View conference reports and videos here.
One thing you have to admit about Peter Black's place in the Welsh blogosphere is that he does keep you on your toes. Like Peter, I was appalled when Gareth Hughes (come on Peter, as Spike Milligan said, "that's it, name the bugger!") told viewers of Sharp End that there were concerns within the party about Kirsty Williams' ability to lead the party with small children to look after. Now I may
{Nicholas Coombes and the Quarry Road footbridge} Wet weather has delayed the opening of the new university footbridge over Quarry Road. The bridge is now in place, but staff estimate a further week before the approach paths are laid. Delivery of the bridge itself was put back due to heavy rain as the police delayed the over-sized motorway convoy. Since then, the bridge has been installed but groundworks and concreting has understandably taken longer. The new bridge is higher to avoid tall vehicle strikes, but this means that the approach paths need to be re-graded. With drier weather forecast, this ...
For ten years I have advocated a smaller state and tax cuts and for ten years I've been dubbed a dangerous right wing Tory by my party colleagues. So today's conference vote to embrace a tax cutting agenda marks a significant and welcome shift in the Liberal Democrats electoral strategy. The sight of Simon Hughes and Tim Farron, darlings of the party's left, make the case for progressive tax cuts as part of a well planned and co-ordinated debate orchestrated by the leadership was the most startling illustration of how much the party has changed in the past year. Both ...
Well, the news of the vote on tax cuts moved us up by a minute on the BBC 10 O'Clock news to only 22 minutes in and we just sneaked ahead of the royal news. Unfortunately, they managed to find the most stereotypical liberal to show giving the opposing view...
It was 16 years ago tomorrow, 16th, when I was wandering idly through Harrogate Conference Centre at Lib Dem Conference, that I saw a notice on one of the screens that I should contact reception. It turns out that my mum had been trying to contact me to tell me that my sister had had her baby, Laura, 6 weeks early, 2 days previously. As soon as Conference was over, I high tailed it up north to see this new baby. I feel in love immediately. She was in an incubator at the time, having phototherapy for jaundice, but I ...
It always surprises me how tiring it is to sit in a room listening to people all day. Being a voting rep, I make a point of actually being in the auditorium for all the policy debates and related votes, so I've been doing a lot of that and am now quite knackered. Mind you, the standard of debate has generally been pretty high, so the time has gone quite quickly. And I don't say that just because I've been called to speak twice myself ;-) I'm told all the proceedings have been live on BBC Parliament, which is a ...
My battles with the Council's Environmental Services Department continue. I don't know if their sole purpose is to improve Bury's environment, or whether it's to annoy me so much that my brains explode and come dripping out of my nostrils. At the moment they seem to be neglecting the former but making a darn good go at the other thing. Some time ago, after one complaint too many about the Prestwich litter mountain, Cllr Donal O'Hanlon and I came up with something which we thought might be an easy solution. We thought we'd ask for a sign in the Village ...
I was very proud of my old friend Paul Holmes today as he proposed the amendment in the Make it Happen debate. I fear that his argument was lost in a rush of empathy for people who really are struggling to make ends meet. I'm not saying that feeling of solidarity is wrong, just that we need to make sure that we see the bigger picture. Allowing co-payments in the NHS is not the same thing as wanting them to happen. Like Paul said, a tax cut of a few hundred quid a year isn't going to mean much if ...
Well done to the Western Mail for all its coverage of the Paralympics and also for todays fine article. Muscular Dystrophy is a genetically based disease which causes progressive muscle weakness. The disease is linked to the X-chromosome and since Males only have one they are more susceptible. The symptoms include Poor balance, limited or no walking ability, frequent falls, respiratory problems and curvature of the spine. Edwina Hart has made some radical changes to the NHS since becoming the Assembly health Minister. One was free hospital parking and another was free prescriptions for everyone. She has also given ward ...
It was great to see the new Morrison's supermarket open at last in Whitefield today. For some reason I found myself compelled to go and have a look, despite needing no groceries whatsoever. I was like a lemming - a blank-eyed automaton switched to shopping autopilot until at the checkout purchasing several completely unnecessary items. Obviously there were a billion other people there as well, as if convinced by an unseen retail deity that bargains were afoot inside the shiny new palace of meaningless expenditure. The car park was like something out of a disaster movie, with traffic heading in ...
Here is the full hour or so of questions and answers about the environment, that happened in a hall that looked empty after being rammed to the rafters for the "Making it Happen" debate that immediately proceeded it. It's a really good debate taking in some controversial topics - including planning law after Kingsnorth, economic growth [...]
