Most people know of Rainhill as the site where trials took place of Stephenson's `Rocket`. The now much larger settlement was the place of a by-election last night at which the Party produced a swing of 9% from Labour to Lib Dem. This is even better than it looks as the Rainhill Labour lot are very organised [...]
Paul Waugh at the Evening Standard has pointed out that the parties that the Tories are proposing to ally themselves with in the European Parliament include the Polish Law and Justice Party. He points out that one of the party's MPs made the pretty interesting remark: "Obama is an approaching catastrophe. This marks the end of white man's civilisation." Their founder is a climate change denier.A
Don't know if you saw Charles Moore on the BBC's Question Time programme this evening? If not, you can catch up via this link. Personally, I found most of his comments snearing and repulsive. As I understand it, this man's relationship with Sussex Conservatives goes back a long way. He recently attended the Hastings & Rother Business Forum in support [...]
Over at The Guardian's Comment Is Free blog, Liberal England's Jonathan Calder argues 'of course policy on faith schools is a compromise - that's how social institutions are most often made to work'. Here's an excerpt: ... if, in a surge of Jacobin purity, the party had voted for an outright ban on faith schools, it would have been only a gesture. Few Liberal Democrats would have campaigned on a policy that threatened to alienate every church and disrupt a third of the schools in the country. Besides, it's not faith schools that are the problem: it is the conventional ...
I met someone today who was thought to be the longest living kidney transplant person alive in the area - he had his transplant 37 years ago and is certainly looking fit and well, and proud to show us his medal and T shirt from the Transplant Olympics. There is more and some photos on the Mayor's Blog, but whatever you do, if you are not already registered as a donor, please have a look at the...
If so, then the Parliamentary Register of Members' Interests is a must-read - though in fact Vince Cable's articles for the Mail are a much better earner: CABLE, Dr. Vincent (Twickenham) Remunerated employment, office, profession etc Weekly column for Mail on Sunday. (£15,001-£20,000) Fee from Hat Trick Productions for appearance on 'Have I Got News for You' on 30 October 2008. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 22 January 2009) Contract with Atlantic Books for a book on the state of the economy. Hat-tip: Recess Monkey.
James Graham and Jonathan Calder both have pieces on the Guardian's Comment is Free pages commenting on the faith schools debacle at conference. James attacks the newly amended policy as a 'messy compromise' where as Jonathan clearly sees it as a necessary one. Jonathan doesn't seem to have much to offer in his argument except that 'messy compromises' are often how it is with social institutions which on the surface is all well and good but really lends nothing to our vision of trying to change things for the better. Some faith schools no doubt perform their task well and ...
A very good turn out tonight for the Birkdale Lib Dem dinner held at Tyndall's restaurant. Tyndall's is one of Southport's entries in the Good Food Guide. The food was excellent. Anthony Hill getting the prize for choosing the most spectacularly presented dish. Despite entreaties I am not going to record what we all ate but my crab soup followed by chicken stuffed with black pudding was very fine. It was particularly good to see so many of our volunteers turn up. In Birkdale we are lucky to have so many folk who help deliver, stuff envelopes etc. Many of ...
(Warning - some of this may actually be triggering for some of you). I decided long before the Watchmen film was even made, let alone released, that I wouldn't be watching it. This was not out of some great moral objection or anything like that - I just didn't want to see it. But now, I [...]
A few years ago, I worked for a small business owned and run by a husband and wife team. It was the most unprofessional and embarrassing company I have ever worked for, where the domestic disputes of the home spilled over into the workplace. Compared to the cringe worthiness of these two, David Brent would have been a model for good management. According to tonight's Evening Standard, over 200 MPs (including 30 Government Ministers) now employ their partner or children in the office. With such a high proportion, it immediately raises a suspicion that they are on the take - ...
I don't often republish a blog posting from elsewhere, but this posting by Mark Pack on Lib Dem Voice deserves some more circulation in my view, because of geographic closeness to Lewisham, my past involvement in Dowhnam as an election agent, the bit of help I gave to their by election this time, questions over how to deal with the BNP and my knowledge of election law...Dave Hill reports:
Good youth working party meeting this evening - more to-do's to-do # Need to find William Fairey Brass Band orchestration of KLF's What Time is Love? #
Susan Kramer, Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park, former London mayoral candidate and anti-Heathrow campaigner, is the party's representative on tonight's Question Time (BBC1 and online, 10.35 pm GMT). Susan will be joined on the panel by Labour's health secretary Alan Johnson (the man who might still be PM), Tory shadow minister for community cohesion Baroness Warsi, comedian, actor and writer David Mitchell (a fair-minded, liberal good egg, I suspect) and Torygraph journalist Charles Moore. And if you're staying up extra late for BBC1's This Week, Andrew Neil, Michael Portillo and Diane Abbott will be joined by Barry McGuigan (on ...
I'm off to a film premiere on Sunday evening. But no red carpet at Leicester Square. The Age of Stupid is having a record-breaking 'people's premiere' with simultaneous screenings at dozens of cinemas across the country. It's a docu-drama about the impact of climate change, starring Pete Postlethwaite as a lone survivor in the future [...]
