LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Wednesday 27th September 2006

You Can Help Stop Global Warming - Practical Tips

1. Change a light Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescentlight bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. 2. Drive less Walk, bike, carpool or take public transport more often.You'll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive! 3. Recycle more You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per yearby recycling half of your household waste. 4. Check your tyres Keeping your tyres inflated properly can improve mileage bymore than 3%. Every gallon of petrol saved keeps 20 pounds ofcarbon dioxide out of the atmosphere! 5. ...

Gordon Brown- the unlikely master of spin?...

Gordon Brown's greatest asset is his 'substance', his passion for politics and his contempt for the modern fascination with PR and spin doctors, or so we are led to believe... When watching Brown's speech on monday, i felt a definite sensation of deja-vu, one that was not simply brought about by seeing Tony Blair's ability to go yet another Brown address with that so obviously (but well

Flame wars - what are they good for?

It seems that the ongoing saga of the Darbyshires against the Liberal Democrats is continuing, and has been brought to my attention by an anonymous comment made in connection with my earlier (the fact that it's anonymous is kind of troubling, I admit...). So I thought that I would post a response as a comment. I don't know if Leah will publish it, but in case she doesn't, here it is for your

The first question to Fiona

For those of you who read my earlier blog entry about questions to Fiona Hall MEP, I can now say that the first question has arrived (just as my train was heading into Doncaster). It's about family courts and secrecy. I was expecting questions about bureaucracy, sovereignty, immigration, environment etc so this first one has come as a bit of a surprise!--- Sent via BlackBerry

Not giving the BNP an opening

I am heading up North now to help in the Dunston and Teams by-election. Normally this would be a dead cert for the Labour party but they seem to be in a state of terminal decay in large parts of Gateshead. This ward seems to be one such area. Their situation is not helped by the fact that this is the only ward in Gateshead in which the BNP is active. A low turnout for Labour poses dangers for

Day 2092: Luntz and Future King

Monday: Good news! My fluffy friend Mr Frank Luntz has NOT been sacked from the Newsnight Show after all! He's back and cuddlier than ever. Who would have thought that the DEADLY JAPANESE BLOWFISH could be made into a CUDDLY TOY! But back to Mr Luntz… Many of you will remember how CLEVER Mr Frank got all the Conservatories to admit they were having THOUGHTS about Mr Balloon. This time around,

Continuing the Galapagos theme...

the BBC's series Galapagos starts this Friday, a weak excuse to post this pic of a pair of very stressed-looking Galapagos sealions.

More racist rubbish from Labour

Several Scottish Labour MPs are quoted in The Herald today as demanding restrictions be placed on the number of Bulgarians and Romanians who come to work in Britain after these countries join the EU. Apart from the fact that free migration of labour is one of the key purposes of the European project, it is shameful to see such Labour stoop to such blatantly populist racism again. I know times are

End of the peer panel show

It seems my blogging about the peers panel election has stirred up a minor discussion. From what I have seen, those who have commented have broadly been in agreement with what I wrote last night on the train between Victoria and Crystal Palace.It may be worthwhille looking at another one of our democratic processes. The selection of emergency motions for debate at conference is meant to put

Welfare and society muppetry in Blair's Britain

47,000 words of bunkum duly submitted end of last week, I've spent this week trying to get some temporary work and in the meantime was duly dispatched to the Job Centre to apply for job seeker's allowance. The job seeker's allowance process has proved to be an exercise in bureaucratic muppetry par excellence, although I admit to being biased by the disillusioned, cynical and politically firey

Run for Freedom!

I was hoping to save this up until I'd posted more on here and (hopefully) more people were visiting. Unfortunately I realise that there isn't time for that. In an attempt to harness the awesome power of the bloggosphere (and because it's be nice if my blog wasn't only a personal vanity exercise) I would like to tell you about "Run for Freedom!" Jo Shaw, barrister-at-law, Publicity Officer for

Tom Harris MP: A Response!

