LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Thursday 6th March 2008

Vince Cable: some regrets but no splits

One last post on this, not because I care, but because I report "news" in this instance... It was to be expected I suppose that the events of the past few days would be mentioned in Vince Cable's talk at the Oxford East constituency dinner this evening, and he didn't disappoint. So for all of those out that are talking of splits in the party and and bad feeling, his message was quite clear. There are no splits. We are (except perhaps for me) the most united party on the whole issue of Europe. There were differences of opinion over ...

Jersey Dreams and Nightmares

I first visted Jersey when I was about seven. I still have a tiny, square black-and-white Box Brownie photo of me in my primary school uniform, startlingly blond, with knobbly white knees peering out over long grey socks, as I stood grinning in front of the twin-propellor aircraft that took me there. The short sojourn [...]

Equal access to health care

There is a lot of talk about equality of access to health care - but is there We have the situation where an increasing number of health facilities are using 0844 numbers etc, running up bills if people have mobile phones or other contracts on their landlines, although thankfully our local hospital is now stopping doing this after the pressure from local Liberal Democrats. Today I hear that...

Ken Livingstone and the police: can you help

First we have Ken Livingstone reporting Lee Jasper to the police for investigation, saying that he hasn’t done anything wrong, but the police should investigate anyway. Then we have Ken Livingstone today saying Lee Jasper’s computer was broken into, but he hasn’t reported it to the police. In other words: when he thinks there hasn’t been a crime [...]

Brown plays a blinder

A few weeks ago over a drink with a Labour friend, I was lambasting Gordon Brown for, among other things, his lack of leadership over the Europe issue. Remember the farce at Lisbon, when Brown emerged to sign the Treaty in a back room after all the Leaders had gone home and Miliband showed up late with what appeared to be the air hostess. My Labour friend told me it was all part of a cunning plan; to downplay the Europe issue so Lisbon would quietly progress through Parliament with as little fuss as possible. As part of this, Brown ...

Why Obama won on the 4th March

There is an excellent article in the Telegraph explaining why Obama, not Clinton, was the real winner on 4th March. Perhaps the clearest reason why it was an Obama victory was that in Texas, he actually won five more delegates than Clinton did, despite it being called a victory for Clinton. That is now two states that Clinton won narrowly on the popular vote (including Nevada), but which Obama actually won if you count the delegates.

Quote of the Week

We have a royal winner. The prize goes to Prince Harry for his: I generally don't like England that much.That is a shame when you are third in line to the throne of England. Perhaps we should find someone else There was another strong candidate this week. Paul Holmes was widely quoted as defending his signing of a Commons motion congratulating Fidel Castro in the following terms: "It is true Cuba has political prisoners and no free elections, but it has very good dentistry."But the source for the quote appears to be the Daily Mail. As the paper does not ...

Twisted Knickers, Nick Clegg and the Blogosphere

For a change, some may say, I have been doing a bit of reflecting today. I happen to believe abstention yesterday was a mistake, so I have pontificated on the alternatives. Unpalatable as it may be, I would have had to support the Tory amendment, for reasons I have elaborated on elsewhere. So. Let's look at the position Nick found himself in. Mr Ming had already done the deal with Mr Gordo. He had done a public about turn, but come up with the in/out wheeze. What was Nick to do Pour scorn on the memory of the great Ming ...

BBC Question Time: open thread

Shirley Williams, veteran Liberal Democrat peer, is one of the panellists on tonights Question Time (broadcast on BBC1 and online from 10.35 pm GMT). The panel will also include the Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband, the shadow home secretary David Davis, the leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage, and comedian and broadcaster Marcus [...]

Cann Hall Primary and the smiley faces

Blimey! In my day all we got was milk... It is against the Bloggers' Code to use the phrase "Political Correctness gone mad" but sometimes it is tempting. Cann Hall Primary School has been in the news today after using Acid House-style smiley faces to conceal the identities of pupil pictured on its website. As ever, the voice of sanity comes from Frank Furedi. He is quoted by Metro: "Every time a school takes silly measures, it says we see the world through the eyes of a paedophile."

