I started the conference on a sunny morning with a walk up one of the many hills here in Bournemouth for a training session. Its interesting to note that polling shows that Crime, Health & Education are still top issues, however Cost of Living is rising as an issue people are concerned about. I had time for a quick sandwich then onto a briefing. I had time for a quick photo shoot with Liberal Youth; graphically putting the case for votes at 16, then back up the hill for more training. Its proving to be a full day, quick spin ...
I have won an award! The highlight of a generally fabulous day was the Lib Dem Blog of the Year awards, and the fact that I won the Best Use of a blog and social networking site. It a new medium for me, and one I've approached with a bit of apprehension, but I'm getting into all of this, and I'm genuinely pleased that people are enjoying what I'm doing. Alix Mortimer's blog received due recognition with three wins , and Peter Black won the "Best Blog from a Lib Dem holding public office, after being shortlisted twice before. Today's ...
The Labour Party is in Shambles, the names of the MP's who have asked for nomination forms are being released and it is looking Bad for Brown. I think we will either see a Leadership Election in the Labour Party before Christmas or a Date for a General Election to take place in 2009 will be released!
The List Below is the List of Suspects who might have Openly or Privately Contacted Labour HQ to ask for Nomination Forms. Here are the people who think about the future of Labour: Janet AndersonStephen ByersCharles ClarkeJim DowdKate HoeyFrank FieldIan GibsonMike HallGeorge HowarthGraham MarshallFiona MactaggartSiobhain McDonaghJohn McDonnellAlan MilburnGordon PrenticeJoan RyanGraham StringerCodedKarenBuckJon Cruddas Patricia HewittKelvin HopkinsEric JoyceSally KeebleStephen LadymanIvan LewisMartin LintonShona McIsaacDennis MacShaneDavid MilibandMargaret MoranJohn ReidTom LevittPaddy Tipping
Pendle Council has Warned it will Fine People who don't take empty bins inside their gardens and yards and leave them on the street. The Liberal Democrats run Council has said they will fine residents £100 if they fail to follow the rules. I think this is a great idea as we have many households that keep their bins on the street and this can cause problems for drivers especially in back streets. You can read the whole story at the Lancashire Telegraph website HERE.
before she starts a nuclear war. This woman is DANGEROUS. Do people not get it?!! To echo Russell Brand's comments on George W. Bush at the VMAs in this country, "[s]he wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors." (Hat tip: Paul Walter)
Examiner.com has a passionate commentary on Sarah Palin's first major interview. While noting that Sarah Palin thinks that the fact that you can see Russia from an Alaskan island gives her some sort of foreign policy kudos, Kristy S-Y writes: While her thinking geography gives her some type of edge over intelligence and experience is absurd and a bit scary, it didn't come close to her other
...And Sarah Palin didn't buck Alaska's Republican culture of corruption, she hired it. All the details are on a new website: Mclobbyist.com
A load of phots taken today at conference (one of the Nick Clegg arriving at conference pics was taken by Dave Radcliffe). Various scenes from around conference, a demonstration in favour of votes at 16 (people dressed up in things you can do at 16, though not everything you can do at 16 was included!). Also included, some must have fashion items.
Congratulations to Iain Gray, winner of the poisoned chalice. Oh dear.
There has been concerted, and probably justifiable mockery of my phrase "hashtag taxonomy" coined in this post from yesterday. And it also didn't help to find that somehow we promoted a subtly different version of the tag from the original suggestion - tags, after all, work best when they are consistent. But despite these teething troubles, [...]
So the total of Labour MPs calling on Brown to step down is now 12. Excellent. 12 down. 58 to go. Anything on the telly? The original list included Frank Field and Kate Hoey - in terms of Labour revolts, the Pope's Balcony and the Ursine wood habit. But the extra three includes Fiona MacTaggart - formerParliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office. Not one of the usual suspects,
Andrew Grice, writing the Independent this morning, gives us details of what the party's research says the public thinks of our leader. And do you know, it appears they like him! Well, I never. The article is full of the stuff Lib Dems have always known and that seldom seems to feature on the pages of apparently [...]
