Everyone's in favour of the environment these days, even the Tories. Yet the planet continues to suffer appalling degradation and biodiversity is being compromised at an alarming rate. Of course, some of this is due to natural causes, but most is the result of the activities of humankind — whatever the climate change deniers say. ...
The terrible case of Lilian Rayne, a Paralegal who operated an organisation called the Swalwell Advice Centre and was found guilty in January of duping couples into paying her to arrange divorces and who then forged fake divorce certificates, emphasises the need for a requirement for any organisation that provides advice to have the proper quality mark. The Swalwell Advice Centre was not a registered charity or company and did not appear to have appropriate liability insurance or accreditation. It is shocking that in this day and age anyone can set up offering advice on legal and financial advice without ...
A quick update to my post which pointed out how the media had comprehensively misreported findings about how many people are registered to vote, painting an unduly pessimistic picture. The Evening Standard at least has now corrected its report.
Joy Clemance, Kath & Chantelle, Jane Devane, Vera Ormsby, Christina Dunhill, Nancy Clemance, Andrea Polackova, Jerry Clemance, Liz Purves... Thinking of you on this day in 2010.
We are told that David Cameron found out only about a month ago that Lord Ashcroft was non-domiciled in the UK for tax purposes. Before then, it would seem to follow, he believed that Ashcroft paid tax in the UK on all his earnings. So how do we explain what Cameron said in December of last year? Then he told the BBC's Politics Show: Lord Ashcroft's tax status is a matter between him and the Inland Revenue. What I can say and what he has said is that the undertakings he gave at the time of being made a peer ...
This is brilliant: If you're not chuckling immensely, you didn't grow up in the UK. If you didn't, then, y'know, ask for explanation. (via) Yes, I know, I don't post enough, I keep meaning to, so I'm just going to try and do it more [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments on the original post on Dreamwidth. I'd prefer it if you comment there[1] if you are able to keep the discussion together. [1] If you are reading this, you very likely have an OpenID.
I love it when people start off with "I don't know anything about X, but what I do know is ...." Here is an FT letter than annoyed me. As a non-economist, I look to the FT for enlightenment as well as information ... Oh good. And on a thorny topic: foreign ownership of companies. Because we hate ...
[IMG: Stuart with police officer] The number of times police officers in Devon and Cornwall have been authorised to use firearms more than doubled in recent years. That's according to official figures just released by the Government. Back in 2004/05 officers from the local force were given the OK to use firearms 71 times in that year. By 2008/09 that had shot up to 170. The same goes for the number of times an armed response unit was dispatched to an incident. Back in 2004/05 this happened 54 times in Devon and Cornwall. By the most recent year it ...
Last month, David Chiverton looked at the difference between classical liberalism and libertarianism. He had decided to join the UK Libertarian party and explained why. To a certain extent these things come down to interpretation. There are libertarians who are members of the Liberal Democrats and classical liberals in the Conservative party. The one thing that David failed to address is why some libertarians like to swear so much when they write blog posts.
Old Steamers alerts us to the existence of a railway on Alderney: The Alderney Railway was constructed in the 1840s by the British Government to haul Stone from the Eastern end of the Island to build a Breakwater and Victorian Forts. It opened in 1847 and is one of the oldest railways running in the British Isles. The first ever official passengers were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the 8th of August 1854, their train was Horse drawn. It carried on hauling quarry trains until the out break of World War 2. After World War 2 the Line was ...
Lib Dem shadow chancellor, Vince Cable tonight addressed Reform Scotland on the action that needs to be taken to reform banking and protect the economic recovery. LDV is publishing extracts from Vince's speech, below, including his call to SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond to follow the Lib Dems' lead and state clearly how the Scottish government will live within its budget in the years ahead: Banking We need to rethink our approach to banking. Successive Labour and Conservative Governments have left Britain vulnerable to an over-inflated financial services sector, where institutions became too big to fail. On ...
A couple of weeks ago Sir Nicholas Winterton gave a cracking interview on Radio 5. I happened to be listening at the time and was fairly slack-jawed by the end of the interview and the contempt and ignorance which he displayed for the general public who elected him and pay his salary and expenses. A report ...
