LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Wednesday 4th April 2007

Little brother is watching you

John Reid's campaign to make Britain more like the Soviet Union he so admired in his youth is gathering pace with the introduction of talking CCTV cameras. As the BBC says, the cameras are already in operation in Middlesbrough, and are to be installed in Southwark, Barking and Dagenham, in London, Reading, Harlow, Norwich, Ipswich, Plymouth, Gloucester, Derby, Northampton, Mansfield, Nottingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Wirral, Blackpool, Salford, South Tyneside and Darlington at the cost of half a million pounds. Lib Dem bloggers have risen against the idea - Edis Bevan has the links - but it remains to be ...

Applying the lessons of drink driving to knife crime

That's the topic of my latest (brief) article for one of the myriad of local publications. You can read it in full here.

Lembit goes to law

From Monday's Pandora column in the Independent: Opik is unhappy about a report that appeared over the weekend linking him with a controversial reality TV show called Killing the Cheeky Girls. The article, which appeared in the Sunday Express, claimed that Opik was to appear on a show, which aims to trick contestants into believing they have murdered the Z-list pop duo. "I'm very angry," he tells me. "I'm not in the show and I told the paper when they phoned up that I wasn't involved. I'm now taking legal advice and will be considering legal action as ...

Croft Road and Eastbourne Avenue

Traffic on Eastbourne Avenue One local resident recalled that at one point, Eastbourne Avenue may have had a weight restriction, which seems to have disappeared. We will be making enquiries as to where this has gone and whether we can get it back. The only onward route for lorries would be up through Fairfield Road or to Lansdown Road, which has a 7.5t weight limit, so they should not be using that. The only other route that they could be taking is Tyning Lane and Snow Hill. We will ask that traffic on Eastbourne Avenue and indeed along ...

Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me

This line, spoken by Kenneth Williams in Carry on Cleo, has rightly been voted the funniest one-liner in movie history. Sky Movies, whose website gives the top 10 in the voting, polled over 1000 people. Incidentally, this line was not written by Talbot Rothwell, the credited screenwriter for the film, but by Frank Muir and Denis Norden. As Wikipedia records, Rothwell was struggling to meet his deadline, so Muir and Norden gave him some old scripts from their radio series Take It From Here that included skits on ancient Rome. One of them included the immortal line.

Reality CCTV

A new form of entertainment is coming to town centre near you, starting with hot spots in Southwark. The government’s new techno-wheeze for combating anti-social behaviour is CCTV with speakers. The idea behind the scheme is that the operator monitoring the camera can alert anyone that is seen engaged in vandalism, graffiti or criticising Gordon Brown that they are being watched and recorded, oddly using the electronic voice of an annoying child. I understand Hazel Blears was initially auditioned for the role, but even this government considered that a form of cruel and unusual punishment too far. Early ...

Talking CCTV: oi, you!

Talking CCTV? Eh? All explained here. I'm not convinced, but will be interesting to see the results of the trials - if they are actually effective and if they throw up any problems. Everything's been a bit crazy the last few days, not much time to stop and think, let alone blog. Had a quiet surgery tonight, which gave me a chance to rattle through some casework. Got back to my flat and housemate Monica Whyte is having a meeting about fundraising - just one of the many, many hats she wears for the Lib Dems. Campaigning, ...

Email focus wins over dinner

I had some work to do in the evening that took longer than I expected. I also wanted to get my email newsletter to constituents out this evening as well, and to ensure the link to my next video focus was included. The only problem was that the video focus wasn't ready! So I had to cancel a dinner I had planned to go to. I shouldn't complain though as we went for lunch at the Strangers restaurant

Fircroft Trust

Just a year ago the Fircroft Trust relaunched itself with a new name and image. Its previous name, Mental Aid Projects, although explicit, was not helpful when communicating with service users. Fircroft celebrated by asking its patron, the Bishop of Kingston, to cut a cake (with the help of the son of a volunteer). And we all - staff, volunteers and service users - enjoyed a chat over...

Mostly for Trevor's Benefit

So it's election time again in Rochford District , where the current make-up is 34 Tories, 4 Lib Dems and 1 independent/local party chap. There are 26 candidates this time standing in the 13 seats up for election. The Conservatives keep their position controlling the council - to begin with, 4 of their councillors have been elected unopposed. But there are going to be some interesting contests

Sydenham got there first...

This morning Radio 4 did a piece on a pilot scheme in Middlesbrough where anti social behaviour is be dealt with by the use of ‘talking CCTV’. So much for Middlesbrough being first; this has already been happening at Sydenham Station, although I don’t know how frequently! One evening last summer, I came into the station to go into town where a couple of young lads were sitting on the back of a

Found: Squeeze me sauce web site

After waxing lyrically about "new squeezy sauce mini-containers" yesterday, I have now found out their real name. They are Heinz "Squeeze me" containers. Snap...tear...squeeze...

