It's not often that two of us from Eaglescliffe get ourselves up and out on a Saturday morning before 8 but today was one such occasion. Suzanne Fletcher and I had decided to forego a lie in so that we could go to Sheffield for a Fairtrade Foundation campaign day. The venue was Sheffield Hallam University, a Fairtrade university and a very good venue for such an event. A few minutes walk
Empowering parents to make their own choices in education is part of the rhetoric of all our political parties these days . At this year's party conferences, Gordon Brown said "our pledge today is that any parents whose local state school falls below the expected standard will have the right to see that school transformed under wholly new leadership, or closed and new school places provided." David Cameron said, "we will break open the state monopoly and allow new schools to be set up." And Nick Clegg said something similar by giving parents "power to set up schools." But it ...
A week afterwards and I still can't decide how I feel about the Campaign for Gender Balance Inspiration Day I attended last Saturday in Cowley Street, London. It was extremely useful to talk to other women but I didn't talk as freely as others I spoke to. Perhaps I have more cards up my sleeve than even I know about! I felt very inspired in the beautiful surroundings of London...I walked up Millbank and past the Houses of Parliament which was shrouded in sunny mist before I found my way through the maze of streets leading to Cowley Street. Attended ...
Those who know me know I am not a great defender of the Labour party but the following caught my eye and really made me giggle. The Tories have backed plans for a high speed rail network. (I will believe it when I see it - the creation of a new high speed rail network under a Tory government.) However the proposed network only goes as far as Leeds and this is causing some problems for the Tories
The Political Future of Pakistan in his true Colours!
Could you imagine a company blatantly advertising its services to white people only. Imagine if that service was completely paid for out of public funds. Well that's effectively what we have with our school system. I've always found the idea that schools should be able to discriminate on religious grounds indefensible but hadn't quite appreciated just how explicit the rules were until I received a schools admissions brochure for my son this year. Take my local Catholic primary school. Its admissions criteria are as follows: 1. Catholic children living in the borough 2. Catholic children living elsewhere 3. Children from ...
An unashamed quick plug for a book just published in honour of the Lib Dem peer Richard Holme, who died earlier this year. Here's the Amazon write-up: A Liberal Mind in Action - Essays in Honour of Richard Holme is a varied collection of essays gathered and edited by Alison Holmes designed to bring to life [...]
Now some of you may know that I am involved in Lembit's campaign to become party President of the Lib Dem's. Actually I'm the agent. In the last few weeks our team has been busy doing the thousand and one tasks needed on such a campaign. So far it has been great fun (and I'm not just saying that), we are lucky to have some great key members all which are working well together and have made this campaign the best I have ever been involved with. The odd thing is, the Presidential election is usually just an internal affair ...
On 2nd September, BBC Scotland announced : "NHS car parking charges abolished Car parking charges are to be abolished at NHS hospitals across Scotland, the health secretary has announced. An interim cap of £3 per day has been in place since January. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the move would help reaffirm the NHS's founding principle of healthcare free at the point of delivery." What, of course, Nicola Cheerful failed to confirm was that this principle didn't apply at all NHS hospitals and that those who had entered into PFI contracts for parking provision would not be covered by the ...
After reading what has been happening with Gavin Webb and how the Party have been treating this paid up member, thanks to Paul Walter for Identifying this issue I think it is ridiculous for the party to treat a member like that. Gavin Webb is still a Lib Dem despite what the Liberal Democrats have put him through. If it was me in his shoes, I don't think I would have been able to go through this kind of harassment and then still remain a Liberal Democrat. But its not be who has gone through all this hassle so I ...
Photos by Jennifer Stokes Liberal Democrat Councillors for Bowerdean Chaudhary Ditta & Julia Wassell joined forces with local residents, Police Community Support Officers and the youth offending team to take part in the Big Tidy Up. Litter was collected from paths, alleyways and a local playing field, enough to fill 3 skips. Residents were also encouraged to leave large items outside for collection and a full lorry load was collected. Chaudhary Ditta and Julia Wassell would like to thank everyone who ensured the day was a success. As one resident on the Bucks Free Press website put it "Well done, ...