Many people have been speculating on why the Conservatives have lost their edge in the opinion polls. One element has to be the way their messages are being communicated. This has lessons for all three parties and anyone interested in politics. As Peter Bingle pointed out, in his now famously reported email by Channel 4 News, one of the problems is that the party is using political language. That means it is talking to the political community. Most voters don't think about politics. As Peter said, the Tories should be talking about debt and not the deficit. That of course ...
As an oblique contribution to International Women's Day, let's have a look at the two Evelyn Cheesman I bought in Finedon. One is simply a biography of Charles Darwin written for children, though the biographical note after her name on the title page gives a flavour of the woman: F.R.E.S., Formerly Curator of Insects at the London Zoo, author of 'Marooned in Du-Bu Cove', 'Camping Adventures on Cannibal Islands', 'Insects Indomitable' This book, Charles Darwin and His Problems, is illustrated by Geoffrey Whittam, who was remembered by Bear Alley a couple of years ago. But the second book, Who Stand ...
I'm one of the very fortunate people of my age to have both my mother and my mother-in-law still living and enjoying some degree of independence. Apart from all the joys of having them still around this gives me an insight into the services available to our elderly population. Like most services, they're patchy. When they're good they're very good and when they're bad they're rotten to
I stumbled tonight on the Facebook page of the UKIP candidate for Woking MP, Rob Burberry. The site proclaims "£100 MILLION in debt and Woking Borough Council keeps on spending. Now they've snapped up Wolsey Place shopping centre for £68,000,000. Get ready for an increase in council tax! So what would the UKIP candidate do ...
With all the money from the tax dodger from Belize at their disposal Sefton Tories still mange to turn out some pretty sub standard literature. Here is a prime example. Not only is the content unremittingly negative and the design naff but a lot of the facts and insinuations are wrong. It was so deliciously bad that we did seriously think about volunteering to deliver it-our Tories do struggle to get leaflets out-unless that is they come by post.Click on the image to enlarge You can see the detail on our website at:http://birkdalelibdems.org.uk/resources/index/LeafletsI particularly like the bit that says Conservative ...
Mon 8th
20:50
LibLink: Chris Huhne answers Indy readers' questions ... on non-doms, leadership ambitions and best ...
Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne answers Independent readers' question in today's paper. Here are three which caught NewsHound's eye: Why are you sticking it to Lord Ashcroft when your own leadership campaign was part-funded by a "non-dom"? All parties take contributions from non-dom taxpayers, but the Liberal Democrats do not put them into the House of Lords where they can make law for the rest of us who pay full taxes. Nor do our Lords break solemn and binding commitments to become permanently resident and pay full taxes. Nor do our Lords fail to tell our leaders that ...
As the title perhaps suggests, this article is aimed at questioning one of the statements I've been hearing countless times from Plaid supporters, candidates, AMs and MPs. This question arises because of the Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill, a Private Members Bill which had its second reading in the Commons on Friday. It has the fortunate, ...
Further to my blog earlier about the PCS march today the BBC News ran a story on it this evening and I'm pleased that they choose to show me supporting local workers. I am shown here with my friend and fellow Liberal Democrat Luton South Councillor Lawrence Patterson. The BBC also showed fellow marchers and myself before we set off: Pleased to see coverage of such an important event; protecting jobs in Luton is at the very centre of why I am campaigning to become our town's representative in Westminster.
News from the Guardian that councils are starting to ban people from Tweeting at council meetings. In fact, some councils are going one step further. They report that Tameside council are accrediting local journalists to report from meetings using Twitter which, in effect controls who can and can not report through this medium. The Guardian also report that: The decision by Tameside council means that local bloggers, members of the public and even their own councillors are not permitted to tweet because they are not members of the press as defined in law by the local government act 1972. I ...
Today I attended the Strategic Planning Committee's debate on the application for listed building consent for alterations to the South Pier in Penzance. Sounds technical - well it's the basis of the application of Option A, the new route partnership scheme for the Isles of Scilly link. This has been a hugely controversial debate as the Council's Cabinet announced that Option A was the only game in town - quite literally. If the Planning Committee failed to give it the go ahead then the only alternative would be to move the link to Falmouth. It was clear from the debate ...
