LibDem Blogs - Archived!

I have just returned from the Gipton and Harehills ward in East Leeds after a day of folding and delivering. Quite thought provoking but in order to avoid a "Jody Dunn" moment all considered thought on the political scene in Leeds will not be posted till after the elections! Gipton and Harehills is a deprived and multicultural ward just up from St James Hostpital (Jimmys). Its currently split 2 lib dem and 1 labour and labour is defending this year. Our candidate Andrew Tear is a former councillor for the ward and well worth reelecting. It was good to see ...

Brilliant sunshine today - The best news in the world started my day - A call from my son Sule, another grandchild is on the way. Felt on cloud nine, charged down stairs to open the door for the postman with my camera in hand - funny man, he really thought I was going to take a picture of him. On impulse, took a snap shot of the Lib Dem poster in the window of my flat. It's bigger than all the rest and the only one so far on the Islington side of the road. ...

I like Lembit. He's an asset to the party (there is a great quote on Lembit in Neither left not right). Tony Ferguson has a post on Lembit and energy here. One big point is this Power needs to be generated and delivered locally. Apparently two thirds of the energy we generate is lost through transportation before it reaches the consumer. That figure is absolutely stunning. If we could generate and deliver power more locally we would need a hell of a lot less of it. This is so bloody Lib Dem, isn't it? Local = good. But in practice ...

Inevitably there is a price the PCT pays a hospital if someone turns up DOA (Dead on Arrival). That price for 6-7 is £71. There is a ratchet effect on emergencies (I suppose you wouldn't have an elective DOA) so only 50% of the tariff counts in a cash sense - £35.50. We have had some luck in getting info about the Czech experience which was that a tariff encouraged Hospitals to press the

I’m just like the Doctor, me - going off and looking at shiny things and being captivated by them and only doing what I was meant to be doing at the last minute. In other words, thoughts on New Earth can be found after the cut. One of the things the new series of Doctor Who [...]

I recently asked a question about NHS deficits and was given the forecast as at period 6 (end of September). One thing I have not been clear on is whether or not for the last financial year the inter Trust balances have been reconciled. A lot of payments are made between NHS Trusts. That means that if one claims a debt and the other denies it then there is a hidden deficit. I have asked

I don´t always turn to the Daily Mail for political news (although I used to - my mother took it after the merger with the News Chronicle for another couple of decades). The Mail's reporting of the Cameron trip to Norway is entertaining though: The Tory leader was on a three-day 'fact-finding mission' to see at first hand the impact of climate change. His chosen mode of transport – a 15-mile journey by dog sled – was the ultimate in environmentally friendliness, his aides proudly pointed out. Unfortunately before he jumped on his canine caravan in Norway, Mr ...

I admit it, I'm a fan of vivisection. There's nothing I like more than to hear about cute animals being cut open or fed drugs that make them grow extra ears, all in the name of helping humankind and ensuring I live for an extra 5 minutes. Gladys Hammond, whose remains were stolen by animal rights protestors Ok, that's not quite the whole truth, but I do support animal research and if you do

The BBC report that cracks have appeared for a second time in the oak desks used by AMs in the Senedd debating chamber. Apparently, six of the desks are suffering from cracks in the wood. It would be nice to report that this cracking was as a result of members pounding the woodwork as part of a passionate debate on the burning issues of the day, but alas that is not the case. Still, at least it is not going to cost the public purse anything to fix as we are still under guarantee. I was quite amused by ...

Following on from my rant yesterday, tenuously connecting the foundation of the Euston Manifesto with Charles Clarke pissing over every civil liberty within reach, here’s another example of how the left is just obsessed with itself: Leaving aside the question of just how well the BNP might do in next week’s local elections, I’ve got little [...]

A quick post, both to commemorate HM The Queen’s 80th birthday (belatedly), and also to test the human condition:Here’s a link to some scandalous, unsourced Royal gossip; orThere’s this link to the BBC’s official ‘The Queen at 80’ site.Your choice…

yesterday it occurred that humans are ill-equipped for delivering leaflets, and that maybe Zaphod Beeblebrox would be an ideal branch member to have out delivering. That third arm could be teeing up the next house's leaflet while the other two were trying to finagle the Focus past the brush-thingy. One head could talk engagingly to the voter, the second could bellow abuse at the deliverer who is

It looks as though plans to build behind the school in Weavers Fields have been shelved, at least for now. East Thames have withdrawn their planning application for the building - which received 1,400 objections from local people - and are now focussing elsewhere. They want to take over the Council's Cheviot House building on the Commercial Road. Plans to dispose of Cheviot House to...

Great piece in this weeks Lib Dem News by Lembit Opik on the issue of how we supply our energy needs in the future. For me he hits the nail on the head with his three key points although I am willing to admit that I was not aware of his second point (see below) His key points were 1. We need to use less and a carbon tax would help. He also rightly points out that we are all guilty of this and need to be vigilant in switching things off 2. Power needs to be generated and delivered ...

Good morning Philip, something to make you smile as munch your breakfast - you don't look so bad for somebody who has spent the last two days pounding the streets delivering Lib Dem mail. A man on a mission, Philip Thompson one of the Liberal Democrat candidates in Kentish Town ward. Yesterday evening, stopping to sort out our delivery route, turned round and there it was. Couldn't miss the photo op with the bird - it's a classic - wish it had been yellow but you can't have everything. It's odd, I've walked ...

Iain Dale and "Yellow Peril" variously "broke" a "news" story yesterday about a chap being arrested in Spain apparently over some kind of spat over a business deal gone wrong. From what we can understand so far, it appears that his bankers decided to pull the plug after some dealings with another rich bloke that once had something to do with a famous football club that the guy had tried to cover up or some such when they tried to sue him or something. Great. So? Well of course the political bubble down in London is all ...