I'm grateful to Gavin Webb for sending me an update on his situation. After being suspended as a member of the LibDems, he was automatically reinstated when no charges against him were presented before the constitutional time limit. He was then elected Burton PPC by the local party and, a few days later, suspended as a party candidate. It is always difficult to comment on affairs in another area
I have recently made some changes to my external links. Many of the originals are still there. There are some new ones and I have said farewell to some others. The main difference is categorisation. In case anyone noticed or wondered what the reason was, here is my explanation for each one: Global news - these are news sites that cover global issues. There is a clear bias to American sites but this is a reflection of the influence of the US, the need to understand how America thinks about global politics and economics and the fact that the quality ...
Its a bit naff to recommend a TV programme on a blog but this new sitcom, which first aired on Thursday, is special. It's funny. Set in Reading in 1997 it is well acted, well written and has genuine laughs. The year is a good choice because there are many of us who now regard this as 'historical' And the choice of Reading is a good one since it gets away from the 'northern town' cliche. I'm not being 'southern in this comment, it has just become a bit of a bore, despite several excellent comedies set in the north. ...
Following hard on the heels of the Wednesfield North and Wednesfield South by-election, news reaches me today of a by-election in Birchills Leamore ward of Walsall Council.
This Friday, Gordon Brown reshuffled his Cabinet. The most intriguing announcement, the return of Peter Mandelson to British politics, left commentators collectively asking: what just happened? For those who don't know, Brown and Mandelson have form. Ever since 'Mandy' switched allegiance to Tony, Gordon has been resentful. So much so that rumour has it they didn't speak to each other for years. If all this is making you think of soap operas, you wouldn't be far wrong. The Blair/Brown years have been played out like that in the British media. We may never know what really went on. So what ...
An email drops into inbox of The Voice from A Liberal Democrat Organiser Who Wishes To Remain Anonymous: "I have no wish for anything I write to reflect badly on the local party. But on the flipside, there's little recognition within the wider party as to what our role actually involves". Riso Monkey - The [...]
I don't watch Tonight often as I know it will be terrible sensationalist dumbed-down rubbish that will either cause me to shout at the TV or my brain to melt, but sometimes I'm pulled in by a title... I see that Norfolk Blogger has already blogged on this. I completely agree with what he said. The premise was that people wouldn't approach lost kids due to fears of being labeled a paedophile which I think is a fair point (and a trend that worries me). However, this is nothing to do with Political Correctness! It's like in Cameron's speech when ...
Picture from Conservatives really enjoyed the fact that the Rocket Club gave them discounts no wonder they are taking photo's outside the Club. I haven't seen any pictures of any high flying Conservatives outside the Rocket Club. Bet Mrs Cameron is still wondering about why David took a 2 hour work in the middle of the night!
Or so Jonathan Dimbleby informed us on the trailer for Any Questions on Friday's Today programme. Humpf!
With Blogging MP Tom Harris MP getting sacked from the Cabinet, he is now among Prentice and crew on the back bench and soon will start slagging Gordon Brown off. Prentice used to be sitting on the frontbench and now he is on the back bench slagging off the PM. Brown is now trying to use everything he has to try and save the economy and bag the votes. He has no chance of surviving through the General Election to take Labour to a forth term but he thinks he can. All I can say to Brown is Good Look ...
Christina Patterson writing in today's Independent wants us all to stop talking about sex. She values the 'animal respite' from what "what Woody Allen called his second favourite organ, the brain". But, Patterson complains; "It's everywhere: on billboards selling cars and bras, in films, on telly, in the magazines we devour with our Kit-Kat and, increasingly, in the newspapers we scour on the tube." I don't know which version of Metro she reads but it certainly is not the same one as we get in Leeds. It is a universal truth that sex sells; if you want to be decidedly ...
Councillor Paul Crossley, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on B&NES Council, has called on the Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Councillor Charles Gerrish, to make clear that the Council will back the Two Tunnels project properly and not leave their support up in the air. The Cabinet member is free to make a decision this week on how the Council will help...
You'll forgive me for not being to get too excited about the appointment of Lord Mandelson of Guacamole to the second chamber - Europe's loss is our loss. However, I think that Kathy Ashton's appointment to the European Commission is inspired. I've seen her work at first hand in the Lords, as an Education Minister and as Leader of the House. Despite the fact that she is Labour to her fingertips, she has always had the respect of the House, largely because she is always on top of her brief and prepared to listen to what people have to say. ...