Great quote from Boris Johnson in tonight's Channel 4 programme Dispatches: Cameron Uncovered.
How fitting that on IWD Kathryn Bigelow should become the first ever woman to win an Oscar for Best Director, and indeed Best ...
The media frenzy that has greeted the news that one of the killers of James Bulger, Jon Venables has been taken back to prison for a 'serious breach of his licence conditions' has been nothing short of a witch hunt. I am one of the millions of people in this country that was appalled by ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 159th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (28th Feb – 6th Mar 2010), together with a hand-picked quintet, usually courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget, by the way, you can now sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox – just click here – ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. ...
I'd never heard of Denis Avey until I read this piece in The Times about his bravery during the Second World War. He smuggled himself into Auschwitz (yes, into) so that he could bear witness to the mass murder taking place there. What an amazing person - and a shame that people like him get so little mention compared to many of what passes for celebrities in the media.
Claire Young, Wully Perks (Vice-Chair) and Sue Walker (Chair) of Friends of Yate Station with Steve Webb MP at Yate Station Following pressure from local MP Steve Webb and the Friends of Yate Station, First Great Western have agreed to put on an extra morning commuter train from Yate in the new timetable to be introduced in May. Late last year, the MP held a meeting at his Yate office with First Great WesternChief Executive Mark Hopwood to register his complaint about overcrowding on rush-hour trains between Yate and Bristol. The company considered these concerns and has now announced that ...
On International Women's Day Grace Fletcher-Hackwood writing on LabourList has a call to arms to challenge the assumption held by some that politics is not for women.Ambush Predator thinks that Jan Moir is risking an even bigger backlash than she got from her Stephen Gateley article by seemingly taking on all mothers.Sara Bedford thinks Nick Griffin is wary of the issues and afraid of the Lib Dems.Sophia Parker writing on Left Foot Forward has evidence that the lowest earning households have been hit hardest by the recession.Ellee Seymour explains the concept of "The Hospitalist". And no, that's not a new ...
Congratulations to Lib Dem MPs Lynne Featherstone and Jo Swinson for helping to organise a panel debate this afternoon in Parliament – to coincide with International Women's Day – on measures to tackle the harm caused by pressure to conform to unrealistic and unhealthy body image ideals. The event marked the launch of the Campaign for Body Confidence. The panel featured Lynne (the party's shadow equalities minister), Clothes Show presenter Caryn Franklin, psychotherapist Susie Orbach and Dr Helga Dittmar of the University of Sussex. Other attendees included Girlguides, Linda Papadopoulous and the world's leading body image experts. Here's what Lynne ...
The legal firm Wragge & Co have put together a useful guide: 'Purdah' is a political convention, which formally applies to government ministers and civil servants in central government during the period immediately before a general election. During a period of purdah, ministers and civil servants will refrain from taking decisions or making policy announcements which are significant and may be politically contentious. But what does that mean in practice? Go and read the guide to find out. Short version: the laws and rules aren't that clear. If in doubt ask a lawyer. Surprising that from a law firm [IMG: ...
Given there is no sign at all that the Conservative's disastrous 2010 campaign is likely to improve, this question of the economy's performance with a minority governmetn will continue. A note from CitiGroup puts the case for the prosecution: There is no consensus across the parties on fiscal policy, while Lib Dem voters disagree with the Conservatives ...
A recent parish council meeting held on the 2nd March had to be called off after the public 15 minute question time because members of the public who attended the meeting disrupted it. The members of the public who attended the meeting believed that they had not been consulted. More about the meeting is reported here. The council received 240 responses, and it was advertised on the Parish Council notice board near the library. 240 is actually a very large response to a consultation. The council I suspect did not consult the roads around the Morgan recreation ground as this ...
In the past couple of weeks in Darlington we've had local government officers using Council equipment and paper to produce a flyer promoting the Labour Party's General Election candidate to teachers at a training event, and we've had the Conservatives distributing - and continuing to distribute despite warning - an election leaflet for their candidate which doesn't contain a legal "Published by..
