LibDem Blogs - Archived!

Via Nick I learn of the glorious site Tom Baker Says. He suggests that the sort of (hypothetical) sad person who’s been spending money sending amusing text messages to their new BT landline (not installed specifically for the purpose. Er, I imagine) might save a few bob by visting the site instead. Or they may [...]

An audience member in tonights episode of Any Questions, I feel oddly qualified to comment on it, although I heard nothing you listeners of the electric wireless didn't. The most notable thing was that on most issues the whole panel seemed to agree, and nobody defended the government. Everybody agreed with Lord Turner on pensions before he even spoke. Ed Vaizey, even had the enormous cheek, for a

Earlier today when Barrie Wood posted that our voters wanted Simon Hughes as leader it sparked the following response from Jock Coats that our voters don't get a vote in the leadership election. This is a valid point. However, that makes the decision of us political anoraks and insiders all the more important. One thing we all agree on is that we want to see our party make real progress in future

John Kirkfalusi, the famous animator responsible for “The Ren and Stimpy Show” has just started a blog. His posts feature a great deal of his unique art, plus commentary on cartooning and the state of the animation business. I’ve been a fan of John’s work since I was a small child, so I gaze in [...]

It has taken me along time to decide but finally I have decided to plump for Simon Hughes as my first preference. But he might like to consider Chris Huhne as his deputy. Ultimately for me it came down to Simons ability to communicate the Liberal Democrat vision across a wide range of topics. He is passionate and inspiring and I feel that these are essential qualities in a leader. He clearly

Coming soon: grumpy arguments about smoking, banning things and the nanny state. In the meantime, if you’re suspicious of those who want to nanny you, or want to stiffen your resolve against being tempted to nanny yourself, tonight’s episode of The Avengers may help. Tune in to BBC4 at 11.40pm for Something Nasty in the Nursery, a rather jolly adventure in which leading figures of the British establishment are reduced to infantile idiocy by a dastardly nanny-related plot. Featuring a particularly slippery villain called Goat, and a remarkable set of pre-sit-com stars: Paul Eddington, Yootha Joyce, Clive Dunn, Trevor Bannister ...

Well it's all ture in the race for a post previously held by Winston Churchill, Gordon Brown and David Steel. Yes the race for rector of Edinburgh University took a strange twist when Lothian list MSP beat Times columnist Magnus Linklater in the final round to repalce former Father of the House Tam Dalyell. The Tory Higher Education Minster, former editor of the spectator and MP for Henley Boris

Read Cicero's Songs on the Baltic.

It was probabl inevitable, but at least the Tom Baker Says website will save you some money if you’re tempted to send amusind text messages to yourself.

Today's House Points from Liberal Democrat News. Is it a coup? The premier’s jet taxied along the remote African airstrip. Cleared for take off, it gathered speed. Only at the last moment did the pilot notice the flames shooting from one of the engines… Back home the plotters wasted no time. The new premier forced a bill to bring in identity cards through a cowed parliament. He announced new border controls and plans to put the nation’s youth into uniform. Living in Britain this week has given us an idea of what is must feel ...

I have two answers from the Secretary of State for Health. One shows they have overpaid for some pharmaceuticals by some hundreds of millions of pounds. The other says they will tell me what the cuts to PCTs are soon. They have the figures to hand on the PCTs so giving a holding answer (just before the half term recess) shows that they are quite sensitive about this. East Wakefield suffers

Here is a site telling you all you want to know about Carnforth station and all the other places used in this film. Fred Jesson: You've been a long way away. Laura Jesson: Yes. Fred Jesson: Thank you for coming back to me.

Yet more evidence that the Shadow Chancellor is a transvestite marionette, this time from the Conservative's glamourous Black and White Ball. Admit it now George, and Britain might just accept you.

Our antipodean cousins on Ramsey Street are usually rather shy of the filth that is party politics; but of late we have seen the more intellectually gifted characters expound their preferences. This week we have seen Susan bitch-slapped down for her support for the social justice platform of the Greens, while Dr. Karl declared that the Federal Treasurer has “dragged Australia off its feet”. No doubt the Hon Peter Costello MP and his cadres in the Australian Liberal Party will be delighted with this endorsement; is this somehow the irrepressibly populist hand of Mr Crosby at play?

