Serious post this time - click "play" above to watch a truly excellent Party Political Broadcast from the Lib Dems. Great voiceover from Nick Clegg, great production values - the more of these we do the better. Time for a video on the Great Repeal Act / Freedom Bill?
Much as I hate driving up the traffic to WebCameron, this was just too juicy to leave alone. It seems David Cameron Mr. Funny Face ran a competition last week on his blog. Punters could win an appearance on the Tory Party Policial Broadcast by answering this question: Just complete the sentence: For our NHS, I’d like…All very innocent, you'd think. That was until Channel 4's This is a Knife got
The 125 year lease on Alexandra Palace to Firoka Group was signed today. You can still contact the Charity Commission to ask that the historic TV studios are saved.
Are grammar schools liberal?I ask because it rather bizarrely came up on Question Time when Ming was on and it prompted him into one of his leftier rants about social divisiveness and so forth. (I also ask because I enjoy sticking grenades under bits of policy we hold as sacrosanct, but that’s just my own particular perversity…)The principal argument against grammar schools has remained unchanged for quite a while now; that by forcible dividing pupils at age 11, grammar schools established a fundamental divide between those who passed and those who failed, and that these attitudes dogged those who failed ...
here's a piece that I wrote for lib Dem Voice last week. Thought it was worth reprinting given the authoritarian humbug that we've had from Gordon Brown on the subject. "Nick Griffin, the Leader of the BNP, was acquitted yesterday of charges of inciting racial hatred. In 2004 Griffin made a speech to BNP activists in which he described Islam as a “wicked, vicious faith” and said that Muslims were turning Britain into a “multi-racial hell hole”. Griffin is a racist, he espouses an ugly creed based on fear and ignorance, almost every word he says is offensive. But being ...
As I’m working late tomorrow night, it’s awfully thoughtful of the Lib Dems to upload the latest party political broadcast to YouTube. Saves me setting the video… Best bit: using the strongest section from Ming Campbell’s conference speech: And now Mr Cameron expresses his reservations about Britain’s foreign policy. Well I say to that – Where were you? Where were you when what was needed was
The complex debate relating to family court secrecy and medical ethics has now kicked off in the British Medical Journal (see link). (see the rapid responses) I spoke on these issues during the Queens Speech debate today. I will post a link to this tomorrow.
Liberal Democrat Voice tells us that Paul Keetch is to stand down as MP for Hereford at the next election. As the site adds: Keetch’s seat will be a prime target for ambitious PPCs - with a majority of just 962, Hereford is winnable next time, but needs a lot of attention. Paul Keetch has pledged to work closely with his successor.As a service to those ambitious PPCs, here is a link to the Hereford tourism site and a picture of the catherdral.
Being English, I have always struggled with complaining. I much prefer the pointed letter to the Managing Director written days after the event (usually met with the response of an apology and a generous voucher). I have always found it very difficult to complain without getting worked up. And I don't see why I should be inconvenienced twice - once by poor service and then a second time by
The Scotsman has the (wholly creditable) answer. 
Norwich City Council, it has been reported, has spent £27,000 on working out that just 41% want Norwich to have unitary status. However, the leader of Norwich City Council, Cllr Stephen Morphew is pleased with this response and has said he was encouraged by the findings. Quite why he is pleased is unknown, as surely 41% is hardly a ringing endorsement. Norfolk County Council is apparently now set to follow this with a further £30,000 to be spent on encouraging people not to support unitary status. I work in the city, there is no outcry from people ...
Hereford’s MP Paul Keetch is telling his local party members at their AGM tonight that he intends to stand down as an MP at the next election. He was elected in 1997 and is currently serving his third term as MP. Paul stated that he took the decision to announce his retirement tonight as some [...]
I'm weak. (From the marvellous Lib Dem Voice).
Blood & Treasure reminds us of some of the less glorious incidents in Reid's political career. There's nothing that has not appeared on this blog before, but we can't be reminded too often.
As I said a few days ago, yesterday was the anniversary of my first day at TVam - 15 November 1982, 3 months before the station went on air - I had just come from BBC News. Charles Kennedy was also at TVam on his first day after entering parliament (16 June 1983), and I was there in the studio - the video clip is available from the TVam library online.