The next meeting of the Better Bath Forum takes place on Monday 13 October, at 18.00 for 18.30 in St Michael's Church, Broad Street, Bath, BA1 5LJ. Rhodri Samuel, B&NES regeneration manager, will be outlining the Council's new Public Realm & Movement Strategy. This is the blueprint for improving the streets and public spaces in Bath, and could have a huge influence on the...
Well that's what happened with the exhumation of Peter Mandelson, in my honest opinion. Make no mistake, the war in the Labour Party is still raging, and Gordon Brown's 'bombshell' is reverberating amongst the Labour rank and file- and lets not forget the Trade Union's who loath Mandleson, and everything he stands for. Gordon Brown has declared his reshuffle: A government of all talents ...Er? More like rearranging the deck chairs. Barely 2 weeks after Brown's speech at conference, where he promised 'real change' and to 'try harder', he brings back into government one of Labour's most divisive figures. Whatever ...
I can't imagine anyone in the country will be fooled into thinking that shuffling an already chaotic government (does anyone actually know who's in charge of what department anymore?) will help. Interesting report about people in the south east turning to wood as fuel to help beat rising gas/electic prices. It is only when customers start leaving and there is real competition in the market that the power companies will have to redress their profit margins and start introducing lower prices. It would be great to see wood coppicing returning and regenerating our native woodlands.
In the news today (and on the Today news) is the story that Chris Huhne, Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary, is speaking out in support of holocaust denier Dr Gerald Toben. Dr Toben is an Australian citizen (though German born) who not only denies the holocaust but publishes his denials on the Internet. Bloggers have offered different opinions on the rights and wrongs of this case, but there are two really important things going on here which go well beyond holocaust denial and potentially affect us all (especially bloggers). Dr Toben never committed a crime in Germany. He wrote his ...
Commiserations to Tom Harris, a fellow Scottish blogger, on his forced exit from the Government. He seems to be a genuine human being and from what he writes on his blog has a great sense of humour and a wife who keeps his feet on the ground. What gets me is how come BBC News 24 are only just revealing this now, when he has had it on his blog since at least 9.40 last night? Keep up at the back.................
Well done to Chris Huhne, Lib Dem shadow home secretary, for opposing the extradition of Gerald Toben to Germany: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), acting for the German authorities, argues that agreements signed in 2003 between the UK and other European countries mean that Britain is duty-bound to assist the German authorities.But Mr Huhne, a former MEP, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that countries could "pick and choose" cases in which they would apply warrants issued by fellow EU member states.The Lib Dem home affairs spokesman said there were good legal grounds for refusing to participate. He cited the ...
I was out on my balcony this morning battening down the hatches in case tonight's predicted gale tries to remove my mini-farm when I came across a real treat. Among the spinach, the salad, the carrots, the herbs and the rest I found a handful of succulent alpine strawberries. How anyone can eat an industrial strawberry such as you find in the supermarkets after you've eaten one of these I just do not know. Yum!
I have to confess I was waiting for somebody to take issue with Chris Huhne's stance on the extradition of the Holocaust denier, Dr Gerald Toben. Alasdair W has duly obliged on A Radical View; he rightly characterises Toben's views as being sickening which I am sure will be the view of everybody reading this blog. It is however wrong that Holocaust denial should ever be a criminal offence purely for the reason that it is criminalising an opinion, a thought. It does not even bare comparison with 'Islamic extremism' purely because denial of the Holocaust does not imply support ...
A quick reminder - we provide a weekly round-up of the best Lib Dem blogging, statistically speaking, every Sunday evening [ahem, or thereabouts - Ed.] - and we add to that list of 7 statistically succesful blog posts a list of 5 bits of excellent writing that you, the public have suggested we add, if [...]
So the penny has finally dropped in government - climate change and energy policy need to be linked up. Hurrah! About time. Ed Milliband is now the Climate Change and Energy Minister. Let's hope that leads to some more sensible thinking by the government. I fear not though. There still seems to be no understanding that a new generation of coal-fired power stations, airport expansions and road building will make it impossible to hit our CO2 emissions targets. Hurrah for the Tories! Cripes - I never thought I'd hear myself say that. But I applaud David Cameron's announcement that the ...