You are a popular sort of bloke, Vince. You are, on your own ground, frankly brilliant and you have both our respect and affection. Today you swung a potentially difficult vote in the leadership's favour. But a little note of caution, a word of warning. Many of us remember and resent how the popular David Penhaligon was used to push the leadership's policies through conferences. It works up to a point. But it's not good for the party and it's not good for conference and dare I say, eventually, not good for you. So well done today. Just don't make ...
Issued by my colleague Alison McInnes MSP today : Alison McInnes, Lib Dem MSP for the North East is backing Tavish Scott's call to the other political parties in Scotland to work with the Liberal Democrats to cut the income tax rate by two pence in the pound. Mr Scott, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, believes that as families across Scotland have to tighten their belts because of the current economic climate, the Government should do the same. Under the Liberal Democrats' plans, around 50,000 workers in Dundee, could save money. The average earner in ...
Mr Eugenides had me, and my entire office in fits of laughter today with his hilarious and irreverent take on news that teams of nurses have been taking to Ayrshire's streets to seek out the obese and give them advice on diet and exercise. I'm sure the excessive guffawing must have burnt off a few hundred calories, so he's probably done us a good public service. Even by his standards, this rant was a fine example of the genre. It's not often I say this about my right wing friend, but I totally and absolutely agree with him - but ...
One of the most commonly occuring phrases I've heard in relation to the current Labour leadearship coup/plot/kerfulfle is 'This wouldn't have happened under Alistair Campbell's watch', namely in relation to the poor media handling from Number 10 over this, and its got me thinking. Alistair Campbell left Number 10 in August 2003, and its roughly from [...]
I've been busy recently, hence the lack of blog entries. So I after finally logging onto the Internet and looking at the news I realise that the LibDem Conference is in full swing. And I haven't been paying attention to comment on it. However I've been catching up looking at BBC News. I'm shocked at how the media is still ridiculously trying to compare Clegg with Cameron, which must be really confusing the electorate and stopping them realising how radically different we are. But I love the way Clegg brushes away these sorts of comments. He shows how we believe ...
The chiefs at the BBC must have been reading my blog because following my two previous posts, found here and here, they have now commissioned a programme as part of their 'US Presidents' season exploring how this year's race for the White House was run before on the West Wing. A must see for any West Wing Fan.
While conference delegates are hopefully amassing in the Goat and Tricycle for Liberal Drinks, I asked searching questions about tax cuts, the presidency, weekend conferences and more, of Paul Buchanan, Louise Bloom, Cathy Priddy and Chris Foote Wood.
Mon 15th
20:10
A secular society does not just protect those without faith - it protects those with faith too
Earlier this evening I spoke at a Stonewall / DELGA meeting, along with Chris Rennard, Sarah Ludford and Ben Summerskill on the theme - 'A safer Britain for all'. Today I would like to talk about what fairness mean to us as Liberal Democrats and more importantly how we can achieve it. As liberals I think we have instinctive sense of what equality means. This doesn't mean we have all the answers or always get it right, but equality is one of the main reasons we get out of bed and fight the political battles we fight we do. As ...
The summary results of the consultation are out and perhaps not unexpectedly the vast majority of responses (71%) stated that the £35 charge for collection of garden waste is not liked. What was surprising was that there were 18% of respondents who said they did agree with it! Part of the consultation form asked what alternative [...]
Mon 15th
19:54
Is the Labour Government 100% Right? Only 97% Right? Or Maybe A Lot More Wrong? Want To Change It......
Well, it happened. The hall was packed for the entire debate - which is pretty gobsmacking in itself - and a hundred people tried to speak for today's keynote Make It Happen debate on the Liberal Democrats' Vision and Values. I'm glad I didn't get round to putting a card in; I'd only have been frustrated, and instead, I could sit with several particularly nice people and just watch and applaud (and make the odd bitchy comment). It was one of the finest conference debates for many years, with several superb speeches and a new form of Lib Dem bingo ...
There was disappointment among some local Lib Dems yesterday, as Haringey's other MP, Labour's David Lammy, was speaking at a party conference fringe meeting on the future of relations between the Lib Dems and Labour. Disappointment, not because David was speaking, but because the meeting was packed out, and very few of us from Haringey were able to get into the room - including me. There's a good report by Gavin Whenman on the Lib Dem Voice website, as part of their marvellous party conference coverage. Gavin highlights one of David Lammy's most interesting remarks, as he frankly admitted that ...
