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Anne Marie Alufuwa (in black) and some of the MeWe members with Eva Schloss (in blue), Shami Chakrabati (in green), MPs and others MeWe is a Kingston youth theatre group, and yesterday I watched their powerful performance of 'And then they came for me - remembering the world of Anne Frank'. The location could not have been more prestigious - Portcullis House,...

The agenda for the meeting of the Selly Oak Ward Committee (the three ward councillors) on Wednesday 21 June has now been published and can be found here. The meeting will be held in the Selly Oak Centre, 648 Bristol Road and start at 7pm. Items on the agenda include: an update on the proposed residents parking scheme for the Dale Road / North Road / George Road area;the introduction of a

Heartbreak - those crazy kids didn't make it after all...

Not everyone gets it, and very little of it is on the web (just House Points and the by-election results, I believe). So here is a snippet for those who don't subscribe. After congratulating new Councillors on their election, Simon Hughes* wrote "I also hope those elected who were previously party officers will now stand down from party office so that others can take their place. Only party members who are not elected to public office can hold those of us who are effectively to account." *not Simon Hughes the former Middlesex and Durham seam bowler, but Simon ...

The Tories policy-free feel-good mood music came a little unstuck today. Tony Blair tried this trick with the Lib Dems as well when Paddy was in charge and later with Charlie. Hold a consultative committee to build trust and the promise of future power-sharing but don't actually make any difficult decisions. Good to see Menzies putting a stake in the ground against that kind of behaviour bright and early. David Cameron is to no small extent attempting to mimic much of the Blair playbook from the mid-1990s. His problem is that when Blair did it, it was ...

Adam Rickitt has failed to make the "long list" of 20 hopefuls to be Tory PPC and Folkestone and Hythe. He has also stirred things up by writing in the Daily Telegraph that: " I fear that our younger voters, who already feel so disconnected from our party and the system of government itself, will only have had their doubts confirmed by recent comments." Those "comments" may have included ones

Will David Cameron ever make a policy statement? If David Cameron does make a policy statement will the electorate run away in horror? Will Gordon Brown become Prime Minister? Will Alan Johnson become Prime Minister? Will David Cameron ever make a policy statement? If Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister will he win the next election? Will the Labour Government ever introduce a fair electoral

Last week the New Statesman had a relaunch. The magazine is bigger and glossier, but the content seemed much the same as usual. In particular, I was struck by the prominence the magazine now gives to comedians. There were columns by Rory Bremner and Stephen Fry, with the promise of one next week by Julian Clary. My great era of reading the Statesman was the late 1970s, and I have been trying to

Here. Please adjust your bookmarks, and if you don't read, give it a once-over. It's a superbly written progressive expert commentary on public health policy, and a reliable source of comment on H5N1 bird flu. It also gives object lessons in how politicians ignore or twist science at their (and more importantly our) peril. Here's how they describe themselves: "Effect Measure...is assiduously

Nine months ago, back when few had heard of David Cameron, his Tory leadership campaign was spluttering to a halt: all the talk was of a Ken Clarke versus David Davis showdown. Mr Cameron and his team knew they had to do something, and do it fast. But what? It needed to be a touchstone issue, something which would grab Tory MPs by the short 'n' curlies, a piercing ‘dog whistle’: it had to be

I find it hard to be enthusiastic about the announcement of the Liberal Democrats' 4Rs Commission. The party website says: "We've asked some independent thinkers, not previously associated with the Lib Dems, to do some big thinking for us on primary education." And who are those thinkers? The website says: Dr Bethan Marshall (chair): literacy expert from Kings CollegeDr Mike Askew: numeracy

The BBC says: "The Lib Dems are pulling out of a deal to work jointly with the Conservatives on the issue of climate change. Sir Menzies Campbell said co-operation required "urgent agreement on specific measures" but claimed the Tories were not able to provide that agreement." This comes as no surprise and is absolutely the right move. Cameron's whole green issue thing is, so far, a complete

Yesterday was a big day for Jerry Springer:The Opera. It opened in Cardiff and attracted hundreds of demonstrators. The media discussed the merits and demerits of staging it ad nauseum. The result was record ticket sales. The protestors seemed satisfied at the turnout for their sing song outside the WMC, but even they must realise that all they have achieved is to increase the size of the audience and prolong the show's life. Is that really what they set out to do? I doubt it. I have to admit that I cracked and bought two tickets myself. I ...