“Hughes takes off for Wales with Air Lembit” The Liberal Democrat Leadership campaign lands in Welshpool on Monday when Simon Hughes becomes the latest Liberal Democrat to experience “Air Lembit”. Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire, says “I’ll be flying Simon Hughes from Edinburgh to Welshpool Airport. After landing and talking to the press at the airport, he’ll visit Welshpool’s Livestock Market with Mick Bates AM, and Lib Dem members from around the County. Then it’s on to Sleap Airport, North of Shrewsbury, to meet Liberal Democrats in that area."

Daniel Finkelstein seems to think so, and six Cambridge Law Professors agree with him (hat tip: Charlie Whitaker). The big question is, why haven’t I heard anything about this before? Both the Lib Dems and Tories have opposed the Bill, but where were Labour’s “usual suspects”? And why haven’t the Lib Dems been shouting [...]

In an open letter to members, MSPs John Farquhar Munro, Jeremy Purvis, Nora Radcliffe, Euan Robson and Margaret Smith offer their backing to Chris Huhne as the right person to lead the Liberal Democrats forward:

Bob Russell MP for Colchester has become the latest MP to sign up to Simon's campaign for the leadership. Other notable names to register their support this week include Mick Bates, the Welsh Assembly Member who represents Montgomeryshire, Councillor Rabi Martins, a leading Liberal Democrat within Britain's ethnic community and James Gurling, Charles Kennedy's brother in law.

I'm in! Are you? Oxfam is running a campaign to get a million people to pledge their support to end poverty - the "I'm in" campaign. You can register at www.oxfam.org.uk or text "In" to 87099.

By gracious command of John Bright's Body http://londonliberal.com/blog/ 7 things to do before I die: Go to JapanWalk the Camino de Santiago...AgainBuild a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house in the Estonian countrysideLose 20 kgsStop thinking that Richard III was a good thing on meeting my nieces and nephewsFall in love againResearch my family tree 7 things I cannot do: Shut upLeave a party earlyInvade PolandEnjoy soccerForget the smell of burnt villagesAvoid the urge to punch CommunistsStop behaving badly 7 things that attract me to London: The relative ease of getting as far away from London as possibleMelancholy songs like ...

BBC News | UK | Tests spark fears of genetic underclass This is an issue that sparked my interest this week. Advances in genetics can have many benefits in helping identify people with a propensity for various conditions which help in the application of preventive medicine or early detection of a condition. There is a grave concern however that the government may allow Insurance companies to use this information when setting premiums. This is the thin end of the wedge leading to people being penalized or even denied insurance, the opportunity of home ownership or pensions ...

Have new tuition fees affected applications? Almost certainly the introduction of fees in 06/07 has distorted the number of applications that were made in 05/06 (ie the 8% increase), and the 4% decrease this year. This was to be expected. The same happened on the introduction of the £1000 fee in '97. There was an above average rise before, then a decrease in the year of introduction, but taken over the two years applications increased. What most commentators might have missed was that despite the 8% rise in applications, there hasn't been that level of increase in student enrolments. Where ...

Whatever are we to make of the fact that the Apollo Project blog is 87% “like” ConservativeHome, according to BlogCode?

Discussions elsewhere have called up non-fond memories of the Steel-Pardoe leadership election way back in the 1970’s. Now there was some un-whispered catty commentating. Most famously, Cyril Smith telling Steel that even if he (Steel) had a firecracker in each hand he still could not make a bang. Too boring, dull and grey to make an impact. Steel himself hit out at Pardoe by retelling a tale from Winnie-the-Pooh. This is the arrival of Tigger, who comes into a room were the dining table is laid out for tea with lots of Honey. The tablecloth of course ...

The normally calm Dr Bob Gleeson is worried.