After writing this post, I wrote to Tom Harris about his outburst on Newsnight last night. I'm sensitive to the potential difficulties of reproducing personal correspondence in full in a public forum, so I will attempt to summarise it. Mr Harris started by acknowledging that his behaviour was "unnecessarily aggressive and discourteous", and said that he has apologised to the Newsnight reporter concerned. He then explained that his behaviour was due to his frustration that the media tend to concentrate on "the superficial soap opera of politics" rather than serious issues. He suggested that there were ...

Red Bill

I’m watching footage of Bill Clinton addressing the Labour Party Conference in Manchester, praising the record of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, who is watching from the stage. There was a time, I suspect, when I would have thought better of Labour just for having President Clinton at their conference. But today I just find myself [...]

Cool nerd

As I usually say before I post a random meme, I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing. But I couldn’t resist posting this, although I’d've preferred a little more geek and a little less nerd. Those definitions sound reasonable too. Modern, Cool Nerd65 % Nerd, 52% Geek, 26% Dork For The Record: A Nerd is someone [...]

Bryant on Blair: "I bawled"

This must be a piss-take... surely? Please tell me Rhondda's very own Chris Bryant is not for real: ... Yes, Tony is going - rising to even higher things, maybe the United Nations - but we could never expect to have him with us for ever. He showed us the way. Of course, there's pain. Mary Magdalene wept for days. But all that shows us is how much we loved him.Renewal. Modernisation. Discipline.

Exams should go before coursework does

Alan Johnson's recent announcement to axe maths GCSE coursework and have all other coursework done under strict supervision is a major step backwards. The concept that years and years of study can be compressed into a one-hour exam is not only unfair towards students but it leads to schools teaching how to pass an exam, rather than inspiring students in their subject.The boring repetition of

Simon Hughes re-elected

The Cowley Street press release says: Simon Hughes MP has today been re-elected unopposed as President of the Liberal Democrats. Nominations closed at noon today and Simon Hughes was the only candidate nominated. He will therefore serve for a further two years until the end of 2008. Suz Blog is delighted (if a little confused): Been waiting on tenterhooks since the close of nominations to know if Simon Hughes has been re-elected as the party President. Didn't want to jump the gun until I received the news through official sources but now it's confirmed. He's been elected ...

Hitler paintings for sale

At least you can see what it's meant to be.

Questions

Radio Wales has just reported that the biggest question in Welsh politics has been answered. Apparently, Peter Hain told the Observer's Andrew Rawnsley that he does not use a sunbed or bottled oil to maintain his sun tan. He says that he only has to step into the sun for two minutes and the tan appears as if by magic.

I just want to say

I haven’t been to the gym for two months. But I have been eating a lot of Cherry Bakewells. Only 40p from Sainsbury. Yum yum. No Tags

Labour left in support for Lib Dem Tax plans shocker!

Further to the previous confusion over who is going to stand in for Vince Cable tonight at a Labour fringe event on taxation policy and transport funding it turns out that organisers have managed to get none other than the next leader of the Labour Party, John McDonnell to champion the new Lib Dem tax plans at the event. Eat your heart out Evan!

Top 100 Lib Dem blogs - How many were actually read ?

Having read through the list of top 100 Lib Dem blogs produced by Iain Dale, I was astonished to see just how many had not been updated for several weeks, some not for months, whilst a couple were only being updated at best once every two to three weeks. Had he really read them all, if he had, surely he would have noticed this glaringly obvious fact ? So, under what scoring system was this "top

Exercise in planning

I found this mildly amusing. The BBC reports that Town planning blamed for obesity: Poor town planning which limits opportunities for children to take exercise has been blamed for fuelling an increase in obesity.I have an answer - more tower blocks with broken lifts!

Co-payment, co-payment, co-payment

In this post, James makes some suggestions about how to improve education. His first is to suggest norm referencing which is what the Americans call "marking on the curve". This solves the problem of grade inflation and the incentives to indulge in it - but it does not solve the problem of standards in itself. Indeed, norm referencing gives you no sense of how standards are changing year on year. At the end of James's post he states: Bring back free education that allows the poor and bright to shine through andclimb the social ladder - that's a true ...

