From a party news release ahead of Jo Swinson and Lynne Featherstone meeting with representatives of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA): Commenting on today's report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists calling for airbrushed images to be 'kitemarked', Liberal Democrat MP, Jo Swinson said: "The Royal College of Psychiatrists makes it crystal clear that airbrushing plays a harmful role when it comes to negative body image and eating disorders. "Airbrushing has a really damaging impact on people's self-esteem and that's why we've called for a labelling system. "Making sure children are taught to be media-savvy and getting ads which feature ...
The final part of the story of the 1910 General Election, Michael Braham and I discuss the part that Land Tax played in the campaign
It was interesting that Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidates outnumbered all other parties' combined at a reception this evening at the House of Commons, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Environment Group. The Group's Chairman, East Surrey (Conservative) MP Peter Ainsworth — who is standing down at the forthcoming election — has been a stout ...
Two videos to round off the examination of the first 1910 election. In the first Michael Braham discusses the character of the colourful Liberal candidate-rumoured by some to be the illegitimate son of Edward VII !
New Labour's not so 'new' slogan (see The Sun for more), "A Future Fair For All", has interesting discursive connotations. My lecturer informed us on how back in their heyday, Labour became more focused on fairness as a buzz word instead of equality due to the words popularity amongst focus groups. Whilst this is not to ...
....And it isn't GREEN I have just received news from my local Liberal Democrat Councillors Borough Council regarding the 10:10 vote which happened this evening. It would appear that our Conservative controlled council has just voted against the 10:10 campaign which would see WBC pledge to cut its emissions by 10% in 2010. Already a large ...
Yet another article in the Guardian showing that the public is really looking for real, substantial, and fundamental change. The latest poll shows the parties standing at Tories 37%, Labour 30%, and we Lib Dems at 20%. If replicated at the general elections this would translate into 295: 266: 57 which would have the Tories 30 seats short of an overall majority. Now, given that we Lib Dems tend to go up 2%-3% during a general election campaign this is a healthy place to be, though obviously I'd like us to be doing much better. I've said it before ...
Following extensive public consultations, and many months late, it looks like the long awaited Stapleton village traffic management scheme will soon be a reality. The delay has been due to objections submitted about some of the extra parking retrictions, but the key features remain, including the traffic islands on Bell Hill and near The Chine.
In July last year I blogged about the cruel deaths of two Nottinghamshire police dogs, you can read it here. The worst part about the case, where two police dogs, Jay-Jay and Jet were left to basically boil alive in a police vehicle by their handler, PC Mark Johnson was the apparent cover up by Nottinghamshire police force and certainly a silence from them. Kevin Guise from the Police Dog and Mounted Section laid flowers at the site in memory of Jay-Jay and Jet. However today, PC Johnson was found guilty by Nottinghamshire Magistrates of animal cruelty and was given ...
I was appalled today to see the founder of the charity the "National Bullying Helpline" breach a confidence and state that workers in Gordon Browns office called the line. As a charity manager for a CAB, who are mildly (and rightly) obsessed with confidentiality, I cannot conceive of a reason for releasing client details without permission. The charity is actually a very small one and not part of the national network of helplines, the helplines association. I agree with Nick Clegg that the allegations of bullying should be investigated but this charity has breached one of the cardinal rules of ...
Fairtrade fortnight duly launched at BBC Tees this morning, encouraging people to swap from unfairly traded tea which leads to exploitation and in extreme cases starvation for fairtrade tea which leads to self reliance, better living conditions and a more sustainable world.The large inflatable mug provided by Middlesbrough Fairtrade partnership made an eyecatching corner to our display.I
South Norfolk parliamentary candidate, Jacky Howe, has blasted the decision to make Norwich a Unitary Authority as 'leaving the people of South Norfolk with no say in their city's affairs'. Jacky, who is hoping to be elected as MP for South Norfolk in the next General Election, fears that people in South Norfolk, many of whom have close connections with the county's capital through work and leisure activities, will be prevented from having any say in its future. Jacky comments, "The news of this decision is breathtaking in its arrogance and cynicism. While I do support the idea of Unitary ...
Last week we revealed the exciting news that Hermann Göring may have received some of his education in the Rutland village of South Luffenham. So how are your researches coming along? Nothing more on Göring so far, but I can reveal that... Yes! ...Matt Monro was evacuated to South Luffenham during the war as a boy. Frankly, I hoped for more than that.
