Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Jim Begg at Dundee Cermatorium. There was a large attendance - it was a very fitting tribute to Jim. Blackness Area Residents' Association, Home Scotland and the City Council were all represented, along with Jim's family and many friends. Later that day, I attended the City Council's Audit & Risk Management Committee and - after two surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and Harris Academy - the main City Council committees took place in the evening - some 4 hours in total - and the main points are : * The SNP administration is ...
Good to see the latest policy developments on transport – one bugbear has been rail replacement bus services that take two to three times as long as the train journeys yet fares aren't cut to reflect the new timings. Once I was waiting for the last train to Stockport at Manchester Piccadilly. We were told that ...
Yes, the public meeting about building Egglescliffe School in the Park was packed to the rafters. Standing room only with every seat taken, and lots of people sat on the floor including some children getting on with their homework - and it is for their future that this is al about. The next stage is making sure the Cabinet take notice when making their decision! That isn't all I...
The morning started at what my teenage daughter used to call "silly o'clock" in order to get to the BBC Tees studio this morning. There'd been an interview with Dari Taylor earlier in which she repeated the untruths that Eaglescliffe councillors had never consulted with our constituents and that the school would fit onto the overflow car park in the Park. I was able to point out just how
This is the latest edition of our Gateshead Lib Dem members' newsletter. Happy reading!Gateshead Democrat Jan 10
I'm determined not to get my hopes up regarding the Chilcot Inquiry, but I have to say that I found Sir Michael Wood's revelations about Jack Straw's attitude fascinating. Jack Straw is an impressive political survivor. Aside from Gordon Brown, he is the only person who has been in cabinet continuously from 1997 to the ...
From The Sentinel newspaper: A PUBLIC inquiry has opened into whether a Stoke-on-Trent City Council election was held according to the law... In October, Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey counted the ballot papers behind closed doors and ruled a public hearing would have to take place in Stoke-on-Trent. The two-day inquiry began at Hanley Town Hall yesterday. Ms Maley, of Eaton Street, Northwood, lost out to Liberal Democrat candidate Dave Sutton after several recounts - by just one vote... It has previously been discovered that 742 postal vote envelopes were counted before election night, of which 26 were rejected, leaving 716. ...
The Save Kingston Hospital has taken off spectacularly - thank you to everyone who has signed or joined the Facebook group. Go to www.savekingstonhospital.org.uk to sign the petition and read more about the campaign.
Commenting on the report by the New Policy Institute showing an increase in the number of children living in severe poverty since 2004/05, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Redcar, Ian Swales said: "These figures are truly shocking. Severe poverty means 1.7million children are living in families who don't have enough money for basic necessities. The children lack basic needs such as a winter coat or a decent bed. "Labour has failed to tackle child poverty with its complicated tax and benefit tricks. Ministers seem to have run out of ideas. Thirteen years after promising to end child poverty the situation ...
A special thanks to Liberal Vision for posting this, it is the economic theories of Keynes and Hayek as rap. Listen, dance and then decide which theory best explains economic cycles.
"Mrs Jackie Glover has been removed as chairman of Southport Conservative Association by the Board of the Conservative Party for failing to properly support the general election campaign. Carl Cross, the Merseyside Area Chairman of the Conservative Party, has been appointed as acting chairman of the Southport Association with immediate effect." "Carl Cross said: Southport Conservative Association is united in supporting Brenda Porter, our excellent local candidate and is working to ensure she becomes our next MP whenever Gordon Brown has the courage to call a general election. We have never underestimated the hard work needed in such a campaign ...
[IMG: masterplan.jpg] Flickr photo courtesy of ell brown, Birmingham Today I spent some time with consultants working on the GVA Grimley Masterplan for Consett. I was pretty frank about the frustration I and many others feel at having a masterplan for the town drawn up after important development decisions have been made. I doubt if I was the first to make the point but having made it it is important to feed into this process because there are many other issues in Consett that need addressing. The county is spending £70,000 on this consultation. It would be mad for people ...
I've found the link to the Newsnight debate on the future of the Banks. It is not a clip for those with a short attention span but i do advice you to spend the 10 minutes to watch the whole thing.
The outgoing Labour MP for Blaydon today argues in the Journal for much more reliance in the UK on coal mining for our energy needs and champions "clean coal" technology to square the circle that wanting to sound both green and pro coal brings. Politicians are often described as all the same with very little separating them in terms of opinions, so I welcome this prompt to say how I differ from Mr Anderson on one of his most passionately held positions. Mr Anderson worked in the mining industry as an NUM official at the time of Thatchers government pulling ...
Mind you many of you may have thought that his part in the demolition of the Tory Philip Hammond may prove to be a defining moment in this General Election year
I was really pleased to hear the news today that the former Dairy Farmers of Great Britain creamery in Blaydon has been bought out by Medina Dairies, Britain's largest independent dairy group, and the announcement that production will start soon, with 50 jobs initially. This is good news for the economy of Blaydon and hopefully lead to more jobs in the future. Losing the Dairy Farmers of Great Britain creamery was a blow for local people. Hopefully the plant will prosper under its new owners. I still believe more could have been done by the council and government to save ...