Tomorrow I am off to Birmingham for the Liberal Democrat’s “Kick Start” weekend, for local parties who want to learn more about how to maximise their chances at the Local Elections next May. The weekend is organised by ALDC (the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners - the organisation whose Chief Executive is Bury Liberal Democrats' own Cllr Tim Pickstone), and as well as
Senator Stuart Syvret is a member of the States of Jersey (the islands parliament) and is also the island’s Health Minister. Nothing particularly interesting there. A politician in a small island (albeit an important one in terms of international finance). What is interesting is that one of Jersey’s most senior politicians has openly slammed Tony Blair in [...]
Milton Friedman has died aged 94. The cause of liberty and freedom has lost one of its most dedicated proponants. Despite what many might say, he was a liberal. He fought for freedom from coercion and for equal rights and to lift people out of poverty. He fought against the vested interests on all sides and sought to expose the selfish manoeuvering many engage in under the flag of equality. He
Thursday 16th November 2006 - The day starts with great news from Pakistan where it is confirmed to me that President Musharraf has intervened in the case of the Leeds man Mirza Tahir Hussain and commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment. Shortly afterwards I am contacted by Radio 4 Today programme and then Sky News for my reaction to the breaking story. The whole day is taken over by 
I had a preview of tomorrow night's Liberal Democrat Party Political Broadcast last night. It highlight's the government's failures on Iraq. David Cameron's backing of military action against Iraq and the strong Lib Dem position on climate change. View it here:
David Cameron would be proud. A local Tory run council in Norfolk is trying to get a man to remove solar panels from his property. Read about the actions of Broadland District Council HERE !
This Friday is Children in Need Day and throughout the day the BBC at The Mailbox in Birmingham city centre are going to try to break two Guinness World Records for face painting. Between 11am and 12 noon there will be an attempt on the individual speed face painters record - to complete as many full faces as possible within the hour. The current record stands at 76.From 1pm until 5pm there will
Guido Fawkes’ blog claims to have a copy of correspondence sent from Inspector Yates of Scotland Yard to Tony Wright, chair of the Public Administration Select Committee, which speaks of “major developments” not yet in the public domain. If the letters are not fakes they present a serious breach in the security of the investigation. That is, [...]
Tuesday 14th November 2006 - A busy day starts with an LDEPP group breakfast followed by a meeting with the First Secretary of the Embassy of Bangladesh. The rest of the day is a blur of votes, meetings and question time where I waited 40 minutes waiting to be called and guess what.....yes I never got called!! It was a long evening as well with Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson making a
Tomorrow´s news today - Friday´s lib dem broadcast is available now.
Monday 13th November 2006 - Another Plenary week in Strasbourg which means a nightmare journey to Frankfurt and a 3 hour drive due to the change of flight schedules from Liverpool to Basle!! When I arrive I go straight to a Group meeting where we discuss the week's agenda and voting intentions on what is a very busy schedule. I also hope to get called to ask a question on the Free Trade
The next Lib Dem TV broadcast is on Friday, 17th November (BBC1 18.55; BBC2 17.55; ITV 18.55). Back in the old days, it would have appeared once on TV and that would have been it. But with the increasing importance of new media, this time it has been released in advance on YouTube and Google Video and [...]
Yes, its a long headline, but it needs saying. Patrick Snowball, the Chief Executive of Norwich Union spoke in Norwich about how education was letting children down. The EDP reports that he "launched an astonishing attack on Britain's education system yesterday - calling for the return of competitive sports days and the egg-and-spoon race to help prepare pupils for the world of work." Just how out of touch is Mr Snowball ? I am in my seventh year of teaching and at every school that I have worked there have been competitive sports, competitions, and an encouragement ...
The new Chief Executive of Bridgend County Borough Council is to go on maternity leave just three months after she starts in her new role. Commenting on the news Dr Jo Farrar said "Bridgend council is a family-friendly employer with many policies that support a good work-life balance." The Council leader, Cheryl Green added "Jo has the full support of myself and cabinet and we congratulate her on her happy news. Tried and tested maternity procedures will be put in place to ensure the continuing day-to-day smooth running of the authority and the services we provide." Bridgend's Labour ...
Have added a video clip to my profile (right hand side) which is funny and made me laugh. Have had a few residents ask me if my work visa is current - being a foreigner and all. Well good news, or bad...