From our own correspondent

is a delightful half hour of BBC radio at it's best. Each week some of the BBC's many correspondents around the world muse rather than report, and provide wonderful thumbnail insights into their countries. Their China correspondent is either a good sport, or his editor has some seriously compromising photos. Still, neither would make me eat in China's penis emporium then tell the world about it. He finally tries some pickled ox organ, pronounces it 'rubbery'. Not velly rubbery at all, I think.

Lib-Labbery lives

Anne Perkins writes on the Guardian's Comment is free superblog: Out in the wilds, beyond the impregnable conference fortress, in a meeting room in one of Manchester's interchangeable business hotels, a small sect gathered last night to discuss the prospects for a realignment of Liberal Democrats and Labour, a new progressive consensus. It is a tribute to the determination of Neal Lawson, chair of the Compass, and Neil Sherlock, of the new thinktank CentreForum, that the effort to find common ground which began in the mid 1990s has continued through electoral landslides and official neglect into an era where ...

Just because you’re paranoid…

Oh dear, the police are getting bored. They’ve started enforcing arbitrary rules on the myriad leafleters delivering outside of the Labour Conference secure zone, forcing them to stand behind invisible lines that, remarkably didn’t exist yesterday. Of more concern, I’ve just watched half a dozen police officers spend half an hour filming an anti-vivisectionist handing [...]

Bag’o’sh***

The difference between Lib Dem and Labour conferences… At Lib Dem conferences, the Independent sponsor the “Bag for Life,” made of a substance called joot which conference attendees are encouraged to use, well, for life. At Labour conference, the Independent’s sponsored bag requests that you use it “for the duration of this conference”. Need I say [...]

Alan Johnson and the origami joke

Been watching Alan Johnson make his big speech at Labour conference. Can anyone explain his origami joke? I'm baffled but everyone in the hall laughed ... PS No, of course I don't want him to be Labour leader. Once a postman, always a postman. And I'm a dog.

Uncontested Presidency?

Rumours are flying around that Simon Hughes will not, alas, be challenged for the Party Presidency. This is a pity as Simon has needed to be called to account over his performance. He is nowhere near delivering the promises he made two years ago and hasn't even put in place any discernable infrastructure to make these targets remotely possible. There are a number of other issues which I've blogged on and which will also not now be addressed. I will now have to wait another two years to push forward a reforming agenda. Serves me right for ...

Adventure Holiday

I really, really like the Idea of an adventure holiday. To be able to go back to the office and have people ask. " Oh Yes, how was the whitewater rafting?". " Not as exciting as the parachute jump.. " I would reply. But that's just not me. Situated 40 minutes drive from Enlgands best national park I just can't move. A week of sleeping, drinking Cider, reading and some sea air is all I'm capable of. Perhaps I should guilt trip my self less but I do feel very, very slothful. Perhaps thats what Holidays should be about? ...

Three cheers for Simon Hughes

Been waiting on tenterhooks since the close of nominations to know if Simon Hughes has been re-elected as the party President. Didn't want to jump the gun until I received the news through official sources but now it's confirmed. He's been elected unopposed for a further two year term. Personally I'm very pleased - didn't believe the rumours about a possible challenger for one minute. To be

Razzle Dazzle

Tony Blair is an evil genius. Yesterdays speech was a Tour de Force of both platform speaking and the Televisual art. Three weeks ago he was about to be defenestrated like Thatcher and now he has made the rest of the cabinet look like pigmies and has everybody wondering what they will do with out him. While even an unrecontructed critic like me can only gawp at the performance I have to ask how long it can all last? Can you give a Super Nova good bye speech like that and then stay for another 9 months? Does he do ...

Roger and out

Rather belatedly I found this entry on David Cornock's blog from last week's Liberal Democrat Conference. David continues his long-running obsession in relation to Liberal Democrat leaders that they should have at least one mention of Wales in their key-note speech. The fact that Wales has at least two Liberal Democrat leaders of our own who do nothing else but talk about how well we are doing here seems have to passed him by. In our new devolved democracy there is no need for the Federal Leader to namecheck every constituent part of the United Kingdom any more. ...

Vince steps aside for Jock...