The Sun reports today, with unsubtle snideness, on a new Channel 4 documentary, Tower Block Of Commons, in which 'four pampered MPs were reduced to tears and tantrums when they swapped their grace and favour lifestyles for eight days living on a council estate.' One of the MPs who took part is Lib Dem MP Mark Oaten, who is standing down at the next election. Here's how the paper reports his experience: In the first of the four-part series, the programme begins with Winchester MP Mark Oaten cleaning out his pool at his Hampshire pile and musing about what life ...
Tue 26th
21:45
"people should be allowed to work beyond the age of 65" Equality and Human Rights Commission
How generous of the Andrea Murray, of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to promote the idea (on Mondays R4 Today programme) of the plucky British worker only too happy to toil till the day they die presumably. As a working person I must say I cannot really express my gratitude for this new proposed benefit to the working community, since I suffer from what I term reactive tourettes, which sometimes occurs when statements are made by the public sector "professional" classes about the working community as a whole. Presumably Andrea Murray of the EHRC will receive either a ...
Tuesday By a great stroke of luck, I spied land after only a few hours at sea. By an even greater stroke of luck, it turned out to be the By-election Islands - discovered and named by my very own great great grandfather. (He made landfall at a time when the natives were involved in a ceremony involving a box with a slot in the top and pieces of bark marked using an X by burnt sticks, and put two and two together). The British Consul turned out to be a decent sort and I soon find myself returning home ...
A: Nobody knows. Wokingham has about 2,800 council houses. It takes about £11 million in rent. And pays about £4.7 million of that to the government, to be distributed to other councils with council housing that are deemed to be in greater need. This is the Housing Subsidy system. That £4.7 million would come in very handy locally to enable the houses to be brought up to standard, to carry out routine maintenance, and to provide a good service to tenants. The Conservatives who are running the council have not exactly done a good job of managing the council's housing ...
I love the suggestion of West Ham United moving to the Olympic Stadium and renaming themselves West Ham OlympicJust think :* The club doctor would be Doctor WHO* Opposing fans could never chant "Who are ya?" again. Instead Irons fans could sing "We are WHO" * The Doctor Who theme tune would be a great piece of music for the players to run out to...Anyway, how did Marseille get the name "Olympique
All, Just a quick bit of advertising for an event coming up. If you'd like more information please contact Helen or Dave (their contact details are below). Regards, Philip [IMG: ts.jpg]
We have been out the last couple of evenings delivering the latest leaflet in Llandudno Junction and receiving a great response. Last night I arrived home and on the doormat were two reply slips, one offering to help and the other pledging support. I have been busy today with council duties and my thanks go to the people who were out delivering in Craig Y Don.
A child rapist repeats his horrific crimes over and over again and is given "concurrent" sentences for each of his further crimes. How can that be justified ? If criminals at any level are allowed to believe that repeating their crimes does not result in a suitably larger punishments, what is the point of our justice system ?
The British social attitudes survey has found that whilst the Tories, for the first time in around 20 years, have more support than Labour, people's values and attitudes are actually becoming more liberal. I don't personally view the Tories as being liberal in any sense of the word. They oppose popularist measures such as ID schemes, but ...
So reports the Liverpool Daily Post: The Labour party has descended into civil war over Luciana Berger's success in winning the candidacy for Wavertree. Last night Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle broke cover branding Miss Berger a "student politician" and questioned her support for Israel, views she shares with Jane Kennedy, the outgoing Wavertree MP who supported her campaign. Mr Kilfoyle and Ms Kennedy may well have history, but his intervention has merely added fuel to a fire that was already alight since the decision was announced on Sunday. He has given voice to a feeling of discontent shared with others ...
I suppose politicians had it coming, but I really wish that Karma had a better aim. I think it was aiming for Mr Chaytor, but it's hit me square in the face. Courtesy of a cock-up at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and an equally momentous one by the company handling the payroll at work, I have had more than double the normal amount of Income Tax removed from this month's salary, rendering it virtually worthless and meaning that I am plunged into the type of "heat or eat" dilemma faced by lots of other people. It's like I've ...
Last nights town council meeting was a productive affair, setting the year's increase in the parish precept up 1.92% for a Band D property, or an extra £2.43 a year. Plenty of value from the Lib Dem run council in a year that will see building of a new pavilion for the bowls club and footballers, and completion of two new playgrounds. But the smallest item on the agenda produced possibly the biggest annoyance of the evening. Late last year we were told (i.e. not asked) that the town would be getting a giant beech nut (even though artistic licence ...