"... then they should be able to live in our country" (Nick Clegg). I was very glad to see today that the Gurkha campaign for justice has been given time and space at the LibDem conference, as part of a week of activities marking the beginning of a judicial review into the situation faced by Gurkhas who have fought on our behalf.
Another great postcard campaign from Lynne, which she has just launched with our Alexandra by-election candidate Nigel Scott. Currently pay-as-you-go (PAYG) passengers can only use their Oyster cards south of Finsbury Park. Residents using Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace and Bowes Park overground stations have to buy a more expensive ticket at the station, or have Oyster card travel passes. Another point - I'm told you can't even buy an Oyster travel card at Hornsey station, even though some of the more expensive travelcard passes are valid. So they accept tickets that you have to go somewhere else to buy. Pic: ...
Here's Susan Kramer's childcare speech from yesterday afternoon: And here, in full, is Nick Clegg's Q&A session, chaired by Steve Richards of The Independent:
Read the great man's endorsment here.
"The fundamentals of our economy are strong" says John McCain (clickbelow for video). But this is not an old quote. He said it today of all days!
...Just now on the 6 O'Clock News. First and only mention was at 6:23pm. I normally would have switched off by then (especially after another turgid but lengthy report on the Labour party). We were even beaten by a Buck House press release about Prince William. "traditionally seen as a tax and spend party", "complete turnaround", hmm, well it least it sort of got our message out, even if it was illustrated by a particularly dull bit of Vince's speech. (Sorry Vince!) I was going to pen a piece about our coverage and lack thereof (esp. BBC) ages ago but ...
I've been keeping score during Conference... Number of times I have said: "Oh for fuck's sake!" : Zero"Oh no!! No!!! Nooooo!" : ZeroAnything derogatry about the Lib Dems to Friends: Zero"Oh, phew!": Three"Yes!! Yes!!!": One"Hmm Yes I like that a lot": TwoSeriously, am I losing my objectivity here? I'm in danger of losing my status as Grumpiest Lib Dem.
This afternoon the Liberal Democrats had a panel debate on the Environment featuring Chris Davies MEP (Environment Spokesperson, European Parliament), Dorothy Thornhill (Mayor of Watford) and Jonathon Porritt CBE (Chair, UK Sustainable Development Commission).
Each year the BBC put on an informative Breakfast which is a good start to the day. This year they used it as an opportunity to preview their new BBC Persian service. Countries such as Iran have a large, educated & progressive young population. I am convinced that the only constructive hope for progress in Iran is through its youth. This new BBC service is vibrant and will celebrate Persian culture and I am convinced will contribute to progress of freedom for the people in this part of the world. I then headed down the hill to attend the Party ...
Having said that conference took the right decision on Make It Happen, I think it took the wrong decision just before that when it voted overwhelmingly against allowing the broadcasting of court proceedings. While I appreciate the concerns of some that broadcasting trials and tribunals might result in legal proceedings being seen as entertainment, I think those fears are misplaced. To say that in this day and age that the main means by which people access information is not welcome in our courtooms is an immensely retrograde step. The motion which was voted down did include safeguards to protect vulnerable ...
Some of my conference photos taken today. The one of me is with the gravestone prop for the post office closures photo opportunity.
This lunchtime I gave a speech about volunteering to one of the fringe meetings at our Bournemouth party conference: When I was younger - much younger! - and at school, I took part in a volunteering scheme to call on older people - whether they wanted me to or not! Subsequently, I worked on a hospital radio station and did programs from the wards, and then was a volunteer at a local hospital giving out menus - but really spending time with patients undergoing rough treatment and holding their hands if they didn't have family - and sometimes sitting with ...
Silly Comments have been left on this blog and it has really pissed me off leading me to do this. I hope this is the First and Last time I ever have to Name someone for being a Twat but Here Goes: The Person with the Name John is actually Ex Cllr Mahboob Ahmed who was a Lib dem until Karim said to him lets Go to the Conservatives and he became a Disciple of Karim's and joined the Conservatives. Akram who used to comment before is the Son of Ex Cllr Mahboob Ahmed by the Name of Shoaib Ahmed ...
There were moments of sunshine yesterday and today in Bournemouth. People were out on the beach.... ... and Lembit was out on his Segway.
