Carol Thatcher will not be having her contract renewed at the BBC, where she's a roving reporter with the One Show. The BBC is entirely wrong and liberals should be calling for her reinstatement. Her offence was to refer to a player in the Australian Open tennis tournament as a "golliwog" - a word that's typically used in a racist context and many people find offensive. The remark was made off-air in the green room. The show's host Adrian Chiles was offended and outraged. Jo Brand was also offended, as were members of the production team who heard about the ...
Busy, busy, busy... but I did find the time to write a piece on Lords reform over on Comment is Free last night. I had originally written a totally different article, but in researching it I got increasingly annoyed by the same old canards against elections coming up again and again. Get with the program people: the House of Lords is not full of sober, independent individuals who eschew their party whips - they are more slavishly loyal than MPs. This is a fact. Get over it. Sheesh! What bugs me about the whole debate on Lords reform is that ...
Local Liberal Democrat councillors in Norwood Ward, Southport, are holding an advice surgery on Saturday 7th February. You can meet Lib Dem cllrs David Sumner, Ronnie Fearn and Brian Rimmer. No appointment is necessary.
Gainsborough Town Council did a classic, truly democratic job tonight. They excluded the public and press whilst they debated a massive increase in council tax. Nice, raise the tax by a third, but don't let anyone know why. 33% rise in council tax and they didn't let anyone stay in the room to hear the lengthy (about 10 minute) debate. However, they do have form in this area, so probably
Dan Dan the Wikio Man has slipped me a note under the table again. 1 (=) Iain Dale's Diary 2 (=) Guy Fawkes' blog 3 (+1) Liberal Conspiracy 4 (-1) ConservativeHome's ToryDiary 5 (+1) Dizzy Thinks 6 (+3) The Devil's Kitchen 7 (-2) politicalbetting.com 8 (+4) Harry's Place 9 (-2) Liberal Democrat Voice 10 (-2) Labourhome 11 (+5) Old Holborn 12 (-2) John Redwood's Diary 13 (+5) Mr Eugenides 14 (=) Chicken Yoghurt 15 (+12) Bloggerheads 16 (-5) Benedict Brogan's political blog 17 (-4) EU Referendum 18 (-3) Nick Robinson's Newslog 19 (-2) Tim Worstall 20 (-1) Stumbling and Mumbling ...
When I got the train down from Newcastle yesterday, we were an hour late into Kings Cross. The delay had nothing to do with the snow and everything to do with the train that broken down ahead of us and the electrical failure just north of Kings Cross. Westminster itself was like a winter scene from an edition of Survivors. Barely a sole in sight. And the journey from work to the flat last night
I recently watched Richard Dawkins's two-part series from a couple of years ago "The Root Of All Evil?" about religion and its place in society.I'm afraid that, while I think Dawkins was right about just about everything, it wasn't very satisfying. There was very much a feeling of "preaching to the choir". There's no way that it would convince a critical viewer who wasn't already an atheist. Dawkins made sure that except for one brief segment all (and I mean all) the religious people he interviewed were from the, umm, lunatic fringe of their faiths, and really obviously so. None ...
Firstly, from Bruce Schneier - US lawmakers want to ensure that digital cameras go 'click': The bill's text says that Congress has found that "children and adolescents have been exploited by photographs taken in dressing rooms and public places with the use of a camera phone." Bruce Schneier's comment: This is so silly it defies comment. Sums it up [...]
Another in the '25 random things' series. I qualified as a member of the 92 Club for visiting all 92 Football League grounds, but am now about 12 out of date. One day ... I ran the 1500 metres for my school once, on the basis that I was the only person who made it round the [...]
Labour MSP Charlie Gordon has been in the news over his high level of expense claims. It's not the first time he, money and politics have been in the news, for he's the man who resigned as Labour's transport spokesman over a dodgy overseas donation for Wendy Alexander's Scottish Labour leadership campaign. Charlie Gordon's payments to his son This time though it's the level of expenses he has been claiming as an MSP that are in the news - including the fact that a large part of them have been paid to his son, Gavin Gordon, for costly office services ...
I do find it extraordinary what we will put up with from government and corporate alike. For example. I bought a ticket down to Devon on Sunday. Nobody told me that, in fact, mytrain would not run, that I would be decanted at Exeter put into a bus, told I could not take my bulky luggage. They knew this but never told me when they took my money. They do the same to tens of thousands of people every weekend. Why doesn't someone take them to court? And another example (do I sound like a grumpy old man?). It is ...
Fifty years after the day the music died, the BBC website meets Buddy Holly's Peggy Sue.
Outrageously talented playboys are sooo last year. England have dropped Danny Cipriani and recalled the gloriosuly prosaic former Leicester Tigers fly half Andy Goode. Just the man to hoof the ball 60 yards down the field into the drifted snow against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday. 'Av it, Luigi.
Many on the left have debated whether to support the recent strikes, out of solidarity with the working class, or condemn them for their anti-immigrant slogans. I've worried about that myself. The news that they're being organised by a front for the Bastard Nazi Party certainly makes that decision easier (hat tip Laurie Penny...) Marc Singer [...]