My main task today was to go to Whickham to have a meeting with local police, neighbourhood wardens, environmental services and neighbourhood officers to discuss anti-social behaviour in the area. Last year, after discussions with the police, we carried out a survey of 500 homes in the area nearest some of the hotspots and got replies from over 100. My colleague, Cllr Peter Craig put a report
The county council's model for asset management - ie which road gets repaired first - was roundly criticised by Chris White this evening. The model relies upon various factors, including traffic and HGV use. Officials admitted that there are not comprehensive traffic counts and that St Albans had more traffic than many other parts of the county. They stated that they assumed that HGV use was even ie the more general traffic the more HGV use there would be. Chris cited various roads in his division which had heavy HGV use - disproportionate to normal traffic (eg Clarence Road, Spencer ...
I write this, my first mobile blog post from the warm sanctuary of a 91 bus to Goldsworth Park after yet another hellish train journey courtesy of britains worst rail company, South West Trains. Ever since the snow fell in early January thousands of commuters like me, who struggle every day to make the journey ...
The Guardian's monthly ICM poll, published today, asks a couple of intriguing questions. For a start, we discover where Lib Dem supporters perceive they sit within the class system (however self-defined) – 50% say they are middle-class, and 48% that they are working-class. This compares with 38% middle-class to 61% working class for Labour; and 56% to 39% for the Tories. (Slightly bizarrely, it turns out the Lib Dems have more supporters who identify themselves as upper-class (2%) than the Tories do (1%); the poll's margin of error may explain that finding.) But the ICM/Guardian question which interested me most ...
I received in the post today a copy of The Passion and Death of Rahman the Kurd, by the Venezuelan writer Carol Prunhuber, for which I had written a pre-review: This is a thorough and very readable account of the inspiring leadership of the Iranian Kurds by Abdullah Rahman Ghassemlou; of his treacherous assassination by the Iranian regime in Vienna 30 years ago, and the failure of the Austrian police to bring the killers to justice. Ms Prunhuber shows clearly that Iran had a deliberate policy of murdering the regime's opponents, and Ghassemlou was a prime target. We know how ...
Drop Haiti's Debt: Sign the petition online now Christian Aid is responding to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, they have launched an emergency appeal and are working with their partners in the field to deliver aid. At a time when Haiti has been hit by the worst disaster in its history, it needs long-term support as well as emergency financial assistance, not loans with strings attached, if it is to ever rebuild. Please join their call for the full cancellation of Haiti's debt of $890m, and for all emergency and development funds to be given not loaned. Drop Haiti's Debt: ...
The American blogger Self-Styled Siren has a terrific tribute to the British actress who died a few days ago.
Herts Highways was criticised this evening for failing to action various demands made by elected members a their meeting in the autumn. Herts Highways had failed: - to review salt bins and seek new sites from members - to bring forward any plans to restore the paving in the Hart Road area of the city, which had been replaced by black top in contravention of the county council's own published policies.
Tue 26th
19:20
Police stop TV presenters under anti-terrorism legislation - for carrying glittery hairdryers
[IMG: Anna Williamson and Jamie Rickers] It appears that photographers are only one of a long list of 'suspects' for London's crimefighters. Today children's TV presenters Jamie Rickers and Anna Williamson reported that they had been questioned by police under anti-terrorism powers – for carrying glittery hairdryers. The pair, who front ITV1's Toonattik, were filming on London's South Bank. Along with the hairdryers, they were also armed with children's walkie-talkies and hairbrushes. The Press Association has the story: Anna, 28, said: "We were filming a strand called Dork Hunters, which is to do with one of the animations we have ...
There is a bizarre claim on the blog of Lib Dem turned Green Jo Anglezarke. Discussing the David Jack affair she says:it confirms the view that many members of the Lib Dems are latent racists, many indeed defecting to the BNP.It would be interesting to know what evidence Jo has for her assertion that many Liberal Democrats are defecting to the BNP. I did link to Jo's blog for a time when she was a Liberal Democrat. But I recall her as being more preoccupied with appearing in Lib Dem Voice's "Golden Dozen" than was healthy and an occasionally prickly ...
Yesterday (Monday 25th January 2010) David Nutt visited Reading University for a talk organised by the Reading University Liberal Democrats. For those that don't know is a psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist specialising in the research of drugs which affect the brain. He served on the Committee on Safety of Medicines and was sacked as Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) after he disagreed with the reclassification of cannabis from Class C to Class B. He also received a lot of stick in the press for saying that "Ecstasy was statistically no more dangerous than an addiction ...
What a load of rubbish! Seriously, the waste strategy that Hertfordshire is preparing to adopt is fundamentally flawed, and this is an issue that should go beyond NIMBY objections to waste facilities in electorally inconvenient spots. What is happening across the country, and indeed across the rest of the world, is that mass burn incineration is on its way out. It is yesterday's technology, and a dangerous addiction, relatively easy to take up, but very difficult to get rid of. The world of waste treatment is a rapidly changing one, and there are many new ways being found to reduce ...
Jackie Glover has been removed as chairman of Southport Conservative Association. The Conservative Party issued the following press release on Tuesday 26th January:
Egged on by both Will Straw and Jonathan Sheppard and following on from the post I did this morning listing the 20 Lib Dems on Twitter with the most followers, here is a slightly different methodology. Edelman have a web application called Tweet Level which claims to calculate the influence level of Twitterer. So what both Will and Jonathan have done is take the Labour and Tory top 20 lists respectively and put each of them through Tweet Level and then reordered the top 20. I have done the same for the Lib Dems. The value in brackets is where ...