Ming will be on ‘Any Questions’ on BBC Radio 4 this evening at 8.00 p.m., with a repeat on Saturday at 1.10 p.m. You can find more details on the BBC website.

I switched on Radio 4 this morning and found myself listening to a broadcast version of The Sun. The Today Programme this morning carried an interview with Bill Jenkins, the natural father of Billie-Jo Jenkins, whose foster father Sion Jenkins was acquitted of her murder last week. Understandably, Mr Jenkins’ is a man tormented. Not only has he lost a daughter in horrendous circumstances but he must also feel guilt at the circumstances that led to his daughter being fostered and anger that this did not lead to her safety. On top of that, such closure as might have been ...

So now our literature and plays are to be watered down for school productions. So here are a few of the changes to be looked out for, found on a photocopier at the Department of Education and Skills. Animal Farm: The main charactors can no longer be portrayed as pigs they must instead be referred by their full titles as PC Squealer, Sgt Snowball and Chief Superintentent Napoleon. Also cut out the

Dentistry Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there are in each primary care trust area; and what net change in the number of dentists in each primary care trust area the Government expects as a result of the implementation of the new NHS dental contract. (John Hemming) A:Information on the number of dentists in each primary care trust(PCT) has been placed in the Library. The Department has not made a specific assessment of any changes arising from the new dental contract. From April 2006, PCTs will have devolved responsibility for the ...

Posted by Chris REDCAR and Cleveland Council is now rated as one of the country’s excellent councils – completing a three-year transformation from slated to feted! Every single service we provide has been rated as good or better! The excellent four star rating has been delivered by the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment, billed by the Commission’s inspectors as The Harder Test. The inspection looked at eight main areas and rated the Council’s forward planning as “improving well.” Its report said: “Services in the Council’s priority areas are improving. The Council has robust plans in place and progress is being ...

Martin Jacques, a "senior visiting research fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore" or, to put it into English, a paid shill for not-a-hereditary-dictator-but-looks-and-quacks-like-one Lee Kwan Yew, has a column in today's Grauniad that demonstrates such an extraordinary degree of self-loathing that charity forces me to assume that he doesn't really believe

...in this leadership contest anyway. Barrie Wood in Progressive Politics: Our Voters Want Simon for Leader ! suggests that Chris Huhne is "grey in every sense of the word" that the Tory membership probably realised that whilst they might want Davis, their heads told them to vote for the electable one and so on. Needless to say I disagree. Just look at this leadership election itself - people

My Leadership Poll after 500 votes now shows CHRIS HUHNE  247  (47.9%)+3.2*  MENZIES CAMPBELL  158  (30.6%) -2.7*  SIMON HUGHES  111  (21.5%) -0.6*  * change since 4th feb CHRIS HUHNE  314  (62.1%)  MENZIES CAMPBELL  192  (37.9%) 

I am rather disappointed to be on a different side from Jonathan Calder in the leadership election. Looking on the bright side, it means that I have stopped posting that I agree with him quite so often. But I do agree with him when he points out that (today)we have a notably dry economic outlook, oppose intervention in Iraq but are quite keen on it elsewhere, oppose choice in the health service, apparently oppose any parental choice between schools and wish to see more state intervention in the family than even New Labour has countenanced. And the list goes ...

I gave a presentation to the London Chamber of Commerce yesterday, talking about the economics of the Baltic countries. The Baltic is one of the most successful regions of Europe. However it stands next to two of the least successful places: "Kaliningrad" and Belarus. Kaliningrad still does not know what it is or wants to be. It retains the absurd name of one of Stalin's saddest stooges- Misha Kalinin. There are other names it could have: the the Poles it is Krolewiec, to the Lithuanians it is Karaliaučius, to the long exterminated Old Prussians it was Pregnore and to the ...