A new CAT Scan

I am not sure I agree with the theoretical positioning of this scan. Then again it would only be a serious proposal if made by the government. I need to ask a few more questions about the government funding of a perpetual motion engine.

Redcar & Cleveland Lib Dems Election Campaign gets off to a flying start

Posted by Chris: Redcar and Cleveland Council has received 160 nominations from 85 men and 75 women for the Borough's 59 seats in 22 wards at the Thursday, May 3 poll. The Liberal Democrats are the strongest party in the Redcar Parliamentary constituency with a full slate of candidates in all the constituency wards. The Lib Dem campaign has got off to a flying start with the launch of our excellent manifesto "No Turning Back" on Friday with a visit to Redcar and Brotton from Greg Mulholland MP. Greg gave our Candidates a real boost and everybody is ...

I am a wee bit scared

I have never read George Orwell’s 1984 and I suspect that many of those who will make the inevitable comparisons in the light of today’s announcement of proposals to introduce ‘talking CCTV’ wont have done either. This however, ought not...

Goodbye to Berlin

In the mid-1970s, I spent quiet a bit of time in Berlin, researching my biography of Christopher Isherwood. I often used to cross through Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin for the day (you could only stay 24 hours without a full visa); the contrast with the West was astonishing. The East had most of the historic heart [...]

Petition to free BBC journalist Alan Johnson

Hundreds of journalists and media personalities have signed an open letter in the Guardian newspaper urging that the BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, be freed quickly and unharmed.

List of West Berkshire Council nominations

Apologies for the appalling pagination. I understand that this particular version of the list has been withdrawn and will shortly be re-issued with the appellation "apolitical" being changed to "Independent". M127-7 WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL CANDIDATES SUMMARY DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTION - 3RD MAY 2007 Area Candidates Party Address 04 APR 2007 Page 1 of 7 Aldermaston Ward Number of Seats : 1 Kath

Edinburgh, Warrington and Hull

Warrington, Woking and Hull are three great cities that the Lib Dems may take over in May, according to Lib Dem strategists quoted in The Independent today ("Lib Dems emphasise environment and crime") Also added to the list are South Shropshire and Guildford.However, it is the political fortunes north of the border that continue to attract most attention. Labour launched their Scottish campaign yesterday ("Blair and Brown attack SNP economics" in the FT and "Thirty days to save devolution from SNP" in The Telegraph). As many point out - there are distinct echoes of a previous electoral strategy here ("30 ...

Razorlight, Sunshine and Canvassing

Last night I took some time out from the campaign to go and see Razorlight at the MEN Arena. I think I need to reconsider my career choices and try to make it in the “rock star” game. Any group of people who can get 20,000 others to pay £25 each to watch them for an hour have my respect. Yes, they put on a good show while it lasted, but given that they didn’t emerge on stage until 21.35, leaving

First Lib Dem cllr elected in 2007 local elections

Congratulations to Cllr Stuart Beadle, who will be re-elected in May after his only opponent, a Conservative, turned up at Broadland District Council HQ with his nomination papers twenty minutes too late.

Who else?

Ah, Boris... A few months back, I wrote this, and (I have to say) Portsmouth was not my top suggestion for his next port of crawl call.

Welcome for news from Iran

Commenting on the news that Iran will release the British naval personnel, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said: “There will be many lessons to be learned from this episode. But for the moment we should welcome this announcement and look forward to the return of the naval personnel. “Their seizure underlines the difficult and dangerous [...]

The point of being a Green peer

Lord Beaumont of Whitley is a peer for the Green Party. As you’d imagine, he’s using his presence in the House of Lords to do lots of important work. In particular, he’s introduced a bill to the House of Lords that is perhaps the epitome of central control. Ladies and gents, the Piped Music etc. [...]

Let's campaign to stop patients being ripped off

Any scientist or telecoms experts will tell you that mobile phones present no risk to medical equipment. Similarly, pilots are well known to phone their wives, partners or friends on the approach to landing in order to say they will be home soon, using their mobile phones, again proving that using them on planes causes no risk at all. Now whilst I can understand why airlines charge so much for in flight calls given that at altitude it is unlikely that you will pick up a decent mobile signal and you as a passenger have chosen to go on ...