There will be a presidential election in a couple of months. But unlike the epic battle over the pond, this one will have a strong female candidate. Baroness Ros Scott has launched her campaign to be elected as the President of the Liberal Democrats. The current President is the popular MP, Simon Hughes, but his term of office comes to an end this year. All party members will have a...
The vigil is over. Lembit's website has been launched. It, er, isn't exactly Web 2.0. From what I've seen of the site (and this may have changed by now), it features endorsements from those famous triplets "Ordinary Member," "Ordinary Member" and their brother "Ordinary Member.". Just to ensure that Lembit is taken seriously, he also claims to have endorsement from a senior politician. Boris Johnson. Congratulations Lembit - it may have taken you two weeks but you finally got there. And I'm sure that, if you are elected president, your office will be the slick sort of operation we've seen ...
I have just attended the end of the debate on the new Lib Dem policy document or mini manifesto Make it Happen. The motion approving it went through unamended as the amendment calling for the party to prioritise public spending over tax cuts was defeated by a two to one majority. I think this was right, as I am sure there are plenty areas in which public spending can be without a detrimental effect on the poor or anyone else. It's just that it would be nice to be told what they are. Last time I wrote about Nick Clegg's ...
I have just come from a superb debate on the party's Make it Happen paper. As I stated in a previous post I have no problem with the proposed tax cuts once our public expenditure priorities have been met and voted accordingly. It was difficult though watching all those establishment rebels stand up and make such high quality speeches for the rebel amendment when I would normally be voting with them. I think others felt the same way and Tim Farron MP captured a mood when he declared: "I feel slightly awkward not being a part of the awkward squad." ...
Isn't it deliciously ironic that the Great Party Of The British Left is currently being strangled to death by its own bureaucracy. Bureaucracy! Red taping itself into oblivion! I know you all despise these types of posts so I'll keep it brief: It takes 71 signatures to trigger an election for the job of Captain of the Titanic. And this, it seems, is the tip of the iceberg. You see, you need a special form in order to nominate someone - Form 21b(14). Each must be stamped and authorised in triplicate, no doubt. And, of course, to get one of ...
I write a fortnightly column - "Calder's Comfort Farm" - for the New Statesman's website. The latest one was posted this morning. It discusses, among other things, Alistair Darling's holiday on Lewis: Swings are chained up on Sundays lest children imperil their immortal souls by playing. Nor does the local television station help. Last time I was there, peak-time viewing was a programme in Gaelic about a poet who emigrated to Canada and then died. That sort of thing wows them in Stornoway but can have done little to lighten Darling's mood.
I found myself in an unusual position a little while ago - I actually voted with the leadership of the Lib Dems in the debate on the Make It Happen values and vision paper. Going into the conference hall, I thought it was quite likely that I would be supporting the motion, against the amendment which sought to say that tax cuts are a lesser priority than efforts to reduce inequality, invest in renewable energy and support public services. However, I wasn't completely certain and made up my mind during the debate. It was an immensely high-quality debate - the ...
Mon 15th
17:06
'On five out of eight measures of the main characteristics of parties, the Lib Dems are now regarded...
So writes Peter Riddell in today's Times, with their annual 'state of the parties' poll: A plus point for Mr Clegg is that the party's image has improved over the past year after slipping previously. On five out of eight measures of the main characteristics of parties, the Lib Dems are now regarded more favourably than [...]
Well done and trebles all round to Stephen Tall on LibDem Voice for a stonking good service in live blogging from the "Make it Happen" debate at conference. The amendment was "clearly defeated" (which could be 60-40 - we'll find out later). The motion was passed overwhelmingly with only a few against, which is a MAJOR achievement for Nick Clegg. It went through with great help from a "Vince
So another one bites the dust. Not the biggest name around in Labour politics. I assume the entire Cabinet are having their wisdom teeth sorted at the moment. So far we've lost the Deputy Assistant Junior Whip in Waiting and Gordon Brown's minister for Mediterranean holidays. I suppose he had to let her go as all [...]
The big debate for the vision and direction of the party has just been passed, unamended down in Bournemouth, there was excellent coverage of the debate for and against (if slightly biased IMHO) by Stephen Tall over here at Lib Dem Voice. While as Brian Taylor said there was a rather mixed response from the floor at conference the fact the tax cuts have been passed at conference means that the party will now be promising a radical agenda for social justice whenever the General Election comes along. We're trusting the people to do what is right with more of ...
So the Liberal Democrats have just debated their visions and values paper 'Make it Happen' which will underpin the party's manifesto into the next General Election. It is good stuff and I thought the debate too was of a pretty high standard. Except - where were the women? In over an hour and a half [...]