Well thanks BT. Thanks Snow. My old broadband is gone, but no router for new Broadband has arrived thanks to.. the snow. I have no Internet except for this evil devil phone. Blogging will be even lighter!!!
Sunday 09:45: Sunday morning planning and drafting session with Graham Longley and others. Aim was to finish by noon, but we eventually finish at around one. Still a very useful session. Leave feeling pretty upbeat. Outside the wind is getting up, temperature dropping, and scurries of snow are flying over the street. I abandon plans to knock on doors in the afternoon. Sunday 15:00: Go out on a social call instead. As I approach the door a leaflet drops through the letterbox - and it is one of ours. Good to see that your local party is working even when ...
There's a joke doing the rounds of various comic blogs at the moment - started by Doctor K - asking what the song is that Superman is singing in Final Crisis 7, the song with which he kills Darkseid. Here's a couple of photoshopped guesses... This is actually an interesting question (even though it is not [...]
It's good to see that Tavish Scott has driven a hard bargain with the SNP on the Scottish budget. Successes include action to fund the building of schools, the Scottish Government's involvement in the Calman Commission, planning for future tax cuts and a refocussing of the Scottish Government onto economic recovery. We might even see a resolution to the dispute over the funding of the new Forth Crossing. Tavish has shown effective leadership and good judgement.
London literally ground to a halt yesterday but apart from the lack of milk in my local store the only real disruption the snow caused me was the lack of mugs in the Commons' tea room. I'm not sure why mugs are more vulnerable to the freezing weather than cups but I thought it best not to ask.
As my regular readers will know, I really do feel that the Scottish Conservatives are Salmond's litte helpers and a vote for the Tories is a vote for the SNP - therefore a wasted vote. However, imagine my surprise when I googled 'Alex Salmond' this evening, when it said; "searches related to alex salmond" alex salmond wife snp annabel goldie tony blair That really says it all, doesn't it?
Being all nice and cuddly on environmental issues has been at the centrepiece of David Cameron's strategy to de-contaminate the Conservative brand. As a result, we have witnessed an arms war in environmental pledges and targets, with each party trying to outdo the next, regardless of the absurd policy positions it leads to. For example, no party will speak out against Level 6 of the Sustainable Homes Code despite the fact that it will ban baths in new homes (in order to meet the water consumption requirements). Yesterday, we finally saw the first backlash in the Tory blogosphere against this ...
Go to Google and search for "Clapton Winwood" or "Winwood Clapton". Pretty cool, eh? Later. Bugger, I'm not first any more. Must have been the Google dance.
I had nothing better to do earlier today so I added up the results from the three wards of Brierfield, Whitefield and Bradley at the 2008 local election to work out what they got at a County Council seat level. You can see the results below: Labour: 2321 Liberal Democrats: 1916 Conservatives: 1037 This is just more evidence that the fight for County Councillor is between the two horses which are running from the Labour and Lib Dem teams and the Tories have no chance. The Conservatives can push as much as they want this election is a two horse ...
I snapped this as I was walking into Cowley St yesterday.
Iain Dale has raised the question on his blog and they is suggestion that it isn't written by the beast himself. If you want to read Iain Dale's post follow the link! Personally I think John writes it himself and the only reason that Iain has raised the issue on his blog is because like many other Right Bloggers he is scared that John might become more known then they are currently which is very likely to happened. As a person who reads John's blog every day I am 100% sure that its written by the beast himself! Iain Dale ...
I get the chance to work with a range of immensely talented people with passion and drive. Paddy Hill and Gerry Conlon are two of the finest examples. Today I took the opportunity to press the Justice Minister on the need to establish a refuge for people who have been wrongly imprisoned. I was pleased that the Minister agreed to meet a delegation for a second time to discuss Paddy and Gerry's idea. The first meeting was with Maria Eagle who received us well and even cancelled two of her subsequent meetings so she could extend our meeting. I am ...
Okay, okay I admit it - that title isn't likely to entice in hordes of readers. But it is kinda important, so read on... In Scotland: The SNP will be able to pass its budget, second time around, thanks to the support of the Lib Dems. As the BBC reports: In return for the party's backing, ministers have agreed to take forward a strategy for boosting the economy. ... The agreement was reached after Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens combined to vote down the budget in parliament last week, saying it would fail to help the Scottish economy ...
Over the last few decades Dutch Elm Disease, a fungus spread by bark beetles, has devastated the British elm population to the extent that many people have never seen a live mature elm tree. Now however a multinational project involving a site near Yate may hold the key to repopulating elms in the UK. Members of the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group discovered a a native Wych Elm on the reserve that has remained unaffected by the disease, and they have have sent seeds from to the French national State Forestry Nursery for analysis to assess the extent of disease resistance. ...
I have just read with great interest the story on Doctor Vee's blog about the most expensive website ever even for a parliamentarian, Charles Gordon MSP. Apparently there were only 18 visits to the website - even my blog gets more than that! You really should read the story.
The West of England Partnership, which is made up of the four unitary authorities in the old Avon area, is working on a Development Plan to set out policies which will help planners make decisions about where waste facilities should be located. They are currently consulting on their "Preferred Options". You can read more at http://www.westofengland.org/waste. There will also be a drop-in session from 3 to 7pm on 9 February 2009 in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. The consultation runs until 12th March 2009. One concern is that unlike all the other locations proposed, where a specific site is identified, in ...