Euro-bores and mad elephants threatening Camp Cameron

The Tory Euro wild bores have largely been coralled into a small corner behind barbed wire and armed guards ever since of Cameron took over the Tory game reserve as park keeper two years ago. Back in the 90s, these Euro bores had been running free all over the reserve, wrecking everything in sight. They had to be controlled and tamed or else the whole park would die off.But then, Head Park Keeper

A Queen's Park Ranger

Today I went over to Kilburn to help out in the Queen's Park Ward by-election, for a couple of hours. Other than Hillingdon, this is the first time I've seen how another local party operates. I did get to meet their candidate, a chap by the name of Simon Green, who seemed like a nice bloke. The people there were generally friendly and easy to get along with. Whilst there I stuffed some envelopes and sorted out a few piles of other envelopes. It was all pretty much basic stuff, but it was something that needed to have been done. ...

Tayside Police single non emergency number (SNEN)

Tayside Police has advised me that it is to be introducing a single non emergency telephone number to replace a large range of existing non emergency phone numbers across the Force's area. This will mean that people will be able to call the Police on non-emergency matters from anywhere in Tayside on one number. I think that's to be greatly welcome, and as Tayside Police says, "Currently it can be confusing to know which number to call in either emergency or non emergency situations. The move to a single non emergency number will be linked to the provision of more ...

What about recall elections for party leaders Nick

Nick Clegg apparently supports the idea of recall elections for discredited MPs. At first I thought this as some kind of joke, given the discredit his actions have heaped on a number of Lib Dems who followed the party's three line whip on abstaining yesterday, but apparently he is actually serious. I wonder if the Liberal Democrats could introduce it also for discredited party leaders

on abstention

The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about. We are definitely being talked about, last night millions of viewers tuned into the six and seven oclock news programmes to the headline of 'Lib Dems in chaos' or something equally sensational. This morning millions more read in the Metro about the problems in the party and the no vote on having a referendum. Channel 4 said to Nick Clegg, a fifth of your party doesnt support you. No offence to the ITN guys, but if we only had two MPs and one voted against the three-line ...

Met Police Terror(ible) Posters

It seems the Met Police aren’t just running radio adverts in their new ad campaign, “Trust Your Instincts“, but also posters such as this gem: Naturally enough, it’s being parodied. Pickled Politics has a collection of the best, but here’s my favourite: I don’t agree with the fascism sentiment myself, as I alluded to in my previous [...]

Meanwhile, in other policy news

PublicTechnology.net reports: The Liberal Democrats Leader Nick Clegg yesterday launched a campaign against Faceless Britain: the Governments increasing reliance on remote call centres to provide essential services. Research by the party shows that the increasing use of call centres has resulted in the cost being shunted to the user, especially the poorest who have no choice but [...]

Clegg says yes to recall elections

I said a while ago that Britain should have recall elections. Nick Clegg apparently thinks so too. Good on him.

Rebel, Rebel

If only people hadn't felt the need to go it alone in the vote last night on whether or not to have a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon the headlines this morning might have been very different. The ...

The other rebellion: one in four Tory MPs defy Cameron to vote for withdrawal from the EU (updated)

Via Nick Robinson I find that Revolts.co.uk report a major Tory rebellion on Europe: The party leader abstained, but a quarter of his party disagreed with him, leading to the largest rebellion since he assumed the leadership. Not Nick Clegg, but David Cameron. As everyone examined the damage done to Nick Clegg's leadership by the largest Lib Dem rebellion in six years, the Commons also divided on New Clause 9 in the name of William Cash. It stated that nothing in the new Treaty of Lisbon should be construed by any court in the United Kingdom as affecting the supremacy ...

Ooh, Racism-come-Photoshop Scandal: Clinton and Obama

One generally tries not to regurgitate stuff from other blogs, but this is hot gossip and will probably attract some hits, so hey. According to America Blog (via the Daily Kos), a new televisual campaign video promoting someone called 'Hillary Clinton' for a job of 'U.S. President' seems to show Tugboat Obama's skin to be somewhat darker than it appears in footage of the same moments. Have they darkened Obama If so, was this some kind of sinister move to emphasise his 'blackness' in a bid to scare off potential (presumably instinctively racist) Obama voters Of course this is very ...

Economics as if people mattered

Conference is coming, and I'll have an opportunity on Saturday evening to share a platform with Vince Cable and James Graham at the ALTER fringe event, entitled "Economics as if People Mattered" (Saturday, 18:30, Arena Hall 2n, for anyone interested - note the change of venue from the conference program). My task is to set out some more details of the book of essays we propose to publish in time for the Autumn Conference, entitled "The Liberal Alternative". And since I shall also be seeing Vince tomorrow evening at the Oxford East constituency dinner, I thought I ought to prepare ...