The top story - yes, the top story - on the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (the so-called Ministry of Fun) is 'Public Appointments Vacancies' i.e. the jobs that are going on the Boards of Quango's. Now I accept that job creation is probably the Government's number one priority at present but if Quango appointments are considered the top item, it really raises the question - what the f*** is this Department for? The second item on the website, by the way, is about the Heritage Protection Bill - a Bill the Government itself dumped from ...
They now have names even though we don't yet have them in our possession: Hen 1: "Pugh Pugh" Hen 2: "Barney McGrew" Hen 3: "Cuthbert Dibble" Hen 4: "and Grubb" And before anyone asks - NO we are not painting the coop fire engine red!
I'm sure we were all disgusted last year when Denbighshire County Council refused to reveal the size of former Chief Executive Ian Miller's pay-off. They even turned down a Freedom of Information Act request to release the information. Well, enough's enough. Not ever one to leave a stone unturned, or shy away from a challenge, I am bringing this issue to the fore again. As Liberal Democrats, we got involved in politics to help work towards a fairer and more transparent kind of politics in Britain, for all people. It is simply unacceptable for publicly-elected, taxpayer-funded organisations to reward failure ...
Early morning services and the city's circular route are to be cut from the bus timetable at the beginning of May as First Bus reduces the service they are providing. Early services from Combe Down, Foxhill and Larkhall are being lost. The biggest impact will, however, come from the complete removal of the 20A/C service, which stops at Ralph Allen School, the University of Bath and the RUH. Bath MP Don Foster said that the cuts are unacceptable and will be meeting with First Bus Managing Director Justin Davies to discuss the plans. Don said, "Many people rely on early ...
Waste Day Change June 09 - Bath & North East Somerset Council Bath & North East Somerset Council will be introducing same day collections for the majority of properties in Bath and North East Somerset from the week beginning 8th June 2009. The change is in response to customer requests to help make our services easier to use and to help increase local recycling rates. At present, people may have their rubbish, recycling, cardboard and garden waste collected on up to three separate days and the Council is aware that this can be difficult for people. As a result, plans ...
Consultation launched on £2.5m facelift for play parks Communities are being consulted about plans to revamp 16 play parks across the Bath area. The Play Pathfinder sites are among 28 which will be worked on by Bath and North East Somerset Council using a Government cash injection of £2.5 million. The council says the sites have been selected after applications from parish councils and local community groups. A spokesman said: "The views of the local communities, including children and young people, will be gathered in the coming months and will be used to help inform how each play facility is ...
I don't watch a vast amount of telly, I have to admit. But what I do watch? Top Gear? All male - whither VBH and Suzi Perry? QI - nearly always all male, with occasional Jo Brand. Question Time - never more than 2 women. This Week - has Diane. Doctor Who - male lead; mostly male baddies; female, subservient companion. Being Human? Lead characters 2/3 male. Thank heavens, then, for SJA, and it's perfect gender balance, and lead character who is a woman over 40. The rest of telly could learn from it. If you'd like it to do ...
Baroness Scott of Needham Market: My Lords, about 10 days ago I took some time off and went to see the movie of the moment, "Slumdog Millionaire". For once it was a film which matched the hype; but although it has been described as a "feel good" film, much of the depiction of life in the slums of Mumbai was quite harrowing. It reminded me of the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Flather, that for many millions of people the current recession has little impact because they are already so desperately poor. Charities and aid organisations are suffering ...
{Energy Performance Certificates} Myself and Cllr Warren Swaine attended a Civic board meeting today, having been elected to the board by our group. Our appointment had been meet with 'raised eyebrows' from the other two parties. Reading List has done a nice round-up of views, thus far. At full council on 27 November 2008, when the civic centre was discussed in full, a LAB-CON pact put forwards proposals to set-up an über-Civic board with 10 members (just over a fifth of Council members!) to sort out the problem. It was also charged with looking at the twin-track proposal, i.e. look ...
After some weeks of thought and discussion we took the plunge today and went and paid for a hen coop and run (see photo), which will be delivered next week. It comes as self assembly so I'm rather glad that C. has better DIY skills than me. Were it left to my talents we'd probably end up with some form of dodgy looking bookshelf not a hen coop. All of which reminds me of a (bad)joke from Thatcherite days: "what do Cecil Parkinson and MFI have in common? One bad screw and your cabinet is F****d!" The week after next ...
Susan is on BBC's Question Time tonight. Shirley was on last week and Kirsty the week before that. Then there was Sarah and Jo and then a couple of weeks where there was no Lib Dem at all and then Jenny. This year, there have been nine Question Times and just one male Lib Dem politician has appeared on the Panel - David (Laws) on the 22nd January. I have nothing against women, I like women; hell, I like women a lot. But there is no doubt that the producers of Question Time see the Lib Dems as the party ...
I've just read a piece in the Torygraph which talks about the relocation of BBC staff to Salford. The author, some dreadful woman named Liz Hunt, has this to say "Of course, no one actually wants to live in Salford or Manchester." I've lived in four countries and all over this one, [...]
This is my first round up for a while so here goes. I have to keep it short as well. My blackberry is just about of juice! Sunday I came down to London. Rest of week I've been sorting conference photos. Anyone at the photo ops should now have their pics. Today I met my new big boss. And I've nearly finished the North East Democrat. So there we go, keeping it short. Off out for dinner now.