This afternoon the Liberal Democrats discussed their vision and values paper - Make it Happen! Real change is needed in Britain to address the many problems facing ordinary people and families. The Make it Happen paper shows how the Liberal Democrats will do that.
Well, I guess in the sense that I am lucky to have an understanding boss, who will let me have a week off work if I book it six months in advance, and lucky to have a Dad who will step into the breach when dogsitting plans go awry, yes, I am lucky. But in the sense that I am lucky I can attend at all? No. This isn't luck, this is the party making provision for skint/tight Yorksher Folk. I have taken the poor person's route, which is open to any party member. I have volunteered to do some ...
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage Yes, it's the day of the Big Debate on Make It Happen, the party's policy and consultation document, and there's keen anticipation here in the conference hall. Over 100 members have applied to speak [...]
... for me at least. The lovely and impeccably feminist Welsh AM Peter Black and The Honourable Lady Mark seem to be having a slightly less fun day. I, on the other hand, have been doing a bit of door stewarding, a bit of wandering, did a very stringent security check on the sandwiches at Democracy Dragon's Den (they're pretty secure where they are now, let me tell you) which was fantastic fun, got a big grin on my face after being complemented by the utterly gorgeous and charming Mr Paddick again, and am currently lounging on my bed in ...
...It looks like someone falling off a cliff. Don't Panic!
Not much time to spend having a decent blogging session but am having a really good and interesting time down here at Fed. Conf. Just back from ALDC Fair trade reception, at which we were treated to brief speeches by a fine selection of guests and and impromptu visit by Nick Clegg. Am now about to go into the auditorium to listen to the debate on "Make it Happen" and probably support the awkward squad by voting for the anti tax cuts amendment. Anyway lots of folk in the queue for the internet access , so more from Bournemouth later ...
Our Vince got a predictably warm response in his speech before lunch. Much as I would love to bring you the great man in moving technicolour, I am currently alone in the LDV Cupboard and lacking the technical means (or indeed, the first clue) to accomplish this, and can bring you only Ye Olde Text. But [...]
Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, was sacked as a Labour whip after calling for a leadership contest. Joan Ryan, Labour MP for Enfield North, was sacked as Gordon Brown's Cyprus advisor and a Labour Party Deputy Chair. Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North, quit as Brown's Special Envoy for Forestry (though that didn't [...]
Monday morning found me unnaturally cheery, despite God's unceasing gentle mocking of me from on high. I remained chirpy despite walking headlong into a spider's web on the way to the car, and spending the next three hours finding bits of it in my hair. My sprightliness didn't desert me even when Mac, our three-legged and vicious-toothed cat, refused once again to use the cat-flap we have had installed for him at considerable expense (he prefers to look sad by the patio door until we open it for him instead). And even as I left for work, safe in the ...
On Saturday I'd just returned from delivering resident surveys back at the Lib Dem by election HQ in Markinch just as the Lib Dem conference was getting under way on Saturday afternoon. It really was a case of heavy deja vu when I looked around some of the personnel in the office as both Charles Dundas who'd been the candidate then and Caron where there as well, of course they passed the comment that my delegates page sat on the notice board all through the 2005 conference and stayed up until the end of the campaign. As I don't have ...
It's Bones time, and this is one agenda item in which activists will be taking a great deal more interest in than the press. And so, with only a brief pause to offer special congratulations to the gentleman sitting near microphone A during the session for his magnificent white beard, to business. Chris Bones introduced [...]
I found this photo earlier today, and felt the need to recaption it. "So this is the battery, and this is where the windscreen washer fluid goes." Photo credit: Alex Folkes, one of the many photos that now features on NIckClegg.Com that I wrote about earlier today with another hat on.
I've left Conference to go to the Crown Court today; but as I straighten my wig and gown I still slightly have my yellow badge on in spirit. I just want to call on this blog's readers at Conference to support the Make It Happen policy document. I have reasonably strong credentials as someone who wouldn't praise [...]
Or so says an excited text message arriving in the LDV Cupboard in the bowels of the conference centre in the dead of night, interrupting an all-important late-nite new-staff induction session. (Basically, "So, what do you find funny on the internet?") A confused phonecall later and we have the following information: NickClegg.com brings together a [...]