Two interesting quotes about Tavish Scott in recent days. The first is from the most recent Sunday Times, but not the online version, sadly. I have just poked myself in the eye with the print version while looking for this: "Of all the Party leaders, Scott has come closest to landing a blow on the mercurial First Minister. It was he who led the running on Salmond's apparent obfuscation on the floor of the Parliament." I have Willie to thank for the next one which actually made me laugh out loud. In an interview on Good Morning Scotland the day ...
I will blog in detail later as I am currently tied up going through a mountain of CVs. If you read nothing else, check the BBC coverage of the deal as announced today. There is then further details here.
Lord Mandelson, for all his faults, is at least being consistent. New Labour, however, are having problems. First, Gordon Brown in 2007 promised "British jobs for British workers" and, second, many present and former members of the Labour Government seem to be beating the protectionist drums. As a result Mandie looks a bit precarious and a bit at odds among the traditional Labour sentiments gaining momentum about him. Few debates are as confused the protectionist/free trade debate. But this is understandable given the basic drives both sides of the debate seem to offend. Losing a job that had formed a ...
Don't forget that there's a meeting of Bury Council on Wednesday night. If you want to see democracy in action, or simply if you want somewhere warm to stay for a few hours, head down to the Town Hall. It may be a night of high drama (relatively speaking...) because there's a motion of no confidence in the Leader of the Council. His cack-handed management of the Equal Pay Review warrants little else, so we'll see how that goes tomorrow night. The Tories only have a majority of one, so it won't take much to make it very interesting indeed. ...
Well, it just goes to show what a bit of constructive dialogue can do. Learn well for next year, Salmond and Swinney. Here is an extract from the e-mail leader Tavish Scott sent round party members earlier. You may remember that I was clear that the Budget proposed by the SNP was not an adequate response to the economic trauma facing Scotland. Nonetheless, I indicated that our door remained open for discussions. You may have heard that serious negotiations took place over the weekend. As a result, an agreement has been published today that allows the Liberal Democrats to support ...
Over the last ten months 270 Kingston residents have used Capital Call. It's a highly valued service for people with mobility problems. Yet Transport for London has withdrawn Capital Call from Kingston without any consultation, causing all sorts of problems for some highly vulnerable people. It didn't even bother to tell Kingston Council which subsidises it! So what's going...
The results of the consultation held back in November/December on extending the Old/Road Bankwell Road CPZ are now in. You may remember that it was proposed to extend the existing Old Road and Bankwell Road CPZ so it covered an area of roads off Lee High Road roughly from Murillo Road up to Brightfield Road. Residents were asked what they thought of the proposal and 208 surveys were returned (22.2% response rate). Of the 208 respondents 125 (60%) were in favour of the proposal to extend the CPZ and 79 (38%) were against. Apparently 4 (2%) of respondents didn't express ...
My latest New Statesman column can be found on the magazine's website: Later, I learned that the best thing about county cricket is this. You can enjoy the morning session, have a pint and a pub lunch, go into the town, do the secondhand bookshops and return to the ground in mid afternoon, and nothing has happened.
The results of the consultation held back in November/December on extending the Hither Green East CPZ are now in. You may remember that it was proposed to extend the existing zone 'p' CPZ into Manor Lane and Kellerton Road. Residents were asked what they thought of the proposal and 58 surveys were returned (41% response rate). Of the 58 respondents 42 (72%) were in favour of the proposal to extend the CPZ and 16 (28%) were against. This CPZ will therefore be going ahead, subject to the results of the statutory consultation (that's when the official notice appears in the ...
There is something very wrong with the House of Lords- but it is nothing compared to the consequences of a botched attempt at reform under our 'flexible' constitution. The recent outbreak of the 'Peers-for-Hire' scandal has led to renewed calls for 'reform' of the House of Lords - and from all sides of the political spectrum. Labour members would love to see a fully elected House of Lords, while Conservative members, despite their reservations, are now slowly heading in that direction. Both parties, however, seem to completely miss the point. And we as Liberal Democrats - as much as it ...
The British Wildcats website is a front for the BNP. Hands up anyone who is surprised? Anyone? * wind howls * * tumbleweed bowls past * * bell tolls in distance * ... Anyone? Funeral went as well as these things ever do. I stood in the doorway handing out song sheets, and the crem was packed out. The humanist celebrant was really lovely, and Unc kindly put some money behind the bar at the wake. So I had a couple of brandies and watched my brothers and cousins (who had carried the coffin) take turns in seeing who was ...
I'm sure I wasn't the only person in Lee Green who didn't make it into work yesterday... But I did venture out and get some photos of Lee Green in the snow... {A snowman in Staplehurst Road} {Manor House Gardens} {Snow-bound Leahurst Road} {The Manor House in the snow}
Commenting on today's Government statement on its National Dementia Strategy, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Older People, Greg Mulholland said: "This long overdue strategy is a fundamentally missed opportunity." "No increase in research funding means we will remain no closer to understanding dementia or addressing the devastating impact that it has on the...
