No general election in 2007
Not Gordon Brown's finest moment ... Sunday 7th October 2007
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Not Gordon Brown's finest moment ... 
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And for all those predicting a Lib Dem wipeout - Read the facts (and weep)
Well done to the excellent Lib Dem blogger Stephen Tall who has written a balanced and properly researched piece about the current Lib Dem poll ratings and kills the myth that the Lib Dems are set for some sort of electoral wipeout, based on a few opinion polls. Tories, in particular, have very short memories of previous elections, and constantly talk about Lib Dems being in trouble, and usually end up with egg on their faces. 10:47 pm
Another clothing collection
A leaflet for another clothing collection came through the door today. Looks like a different outfit, and at least it doesn't say that it's a charity. It's up to you, but remember that it's almost certainly a profit-making concern. We suggest not leaving anything out for their collection that a local charity shop would accept. 10:30 pm
Labour MP confirms Council advice on Coatham Links covenants
Vera Baird QC MP has published the outcome of her investigation into the covenants on the land at Coatham Links on her web site. She has concluded (though she states it is the advice of the Land Registry) that what the Lib Dem led Coalition Council said about them is right, although she starts off by spinning the line that we had promised to make the legal advice public but didn't. Vera Baird knows perfectly well that the Scrutiny Committee that asked for the advice wanted it made public, as did every member of the Council at the time. What ... 10:23 pm
Will he, won't he... No, he won't
So after all that excitement about a possible election, we're not going to have one. I think most people had got fed up with all the to-ing and fro-ing. Isn't it about time we had fixed periods between elections? Lib Dem MPs are suggesting this in Parliament - see the BBC story here. In the meantime, here's a short video that comments on the last couple of weeks' events. 
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Well, no need to worry about the subject of tonight’s nightmares…
Watching Louis Theroux: Under The Knife on BBC Two just now, a thought struck me. Well, several thoughts struck me during the programme but beyond the obvious ones of ‘I’m going to be seeing my dinner again if I don’t look away now’, ‘was this how you envisaged your career being on your first day at medical school?’ and ‘it’d cost you less and you’d end up feeling better about yourself if you just joined a cult to try and find your self-approval’, there’s a semi-serious question. Surgery in general is a very male-dominated field, but is cosmetic surgery even ... 9:49 pm
For Aspiring Playwrights...
I've had an odd burst of activity since earlier this week and have been submitting The News Room left, right and centre. Here are some London-based theatres/agents that accept unsolicited scripts that might be handy for aspiring playwrights who wander past: Soho Theatre Ten in a Bed Theatre Company PFD Agency Rocliffe Anybody that knows any others, feel free to add them in the comments. 9:18 pm
Quote of the Day
Winston Churchill speaking at the Dundee by-election in 1908: Socialism seeks to pull down wealth. Liberalism seeks to raise up poverty... socialism would kill enterprise; liberalism would rescue enterprise from the trammels of privilege and preference. Socialism assails the pre-eminence of the individual; Liberalism seeks, and shall seek in the future, to build up a minimum standard for the mass.Thanks to the Adam Smith Institute Blog. 9:00 pm
Okay, so here come some polls
I do love it when Iain Pravdale gets his knickers in a twist about the failure of Lib Dem Voice to turn itself into the kind of insta-pundit knee-jerk blog he relishes. This time it’s because we haven’t obsessed about the latest AnyansweryouwantGov poll showing the party at 12%. For the record, LDV has no policy [...] 8:57 pm
Declaring a personal interest - one rule for councillors and another for Prime Ministers
Parliamentary elections are the only ones in the UK that are at the whim of just one person - and a person who has a strong personal interest in the timing. We councillors are governed by our Code of Conduct, and if we stand to gain or lose personally by a decision then we must declare it and take no part in the debate or the decision. Why then is the Prime Minister allowed to choose... 8:20 pm
Labour to steal Tory ideas - AGAIN !