Today I was pleased to pledge my support to the NSPCC and their General Election campaign. The NSPCC do such an important job protecting vulnerable children and to help them in any way I can is something I am proud to do. The Campaign is focusing on: Implementing vital child protection reforms following the tragic death of Baby Peter and other child deaths since. Continued funding for helpline services for children and adults concerned about the welfare of a child.Seeing domestic violence from a child's point of view. Making the internet safer for children. Strengthening the role of the Children's ...
A few months ago this might have seemed like a ridiculous idea but with the polls having narrowed quite significantly in the last few months with one recent poll putting the Tories just 2 points ahead it is possible that Labour may emerge after the election as the largest party. If things went very well for them it is even possible that they could just scrape a majority. I just wanted to briefly consider how things might pan out if that was to happen. I think firstly we would be stuck with Brown as PM for a while. Although many ...
In June 2006 Professor John Curtice, commenting on opinion polls and shifts in the UK political environment said: "It looks as though we may have entered a new political era". Andrew Grice, The Independent on Sunday's Political Editor, observed that the Independent's 'poll of polls' showed "David Cameron's rejuvenated Conservative Party [opening] a seven-point lead over Labour." The focus of their political analysis was the impact of a recently elected Conservative Party leader on UK party politics. Here was a leader who had set out to detoxify the Tory brand, and he and his party appeared to be making significant ...
The description I have given this blog in an attempt to succinctly sum myself up is; "The blog of Andy Strange; lutonian, liberal activist and occasional geek." The first two descriptive terms are understandable and accurate. But what of the third? I confess to having a moment of doubt. Am I really an occasional geek? Perhaps I am actually an occasional nerd? What is the difference between the two? I consulted the internet in order to help me to define my terms. Unsurprisingly the internet disagreed with itself. However, it did seem to agree that both terms are associated with ...
I have raised my concerns and those of local residents on numerous occasions recently about the condition of the former garage at the top end of Benvie Road that has been the subject of fire raising in the past. The building warrant to demolish the structure was granted back in October but there were delays in the owner/agent starting the demolition works. I am now pleased to note some progress, with works to demolish starting, albeit that progress is quite slow. See photograph above taken a couple of days ago - part of the building has been removed. I am ...
Tomorrow is the deadline for any extra comments for the Jack Allen appeal. Mine are in. If its too late for you to put anything in the post you can go to the planning portal (see link on earlier post) and do a comment on line. It's really important that as many of us as possible make our views VERY clear about this.
At the request of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, here's some information about their forthcoming Trolley Plant Sales. Two of the volunteers who ran the very successful sales last year are not able to assist this year and although the sales will be continuing, the Friends would be very grateful for any new volunteers to help - do please let them know - contact details in the notice below! FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE BOTANIC GARDEN Charity No. SC011808 TROLLEY PLANT SALES : Resume Sunday 28 March : 11.00a.m. - 2.00p.m. Donated Plants willingly accepted during week prior ...
Lee Green Councillor Brian Robson reports about the delivery of the petition signatures asking for better access to Hither Green Station, a much needed initiative to make a real improvement for our area, especially for people with disabilities. We able bodies sometimes forget how different the experience for the disabled can be. As this local ...
thanks, all of you, for propelling me into the top 100 (HatTip: LeftOutside who is setting the bar high). And in LibDem world, number 12, sandwiched between Jenny and Lynn. HatTip Liberal Bureaucracy, who is also piling on the pressure. Onwards and upwards, until RSI, writer's block and marital disharmony bring this (six month old) venture to ...
That's the title of a pamphlet from Liberal Democrat Equality Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone and published by the Runnymede Trust. It starts: Over half of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Black African children in the UK are growing up in poverty. Infant mortality is more than twice as high among Pakistani and Caribbean groups than white British children. Almost every ethnic minority group earns less than white British workers in the same profession. These are some of the problems that underline the need for a real, long-term solution to alleviate the vast inequalities faced by Britain's minority ethnic groups. The problems that face ...