'The problem is that you lot are too nice to get on in politics.' If I had a pound for every time I have heard that said of the Liberal Democrats, I could probably go down to three days a week at work. The Lib Dems are often thought of as a party that can afford to [...]
Over on the blog of Colin Bloom, the Conservative candidate for Erith and Thamesmead at the next General Election he talks about him and his helpers delivering "thousands of leaflets on Saturday".Now, I have one of these leaflets in my hand and it has two interesting consecutive paragraphs on the front page:It's time for a change and our area deserves better.Colin said, "If elected, I will ensure
Regular users of Hither Green Station will no doubt have noticed that as well as the ramp we use every day that emerges between platforms 4 & 5, there are also blocked up ramps leading directly to platforms 1, 2/3 and 6. Before Christmas, I was asked why these ramps couldn't be reopened to allow for easier access to the station for those with pushchairs, bikes, etc. I asked this question at the transport liasion meeting we had with Southeastern just before Christmas, and was told they'd look into it. Then the same issue came up at the Sustainable Development ...
The kids lead us off on the final day and there are huge tips out there for Alan King's Walkon. Currently trading at around 5/1 it seems bound to get shorter. But the Triumph Hurdle is a bit of a lottery. The horses are too young to have any sort of consistency. Like young teenagers, their bodies are changing all the time and they can have more off days than most. So I'd recommend not taking it too seriously and seeking an outsider to have a small amount of each way on. For me Art Sleuth fits this bill this ...
The mobile library that's been providing services from the forecourt of the Manor House has to leave its present position before Monday so that work landscaping and tarmacing at the front of the house can begin. The refurbished library will open in early May. In the interim, there are alternative library facilities on Lewisham High Street and in Blackheath Village. The Library Service will also be setting up a number of outreach activities with schools and local venues to bridge the gap between the mobile library closing and the Manor House reopening. If you haven't already seen my video of ...
Under a somewhat misleading headline, Leader quits after critics' abuse, the BBC reports: The leader of Cornwall County Council David Whalley is standing down as a councillor, complaining of personal attacks against him. Mr Whalley made the decision just weeks before the start of a new "super-council" which will unite district councils and the county council. The headline implies that Cllr Whalley has been hounded out in some way - I don't know the politics of Cornwall well enough to comment (though I do know how heated have been the debated about unitary status), but Cllr Whalley's quoted comments don't ...
Recess Monkey has a blog post from a "Chunky Monkey" who ever that is about Vince Cable and how he is making money from his appearances in the media through this time of economic hardship. The Monkey comments on how Vince is making some money for his pre knowledge of this recession and how he is going to have a book out very shortly which has made him £20,000 richer. Personally I think its great that Vince is getting all this media attention as he is fighting the Lib Dem corner with his knowledge and pre warnings that no one ...
An article on the BBC website touches on a subject I've written about before: road safety and the bad effects of trying too hard to separate motor traffic from other road users. It's well worth a read. It starts off talking about the proposals in London to have countdown timers on pedestrian crossings (they have some in Dublin too). Then it talks about the problem of designing safe crossings. "But sometimes drivers become so inured to this street "furniture" they forget to look for people crossing - they forget what it's there for. And a 1970 study by the Institute ...
A couple of weeks ago, LDV highlighted the case of Sean Aspey, a Lib Dem councillor in Bridgend, who suddenly found himself caught in the headlights of the press after pictures showing him dressed as a Nazi for a fancy dress party (with an 'Allo 'Allo theme) were posted first on Facebook, then published in newspapers. Local Lib Dem party chiefs suspended him temporarily while an internal inquiry into the affair was carried out. As I commented at the time: There appears to have been an absurd over-reaction to this case which, sad to say, qualifies for categorisation under that ...
I have a piece on the Guardian's Comment is Free site today. It is a reply of sorts to an article there a couple of days ago by James Graham. I write: One of the most important jobs on election day is getting the numbers from the tellers at the polling stations back to the committee room. And, having worked in many local byelections, I have come to the conclusion that the best people to do it are 10-year-olds on their bikes. They are quick and they insist on going back to the polling station every five minutes. You could ...
Ahh, the wonders of government spin... here's a BBC report from yesterday: The Government is claiming greater success in its efforts to protect playing fields from developers. The latest figures show 97.5% of planning applications resulted in improved or protected sports provision. ... "These figures are proof that the tough policies we put in place are working," said sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe. Let's compare that claim with the news, reveled by the Lib Dems and picked up by the media today, that that 360 playing fields were sold off in the last year, despite government safeguards which were meant to ...
Responding to the confirmation that the Conservatives will withdraw their MEPs from the European People's Party (EPP) and form a new grouping, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "This puts the Conservatives on the lunatic fringe of European politics." "The Tories now have the most isolationist foreign policy of any modern opposition party, just at a time when...
It's a while since I've blogged about the Lee stock transfer - the estates who said a massive yes to changing landlords from Lewisham Council to Broomleigh Housing Association late last year. That doesn't mean things haven't been happening behind the scenes! Broomleigh and the Council are currently discussing the fine details of the transfer. If all goes according to plan, hopefully the transfer will take place at the end of June this year. Obviously there's a chance this could take longer, but I know staff at Broomleigh and the Council are working hard to keep things on track. Village ...