BBC Sport Championship Predictor

The BBC Sports site has a predictor which can be used to enter ones predictions for each of the remaining games in the season to see how the table will end up. As last night saw two of our fellow relegation contenders both win I thought I would give this a go. The result was as follows 17 Burnley P 46 GD -8 Pts 49 18 QPR P 46 GD -16 Pts 49 19 Barnsley P 46 GD -26 Pts 49 20 Leicester P 46 GD -15 Pts 48 ...

Are Apple the the unacceptable face of capitalism ?

Apple have tried to foster an image of being something different, something special and innovative all at the same time in recent years. The I-Mac, the I-Pod, in fact anyone number of "I" related products seem to have become market leaders and turned what was once an ailing company in to a success story. However, all is not what it seems at Apple. Yes, they are making lots of money, but is it all style of substance ? Actually, what Apple is about is what every company is about. Making money and caring little for the consumer or ...

Free food?

Lord Greaves has claimed that the existing laws on treating are being flouted by all parties in the run up to the election. He may be right or wrong; all I know is that I don’t seem to ever get offered any. Share This

Food For Thought

My office has recently completed compiling the results of a youth survey in Torbay. Questionnaires were distributed around sixth forms in the area and over 650 students completed them.&nbs...

Talking back to the cameras

The Talking CCTV cameras set to lecture delinquent passers-by have been appropriately ridiculed by several LibDems. It all sounds like an automated version of the Russian Babushkas stern public social policing of anything they consider ‘Nekulturny’. A pity that John Reid (The alleged Home Secretary) has apparently not taken time to read the March 2007 report of the Royal College of Engineers on ‘Dilemmas of Privacy and Surveillance’ (.pdf) – or if he has, he has already binned it. Contrast Reid’s dismissal of possible opposition – that there will be some "....in the minority who ...

Adam Teladia's website

Good friend of mine and Training Officer for the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Adam Teladia has set up a website. It is also a Prater Raines site, like mine, so I helped Adam earlier in the week by giving him some hints and tips.

Lib Dems Demand Fair Cop for Police

Lembit Öpik, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats today joined Mark Young, Assembly Candidate for the Vale of Clwyd, to launch a petition demanding police funding be allocated more evenly between North and South Wales. Mark Young explained "This petition was sparked by the rise in the Precept on the Council Tax of North Wales residents. We discovered that unfair funding formulas deliver around 23% more money per head of the population to South Wales Police than to North Wales." Commenting, Lembit Öpik MP said "Too much money was wasted when the Home Office tried to merge ...

Nominations for Newbury Town council and West Berkshire council elections

It is marvellous to see the names of the people who have put themselves forward for election on May 3rd for the first time in Newbury. The Liberal Democrats have assembled a fine list of candidates for the Town and District councils which includes many women. I decided in November 2004 not to seek re-election at this time, after seven years on the town council, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Lunch With Simon Hughes

I've just got back from a buffet lunch where the guest speaker was Simon Hughes. It was good to finally hear him speak and see him face to face, as during the leadership election I got to meet the other candidates, but not Simon who was my favourite and who I voted for! Still, it was good to feel vindicated by my choice - he comes across as a genuine guy who cares about the issues that matter,

Letter printed in Evening Post

I have had the following letter printed in the Evening Post answering an article than ran regarding my campaign to remove the chicanes: ..> APOLOGY NEEDED FOR CHICANES SHAMBLES Date : 03.04.07 ...

Campaign for Real Births

My son was born at home, coming into the world into my hands. Home birth was his mother’s strong choice and we had wonderful support from an independent midwife. That to my mind is the essential core of good care of women giving birth. The woman needs to be at the centre of decision making. The Midwife should be the lead professional concerned (not doctors). The structure is one-to one care. The aim is to provide the best chances for the woman and for her child, including psychological and emotional. We had a bit of a fight with ...

Nominations - what a disaster

Nominations for this years local elections have now closed, the whole process this year seems to have been a disaster.

Big Brother - aka - Dr (I can do anything except run the Home Office) Reid

I couldn't help giggling at the government's latest edition.......or should that be addition.......of Big Brother. It frankly beggars belief. That nice little Dr(Strangelove) Reid thinks it will send a clear message "act anti-socially and you will face the shame of being publicly embarrassed" if some ethereal voice bellows out at you if you are seen doing anything "anti-social". This displays a complete lack of understanding of personal motivation. I can see it now........how many groups of young people are going to deliberately challenge "Big Brother" just to be able to have a giggle when he, or she, bellows out at ...

Libdems and Goldfish

A quick search on Google shows a lot of results for Libdems Goldfish, mostly linking to people commenting on blogs about a policy passed back in 2003 (I believe). More suprising was that these comments are still apearing, even after the Pet welfare act was passed, and today becomes law. Under the act the minimum age for [...]