I recently reported feedback from Digital Radio UK recently about my concerns regarding proposed the digital radio switchover. I have been speaking with Adam Findlay, Managing Director of Wave 102 in Dundee (and Original 106 in the Grampian region) and Adam has responded as follows : Councillor Macpherson has passed me your correspondence for a response. The views you express are not those of the industry and it is a concern to see correspondence of this nature be so freely released purporting to be a 'cross sector' set of views when they are not. You are a campaign group funded ...
Earlier today I bought a book that contains many of the posters that designers created during Obama's election campaign. It inspired me to have a go myself, and you can see my attempt below. It's admittedly far from perfect, but having said that I'm far from being a professional designer! ...
Watching todays' 'bullygate' unfold it is very clear that other forces are at play outside of the fundamental question of whether Gordon Brown is or is not a bully. Two points strike me in all this. The damage that this episode has had on the work and reputation of other more reputable charities who work hard ...
News that another village shop in Benson has been lost will be a huge blow to residents. Villages rely on their local businesses to keep them vibrant and when shops and pubs close villages can become little more than commuter zones. Benson is lucky to retain a busy local community using the school, village hall and recreation facilities and the remaining local shops but every loss of a rural amenity is a challenge to communities. In my village we have worked hard to reopen and maintain our village shop. It has been a huge effort and I am pleased to ...
Stagecoach will be putting up it's prices on the 28th February. The new prices will be;Dayrider - £3.40 (+10p, +3%)Dayrider Plus - £5.20 (+20p, +4%)Family Dayrider Plus - £5.70 (+20p, +3.5%)Megarider - £11.50 (+50p, +4.5%)Megarider Plus - £20.50 (+50p, +2.5%)The announcement is available here (from Stagecoach's website). It's disappointing that in a time of economic hardship for residents across the region the bus provider in the area is raising fares. Especially when looking at it's published accounts Stagecoach managed to turn a £205m profit in 2008 into a £227m profit in 2009 - clearly escaping many of the effects of ...
The Telegraph reports that shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke is going to Brussels tomorrow for "secret talks" with members of the European Commission: Mr Clarke, who will be accompanied by Mark Prisk and John Penrose, junior shadow business ministers, is expected to seek concessions on financial and employment regulations during the meetings, which are not listed on the European Commission's official diary. Fiona Hall MEP, Leader of the European Liberal Democrats, said, The question is what deal will he do? Will he sell out his own beliefs or those of his anti-European colleagues? and suggested that such secret talks meant ...
Does it matter that David Cameron went to Eton? It does, but not for the reasons people often think. The fact that Labour's "anti-toff" campaign in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election a couple of year fell so very flat suggests that most voters are not terribly worried about their politician's social background. This is despite that fact that being "posh" was, until a year or two ago, just about the worst sin imaginable in British society. In as far as "posh" was used as a synonym for "educated" this was a pernicious development. It represented a foolish attempt to keep ...
It's all happening with breathtaking speed. One could call this: "How to self-combust a charity in one press-release". Let's take stock of the patrons who have resigned: Professor Cary Cooper (a man for whom I have the utmost respect) Sarah Cawood Mary O'Connor Ann Widdecombe (and here) That actually leaves only one patron: Mz Bratt. And the Twitteratti are working on her. UPDATE: Mz Bratt's management company have said that she (Mz Bratt) never confirmed she would be a patron of the charity and that they were surprised to see her name on the charity's website as a patron. So ...
Trevor is questioning the use of Web based surveys at full council and will report the response . There has been recent criticism of the consultations by groups and residents. There is a need for consultations to be more widely publicised! In the case of the Gypsy and Traveller consultation many residents, across the district, were not aware of the consultation. Even those living around the areas where sites were being considered! Using the web as the main method of completing the consultation could be improved! Those unable to access PCs, lack PC skills and those that cant readily access ...
A reminder, if you've been putting it off, that you only have until midnight tonight to vote in the Power 2010 online poll: What 5 reforms will bring real change to UK democracy? You can vote for as many reforms as you like, but just once for each reform. The top 5 ideas become the POWER2010 Pledge - the backbone of our nationwide campaign for change at the next election. Vote now. You can see which five proposals are leading at the moment, and as Mark has already blogged, it's worth bearing in mind the options you don't like, as ...
The consultation on Gypsy and Traveller sites has now finished. There has been concerns raised by residents about the poor communication of the consultation and the fact it was promoted as a web based consultation . Ray and Trevor send out an emergency leaflet to those most affected by the proposed Abbey Barn site to raise awareness of the consultation. Trevor submitted a statement on behalf of residents to council " We cannot support Abbey Barn North as a site for Gypsies and Travellers -In the Imagine the Future consultation it was recommended that the area should not be used ...