In what must be a huge about turn, the high pitched tone, developed to repel teenagers, has now officially become a ring tone used by teenagers for their mobile phones in situations where they do not want to attract the attention of adults. I never cease to be amazed by people's ingenuity.

Last week I went to an ELDR (the European Liberal Democrats) meeting to discuss policy positions that the UK Liberal Democrats will take at the next ELDR Council meeting. Some may have noticed that the Liberal Democrats are having quite a policy review nationally at the moment. I will undoubtedly comment on most of the statements on policy the Party put out but also intend to write my views on a number of issues over the next few weeks and months - you can even choose which topics I will write on in the opinion poll on the right of ...

If you have any views on the state of our primary school education system, the LibDems 4RS Commission want to hear from you. Apparently, the fourth "R" is "aRticulation" (or speaking skills). Personally, I've wondered why it is the 3Rs in the first place since only one of them begins with "R", hardly good writing... maybe I just need to get out more. See Also: Liberal England on the 4Rs

The new chamber's technology is being put to good use as I write. The Business Minister is giving a statement on British Sign Language whilst a BSL interpreter operates from the adjacent building. Her interpretation is being broadcast on the screens in the chamber and as a separate feed onto the small screens in the public gallery. A model of good practice that should be copied by other Parliaments.

Another Air strike on Gaza. While the aim of the Isrealis was to stop militants firing rockets across the border something they actually acheived (apparently Islamic Jihad have confirmed that Hamoud Wadiya their top record launcher and a colleague were two of the nine dead) there was also heavy civilian casualties. Amongst the seven dead civilians it is reported that Hisham al-Mugrabi aged 4

This post by Nerushimiy A quick note from the trenches in Bromley & Chislehurst. Liberal Democrat helpers were amused to see a local newspaper has the Conservative candidate as "Two Jobs Bob" since he's intending to stay on as a GLA member even if elected as an MP, drawing both salaries. The Lib Dem campaign though has found a few more jobs. Member of Parliament would be his fourth. While a Google search for Bob Neill shows a Pontiac car salesman, pyrographer , and a hypnotherapist, sadly deceased (all higher on Google than his campaign website!), Bob from ...

The Interdependence Day event on the afternoon of July 1st at the Royal Geographical Society which I flagged up earlier looks a really good day out with 'debate, films, art perfrmances and workshops'. The concept is that "demands to save the planet from environmental catastrophe, or to act on poverty are often daunting in scale, distant from daily life. But there is good news: there are acts of compassion, care, curiosity, and creativity that are already part of everyday life, and modes of communication that are already helping these ordinary acts to span great distances". I do urge Libdems with ...

Hat-tip to Will Howells for creating the second Lib Dem widget. The rather fine ‘Lib Dem blogs’ plug in on the right hand side (of the front page). Will’s still tweaking it, but let him know if you’d like to try the latest version. For all the latest news on Lib Dem widgets, check out this blogs ‘widget’ [...]

It won’t make me more likely to vote Tory – sorry Dave – but the rumoured replacement of the ‘stiff arm and torch’ Tory logo will certainly remove one source of my gut antipathy. Basically I could never support a party with a symbol echoing the Nazi salute, for family pride reasons if no other. As a refugee in Germany in 1944 my mother was in the streets of Berlin one day when Hitler passed. She and another young Lithuanian woman refused to give him the ‘Heil’ and had to flee for their safety through the back streets. After ...

One aspect about the question of scrutiny is that the last time the House of Commons held back finance is reputed to be in 1919 when a proposed lift and bathroom at a cost of £3,800 for the Lord Chancellor was refused by a Standing Committee of the House. I have found some references to this on the web from Punch of the era: THE COUNTER-ORDER OF THE BATH. [A Standing Committee of the House of

According to the main BBC Sport website Dietmar Hamann wants to leave Bolton to join Bolton! {BBC Screenshot}

Max Feldman is a remarkable man. He was Mayor of Stoke Newington back in the 1960s, and later Mayor of Hackney after the Metropolitan boroughs were created. He settled in Kingston after retiring, and twelve years ago set up the Kingston Pensioners Forum, which has been an effective campaigning voice for older people in the borough. At the AGM yesterday he finally stood down as Chair,...