Jason O'Mahony was a former activist and candidate for the now defunct Irish Progressive Democrats. He now blogs on politics at www.jasonomahony.ie . Let's be honest. In the darkest chambers of British psephologist hell, beneath the pit of Parliament Channel subscribers, and even deeper than the cavern of sweaty handed 'I've just found a 1970 Enoch Powell election poster. In crisp condition!' enthusiasts, there is a special place reserved for Proportional Representation aficionados. Even amongst political anoraks and people who feel passionately about Peter Snow they are the underclass. Of course, as an Irish political activist, who has lived his ...
The Local Government Association, the organisation representing almost all councils, is campaigning to get the Government to allow a surcharge on second homes - in effect a penalty charge because the home is not being used as a primary residence. For many areas, Cornwall included, second homes are a blight. Houses are taken out of circulation and communities threatened. Houses prices often rise to beyond the reach of locals and village shops and schools close as the second home owners either never, or very rarely, use them. Because of this impact on local communities, I agree that councils should be ...
Stop press.. news just reaching us of the ousting of the Chair of Southport Tory Chair. More to follow.
When there's something strange in Northern Ireland's neighbourhood, Who ya gonna call? A Clinton. Yeah Northern Ireland has been at the impasse stage before. Leading up to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement Bill Clinton was in the White House. Now with the latest empasse which could wreak devolution in the Province guess who's getting in to give Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen a hand? Only the US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Strange goings on in Lancashire: 'Hyndburngate' spying allegations EXTRA CCTV is being installed at the borough council officers amid claims of a 'Hyndburngate' involving bosses being spied on. At Hyndburn's full council meeting leader Coun Peter Britcliffe accused the Labour group of behaving 'like the Richard Nixon administration', claiming documents were being searched during 'internal break-ins'. However the Labour group said the allegations were 'completely unfounded'... At the meeting Coun Britcliffe said: "There have been internal break-ins in which councillors have been snooping up and down looking at letters. "We do know that one Labour councillor was found at the ...
Thanks for various comments and emails about the proposed licensing hours for the proposed new Fortune Green Tesco. Please keep them coming and make sure to register any objections to the licensing hours with Camden. There are 2 applications - one is simply designating the premises supervisor and the second (details below) is the important one and relates to hours for sale of alcohol -its actually 6.00am-11pm . You have until 4th February to "make representations" which need to be based on one of the recognised reasons for objection - see Camden's website for these and also for the way ...
The nation's favourite economic guru Dr Vince Cable will visit Southport this Saturday for a special 'Tea with Vince' event at Southport Town Hall Local businesses have been invited. Commenting on his visit local MP John Pugh said; " Whatever your politics no-one can dodge economic reality and this is a chance for local businessmen to quiz the man who gets most predictions right on the road ahead. Working with Vince on the on the Liberal Democrat Treasury team I know how approachable he is and how generous with his time. With the economic outlook so uncertain nationally and locally, ...
Maybe as a result of fighting two General Elections against the disgraced Mrs Winterton (who often expressed social attitudes that Mrs Robinson (DUP) would have endorsed-especially about lesbians-)I am a little disbelieving when it come to the Tories adoption of Gay Rights. The cynics may think that David Cameron's apology over Clause 28 was just a result of seeing the polling evidence-echoed and reinforced today by the survey into British Social Attitudes -which confirms the great change in public opinion. I am willing to give Cameron the benefit of the doubt. He has at least apologised for section 28. Some ...
[IMG: Kirsty 2005 Smaller] Following the news that that the Welsh Assembly Government is to invite new tenders for the contract for provision of the North-South Air-link, the Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for the service to be scrapped before costs rise further. Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "The market has given the Welsh Government a clear message - even with huge public subsidy, no suitable private providers want to provide the north-south air service. It is now time to end this costly debacle before even more public money is poured into a service that is ...
[IMG: Richard Kemp] Tomorrow night (27th January) Liverpool City Council will adopt a council tax rate for the next financial year at exactly the same level as for the current year. A key component of that zero increase is the decision of the LGA and Local Employers to make no pay increase offer this year. In the private sector there has been a gross drop in pay of more than 7% since the recession hit. This is a combination of no wages (jobs lost) or reduced wages by cuts in basic pay levels, perks or hours worked. Workers as a ...
Ok forgive me for being a little confused here but how can a commitment ceremony carried out in a place of worship still be considered a civil co-joining? Well that is effective what the Government have agreed to last night, in the Equality Bill. It totally throws out any illusion that the Government consider same-sex relationships to be equal but different. Mix sex commitment ceremonies are religious marriage in a place of worship, a civil marriage when carried out elsewhere. Therefore to allow a place of worship to carry out a civil partnership shows that there isn't equality at all. ...