What's in a name

Yet again the Greeks are raising the issue of the name of Macedonia. Now they refuse to allow Macedonia to join NATO because there is an area of Greece that is also called Macedonia. The Greek state has been pressurising the fragile Macedonian Republic ever since it was created. They have changed their flag to answer Greek protests, they have changed the design on their money to avoid some supposed similarity with a tower in Greece. When it comes to the name, however, the Macedonians have no other. The idea that Greece seems to have is that Macedonia (the Republic ...

Labour resists LibDem MPs clean government initiative

The Government last Friday blocked a Bill which would have forced public bodies to disclose the money they spend on expenses. Liberal Democrat MP Norman Bakers Expenses of Public Servants (Publications) Bill was blocked by a government whip in the House of Commons today. Commenting, Mr Baker said: The Government has learned nothing. If they had backed my Bill, ministers could have shown they were listening to the public, by making sure that those spending taxpayers money were properly accountable. The public clearly want more openness and accountability when it comes to expenses. At least MPs are elected. My Bill ...

Why would Norfolk Education Authority block schools from accessing the National Gallery website

The National Gallery has a really wonderful website that has many enhanced features so that it can be used in classrooms. Except, that is, if you are in a classroom in Norfolk. Yes, like Iain Dale's blog, Norfolk County Council have blocked schools from accessing The National Gallery website. The question is, what is wrong with children looking at art and using a website designed to be of use to schools

Schools and the community in South of the Borough

That is the theme for a special South of the Borough Neighbourhood meeting next week. We'll be getting a chance to hear about the developments around here - the new buildings for Chessington Community College and St Mary's Primary, and the flourishing Children's Centre at Castle Hill. But what will make it even more interesting is the work of the School Cluster. Now you may not have...

Why it so sad that loyalty is made to look so bad

Amid the many postings from various bloggers who like me were disgusted with the Liberal Democrat Party line over the EU referendum yesterday, there has been a constant stream of unhappiness at the MP's who followed the party line and abstained on the vote. But is this fair I didn't agree with the party line and had I been an MP I would most certainly have voted for the amendment, but should we be critical of MPs who stay loyal to the party and follow a three line whip Loyalty is something that is easily lost, and we should admire ...

I love itunes

Aside from it being a wonderful media player and the automatic player for the ipod many don’t realise it has a streaming radio facility. Check out on spoken word list of stations - Air America, H.O.R.N and Power Radio - Liberal Radio stations from the US.

Clegg: more walkouts

I’ll lightly skip over Clegg’s call for recall today (I’ve said what I have to say on that topic here) - I happen to question the practicalities but as an act of symbolism it is good politics. Instead I will concentrate on these paragraphs: Clegg said Westminster should expect to see more protests from him - last week he staged a walkout from the Commons after he was denied his “in or out” vote. “The kind of anger, noise, direct protest that you have seen from us recently - whether it is my stance on saying that I would prefer ...

So why are plastic bags bad

I still don’t understand. Even more so since I went to Tescos the other day and noticed that their bags are biodegradable. So that’s the problem of them lasting zillions of years gone (I still say that’s not a problem if you incinerate or landfill anyway - its irresponsible disposal which is the problem - just [...]

And did those feet

I suppose it's appropriate that during International Women's week I was invited to speak to the Essex Federation of the Women's Institute. I set off for Southend this morning with no clear idea of what to expect from the massed ranks of Essex WI, but the first surprise was the size of the audience - about 12oo in total. I don't often get to speak to audiences quite as large as that, and I have to confess that it appeals to the performer in me, so I usually have a good time and with luck, the audience enjoys it too...... ...

World Book Day

Today is World Book Day. Given that reading is one of my passions in life I thought I’d take the time to blog about it. My son went to school dressed as Snufkin from the Moomins - we’ve been reading the Moomin books to him and his brother for a while now and he loves [...]

Joke about Hillary

I’m really glad i’m British - it means I can ring Hillary at 3 if she’s elected without skipping Breakfast.

Cuban Samizdata

I like this. There appears to be a flourishing Samizdata* in Cuba. People trade information from the Internet using flash drives. The government’s attempts to strictly control Internet access means that there’s a flourishing black market in computers and internet connections along side informal networks trading data from the few moments of Internet access people can [...]

Riverside Drive again ...

The lane closure to allow work to set back fencing round the Homebase site on Riverside Drive had to be slightly delayed until tomorrow morning (Friday). I have just been advised that the slight delay of 24 hours is due to the contractor organising signs and fencing associated with the lane closure and the works to improve drivers sight lines. I have now been told that work will commence on Friday morning to improve the sight lines for drivers exiting at the roundabout from Tesco on Riverside Drive. There have been a lot of residents concerns about the issue so ...

