LibDem Blogs - Archived!

What a bloody awful day to be out on strike! I don't mind cold as you can just where lots more, but continuous rain eventually gets through any amount of layers your wearing.A fairly uneventful stint on the picket line this morning, more about raising awarenes with students and parents dropping prospective students off for open days (who are statistically less likely to accept Birmingham as they visited with bad weather...)I'm sure all sides will claim some sort of success (bit like an election really), but despite the weather, more members came out to picket than originally on the rota. ...

by Steve Travis I received today my thank-you letter from the Member for Sutton & Cheam for my (modest) contribution to the election of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader. Spring might not yet be in the air, but there was a spring in my step today. There is a palpable sense of momentum about the party once again. At long last we have the prospect of a coherent policy programme. Ming's shadow appointments set a clear marker about our future direction. Predictably, there have been noises off from the usual suspects, but even this ...

Very interesting piece in the latest New Statesman, regarding the Pro-Test march Evan and I joined last month: Observations on animal tests. By Brendan O'Neill It was the loudest, liveliest and most youthful demo I've been on in a long time. Its demands were progressive - in defence of "science, reason and the welfare of mankind", no less. And yet the left was nowhere to be seen. There weren't any of those SWP placards that usually cluster around the merest sneeze of protest, and no veterans of 1970s splits bickering on the sidelines over whose position was most correct. ...

I am appalled, and in no way amused, by Ming’s Dynasty, the tale of the race to succeed the Emperor. And there was I wondering what CK was going to do with his spare time… (Via.) Tags: liberal+democrats, menzies+campbell

Posted by Glynis THE area of neglected land, at the rear of Norfolk Close and Troutbeck Road, Redcar, is to get a facelift and pupils from Sacred Heart RC School will be involved in the work. Acting on a suggestion from Ray Hall. Secretary of the Newcomen Ward Community Forum, I met with Coast & Country Housing, to discuss including the site in the Aspire Project, a scheme for companies to engage with school leavers. Residents are currently being consulted and if all goes well, work will be organised by Sacred Heart pupils during the summer holidays. ...

Posted by Chris The private street between Corporation Road and Westfield Avenue, in Redcar, is to be made up to adoptable standard and the work is programmed to start in October. There are a huge number of these private streets in the Borough and the Coalition agreed to use prudential borrowing to invest £1.6m, in a 3 year programme, to make a start in tackling 19 of them. Opponents claim the cost is £6m but this is nonsense. Even with the cost spread over 40 years, taking into account interest and maintenance, the cost would be £2.5m. The former County ...

THE multi-million pounds Coatham Links development in Redcar took a massive step forward when Redcar and Cleveland Council's Cabinet paved the way for work to start on site in six months. The Cabinet agreed to a Heads of Terms and Side Agreement, with developers Persimmon. This will see planning permission being submitted in June. Work could start on site in October this year. The scheme will be a massive boost to tourism. It will create 200 new jobs and bring much needed high quality housing as well as tens of millions of pounds worth of investment. The majority of the ...

REDCAR and Cleveland Council has approved a 4.7 per cent increase in Council Tax levels and agreed another 4.75million in extra investment, including a £2m commitment to provide free concessionary travel across Teesside. The budget provides free travel benefits for the Borough's 14,000 concessionary passholders from April 1. The Council is also investing £600,000 in older people's services, £500,000 for Safer Stronger Communities and over £1m in services for vulnerable children and young families.More than 100 extra car parking spaces are planned for Kirkeatham Street, to help ease parking congestion in the town centre. The four star excellent Council is ...

Over the last four years, Kingston schools have remained near the top of all the league tables. Remaining at the top is just as difficult as getting there in the first place, but there is a real buzz in our schools. In 2005 year 67% of pupils in Kingston schools gained 5 or more high grades at GCSE, placing them sixth in the country. You would expect the schools in...

You won't catch me giving any encouragement to a disgusting display like this.

