Between 12th and 23rd January 2009 there will be major roadworks on the B4058 Bristol Road, Frampton Cotterell, between Perrinpit crossroads (next to the garage) and Station Road, Iron Acton (the junction where you can turn off via Latteridge towards the A38) The road is going to have the old surface planed off and a new surface laid. Temporary multi-way traffic signals will be in use at the crossroads, and two-way signals will be used as work progresses along Bristol Road. Although the work will be restricted to off-peak hours, significant traffic delays are expected. Alternative routes will be kept ...
In theory there's just one mammoth TV story (and another on radio) this year, though breaking into four mini-stories to kick down the fourth wall and put the Doctor on trial. Colin's terrific, more mellow then more passionate than ever against the also terrific Michael Jayston, an evil, er, spoiler (go on, guess). The penultimate episode brings Colin's greatest speech, amazing revelations and head-spinning weirdness, but the most memorable moment comes in... The Trial of A Time Lord: The Mysterious Planet "Planets come and go... Stars perish; matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns. Other worlds. Nothing can be eternal." ...
On previous posts I mentioned how Somalia threatened to become a new Afghanistan, harboring terrorists who would threaten the horn of Africa and the World. This however would be depend on one extremist Islamist group taking over much of South and Central Somalia, bringing stability but harsh rule. The Al-Shabab group looked as if they would do this, bringing Somalia into full circle and placing it into what it had been like at the height of the ICU in 2006. However there are signs that for the time being the Islamic rebel groups will fight against each other. A new, ...
Living at Western Harbour, Edinburgh with a brand new 24 hour ASDA on the doorstep I'm restricted to shopping there unless I'm prepared to travel.Initially I thought ASDA was great, but, once you've been with a supermarket for five to six years you know what you can or can't recycle.The majority of the plastic packaging that ASDA uses I have to put in the bin which goes to landfill which I have a massive issue with.Only plastics with the numbers one or two in the recycling triangle can be recycled in Edinburgh - any number lower than that, or like ...
Recently I obtained a video of a speech done by my local Councillor, Cllr Abu Bakar Anwar who is elected to Nelson town council making his debut speech to a couple of hundred people. I was at the event when he made the speech and I think you all need to see the video!
It's been a busy year. A few highlights drawing on what has been happening locally and a bit wider...... Local level: - The Purdown PROW inquiry - Lockleaze Voice project helps draft document written to inform future planners what local people want - The narrow estate road issue on Downman Road is soon to be addressed - Lockleaze gets a senior youth worker - Lots of casework in my email inbox... - More joint surgeries held with the police. Bristol wide: - Tony Potter was elected to St George West - Lib Dems remaining the only opposition to the Lab ...
A big thank you today to the good people at United Utilities, who sent me a water bill last week, then came to read my meter two days later. This splendid bit of common sense resulted in them having to send me another bill, which wiped out the £145 credit heaped onto me in the first one and imposed a £297 debit in its place. All of which I doubtless accrued in the past three weeks since discovering how to turn the power setting on the shower onto full blast. I have spent much of the intervening time testing it ...
Bob Harris still whispers! Excellent and welcome back to television!
Tue 30th
18:56
The Spectator's Big Idea for Turning Around Tory Fortunes on the Economy? Steal Lib Dem Policy
Rather than try and come up with any ideas of their own for trying to get out of the current economic crisis, this piece in the Spectator argues that the Tories should basically adopt Lib Dem tax policy lock stock and barrel. Below is a short extract from the article: A tax shift of this nature would be a 'big idea', Brown could no longer accuse the Tories of having no idea what they what do about the economy. It would be conservative in that by cutting income taxes and national insurance contributions it would give people more choice about ...
{armandnick.JPG} As the year ends, I thought I had best mention a few recent highlights. I started this website almost one year ago with a review of 2007. While I do not intend to run through all of 2008 (yet) there are a few bits I forgot to mention during the Christmas rush. Firstly, thanks to Rev Prothero for initing me to give a reading at the Bathwick St Mary's lessons and carols service. The lessons were read by a wide variety of local speakers, including myself. Rather flatteringly, I was noted as a 'representative of the local community' in ...