The number of critical IT faults in the NHS has risen by 70% in the past three years, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. The figures, revealed in a Parliamentary answer, show that there were over 4,000 severe IT incidents reported in the last year, with over 800 described as 'Severity 1' or 'critical'. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health...
The UK's most widespread snow since the Internet went "mainstream" has brought chaos on the web - virtual traffic has also been grinding to a halt as travel websites have crashed. Anyone got a virtual shovel? Meanwhile, some local snow photos: Wapley Common Photo by Margaret Hulbert Wapley Bushes Photo by Richard Hulbert Sam the Dodington Dog Photo by Mandy Sainsbury
In an Opposition Day debate, the Liberal Democrats called on the Government to immediately bring forward funding for capital projects, to generate future income and counter the recession. As the recession continues to take its toll on the economy, the Liberal Democrats used their Opposition Day to criticise the Government for failing to use the opportunity to invest...
Our apologies to LDV readers who've found themselves deprived of our company for the last couple of hours. As regulars will know, we do run into these occasional technical problems - normally it's near the end of the month when our bandwidth limit's been exceeded and we need to shove another 50p in the meter. This time we collapsed under the strain of search engine requests (as I understand it from our tech-wizard Ryan who genuinely does understand it). Paul Walter over at his Liberal Burblings blog has helpfully posed the question 'Should we have a whip round for LibDem ...
Tory MP Simon Burns has pleased guilty to dangerous driving (after earlier saying he was not guilty) and has been fined £400. He was pulling out of the Houses of Parliament in his Range Rover (no doubt an absolutely necessary vehicle for driving around rural Chelmsford constituency), when he pulled out in front of a cyclist, breaking the cyclists neck in two places. It made me wonder if Simon Burns thought the cyclist might have been "Dave". I guess if it had been him Mr Burns would have seen Dave's car following him down the road.
Win! Win! Win! Woooooooooooooooooooooooof.
Because I have a sad Conservative leaving comments on my blog that I think are a little silly and stupid I am going to turn off anonymous comments. This should hopefully control the comments that are from that character!
Tavish Scott MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, wrote to party members this afternoon on how the Liberal Democrats have been working positively to achieve improvements to the Scottish Budget. Here is part of what he wrote : "You may remember that I was clear that the Budget proposed by the SNP was not an adequate response to the economic trauma facing Scotland. Nonetheless, I indicated that our door remained open for discussions. You may have heard that serious negotiations took place over the weekend. As a result, an agreement has been published today that allows the Liberal Democrats ...
An open letter to London's Mayor Boris Johnson about the cancelation of Phase Three of the London Low Emission Zone. Dear Boris I am writing to you to express my disappointment at your decision to scrap Phase Three of the Low Emission Zone which is aimed at small businesses. By scrapping this phase of the scheme you will undermine the progress that has been made towards improving air quality in London in Phases One and Two of the Low Emission Zone. I agree with you that small businesses need help to get through the recession. However I do not believe ...
Two things caught my eye today. In the first, Our Vince outlines the importance of closing tax loopholes which allow large corporations to avoid paying their rightful taxes. Compare and contrast with, Tom Brake MP's observation that in London alone, 716000 applications for crisis loans were turned down by the Benefits Agency last year. These emergency loans are there to help people on low incomes or benefits when they need help most. I have personally seen people in desperate circumstances be turned down for those loans for essential and unexpected costs. Sometimes people are forced to apply for them because ...
Tavish Scott MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, wrote to party members this afternoon on how the Liberal Democrats have been working positively to achieve improvements to the Scottish Budget. Here is part of what he wrote : "You may remember that I was clear that the Budget proposed by the SNP was not an adequate response to the economic trauma facing Scotland. Nonetheless, I indicated that our door remained open for discussions. You may have heard that serious negotiations took place over the weekend. As a result, an agreement has been published today that allows the Liberal Democrats ...
Just wondered....
No, you're not dreaming! England have beaten Germany after a penalty shoot-out to win the World Cup final. Yes, it's the men, rather than the women. But the pitch is less grassy than astroturf and the world cup is that awarded for the table football world championship.The two-man team of Joe Hamilton and Rob Atha [...]
Wallington made yesterday's evening news as the BBC reported record snowfall in Wallington of 20cms. Only nearby Coulsden was reported as having more snow with 28 cms. The latest information is that all the main roads are now clear of snow and the gritters are making their way slowly round the side roads, but some roads [...]
Mad Men (the TV series) highlights sexist work practices in fifties and sixties America, and Katharine Whitehorn's Guardian Review gives some choice examples. But I am a little surprised at her contention that things were a little better in the UK at that time. After all the BBC once famously ruled that anyone working for the Corporation had to have a male line manager. That was in the aftermath of the 2nd World war, during which women had climbed to senior administrative and programming posts. The BBC intended to ensure normality as men were demobilised and started work for the ...
Did you know that Boris is actually a character dreamt up by a screen writer who is now played by an actor with words written by a team of ten writers? It will all make sense if you listen to the last episode of Radio Four's Recorded for Training Purposes (available for another two or three days). At about 26 minutes there's a sketch written by Gavin Whenman! Hurrah!