Olly Kendall in the Grauniad reads a lot into Menzies Campbell's use of the phrase 'centre-left'. I'm not convinced that it's anything more than the use of old terminology by an elder statesman. I agree that Menzies use of this term will be a red rag to the press but it's just a word. To see the real differences between Campbell and Kennedy, we'll need to wait and see. Olly writes: One of the

We’re all modernisers now, then. Personally, I detest the word. I don’t want to come over all Hoggartesque, but would anyone in politics ever claim to be an antiquator? It is a banal label that is used to present yourself as dynamic and forward looking, regardless of what you’re actually proposal. The problem [...]

Several months ago I expressed concern that our then newly elected executive Mayor seemed to have very few specific policies or long term strategic view or 'vision' for the bay. Recent events seem to confirm the lack of a coherent policy programme. It seems policy 'ideas' are trialled via the columns of this newspaper rather than being adequately debated with and engaging democratically elected councillors of all parties and none. Typical of this 'kite flying' was the alarmist media announcement of the need for 10% cuts in spending across all council departments, thereby resulting in undue worry for some ...

The children enoyed themselves yesterday on their class visit to Liverpool. They even got their photograph in a local newspaper. This is what they said: Voters deserted the Tories in droves in the 1980s, blaming Margaret Thatcher's policies for Liverpool's decline - and most have never returned. The party has no MPs in Merseyside and no city councillors. Last week, the Tory candidate was beaten into last place by the British National Party at a council by- election in Waterloo. That was very exciting! But there was a surprise for us "I ...

Given the amount of hot air over the orange bookers over the last couple of months - and the varying opinions I thought it might be a good idea to obtain a copy of The Orange Book and have a read so that I can form my own opinions. Is The Orange Book a disaster for Liberalism or is it the way forward or somewhere in between? It looks likely that I shall never know as I cannot find a copy. I have tried the Lib Dem Bookshop, Politicos, Amazon and Ebay so far without any joy. Does anyone know ...

The build up to the next Scottish Parliament elections is getting interesting. There are plenty of people within the Lib Dems who don’t want another coalition with Labour, and the feeling is reciprocated. Today’s Scotsman is spinning that Lord Steel’s Commission Report to both recommend “quasi-independence” (what everyone else in the known world calls federalism) [...]

J’accuse: the Labour Party, with the smoking bill, in the House of Commons. The Salisbury Convention, initiated by Lord Salisbury, is the arrangement that dictates that the House of Lords will not vote down or wreck with amendments measures that appeared in the Government’s manifesto. It dates back to a time when the big Tory majority [...]

Having read reports that one could now - by mail order - purchase Rhino poo from Colechester Zoo, I did the only obvious thing and bought a pot for use as a Valentine's gift. As I get around to tidying my room (following leadership election madness), I find the delivery note for the Zoo Poo: We stress 100% customer satisfaction stand behind the quality of the products we sell. If you are unhappy with your order for any reason you may return the item as long as it is in its original condition. We will gladly replace ...

Fifty three years ago, on March 5th 1953, Josif Vissarionovich Djugashvili died aged 74. He had a stroke on March 1st. However it was many hours before any aid came to him. The fear he inspired meant that no one would disturb him. Even when he was found, befouled and lying senseless on the floor, he was left to lie still longer. Eventually he was put on a chaise longue. Finally, speechless and angry, he died. The tyrant Stalin was dead. No-one knows how many people his regime butchered and tortured. Even today so many still suffer from the loss ...

So how disillusioned are Plaid Cymru with their Social Justice spokesperson, Leanne Wood? More to the point, if political parties did not have to reselect their politicians every four years, would the news media have anything to report? This item in the Western Mail effectively boils down to the fact that at least one member of Plaid Cymru in South Wales Central does not like Leanne and wants to see her replaced with another female candidate. What happens is, of course in the hands of their membership. Still, we shall be forever grateful to the anonymous source for setting ...