Well, I feel I should be blogging about something really important, like Comic Relief or the fact that I'm still no nearer the top of the allotment waiting list, (apprently all the lists for Maidstone have been amalgated into one big one - wonder how far down that I am now?) I read somewhere you only need to get six (could be eight) people to request allotments in your area and the council has to address the shortage. Will follow this up. But not today because today has been the kind of day that has culminated with me setting fire ...
Well I've got to Thursday and I am still writing up the weekend's events at Conference. Time to knock it on the head.I broadly agree with what James Graham has written over at Comment is Free about the political impact. No need to say much more. I was impressed with the Leader's speech. Not only with the content itself but with the implications it has for the message and strategy of the Party.
In less than 48 hours I will be starting the Bath Half Marathon and trundling around nearly 13 miles of Bath Streets. I know I must be mad as I have never run this sort of distance before and I am hoping that the training will have paid off by then or I will be in trouble. So why am I running at all well I am raising money for a local Charity the Mayor of Bath's relief fund...
Come to the Liberal Youth Scotland quiz social tomorrow night! If you'll excuse me I'll continue my shameless plug. I've just finished the prep for tomorrow night, and I think the event will be a wonderful experience for all. We've got Hugh O'Donnell and Alistair Carmichael acting as co-quizmasters for the evening and Katy Gordon, the [...]
I've been catching up this afternoon with Lord Laming's report into the operation of social services following the Baby P tragedy here in Haringey. Local MP Lynne Featherstone has some salient views on her blog here. Focusing on the local, Lynne is right, that there are just far too many unanswered questions about what happened in Haringey, and we do need a public inquiry. It's worrying, amidst more signs that the Labour council isn't really willing to open up the scrutiny process in the borough to ensure that councillors - and the public - can probe officials on child protection ...
Exciting plans are afoot for Heaton Park, all of which will be coming up for decision in the next few months. I'd like to know what you think, and what your concerns are, so that I can feed in your views to the process. Heaton Park is run by Manchester City Council, so it will be them making any decisions, but we can still let our views be known. Heaton Hall Manchester City Council embarked on a major project to restore Heaton Park in 1996 when the Council approved the Regeneration Strategy for Heaton Park. A bid to fund the ...
Early morning services and the city's circular route are to be cut from the bus timetable at the beginning of May as First Bus reduces the service they are providing. Early services from Combe Down, Foxhill and Larkhall are being lost. The biggest impact will, however, come from the complete removal of the 20A/C service, which stops at Ralph Allen School, the University of Bath and...
I have just wrote a blog post for Labour Home about the online dossier Tory Worries that I have set up, just a quick note to anyone thinking I have become a member of the Labour party far from it actually! I only wrote the blog post because Alex Hilton asked me to in order to promote our venture and I hope it will bring more worries to the dossier of Tory Worries!
Have you ever wondered if they will be a bank that would ask you if you knew a politician or were a member of a political party? Now RBS is asking potential customers their political affiliation before giving them bank accounts, and if you are politically affiliated then they are certain accounts you can not have! Personally I don't understand one thing how can a publicly funded bank not allow politico's to become customers of it. What if a member of the public turns around and tells the employee at RBS actually I own this bank so my political affiliation ...
First Bus intend to scrap the 20A/C bus and reduce services on nearly all other Bath routes from May. The 20, which has a circular route around the city, has long been the worst of all First's services, operating small, old mini-buses at infrequent and unpredictable intervals. Despite this, the peak time buses are packed, providing the only service between Combe Down, Ralph Allen School and the University. University and school students living in Combe Down will be furious at the withdrawal of the service, which is their only realisitic public transport route. Many University students currently live in Combe ...
And just in case you thought everything was doom and gloom in this recession, here's a quick burst of cute happiness. Think of it like an adrenalin shot to the heart of depression. Click here!
Thanks to Dizzy Thinks for pointing out that today's the day. And it wins Day of the Day too!
Lunch in Tottenham today, at the brilliant restaurant in the Haringey Sixth Form Centre in White Hart Lane. I went with my ward colleagues Bob and Rachel (see pic), and had a fantastic lunch in a lovely setting for just £5.50. The centre provides wonderful vocational training, and all that's required to support it is to go and enjoy a brilliant meal at the most reasonable prices in town. The menu changes every few weeks. I had an artichoke salad, followed by sea bass with mussels in a tarragon flavoured jus, which was delicious. For desert. the poires Williams, I'm ...
The poor old US Republicans are still wondering when it will stop getting worse and start getting better for them.Bless them. There have been a number of excruciating episodes for them recently.One of their leading contenders for their next Presidential candidacy, Bobby Jindal, sort of self-combusted when he responded to Obama's non-state of the nation address (see below).In terms of approval for
Oh what a good job that I stayed away from the bookies today. I'd already said that it would be a very light day, but in the end I couldn't rouse myself to make the trip. The only two horses I felt keen to back were too short in the market to be worthwhile. And in the end neither could win in any case. Voy por Ustedes threw away the Ryanair Chase with poor jumping. Kasbah Bliss was a long way behind the front two and madly disappointing. Exmoor Ranger fell three out when in contention. There was a poor ...