Well a periodic return to the UK for Christmas has left me nursing a dose of the flu- hence blogging silence. When on the mend I shall renew normal service.
Many thanks to the 200+ LDV readers who took part in our end-of-year awards, which ran between 23rd and 28th December. Voting was conducted via Liberty Research using the alternative vote method of ranking the nominees for each of the eight categories. We'll be revealing the eight winners over the next four days. (Not that we're tying to pad things out over the holiday season; no, of course not). First, let's unveil the winner of LDV's first ever Politician of the Year award. Let's face it, though, there's zero sense of anticipation as we all knew full darn well who'd ...
2009 must be a year of real change and of hope says Nick Clegg in his new year message. Britain is facing a difficult year. Every day, 200 families are now at risk of losing their homes, and three million people could be out of a job. The government got us into this mess and haven't got the right ideas to get us out of it. The Conservatives want to do nothing - they wouldn't lift a finger to help. As the New Year starts, it's time to do things differently. There is a path to recovery. Liberal Democrats will ...
2009 must be a year of real change and of hope says Nick Clegg in his new year message. Britain is facing a difficult year. Every day, 200 families are now at risk of losing their homes, and three million people could be out of a job. The government got us into this mess and haven't got the right ideas to get us out of it. The Conservatives want to do nothing - they wouldn't lift a finger to help. As the New Year starts, it's time to do things differently. There is a path to recovery. Liberal Democrats will ...
Sound familiar? Under the 30-year rule, the National Archives released papers today showing James Callaghan's determination to hang on to power in 1978. The Labour Prime Minister's decision to delay a General Election (despite a shrinking Tory lead in the polls) was followed by a "winter of discontent" and defeat the following year. From the Guardian: As the Downing Street files graphically illustrate it all began to unravel once Callaghan decided to try to remain in power for a fifth and final year even though he lacked an overall Commons majority. "The papers show that within a few weeks of ...
New Year message here on http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6B1cqj-oVdY on Digg here - so please take a moment to visit Digg and to click the 'digg it' button on the left to cast your vote. Each vote helps get the film seen by more people.
What a difference a few months makes - still it was interesting while it lasted. I love these pre by-election programmes as you feel you're huddled with the political masses almost as if you're experiencing that `silent storm` between polls closing and ballot boxes opening.
We returned from India, tanned and happy, but with much to do. I had found time, even on honeymoon, to be annoyed by Bob Shaw once again. His response was to write a snarky blog entry suggesting that I was attacking him because he was being beastly to my now wife. Whilst that might have provided a justification, what he never seemed to realise was that I was attacking him because I loathed him
A landmark concession speech that helped make the difference - the real meat starts at 5:47 to prepare for the `elect Barack Obama` part of the speech.
What else can one make of this? Eric Pickles has been in the media today calling for pay cuts for the most highly paid local council chief executives. But what's this at the foot of the report about Eric Pickles and his proposals The Times? It's a list of the eight highest paid local council chief executives. I think you can guess what might be coming next ... Yes indeed, let's look at who runs these councils: Bexley (Conservative) Ealing (Conservative) Hertfordshire (Conservative) Kensington & Chelsea (Conservative) Kingston upon Hull (Lib Dem) Newham (Labour) Suffolk County Council (Conservative) Surrey County ...
David Cameron's little local difficulty over his 'part-timers' detailed below got me thinking about the above topic. So, should politics be more professional in the sense that it is a career for life?? My first instinct is to say yes for many reasons; one of the main reasons being that it would end politics being a 'special case' where you are expected to have 'life training'. The next election will see a couple of PPC's stand who are 18/19, something that to my mind is a good thing. Westminster politics, allegedly, is based upon the notion of representation so it ...
Metro reports: A search is under way to try and recover a beaver which escaped from a farm and is now felling trees, a conservationist said today.The six-stone animal managed to escape from Upcott Grange Farm in Lifton, Devon, and is now believed to be taking down trees 20 miles away on the banks of the River Tamar near Gunnislake, Cornwall.