New figures from Save the Children have shown that Wales has the highest rate of children living in severe poverty in the UK. Commenting, Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrats Children and Young People spokesperson said: "It is absolutely despicable and shameful that children are living in poverty in 21st century Wales. What is even worse is that we have the highest rate of children living in severe poverty in the UK. I fear that as the ongoing economic downturn continues, many more children will be living in poverty. "Children living in poverty start life on the wrong foot and as ...
This afternoon a protest took place at LUU against the student unions stand on the university cuts. The LUU executive is urging UCU members to vote no to strikes and to instead take industrial action that will not affect students. This to me seems a pretty sensible position. They are also asking students for their opinions through a survey on the website which you can fill in here. Seems really pathetic that these students chose to protest against LUU. The university is the organisation they have the conflict with. Why not try to engage with the exec and the student ...
The St George's Crypt homeless shelter will be re opening soon at its improved city centre site. The Crypt has been located in Hyde Park at the old Roman Catholic school for over a year whilst the improvements have been taking place. It's really great to see a worthwhile charity like this working in your area.
I suppose it does take time to change signs but I would have thought that Plaid Cymru would be in a hurry to disassociate themselves from their former AM, Mohammed Ashgar, who has now joined the Tories. This was taken in Newport on Sunday night.
Regular readers of this blog may remember our campaigning last summer in support of residents living in the University area who's streets had become a dumping ground. Every year around the end of the University term residents report problems to us about rubbish going uncollected, bulky waste being dumped in gardens etc. We regularly raise this issue with Reading Borough Council and have been doing so since 2006 - but still the response on the ground has been lacking. Reading University has got slightly better on this issue, working more closely with the Students Union, but we have consistently argued that there could be a lot ...
Last nights public meeting received an update from Save Heaton Park Campaigners on progress and latest developments in the campaign. It's now expected to be likely that the application will go before Manchester City Councils Planning Committee in March. The packed St.Margarets Church House, saw a video presentation featuring another Goals soccer centre and more details about the planns submitted were provided. What is clear now both from the plans submitted and comments from some Manchester Labour Councillors is that this is not just about whether commercial sports ventures are appropriate in this or any other park, but whether it ...
Figures released by the New Policy Institute show an increase in the number of children living in severe poverty since 2005. It is clear that Labour has failed to tackle child poverty with its over- complex tax and benefit tricks. We Lib Dems will invest more in education to give every child a fair start and break the link between poverty and low grades. As for the Tories', they have huge gaping holes in their policies on poverty. A hodge-podge of tax cuts for millionaires and tax bribes for marriage would do nothing to tackle severe poverty when most of ...
Writing for the Guardian about Kay Gilderdale's acquittal, Sandra Laville tells us confidently: Until 14, Lynn had been a bright and sporty schoolgirl, who lived with her family in Stonegate, East Sussex. But after a BCG vaccination she was struck down by ME and within four months was unable to move from the waist down.I am puzzled. What is the scientific evidence that BCG can cause ME? And what is the scientific evidence that ME can cause paralysis?
Redlands Lib Dem councillors have today welcomed the news that Reading Borough Council has pledged to plant replacement trees in Alexandra road after 18 Lime trees were set to be removed from the ward due to ill-health. This follows an active campaign mounted by residents of Alexandra Road actively supported by local councillor Glenn Goodall Residents will be presenting a petition to Reading Borough Council this evening. Glenn has led the campaign in recent years in Reading to get more trees planted in local streets. He has challenged the Labour administration to do better, introducing a motion to Council in ...
Well the Chancellor must be breathing a slight sigh of relief. In his Budget speech in April he said: "I expect to see growth resume towards the end of the year." Well today's announcement is that the third quarter was one of growth, just, by a whoopingly small 0.1%. But it does mean that after 18 months of recession that monkey is sort of off the Chancellor's back. I suspect it is still clinging to his trouser leg though. So therefore he said we are on the path to recovery, though as George Osborne rightly points out this is "about ...
Whatever the deep roots of Haiti's poverty, now is surely not the time to lobby for a less-aid solution to the world's problems
Sent today: On the 12 o'clock R4 news bulletin there was an interview with Alastair Darling and George Osborne yet none from Vince Cable. Given that expenses are in operation for the General Election and that one of the parties `started the firing gun` earlier in January I believe it is only right that at each ...
Big Brother watch are running a story regarding two children's TV presenters who were stopped by police and had their details taken whilst filming a mock hunting scene for Toonattik. Anna Williamson, presenter of Toonattik explained to the Metro: "Jamie and I were kitted out in fake utility belts, we had the whole bulletproof flakjacket thing, we've got hairdryers in our belt, a kids' £1.99 walkie-talkie, hairbrushes and all that kind of stuff, and we were being followed by a camera crew and a boom mike and we get literally pulled over by four policemen and we were issued with ...
In all honesty, Cincinnati has been in decline for some time. A combination of thyroid trouble, gradual renal failure and a benign but growing tumour at the base of his tail has slowed the old boy down (he's about 84 in human years). Last Christmas, he was so fragile that we were convinced that he didn't have long left. However, the permanent move to the country last summer seemed to give him a new lease of life, as he prowled the garden, visited polling stations, and generally pottered about like an old codger. However, his various ailments haven't got any ...