The BBC are currently running a fascinating story about Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg's speech today which criticises the constant negative campaigning by the Tories. Nick argues that "there is nothing positive in the Conservatives' election strategy" and I quite agree! We need to fight for positive reasons - that's why the focus of the Lib Dem campaign is fairness! Read more about this story here.
It is now widely acknowledged that the Conservative election campaign is struggling. They have had several "wobbly" weeks since the start of the year with Cameron seeming unsure about the implementation of some of his own policies, dodgy statistics being used in a number of publications and most recently the Ashcroft problems amongst other problems. At the same time, Labour are showing their electoral mettle by sending in attack dogs like Mandelson and Prescott whenever they need someone to go at the opposition. And it seems to be working for them. We also have very strong media performers like Nick ...
I was talking about this at work yesterday. I still think it's the best advert ever, even though it is for the evil nestlé. Anyway, it turns out that Liz hasn't seen it, so I am posting it here: Enjoy. (link for those who don't do embedding) My March sponsor is the fragrant Mark Reckons, who will be getting a logo soon, I promise...
Yes, that's right, girls! We get a WHOLE DAY! And people say the aims of feminism have been achieved... Anyway, if you want to help celebrate International Women's Day (or, indeed, Women's History Month, if you're USian), you could do worse than volunteer to do some data entry for us over at They Really Do Exist. Or suggest some topics/people we should include. Or things we should post to the blog bit. Debi has been doing sterling work on the site so far, and II'd really like to thank her for that. I, on the other hand, have been a ...
I have just come back from an event organised by the PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) where I showed my support for their campaign to protect civil service jobs in our area. While addressing my fellow campaigners I raised the issue that in a time when the government are found billions of pounds for the war in Iraq, Bankers bonuses and ID cards it is outrageous that they do not have the money to support the local services that we all rely on. How is this fair? As a former Secretary of the TUC in Luton it is a ...
Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb is today calling for a better deal for carers. This article is on our national website, Labour has neglected carers Labour has neglected carers says Lamb Mon, 08 Mar 2010 "Labour's cuts are already biting across the NHS and their failure to cut back on waste means that it is the most vulnerable who are losing out," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on the report by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers which reveals that only 23% of the money allocated to help carers was used in this way, Norman ...
CentreForum has released a new publication on the thorny issue of how to make sure the US and Europe do not proceed down contradictory paths in designing future financial regulation. It is by my colleage John Springford, with whom I collaborated in producing "Divided we fall: can the G20 save globalisation?" John has an OpEd in Guardian ...
Great news to start the week - after a successful campaign by residents and my ward colleague Glenn Goodall to replace trees that were felled on Alexandra Road, we have learned that 8 new Lime trees will be planted there this week. Officers have told us that the new trees will be replanted using 'best practice' techniques. Obviously this doesn't compensate entirely for the 18 trees that were felled around Redlands - however, we are pleased that the Council has listened to residents and has made preplacing trees in this part of the ward a priority. Glenn has led the campaign to get ...
I've done a review of the new book, "Why Vote Liberal Democrat" (edited by Danny Alexander), over on Liberal Democrat Voice: Danny Alexander may be the main name on it, but he is the editor - and the book is a collection of twenty-six short essays plus a foreword from Nick Clegg. Many of the authors are also people who, in their different ways, are well known and respected with particular audiences outside the ranks of party membership and helpers. Floella Benjamin and Colin Firth probably have the most public star value, but contributions from people such as the former ...
This year we've tracking each month how good newspapers are at reporting their own political opinion polls. Getting your own story right isn't perhaps the highest of bars to set newspapers, but on past experience it's one they often seem to miss. But what's the actual evidence? Who does best? Who does worst? In order to provide answers, each time a newspaper publishes a political opinion poll we're giving the report a score out of 30 based on how accurate the report is and whether it meets the British Polling Council's own rules for political polling. (For details of the ...
Just over a week ago, we wrote of our disappointment at the ORR's decision not to re-open the direct link from Aberystwyth to London and it seems we aren't the only people to be disappointed by this decision, Elin Jones, AM for Ceredigion is disappointed too and has expressed this disappointment by calling for railway ...