Budgens - Blazing a Trail on Plastic Bags

Im delighted that Budgens on Haverstock Hill have begun a campaign to eliminate plastic bags. Theyre donating 1p to charity every time a shopper brings in a reusable bag. In their Crouch End store they've nearly reached the stage where shoppers no longer ask for plastic bags because everyone is bringing in reusable bags. I hope, in due course, that well be able to institute a Belsize-wide voluntary plastic bag ban.

Nick Clegg a Disaster

Yesterday Nick Clegg did a wonderful performance of the Grand Old Duke of York! He has led us straight into an obvious ambush unti all he could do in the end was order his troops to lie down falt on the floor of the House of Commons with their hands over their ears - We had three stalwart leaders and another 12 troopswho sacrificed theselves to do the right thing I am only sorry that the rest of the backbench had not the courage to do the same. THis was a disaster that has ben clear to me for some ...

Well done Jo Swinson !

I thought I would do my bit in preparation for International Women's Day on March 8th by watching some of the debate in parliament about the event. Jo Swinson is giving a remarkably articulate and engaging speech. For the youngest member of the House of Commons, she is a far far more skilled speaker than many people who have been there for donkeys' years.

Republicans and conservatives for Clinton

This article over at The Free Liberal (a rare use of the term liberal to mean liberal and not socialist in the US there) talks about the way Republicans and conservatives are seeking to divide the Democrats even more by voting for Clinton to keep her campaign going all the way. It also highlights the way [...]

On Liberty, Online: Paddick amuses all with typo

Well, it amused me, anyway. I refer of course to the bit in bold: It is cheaper per mile to fly to New York than it is to travel by tube, according to new research conducted by the Liberal Democrats. The latest figures show that the cost of travel on Londons tube, already one of the most expensive forms of public transport in the world, can be up to £40 per mile. Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick said: "Its over 120 times more expensive per mile travelled to take the tube from Embankment to Charing ...

On Liberty, Online: Paddick amuses all with typo

Well, it amused me, anyway. I refer of course to the bit in bold: It is cheaper per mile to fly to New York than it is to travel by tube, according to new research conducted by the Liberal Democrats. The latest figures show that the cost of travel on Londons tube, already one of the most expensive forms of public transport in the world, can be up to £40 per mile. Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick said: "Its over 120 times more expensive per mile travelled to take the tube from Embankment to Charing ...

Card cloning

For the second time this year I have had my Barclays Connect Card cloned. Somebody was running around Tunis trying to take money from ATMs (they got £311 in one transaction before being stopped). The banks need to do something! I was very suspicious of a machine I used to pay for petrol last week, the pad I put my PIN into had rubbery buttons that you had to push very hard on, as if there was a

The Cruel Statistics of Fate

What is in a number As someone who works with them all day analysing them, creating reports based on them quite a lot. But there are certain numbers, 42, being a prime example that will always breing a smile to me face no matter how hard the day has been. Therefore when a number has double meaning it sticks out even more. Last night as you may well be aware, if not you must have avoiding all

Good stuff from Nick Clegg in the Guardian today

I think if I took a vote in my constituency on whether Nick was right or wrong on Europe yesterday the result would be a resounding "Wrong". However if I took a vote on this, after the disgracing of our local MP (I am still waiting for a reply to my letters Scotland Yard!) the answer would be a resounding "Right".

Clinton/Obama

I actually think a Clinton/Obama joint ticket is the dream scenario. The Democrats need to stay focused, and not allow internal fighting to allow John McCain a free run to the Oval Office. I wrote that on 17 December 2006, nothing has changed. When Democratic consultants go to bed tonight, before nodding off into that dream which has them replacing Toby in the West Wing. They should just remember

Ming Campbell abstained on his own policy

This has probably been blogged elsewhere, but looking at Public Whip today I was intrigued to note that the Lib Dems failed to get their own MPs out to vote in support of having a debate on the in/out amendment referendum. In a vote which was not likely to get passed and which the Lib Dems are surely planning to use against individual rival MPs, the Tories got 87% of their MPs out, Labour got 88% of their MPs out while the Lib Dems managed a mere 84%. Read into that what you will. The absentees are an odd bunch. ...