The Government have plans to start a massive database recording every phone call you make, every email you send, and every text you remove the vowels from. They have named this bizarre plan the Interception Modernisation Programme, which hardly sounds reassuring, and is still more concerning as the acronym IMP. But just as the plan to exempt MPs from the FOI bill spurred an impressive new generation of campaigning via Twitter, the big mad database plan has prompted some novel forms of protest. "CC your email to Jacqui Smith Day" is a group and a fan page on Facebook that ...
Graham Watson MEP wants to make the European Parliament more accountable to the public that elects it. Graham is leader of the 100-strong Liberal and Democrat group and is the first MEP ever to publicly state that he wants to be President of the European Parliament. It's a job a little like Speaker of the House of Commons but more involved in managing the business of Parliament. The post is
An irritating commenter is leaving comments that are a little stupid and silly for example the one below: "Afzal can't increase the size of his penis, let alone the number of votes, Saj Karim has left you lot, who's your hero now ??? Little Nadeem Ahmed or is it Abu Bakri Anwar???? hardly household names" So to reply to that I have gone along the penis line and replied as followed: "First of all ex Cllr, both Abu Bakar and Nadeem are elected representatives in Whitefield something you failed to become second time around but Nadeem succeeded. Secondly what has ...
Nothing can better illustrate the problems that the One Wales Government has been having with their bid to draw down powers to legislate on the Welsh Language than the statement currently being delivered in the chamber. All of the Conservative, Plaid Cymru and Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Members not elsewhere on other business are in the chamber, however for most of the statement the Labour Party have been represented by three backbenchers, the Deputy Presiding Officer, the Chief Whip and a Deputy Minister. Not a single Labour Cabinet Minister saw fit to stay for the presentation.
Well according to The Political Compass I am very close to him politically.
What a lot of hysteria about nothing again the press and BBC in particular have over hyped a mere smattering of snow and Ice. Yes in a few areas 6 inches of snow fell maybe even 8 but hey some countries that happens every day throughout the winter, here 1 day and its all over. Why oh why do we have to make such an issue, when will our drivers learn, slow down, be careful and don't break hard, if
I find it very difficult to understand how, in this day and age, Carol Thatcher would be stupid enough to refer to someone as a "golliwog".
I flagged up last night that yesterday was the Lib Dems' opposition day in the House of Commons, and that the party used it to stake out its stance on the two biggest topical matters of the moment - Vince Cable spoke of the recession, while Lib Dem shadow leader of the House David Heath advocated the need for constitutional reform to remedy Parliamentary standards. Here's the motion he begged to move: That this House believes that the United Kingdom needs and deserves a Parliament that is fit for purpose and free from the taint of partial interests; is dismayed ...
Local residents may be aware that the Mayor of London is looking to launch a cycle hire scheme in May 2010, along the lines of successful schemes already up and running in Paris and Brussels. This scheme will affect Oval Ward. Nearby sites include two points at Vauxhall Cross, one site on Windmill Road near Kennington Cross, one site near the Tesco on Kennington Lane and one point in the traffic island between Oval tube station and Kennington Park. The actual exhibitions will be held - organised by TFL - on: Tues 24th Feb -Lillian Baylis College (323 Kennington Lane ...
Only two schools in Bury have confirmed that they are closed today, 3 February 2009, due to the adverse weather conditions: - Fairfield Community Primary School, Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7SD - Mersey Drive Community Primary School, Mersey Drive, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 8LN
I have obtained a copy of both of the election petitions from 2008. I have not identified any conclusions from the petitions. Northwood and Birches Head Ward - Stoke This petition raised by Eve Maley alleges procedural problems at the count. She was an independent against "Potteries Alliance", BNP, Labour and Lib Dems and lost in the end by one vote. Quoting from the petition: "The result
Tue 3rd
14:19
Comment IsLinked@LDV: Vince Cable - This crisis must spur us to take on the tax avoiders
Over at The Guardian's Comment Is Free blog, Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable argues that the shocking scale of systematic corporate tax avoidance strikes a particularly ugly note in these straitened times. You can read it in full here, but here's an excerpt: How should the government tackle corporate tax-dodging? Tax simplification would help. There could be lower headline rates of corporation tax in return for eliminating the complex network of tax allowances which companies currently enjoy. It has been estimated that simplification alone could cut the headline rate by 5%. There is then less incentive for tax avoidance. ...
I attended the resources overview and scrutiny committee of Bath & North East Somerset Council last night when the ruling conservative group tabled a budget set at 3.75% increase in Council tax that had meant cuts in local services. However Liberal Democrat leader Paul Crossley put forward an alternative Liberal Democrat Budget that protected and enhanced local services at a rate...
I got use to receiving emails from David Plouffe last year. He was Obama's campaign director and I put myself on the campaign distribution list. It wasn't until I read this piece in Esquire that I realised what a key part of Obama's victory Plouffe was. He's an election managerial dynamo. The Esquire article is a must for anyone who wants to understand how Obama won. Take this little example of
An extract from the meeting scrutinising the Legislative Competence Order on Carers on 24 January: Mr Rowlands (Assembly Government Lawyer): We draft each proposed LCO based on what we want to achieve in it. They are generally broadly drafted to ensure that they achieve what we want them to, but we do not go so far as to draft them so broadly that they cover every imaginable or unimaginable eventuality for the next 20 years. Peter Black: Why not? [Laughter.] Mr Rowlands: One reason is because you would have problems with Westminster scrutiny; another is drafting certainty, given that the ...