Dave Hill reports: Lewisham police are investigating a campaign leaflet published on behalf of two London Labour Party byelection candidates to consider if it transgresses electoral law. The leaflet, which appears to have been distributed on polling day during the recent campaign for Lewisham Council's Downham ward, claimed: Our exit polls show: the BNP winning in Downham. It's more important than ever to VOTE LABOUR TODAY Lewisham has confirmed that its returning officer has passed the leaflet to the police, who are looking into any breach of the 1983 Representation of the People Act. This sets out restrictions relating to ...
Last night I took part in what looks as if it will be a whole series of European election hustings meetings across London, in this instance hosted by the Politics Society of Queen Mary, University of London, just down the road from where I live. The Labour candidate had unfortunately to drop out because of [...]
The man who threw his shoes at George Bush is to get sentenced to prison for three years because he insulted a foreign "politician". Personally I am disgusted by this sentencing, I would have expected that the Iraqi officials would have considered all the pain they have gone through, but the pro American government of Iraq want to forget the past and move on which again is disgusting! I personally think the Journalist should not have been sent to jail, instead if you ask me he should have a national celebration across the Iraq for what he did, which was ...
For three years Tesco have been trying to develop the site next to Tolworth Roundabout. They finally submitted their planning application a couple of weeks ago. They want to build a superstore and 562 houses on the triangle of land which was previously occupied by the Toby Jug and Government buildings. Edward Davey has set up a website called Every Little Hurts...
Lord Ahmed, the Labour peer serving 12 weeks for dangerous driving, will now be freed, after the Court of Appeal suspended his sentence. Ahmed was texting as he drove down the M1 on Christmas Day 2007, minutes before being involved in a fatal crash. The crash wasn't Ahmed's fault; it appears to have been a pure accident, entirely unrelated to the texting. Of course, if the texting had been the actual cause of the crash, he could have been charged with one of two crimes: causing death by dangerous driving, or causing death by careless driving. The latter offence is ...
Transport for London (TFL) are holding a review into local bus routes Nos. 88 and 159 which go through Oval Ward - a route map can be found at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/ If you have any concerns over issues like frequency or overcrowding, or any other concerns on these routes, then please let us know by 03 April and we will pass these on to TFL and Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon - email oval.news@googlemail.com
Thanks to the array of digital TV stations, I can relive the programmes of my younger days. In particular, Mrs Quist and I enjoy watching those shows that originally went out in the Sunday evening comedy-drama slot (and their spiritual brethren): Ballykissangel, Monarch of the Glen, Pie in the Sky; not to mention a nice bit of Poirot. And if you switch over to ITV3, where you'll find all these gems, you get the added pleasure of crappy, cheap adverts. My favourite at the moment is for a product called Oven Pride. The product itself is simple: take the shelves ...
The Mayor of London's scheme for extra funding for London Parks has left Lambeth Parks with no extra money whatsoever. Kennington Park and Spring Gardens could have been in line for £400,000, but missed out. The majority of parks which will be helped will be in outer London.Cllr Rob Banks said: "It is a shame that both Kennington Park and Spring Gardens have missed out, but as local councillors we will continue to look for any other chances to support our local parks and green open spaces. In an area where so few people have back gardens of their own, ...
We have two new planning applications in westmoreland this month. The first application is for the enlargement and refurbishment of existing dormer window at 36 Burnham Road Twerton. The application was first registered on 4th March 2009 and has a decision date of 29th April 2009. The application number is 09/00442/FUL and you can view the application by...
If anyone hasn't been following this year's epic RaceFail and wants to catch up, this is the best summary I've seen so far.
This story dated today is terrifying, about RBS denying members of political parties, their services. Their reason? Because those "sorts" of people are more inclined to commit fraud? What's happening when we think all members of political parties are committing fraud? What right does a publicly owned bank have, to stop political activists signing up for an account? Obviously it needs more scrutiny. But if this is true, it rocks the very foundation of our free society. Post by Ol - opinions not neccessarily those of the student society
Chris Davies MEP has blogged about the real reason the Conservatives groups in the European Parliament. I personally don't have any interest in European politics, even though I did work in the office of Sajjad Karim MEP whilst he was a Lib Dem back in September 2007. European Politics only interests me on issues like international relationships and how my MEP's are trying to grow or destroy them. So after reading about the Tory change of party in Europe I wasn't actually excited the slightest and to be honest, I just hoped that it would cost them a few seats ...
I thought Nick Clegg's speech to the Liberal Democrat spring conference on Saturday was one of the best leader's speeches I have heard for many years. I thought it was a speech of gravity, of great political intelligence, one that has altered my view of Nick and his leadership, and has strengthened my optimism for the future. My companion (as they say in restaurant reviews) was less impressed. He
For the second time this week I've woken up feeling ever so slightly queasy - probably something I ate. So it was appropriate that I would read, whilst browsing The Times Online, a letter written to the editor. Sir, "Quantitative easing" is far too cumbersome a phrase. I suggest that we truncate the phrase into a more manageable term: "Queasing". Much easier to pronounce and carries with it the slightly queasy feeling that one naturally feels when trying to save the economy from imminent collapse. Carl Maxim Southsea, Hants Somehow that seems appropriate, considering how crappy I am feeling today. ...