The Independent has the headline this morning Clegg faces grassroots rebellion over his £20bn tax cutting plan. Now I'm assuming that the Indy is using the word in linmes with the following definition: "organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another" As opposed to the sense of: "organized opposition to a government or other authority involving the use of violence" As I don't expect my fellow Lib Dems to be brandishing pick axes, sickles or pitchforks as they apporach the platform later this afternoon. Although such activity may well shift the coverage ...
Two more our of frontbenchers' speeches for your delectation. First off, David Laws, in a video AOL wouldn't let me upload unless I took the word "children" out of the description: Second is the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Tavish Scott MSP: (You can also read Alix's coverage of the speech from yesterday afternoon.)
This morning the Liberal Democrats discussed the extension of the remit of the International Criminal Court.
Martin Land justifiably asks whether the press are actually at conference at all. Well, I have been into the cavernous press room and many human simulations appeared to be operating the computers, but certainly as far as the front pages (and pages 2-5 inclusive) are concerned, conference might as well not be happening. I'm not sure [...]
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage Two good, fair, balanced editorials on the Lib Dems from today's Indy and Grauniad. In many ways, they mirror each other, reflecting that the party has had a troubled couple of years, but that [...]
It all started on ITV Wales' Sharp End programme on Thursday or did it? Their political commentator was asked to talk about Kirsty Williams' candidature for the Welsh Liberal Democrat Leadership and reported that there was already a whispering campaign alleging that she could not do the job because she has three small children to look after. Since then I have heard similar whispers alleging that Kirsty refuses to work weekends, that she puts her family before her party and more. I hope that these smears are not coming from within the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Nobody says anything of course ...
Lecturer: we are all individuals Pre-pubescent student at the back: No I'm not! (thanks to Mr. Farron for that one). We oppose centralization, but let's create a new internal quango aimed at ensuring the lib dem's knock on 1 million doors. Norman Lambs speech was equally ironic. We will charge people for missing appointments which will no doubt need a new quango, what happens if someone missed an appoinment but have a life threating condition, but not the money to pay the fine? Hardly the peoples NHS. That's not to say we don't have the best intentions as a party, ...
Following yesterday's Sunday Times investigation into the route by which money is being funelled by Lord Ashcroft into the Conservative Party, a Labour MP is now asking the Electoral Commission to investigate. The Sunday Times reported that: Stargate has channelled £6m to the UK in the past three years, a large chunk of which appears to [...]
There's likely to be quite a lot of "red" on the screens when Wall Street opens. The FTSE is already down 3.64%. In times like these I turn to the BBC's Robert Peston. He appears to be somewhat flabbergasted by events over the weekend across the pond. As I said last Tuesday when I first noted the Lehman Brothers' problems: We're all doomed!
As the Daily Telegraph reports: He told the party's Bournemouth conference he will take time off when his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez gives birth. She is due in February. Mr Clegg, 41, told delegates: "Yes I will take paternity leave, absolutely and unambiguously yes." Nick explains further in The Independent: He said: "If I'm given a choice [...]
The Conservatives will be enjoying Party Conference a lot more then any other Party, as they will have some free entertainment thanks to Cameron. The Conservatives with official documents for the conference received discount vouchers to a Lap Dancing Club. They want good family structures, they want to ban Lad's mags and yet they give Party members discounts on visiting lap dancing Clubs. People like Karim and crew wont know what to do with themselves since they got their vouchers for the Club. They probably dieing to go to Conference Now! You Can read the Article HERE
Alright, now I'm really angry. Paul Burstow has the audacity, the nerve, to claim that there has been meaningful, constructive consultation with the English Candidates Committee. I am perfectly happy to go on record and state, categorically that this is untrue. Until yesterday morning, there had been no consultation. We don't agree with some of the key recommendations, and I don't think that we
...one of those "what were you doing when.." moments. I was queuing for my morning coffee.
Carlos Zambrano, The Cubs top pitcher is back after some tendonitis in his shoulder, and wow, is he back. After a break, he's somehow come back with a no-hit game. 9 full innings, no hits. The first time the a Cub has done this since 1972 and the second from any team this season. Its an amazing [...]
The BBC breakfast is always one of the best-attended fringe events at LibDem conferences. Sponsored by the BBC World Service (radio), BBC World News (TV) and BBC Monitoring, it's a good opportunity for the external services of the corporation to unveil new developments to a sympathetic audience. As Nigel Chapman, Director of the World Service, admitted, there [...]
those of you who do conferences on a regular basis know that the format pretty much is the same for us lesser delecates. Tuesday marks the half way mark of the conference and the day of most fringe meeting's. This means you have the most leaflet shoved into your hands as you enter the building and everywhere you look leaflets are left to invite you to attend thier fringe. In days past i was motivated by which offered the best meal, shallow i know but hey i was on a budget. Now of course i try to attend things that ...