Some interesting speculation in this morning's Western Mail as to who will be appointed as the Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on Welsh Affairs. Rumours are that Cardiff Central MP, Jenny Willott, will replace her old boss Lembit Öpik in this role, despite the fact that Lembit remains the elected Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Jenny supported Ming in the leadership contest whilst Lembit declared his support for Mark Oaten and then quietly moved on to back Simon Hughes once Oaten had dropped out. It is perhaps telling that Sir Menzies Campbell was the only one of the three party ...

The Scotsman today carries an article trumpeting a lurch by the Lib Dems towards coalition with the Nats following the publication of the findings of the Steel Commission. ‘the Lib Dems will be a Quasi Independence party’ proclaims the Hootsmon, certainly the commission recommends some sweeping reforms that would give the parliament some pretty sensible [...]

Well, it seems that I owe the new Liberal Democrats leader an apology. On 26 February I wrote: I now understand that the Welsh Party has been told by either the Leader's Office or Party HQ that whoever the new Leader is, he will not be able to travel to Wrexham on those dates. We therefore look to the victor to make his first leadership decision and to overrule the bureaucrats on this issue. After all they did promise! I understand that Sir Menzies Campbell has said that he will be coming to Welsh Conference in Wrexham this ...

For some reason, Tony Greaves‘ increasingly splenetic outbursts about Ming Campbell bring to mind Brian Blessed. It’s the beard and sandals. This raises questions. Who, for instance, does this make Prince Barin/Timothy Dalton? And is Norman Lamb, Lord Kirkwood or whoever Ming appoints as his PPS, Klytus?

I’m impressed by the Post Office motion, I thought it was a good motion back in Blackpool and it reflects well on the party that it was sent back, improved and then passed. Norman Lamb is very bright and articulate fella and from what I can see, put in a huge amount of work in both drafting and campaigning for it. On a more characteristically callow note, I was interested by Huhne’s appointment. Was it a bit like this...? Huhne summoned into the new Leader’s Office…. Ming: Hello Chris, I expect you’re wondering what post ...

Wolverhampton South West Liberal Democrats have today launched their 'Liberal Democrat Talk campaign'. Over the forthcoming months Wolverhampton South West Liberal Democrats intend to telephone as many local residents as possible and engage with them about the issues that affect them.

…and therefore the press don’t need his bio. Either that, or The Purge has begun: Tags: liberal+democrats, chris+huhne

Liberal Democrat peers last night defeated the Government for the second time in a week by opposing attempts to introduce compulsory identity cards "by stealth".

Head Teachers Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment her Department has made of the level of morale among head teachers. (John Hemming) A:Current indicators suggest that head teacher morale is generally good. A recent independent MORI survey published in 2005, found that the majority of head teachers were positive about their leadership role: nine in 10

"Lib Dems' spending is in hands of 27-year-old woman MP". Is anyone able to provide evidence of a more sexist or patronising headline from what was once a respected national newspaper?

Been busy and am just catching up on everyone's conference reports and reactions. I'm glad Ming won, especially with the good contest that was had. Chris did very well too, and I think its safe to say he's shown he's someone to watch. Slightly disappointed he's 'only' got Environment, but I think he will do well there and should have a sensible approach to the department. As I thought would

The Telegraph reports that Lord Tony Greaves has voiced upset at Ming Campbell’s success: “The armchair members voted for him, the majority of activists did not.” This is, of course, nonsense. In a secret ballot it is impossible to know who has voted for whom. Tony Greaves should stop to consider that if the activists did not vote for Ming Campbell that they must have voted for either Chris Huhne or Simon Hughes. The only clear advocate of corporate state ‘social liberalism’ is Simon Hughes, and he finished a distant third. Does that mean that the activists mostly ...

Just realised that my original post on this didn't explain why we shouldn't just privatise the Royal Mail - I very carefully explained that selling any shares would either be tantamount to privatisation, or else they wouldn't sell, and then didn't say what was wrong with privatisation in the first place. Firstly, if our policy is to be privatisation of the Royal Mail, then the case for privatisation has to be made openly and publicly, rather than simply be a consequence of a motion that is passed for other reasons and argued on some other basis. I don't think ...