The theatre of Cambridge City Full Council is being held this Thursday at the Guildhall. The meeting is important as it is the one that agrees the budget for next year. Anyone who wishes to attend is more than welcome to do so, and if you wish to ask a question or bring a petition you can find out more details about these from Committee Services. (I'm sure Neil and I will tweet highlights of the meeting at @nmcgovern and @cllrmikepitt)
[IMG: Crownhill team 27] Plymouth city council has an abysmal record on recycling. At the last count, the percentage of the city's waste that is recycled or composted fell - from 30.8% to 29.7%. Added to that, the actual amount of waste recycled and the amount composted both fell too: recycled waste was down from 28,362 to 24,722 tonnes, and composted waste was down from 9,585 to 9,457 tonnes. As Siskel and Ebert would have said: "two thumbs way down". The council is already missing its own targets. The plan was to recycle or compost 31% of waste in 2008/09; ...
Cornwall Council has announced that Peter Lewis, the Director of Corporate Support, is to leave his post on 11th March. I have always found Mr Lewis to be very capable and supportive of members and will be sorry to see him go. But the manner of his departure and the reasons being given have raised more questions than answers. In a statement sent to councillors and now to the press, Chief Exec Kevin Lavery says: "Over recent months, and particularly during discussions about the council's business plan, budget and improvement agenda, Peter Lewis has expressed a desire to sharpen the ...
Local Lib Dems are urging people to have their say on a plan to use the North East of Regent's Park, near Parkway, as the site for a giant screening for 20,000 football fans to watch the 2010 World Cup. The proposal would run for a month and could see the area used until 10pm, including ...
On March 4th the Council's Strategic Planning Committee will be debating the application from Sita for the new waste transfer station at Bangors Lane on Pennygillam Industrial Estate. You can find the papers for the meeting here. The application is the only substantive item on the agenda, yet the meeting is set to take place in Truro - 48 miles away from the town affected. For those who want to object to the application, those who want to support it or just those who are interested and find out more, this is an enormous and unnecessary journey. I have written ...
The website for Hobsons, the brewers from Cleobury Mortimer, has an article on the Sun Inn in Leintwardine. This historic "parlour pub" was kept by the country's longest-serving landlady, Flossie Lane, until she died last June at the age of 94. It now has new owners who are committed to running it as "a kind of living museum where good beers can be enjoyed in a historic environment." The Hobsons page has a BBC video about the Sun Inn which starts playing as soon as you land there. You can find it if you scroll down to the bottom. Leintwardine? ...
With thanks to Stephen Glenn for highlighting this. It's hard to imagine stronger condemnation of the National Bullying Helpline than this on the website of Bullying UK, another anti-bullying charity: Bullying UK is horrified at a story in today's Daily Mail in which the National Bullying Helpline CEO Christine Pratt all but identifies someone from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office who contacted her helpline for confidential help. Mrs Pratt tells the Daily Mail: "At least one of the callers who we were in correspondence with was suffering from work-related stress and had time out of the office." Gordon Brown's office ...
I've learned that the Eyre Estate's plans for the Barracks have been knocked back again, albeit this time with a nod that they'll probably be approved next time round. At a planning committee meeting last week, there was a mixed response to the already revised plans, which only reduced the density by 6% and are aiming ...
A reminder, if you've been putting it off, that you only have until midnight tonight to vote in the Power 2010 online poll: What 5 reforms will bring real change to UK democracy? You can vote for as many reforms as you like, but just once for each reform. The top 5 ideas become the POWER2010 Pledge – the backbone of our nationwide campaign for change at the next election. Vote now. You can see which five proposals are leading at the moment, and as Mark has already blogged, it's worth bearing in mind the options you don't like, as ...
Two planning applications this week. First one is in Unit 3 Kings Court, Kirkwood Road for "Installation of one fascia sign (non-illuminated), one hoarding sign (verge sign) and one captive balloon". An unusual application! The reference is 10/0072/ADV. The second is for a single storey front extension to 173 King's Hedges Road. The reference is 10/0108/FUL. As usual get in contact with the planning officers, instructions on how to comment are on the development control webpages of the City Council. As always any difficulties get in touch with us and we'll try to help.
Linda Jack has an excellent post on the Brown/staff scenario. It is interesting to reflect on the contrast between Brown and the two previous PMs – Major and Blair. Apparently, both were unfailingly courteous to staff. It seems clear from the Rawnsley first serialisation and various other anecdotes that the root of Brown's frustration is that he could not manage his way out of a paper bag to save his life. He can't delegate and he can't prioritise (e.g reports that he phoned minions early in the morning to ask about minute details) ....Oh and he can't really communicate. That's ...