On Lisbon and looking silly

On Tuesday Jo's Jottings had some good advice for Lib Dem bloggers, advice which those who it is aimed at would do well to follow; "it's important to remember.......that politics is about gritting your teeth sometimes, keeping quiet and knowing when to count to ten." It is also advice that our parliamentary party would do well to follow. I find the whole nonsense around the vote on the Lisbon

Can you equal my score

Sad anorak that I am, I've just taken the quiz on the BBC Scotland section which reports on last weekend's Scottish Lib Dem Conference. A challenge then to my fellow Scottish Lib Dems, can you equal my score You certainly can't beat it 'cos I scored 10 out of 10! Smug grin appears here. Follow this link for the quiz: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7267126.stm

"Fairness" revisited

I am sceptical about the value of fairness as a political message for the Liberal Democrats. (See my previous blog on this) I have long suspected that when many people tell pollsters or focus group meisters that they are concerned about a lack of fairness, they are not really talking about social equality or pensions or human rights . This is underlined by some Newsnight polling that has been done as part of BBC2s unfortunately named White Season. A majority of white working class Britons feel nobody speaks for people like them, a BBC survey has suggested. Some 58% said ...

Blimey! Quotas for Board Directors!

Or: is Norway just a very good country to be a woman in This article from Guardian Unlimited caught my eye, unsurprisingly this morning! It looks at a new law brought out in Norway, which states that 40% of a companys directors must be female; yes, my eyes nearly popped out of my sockets too! Apparently all but 12 companies have done it!! There is a strong economic case for diversity in business and Norway at least recognises that lack of experience (read: lack of supply) is not the only reason why in 2002 only 7.1% of board directors were ...

I have no plans to work in baggage handling

On the one hand they're pulling back, with the idea of allowing people to have passports instead of ID cards. On the other hand they're pulling them forwards, by insisting that people like airport and security workers will have to have them, and students will be encouraged to have them. Luckily I have no plans to get a job in baggage handling. As for the airport workers, El Reg points out some of the issues involved there. As for the students, does the government really think that students are too thick to notice what they're doing Yes, probably. And I ...

Jeremy Brownes Weekly Column

Parkinsons disease I am starting a Parkinsons disease all-party parliamentary group. Supporters include Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative parliamentarians from both the Commons and Lords. On Tuesday we held a meeting with the Parkinsons Disease Society to discuss our new organisation and its campaigning priorities. Like other members of the group, I have a personal interest in this subject. My father was diagnosed with Parkinsons when he was only in his mid-forties. It is a terrible and debilitating condition, which gets steadily worse, and for which there is no cure. The main symptoms are usually severe stiffness, shaking and slowness ...

Cameron suffers biggest revolt of leadership (oh, and some thoughts on the Lib Dems, too)

Well, the Lib Dem parliamentary party may not exactly have covered itself in glory yesterday but at least we can console ourselves with the fact that yesterdays Commons votes exposed the Tories as just as split as ever on Europe. This from Philip Cowleys excellent revolts.co.uk: The party leader abstained, but a quarter of his [...]

The Bedfordshire is dead, long live the Bedford!

Just received the great news that Bedford is to be a new unitary authority. For the people of Bedford, who have been sold short by a Tory County Council who think it is OK to pour their resources disproportionately into their heartlands and have sold Bedford short for many years, this is welcome news indeed. John Healey also announced two new authorities in Cheshire. The analysis is that this reorganisation will result in savings of £18million, one wonders why the County is still wasting tax payers money and pursuing judicial review, but why break the habit of a life time ...

Day 2620: Undecided States of America

Tuesday: Watch out for the new HIGH DIVE in the Olympics this year: the reverse triple axolotl with extended length and twist: you skip the rounds where you won't win in order to jump right over your competitors for a spectacular splash. Also known as the "Giuliani Belly Flop". Even Senator Hillary-Billary couldn't pull it off perfectly, and the long string of losses has damaged her campaign. But someone needs to let Senator Barry O know this: EVERY time he opens his mouth to predict victory New Hampshire, Super Duper Tuesday, today it is immediately followed by Hillary-Billary bouncing back. ...

Israel and Palestine: Friends of Peace

A couple of days ago I twittered: “Rather than a Lib Dem Friends of Israel and a Lib Dem Friends of Palestine, couldnt we just have a single Lib Dem Friends of Peace” Keith Kahn-Harris, writing on The Guardian’s Comment is Free, expands on why this could be the desirable approach for those outside the Middle East: “The [...]