The demise of "Society"?

I have been extraordinarily busy, and therefore finding even a few minutes to comment on things that catch my eye has been difficult, and though the next two days give the prospect of a bit of relief for Easter, it may still be that my blogging remains a bit sparse. I spent the last two days in Slovenia, meeting people in Ljubljana and on the coast in Koper. Driving through the majestic scenery of this mountain enclave is always a pleasant experience, and although Slovenia's political and economic environment is, well, slow, the country remains for the moment the ...

Out and About

It is an absolutely beautiful morning here in Cornwall - and looks like it's set for the weekend too, although we will actually be in London Saturday til Monday. Being as I am working this afternoon and evening I am spending the morning with my boys and I think we will be off to the park in a minute or two. We are going to London this weekend so that Milo, my eldest, can actually see this "mysterious" place called London that gets talked about so frequently in this house! William and I often have to travel up for ...

Talking CCTV

If it wasn't three days too late, I would have been sure that the national roll-out of a talking CCTV system was an April Fool. No such luck. The system allows control room operators who spot someone engaging in "anti-social behaviour" to ask them to desist through loudspeakers. It really is like something out of Nineteen Eighty Four. When will the government realise that there are more important things than clean streets and absolute public order?

Grey squirrels - a cause of global warming

I prefer positive action that requires effort on my behalf rather than paying conscience money. So when it comes to off setting carbon emissions from flying, I like to grow trees! From scratch! Last year, to offset a flight to Cuba and another to Turkey, I collected 10 acorns and 10 conkers. The plan was to plant them, get them to grow and after a few years, get them planted in people's gardens.

Graffiti on Utilities Boxes

Residents will be aware that I have raised with the City Council on numerous occasions the problem of graffiti on utilities boxes. The Council has spoken with the principal owner (a TV cable company) and agreement has been reached regarding removal. The council surveyed the problem across the City and is now tackling them. I recently specifically sent reminders about Sinderins and also raised the issue at Ancrum Drive/Road (and some others), following residents' complaints. I have received this feedback from Waste Management today, which is helpful : "I've asked the team to prioritise ...

Man in a dress

This morning's Western Mail goes big on the decision by Sir Dai Llewellyn to stand for UKIP in Cardiff North. They tell us that if elected Sir Dai will be the only AM to have been to Eton and the only one to admit to crashing through a floor while attempting to seduce a friend's girlfriend. Their angle is that at last we have a bit of colour in the campaign and who could argue with that? As if to illustrate this premise the paper publishes a full length photo of Sir Dai wearing a big bushy moustache and ...

Fears for Two Tiers

So, I’ve been away for a few weeks and return to find there are not many happy Labour faces round the Town Hall. They’ve been let down by their own government, again. What was at stake? Some would say nothing other than the future of Oxford. The City Council had put in a bid for Oxford to become a unitary authority. The hope of breaking free of County Hall shimmered like a glimpse of the Promised Land. But, last week, the hope lost its gloss as Ms Kelly announced that we had not made the shortlist of contenders for ...

Where would the Scottish Embassy in London be?

If Scotland became independent where would the embassy in London be? Would Grace get automatic residency rights due to being married to an englishman? Would the embassy be protected by the Scots Guards? Just three questions for King Alex I

Featherstone’s no Featherweight

At the Blackheath Supper Club at El Pirata last night, Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, was the speaker. Recently, Ming Campbell in his shadow cabinet reshuffle appointed her spokesperson on International Development, which caused quite a few raised eyebrows, as she has been irrevocably linked with London and Campaigning until now. But it [...]

Blackheath Supper Club

Tonight saw me taking Grace plus my daughters Jessica and Philippa to the Blackheath Supper Club to hear Lynne Featherstone speak on her new International Development portfolio. Many old friends and colleagues there - Jonathan Fryer (who I was Orpington Agent for in 1987 and agent for as part of the 1999 London Euro list), Chris Maines (who I was Orpington Agent for in 1992 and 1997 - and is

Day 2284: Sir Mr the Merciless' Baptism of Fire

Tuesday: "Reject the Labour and all its works, and all its empty promises!" urged Sir Mr the Merciless today, at the launch of the Liberal Democrat campaign for the local elections in England. This year, the Liberal Democrats are the ONLY party to be fighting to represent EVERY part of the United Kingdom, from leafy suburbs in the South to the urban landscapes of the North, from the Valleys of Wales to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Everywhere, people are saying that they have HAD ENOUGH of Lord Blairimort and his dreadful, centralising authoritarian government. ...

Wednesday 4th April 2007

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