Word reaches me from several sources that backstage at the hall are lurking... A PACK OF CHEERLEADERS! One witness claims they are somewhat younger than those pictured. Please, Lord, don't let this be as excrutiating as we fear.
This was I thought a very good quality debate that ranged widely across issues that impact on international security. The motion was moved by our foreign affairs spokesperson Ed Davey MP and summated by the very impressive Dr Julie Smith. Speakers raised concerns about role that Europe plays in our security and our role in Europe, the problems of an aggressive Russia, and the importance of energy
Liberal Democrat Conference discussed security policy earlier today.
Absolute nightmare getting here. Arrived at 2.30am, having been panicky in the car, and had a complete nervous breakdown at the state of the hotel room. The boiler for the hotel was in our room and was going all night and we got no sleep. So, have basically been awake for 36 hours now and am trying not to die. At least we got moved to a better room this morning. Apparently one's hours as a volunteer steward are rather longer than I was expecting. I have been seconded to the fringe team, which means basically saying If yer name's ...
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage After an extended sojourn in Greece courtesy of a piece of dodgy souvlaki, a fire in the channel tunnel and the bankruptcy of several package holiday tour companies I finally find myself be-fish and [...]
Here I am in Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrat Conference hoping to do a better job of blogging during the week than I did last time. I've taken a rather relaxed approach so far. Having been later in the bar last night than I had intend this morning was rather slow and mainly concerned with a bit of shopping. A pleasant wander around the town in the sunshine. However, I've spent this
I have to agree with Bath MP Don Foster when commenting on Gordon Brown's announcement of measures to tackle fuel poverty, Bath MP Don Foster said, "These measures will not do nearly enough to help the numerous residents of Bath who will struggle to heat their homes this winter. "While these measures are baby steps in the right direction, the Government should have...
It hurts me to say that Bath blew it today at the Rec allowing Gloucester to beat them at the Rec in a league game for the first time in over 20 years. The Kicking lacked a lot with all 5 kicks being missed and thus costing Bath the game 17 - 21. I would hope that we would see better over the next few weeks and that the kicking game is improved as home wins like the that this...
Liberal Democrats have given their support at full the Full Council meeting of Bath & North East Somerset Council on Thursday to a strongly worded response to the government on the hotly debated issue of the housing requirements within the regional spatial strategy. it is clear that a government which doesn't listen to people will eventually get told where to go, and...
Reports of Lembit's demise have been greatly exaggerated! Quaequam Blog! has had reports that Lembit arrived at the Bournemouth International Conference Centre resplendent on his Segway. And QQB! has personally been asked to sign Lembit's nomination papers. Team Lembit, it has to be said, look at bit less impressive than Team Ros, with their 'Ipik Opik' address labels on their lapels. But at least they're now doing something. With any luck, we might even see a campaign website soon. Text your Lembit sightings to 07966 237550 or Twitter @jamesgraham.
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage Whilst waiting for conference to begin this morning, I asked fellow delegates where they were from, what they hoped to gain from conference and what they thought about tax cuts. Four very different [...]
I'm here, so are Mary, Helen, Alex and Millennium. Lembit isn't. There's a bloke outside doing street theatre with a Segway. I wonder if the two facts are related?
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage Conference has overwhelmingly supported the motion "Giving Citizens a Voice in Parliament." Conference also voted to remove the provisions for a referendum on policies that attract one million signatures against. The fact that the [...]