CERA have published a report on oil production which is highly critical of the Peak Oil Theory. It echoes much of my instinctive criticism of Peak Oil, mainly Peak Oil theory fails to take into account new technology and the rise in price of oil leading to less accessible oil being profitable to extract. I also think the demand side of the equation is different. I think oil consumption will
Too short notice sadly for anyone to join me last night at the Bond film. It was very good and I can best describe it as closer to 'Spooks' than to 'Austin Powers', or to put it another wa...
Okay, that's it. I've had enough with all these debt management adverts that depressingly pop-up every single adbreak during the day. Oh, so helpful I'm okay with them touting for business in this way, we all need to pay the bills, feed the family, etc. I'm not okay with their explanation that they will use "government legislation" to help debtors. They won't, for a simple reason, which I can
Here are some Tory bloggers bitching about their leader´s performance yesterday. They claim the split goes all the way to the frontbench team. Who are we to argue?
Party Funding was omitted from the Queen's Speech however there is a review taking place at the moment by the Government if you would like to send you opinion in you can send it to review@partyfundingreview.gsi.gov.uk
OK so beards haven’t been banned from the BBC. Men are still allowed to carry the face fuzz if they so feel fit but at least one man at the top of the corporation has faced the clippers. Mark Thompson was on Celebrity Scissor Hands today and had his beard shaved off by Scott Mills. Apparently [...]
Not quite sure why, but I watched the Queen's Speech yesterday. The Speech itself did not say very much at all, but the papers and briefings that have followed it tell us a lot more. And it is more of the same, more legislation on crime and terror, most of it illiberal, much of it could have been done last time there introduced legislation on this matter. There is a couple of proposed Bills which should be a step in the right direction - A Climate Change Bill and a reform of pensions, including restoring the link with earnings, I ...
Dental Budgets Q:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the gross dental budget is in each primary care trust in 2006-07; how much has been budgeted for in charges in each trust; what the expected outturn against budget is; and if she will make a statement. (John Hemming) A:A table listing the primary dental service resource allocations for 2006-07 for all primary care trusts (PCTs) in
I see that the more rabid conservative bloggers are advertising a meeting of the Bruges Group over the weekend that intends to discuss policies for "a post EU" Britain. You might expect to see such immaturity on the amusing Guido Fawkes blog- but I was moderately surprised to see the same event given equal coverage on Iain Dale's blog. Iain is the Queen Mother of political blogging, especially since he became a Tory "A" Lister- "They can't answer back you know". Although he was on a hiding to nothing trying to unseat Norman Lamb in North Norfolk, there are many ...
Koh Samui has been settled for about 1500 years. The first arrivals here were fishermen. The island is to be found on 500 years old maps from Chinese Ming dynasty. Fishing and later coconuts were the major source of income on Koh Samui island. Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand in South China Sea in the Pacific Ocean. The island is a district in the Surat Thani Changwat or province. Samui itself is divided into seven sub districts : Maenam, Bophut, Maret, Taling Nam, Namuang, Lipa Noi and Angthong. Koh Samui has been a backpackers destination since ...
On Wednesday evening I went to co-present with Iain Dale his Queen's Speech special on 18 Doughty Street TV. Having never presented anything and being far more used to being asked my opinion it seemed gamekeeper turned poacher. Keeping quiet and listening to the guests speak without interrupting all the time was a challenge - and I probably was more restrained than necessary. But it was hugely enjoyable and although two hours long (unheard of normally for political TV!), the time flew by. The guests were Labour MP Graham Allen, Lib Dem Jeremy Browne and two Conservatives, Greg Clark and ...
The latest Lib Dem PPB is available for viewing. I've embedded it in my blog.
Cameron, Brown and Iraq Latest Lib Dem party broadcast.
Last month we reported on Greg Mulholland’s efforts to save Leeds man Mirza Tahir Hussain from execution in Pakistan. President Musharraf was also lobbied by Members of the European Parliament and by Tony Blair. The BBC reports today that the hanging, imposed by a Sharia court after Hussain had been cleared by Pakistan’s high court, has [...]
The BBC are reporting that 3 is making the web easier on your mobile. Mobile firm 3 has agreed a tie-up with top internet firms in a move it claims will make the mobile internet work properly for the first time. … It is launching a partnership with internet firms including Skype, Google and eBay. I may be wrong [...]
The Prime Minister’s website has a new petitions system set up by those clever people at mySociety. It’s currently in beta test but there are plenty of petitions already up there (some saner than others). While I don’t hold out much hope of the Government taking much notice of these (except by cherry-picking the ones [...]