...well, briefly and involuntarily. There's a Land Value Tax and Transportation policy fringe at the Labour conference tonight hosted by the Professional Land Reform Group of which I am a member, or at least I think I am - they might not think so as I've never had my subscription acknowledged (you know the kind of organisation - we have lots of them in the party!). Amongst the speakers were to

Kramer demands action on Darfur

Burned village of Hilat Na’gah: In a village in West Darfur, villagers walk among what remains of their homes and possessions. Photo: USAID The Liberal Democrats are very concerned about the shortcomings of the peace agreement in which Hilary Benn, UK Secretary for International Development, played a [...]

Two Cheers for the Balkans

I have been a bit slow commenting on the agreement by the EU to permit the entry of Bulgaria and Romania on January 1st 2007. Of course I welcome these new countries. However since the big bang entry in 2004, much has changed in the EU. The failure of the constitutional treaty has created strains, but in fact a variable geometry Europe now exists in all but name. Several countries are opted out

Things you may not wish to try

(Courtesy of some workmates) Take 1 Greggs Steak Bake Add 1 OXO cube and a mug of hot water Put in a smoothie maker/blender and blend. Pour the resulting mud coloured sludge into a glass and drink. Perhaps it seemed like a good plan, but I don't know what planet they're on... Tags:food smoothies disgusting pasties

A question of choice

It is not often that we get interesting philosophical discusions in Plenary but yesterday was an exception. The subject was choice in public services, however the two protagonists in the conversation seemed to be talking about different things. For the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, choice means the provision of genuine alternatives so as to empower individuals, in other words the establishment of competing services so as to drive down cost. For the First Minister however, the word meant something completely different: The First Minister: Yes. We believe in a wider range of choices, for instance, on whether ...

Global competitiveness

The World Economic Forum publishes each year an Index of Global competitiveness. The US has fallen sharply from the top spot, the result of the new distrust of American institutions. The UK has fallen too on worries about the UK education system. Interesting to take a look at who's hot and who's not...

Limited Democracy

I hear that there is not going to be a contest for the Party Presidency. I think it is a pity really. Elections are a good thing. I am surprised that Simon thinks he can do the job in view of his comments on Councillors who are also Party officers. Elsewhere, perhaps appropriately, but certainly sadly, we are about to elect a list of potential peers on a feudal franchise. I agree with Jonathan Wallace on this. The limited franchise does no one any favours. Either let all members vote or leave it to the Leader, I say. ...

Dylan Moran's Thought for the Day

"I respect all the difference between the major religions. And the minor ones too. When it comes to religion, I respect all the differences... but I would say that if you believe in any of it, you're a moron. Because the thing is, to me it really is just people talking about their imaginary friend at length. Somebody who's not there. I don't mind that - whatever gets you off, you know. But some of them are world leaders, which does give you pause for thought."

I'm Still Alive!

For the benefit of my regular readers (not many, I know!) rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. I've just been rather busier than usual with various bits of paperwork. Coming up over the next couple of days: A review of "The Vast Leftwing Conspiracy" and my suggestions for Liberal Democrat relations with China (one of my pet subjects).

Make up your minds

Clearly posting that 'Cleggy's off to a flier' on Sunday inspired a few Huhne-iacs to get in on the act - as a result Nick and Chris have swapped places in the poll to decide who you think emerged from the Lib Dem conference with most credit. Indeed, I think it's fair now to say that it's a two-horse race - and one which may just be a foretaste of the leadership battle to come in a few years'

Presidential election uncontested

Multiple unofficial, but reliable, sources tell the Voice that Simon Hughes will not face an election for the post of Party President. PS This time I am assured the Voice is right, unlike the other time. I really am right this time. 100%. There’s a press release coming, and everything. UPDATE: The party’s official announcement is here. For [...]

I Want To Go To A Ranch, Please Can I Go To A Ranch?

So Prezza won't face a criminal investigation over the Philip Anschutz affair. In other news, bears continue to prefer the woods for their toiletary needs... Nevertheless, there remains one question that needs answering. During the height of the media storm, Prescott's primary defence was that, while he had visited Casa Anschutz, he had had no intention of discussing the casino bid at any time.

Congestion Charge ‘Makes No Surplus’

Ealing Tory Councillor Phil Taylor has crunched some numbers on the Congestion Charge which suggest the scheme is failing to create any surplus. You can read Phil’s entire calculations on his blog.