Last week we concluded the council tax setting for Sefton. The cabinet met in the morning and agreed to send the budget which we have worked steadily through over the last five months to full council that evening. At that stage we had every expectation that we were on course for an all party agreement for a rise for Sefton's services of 2.1%. I had a long standing meeting with the Chief Exec booked for 5.30pm but at the last meeting it was delayed as the Labour Leader went into see her-there was, I was told by a flustered officer, ...
If you're a W3 bus user, then Councillor Richard Wilson (Stroud Green ward) wants to know your views as Transport for London (TfL) are reviewing the route.
I am very much of the opinion that the details of any new case against Jon Venables, one of the murderers of Jamie Bulger, should not be released. If there is to be a new trial it would be totally unfair on any present day victim for a trial to be ...
Launceston will host its first Anime Night on Wednesday at M-Mad studios just off St Thomas Road opposite the Railway Inn. Anime is the name given to the style of animation originating in Japan. The films are many and varied, ranging from traditional kids type cartoons to much deeper and more adult-oriented stuff. Most films manage to hit both adult and child audiences equally. As an intro, Cornwall Anime are showing a couple of films at M-Mad on Wednesday evening from 7.30pm. As well as the films, there will be the food company Keep It Secret on hand to sell ...
I wanted to blog in appreciation of Launceston Rugby Club and all that it is doing to promote a healthier Launceston. Obviously the main purpose of the club is to play and win rugby matches, not just at first team level, but also with colts, minis and juniors, castles and ladies teams. But the club also does its bit for healthier lifestyles. The ladies squad hold weekly 'rugby-cise' fitness classes every Monday. In the same way that boxer-cise uses the fitness regime followed by boxers (but without the awkward 'being punched' bit), so rugby-cise uses the skills and training techniques ...
I'm just back from Scottish Liberal Democrat conference. A highly enjoyable weekend (except Friday night's comedy debating difficulties), with one especially stimulating meeting organised by Oxfam on the subject of the "Robin Hood Tax". The Robin Hood Tax is essentially a rebranding of the Tobin tax, and is a proposed tax on financial transactions that Oxfam are supporting as a way of raising about $200-700 billion to tackle many difficult issues. They propose that 50% of the money would be spent in the country where the tax is raised, 25% would be spent on helping poor countries to adapt to ...
The latest developments in the Jon Venables story are extremely worrying. Not because of the "alleged" allegations spiralling around the media, courtesy of gutter Sunday press, but because I've just watched Sky News and witnessed Dominic Grieve, Shadow Justice Secretary, being drawn into the row in a disappointing way. Dominic Grieve is probably one of my ...
I had a great childhood. I had plenty of friends and lots of toys and games as well as computers like my ZX Spectrum and later Acorn Electron and Atari ST. I often found myself immersed in programming or other projects which took lots of time as well as playing outside with friends. However I did used to find that during holidays and some other times e.g. when the weather was bad that I had very little to do and would get bored. From where I am sitting now that seems like a different world. There is far too little ...
There are days when I would recommend everyone read the FT, and this is one. Because they have put Credit Where It's Due in their leader about Quantitative Easing. I hope this helps it come to the attention of some of the thinkers that have helped inspire the second suggestion: that nominal demand be targetted ...
I have received the following statement from the police about the incidents in Selworthy Drive: Dear Resident, You will no doubt have been aware of the significant police presence within Selworthy Road at different times during 2009. You will I am sure, also be aware of a number of incidents including firearms discharges and hand grenade attacks directed toward one of the residents within Selworthy Road. In my role as Senior Investigating Officer in respect of these incidents and investigations I write to provide a brief update in respect of these matters. In early 2009, an incident took place in ...
The next general election, if it held as widely expected on 6th May, is less than two months away. In which case, there is less than eight weeks for the Lib Dems to work for every vote we can in order to put an end to Gordon Brown's disastrous Labour Government, and make sure David Cameron cannot wreak havoc at the helm of the Tories. No one can be sure what will happen, what the results might be. But one thing's for certain. Labour and the Tories will have the advantage of being bank-rolled by the unions and big business ...