The phalanx of police officers faced us on the other side of the gate. Grim faced, unspeaking, and dressed in full riot gear they looked as though they meant business. Their foes were formidable, a 54 year old politician, and the managing director of a business that makes transformers to get electricity from renewable sources into the grid, both of us trying to engage them in conversation about global warming. True it was midnight, and we were in the countryside, and they were from Wales and perhaps had never been to Kent before, but the climate change camp in the ...
Last week I brought GLA member Caroline Pidgeon to see the situation at Wharfdale Road. At present there is a side entrance to Kings Cross station, greatly valued by local people and the hundreds of workers now based at Kings Place. That entrance will now close then the station is rebuilt. The new glazed entrance at [...]
Meeting with Support Group for Parents of Children with Aspergers Following my original consultation with parents attending this support group I finally got the opportunity to feedback to them the results of this work. I thanked them for their efforts both in talking to me and responding to the consultation & attending the consultation events. I [...]
And so it came to pass. It has taken them years to do it but the Tory MEPs have finally split from the European Peoples' Party, the home of European conservatives, of Merkel and of Sarkozy. This leaves quite a lot of their older MEPs unhappy, because the European Parliament is the one place left where pro-European Tories are still to be found, but the EPP's federalist stance is anathma to the party in Britain. Did they jump or were they pushed? EPP bosses said "time's up." They wouldn't allow the Tories to be involved in election planning unless they ...
Bath has lost a total of 9 pubs since 2005, and nationally a record 2,000 pubs have called time on their business since the 2008 budget announcement that beer duty would rise once more. Bath MP Don Foster, also the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Culture, Media & Sport, says that current government policy is seriously damaging the future for the local pub. He said,...
Bath businesses are able to claim assistance in getting through the current economic downturn. Businesses interested in registering for loans under the Working Capital Scheme should call the helpline on 0845 459 9780. All businesses are entitled to a free review of their business with an advisor using the help of Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or via the website...
The Liberal Democrats in Bath and NE Somerset welcome the decision of Bristol Council to withdraw from the Mass Burn Incinerator proposal for dealing with waste. We consider that waste should be dealt with as locally as possible and within the policy position of Zero Waste. When all recyclable material has been removed CHP options should be considered for local...
Brecon and Radnorshire MP, Roger Williams is co-sponsoring a Ten minute rule bill on Tuesday that would introduce a requirement for clearer country of origin labelling on food. Currently food produced overseas can be labelled as "British" just because it was packaged in the UK.The Liberal Democrats this week announced their 'New Deal' for British food, which includes proposals to create a
Those members of the Plaid Cymru Assembly Group who keep falling back on the excuse that times are hard and the Barnett formula is unfair as an excuse for underfunding local government and education amongst others may well benefit from reading this article. The writer suggests that an essential element in efffective leadership is being able to identify the icebergs ahead and take appropriate avoidance action. It goes on: 'Wales is not bankrupt. The question for politicians is where to invest the scarce and finite funds. Is it to be headline-grabbing projects or the baseline funding required to maintain the ...
This story in the South Wales Evening Post demonstrates that data does not have to be held electronically to be misplaced. In this case a large pile of files were discovered near the entrance of Morriston Hospital's dental outpatients department by members of Swansea Community Health Council (CHC). What it does do however is to underline the need for robust procedures to manage the data, no matter what format it is held in.
If a car is parked on a road where it holds up traffic it can cause long tailbacks and traffic jams, particularly in the rush hour. Traffic jams lead people to believe we need new roads. Every now and then someone suggests having a road instead of a wood, Park Wood. That's why I'm looking forward to the new parking officers beginning work. Coming soon. If fewer cars are parked where they'll cause traffic jams it'll help to protect Park Wood by freeing up routes through town. I do wonder why build-outs are considered a good idea though. And I ...
The Conservatives asked the general public to pick a candidate for them to fight Benthnal Green and Bow and then once the public had chosen a candidate they delayed the process and are now going to pick another candidate after June's election on their own accord. I don't understand why they didn't pick the candidate the general public wanted, or is it the person wasn't what the hierarchy had in mind. The candidates at the Open Primary were: Andrew Charalambous Hasan Ali Imam Claire Palmer So which of the above were not candidates the Tories preferred, my guess is it ...
I blogged before about the proverb 'the grass is always greener'. Since then I've come across this article in the Electronic Journal of International Proverb Studies (no, me neither). Apparently the Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs traces this to a 1545 proverb, "The corne in an other mans ground semeth euer more fertyll and plentifull [...]
Sharing the agenda for Scottish Lib Dem Conf on 12seconds.tv
You join us, dear reader, sat around a table in a room in Portcullis House, wondering whether to eat another donut, and talking to Vince Cable. If you want to know how this came about, read part 1.Next to ask a question was Millennium's daddy, Richard. He wanted to know about the Euro, and whether it was likely that the recession would unify the Eurozone or split it. Vince didn't really know, so
Huge thanks to Lib Dem Voice for inviting me to speak at their fringe event on Saturday about lessons from the Obama campaign. It was my first conference and truly great fun - everyone I met was unfailingly friendly and welcoming. So apologies for the following ill-informed ranting! As a longstanding member of the US Democratic party and the Regional Field Director heading up Barack Obama's absentee voter efforts in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, I'm still in the process of getting my head around how British politics works. Fortunately, I have a lot of friends - both Labour and ...