I took advantage of our direct train link with London yesterday en route to Bournemouth to our Party conference. Absolutely superb service and I thoroughly recommend it. It seems rare to be able to say this about trains in the UK but everything ran to time and I had a seat on every train including the Underground. There was time for a pleasant walk in the twilight along the sea front and some
For the first time yesterday, Electoral-Vote's state projection (which tends to be rather sensitive, and therefore, possibly, an early indicator) tipped to McCain. It seems time to start panicking. David Shipman writes for the Sunday Telegraph: The Democratic presidential candidate's slump in the polls has sparked pointed private criticism that he is squandering a once-in-a-generation chance
You learn something new everyday. Loose Women is an ITV programme I watch three times a week as I do my treadmill exercise. I didn't realise that it is based on ABC's "The View" in the US, which was devised by dear old Barbara Walters. Anyway, five women faced John McCain yesterday on "The View" and McCain came away with a few "grill marks". The juiciest segment is below. Barbara Walters first
{smannell-road-excavations.jpg} Residents will by now know that the funfair planned for this weekend has been cancelled again. The main reason for the cancellation was the weather making the site too water logged for the fair to open. However, only a small fair could have moved on to the site because of ongoing works by Southern Water. This work also contributed to the condition of the grounds. It is hoped that the fair can be re-scheduled for October. I raised local concerns about Southern Water's access to the Smannell Road open space at Wednesday's council meeting. They have the power under ...
The Liberal Democrats kicked off their conference in Bournemouth this afternoon by discussing the motion "Giving Citizens a Voice in Parliament" which looked at ways the link between citizens and democracy can be improved.
Sat 13th
15:15
Day 2813: Millennium Elephant Discovers that THAT PINK DOG has crashed his interview with Mr Clogg (...
Saturday: In what I HOPE will become a tradition, I have arranged for the nonimees for the Liberal Democrat Blogger of the Year (and, apparently, THAT PINK DOG) to join me for an interview with the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Mr Nick Clogg. We have had incredibly super support from the Party Leader, last year from Sir Mr the Merciless and this year Mr Clogg, who has generously found fifty minutes in what is a PACKED week for him to talk to Top Lib Dem Bloggers. And that Pink Dog. Who Let the (Pink) Dogs Out? {Posted by Picasa} ...
It is good to be here in Bournemouth, where the sun is shining, and Liberal Democrats - in the best traditions of Hardy - are feeling pretty sunny too. Elsewhere Gordon Brown is facing a rebellion of the type that long ago disposed of Haile Selassie. Here the highlight of the week should be approval of Make It Happen - a policy paper that takes us a long way forward in terms of developing a critique of Britain under Labour, and explaining it in a way people can understand. The cloud on my horizon? Jonathan Calder is having a touch ...
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage The conference has definitely now begun, and members of the Voice team are beginning to assemble, although transport difficulties, crashing holiday companies and the channel tunnel fire have all contributed to making today a [...]
The end is nigh? When one of your whips, and party Vice, people paid to keep the party in line, suggests a leadership election then it is time to be worried. Just call me Gord has no one to blame but himself of course. When the eyes of a country turn on you to offer help in what can only be a colder winter than usual and your response is "wrap up warm" images of another winter of discontent spring to mind. The next few days and weeks will prove interesting leading up to the Labour Party conference. Brown can ...
Posted with LifeCast
it's great having a good old nose inside the city's buildings. i first went to bristol blue glass factory in brislington. i watched some glass vases being made. bit hot in there so after a look around the factory shop it was on to the paintworks. i heard a talk by george ferguson a couple of months ago that included dialogue on the paintworks. it is almost an artist / work-play quarter. the theme is creativity in a set of refurbished warehouses. a lot of open plan layouts. next up onto clifton and QEH school. it has an imposing facade ...
Members Training Session - Sutton's Health and Wellbeing:Patterns and Meeting Needs I attended this excellent members training session looking at the health patterns in Sutton and discussing the factors that affect people's health. We were asked to consider what we thought were the main contributory factors to ill health. Whilst the obvious ones such as poor [...]
Liberator 328 will be on sale from the magazine's stall at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth. But Lord Bonkers has insisted that I make his Diary available to people who are not attending. "I feel I owe it to my public," he remarked. So here goes. Monday At last the journalists are leaving me in peace after my deportation from China over my part in a demonstration in favour of Tibetan independence. I have to confess that the account of events which has gained currency is not strictly correct. I yield to no one in my admiration of the ...