I understand that there is an argument to say that the National Bullying Helpline's Chief Executive, Christine Pratt has broken callers confidentiality to a point and this does have its own implications. However when Downing Street denies the bullying claims made by Mr Rawnsley's book (extracts here) where the head of the Civil Service had a private word with the Prime Minister over his behaviour. If you knew differently and you believe there should be consequences for bullying then I can see how Christine Pratt could be compelled to say something on the matter. I for one do believe Christine ...
Is it any wonder that people so distrust central government and the whole circus of Westminster politics when decisions that seem obvious to everyone else suddenly happen with a General Election just weeks away. The government today announced that the early release of prisoners would cease in the next few weeks, many would argue this is a cynical policy just to appeal to voters in time for the general election campaign. No wonder so many people have lost patience with this government.
There is far less disagreement than meets the eye on fiscal options.
For the last few months, Power 2010 have been consulting the public on the reforms they'd like to see to make politics fairer. They first collected ideas and the voting process is in its final stages and you only have until midnight tonight to vote. The top 5 ideas will be part of the organisations pledge that they'll want candidates in the to sign up to. The top 5 at the moment are: A proportional voting system (ie not the Alternative vote, or first past the post) Scrapping ID cards and rolling back the database state A fully elected second ...
Sunday: Once upon a time, there lived three lovely pantomime characters: First there was HARD LABOUR ROSE, aka the Big Brown Wolf. She huffed and she puffed and then allegations in the Observer brought the house down on her head. Then there was AIRBRUSHED WHITE and the seven Old Etonian Dwarfs: Hopeless, Clueless, Worthless, Useless, Pointless, Sleazy and Bankrupt. Last but not least there was GOLDILOCKS, who tasted the other bears' porridge and found that one bowl was TOO RIGHT-WING and that the other bowel was TOO RIGHT-WING too! So she made her own porridge and that was JUST RIGHT. ...
at an event on the Post Bureaucratic Age #pbage
I have been following the consequences of the publication of the extracts from Andrew Rawnsley's new book in the Observer yesterday about Brown's temper and alleged bullying of his staff over the last couple of days. The first thing that struck me was just how determined lots of Labour tweeters and bloggers were to instantly try and dismiss the claims. They immediately came up with the #RawnsleyRot hashtag on Twitter and tried to smear Rawnsley himself. The various defences attempted that I have seen are that there is no evidence for his claims (Rawnsley insists that his sources are 24 ...
Tonight's Evening Telegraph covers my recent comments about bringing more civil service jobs to Dundee. I have responded to the negative comments by the SNP MSP for Dundee West as follows : "Commenting on the statement by Joe FitzPatrick MSP that : "It is hypocritical for Mr Macpherson to be making these comments when the Lib Dems at Holyrood are calling for public sector jobs cuts." Cllr Fraser Macpherson said, "Joe FitzPatrick has resorted to making it up, to try to deflect scrutiny of the SNP's failure to bring civil service jobs to the city, despite all the SNP promises ...
Two site visits today : * One with a planning officer and residents about concerns regarding the state of a building in the West End. * The other with the Police, Parkwise and a City Development Engineers' representative to look at parking and vehicle flow issues near the Sinderins. The City Council is going to look at the viability of an additional loading bay, which would help matters. We also discussed the parking issues near to Blackness Primary School.
Unexpectedly stranded at home and unable to attend a trustee meeting of Re:generate in Derby, I have had more time to follow Twitter and listen to the unfolding story of Mr Brown. Interesting just how party political this has become - OK, I know there is an election coming, allegedly........but I would like to think if this kind of allegation was made against Nick Clegg we would welcome an investigation even if we regarded the allegation as ludicrous. It seems to me Brown has a real problem though, all he and Mandelson have denied is him hitting anyone. He admits ...
I was asked by London Tonight which was more shocking - the fact that there was another child, who experienced similar failures by Haringey Children's Services as Baby Peter - albeit this time thank goodness not ending in a death - or the fact this had only just come to light - four years after the event. The first I heard of it was when Andrew Gilligan (Telegraph) 'phoned me to ask my view. My only view - was why was I only now hearing about this case - and from a journalist rather than being briefed by the Labour ...