So the gloves appear to have come off for the 2007 Scottish Election looking at the media over the last 24 hours in Scotland. You have to admire the gall of Alec Salmond, leader of the SNP. Last night he called a gain of 143 votes on a turn out of 30% in the Milton council by-election in Glasgow on a par with 4000+ extra votes across a whole constituency in Dunfermline and West Fife. It was

Party members are incredibly insular and concerns of party members often conflict with that of its voters and potential supporters in the country. Simon Hughes is the figure that resonates best with our voting public as the recent YouGov poll indicates. Martin Turner of Lib Dem Christian Forum sums up my own views succinctly when he states that Simon is a man of " conscience and integrity, vision, charisma and clarity, he is inspiring, loyal, generous and experienced..." Chris Huhne seems to be impressing many members [including me] and indeed he has injected policy issues into the campaign more ...

The Guardian today has an interview with Paddy Ashdown where he explains why he is intervening in the current contest to succeed Charles Kennedy and supporting Ming Campbell to lead the Liberal Democrats. Lord Ashdown boasted a CV as a former royal marine, diplomat and businessman who had been an MP for five years when he [...]

in the evolutionary tree has been found: this rather splendid proto-tyrannosaur Guanlong wucaii. Yet another bag-packer for the creationists. Meanwhile bird flu continues its march westwards, and as a swan-lover (not physically, you understand) it was a sorry sight to see dead swans being fished out of German lakes. The Queen owns all ouor swans, of course. Another good argument for a republic.

It is not often that the Welsh Assembly makes National UK news but today is an exception. New guidance published by Education Minister, Jane Davidson, has made headlines in all the tabloid press, including the Mirror and the Sun. CHILDREN are to be BANNED from kissing in school plays. The barmy new rule could mean productions of classics like Romeo and Juliet being axed because of love scenes vital to the plot. Education watchdogs said the measure was designed to prevent abuse of pupils. But teachers and MPs blasted it as yet more daft interference ...

There is an interesting interview with Paddy Ashdown in the Guardian this morning. The key point is probably contained here: Mr Huhne has argued that his experience outside parliament - as an MEP, City economist and Guardian journalist - has equipped him to take on the leadership despite being elected as an MP only nine months ago. Lord Ashdown boasted a similar CV, as a former royal marine, diplomat and businessman who had been an MP for five years when he was elected as leader. "It was like entering a secret garden. Almost nothing you have done beforehand, except ...

David Cameron's new style Conservative Party struck again last night when a Conservative candidate for the 2007 assembly elections who once said gays had a "medical mental condition" quit, a day after being selected. John Jenkins, 25, blamed "speculation" about the comments on a website three years ago for his decision to resign "in the interests of the party". He was to stand in Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South next year. As interesting as this decision is, there do remain some unanswered questions that lead me to believe that this 'resignation' had nothing to do with principle and everything to ...

Friday 17th February 2006 - Apologies to regular readers for the lack of updates recently, it has been a very busy week. It all started with a trip to the Police Authority on Monday to discuss the police budget and precept for next year, the final decision to be taken by the Authority on Thursday. On Tuesday we had a very lively Area Forum in Halewood with lots of concerns and complaints about

Cheney accident quibs by US TV comics (just to make the disclaimer I hope his friend feels well enough soon to be able to laugh about it too). More about Quailgate here. Grauniad writer loses the plot (is that news?!) in several main ways (so far as I could make out): Women are animals. Animals display to get mates. If women have new opportunities to display to mates (e.g. silicon implants) some

The man was just born unlucky -

Posting late at night, my brief thoughts on the St Albans hustings. Huhne well ahead on the speeches. Ming, who was clearly suffering from a very bad cold, made up considerable ground on the questions. No clear cut winner in my view. Others I spoke to varied in their assessments from a narrow win for Ming to a clear-cut one for Chris. This suggests to me that when Ming is allowed to be himself he is very good indeed. When he is playing a tune called by his handlers he is less convincing. The Ming camp appears to have what ...

And so to Harlesden/Neasden/Stonebridge (delete as appropriate), for the second Brent Liberal Democrats Annual Dinner. Daniel and Valerie (old friends and now Brent councillors) had invited me last week and, given my historic links to the borough - my parents still live in what is now Fryant ward and I fought Roe Green ward in 1990 - it seemed like an opportunity to meet some old