There are times when it's difficult to get a handle on where a pressure group is coming from. Do they have sensible ideas (even if you disagree with them)? Are they based on good evidence and research? Is there an intelligent debate to be had? On other occasions it's just that little bit simpler. Say you wanted to reform British healthcare. Fair enough – you'd be hard-put to find anyone who thought it was perfect. So you and your colleagues, full of reforming zeal, get together for a bit of brainstorming. "How shall we get our message across, and persuade ...
Mark Thompson and Political Betting have been considering what the impact of today's figures for economic output will be on the election. They both highlight the fact that the next set of figures will come out on April 23rd, which would be just 13 days before a 6th May election. If they showed stronger growth, ...
Tue 26th
11:34
"That credit crunch ain't a liquidity trap, just a broke banking system, I'm done - that's a rap."
Back on my now-virtually-dormant blog, I posted a rap video from across the pond to mark the start of the US stimulus package, kicked off by the legendary George W. Bush. Now that we're further in these stimulus attempts, I'm delighted to bring you a follow-up, to aid your understanding of the ideological Keynes v Hayek battle. Enjoy...
Tue 26th
11:30
The Labour Party & Scottish Devolution, 1967-79: a case study in British political expediency .....
As trailed here, over the next few weeks I'm publishing 'The Labour Party & Scottish Devolution, 1967-79: a case study in British political expediency', the thesis I wrote as an undergraduate some 12 years ago. You can catch up with what's been published to date here. 'Beginning to be converted to the least possible': devolution launched The economic transformation of Scotland The increase in the SNP's popularity was, in part, the result of the transformed economic circumstances in Scotland in the 1950-60s; more particularly, the shift from reliance on heavy industries to consumer goods. For instance, Scotland's mining employment was ...
A few OUTers joined thousands of others at the photographers not terrorists event. I also bumped into a `celeb`
Today we have news that the UK economy has come out of recession. But hold on a minute, how much "funny money" has our government printed? How much growth has there really been? Do the figures add up? Well no, actually, not according to this interesting blog by Greg Pytel: Greg Pytel's blog on why the figures don't add up I accessed Greg Pytel's blog from the House Price Crash website: The House Price Crash website And with acknowledgements to today's Liberal Democrat Voice here is a comment from our own Vince Cable: "The economy remains dependent on artificial money ...
Over 300 people have signed the petition in under 24 hours! (Later - that's 600 now) And 700 people have joined the Facebook group. (Later - that's 800 now) This is clearly a very important issue for local people.
James Freeman, Chief Executive of Reading bus company, will available to answer all your buses schedule questions on Thursday 28th January 2010. We have booked the conference room in Reading Boys School on Erleigh Road from 9am to 11am, there will be tea, coffee and biscuits. I'll be by reception at 9 am, so I can meet you all there. Room is limited so please e-mail me if you plan to attend: glenn_goodall@hotmail.com
Commenting on Des Browne's admission that concern was expressed over the number of helicopters even before Britain expanded its role in Afghanistan, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: "Labour's slow response to a clear shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan has been shameful. Des Browne has admitted that there were concerns years ago, yet it took two changes of Defence Secretary before we finally saw new Chinooks ordered - and even these will not be available till 2012 at best. "This is yet more evidence of the Government's persistent failure to act on the needs of our frontline troops." ...
So, it's official: the UK has at last emerged from the most sever recession in 90 years ... just. Figures released today show the economy grew by 0.1% in the last three months of 2009, lower than many analysts had predicted, says the BBC. Here's what Lib Dem shadow chancellor Vince Cable had to say: The markets will be surprised that growth has been markedly slower than expected. Far from the quick recovery the Chancellor has been praying for, the economy is only just staggering back into growth. "The British economy has had the economic equivalent of a heart attack ...
The Conservatives now have two whole policies: giving massive inheritance tax cuts to millionaires; offering tiny tax advantages for marriage*. But what values link these two ideas? For example, Liberal Democrat plans to close tax loopholes for the richest, tax pollution and tax multi-million mansions will fund tax cuts of £700 for everyone on low and middle incomes (so you can make your own choices, unlike the Tory tax punishment if you don't follow their 'approved' lifestyle). Those aren't four separate tax proposals: they're all part of one purpose. Fairness. So I've worked out the secret motive behind Tory taxes. ...
This morning's GDP figures for the last quarter of 2009 estimate that the UK economy exited recession during it by a miserable 0.1%. And, as all us part-time mathematicians will know, that could be anywhere between 0.05 and 0.14. Doesn't seem much, but a rounding error like that probably represents several tens of millions of ...
Philip Ling has a good post on the logistics of delivering a constituency wide leaflet. I think the public often forget that most of the literature that comes through their door is printed and paid for by political parties and delivered by volunteers. There is often a misconception that state funding is involved but this is only true for a very small amount of literature (and, since the communications allowance has been abolished, even less). The amount of effort that goes into communicating with the electorate should never be underestimated. The public (rightly) expect their politicians to do this but ...