How to get an easy mention in the media if you're a business organisation: dream up a big number that says how much the UK economy has lost due to snow/strikes/staff illness/piracy/having Darling as Chancellor. The BBC subserviantly reported an FSB estimate that yesterday's snow cost the economy £1.2 billion. The FSB suggest this is a low estimate. Let's look at how they might have come up with it. The total value of the UK economy (the GDP) is around £1.48 trillion. Divide that by 250 working days and we get £5.92 billion. The FSB estimate that one in five ...
Just received an email inviting me an event about the above act. The Local Transport Act will have a major effect on councils all over the U.K, as councils will play a major part in the implementation of many of the Act's provisions. The Act is a key part of the Government's strategy to meet its improved [...]
The honourable member for Pendle Gordon Prentice MP has made an interesting comment in the Commons that I think deserves a mention because I agree with him 100%. The question by Gordon Prentice is: "Lord Laidlaw is a self-confessed tax exile and he gave more than £100,000 to the Conservative party last year. Is it not inappropriate for any political party to accept donations from someone who is a self-confessed tax exile?" To read the debate in which he made the comment follow the link!
After a year of reading about himself in the press, Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik has decided to open up to the Daily Mail about last year's annus horribilis by writing an exclusive two-part feature article. The first part focuses on his relationship with Gabriela Irimia - here's an excerpt: Frankly, I had no expectation of anything romantic happening between us, although I must admit that I was secretly hopeful. When, two months later, we became more than just friends, cynics derided our alliance. To them it just had to be a stunt, after all I was 41 and she ...
Welsh Lib Dems will today table amendments to an opposition motion on the drastic cuts facing FE, urging the Assembly to ensure Further Education is properly equipped to up-skill the nation at the end of the recession. Shadow Education Minister Jenny Randerson will warn the Government that their unprecedented cut in the FE settlement, together with the need to maintain pay parity with teachers
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will today demand an explanation from the Labour-Plaid Government over why it has taken two years to bring forward their plans to help financial literacy. The Government announced on Monday that they would bring forward consultation on a financial inclusion strategy but the consultation document seeks to deal with issues the Government has been supposedly working on
Angry residents demonstrated on the West Hill in Hastings this lunchtime ahead of the Council's decision on the communal bins consultation for Hastings and St Leonard's. Speaking after the protest, Nick Perry, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate and Manor Road resident said, "Before they take their decision in March, the whole Conservative Cabinet should come up to the [...]
As is often the case I started out with a meeting in The Council House in Birmingham. I then got on the 12.30 train from New Street which left about 20 mins late (thereby cancelling the 12.50). I went to Waterloo to find that the Jubilee Line wasn't working and hence walked to the House of Commons and got there by 3pm. I really do wonder what has happened to the UK infrastructure. I think a
We have had snow in Lanson as just about the whole of the country has. Whilst driving up and down the County is proving difficult on the main roads and treacherous on the back roads, it seems to have encouraged lots of people go out and get a breath of fresh air. The town wasn't exactly teeming, but there were still plenty of people around, including lots of young people with the day off school who had dug sleds out of the loft. Most of the businesses in town are open as normal. Unfortunately for the chap outside the library, ...
This was a strange story to read. On one side, it is wonderful we have 47% of women, in the Assembly. And that it is being reported as a success, a good thing, and all that. On the other hand, I am a bit worried. The article quotes an AM saying, "Domestic violence is on the agenda, equal pay is on the agenda and all those kinds of really important issues that probably wouldn't be there if there wasn't such a high number of women." Is that true? If it is, then male politicians should be ashamed. But I tend ...
Can you believe it? As reported by the Press Association. Kirkcaldy Sherriff Court has lost the marked register from the Glenrothes by-election - this is the list of voters who actually voted in the Glenrothes by-election, we don't know who they voted for, just that they voted (when a voter goes into the polling station they are asked for their details). So, who will stand up for this and admit they have made a major mistake? Political Parties are entitled to the Marked Register but not this time. The Labour Government have a record of losing election data as demonstrated ...
Why backup Twitter? It's very easy to end up behaving as if an internet service will always be there and always be working, at least reasonably. But that's a risky proposition, especially for free services - as was demonstrated at the weekend when Google, of all people, managed to wreck all the searches done on their search engine because of one wrong character in one place. Or as the Greek dramatist Agathon put it, "It is probable that the improbable will sometimes happen." Twitter is a relatively small company, with a technical track record that isn't the finest and without ...
The school in New End, Hampstead is one of the delights of Hampstead village not least because of the range of noise the playground gives off during the day. The effect is stimulating and cheery... These two pics - taken almost from above the school - from one of the neighbouring blocks - shows the size and the scale of the building and just how striking it was. T.J. Bailey was a noted British architect who led the London School Board architects department in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Other schools he designed include: Paxton Primary School, Woodland ...