One of the comments I often get from members of the public is that they don't know what the Lib Dems stand for. Some add as a corollary to this point that they know very clearly what the Tories and Labour stand for, and that they are stronger parties with something definite to say. We have to start challenging this, especially in the light of the recent to-ings and fro-ings (called "flip-flopping" by an increasing number of journalists) of the Tories. It's more like "you pay your money and you get your choice" with them these days. Here's a brief, ...
The University of Bedfordshire have a report on the visit to them I posted about a few days ago on their website here. My thanks agan to them for a very informative visit.
Well out in the freezing cold anyway! I was part of the team that camped outside Woking Station on 18th Feb handing out PPC Rosie Sharpley's rail survey to commuters on their way to work. We had a good number of people taking the survey, so here's hoping that we get loads of responses back! ...
Charlie Connelly is one of my favourite authors: a man so gifted that he only has to write a list and lo: laughter, rhythm, profound insight. I envy his milkman. His Twelve Tips For Writers is writing in a nutshell. Read it if you write, or wish you could. Then write. "There will be days when you read something you've written and you'll think it's the worst thing ever committed to paper or computer. Don't panic, and certainly don't delete the lot. Go away, read it again the next day, it will probably look better. It'll need work, but it'll ...
Over the weekend, whilst out dropping leaflets and canvassing in Goodmayes I spotted more flytipping in and around Goodmayes Primary School which I have now reported and will hopefully be removed shortly. If you do want to report Flytipping either let your local Focus Team Members know or if you have access report it through the redbridge i website under the report it section. Jesse Boucher Goodmayes Liberal Democrat Focus Team jesseboucher@hotmail.com Mobile: 07790022481
There are but ten hours to go in the Power 2010 vote on changing British democracy. You can vote, very easily. Takes barely a minute. If you're going to do it, do it now. BY CLICKING HERE In lieu of a grand "which ones should liberals vote for" post, here are some that I'd personally recommend voting for: Introduce a proportional voting system Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state A fully elected second chamber Expand the Freedom of Information Act Votes at 16 Post your disagreements below.
Howard's cartoon from last week's Liberal Democrat News.
If Gordon Brown is to be believed he and I have one thing in common, neither of us has ever hit anyone - although I have many times been sorely tempted. On the other hand I have three times been pushed around (assaulted?) by Labour councillors over the years, twice in Liverpool (by Derek Hatton on one occasion) and once in Oldham. I have also exploded in rage and resorted to expletives on occasion in moments of stress, although I can't recall a recent occasion. I was at my worst during the 1978 campaign when I first stood for election ...
After all the pr0blems that snow has caused to the transport system in this country in recent months, I was amused by the following story: The harsh snowy weather continues to cause widespread disruption to train and public transport services on Monday. A Government Minister has called the situation a "catastrophe" arguing that National Rail has not ...
Jock's Place enlightens us on co-operatives, mutualism and the state. The protests at Yarl's Wood immigration prison in Bedfordshire are covered by Indymedia UK. Unmitigated England takes us to a level crossing keeper's house in a snowy Welland valley. This week's Britblog Roundup is in safe hands with Philobiblon. The Blue Idea reminds us of the existence of the Glum Councillors website. And Andrew Reeves' Running Blog visits St Andrews.
Those who take an interest in economics will be aware of the Grameen Bank, and some will know that it is a Bangladeshi creation, founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus. For those of you who know less, Grameen Bank specialises in micro-finance, and started off in 1976, offering loans of as little as $1, allowing individuals to create self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. It has developed from such humble beginnings to an organisation with eight million members, having lent $8 billion to the poor of Bangladesh, and has inspired similar enterprises across the developing world. Recognition came in 2006 with ...
...it is becoming increasingly clear that teenage girls are a stand-alone demographic in crisis So says a report in Sunday's Observer, looking at the pressures faced by teenage girls and the effects it has on their lives, and it's far from alone. As Mark Pack reported here on Sunday, the Evening Standard and Telegraph both reported on concerns of girls becoming sexualised at ever younger ages. Just hold on a moment, though. Yes, teenage girls have problems. And it may well be that there are specific measures the State can take to reduce those problems, such as the regulation of ...
I received an email asking me what did I think of Gordon Brown's alternative vote suggestion? Well, it's a shame that it has taken 13 years and almost certain defeat for Labour to suddenly realise that there is something wrong with the electoral system but this is not the answer. Because the Liberal Democrats are, unfortunately, unlikely to form an administration and the Conservative party have opposed all constitutional reforms for nearly 200 years (see my blog entry of 30 June 2009) then the Labour party are one of our few hopes for reform in this direction. My objection is ...