Are you a Lib Dem candidate? Perhaps you're a parliamentary candidate, whether for the House of Commons or Europe; or perhaps you're a local council candidate, whether for parish, district or county. No matter at what level you wish to represent the electorate on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, when better than the start of 2009 to put into action some time-honoured ways of freshening up your campaigning? Here's the Voice's suggestions; feel free to leave your own in the comments... 1. For every round of leaflet delivery you do, do at least one session of door-knocking. Vital though the ...
Inspired by Peter Black, I am doing my party loyalist thing.
Just this once I am going to do the dutiful party hack bit and propagate the Nick Clegg New Year message. I may do some more video blogs myself next year once I get my video camera back from the Kirsty campaign team.
The Daily Mail is continuing to make mischief for David Cameron. Today it gives William Hague space to defend his second jobs and boldly declares that Hague is 'openly challenging David Cameron's authority'. Maybe this is a Freudian slip from the Daily Mail which continues it's attempts to nibble away at Cameron's leadership. Apparently; "Sources close to Mr Cameron insisted that he had no problems with Mr Hague's intervention, although it is not helpful for the Tory leader, who remains sensitive to charges that he runs a team of part-timers." Hague said; "I take what you might regard as an ...
Throughout the festive season, LDV is offering our readers another chance to read the 12 most popular opinion articles which have appeared on the blog since 1st January, 2008. At the half-way mark is this posting by Chandila Fernando, which appeared on LDV on 8th October... The Presidential Platform (1): Chandila Fernando - the troubleshooter Liberal Democrat Voice has offered each of the three candidates for the post of Party President three platforms pieces on LDV during the contest to make their case to party members. How they choose to use these platforms is entirely up to them. First up ...
With the cold weather and economic problems, many people will be worried about their fuel bills this winter. Local MP Steve Webb has discovered that the vast majority of people in "fuel poverty" are missing out on the special deals for vulnerable people. You can read more on Steve's blog and in The Times. If your thoughts have turned to alternative forms of energy, you might be interested in SG Futurenergy, a partnership between South Gloucestershire Council and the Severn Wye Energy Agency which offers advice on renewable energy. The scheme also offers grants and low interest loans to help ...
Shortlist for elections of the year: US Presidential election Pendle Local election's May 2008 Winner: The winner to this clearly is the US presidential election, it was an election that was covered mainly via the Internet but a lot of the coverage well in advance was done by British television. The election of Barack Obama to the White house was a huge milestone for the black population of America and for the ethnic minorities world wide. People from ethnic minorities world wide now believe in hope and a day shall come when the people of Britain election a party into ...
Modesty (or should that be embarrassment?) almost forbids us from mentioning that Lib Dem Voice has topped Iain Dale's list for top Lib Dem Blog of the Year. The results of a poll of 1,380 of his blog's readers were as follows: LibDem Blog of the Year 1. LibDem Voice 29% 2. Norfolk Blogger 23% 3. Lynne Featherstone 22% Thanks to Iain and his readers; and congratulations from us to Nich Starling and Lynne.
The Daily Telegraph has the story: Around 50 babies spent Christmas behind bars in prisons across England and Wales, according to figures. The disclosure comes 18 months after the Government-commissioned Corston Report recommended that custody should be a last resort for women, particularly those who were caring for children. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne, who obtained the figures, has accused the Government's efforts to "look tough" on crime for a doubling in the number of women in jail over the past decade. Information provided by justice minister Maria Eagle in response to a parliamentary question from Mr Huhne ...
Hosted this week by A Very British Dude.
I'll be counting up the scores tomorrow evening of my Picture Quiz of 2008, so if you still want to have a go better hurry up.
I am amazed how many times the phone has rung today in Clifton Terrace. Technically we are closed, but I am using the quiet time to catch up on my planning and writing up papers ready for the New Year. I have managed to clear over 800 emails from my inbox, a feat in itself, but they were ones that needed archiving, deleting or the attachment saving onto this laptop rather than the other one (I belong to a two laptop family). I have written two strategy papers amongst other things, so watch out 2009 I am on the war ...
The Liberal Democrat Chief Executive Chris Rennard wrote to members earlier this week saying:
The BBC is reporting proposals for cars to have speed limiters, either voluntary or compulsory, to reduce accidents and reduce emmissions. Rob Parsons has an excellent blog posting on the subject. Have you read it yet? Now? OK, you're back again so you can have my thoughts on the matter. I agree with a lot of what Rob says. In particular, he's spot on when he says The root of the problem, I think, is that we learn very quickly that we can just get into a car and then not pay any attention to anything. Driving takes care and ...