Conference Blues......Reds and Yellows....

For someone watching the party conferences at home - well the Lib Dem one and the 'big hitters' from Labour's jamboree at least, the following thoughts come to my mind. The Leader's Speech : always straight afterwards you get interviews on radio and TV with party reps / delegates and predictably they tell you how brilliant it was ! This is even when the evidence is very much to the contrary, Bloggers do likewise and try to 'spin' these events just like their professional counterparts. The lack of candour is very irritating ! Can you imagine the ...

Liz Lynne MEP and the Liberal Democrats back landmark policy on forced prostitution and trafficking

Last week at Liberal Democrat Conference, West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP moved a landmark policy motion calling for a concerted and sustained effort to end the cruel and inhuman practice of human trafficking. Conference passed the motion making the Liberal Democrats are the only mainstream political party to have a clear and defined position against trafficking.

Week thus far; Magdalen Green, Audit, Police Switchboard, Christmas and High Street clocks!

Monday was extremely busy - morning chairing the City Council's Audit & Risk Management Sub-Committee - very positive audit reports, both from the External Auditor (Audit Scotland) and from the Internal Audit Service. In the afternoon, the next planning meeting for the West End Christmas Week took place at the Tartan Coffee House, following on from the site visit last Friday (see below) about the

Education Secretary Exclusive: Blair to solve Middle East Crisis!

I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing this morning from Education Secretary Alan Johnson on the Today Programme suggesting that Tony Blair was realistic in his aim to solve the Middle East 'problem'. Is this the same Tony Blair who openly failed to condemn Israel for attacking Lebanon recently, only to be shown up for the poodle that he really is when Bush decided to make very...

Radio Bloke and Anti-Scottishness

I was listening to Radio 5 Live a little after Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Conference the other day . Afterwards they ran a vox pop on how acceptable GB would be as leader of GB. The hostility to his Scottishness, some of it appearing explicitly racist was alarming. Ironically no-one seems as bothered or mentiones Sir Menzies Campbell's Scottishness ! Talking to people I know I think the tennis player Andrew Murray's alleged comments about supporting 'anyone but England' seemed to start this ball rolling [again]. Of course, whilst there seems to be anecdotal evidence of an ...

"I did what I had to do- I saw it through"

As the curtain slowly falls and the political obituaries of Tony Blair are written, as the cheesy strains of "My Way" fade from the stage, it is hard not to suppress a harsh giggle. Labour are being given a pig in a poke -the bizarre psychological torment that seems to have afflicted Gordon Brown since he first watched Tony Blair enter Ten Downing Street does not show the man who would be PM in

More on Ming ! - Not Moron Ming !!!

Generally pretty positive conference vibe. Ming Campbell scored well on content but still looks a bit stiff and lacking in pesonal warmth. He looks uncomfortable, which in a televisual age distracts some from the message he seeks to relay. I say this having watched on TV. The 'Blair Babes' style picture with mostly younger female Lib Dems on Brighton seafront again seemed very un-Ming. Play to his strengths and not resort to media-oriented spin. What did nark me was the smug 'we are a party of substance not spin'. Surely this was undermined by media manipulation in ...

Oh, Just Stop It!

The media preoccupation with what Cherie Blair is alleged to have said is, even for British political ‘journalism’, a new low. Pathetic, isn’t it? Of course it’s possible to think the Chancellor is untruthful or talks rubbish (I’ve expanded on those topics myself), but couldn’t we have the faintest smidgeon of content rather than just gossip? I don’t know if Cherie said what she’s been reported as

Conference gossip o-rama

Don’t sue me, sue him. My personal favourite, not mentioned there, was the MP who took an impressionable young thing up to their hotel room at 1am for some guidance on “being a good PPC”. Jim Hacker used to say that in politics you need good elbows. Something tells me that aspiring PPC discovered you [...]