Allegations involving misuse of Darlington Borough Council equipment and resources, and potential breaches of electoral law, have been made by one of my political opponents concerning actions taken by supporters of the other. Expect to read more about this as the week goes on.
Carers Partnership Board Mike Sexton, Acting Director of Commissioning had been invited to the meeting to talk about the NHS Sutton & Merton Commissioning Strategy and how the PCT had involved carers in this work. Mike was unable to attend so Audrey McDonnell, Assistant Director Joint Commissioning, attended in his place. As we had suspected carers ...
From today's Telegraph.co.uk in, "Vince Cable 'the people's choice for chancellor' explains his plans for reform" our guy says to Louise Armitstead: 'Before I go, I ask for just one more prediction: where's the bubble? Cable doesn't blink: "There's something very strange going on with property prices. The big correction in overvalued prices hasn't happened. There's been a partial correction about six months after the crash. But not a proper one. This is worrying." Let's never forget, Mr Cable has been right before.' For the full article see: Telegraph interview with Vince Cable
Like something you've read or watched on the internet? Sharing it with others is a good idea because: 1. It helps get the content to a wider audience. Whether it is to share the interest and enjoyment that you got from the piece, or whether it is for publicity purposes because you think it should be seen by more people, sharing the content via sources such as Digg or Facebook is a good way to achieve that. 2. Using one or more of these routes builds up a history for your own future use of what you've found and liked. ...
Lewisham Council in South London, whose chief executive Barry Quirk earns £188,000-a-year, spent £10,635 for six senior managers to visit £200-a-night Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa in Kent to discuss 'strategic leadership, management delivery and ongoing service improvements'. Read more Labour's got to go! Labour's got to go! Labour's got to go! They really think they ...
....I actually quite like Michael Portillo. His post on the Times Online yesterday made for a sensible look at the so called wind of change which, it appears is not blowing quite hard enough for the Conservatives to get the clear majority they want/need in the forthcoming General Election. You don't need to look at the ...
Professor Cary Cooper has just announced that he has quit the National Bullying Helpline (NBH) the organisation at the heart of the Brown bullying enquiries and concerns about the confidentiality of those who have called it. Prof. Cooper an expert in workplace stress told the BBC that he was "really upset" adding: "[As] a helpline or counselling service you never, ever reveal anything to do with when a client calls you in any way." Another bullying charity Bulling UK had said on its website yesterday it was "horrified" that Christine Pratt CEO of the NBH had "all but identified" one ...
On Saturday I listened to the Radio 4 afternoon play, 'Murder in Uzbekistan' about the British ambassador Craig Murray. He must have believed the Labour government when it declared that it would have "an ethical foreign policy". (Remember that?) I ...
Mon 22nd
10:20
Strong public support for electoral reform, weekend voting and fixed term Parliaments in new poll
The public overwhelmingly backs major changes to the way our electoral system is run according to a new poll commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. Just under two-thirds of people (65%) agree that, "This country should adopt a new voting system that would give parties seats in Parliament in proportion to their share of votes" and 59% support holding a referendum on changing the voting system used for Parliament. That later number is particularly strong given Gordon Brown's strong support for the idea; usually having an unpopular high profile figure back a policy makes it less popular. But the ...
Plans by the Conservatives to allow parents or private groups to set up schools in direct competition to local state schools have been questioned by academics and experts who have pointed to indifferent results in many of the schools in Sweden, where the party got its idea from. The issue of choice has also been queried, with a report from the Centre for Economic Performance pointing out that there is already reasonable choice in the British system. It seems that the result of this policy will simply be to dilute funding for schools, making it more difficult for them to ...
Signing the pledge used to refer to going teetotal (not something I'm about to do, although I respect those who have). But there are now pledges a gogo for us all to sign up to. Today is the last day to vote in the Power2010 ballot on which reform pledges you most want the next government ...
In amongst all the heat and not very much light over the Gordon Brown and bullying story, I was disturbed by this claim from the National Bullying Helpline's Christine Pratt: Ms Pratt added: "Over recent months we have had several inquiries from staff within Gordon Brown's office. "Some have downloaded information; some have actually called our helpline directly and I have spoken to staff in his office." My view anyway was that she shouldn't have spoken out - and certainly not said she saw something on TV, was angered by it and so picked up the phone to the media. ...