To anyone who remember the Tories prior to 1997, New labour can hardly be seen as a massive break from what we had to put up with for 17 years. Lots of broken promises, sleaze, politicians out of touch with real people and a continuing of the lack of trust in politicians that became so common from the Mid 1990's onwards. So it really can be no surprise to anyone to see that Gordon Brown is considering copying the Tories ideas on inheritance tax, can it ? This seems to be the problem with the Tories and Labout at the ... 8:03 pm
Another broken promise from a Labour MP ?
Tom Watson MP apparently bet a year ago that David Cameron would not be posting videos to his WebCameron website in twelve months. Twelve months alter, he still is and a number of Tory bloggers are demanding that Tom Watson, Labour MP and by-election guru (often know as Toxic Tom because of his low level tactics) pay up the £100 for charity. More is written about it here. If you have been on the other end of one of tom Watson's campaigns where the truth often plays second fiddle to Labour spin, why not link to the site yourself and ... 8:00 pm
Still unconvinced that Adam Boulton is a God amongst men?
Not yet convinced that you should join the Facebook group Adam Boulton is a God amongst men? Watch his mauling of the Home Secretary from this morning: Or some archive footage, as Adam braves the elements: 7:49 pm
New stroke unit for Market Harborough
People get upset when NHS facilities are closed without proper consultation. Here in Market Harborough we are experiencing the opposite: a new unit has been opened without consultation. The Harborough Mail reports: Health campaigners have reacted with astonishment to the announcement that a new stroke unit has opened in Harborough – despite the fact that the document it was proposed in is still going through the consultation process.Baffled Harborough residents say it shows Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust s showing no regard to the public consultation that is not due to end until mid-2008.The new stroke unit serving ... 7:43 pm
Birmingham Sustainability Forum - 15 October 2007
The Birmingham Sustainability Forum meeting on Monday 15 October 2007 will discuss the Birmingham Climate Change Strategy and how it can fit in with the new Climate Change Bill. The meeting will be held in the Banqueting Suite of the Council House, Victoria Square, City Centre at 6pm for a 6.30pm start. The guest speaker will be Tony Hawkhead, Chief Executive of Groundwork UK. Please 7:41 pm
Trivial Connection of the Day
Another good one from Malcolm Redfellow Revivus. This time it is Charles Dickens and Chief Sitting Bull: Dickens's fifth child was Francis Jeffrey Dickens, who failed as a medical student, and as an employee in his father's magazine, was some time with the Bengal Lancers, and finally took a commission in the North West Mounted Police.That meant he spent much time patrolling what is now Manitoba, in the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Sitting Bull and his people were in Canada for three years (1877-80), and so Sitting Bull was kept under close observation by Sub-Inspector ... 7:40 pm
Pumas non plus...
...Or at least not tonight. I have enjoyed seeing Argentina beating France and Ireland on their way to reaching the quarter finals. One of the problems with rugby as a world sport has been its dominance by the 'traditional' nations, so it is good to see another nation crashing into the big league. But I draw the line at supporting anyone against Scotland. On the basis of performances so far, the Scots need all the help they can get, even if only by my efforts at telepathy through the television. I might have felt a little more phlegmatic at the ... 7:07 pm
Support Connect2
Whilst out today I was told about Connect2 - an exciting UK-wide project that aims to improve local travel in 79 communities by creating new walking and cycling routes for the local journeys we all make every day. 7:06 pm
No need for four year fixed terms.
I must say, I’m not overjoyed with our announcement today in favour of fixed term parliaments for the UK. I think the policy is unnecessary, a rash reaction to a once-ever electoral fiasco from Mr Brown, and likely to do the party and the country more harm than good. In a Presidential system, fixed terms are vital. They stop abuses of power and prevent dictators seizing power for decades. But here in the UK nothing more is needed than we have now. Elections are every five years, or sooner if the Prime Minister calls it. Of course the PM is ... 7:01 pm
He marched them up to the top of the hill......