Returning to the snows of Tallinn I have been reflecting on the state of Scotland. Spending time in Perth has been a slightly sobering experience- and not just because I have given up drink for Lent. Perth is one of Scotland's wealthiest towns. It has a rich history and a fine number of interesting and ancient buildings. Attractively situated on the banks of the river Tay, its architecture is almost a visual representation of the Scottish virtues of strength, solidity and planning for the longer term. The wonderful Victorian railway station- stone built- was once a place where you could ...
It's been a classic example of a week being a long time in politics. Those who have been following this on twitter and the LibDem Voice postings and members' forum will know where we are, but just to summarise: - LibDem peers rightly wanted to amend the atrocious clause 17 in the Digital Economy Bill going through ...
Over at the Mail, Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable looks at four cases brought to his constituency advice surgey, and examines the very human stories behind each "to question the role played by prison in dealing with the individuals concerned." Here's the first story: An elderly lady came to see me about her grandson. Let me call him Mr A. He is serving a sentence for GBH. He had drug problems and had gone into a pub, got into an argument with a barman and in the fight that followed pulled out a knife, causing injury. As I told ...
Like other Parliamentary candidates, I'm being showered with invitations to sign up to all sorts of good and interesting causes. The Microgeneration manifesto is a bit different in that it's aimed at organisations like local councils, rather than individual candidates. I think microgeneration is a fantastic idea. Small-scale local power generation reduces waste, improves security and ...
Here's the press release from Bury Liberal Democrats: "Longfield Suite safe at last" say jubilant Lib Dems Liberal Democrats in Prestwich expressed their delight after a campaign spearheaded by residents and Councillors saved the Longfield Suite from the threat of closure. A Best Value review of civic halls in Bury, undertaken by the Conservative Council, outlined several options for the future of the Longfield Suite, including the "reconfiguration" of the community hall which is popular with local people and the best used of all civic venues in Bury. Now, after a consultation process which saw thousands of local people sign ...
I've been away for a week, hence the absence of posts on this site! Lots to catch up on. tim
The government recently announced the terms of its Feed-in-Tariff scheme starting on April 1st 2010 which will pay those who produce electricity more than they have to pay to take power out of the grid. But there's a major flaw in the scheme. For the pioneers who installed their microgenerator before July 15th 2009 the government is offering much lower payments - just 9p a unit - than those available to new generators, who will get up to 41.3p a unit. This is plain wrong. The UK microgeneration industry owes its existence to the early adopters who installed their own ...
Greater Manchester Police Authority is 'performing adequately', according to a new report released by the Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). On a scale from one to four, the joint inspection team assessed the Authority's performance as 'two', which represents adequate performance. Inspectors found that Greater Manchester Police Authority has developed excellent relationships with other public services such as councils and the health service, and with the Force's new chief officer team. It is committed to supporting the Force through a comprehensive change programme to boost frontline resources and performance. However, the Authority must forge a more ...
Later this week we reveal which leading voluntary organisation activist and former Darlington Councillor has defected to the Lib Dems in support of me.
Visitors to the Lib Dem website – www.libdems.org.uk – will notice a new 'splash' page has recently been put up to greet them. Here's what it looks like: It's worth highlighting for two reasons: 1. The emphasis on fairness and the party's policy – unique among the three main parties – of cutting income tax for the majority of British people by raising the tax threshold to £10,000; 2. The emphasis on the dual leadership of Nick and Vince. It's hard to imagine Labour producing a similar image of Gordon and Harriet, or the Tories with David and William. Yet ...
JH's story: Two years ago my wife was acting erratically and out of character, hardy getting any sleep and working herself into the ground. She made strange and irrational inferences and became delusional. When I tried to speak to her about it she became defensive and even abusive. The situation worsened until one morning she had a break down. She rang me at the school where I teach, saying that she was unable to get out of bed and feeling suicidal. That night, having rung NHS direct, I managed to persuade her to go the Whittington to see a doctor ...
The Times reports that months of squabbling may be coming to an end with the drawing up of a blueprint up by social care experts from all political parties. They say that leading figures in the social care debate from Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have signed a document of principles for a long-term solution, based on a mix of state payment and individual contributions: The blueprint, published today and seen by The Times, focuses on ten principles for reform of the care system to ensure that there is enough money to cover the rising care costs faced ...