When I heard this morning's Today piece about alleged bullying by the PM and his staff, my unerring bloodhound instincts for detecting the stench of obnoxious Tory bloggers all over the story were awoken with a jumpstart, and sure enough it didn't take a lot of research to find the dead hands of Iain Dale and Dizzy Doesn'tthink helping to set the agenda. Problem for them is, though, it appears to be something of a non-story even according to their own research; and already we have Dale admitting "OMG we got it wrong big time". Lord knows I'm no defender ...
It'd be easy to dismiss George Osborne's "Sid The Banks" announcement as just another plucked-from-thin-air policy from a Shadow Chancellor swimming further and further out of his depth. And while those things are true and the blogosphere has done its usual excellent job of exposing the idea's flaws, we should reflect that it's not the first Tory policy announcement this month that suggests they may be embarking on their Greatest Hits tour. After all, from our position of 20/20 hindsight, it's easy to say that another public share offer won't produce a share-owning democracy because those in the 1980's didn't ...
Happy Monday morning everyone. Just 213 years ago today saw the Last Invasion of Britain: look away now if you don't want to know the result. We beat the French. The 22nd February is also the birthday of three of this country's greatest entertainers: Kenneth Williams (1926), Bruce Forsyth (1928) and Terry Eagleton (1943). But enough of such tarrying, and on with the main event ... 2 Must-Read Blog Posts What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here's are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: Everyone mourns Purnell: Giles Wilkes ponders post-Purnell politics ...
It would be wrong to let the events of the past 24 hours regarding the latest Brown shitstorm to pass without comment, so here goes. First of all, Andrew Rawnsley is probably one of Britain's best political journalists. His contacts within Labour especially are second to none. He has always been known as having his finger ...
Council officers earning more than £150,000 are required now to reveal full details of their salary package. There are strong demands for the BBC to make clear how much it pays top personalities. And the salary and expenses paid to politicians is already made known. So why stop there? If some council officers have to reveal financial details then why not all public sector employees? And why should such a disclosure rule apply only to the public sector? Let's make it universal. It's not as outrageous an idea as you might think. In Norway the tax returns of every citizen ...
I may post something on the bullying allegations made against Gordon Brown at some point, although given how much has already been said, one does wonder how much value can be added. However, my thoughts have strayed to something which is more a question of ethics, i.e. how much damage has been done to the National Bullying Helpline by this spat? Firstly, I don't buy the fact that Christine Pratt is a Conservative stooge. The idea that someone should set up an organisation in the hope that, one day, they might get some dirt on political opponents is too repellent ...
This weekend I became about the last person in Britain to see Avatar, the biggest grossing film of all time. The storyline was as banal and predictable as I expected, and, as someone who suffers from vertigo, I found the leaping around from tree to clifftop in 3D excruciatingly painful. But the special effects were incredible and there were plenty of moments which had me jumping out of my seat or reaching for the security of my girlfriend's arms! The bigger question for me is - will Avatar make any difference? Will the world's cinemagoers see it as a parable ...
Tory shadow chancellor George Osborne, has come up with a policy which he hopes will have the same impact as Margaret Thatcher's right to buy your own Council house in the 1980s. He has suggested a 'people's bonus plan' in which the public could be offered discounted shares in state-owned banks. He believes that the measure would be a reward for the £850bn of public money used to prop up failing financial institutions. Young people and those on low incomes would be offered extra discounts. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable is very dismissive of the idea. He said that ...
There is the danger of school closures again this morning. You can check your school's status here: http://www.imodus.com/summary.aspx?company=99
Chris is pressing for emergency repairs on the rail bridge on Victoria Street. He comments: 'I know that a full repair depends on the permission and co-operation of Network Rail and that rail companies are close to being the lowest form of commercial life. 'But the current pothole by the entry to Charrington Place is very deep and potentially lethal to cyclists.'
The BBC report further developments on the proposed badger cull in North Pembrokeshire, with yet another expert wading in to describe the Rural Affair's Minister's decision to proceed with wiping out the area's badger population as 'perverse'. Dr Chris Cheeseman, who is a former senior scientific adviser to the UK government and the retired head of wildlife diseases research at the Central Science Laboratory is quoted as saying: "I think the decision to cull flies in the face of the science," he said. "They've got to take account of the fact that it will raise the prevalence of TB in ...
I have done the London Marathon three times myself (slowly), raising money for Refuge, Amnesty International and the Terrence Higgins Trust. My total came to £3200 for Refuge last year. I'm definitely not doing it again this year, so I won't be pestering everyone for sponsorship - some will be pleased to hear! However, one of my fellow Haringey councillors who also did it last year is running again this year, so please feel free to sponsor her. Emma Jones, who is taking the training and finishing time of it all much more seriously than I did, is raising money ...