This video clip is excellent. 6:50 pm
Another online Quiz - Even this one show's me to be a Lib Dem
Okay, so it might not show me to be technically a Lib Dem, but it is often claimed that Lib Dems are in the middle, fence sitters (I disagree), or torn between being on the left or right of politics. So it is typical that my score on the test which shows if I use the right or left hand side of my brain should come out 50% for each side. You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication ... 6:44 pm
Carding Mill Valley, Shropshire
I took a well deserved break from Politics today and went hill walking with Sarah and some friends to Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire. This is a stunning part of the country and a particular favourite of mine. You can walk along an old glacier valley up to a waterfall which we climbed before walking along the top of a ridge back to the car. The whole walk took us about two hours and is a great way to spend an autumn afternoon. 6:42 pm
Selly Oak Ward Committee - 10 October 2007
The next meeting of the Selly Oak Ward Committee (the three ward councillors) will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 10 October 2007 in the Dain Room, St Stephens Church, Serpentine Road, Selly Park. Meetings are normally held in the Selly Oak Centre on Bristol Road, but work on internal alterations means that this is not possible and we are therefore going to experiment with moving Ward Committee 6:41 pm
Sunny Summer
At the end of August Nic and I cycled for 2 weeks in calabria in the south of Italy towards the toe of the boot and then returned to go to the Lib Dem Conference in Brighton, so I have not posted on the blog since August, until now. Calabria is beautiful with road and railway hugging the coast for miles. We began our ride from Sapri in Campania, where we left off 4 years ago and cycled through Basilicata before getting to the coast of Calabria. We cycled as far as Tropea, from where we could see Sicily. This ... 6:37 pm
Planning Applications
This application is for the Old school playground, which has now been sold and so therefore will no longer be available for community use. We were hoping to be able to go to the previous owner and tell him what local residents wanted for the playground. The sale went through in August. Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02820/FUL Parish: N/A Registered: 24th September 2007 Expiry Date: 19th November 2007 Location: Old Tennis Courts Church Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5JN Grid Ref: (E)376176 - (N)162398 LB Grade: N/A Proposal: Change of use to provide new access for parking/storage for adjacent ... 
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Being A Robber Baron
If you want to pursue a career as a robber baron, the very first step you need to take is to establish your baronetcy. You need to ensure that it has at least a patina of legitimacy, for you do not want nay-sayers and busybodies calling it into question. Youngsters who seek my advice are often surprised that wearing a burnished golden helmet while sitting astride a mighty steed is not, in itself, sufficient claim to be a baron. Of course, it is essential to have such a helmet and such a horse, no self-respecting robber baron could expect to ... 6:07 pm
Brent Barbecues Brown
Morale was high at the Brent LibDem BBQ this afternoon, and not only because the weather was so balmy. Labour’s talking up a possible autumn election galvanized the local party into a frenzy of activity over the past fortnight to ensure that Sarah Teather will be returned to parliament. But now there is no election, the net result is that the LibDem profile has been raised, and Gordon Brown has egg all over his face. There was another reason for celebration: a modest but heartfelt presentation to Paul Lorber to mark his 25th year as a Brent councillor. Little did he ... 6:06 pm
Bid to stop election-fixing with fixed-term Parliaments
The Liberal Democrats are to table proposals in Parliament for a fixed four-year general election cycle. Ming Campbell told the BBC: “It’s high time, in my view, that the decision about a general election is not part of the discretion of the Prime Minister. “Inevitably in those circumstances the Prime Minister’s attitude will be conditioned by what he thinks is best for him and best for his party. “We should have it done on a fixed full-term basis then everyone knows where they stand, the public has a degree of certainty and a degree of confidence in the process, which ... 6:04 pm