The Telegraph is continuing to run through the list of top 50 most influential Lib Dems, as compiled by Iain Dale and four unnamed party sources. Yesterday was numbers 41-50; today it's 31-40, and three Lib Dem Voice regulars make the cut: 32. Mike Smithson Founder, PoliticalBetting.com [and regular columnist for LDV] Smithson has established his website, [...]
Yesterday, I found one person who thought Obama would win, two who weren't sure and about 15 who were confident of a McCain victory. Maybe people here are just preparing themselves for the worst. In the spirit of the blog awards, I thought I'd share with you a contender for Worst Chat-up Line of the Conference... (no, it wasn't me using it): "I keep my action photos on my mobile phone, would you like to see them?"
I Thought that you may find this of interest that Bath & North East Somerset Council invites residents to enjoy a weekend of family activities Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September, to celebrate the launch of the UK's Cultural Olympiad programme. London became host city for the Olympics on 24 August, and the Cultural Olympiad is an important part of the national celebration over the coming four...
So, here I am, in the hall for the consultative session on the Party Reform Commission. We've just debated the governance proposals, and a series of speakers have stepped up to the microphone, generally welcomed the Report, and then condemned the proposed Chief Officers Group (COG), for a range of reasons related to diversity, scrutiny and, in the case of John Smithson, a former Regional Chair,
An anonymous post coupled with similar comments on the South Wales Evening Post website from the usual suspects prompts me to use this blog once more to justify my own existence as a regional Assembly Member. The poster, going under the name of 'a Welsh taxpayer' concludes his or her contribution by stating: I dont expect you will allow this comment, such is the nature of political blogs. You can simply edit out reality and critical remarks. However as as a Lib Dem, I am sure, you will defend my right to question such matters and have my point of ...
A busy day at conference. First up, Nick and his wife Miriam went for a walk on the beach. Thanks to Jayne Martin-Kaye for the pic. In the afternoon, he had a question and answer session with Steve Richards of the Independent. Perhaps more interesting was a fringe meeting held jointly by Centre Forum and the Fabian Society. As well as Lib Dem favourite Vince Cable and Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, we heard from former Home Secretary and Gordon Brown favourite Charles Clarke alongside Labour Minister David Lammy. The room was packed well before the meeting started and it ...
First XL holidays goes bust (the people who sponsor the West Ham shirts), now it looks like AIG might go the same way and they sponsor Man U
Liberal Democrat Conference yesterday evening discussed how there have been a number of recent cases in which lesbians and gay men and bisexuals have been deported or threatened with deportation to countries, including Iran and Nigeria, where homosexuality is treated as a crime punishable by sentences including the death penalty.
Lovely moment overheard yesterday. The Unlock Democracy crew were handing out flyers for their fringe meeting today... Leafleter: Will you come to a meeting with Ros Scott? Conference Rep: Who is she? Leafleter: Baroness Ros Scott Conference Rep: Sorry, never heard of her Leafleter: She's the one on the badge you are wearing!
I think this lady's hitcounter may have gone "volcanic". She's had 1114 comments so far on a blog that normally deals with stories like people getting stuck in the mudflats. Hat-tip: John at Liberal Revolution Meanwhile, even Karl Rove says McCain went too far with his ads.
It has been one of the most dramatic weekends in finance that I can remember. The failure of Lehman Brothers and the shotgun marriage of Merill Lynch with Bank of America are seismic shifts in the world of money. The fall of the House of Lehman ends a 158 year business overnight. Nearly 27,000 people- including several friends of mine- have lost their jobs. The merger of Merill could lead to even larger job cuts as the workforce of some 60,000 is slimmed down. It is hard not to feel sad when venerable institutions disappear. Yet such is the nature ...
There really needs to be a "Well done" and "trebles all round" to the party and LDV for the brilliant coverage of conference via the party's web site and LDV itself. Look! I've just read today's daily announcement sheet online at 8.30am. A year ago you'd have to shake off your hangover and rush down to the conference hall to do that. Anyway, I've now been able to read the proposed amendments to
Brian Paddick opened this debate with his obvious strength, referencing his thirty years experience in policing in support of the basic bones of the motion: An extra 10,000 police officers, paid for by scrapping the ID card scheme. An end to centralised targets that distort local police priorities. Police forces to be directly accountable to local authorities More open [...]