It's spawned a whole industry playing on fear of drink spiking, school children creating tamper-proof bottle tops (they shouldn't be drinking anyway), knee-jerk Blunkett raising GHB to Class A and so on but new evidence suggests that most "victims" of date rape drugs are, in fact, merely bladdered, mullahed, out of their trees on....alcohol, that most dangerous, but paradoxically legal and socially celebrated, drug: Date-rape drugs 'not widespread' Use of Rohypnol is not "widespread", said report Research suggests date-rape drugs may not be as prevalent as first thought. A study commissioned by the Association of Chief ...
Last weeks good news is followed by bad. After loads of work to get the land behind churchway and east damwood road blocked off I, and more importantly local residents, were delighted when a gate was put up to do this. Delight it seems was a bit premature as no sooner had the work been done than vandals came along .... its almost as if the gate was a challenge to the groups who insist on making people's lives there a misery. Obviously I am seeing what can be done about this.. but I share the extreme ...
Lib Dem run Newcastle are facing a by-election in a Labour seat that could well result in a gain for the Lib Dems. Lemington ward is the location for the contest following the death of one of the two Labour councillors in the ward. In May however the Lib Dems gained the seat from Labour, taking 56% of the vote, an increase of 32%. Admittedly, some of the gain was down to the cock up by the
Bit of a hectic day yesterday. After some "office time" I went to visit a community recycling project in Garston. Called Rotters its in an area called Dutch Farm. You either get to it up a track from vineyard street or from the highbank drive estate at the other end. They collect green waste and kitchen waste ( veg peelings etc.. not meat waste) and it gets composted. We had a good chat about a range of issues. Then over to Speke for a meeting and photograph with the ladies who raise money for the Marie Curie charity. There's ...
The Welsh papers report again on the feud between Presiding Officer, Dafydd Elis-Thomas and his Deputy, John Marek, which spilled out into the chamber yesterday in an embarrassing exchange that once more brought the Assembly into disrepute. This time it was John Marek, determined to raise the departure of Assembly Clerk Paul Silk, who used a motion to appoint the new Chief Executive so as to attack the PO. As soon as he raised it he was ruled out of order and then when the Presiding Officer moved to a vote demanded several times that Dafydd Elis-Thomas clarify ...
I know that it is fashionable to dislike politicians but Dyfed Powys Chief Constable, Terry Grange, has taken the art form to new lengths with his assertion that we are all hairy chested neanderthals beating our chest about crime rather than giving the Police the resources to get on with the job. In terms of the Queen's speech he is most probably correct. Let us hope that he is not thinking about compulsory waxing as a solution. Now that really would be pain for gain.
Thursday: New news from festering sore of hate and recrimination that is the Labour Leadership – and the hot question is: "who is going to throw down their political life just so that Mr Frown can crushingly defeat them?" Alan Johnson says "it's not going to be me, guv!" and he's probably going to be backing Mr Frown… while subtly suggesting it's up to that nice Mr Dr Reid to challenge for the leadership. Nice Mr Dr John Reid says: "I shall never surrender and on those terms I surrender the leadership to Gordon." And Tangerine Toned Turncoat, Mr ...
Wednesday: Does anybody remember the Conservatory election campaign from last year, wot Mr Balloon did write? Here is a reminder! Fortunately, in the intervening year, the Conservatories have learned their lesson – they have replaced nasty old Mr Something of the Night and buried him at a crossroads with last year's manifesto through his heart. Now they have shiny new Mr Balloon, without a care or a policy in the world. [Plays hearts and flowers music] Out with all those old policies that lost them the election by being too right wing and horrid. Away with "limits on ...
Tuesday: Anyway, speaking of SINISTER BUSINESSMEN, the controversy about selling ERMINE and RED LEATHER continues to dog Lord Blairimort, while Mr Balloon is constructing an enormous GLASS PALACE to throw bricks from. First to the Labour, and Inspector "Lord" Yates of the Yard and his policemen have been around to call on every government minister… except Lord Blairimort! Although it is his ministers who have been probed, the finger is now pointing firmly at Lord B as the ODD MAN OUT. I do wonder what Mr Frown, and Nice Mr Doctor Reid and trustworthy Mr Man O'Straw ... | < | November 2006 | > | ||||
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