Luton Youth Fiesta
I've uploaded some photos I took at last Saturday's 'Luton Youth Fiesta'. This was a replacement event for the Luton Carnival that was rained off this year and it gave local schoolchildren and carnival groups a chance to show off their carnival costumes. 6:00 pm
Court Procedures and technology
We have now identified the best technological solution for handling the issue of efficiently and cost effectively advising on the completion of forms for court and court bundles the the court of appeal. There can be a lot of work collating things properly for the court of appeal. However, proper use of technology and software means that a good job can be done and the software is not expensive. 5:48 pm
One sure way to tell if Cameron means what he says
So - David Cameron's been all over the media criticising Gordon Brown over general election dates. But whilst he's happy to criticise Gordon Brown for what he did (and didn't!) do, he's dodged one question: would he behave the same way himself if he were the Prime Minister? In other words - is Cameron really sincere in what he is saying, or just going for the cheap points? Well - his bluff, if that it is, is about to be called! As Ming Campbell announced in a TV interview today, the Liberal Democrats will be tabling a bill calling for ... 5:13 pm
Green Guardian Awards 2007
The News Shopper has sent local councillors a letter and nomination forms for their Green Guardian Awards 2007 for the London Borough of Lewisham. There are awards with cash prizes for young people, households, businesses, groups and projects. All details are on http://www.newshshopper.co.uk/green/greenwards Entries are accepted online or by post.The categories are:Green School - PrimaryGreen School - SecondaryGreen HouseholdGreen BusinessGreen Project or GroupYoung EnvironmentalistGreen ChampionGreen Building I can send further details and a nomination form if people are interested. 5:03 pm
Attributing a Quote
From the Watford Observer: "The Liberal Democrats in Watford have apologised to Watford Observer for misleading information contained in its latest campaign leaflet. The leaflet, being delivered to thousands of homes in the constituency this week, reproduces a quote from the Watford Observer stating: "The signs look good for the Lib Dems to topple Claire Ward the Labour MP" and attributes the 4:36 pm
So does the media revert to the leadership again?
So the election will not happen after all. Instead the media start to cast around for another story. Let’s open up the Ming leadership challenge file again they say. So Simon Hughes is wheeled onto the Andrew Marr Show this morning to answer an entirely predictable slew of questions regarding the party and its position and the Leader. I was at a Lib Dem dinner in York on Friday evening where the guest of honour was Nick Clegg, often touted as a possible leader. Well, I can say that in his speech there was no reference to the leadership, rather ... 4:13 pm
Favourite headline of the day.
I know Schadenfreude is generally a bad thing, but headlines like "All Blacks plead for mercy" can't but fail to bring a smile to your face. If they felt under pressure this time round (and from reading the New Zealand papers on the web it appears that a day of national mourning is about to be announced) imagine what its going to be like in 4 years time when the tournament returns to the Land of 3:34 pm
London Mayoral Race
Yesterday I trekked over to Bethnal Green for our Mayoral hustings. A poor turnout but all three contestants acquitted themselves well. Brian Paddick was more serious than in Brighton, Chamali was much better at answering questions and Fiyaz was far more commanding in his speech. Whilst the outcome may be seen to be a foregone conclusion, all three candidates have proved themselves fantastic advocates for our party. Then it was back to dear old Bedford for a great night out with fellow activists.....it started off with the table nearest us singing some sort of drinking songs (sorry not a rugby ... 3:29 pm
Jack's Back so Back Jack?!