News via the Press Association: The SNP demanded an inquiry after it emerged that a record of everyone who voted in last year's Glenrothes by-election has gone missing. The party had asked to see the marked registers from November's crucial by-election - which resulted in a shock victory for Labour. I'm not hugely surprised by this, as after the 2005 general election there were numerous complaints from people who tried to access the marked register for their constituency about the records being in a poor shape, delayed for long periods on in part missing. The rules then were that marked ...
After I got the betting market in Pendle opened via my good friend Mike Smithson the Pendle Conservatives have wrote about it on their website and have not even mention who got the market opened in the first place. Pendle Conservatives, you really are a group of ignorant pieces of sh** who have just nicked a blog post from my blog and added your touch to it! Get sum balls and give credit to the person who has got the market open, or are you scared that it would bring people to my blog on which I identify you for ...
London Mayor Boris Johnson brought unintended hilarity to our household yesterday when he declared that we had had the 'right kind' of snow, just the 'wrong quantity.' For the first time I can remember, ALL London buses had to be taken off the road. The 'quantity' of snow was around 6 inches. A significant snowfall, yes - but compared to many cities it was a source of much amusement that London should be brought to a standstill so easily. Boris Johnson's response smacked of complacency. We should have done much better.
Given the culture of easy loans which appeared to have led us into our current economic mess, you would have thought that the Tory party would want to distance itself from someone associated with easy loans. From the Daily Mash: CAROL Vorderman is to head a Conservative Party taskforce to help people work out if debt consolidation loans are really such a good idea after all. The Tories said
I would never be asking this question if Guido hadn't raised the issue in a blog post that you can read by following the link about how the list of people who voted at the by-election has gone missing when an SNP asked for it. To read the post by Guido follow the link. In the post Guido comments from what Mike Smithson has said about the whole conspiracy which is: startling thing about Glenrothes was the massive increase in postal votes compared with the general election - up four-fold if I recall correctly. It all sounds fishy. Now that ...
21st Century Challenges is the flagship public engagement series at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Their next event, and one possibly of particular interest to our readers who are within reach of London, will be 'The Future Shape of Capitalism', on 17 March 2009, 7pm at the Society's headquarters in South Kensington. An expert panel, including Vince Cable MP and writer and broadcaster Andrew Neil, will discuss whether the current financial crisis and the downturn in the global economy will change the shape of capitalism as we know it today. Tickets are £10 / £7 Society members - to ...
With the new URL in the process of becoming the default URL for this blog, I only ask readers to change their bookmarks as soon as possible. If you don't change it, you will still be transferred to the .org URL so it only makes sense to Bookmark it. On another note the URL did cost me $10 and it shall need to be renewed in February 2010. I would much appreciate if someone could use the Donate link from the sidebar or by following the link and give help in paying the cost either now or closer to the ...
Having read Iain's post on his political compass I thought I would give it a go by trying the UK Political Compass Test. The following is where it places some of the political parties in the UK: I have taken the test and beforehand I was pretty confident that I would come out around about the centre of the left/right axis and about half way down the Libertarian axis which would have put me pretty close to my party, the Lib Dems. This was my actual result: This puts me a lot closer to the Green Party! I do have ...
Bored yet with people saying how badly the UK is dealing with a little snow? I have the answer. My evidence base is small, but I have a 100% success rate. When they say how awful we are and how much better other countries are, you say, "Woof woof,* I agree. Isn't it awful how people in other countries clear snow outside their homes and business and in Britain hardly anyone does? I didn't see any of my neighbours doing it when I was clearing snow yesterday. Did you see any when you were out clearing?" * Humans may wish ...
Saturday Most of the day is spent at the Keynes Forum Policy Conference at LSE, at which one of the sessions is specifically about the European elections, or at least the interlinked campaign themes of the economy and the environment. Both Sharon Bowles (South East) and Fiona Hall (North East) are MEPs who know their briefs intimately, which is reassuring and underlines the value of electing people willing to specialise in specific fields. But through conversations during coffee breaks it becomes clear to me that local activists are really thirsting for simply-worded, bite-sized Euro-items they can just slot into their ...
Well, it is Darlington Borough Council, so what would you expect? From the people who brought you the wonders of the Pedestrian Heart (delayed), the Eastern Transport Corridor (delayed) and North Road Primary School (delayed), we now have New Waste Management Contract (delayed). They should take a leaf out of Stagecoach's book. Lengthen the train journeys so that more arrive on time. I got a
So, the weathermen last night predicted heavy snow in the East including Edinburgh.Still nothing here this morning and I can't see over to Fife to see if they have it.Well I'm off to Aberdeen now so let's see what its like up there then. ------------------
"British workers need protecting from foreign labour, and British industry needs protecting from foreign imports....The country has been plunged into a full scale depression precisely because of globalisation and the government's refusal to protect British interests. We say that protectionism is the only solution." These are the words of Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party. Translated into deeds they would spell calamity. Hundreds of thousands of British citizens are working elsewhere within the European Union. They benefit from one of the EU's core principles, the freedom we all have to live and work in any one of the ...
