trite but it really is amazing to see the children's reaction. It is also interesting how the older ones know that they are in on the secret and don't let slip to the little ones.

Predictive Diallers (ODPM) Q: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many calls were made from call centres in his Department in 2004–05 using predictive diallers; how many such calls resulted in contact being made with the recipient without a Government agent available to talk to them; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact of Ofcom's policy on silent calls on the use of predictive

Woolworths have withdrawn the Jerry Springer - The Opera DVD because some of their customers might be offended. This is despite the fact that there is nothing on the packaging that could offend anyone. Yet at their website you can buy several far more offensive products (hint - enter the f-word in the search bar). At least they could be honest about the fact that they are a bunch of spinelss, hypocritical halfwits who gave in to an extremist pressure group. More comment here and here.

Lord Falconer says it is "ridiculously overdone" to claim free speech is being undermined after the arrest of a woman for listing the UK's Iraq war dead. So it's not a restriction of free specch to arrest someone for, er, speaking, then?

by Peter I know it's an old-fashioned sentiment these days, but I can´t help sharing the views of Mr Matussek. "Learning a foreign language at the earliest possible age opens up a whole new dimension for children. It greatly benefits their reading and writing in their own language and there's evidence that, like musical education, it contributes significantly to the development of individual intelligence; and it concretely improves overall results at school." Professionally, I am regularly involved in recruiting and know how hard it is to find British candidates with decent language skills. If you are serious about ...

Last night I went to the Warwick Arts Theatre with a group of friends to see Mark Thomas and Rob Newman. I had seen Mark Thomas before but not Rob Newman so was not sure what to expect, needless to say they were both excellent.

It's official - Kingston's Education and Children's Social Care Services are amongst the very best in the country! Whilst I was off blog we heard that they had been awarded four grade 4's (the top grade) by the inspectors. Only three other councils in the country matched that. So, it's congratulations to all the staff for a magnificent result. Although Kingston...

Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood has announced that she is prepared to go to jail rather than carry the proposed new ID card. Typical! Just as Labour were started to struggle to get the legislation through, she gives them an incentive to redouble their efforts.

Apparently, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has become the first person to win a high-profile UK award for the most baffling statement of the year twice.Judges awarded him this year's Plain English Campaign "Foot in Mouth" prize for comments during an Assembly debate on policing when he said, "The only thing which isn't up for grabs is no change and I think it's fair to say it's all to play for, except for no change."Rhodri previously won the award in 1998 for his celebrated "one-legged duck" remark on BBC's Newsnight. Edwina Hart also gets a mention for her eminently sensible contribution ...

Liberal Democrats AM, Jenny Randerson, has published the most unlikely response yet by a Government body to a Freedom of Information Act request - "we cannot tell you in case you laugh at us."In response to Jenny's request for disclosure of documents relating to the budget of the Assembly's economic development and transport division, official Geraint James wrote saying some material would be withheld.His letter stated, "The convention of collective responsibility of Cabinet is a well-established principle of government that has been adopted by the executive of the Welsh Assembly Government."It is vitally important that Ministers feel free to be ...

The Western Mail reported yesterday that the Electoral Reform Society has joined in the attack on Peter Hain's Ukrainian option for the Assembly voting system. Electoral Reform Society Chief Executive, Ken Ritchie, said: "Even if dual candidates were banned there would still be conflict between constituency and regional members. There is no proposal for ending that problem. Instead of this artificial ban we would rather see a change in the voting system so that all Assembly Members are elected in a similar manner. Our favoured solution is the single transferable vote (STV) system as recommended by the Richard Commission - ...

I had a reply from Sainsburys yesterday to my e-mail protesting at the withdrawal of the DVD of Jerry Springer: The Opera from their shelves. It is worth quoting it in full: Dear Mr Black, Thank you for contacting us. I am sorry you have been disappointed by our decision to withdraw Jerry Springer – The Opera from sale in our stores. As there has been lots of interest in this matter I would like to clarify why the title was taken out of our range. We sell many DVD titles throughout the year and ...