I've never met the guy. He must have been extraordinary, given the coverage you can get in the FT: Mr Purnell is that rarest of things: an MP who is interested in ideas. He was an excellent minister, combining a mind for strategy, an eye for detail and a knack for shrewd political positioning. Only ...
Preparations for next season are well in hand.
The media this morning continues to be full of allegations and counter-allegations about Gordon Brown's behaviour in 10 Downing Street. On social media sites the Tories are seeking to press home what they perceive to be an advantage with comments and different angles on the affair. Meanwhile, Labour bloggers and tweeters such as John Prescott are engaging in a combination of defensive questioning as to the authenticity of the allegations and distraction techniques such as links to blogs questioning the motives of the anti-bullying charity and references to other bullying allegations surrounding David Cameron's Head of Communications. Bullying of any ...
I was shocked like everyone else when the National Bullying Helpline revealed that Downing Street staff had called them. I was initially reluctant to believe that a charity would divulge any information that would compromise anybody that it had helped. Let's face it, if you had called them and you worked in Downing Street, you might be scared rigid today. Maybe even if you work in Downing Street and you hadn't called them you might be similarly apprehensive about what might greet you behind closed doors. I found it hard that an organisation would put its credibility and its charitable ...
For this year's Fairtrade Fortnight Stockport Council is asking all employees to join in with 'The Big Swap'. For two whole weeks the Council will be asking staff to swap their usual products for Fairtrade products. This could mean swapping their usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, their usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and their usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. This means that every time you go shopping, you can use your wallet to make a stand. The Fairtrade Foundation is hoping that over one million swaps will be made over the course of the fortnight. For more ...
News in from the Times Online website: David Cameron promised this week that he would submit to a "substantial" television interview. Yesterday the identity of his inquisitor was revealed: Alan Titchmarsh. The Tory leader is also in negotiations to appear on the BBC One One Show and is keen to be interviewed in Metro, the ...
After Gordon got up on Saturday to launch a campaign slogan the one thing he didn't do was launch a campaign.So the rumour mill has gathered heat that today being the first day of the working week he will get in his car and drive down the mall to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for a dissolution. Will it be or won't it? I may well jump at the first text message I get at work today*. Afterwards I may settle back to what I need to do at work, or start rearranging the leave I'd already booked off ...
Another day of successful campaigning and talking to lots of local people. Walking around Chorlton is a great way of picking up casework and things that need reporting to the Council. For example this morning I noticed this damaged litter bin on Ransfield Road. I've also noticed a great deal of potholes and poor road surfaces that the Council still needs to come and repair! I will make sure to follow these things up Monday morning. If you know of anything that needs the Council's attention please let me know at victor.libdem@ymail.com or 881 4139.
As you are well aware members of all the main political parties joined with members of the public on last weekends march from King George's Hospital to Redbridge Town Hall. It was a united display of anger at the proposals to close A&E services and along with Maternity services transfer the majority to Queens in Romford. Despite a number of Lib Dems being on the March, including Ralph Scott, Hugh Cleaver myself and others, you would think reading other blogs that we hadn't been there. So to disprove this, I enclose the links to the photo's that show otherwise! Lib ...
I am always wary of being unnecessarily negative towards our opponents - that is, after all, the job of voters on election day - but the latest scheme announced by the Conservatives to offer people shares in the banks supported - indeed, 'nationalised' - by the government can really only be described as a 'wheeze' which has not been thought through at all. Simple questions apply which I doubt the Conservatives will be able to offer simple answers to. 1. Why should British taxpayers be invited to 'buy' assets they already technically own? Why would a future government not simply ...
I recently came back from London and wrote about the traffic. I will write about the traffic again now that I am back from Edinburgh. The Royal Mile was a little slow but Morecambe to Lancaster is worse. Partly this is due to Edinburgh's very efficient system of public transport which usually meant that I did not wait at all for a bus and the maximum wait was around seven minutes. It was cheap too at just over half the cost of Lancaster's buses. The first time we caught a bus my wife asked if that was for one or ...
Politics is not all about struggle, and I was pleased to be at the Airbus Brabazon Hanger at Filton on Friday to celebrate 100 years of British aviation history. Simon Cook the deputy Leader of the new Lib Dem Authority in Bristol, who bears a striking resemblance to Sir George White, the man who started it all, doned top hat and gave a stirring rendition of Sir George's speech, which was greeted with enough applause to almost raise the roof of the hanger! Brian Mathew and Simon Cook in front of a Bristol Bulldog I could not help thinking while ...