With the Liberal Democrats Conference kicked off Saj Karim and his disciples thought it was clever to write a letter to the Guardian Newspaper putting the Liberal Democrats down and lifting the balls of David Cameron. The Letter as shown here: We are former Liberal Democrat candidates and elected representatives who have found that the aims and aspirations that drew us into politics are now best represented by the Conservatives led by David Cameron. On a wide range of issues, the Conservative party is now providing a progressive, liberal, modern alternative to Labour. David Cameron has brought the environment to ...
Health & Well Being Scrutiny Committee Chair's Briefings We had to split the briefing into two sessions to fit in with the diaries of everyone we needed to speak to about the handling of the meeting on the 11th. The Elizabeth House regeneration scheme was of most concern as, having moved the venue to make it easier for [...]
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage Two major new pieces from Nick Clegg in the media. First, in the New Statesman on his liberal vision: Because of our commitment to freedom, openness and tolerance we are the only party that [...]
The LibDem Federal Conference is starting today in Bournemouth. The centrepiece debate of the week will be on 'Make it Happen', the party's 'vision and values' paper. The document highlights key areas of focus for the party, including plans to: * Deliver big tax cuts for people on low and average incomes paid for from taxing pollution and closing tax loopholes used by the rich * Invest more in the education of the most disadvantaged children * Deliver on an ambitious green agenda, including forcing energy companies to pay a large share of their windfall subsidy to help homes use ...
{Picture courtesy of Jennifer Stokes} Picture courtesy of Jennifer Stokes Speaking at the Annual Dinner 2008, Dr Vince Cable MP said that the Liberal Democrats had firmly established themselves as the alternative to the Tories in Wycombe. Dr Cable said that under Labour, inequality was 'as bad or worse than it was under Margaret Thatcher.' He spoke of the effect that the credit crunch was having in this area saying 'even in a prosperous area like this there an awful lot of pensioners and low paid workers who are finding life very difficult.' Dr Cable spoke of the disparity between ...
Looking out the hotel window in Bournemouth this morning, I have observed something unusual. There is a blue sky and the sun is shining for the first time in ages - the gap in the conference diary between 11.32 and 11.48 is my chance to rush outside and engage in a bit of sun worship. Arriving last evening after a rather grim journey from North London, it was straight into campaign mode; handing out badges, getting nomination forms signed and enjoying the compliments about the campaign generally and the website in particular. For the hundredth time this week, I thank ...
Oh dear! It is still early in the tenure of the One Wales Government and already the Deputy Housing Minister believes herself to be cornered and forced to come out fighting with wild claims: She responded to claims made earlier this week by Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black that Wales' affordable housing stock was shrinking in size with demolitions and sales outstripping the addition of new homes by launching blistering criticism of his party. Ms Davies said: "Don't forget, they chose opposition - not once but twice - last year. With difficult financial times ahead they were too afraid to ...
It is always pleasant to wake up to the first day of Conference to find that it is a different party which is having a leadership crisis. And the sun is shining too!
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage Those of you who can't make it to Bournemouth will still be able to follow proceedings as they happen, rather than as the media decides to report them, in two ways: BBC Parliament - there [...]
After a phone call from the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, to the British Foreign minister, David Milliband, that was reportedly a tirade of foul mouthed abuse, it still seems that Russia is not getting the message. The tasteless and wholly inaccurate comment from Dimitri Medvedev that "Georgia was Russia's 9/11" combines the usual sense of Russian arrogance and paranoid victimhood in one simple phrase. Meanwhile Russian schoolchildren are being tought that Stalin was "a tough minded leader who took decisions in his country's best interest". Actually, Mr. Putin, Stalin was a psychopathic murderer with the blood of millions on ...
Sat 13th
09:21
Lessons for Local Party Secretaries: no. 9 - crushing nations beneath your jewelled sandals
You do realise that this is the job of the Chair, don't you? Of course, it isn't unheard of for a Secretary to take the 'top job', although why you'd want to, I don't know. After all, you don't want someone coming along, inspired by the spirit of Machiavelli, making you dependent upon them, do you?...
Contrary to appearances, we have actually been in beautiful Canada for the last couple of weeks. (I don't like to advertise my absences from home too widely, so didn't mention it before) So here are a couple of photos, as evidence. Our son Stuart with Ian trying out the canoes Just to show we were in Canada - you can't find beaver dams in...