Lib Dem alternative to failed government housing policy

The Governments £100 million scheme to help first-time buyers has sold only 451 homes since it started in 2006, according to figures obtained from the Liberal Democrats. In a housing policy paper to be debated at the Partys Spring Conference this weekend, the Liberal Democrats will argue for the multi-million pound scheme to be replaced with Government-backed equity mortgages. The paper Homes for All: Action to Tackle the Housing Crisis will set out how the Party would build an additional 1.3 million affordable homes to buy and rent over the next decade, whilst equity mortgages would ensure the homes remained ...

Challenging expectations

When I was doing my A-levels my teacher gave me some good advice which I have brought with me into my working life - always challenge the assumptions behind a question. As Liberal Democrats we are constantly challenging the so-called political consensus, that is what we do. In these circumstances, when faced with a straight yes-no choice on a bogus question, a principled abstention is not just possible but it is a requirement. It is for that reason that I thought that Nick Clegg was absolutely right to order his MPs to abstain on the issue of a referendum on ...

Quote of the week from Nicol Stephen

In today's First Ministers Questions Scottish Lib Dem Leader Nicol Stephen MSP caught Gnat 1st miniature, Alex Salmond MSP, an absolute cracker on the Gnats evasion and broken promises regarding student debt. He said "Who should we believe; Fiona Hyslop or Fiona Hyslop.com" This is in relation to the fact that Education Miniature Hyslop told a bare-faced lie last week when she denied that the Gnats had ever promised to abolish student debts. Here's the quote from her own website: Yes. The outstanding student loans, with the exception of those sold to the banks, is owed to the Scottish Executive. ...

Children Placed in Jersey

Minister avoids answering question: John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities in England with responsibility for children's services have placed children in the care of the States of Jersey since 1980; and what steps are being taken to ascertain the whereabouts of those people placed in care.

Sterling blues

As Sterling hits further new lows against the Euro, the economic outlook for the UK seems more unstable than for some time. Currency traders seem to be latching on to the structural problems of the British economy as a reason for selling. In short these problems come under four general headings. Firstly, the UK has seen the largest increase in residential property prices over the course of the past 15 years. Average prices have more than doubled, but wages have not kept pace. The ratio of average house price to average earnings has gone from three times to more than ...

Should I go to Liverpool

This year we decided not to go to Spring Conference, even though we had paid and booked the Friday off work. The accommodation costs are too high, and nothing really happens. Instead Heather decided to work on the weekend, and we’ve booked tickets for Crufts on the Friday. Then last night 3 13 16 15 MPs rebelled against the 3 line whip, which suddenly makes conference sound like fun (well fun if you enjoy debating the small print of the Lisbon treaty). So should I get up early on Saturday, drive to Liverpool, not drink and then late at night ...

Met Police and Terrorism: Creepy Radio Advert

The Met Police, in their never-ending search for more resources and power, have been trying to raise the public’s residual fear of terrorism through their new ad campaign “Trust Your Instincts“. The creepiest component is this radio advert (Hat-tip: Our Kingdom): Scared of everyone else in the entire world yet Don’t worry, thanks to the Met, [...]

Scitech to end funding for the e-Merlin project

Article today in the Times about the proposed budget cuts to the UK's world-leading radio-astronomy project - e-Merlin. (More info about e-Merlin at http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/ the Royal Astronomical Society and Scitech) I hope some form of public/educational funding is found for the 2.5 million needed to keep this project running as this budget slashing seems to be aimed at the heart of the type of scientific inventiveness central to our national psyche.

All aboard the Gravy Train

I've been doing a little digging into how much Salford's Labour councillors make largely by virtue of being a Labour councillor in a Labour controlled authority. Labour have 42 councillors in Salford and of them 31 receive extra allowances, leaving just 11 on the basic allowance of £9,810.

More of the McSame

Here we go - this is more like it: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=YceQFoMc8fo

No Cojones

Britain won't have a referendum on the EU Constitution, sorry, Lisbon Treaty after all. Last night the government and its supporters defeated a loose coalition of Tories and Lib Dem and Labour rebels by 311 votes to 248 to ratify the European Union treaty. The debate will now go to the Lords but is expected pass into law this summer without a hitch. All parties found themselves in a pretty pickle over this issue, though for different reasons. As Simon Hoggart said in the Guardian "Labour knows that it should have held a referendum, but won't because it would lose. ...