I've been talking to Tamsin Hewitt, the English Candidates Officer of the Party. We were discussing some of the fallout from yesterday's meeting, where I raised the issue of abolishing selection committees. There is no support for their complete abolition - that was merely a dream of mine - but I think that I've finally won the argument for a simplified process for non-target, non-Moving Forward
Lib Dem Conference: On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | LDV Events | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home | Vote-by-vote coverage The first spokesperson's speech at party conference was Jenny Willott, our new Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, and here it is to watch: You can read the text of the speech on the party website.
Wednesday To Holyrood to congratulate Tavish Scott upon his election as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. There is something of an Apostolic succession to his assumption of this eminent position: Scott used to work for Jim Wallace, who, in turn, began his political career carrying Laura Grimond's shopping; and Laura, you will recall, was the wife of Jo Grimond, whom some historians believe to have been present when Joseph of Arimathea landed at Budleigh Salterton, bringing with him the tenets of Liberalism on tablets of stone. When one adds to this weighty heritage the Scots' predilection for politicians with ...
I've not been to a party conference for a while now (Llandudno 1976); I'm always so busy at this time of year - this is the first year in many when I've not had a by election going on here in Cambridgeshire. There are other reasons. I really don't feel that spending enough money to take my family on a weeks holiday in order to spend a few days in a windswept English seaside resort alone in September is easily justifiable. But the great thing about not attending is you get to see it how the public, the electorate, see ...
When the latest round of Post Office closures were being discussed one of the main concerns was over queuing at the surviving branches. It was an issue we took up and one that I shared concerns over. However, the reality is that I work long office hours and therefore don't access Post Offices during the peak hours so I might have been wrong. Last Friday morning I nipped into my local Post Office and what did I find? A huge almighty queue - now I ought to warn that the picture isn't of the queue I saw - the picture ...
So, Evan Harris and Paul Holmes have made mischief in the Independent today, with the Indie speculating that there is to be a rebellion and or some level of 'battle' to get through the tax policy we've been talking about for a number of weeks now. The policy according to Nick is that "if there's money to spare, we won't simply spend it. We're looking for ways to cut Britain's overall tax burden so ordinary families have more of their money to spend themselves." Sounds fair enough to me. But the story in the Indie? Evan's quoted as saying, "We ...
At the weekend down at the Federal Party conference down in Bournemouth Tavis Scott challenged the Scottish Government as well as fellow opposition parties to really help people by cutting 2p of the level of income tax. He said that with fuel costs up by 50% and the average food bill up £30 a month and inflation soaring we could not let this go on, adding. "We can't turn our backs. We've got to find ways to help people out, because we know things are going to get worse." One minor hiccup in Scott's announcement was picked up in this ...
If you haven't already read The Yorksher Gob's acounts of Conference, do so immediately - they are extremely well written, funny and give you a flavour of what Conference is like. I am not in Bournemouth as Anna doesn't yet let me have overnight passes but it's good to know how things are going outside the BBC Parliament Coverage. The advent of social networking sites such as Facebook also gives an insight into what people are doing. Alistair Carmichael complained at one point yesterday that he was tired but then he must have discovered his second wind because he was ...
Whatever thoughts crossed my mind that weren't worth a whole post. 01:14 We must RemembeR to investigate chip spice when sober. Remind us? #Microblogging using LoudTwitter and Twitter. matgb_twitter is there if you're mad enough.
After all the bad news you see little nuggets of people doing things right. People knocking on doors, going over state borders from their safe states to help out where needed. Where have i heard that before?
Seems that humour is coming to the rescue of the Obama campaign. The worm is slowly turning.
Has the worm finally turned? I'm wondering WHEN people will see through the charade that is Sarah Palin. Well these `folks` in Anchorage seem to think so. The important thing is that over a 1000 people turned out in a state that is no bigger than two Manchester Council Boroughs in voter terms. If 1000 people turned [...]
Dear Nick, I thought I would follow up our brief conversation yesterday [Saturday]. I was sorry you were expecting me at your Saturday morning 'bloggers' meet' and were disappointed at not being able to arguing out my 'trenchant views' - it is nice to hear you actually read my stuff! Since our chat I have spoken with the organiser, Richard Flowers, and he confirmed that I was not invited (the meeting, he confirmed, was restricted to finallists in the blog awards and I was a judge). If, as you say, you expressly asked for me to be there that wasn't ...