Hard to believe that the 2008 West End Christmas Week is approaching already, but it takes a lot of planning, so the first meeting of the Christmas Week Committee takes place this coming Thursday. If anyone wishes to attend or find out more information, please e-mail me at christmas2008@frasermacpherson.org.uk or call me on Dundee 459378 - many thanks!
I am not sure how much is being wagered on the contest, but WalesOnline reports that Kirsty Williams is the odds-on favourite to become the new leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. She is quoted at 1/2, Jenny Randerson at 6/4 and Eleanor Burnham at 8/1. But "betting expert" Carl Williams says: "While Kirsty Williams has to be the favourite at the moment, it would be foolish to write off Jenny Randerson, who if she stands would be a very strong candidate."
I see that the Labour party is stirring yet again about the Brown leadership. A handful of MPs have demanded nomination forms for a leadership contest. And a completely unknown whip has demanded a contest and got sacked. Meanwhile, 12 MPs have signed an article demanding more policies. It's hardly of earthquake proportions. Is this the start of a flood of Labour people remanding Brown goes and
CNN Report that a former ethics adviser to Sarah Palin told her that the Troopergate scenario would become a "grave concern" for her administration: A former ethics adviser to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin warned in July that firing her public safety commissionerWevley Shea, a former U.S. attorney and fellow Republican, urged Palin to apologize to former Commissioner Walt Monegan and fire anyone on
That's the intriguing story from the US, where a leading Democrat activist is encouraging people to make up their own message and then run internet ads based on it: Every day, thousands of times over, we critique campaign messaging, debate the quality of ads, muse about targeting strategies, and suggest new lines of attack. The problem [...]
Okay, okay - they are not lanes but one of the most charming features of Hampstead are the number of lanes - often small old, even medieval. I've taken to capturing them on camera cos their charm and historical insight. Spring Path indeed refers to the old and ancient spring - one of the tributaries of the Fleet river that runs from the Heath and Shepherd's Walk was one of the paths that was used for driving sheep onto and from the Heath. In fact I have a postcard from about 1896/98 of sheep grazing on the heath... And then ...
Some of the things I have done today are: Helped the campaigns department write their training modules and stuff their campaign packs even though I am neither employed or paid to do it! Dried my hands on the stangely satisfying mini fluffy towels in the toilet at the Marriott Highcliff Hotel in Bournemouth. Got a hint that Lembit [...]
{Graffiti painted out} Finally the graffiti on Pulteney Road railway bridge has been painted out by network rail. I first reported this to them in February 2007, 18 months on the job has been done (admittedly in a good light you can stil make out the tag). However, the ground level graffiti tags on the brick arches have not yet been done, so I will have to start phoning again with reminders.
So a good chunk of the Lib Dem blogosphere is off to the Conference. I don't even have BBC Parliament. So, I think, while everyone's away I'm going to do other things. I might catch the key speeches on the BBC iPlayer but I'm actually far more interested in how much will get through if I don't go looking for it. Will 'normal' people even know we're having a conference? Did you know that the Greens and UKIP have already had theirs? Did you catch any of it? So yes. Will our conference break our of politico world? In other ...
{Bath Youth Hostel} I spoke today with the manager of Bath Youth Hostel, on Bathwick Hill. The hostel was recently granted a 24 hour drinking and entertainment license, to the concern of their neighbours. The license was granted by BathNES as no objections were received from local residents. However, the licensing application was poorly advertised and neighbours were not notified of the application. The council claimed that this was because of guidance preventing them from 'soliciting' objections. Don Foster, MP for Bath and Shadow Culture Secretary, agrees that this was the case previously, but that he and others have since ...
Earlier this year the Council refused the owner of this and two of the other workshop units in Whessoe Road planning permission to return the units to residential use. The owner has now appealed against this decision. The Planning Inspector from Bristol will decide. I would guess this planning application is connected to the new legislation that imposes full business rates on empty commercial