I can't resist sharing this. I've been assured these are from real church bulletins or announced in church. It's what happens when you haven't got a pedant checking your spelling and proof-reading your text :) The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. -------------------------- The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.' ---------------
Iain Dale did a list of the top 20 Labour and Conservative Twitterers this morning. I thought we Lib Dems deserved our own list for comparison. I went through the list of Twitter accounts listed on the "Tweets" page of the Lib Dem Blogs aggregator and pulled out the top 20 (in terms of followers). Here we go: 1. Lib Dems 7,6922. Nick Clegg 7,1993. Jo Swinson 2,6664. Vince Cable 2,3995. Lynne Featherstone 2,2266. Alan Belmore 2,0307. Toran Shaw 1,6078. Mark Pack 1,5809. Lib Dem Voice 1,54710. Phil Willis 1,35911. Lembit Opik 1,30112. Julia Goldsworthy 1,26413. Susan Kramer 1,25314. Jonathan ...
Ok here we go – what's the need for barcharts when Lucy Powell the Labour candidate in Manchester Withington states `the Lib Dems cannot win here` when a) there are mostly Lib Dem Cllrs and b) there's a Lib Dem MP! Of course, when you've presided over a huge recession and can't answer basic questions about ...
As expected, the economy has moved from recession to growth. Yet with a growth rate of 0.1%, it means we are bumping along at the very bottom, barely escaping recession. Gross domestic product fell 4.8% in 2009, the biggest fall since records began in 1949. So we are over the worst but there are big difficulties still in the economy. The next few months could see a slip back into
Today we say 'Happy Birthday' to the Special One - Jose Mourinho - who is 47, and to ice hockey's record goalscorer Wayne Gretzky, who is two years older. Nine years ago today, more than 25,000 people died after a massive earthquake measuring up to 7.9 on the Richter scale hit the Indian state of Gujarat and neighbouring areas in Pakistan. In 1998, US President Bill Clinton told a White House press conference "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky". 2 Big Stories Mother aquitted in new 'mercy killing' trial Yesterday Sussex mother and former nurse ...
So it is official, the economy just squeaked out of recession in the final quarter of 2009 growing by 0.1% according to the official figures released today. Of course that is good news although the UK is the last country in the G20 to do so. Mike Smithson asked this morning whether it could make a difference to the date of the election. His reasoning is that as we are now in recovery the narrative from Labour will be that they steered us out of recession *and* managed to keep unemployment low. The most likely date for the next election ...
One hundred days until the local elections and the most likely date for the General Election: May 6th. And, whilst blogs, websites, Facebook and the rest of it will play a supporting role, our real battles will be fought on the ground in Liberal Democrat held and target seats up and down the country. It will be fought with leaflets, target mailings, canvassing, posters, phone calls and getting the vote out on polling day. Even email – extremely effective at reaching local audiences in marginal seats – needs that ground work to build up the list of addresses in the ...
Hansard now have the transcript of yesterday's Lords debate on some Equality Bill amendments (Schedule 9). It is here in PDF format – the relevant debate starts on Page 15, which is enumerated as "1211" at the top left hand side of the page. They work for you have it in a format which is easier to read (no clicking "next page" necessary). The BBC have the first two hours of the House of Lords session on iPlayer, but unfortunately it cuts out before this vital debate. I'll keep an eye on it, and if they correct that problem, I'll ...
Canvassing in Hornsey & Wood Green this last weekend, there was a solitary, sodden Tory leaflet on the pavement. I picked it up and put it in a bin - as political litter gives all of us a bad name. Then yesterday I received this email from a local constituent. This is what she sent to the Conservative candidate for Hornsey & Wood Green in response to that same leaflet - and she has given me permission to publish it. Dear Mr Merrin I have lived in Shepherds Hill for four years and other than receiving one very apathetic communication ...
Some alarming rumours buzzing around that the Salford Advertiser is to cease free home deliveries. Salford Youth council announced the news on its website. Salford Online latched onto the story and so did a number of others. So far local Advertiser journalist Pamela Walsh has been quick to quash this story, however it's now being ...
I find myself with a Regional website to 'play' with, that of the East of England, and put my first piece of information on it last night, notice of the inaugural Conference of Suffolk Liberal Democrats. However, there appear to be a myriad number of ways in which I could make it more useful, details of by-elections, local party events, regional training sessions, links to Parliamentarians, the list goes on. I am, at heart, keen to enable. So, gentle reader, especially those of you in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, what would help you? Let ...
The Lost Heritage website lists all the significant country houses it knows to have been demolished, destroyed or ruined and also provides historical notes and photos on many individual properties. The photograph above shows Papillon Hall near Lubenham in Leicestershire. It was rebuilt by Lutyens in the Edwardian era but demolished in 195o.