I have just heard from officers that the Kings Tavern on Kings Road is set to have it's premises licence reviewed. The reason for doing this is to get several new conditions added to the license which stop the premise being used outside its licensed hours and therefore disturbing residents. We are very pleased to see action is being taken at long last by the Council after repeated requests by residents and ourselves. Glenn Goodall and I picked up concerns from local residents in the area about noise and other nuisance in January and communicated these to officers. The Kings Tavern is on the ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxbrzvwIZJQ What do you think?
Cambridge came calling. After my blog about unequal pay at Cambridge University - the Director of External Affairs and Indi Seehra, Director of Human Resources, came to Portcullis House. Having referred Cambridge University to the Equality and Human Rights Commission after seeing its voluntary pay audit (full credit for producing one) they were keen to tell me what steps they are taking to improve their gender pay gap. They said that they knew by publishing the pay audit they would expose themselves to criticism. And they were right on that - and that is why these pay audits should be ...
This article in The Register tells of an event yesterday sponsored by the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Miller. It was a discussion on internet privacy but what stood out was a confrontation between web inventor and legend Sir Tim Berners-Lee and the CEO of Phorm, the dubious web tracking company. Needless to say, Sir Tim was on the side of the people and all that is good and the guy from Phorm was on the side of, well, Phorm. This are very important issues and I hope events like this succeed in bringing them to wider public attention (hello MSM!! ...
In a vote taken behind closed doors. Forest Heath Tories voted to stop the legal challenge against Suffolk's closure of local Middle Schools despite being advised they had a better than even chance of winning any such case. Liberal Democratseven proposed an amendment that would have meant that any costs wouldn't have created any additional burden on the council taxpayer. They proposed taking money from the huge war chest of £100 000 that Forest Heath Tories are hoarding for a legal challenge to save their own skins in local government review. The estimated costs of any challenge on Middle Schools ...
Just thought I'd mention it. There's nothing wrong with the way he writes. But I just notice that he sort of signs his name in a sort of upside-down/backsy forth way.
Muntazer Al-Zaidi, the man who threw his shoes at George Bush in Iraq, has received a three year jail sentence. This is on top of a beating he apparently received at the time of the incident.If there was any justice in the world, it would be George Bush who serves the jail sentence.This was a democratic act which harmed no one. Even if the shoes had hit George Bush's head, I doubt whether he
Splashed all over the front page of yesterdays western morning news came the report that David Whalley Lib Dem leader of Cornwall county council is to stand down at the next election. It cited personal attacks against him as part of the reason but of course that wasn't the real story. I have met David on several occasions over the past few years, and whilst his and my Mum was still alive, we would often swap "Mum" stories whenever we met. This normally centred around the fact both his and my Mum still had quite grasped that we were in ...
CNN reported earlier this month: Budget concerns force states to reconsider the death penalty ... Amid a time of economic turmoil some legislators in Kansas and elsewhere say the price of justice is too high. They have introduced legislation to take the death penalty off the books over financial concerns... "Because of the downturn in the national economy, we are facing one of the largest budget deficits in our history," state Sen. Carolyn McGinn, a Republican, said in an opinion piece posted on TheKansan.com Friday. "What is certain is we are all going to have to look at new and ...
The row we never hadFor me theme of the weekend turned out to be the impact of Obama and the lessons to be learnt from the US election campaign. For many conference representatives however it would have been the policy moves we were making on education. If I felt these debates seemed overshadowed by other issues that is probably because of 'the row we never had'.Until the Federal Policy Committee
It doesn't seem many weeks ago that we had to launch a campaign to stop First Bus scrapping the 'express' bus services that it ran from South Gloucestershire down the M32 into the centre of Bristol. Hot on the heels of that attempt to undermine local bus services, the company has now announced a new round of cuts with no consultation - simply presented as a fait accompli. From 10th May the X27 will no longer operate. The X42 will only run at peak times and will be replaced by the (slower) 342 off peak. Incredibly, areas such as Winterbourne ...
Regular readers of this blog will know my delightful feelings on Ryanair. My uncle has sent this rather apt version of their safety card.
A quick note to say that the Cressington Councillors' surgeries will change their day and time from April. They are moving to a Saturday morning at 10 am (but staying at the same place - the library). The one on the 4th Monday of March at 6 30will still take place. It's only in April that the times and dates shift.
Islington's budget meeting (where Labour put up our council tax to fund universal free school meals) is now out on YouTube. It's shocking to hear Labour calling each other 'comrade', a real blast from the past. Don't they realise their tax rise will hurt far more people -and more vulnerable people - than it will [...]
People in Garston can't fail to be aware of the leaflet produced on behalf of Jack Allen holdings promoting their new plans for a waste facility at the docks. After the withdrawal of the original plans last year, the company has drawn up new proposals and a charm offensive has begun with three consultation leaflets (last week) and a leaflet. However the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (which is the body responsible for disposing of the waste that you or I put in our purple bins - and which people in other Merseyside boroughs put in theirs) has complained that the ...