Anyone who thinks we live in rational times, read the following comment I have received. This is how wars begin and why so many countless millions have died in the name of religion. And this is why Americans support Israel unquestioningly. God help us all... "2008 and not even ended and war has begun in Israel. Israel is at the centre of all things. That is why we need to watch the events that unfold carefully so that we don't miss the second coming of our Lord just like the Jews who missed the first coming of the Messiah. "Ok ...
Hang around all day wearing tracksuits, when it comes to the case of Tony Blair. Guido has posted about how Tony Blair seems to spend all his time these days wearing track suits and hanging around. That is something unemployment middle aged men would do, but doesn't he have a job as peace maker in the middle east. Blair will fail like Bush when it comes to creating a peace deal in the middle east, no wonder he has already started dressing like an unemployed middle aged man and probably will take up a sport. You never know Tony Blair ...
Cross-posted from The Wardman Wire: When it comes to social media, Facebook is pretty much it as far as MPs go. For example, of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet members, 100% have a public email address, 90% have a website (the exceptions being in the House of Lords), 72% are on Facebook, 7% blog (and for another 7% there are party blogs covering their portfolio, even though they do not blog personally), and 3% are on Twitter. None have an active MySpace or Bebo presence (though there's one that is now defunct). Similar patterns - heavy email use, slightly lighter ...
An interesting little question and answer from the London Assembly: Q. What has been the cost to the taxpayer of TfL [Transport for London] buying ownership of the Oyster brand? (Caroline Pidgeon) A. Under the terms of the recent agreement between TfL, Electronic Data Systems and Cubic Transportation Systems TfL agreed to treat this information as being commercially confidential. Certainly getting ownership of the Oyster brand could bring lots of benefits (though it raises the question of how it ended up in private hands in the first place and on what terms). Spending 50p on it would be a bargain. ...
Hoooooooooooooooooooooray. Woof woof woof. And an extra tail shake. This is gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood news.
It is time for the annual unveiling of sealed government papers and in particular documents that reveal that back in 1978 the then Labour Government considered introducing ID cards as part of the fight against illegal immigration. However, a draft statement for Home Secretary, Merlyn Rees, concluded that the introduction of identity cards "would require major changes in practices and powers reaching far beyond immigration control". It labelled the idea as "unacceptable" and "objectionable" adding "In the past such changes have been contemplated only in war: the Government does not believe they could be justified on immigration grounds alone." No ...
In Cllr Alexis Rowell's Blog Monday, 29 December 2008 he asks the question is carbon offsetting ever ok? He writes: "The current edition of the Ecologist has an article castigating carbon offsetting Carbon Offsetting: forgive my carbon sin?. I have a lot of sympathy with the sentiments expressed. The price of carbon used in the offsetting business is far too low, because the market price of carbon is far too low, and investing in trees on the other side of the world, trees which might be chopped down one day, has never seemed to me to be a very sensible ...
The Independent reports that 320 Palestinians have been killed in the last four days in Gaza, while 4 Israelis have lost their lives to Hamas rocket attacks. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said: "Unless the criminal fire at Israeli citizens stops immediately, Israel will utilise all the legal means at its disposal in order to halt the enemy's aggression." This kind of comment gives me pause for reflection. Perhaps the Israelis genuinely don't know what they are doing. Perhaps they believe that keeping 1.5m people in an effective prison camp where they can watch their children starve daily and then ...
No mention of the travails us canines will be facing in the new year. It's all about humans and hope and change apparently. Sniff.
In what is fast becoming a pre-New Year tradition as eagerly anticipated as 'the biggest ever DFS sale', Lib Dem Voice is publishing its list of 10 key questions, the answers to which we think might well help shape 2009 for the party. You can read last year's list here; and our answers to those questions here (Part I) and here (Part II). Here below, then, for what it's worth are my top 10 questions for the coming year in Lib Demmery. 1. Will there be a general election in 2009? (If yes, many of the rest of the questions ...