Well after weeks unable to get on line at home, here I am at last able to hit the blogosphere from the comfort of my own home! But..........don't hold your breath.............. So, no election (I am sure like most people I have mixed feelings about that) time to focus on my 3 impending contests...........hmmmm............ watch this space! 3:15 pm
Thank Gord For That
Owing to my disgraceful apathy to a snap election all along, I don't feel an awful lot is to be said today. It's all very well to see, up close, the undignified reality of a British Prime Minister so obviously trying to wangle an election his way and abandon it at the drop of a hat . But it doesn't change the fact that non-fixed term parliaments are just obviously wrong, certainly if the "decider 2:25 pm
While we were off air: No general election
I chose quite a day to have lunch in London with friends and forget about blogging for a bit. There is to be no general election this autumn, England beat Australia and the All Blacks are out of the Rugby World Cup too. Looking over the coverage of Gordon Brown's announcement, it is clear that Iain Dale had a good day. He points us to a transcript of an interview where Adam Boulton says: In the coming days people will talk about media hysteria and the media ramping up this election."Let's be in no doubt about it: The reason why ... 2:20 pm
From Around the Internet
Via The Daily Irrelevant: (Click to enlarge) And via Digg comes this leaflet which advises that terrorists include "defenders of the US Constitution" and those who "request authority" when stopped by a police or FBI officer. 1:44 pm
Bottler Brown - the Lib Dem Video
An impressive Youtube video. (particularly as it was only done in the last less than 24 hours). 1:26 pm
Fixing the terms
One thing GB has inadvertently demonstrated over the last few weeks is the farcical nature of calling general elections by prime ministerial fiat. Local government has fixed terms; the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and London Assemblies have fixed terms; legislatures in other countries have fixed terms. It’s about time we had fixed-term parliaments at Westminster, and that’s the policy the LibDems backed at our conference Brighton in September. Hurrah, then, for David Howarth MP, our Shadow Solicitor General. When the House of Commons returns from recess tomorrow, David will table a Fixed Term Parliaments Bill. All of which is a ... 1:25 pm
And so it starts..
A little bit of fun from the Liberal Democrat campaigns department. 1:20 pm
Heath and Howarth to lead call for fixed-term parliaments
After the fiasco that was Gordon Brown’s ‘Yellow Saturday’, Ming Campbell has just appeared on BBC1’s The Politics Show and announced that two Lib Dem MPs, Davids Heath and Howarth, will this week be presenting a bill in Parliament which would legislate for fixed-term Parliaments. What will be the Labour and Tory response? After this [...] 1:02 pm
Come and hear Lynne Featherstone
{lf.gif} Wycombe Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has agreed to address our Annual Dinner this year. In 2005, Lynne won the her seat with a 15% swing from Labour and is currently Shadow International Development Secretary. Before this, she served on the GLA from 2000 - 2005. Lynne has had an inspiring career and it promises to be an evening to remember. The Annual Dinner takes place on 18th October at the Environment Centre, Holywell Mead. Advance booking is essential, and tickets are available from Wycombe Liberal Democrats, ... 12:56 pm
No General Election!
So, as some of us predicted all along, Gordon Brown has not called a General Election for November. Next time an election appears probable, I would advise all colleagues not to treat it as quite such a done deal...Hustings meeting for London European and Mayoral candidates went ahead as planned yesterday, despite the "election" hoo-hah, and it's obviously a good thing that it did, in light of Brown's decision (or non-decision). It worked pretty well, I thought, with a format that we can use again. I made a speech with which I was not totally happy, as I set myself ... 12:48 pm
Opinion: THE RESULT, Media 1 (o.g. G. Brown) Democracy 0
At the Brighton Conference a very well respected former BBC journalist described to me talk of an early election as ‘lazy journalism’. He argued that much of the media was losing interest in government and the effects of policy and preferred to cover events and personalities. They thus wanted an autumn election and will probably [...] 12:38 pm
Sunday Caption Competition
Last week the picure was of a very smug looking David Cameron. This week, its an almost as smug Gordon Brown looking rather over confident. Your captions are very welcome. 12:37 pm
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25k of idiot
Just as well no-one called on the People’s Republic of Mortimer to write Vince Cable’s domicile announcement: George Osborne’s proposal this week is unfortunately far too optimistic in its revenue assumptions and is impractical. A poll tax on non-doms would be prohibitive for the large number of non-domiciles of modest means, but would be a flea bite for the fat cats.* Is that it, Vincent? What is this, Hug a Cretin Week? In spite of my telepathically communicated instructions he then didn’t go on to say: Actually, I just have to depart from the usual Lib Dem script of calm and enlightened rationality for a moment, because this ... 12:22 pm
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Top of the Blogs: The Golden Dozen #33
Welcome to the 33rd of our weekly round-ups from the Lib Dem blogosphere, featuring the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (30th September - 6th October), together with a hand-picked quintet you might otherwise have missed. And - who’d have thought it? - the prospect of an election seems to have been [...] 12:05 pm
Lib Dems quick off the mark with YouTube spoof of Gordon Brown
This speaks for itself. Well done to the Lib Dems team in Cowley Street for producing this so quickly. Hat tip to Nick Barlow. 11:50 am
I'm off to Oz!