Today's debate on the long-awaited Welsh Language LCO is the start of a journey strewn with pitfalls both for the Government, the future of the One Wales coalition and for those with an interest in language issues. It has taken us some time to get to this stage. Eighteen months in fact since the Assembly elections and already we are getting voices off saying that it does not go far enough or that it goes too far, and that is before we actually have any proposals in front of us. The Legislative Competence Order that was published yesterday does nothing ...
I have been contacted by constituents who would like to establish a discussion group for people suffering from bulimia nervosa in the Birmingham area. Ideally this would include people who have recovered. This would enable people to discuss the issues involved and find resolution. If anyone is interested in the Birmingham (UK) area can they please email me at john.hemming@john.hemming.name
News from school can sometimes take a long time to get to parents. Letters from the headteacher can sometimes fester in school bags for days before attention is drawn to them. Such is the sluggishness of the transmission of news carried by teenagers and youngsters. But one piece of news travels almost as fast as light. Within nano seconds, the airwaves and cables are alight with breathless
Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague is going to speak today championing an enhanced role and the possible expansion of the Commonwealth, a story which the BBC covers. Its a striking statement. I don't doubt that as a cultural and economic bloc the Commonwealth is covered as sparingly as it is considered by the public. At first it seems a strangely old fashioned rallying call. My first impression was of course that it is a natural conservative instinct to hark to what they perceive as better days. It is in the conservative nature to remember the past generously. But two ...
I decided to have a go at the nerdtest thing that seems to be doing the rounds on several LD blogs. However, about half way through I got so annoyed about the American assumptions in it (i.e., How much do you watch Jeopardy?) despite it asking which continent you are from that I gave up! I contend that makes me more nerdy than all of you! :) Yes, yes I know it was a bit of fun... But seriously, I get unreasonably annoyed at doing surveys that try to pidgeonhole me (I know that's the point of surveys and this ...
Last week the Government published its interim report into safeguarding our digital future. I've done a piece for Liberal Conspiracy on my thoughts on it: It is rather like producing a report on the wine industry that is largely about the supply of glass bottles and has very little about the product that goes in those bottles.You can read my full post here.
... Spare a thought for Mister Mat, who will have the Small Person all day because her school is closed, and I will be going up to the (even more) frozen North to say goodbye to Nan. I suspect the Wii disc of Lego Batman will be getting some hammer ;) Hope you all have a good day, and I ought to be back to something approaching normal after today - closure is generally a good thing for me.
Mrs Quist and I are in agreement that, in the event of one of us getting dementia in our old age and losing our mind, there's no point in the person's life continuing. I have a bit of a fear of my mind going completely - becoming little more than a husk being cared for, at great financial and emotional expense, by my loved ones, or whoever they pay to take on the task. Once my mind has gone, I struggle to see the value in my life continuing . Dementia, like cancer, is a disease of the old. Some ...
Now to be found at News Geeks.
I don't feel too guilty about my lack of blogging over the last couple of months - it coincided with an increase in Haringey Lib Dems blogging as it happens. Neil Williams, former Leader of the Opposition and Highgate Lib Dem councillor, has been successfully blogging all the juicy (but accurate and important) stuff about Haringey politics and our current Deputy Leader Richard Wilson (Lib Dem, Stroud Green) has joined the club too, another good source of what's happening in Haringey politics. Not forgetting the blogs of our very own Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone ...
Late last night a comment was left on my blog suggesting that Sohail Sarwar had stepped down as Tory candidate for Brierfield and Nelson North. I was told about this yesterday afternoon after one of my eyes and ears on the streets brought it to my attention. The comment just verified that Sohail was no longer the Tory candidate. The Conservatives have replaced Sohail Sarwar with Abdullah Zaid who is an unknown socially and politically in Brierfield and Nelson North, this election is going to be like I have said in the past a fight of the two beasts the ...
Praise for Tom Brake and how he uses Facebook to engage with his constituents in Carshalton and Wallington: Tom Brake, LibDem MP for Carshalton and Wallington, uses Facebook. Not especially as an ordinary member, in terms of ordinary (mundane) status reports or poking or that sort of thing, but as an MP ... This is a perfect example: Tom updates his Facebook friends on the weather reports and is thanked by five for doing so. It is part of the job of the modern day MP, but it also builds up a link between him and constituents, perhaps earns a ...
This photo from Lynne Featherstone brought a smile to my face this week. A picture of happiness, as it shows Lynne visiting constituent Bonnie and son Kai, just after they had moved into a new house, after a long battle fought by Lynne. They had been living in a larvae-infested flat for three years. They all look extremely pleased. ...
I made it through the snow to Parliament yesterday. In fact my journey from the Westcountry only took around 15 minutes longer than usual. If I had listened to the warnings about train cancellations...
...here is a pointless nerd meme. {NerdTests.com says I'm a Cool Nerd King. Click here to take the Nerd Test, get nerdy images and jokes, and write on the nerd forum!} (Hat-tip.)
Just across the park from my flat is a house, known as Dairy Lodge. It is part of the legacy of the Morrell family who built it as part of their parkland estate which the City Council requisitioned many years ago. Part of the estate was fenced off, became Robert Maxwell's house and is now part of Oxford Brookes University. But the city hung onto other parts of the park, including two of its lodges, Dairy Lodge being one of them. To my mind it is extremely dubious as to whether they have an ethical right to flog these houses ...