Readers of my regular Lib Dem "Focus" newsletter will know that Lib Dem councillors have been following up the issue of litter and waste (eg. broken pallets) at the back of the PC World / Currys site on Tewkesbury Road. The problem had grown steadily worse over recent months, to the point where the waste was finding its way into the River Chelt. I am now delighted to report that the store owners (DSG) have responded to our pressure and cleaned up the mess. In addition, they have asked the site owners for permission to build a secure ...

As promised, here is an update on the traveller situation. Shortly after I posted my original message on the 30th May, the owners of the Cotswold Bowl site moved the travellers on. They moved to a vacant industrial site on the corner of Princess Elizabeth Way and Tewkesbury Road, where they stayed for a week or so. They have now been moved on again, but three caravans have returned to Kingsditch Lane! Guardian Property Services have spent the week tidying up the PE Way industrial site and making it secure: well done to them for their prompt action. The procedure ...

"The World Cup Finals are on their wayWith all the teams off to GermanyBrace yourself cause on every screenThere'll be nothing but the England teamBut wait!Hey!There's hope at handWe can still support Scotland, Scotland, Jason Scotland" From Scotland, Scotland, Jason Scotland by the Trinidad and Tobago Tartan Army Despite only selling 12 copies in London the above single has made the top 30 of singles charts. Somehow Scottish football fans have managed to get a World Cup song into the charts in a year that their team did not even qualify. Maybe that is what is meant ...

Private Eye runs a little feature called "Going Live" which captures rather unnecessary live outside broadcasts in the new 24 rolling news environment. There was a classic just a moment ago on BBC 1's Breakfast. They went live to an umbrella. Well, the umbrella took about 50% of the screen. 20% was Rita Chakrabarti, a further 20% was grass and 10% could be identified by architectural cogniscenti

Dead Ringers did a wonderful sketch last night in which they parodied David Cameron's opinion statements on 'the big issues of the day', suggesting Tory targets over the summer would include disrespectful shoppers who don't put 'Next Customer Please' signs on supermarket conveyor belts. Alongside rap music and the now infamous chocolate oranges, Cameron also suggested we needed to focus on GNH

Perhaps foolishly I paused on the way home this evening to have a look at the new East stand of Headingley Stadium and at the 45 St Michaels Lane site which is the site of our next big planning battle. Can't do just to the stadium controvesy at the moment. However we are hyper scrutinising the recent signage and lighting application they have made. However if we are honest its closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. The new stand is much, much nicer than the old one and looks really up market and contemporary. However its towering ...

Tonight I finally became a member of the New Headingley Club. The whole point of the New Headingley Club is its very definately the OLD Headingley Club of which more later. If anyone doubts the long term Psychological damage that being a Lib Dem councillor can do to you then consider the sight of me poking round the spacious and well laid out grounds of the club, sizing up the foot print of the building and thinking " Bloody Hell, what would PPG 3 do to this? " * I snapped out of planning mode and went inside for the ...

Spent day one of my "Holiday" in the Civic Hall today. Leeds City Council wisely invests in an excellent Home IT package and support for its members. I literally couldn't do the job without it. However there is no substitute sometimes for getting into the office and tackling the sprawling edifice by phone and face to face contact with officers. I will post seperately on "planning" but the bulk of the day was spent meeting new planning officers, looking at plans and on the phone to senior bods in the Development Department. Given the sheer volume of signifigant applications ...

As my former group leader Trevor commented on my previous post "Muddling along is one thing, ignoring the problem is another altogether ". And he's right, perhaps it's the same sort of difference between Britain improvising survival from 1939 to 1945, and ignoring Hitler completely. For somebody else's slant on those who ignore environmental problems, read Pharyngula here It begins: It's a