Lib Dem Votes on Referendum

These are people who voted generally for a referendum and the votes they voted in. Amendment 293 was the Conservative one, 296 was Ian Davidson's and allowed the possibility of a second question. There was then the Clause 8 stand part vote (sp). Brooke, Annette 293 296 sp Carmichael, Mr. Alistair 293 296 Farron, Tim 293 296 George, Andrew 293 Gidley, Sandra 293 sp Hancock, Mr. Mike 293 296

Clegg calls for US-style recall system for discredited MPs

From today’s Guardian: A US-style “recall” system should be introduced in Britain to force MPs who break House of Commons rules to face their electorate in an emergency byelection, the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, declared yesterday. In an eye-catching attempt to rejuvenate the British political system, which he warns is on a “life support system”, Clegg [...]

Feeding the counter story: why do we do it

Whats the Number One Lib Dem counter story You know, the comments that are made every time to tell people you are a Lib Dem in the office or up the pub Yes, thats right, theres always some snide comment about the Lib Dems sitting on the fence. Except that up until yesterday, and the abstention from voting on whether to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty or not, I always thought it was a bit unfair. Did anybody count the number of times they mentioned Lib Dems and sitting on the fence on the Today ...

Bring a leaflet to Liverpool

The Agents Association is asking people to bring copies of their their best leaflets to Liverpool so that people attending can get new ideas from other people’s work. An exchange of best practice, if you will. Chair, Miranda Roberts, writes: Please, please, please, if you are coming to Liverpool this weekend, grab a handful of any [...]

What now for Obama

I’ve been on record as saying that if I was a primary voter I’d be voting and supporting Obama. way he frames answers in quasi-religious terms. `negative` (Hillary if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen) or stay above the fray and take more poundings attack dogs were out with their emails and dodgy quotes. I’m deeply disturbed.

Party Reform: The Presidency

I have, following on from what I have been writing here about party reform, an article over on Liberal Democrat Voice discussing the role of the President of the Liberal Democrats. See What is the point of the Party President

Government Report on Care Proceedings

John Hemming MP, Chairman of Justice for Families, has written to the Minister for Children, Kevin Brennan MP and Minister for Justice Bridget Prentice MP calling for the government to stop punishing women who are victims of Domestic Violence by taking their children away from them. "The Government recently published," he said, "a report which looked at the reasons for care proceedings. If we

Perspectives on a railway line

Just out and about and I spotted these two shots - pretty plain of themselves but I was really struck by the stark and attractive nature of the perspective. Railways actually cut across our geography in a way that we take for granted but in fact are deep lines cut into the now natural architecture Each time you look at a map you tend to follow the line of a river or a railway - it's one of our more enduring makes on nature's landscape. The other aspect of this is the way we look down tracks waiting for trains ...

The whole Lisbon Treaty mess

I can’t believe that this mess was allowed to develop so far. I do agree that the Lisbon Treaty is not the same as the constitution. We should not be bound by the manifesto commitment to a referendum on the constitution, that much is clear to me. My personal opinion is that we should call for a [...]

The use of language

I reported a few days ago on desperate Labour politicians taking one sentence out of context on a Liberal Democrat blog about Llandudno so as to grab a few headlines. Will they be so quick I wonder to jump on the words of the leader of Conwy Council who, on Radio Wales a short time ago, described the communities around the Dolgarrog Aluminium plant as an "area of real depravity"

Sweet Charity

Last night a group of went to see a friend in the Wolverhampton Musical Comedy's production at the Grand Theatre. Our friend, as normal, performed well and the musical numbers were excellently done.

An Inconvenient Truth

Off to the Friends' Meeting House last night for a showing of the Al Gore ("the former next President of the USA") polemic, "An Inconvenient Truth". I suspect most of the 40-50 people in the audience didn't need convincing of Gore's argument, but it was interesting to finally get to see the film which has caused such controversy. The evening was organised by Friends of the Earth and ended with a

Lib Dems back Emergency Motion on Gaza

Well, according to my recent poll they do. My poll on the Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine emergency motion has now closed and the results are in. 88% of those who voted, supported the motion whilst 12% said they were against. I accept these results are hardly conclusive but they do give me hope for the weekend. Thanks to all those who took part.

Gerry Adams commends Ian Paisley

Yep! I've never thought I would come across a headline such as this one. There may be many reasons why Adams has commended Paisley, including political strategy. Is the great enemy defeated However, it's irrelevant. Things are being understood in a different way now, even radicalism is changing. Adams calls Paisley 'a fascinating, gracious man'. He was certainly impressive. The most impressive

New Model County

Follow one of my recent posts in which I commented on Cambridgeshire somewhat unfavourably, I was asked which I would consider to be a model county. Awkward, really. I live here. I'm a Londoner originally, but have spent most of my adult life in Europe. And therefore I'm in a difficult position to judge. Or am I Despite my avowed position as a Lib Dem community politician and my believe in the importance of localism, I have to say that in my experience, France is far better served by its local government than we are. The heart of the matter ...