Chris Huhne has said British Courts should refuse to extradite a Holocaust denier to Germany. Dr Tobin has remained in police custody since being arrested at Heathrow, he had described the holocaust as "a lie". As Holocaust denial isn't a crime in the UK there's no need for the person to be extradited. I think he should. Holocaust denial is sickening. It is denying the deaths of millions of people, who died in such a demeaning horrific way. And it's disgracing those people who died. It's also disgracing the millions who died fighting for freedom against the fascists. We shouldn't ...
Thursday night was the regular meeting of Prestwich's Local Area Partnership. This brings together your nine local Liberal Democrat councillors, together with representatives of community groups, and partner agencies. It was a busy meeting,with the highlights as follows: Skateboarding, BMX and Inline Skaters in Prestwich A group of young people who've been working up proposals for a "skate park" for Prestwich gave a presentation. The group have made great progress in developing the case for a facility, and gone as far as identifying potential locations, costs and design styles. The Area Partnership was very supportive of the proposals and offered ...
The BBC website has the story: British courts should refuse to act on an EU arrest warrant requesting the extradition of an alleged Holocaust denier, a senior Lib Dem has said. Australian citizen Dr Gerald Toben was remanded in custody after his arrest by British Police at Heathrow Airport. German authorities allege Dr Toben published material [...]
A fortnight is a long time in politics, y'know. With the Tories' huge poll lead slipping back to being simply large, the economy facing a serious recession, and Gordon Brown's conference speech judged relatively successful, the likelihood of the Prime Minister being forced from office has - at least for the moment - receded. But [...]
Back in January I mentioned that Josh Brolin was going to play George Bush in an Oliver Stone movie about the great chimp. The film was then scheduled for release in January 2009. In today's Guardian Weekend, Oliver Burkeman writes a long article on the film based on an interview with Mr Stone. The movie's release has now been brought forward to October 17th. There are some interesting cast
New Humanist takes rather a wry look at the Evangelical Alliances 'Ten Blogging Commandments'. For some reason I am feeling creatively spent so I thought I would throw this one open to the floor...any suggestions for ten political blogging commandments??
Discovered on Wikipedia whilst writing yesterday's post: Bob the Builder is a children's television character created by Keith Chapman and inspired by the Kafka short story, 'A Departure'. If only it were true.
More crackdowns on public photography, this time in Scotland.
I saw this "Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart" on my mobile last night but it was too small to read. So thanks to Susan Gaszczak for reproducing it. Saturday Night Live will be doing a sketch on the Veep debate tonight. Apparently Queen Latifah is possibly going to play Gwen Ifill, the moderator. I'll link to it tomorrow if I can.
Now both Tories and Labour want to take more money away from local government. The only tax cut the Tories are putting firmly on the table is a complex 2.5% sweetener for local authorities which manage to freeze their expenditure - worth, they say £200 per year for the average band D property. It's wrong in [...]
Dick Newby has just called to let me know that his father-in-law, George Thomson, died yesterday after a long illness. I only got to know George in the last few years after I came to the Lords in 2000 but very quickly learned to admire and care for him. George was first elected as a Labour MP in Dundee in the 1950's and as an ardent pro-European was a natural choice for the European Commission where he served with great distinction. He was amongst those Labour stalwarts who formed the SDP and, post-merger, served the Liberal Democrats well in the ...
Stoke-on-Trent North Liberal Democrats have selected David Jack was selected to be their candidate for the next General Election.
We're spending a few days down in Devon, visiting local parties here for the second time in the campaign. After spending Thursday evening in Exeter, we were in Teignbridge yesterday afternoon, at the invitation of council leader Alan Connett. Alan is quite justifiably proud of the progress made by the Council since going into Lib Dem control a few years ago and wanted to show us some of things they've been doing. So we started off in their re-cycling centre which is part of a package which has got their household re-cycling rate over 56% - something they plaster over ...
Priceless!
Former Secretary of State for Wales, Ron Davies has told the Western Mail that he 'was "absolutely stunned" when he heard that Peter Mandelson was returning to the Cabinet.' Mr Davies said: "Everyone knows about Mandelson's capacity for manipulation, and Gordon Brown has always given the impression that he wanted to move away from the spin of the Blair years. I just don't see any logic in bringing him back. "His role was to act not only as an outrider for Blair, but as a lightning conductor. He would float ideas in informal briefings with journalists, hinting they were what ...
I blame Charlotte Gore. I have not been able to get this song out of my head since yesterday afternoon.