From the Camden New Journal: THE Mayor of Camden, Councillor Omar Faruque Ansari, has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat group tonight (Monday) after he was questioned by benefit investigators. Council leader Keith Moffitt said he would remain suspended until "a serious investigation" was complete. It is understood Cllr Ansari was questioned by investigators from the Department of Work and Pensions today, although released without any charges being brought. The investigation, however, is ongoing. It does not relate to council funds... Cllr Moffitt said in a statement tonight: "Councillor Omar Faruque Ansari has today been suspended as a member of ...
In 1982, when the Tories were in government unemployment went above 3 million for the first time since the Great Depression, that was one-in-eight. I was at university in the North and saw at first hand the devastation that their economic and social ...
In chess terms the parties are in adjournment. Nobody is really sure if we are in the end game, or the more complex middle game at this point. Both Sinn Féin and the DUP left in the small hours without speaking to the press. As these are the two main players we don't know what their sealed next move is going to be. The bright news is that nobody appears to have knocked over the board yet. Although listening to the press statement from Arlene Foster and Sammy Wilson last night they seemed most likely to do so, already laying ...
Thinking Anglicans have the voting numbers on the four amendments to the Equality Bill yesterday. The Guardian reports on some strange goings-on between the government and the EU commission on the subject of this bill, involving a "secret" "reasoned opinion" document : The text of the document, which has not been made public until now, has led to criticisms that the government has told parliament and religious organisations that the law will remain the same, while assuring the EU the law would be strengthened. "This is a duplicitous betrayal of the rights of gay and lesbian church workers," said Evan ...
Yesterday saw the newest 'newspaper' on the block emerge in Scotland with former Editor of Scotsman.com, Stewart Kirkpatrick launching the much awaited Caledonian Mercury. This being the third incarnation of the Caledonian Mercury, the previous Caledonian Mercury ceased in 1867. "The Mercurius Caledonius was the first Scottish newspaper," says Stewart Kirkpatrick, "and as Scotland's first truly online newspaper we wanted to lay claim to the heritage of journalistic innovation." And so it is that Scotland's oldest newspaper is re-born as Scotland's newest. It is fitting, therefore, that we take as our motto, that of Thomas Sydserf. In his February edition ...
The English Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs, Hilary Benn MP, has indirectly set out a very strong case as to why his Welsh equivalent is wrong over the badger cull in yesterday's Guardian. It is almost as if he is offering sanctuary to those in North Pembrokeshire being lined up for extermination: My decision against a badger cull was made after careful consideration of the scientific evidence, practicality and public acceptability, following discussions with farmers, vets and wildlife groups. We have tried badger culling, but the conclusion of the Independent Scientific Group - based on the ...
Perhaps it's just me, but in Ros's absence, I tend to revert to my underlying night owl self. It is somewhat unreasonable to inflict such a pattern on others, but I tend to be most effective in the early hours of the morning. Musings on the Federal, English and Regional Constitutions, issues regarding Local Parties, amendments to the Regional website, all of these things can be done without interruption, and I can (eventually) sleep with a sense of achievement. So, if you get an e-mail from me at 3 a.m., it's because I've finally found time to read what you ...
It's now public knowledge that Barry Horne will be joining Sally Anne Johnson as both shake the dust of Nottingham City Council off their shoes. I have been a city councillor only six years and a bit, and in my time on the Council, we have had a small army of senior management leave the authority, not least three chief executives and one deputy CX. Now that these two senior managers have joined the club of ex-managers, only one corporate director remains in broadly the same post he was in when I started. Perhaps more curious: in all this time, ...
The most recent poll of voters shows that the Conservatives are "losing the battle over class" (see the article HERE). But probably more interesting than that is the data showing the Liberal Democrats just 8 points behind Labour – LESS than the whopping 11 points Labour is behind the Tories! One study says this would give ...
These annual awards are designed to encourage and recognise projects or schemes in the county which improve or enhance the environment, whether by fine design or craftsmanship, by technological innovation or education and training. The headings are: The Built Environment regarding building schemes that enhance the environment Craftsmanship which encourages the continuation and development of traditional skills Natural Environment and Countryside Improvement recognising planting and lanscaping schemes Waste Management scheme, ranging from restoration to recycling, from reclamation to anti-pollution Schools to show of their environmental initiatives Climate change scheme, mainly individuals or groups maximising energy efficiency, but any other innovative ...
I'm really puzzled by this article on the Southend Echo website: A CONSERVATIVE councillor says he is running as an independent in another ward this year as a "practice run".Jason Luty, who is currently a Conservative councillor for Eastwood Park ward, will be standing in the May elections as an independent candidate in Westborough.He says this is a "dry run" in preparation to challenging
Last Wednesday I received a comment about my motivation for writing blogs. I replied that I like to give my opinion on anything and everything and I also like to receive kind comments. I am definitely a carrot rather than a stick person. However there are some people who like to write negative comments and some like to tell me what I should be writing. I don't reply by telling them that they shouldn't be telling me how I should write my blog. Sometimes I am told that I should justify particular comments. I don't complain. I don't tell them ...