Prestwich Local Area Partnership 4 March 2008

Tuesday night was the regular meeting of Prestwich Local Area Partnership. This is the meeting that brings together your local councillors, key partners like the police, fire and NHS and appointed community representatives. The meeting, which took place in Sedgley Park School on King’s Road, was also very well attended by members of the public. A number of important issues were considered: Grants The Local Area Partnership is given some relatively small amounts of money to grant to local groups and projects. As this was the last meeting of the year a large number of grants were considered by the ...

Liberal Democrats MPs rebel

It would seem 15 Liberal Democrat MPs (different news websites are using different figures) rebelled yesterday and defied the Whip on abstaining on the Conservative amendment calling for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Three frontbenchers - Alistair Carmichael, Tim Farron, David Heath all resignedly from their positions.

ID Cards: Theyre here this year

Oh god. Via the BBC: "Non-EU migrants, baggage handlers and students will be the first to receive identity cards, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce later. Ms Smith will tell the Commons that foreign national workers from outside the European Union will be the first to be issued with cards this year. In 2009, cards will [...]

Opinion: Whats the point of the Party President

Before I start, let me make one thing clear. This is not about Simon Hughes. It may or may not be useful to ask “What is the point of Simon Hughes” but that is not what I am doing here. No, I am concerned with the office and not the man. I want to question the [...]

Were the Fifteen Truer on Principle

Altogether yesterday fifteen Liberal Democrat MPs ignored Nick Clegg's call to follow the majority view of the Parliamentary Party to abstain on the issue of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. But did Alistair Carmichael, Tim Farron and David Heath resign from the front bench in vain or were they holding true to the manifesto promises Did the 12 others who joined them on the two divisions get it

Jacqui Smith.......the political equivalent of a Dalek

I don't know why the news this morning that Jacqui Smith is banging on with ID Card plans, with the same old sterile arguments, made me think of a Dalek. OK she isn't exactly telling us all that she will exterminate, but she is using the same repetitive technique "we will have ID Cards, we will have ID Cards". It appears it doesn't matter what the evidence against ID Cards, she continues the mantra. So I was amused when I was looking for a nice pic of a Dalek and I found this Ad: EXTERMINATE ALL INTRUDERS- Dalek Sec is ...

Polling day for Highgate & Archway

A quick early morning blog from today's Campaign HQ for the by-election in Highgate and Archway. We've had an excellent turnout of volunteers and the early morning delivery is all but done. Our candidate Rachel is in good spirits and well prepared for the busy day ahead. High spirits and a determination to win and represent local residents despite (or perhaps because of) the nasty, personal attacks from the Tory candidate - including an email describing her as "spineless/lobotomised". Yes, a direct quote. And I think he still doesn't understand why he got voted off the Council six years ago. ...

Forest Heath Office Refurbishment

Conservative controlled Forest Heath has committed itself to a makeover of its council offices. Last night my colleague Ian Radford proposed that we should a) Get costings for the works that have to be done and b) In light of the current uncertainty as to whether Forest Heath will even be here in two years we should pause before spending taxpayers money on a major refit before we know that outcome of that review. I fully agree with Ian on this, we were not proposing that other projects that benefit the community should be paused, just the office refurbishment. Major ...

Russia has only one future - democracy

So says Mikhail Gorbachev, who I last wrote about for his weird advertising endorsements. Writing in the Times the Nobel Peace Prize winning last President of the USSR claims that Russians do have an appetite for democracy and the Medvedev has the opportunity to give it to them. Lets hope his views are shared in Russia and not just the Club of Madrid.

MoveLisbOn

Having just caught myself writing yet another fucking blog post about the Lisbon Treaty controversy, I can at least say one thing about the whole sorry mess: thank god I don’t have to continue boring myself to tears on the subject for very much longer. Move on. Nothing to see here. Share This

Day 2619: Aren't we supposed to be the UNITED Party on Europe

Wednesday: Well, THAT'S embarrassing! Liberal Democrats believe in the European Union, it can be good if we fix its faults; we know that we can win the case for Europe if we get the chance; and what's more the public back our position for a proper referendum 2:1. The Labour's position is cowardly; the Conservatory position is deceitful. Only WE trust the people. So, how have we come to this I suspect that it can only be because it is because it is so much easier to get into a TIZZY about minute details than over major areas of policy. ...

Thursday 6th March 2008

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