I am probably the only dog thanking Gordon Brown today, but I am - because I'm now off to Australia (via about 723 hours in Tokyo airport). Hurrah! 11:48 am
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The Grand Old Duke Of Brown
Seeing this video almost makes me wish there was going to be an election if the Camapigns Department can produce stuff like it on short notice. (Click here for it if you can’t see the video below) 11:33 am
Be honest. Did anyone really want an election now ?
Whilst Gordon Brown is shouted at and abused by Dave and Ming for refusing to call an election, we really ought to ask if it is what anyone wanted right now. For a start, until two weeks ago there was no enthusiasm for it in the Labour Party. Good poll rating during their conference week might have had the effect of making them think it is what they wanted, but there is little evidence to show that the Labour Party, and by that I mean the whole party, not Gordon Brown and his team, wanted or were anywhere near ready ... 11:25 am
Mclaren Muppets cost Hamilton
Watching the Grand Prix earlier, I could see that Lewis Hamilton had a problem with his tyres. the fact that one driver unlapped himself to overtake Hamilton was a give away, so was the fact that his times suddenly dropped by about 10 seconds a lap, and the biggest sign was that his back right tyre was started to disintegrate. As Marton Brundle commented "the back right tyre is delaminating itself", yet McLaren made Hamilton stay out for another lap. And then his tyres are in such a state he cannot get round a corner to get in to the ... 11:00 am
Tooth Review: 1556 & 1557 (obligatory spoiler warning)
A double helping this week due to illness and the conference season. {Prog 1556} Cover (1556): A fantastic black, white and pink affair by Frazer Irving of the Hitman’s Daughter. The juxtaposition between the grown up assassin and the frightened child she used to be adds a level of poinancy to the image which might otherwise appear too stylised. {Prog 1557} Cover (1557): Dredd, old school style, courtesy of Keeper of the Flame Rufus Dayglo (2000AD was 2.0 before 2.0 was invented - the fans have been the content generators for some time now). An eye-catching image with a slogan ... 10:59 am
If you, like me, have been glued to the TV news this weekend…
…then I do hope you’ll consider joining my new Facebook group, Sky News’s Political Editor Adam Boulton is a God amongst men. 10:57 am
Gordon Brown - the Video
Watch the new Lib Dem video it is amazing. 10:19 am
Brown Streak on Video
Wow, this video is quick off the mark: 9:50 am
No General Election, that book about Lembit and the over-zealous Plaid MPs
I am going to impose a new discipline just for today, I will restrain my urge to rant at length about news items that make my blood boil, so that I can get some work done. That does not mean that I will not refer to them, just that I will do so in a restrained and succinct manner. First up in this trilogy has to be Gordon's postponement of the General Election that never was. Like many others I predicted that he would go to the Palace on Tuesday, however I did so because he seemed to have painted ... 9:22 am
EPERN report on Romanian Presidential Impeachment Referendum
I’m off to Bucaharest for a few days next month for the climax of their European Parliament elections. But, in the meantime, the European Parties, Elections and Referendums Network has published my report on the impeachment referendum held earlier this year. If you like that sort of thing you can find it here. 7:49 am
Riverside Drive and River Crescent
At River Crescent Residents' Association last Monday, there were complaints about potholes in the roadway in both River Crescent and at Riverside Drive near to the railway bridge south of Vernonholme. I reported these to the Planning & Transportation Department. I got feedback at the end of last week saying both sites had been inspected and that the potholes on Riverside Drive had been attended to and that repairs are now arranged to the potholes in River Crescent. 7:46 am
Brown: No election before 2009
I was dreading going through all this nonsense again next spring. So, one glimmer of light emerges from the Guardian report of Brown's interview this morning: In an interview on The Andrew Marr Show today the Prime Minister will rule out an election before 2009. 