Truth is always the first casualty in war. In the last few days we have been subjected to a vigorous propaganda campaign from both Israel and Hamas with each claiming that they are acting in self-defence. Neither is being entirely truthful with hardliners on both sides seeming to have used the six month ceasefire deal to prepare for a new round of desired fighting to the 'bitter end'. However, it is Israel's claims of self-defence that are often raised by it's defenders as it's most compelling case for support. Six months of preparation, the November 4th incursion into Gaza all ...
2009 must be a year of real change and of hope says Nick Clegg in his new year message. Britain is facing a difficult year. Every day, 200 families are now at risk of losing their homes, and three million people could be out of a job. The government got us into this mess and haven't got the right ideas to get us out of it. The Conservatives want to do nothing -...
The BBC tells us people are calling for speed limiting cars, to help with safety and to cut down on emissions. I am at odds with Safe Speed on a lot of its policies. For instance, I have a revolutionary answer to the problem of getting caught by speed cameras: drive within the limit. But on the issue of speed limiters I agree with them - stupid idea, really stupid idea, even on a voluntary basis. For far too long we have allowed ourselves to indulge in a culture which encourages drivers to believe that they ought to be able ...
More crying This time two right wing show hosts cynically talk about Obama with Chris Matthews (a tacit Democrat and US John Humphreys like figure). This demonstrates just what difference a year makes.
Shortlisted: Richard (An ex commenter) Akram (He was named and shamed, most of you know who he is) John Whitefield for his 24 hours of childish swearing in the comment section Jack the Lad for his clued up comments on politics Darrell for his clued up comments on politics Winner: This was a tough one but I have decided to give it to Akram, he came onto this blog with no odds of winning the battle and still supported his master with comments like "it wasn't him on the front line". He eventually got named and shamed for who he ...
OK, the list of memos from 1971 that you were thinking about reading may not be that long ... but this one is worth a read. Now that the Democrats are back in control of both houses of Congress and with Barack Obama about to formally take office as President of the United States, it may seem a long time since pundits were heaping praise on the efficacy of the Republican political machine, its long term building up of support and changing of the terms of political debate. Although the edifice has largely coming tumbling down (though not completely - ...
Here's the New Year message from Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg:
Tue 30th
07:42
2008: a review of the year in three parts (1) - renaissance bureaucrat in frockcoat surprise!
As usual, it's time for me to review the year past as seen from the eyes of a party bureaucrat. Except that this year was rather less about bureaucracy and more about romance and campaigning. As the year began, we (and there was the key first difference from 2007) were a bit busy. The house in Kingsbury was on the market for sale, we had put in an offer on a house in Needham Market, preparations
Yesterday was the first day of the Muslim year 1430. It's unusual for the Islamic (Hijra) and Western calendars almost to coincide in this way, as the the former is about 11 days shorter than the latter. And for many in the Arab world, this had led to hopes of a joyful, extended holiday. But [...]
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Iain Dale's Diary: Ten New Blogs#links
The annual disclosure of documents under the 30 year rule always throws up some interesting, some shocking and some embarrassing documents. So the government must be somewhat embarrassed by the feelings of the last Labour administration's take on ID cards. In 1978 Labour felt that their introduction "would require major changes in practices and powers reaching far beyond immigration control". They stuck to their plans in 1978 not to introduce immigration quotas, as they didn't want the "objectionable2 measure of making everyone carry identification papers. They described the measures of Margaret Thatcher back then as draconian. They felt that such ...
OK I admit it, I had intended to post a message before Xmas, but the first part of December was hectic, and I didn't get round to it! It was Xmas Eve before I wrapped any presents, and if it hadn't been for the joys of Internet shopping (my special thanks to the Amnesty International website) they probably would have been late too! We are in this interlude between Xmas and New Year that doesn't have a name. The time of year when some people are working, but many are taking an extended break. Of course some don't have a ...
One of the better Xmas presents I got this year was Neal Stephenson's latest novel, Anathem. I'm only around 500 pages into it (it's 900 pages + long) but I can already enthusiastically recommend it as the best new book I've read all year. Stephenson is someone whose work I admire intensely (although I'm ashamed to [...]