Last night we had the Wolverhampton South West Liberal Democrat Executive at which I was able to welcome Walker Darke as the newest Liberal Democrat Councillor in Wolverhampton South West.
The British Medical Association can normally be relied on to demand people be banned from doing something they want to when it might improve their health. As far as the BMA is concerned, health trumps happiness every time. At their impending Scottish conference, a Lanarkshire GP, Dr David Walker, will be calling for chocolate to be taxed to get us eating less of the stuff and so become fit and healthy. As JunkFoodScience points out, the evidence to support the claim in any way seems somewhat...non existent. Is there evidence that people will become healthier if they eat less chocolate? ...
In the first it looks too difficult to call. Exmoor Ranger is my tip from the homegrowns, but the Irish raiders will probably have a stranglehold on the race. The second is another lottery but J P McManus should probably win it with one of hs four. I'd go for the favourite - Don't Push It - although there has been a strong tip for Buena Vista. In the Ryanair Chase Voy Por Ustedes is going to hack up having sidestepped the return against Master Minded yesterday. It won't be much of a price, but it will win. In the ...
A sort of break even day on Wednesday. The fantastic Master Minded hacked up at unbackable odds but wasn't the stunner of last year - mind you, that was magnificent. The race lost something with Big Zeb falling. We had a nice winner with Miguel D'Haguenet in the second at 7/2 early (went off at 5/2). And then Ski Sunday obliged with a 20/1 second place after my each way recommendation. So that meant a fractional loss on the day but the money still in hand to have a go at day 3...
Courtesy of the Hull Labour Party, from the May 2008 elections. You can't really argue with that headline can you? {Labour leaflet, Avenue ward, Hull, 2008}
Just before Christmas, David Heath - the Lib Dem MP for Somerton and Frome - came second in the ballot for private members' bills. That means that he has a fighting chance of getting a now Act of Parliament on to the statute book. On Friday 20 March his chosen measure, the Fuel Poverty Bill, has its second reading in the Commons. You can read more about the thinking behind the bill on the Liberal Democrats website and the Consumer Focus website. In order for the bill to make progress next Friday, a hundred MPs must take part in the ...
Whoops another SNP pledge has already run out of time to be completed. Having promised to match the Labour/Lib Dem executive school building programme 'brick for brick', having scraped PPP/PFI whilst dithering over Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), there is no time left. The school building has stalled since May 2007 when the Nats took control but the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) says that the minimum time from commission to completion of a new school was 3 years in East Lothian but the average was three and a half. The Nationalist Government has promised to commission its first new schools ...
In what was the most obviously-going-to-happen thing in the country. Lord Ahmed, a Labour peer was released early from prison today after being convicted of Dangeous Driving.
There are a number of things that are planned for the parts of Heaton Park nearest to our part of Prestwich, which will be coming for decision over the coming months. As your local Councillors, we need to know what you think, and what your concerns are, so that we can best represent you. Heaton Park is part of Manchester City Council, so it will be them making any decisions, but we can still let our views be known. Heaton Hall Manchester City Council embarked on a major project to restore Heaton Park in 1996 when the Council approved the ...
For me, there was one scene in the new Watchmen film that summed up its inherent wrongness (spoiler alert): if you've read the comic you will know that Rorschach is thrown in jail and escapes (with a bit of help from Dan "Nite Owl II" Dreiberg and Laurie "Silk Spectre II" Juspeczyk) during a riot. As he is about to escape, Rorschach spots Big Figure, the equally imprisoned diminuitive crimelord who had earlier tried to kill him, dart into a toilet. In the comic, you see Rorschach follow Big Figure into the loo, Nite Owl and Silk Spectre exchange a ...
I was a little disgusted by the Tories attempt to block the UK Youth Parliament from holding their annual conference within the hallowed halls. Fair enough to strut their stuff in the Lords, but let a load of YOUNG PEOPLE loose in the commons? Clearly totally out of keeping with respectable society. Well, I for one welcome this idea. Having had some involvement with them, I always enjoyed the annual gatherings - what an encouragement to see so many young people excited and enthused about politics! And I well recall banging on about the fact that given parliament was in ...
I am grateful to Ian Bland, Branch Secretary of the University Colleage Union for this update on the Senate vote which took place this evening on the future of the School of Social Care: 'Senate vote was 32 for the recommendation to close, 27 against and 6 abstentions. Although the vote is lost this is a surprisingly good result. Firstly, there are nine members of the Senior Management Board on Senate and no one expects they will vote against. Take this out and the vote would be won. Secondly, do the math and see that they do not have a ...
On Monday South Gloucestershire Council's ruling Conservative administration were told to talk to residents before ruling out residents parking schemes. Lib Dem and Labour Councillors made the recommendation at the Select Committee meeting responsible for looking at transport policy. There are already free schemes running in Thornbury and Kingswood, the Thornbury one having been set up to resolve parking problems created when the Council offices were built. The Cabinet Member appears to have considered only two options - introducing a policy with an extremely high charge for a permit, which he insisted would have to apply to the existing free ...