The Conservative-run Telford & Wrekin Borough Council has made a laughing stock of itself again. Yes, it has returned to victimising the Telford penguins. Telford & Wrekin Council Watch tells us that a "green day" is to be held in Madeley Park on Sunday 5 October. And Rachel Whittaker, one of the penguins, had been invited to attend. Now that invitation has been withdrawn without explanation. The website comments: The Council know who this collective are, they know the contents of the leaflet they wish to distribute and have previously distributed, but in a weird twist say they do not ...
I've blogged before about End Child Poverty's 'Keep the promise' march, which takes place today. Despite the media image, Islington continues to have some of the highest levels of child poverty in the country, affecting 48% of children in Islington South & Finsbury. So much for 11 years of Labour government.... [...]
Here at Lib Dem Voice we don't often cut'n'paste directly from party press releases, but sometimes it's worth making the exception. Commenting on Gordon Brown's cabinet reshuffle, in which Peter Mandelson is to return to a senior post, Chief of Staff to Nick Clegg, Danny Alexander said: "Gordon Brown is deluded if he thinks that Peter Mandelson can help [...]
Of all the stupid ideas the SNP Government has ever had, their idea of equalising the law to make 13-15 year old girls as well as boys criminally liable if they have consensual sex has to be up there with the worst. Stephen Glenn has already explained the dangers of this measure deterring girls from seeking proper advice and help, but I want to concentrate on the lunacy of getting us into this position. We are now in the situation where we have two options: Holyrood either criminalises young girls as well as boys for having sex or it takes ...
Commenting on a report by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which criticises the Government as failing to meet international standards on the treatment of children, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said: "This is a damning criticism of the Government's failure to meet international standards on the treatment of children." ...
LibertyCat and I were so bored by the VP debate (which we watched on YouTube last night) that we gave up halfway through and watched Paris Hilton's campaign address instead. Both Biden and Palin answered so far from the question that it was only found again, tens of thousands of years later, by astronomers using radio telescopes. The potential VPs rambled more than tourists lost on a moose hunt.
I see from the Beeb that Baroness Ashton of Upholland, the Leader of the Lords, is to replace the repatriated Peter Mandelson as the UK's member of the European Commission. There was speculation previously that Geoff Hoon could have been the nominee, which would have prompted a by-election in his parliamentary seat because you can't be an MP and an EU Commissioner. But can you be a Lord and an EU Commissioner? Section 1.1.1 of the Commissioners' Code of Conduct (PDF) states: Commissioners may not hold any public office of whatever kind. Now that sounds fairly unambiguous. Being a member ...
I finally got round to watching the Vice-Presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin, courtesy of More 4. The comments I'd seen about the debate earlier on today (checks clock on computer, realises it's yesterday now) had led me to expect that while Biden had done better, Palin had at least performed creditably. But that wasn't how I saw it. If that was a decent performance by Palin, I'd hate to see her on a bad day. Actually, that's wrong, I'd love to see her on a bad day. It would be the ultimate car crash TV. ...
So Mat and I are watching Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Lots of people, lots of FANS, really hate this film. I love it. And tonight, I think I worked out why: both why I love it, and why "proper" fans hate it. It's SO taking the piss! The bit where Kirk is climbing, and Spock is hovering beside him saying concentration is vital. You must become one with the rock... while McCoy is down the bottom fretting away... SUCH joy! Silly films are awesome! That is all.
It's late and I have resisted blogging all day about the reshuffle. But it's no good I can't hold back after all Peter Mandelson is back in government!!!! Now we all know "Mandy", as he is known by some, is either admired or hated in equal measure. He is one of the backroom boys who pushed the labour party into Government in 1997 and certainly knows how to shake the labour tree to it's roots. Of course what all are saying is why bring him back? I'm thinking "Oh dear are things that bad that Gordon feels he needs him. ...
Friday: Knife crime news, as BoJo the Clown knifes that Clone of Lord Blairimort who's been running the Met, by having people shot, bugged, paid off or racially insulted. Who would have thought that he'd have the bottle! Ms Jacqui Spliff, the Hopeless Secretary, has complained that BoJo is "making the police political". Well, bad news, sister: YOU did that! You did it when you recruited the Blairimort Clone into supporting the Labour whenever you wanted a stooge impartial police officer to say that detention without trial is a vital part of defending our fascist democratic police state. It is, ...