A List Meritocracy Cameron-style

The latest tranche of Tory A-List hopefuls sees 11 out of 14 being London based. The head honcho [Shireen Ritchie] of Dave's attempt at inclusivity emanates from Kensington and Chelsea Conservative Association [KCCA] and was formerly Chairman (sic) of KCCA and a councillor there. Of 150 hopefuls in total we've got : Timothy Coleridge (K&C councillor) Margot James (K&amp;amp;amp;amp;C councillor) Joanna Gardner (K&C councillor) Elizabeth Campbell (K&C councillor) Mary Macleod (Deputy Chairman K&C) Mary Weale (K&C councillor) Add to this : Melanie Mclean - who lives in the seat Angie Bray GLA - whose Assembly ...

Bulgaria and Romania to join the European Union on 1 January 2007

The EU agreed that the accession of both Bulgaria and Romania could go ahead in January. They have passed all the, vigorous, test put before them and will be allowed to join - there is more work to be done to be able to fully participate in all areas of the EU, but the important thing is they are in. Oddly the last European country I visited was Bulgaria and the next is Romania in a few weeks time.

Shameless

One of those appearing in the Blogger of the Year Award videos I posted up on Youtube the other day has accused me of "shamelessly" boosting my viewing figures for my Youtube channel by running a competition encouraging people to view the video of the Blogging Queen of their choice. How could he say such a thing? The person will remain nameless but Mark my words, he Packs no punch with me.

Elections everywhere

It is that time of year again when the Liberal Democrats have lots of internal party elections. In fact some elections have already happened, this year I have stood down (or am in the process) from two bodies I sat on and have re-stood for three others, I will also be standing down from a third when their AGM comes around.

Communicating and Campaigning

Readers of Liberator will be aware that I’ve been having a disagreement with Chris Rennard about internal party democracy in that magazine’s pages over the last two issues. But there is one thing that the two of us do agree on, albeit possibly for different reasons: the English, Welsh and Scottish State Parties’ proposal [...]

Misleading Stats

Earlier this month the BBC reported this story Second lottery win for US woman. The woman had won the $1m jackpot on two scratch cards in the last 4 years. The odds of winning the first card were 1 in 5.2 million, whilst the odds of winning the second card was 1 in 705,600, so experts claim that the chances of her winning both games were an incredible 1 in 3,669,120,000,000. However these experts (or BBC researchers) are wrong. Yes if she had walked in to her newsagents and said can I have one Cool Million scratch card and can ...

My Twin

Alex has kindly given this new blog a plug on his blog alongside another new Lib Dem blog from Theo Butt Philip. As we seem to have been born into the blogosphere at the same time and have built our blog using the same template I shall now forever think of Theo as my blogging twin. Good luck to Theo with his blog.

Gary Lineker, Corrie's Roy Cropper and me!!

Tuesday 26th September 2006 - I guess you are all wondering just what Gary Lineker, Coronation Street's Roy Cropper and myself have all got in common!! Well, we are all backing a language survey that was launched today to coincide with European Day of Language that will lift the lid on language skills and capabilities in the North of England. The results of the survey will be made available to

Is Stephen Fry mad?

He said he was mad, jokingly, as he exuberantly bought his seventeenth iPod on BBC2's A Secret life of the manic depressive. Of course he isn't (mad) and this two-part programme served enormously to help the public understand manic depressives. Stephen Fry is to be warmly congratulated. He even allowed the cameras to record him as he suffered from a bout of depression in Aberdeen. It was very

Busy week ahead

Monday 25th September 2006 - After a weekend mixed with Constituency work and some family time it's back to Strasbourg and a very busy agenda. Bulgaria and Romania's admisoin to the EU is to be discussed this week but more importantly for me is my EU-India Trade Relations report which I will table before the Parliament on Wednesday. I am also hoping to encourage colleagues to sign the Written Declaration calling for the end to experiments on non-human primates that I have co-signed which is now open for other MEP's to support from today. More details here http://www.sajjadkarim.org.uk/news/246.html

Fancy a squirrel... it fell off the hull of the Titanic

For those who don't watch the patchily excellent Bremmer, Bird and Fortune - switch on your television at 8:10 pm on Saturday. If you haven't got a television, go around and watch a friends' (or something). Last Saturday he picked up on this story from over the summer, questioning what happened if you simultaneously impersonated a traffic warden AND attempted to sell a grey squirrel. Kind of

Wednesday 27th September 2006

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