There is a fascinating article yesterday's Observer looking back on the political posters of yesteryear and comparing them unfavourably with the rather crass, airbrushed offerings of the modern era. Sam Leith tells us that in 1909, the Labour party - then still in its infancy - had a fantastic election poster. The image had as its background a dusty silhouette of the Palace of Westminster, giving way to a horizontal wilderness of factory chimneys, whose smoke spilled into the tan air. In the foreground, a crew of beefy working men, all cloth caps and rolled sleeves and dark tunics, were ...
Lib Dem Voice report that Nick Clegg will use a speech today to rebut the nonsense idea that a hung parliament would destabilise the economy. In it, he'll say: The Conservatives are so desperate that they have resorted to a crude form of blackmail. David Cameron and George Osborne are stoking up fears in the markets, ...
As the prospect of a hung parliament looms larger, it's crystal clear the Lib Dem leadership is determined to shoot down early Tory claims that the financial markets will react badly to no one party having an overall majority. Last month, it was deputy leader Vince Cable – regarded by many voters as the best choice of Chancellor – who stressed that "Our own approach to fiscal policy is at least as robust as that of any other party." And now today, in a speech to party workers, Nick Clegg will accuse the Tories of 'a crude form of blackmail' ...
As if to honour International Women's Day today two women made history at last night's 82nd Oscars ceremony. First there was the obvious news as Katryn Bigelow beat off the competition especially ex-husband James Cameron to be the first female recipient of the Best Director award for The Hurt Locker. In what was also only the fifth nomination of a woman in this category Bigelow said, "It's the moment of a lifetime." Through the award season after Cameron's Avatar started well, the Goliath top grossing film of all time started to lose the momentum and the awards to the David ...
J. Arthur MacNumpty: The Strange Case of Steven Purcell An excellent, well thought out piece on, as the title says: The strange case of Steven Purcell.
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that the Liberal Democrats are not anti bank or anti banker. He states that his day one, hour one objective as Chancellor would be to devise a fresh and consistent mandate for the nationalised and semi nationalised banks. He argues that RBS and Lloyds are key to supporting the British economy and are currently falling well short of their lending agreements. He challenges Alistair Darling to give a full public account of these agreements on their respective anniversaries. The Liberal Democrats are, however, committed to splitting up the banks, ...
Trafford Council's decision on whether or not to approve the application for a Mega Tesco in Stretford and a Sainsburys at White City will be made this Thursday evening. Unfortunately Trafford Council have backed the plans for a Mega Tesco, but recommended refusal of the Sainsbury's at White City. A group from the No Mega TESCO campaign will be standing outside Old Trafford Town Hall on Talbot Road/corner of Warwick Road on Thursday 11th March from 6 pm. The application will be heard in the planning meeting at 6.30. Apparently it is unlikely that many members of the public will ...
Nick Perry, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hastings & Rye, has refused to attend the Federation of Small Businesses debate scheduled for 25 March following the news that, after initially sitting on the fence, Labour MP Michael Foster is set to cancel. Members of the Hastings Unite Against Fascism group report that a mid-week meeting ...
According to Nicky Campbell in The Big Questions yesterday, the most watched political programme in the last year was Qustion Time with the appearance of Nick Griffin. I like Question Time as it allows not only the members of the public to be spontaneous but also the politicians. Some politicians come out of it very well but this week I was disappointed with Carol Vorderman. I think that she is an aspiring politician and I wouldn't be surprised if we see her as a future Conservative candidate. She doesn't mind being rude and aggressive. Her first words were to pick ...
It's important that people watch decision making processes - witnesses are always valuable - so I hope that plenty of people from Consett will take the chance to watch the Planning Committee of Durham County Council deliberate on the Academy and Sports Centre "outline planning application" to build the Academy on Belle Vue. It's fortunate that I'm not a member of that committee because any member who has made their mind up before the meeting (it's called pre-determination) is barred from voting in the meeting. That's why I had to step outside when the report on the village green enquiry ...
Today is the centenary celebration of International Women's Day, and around the world, it is celebrated to mark the economic, political, and social achievements of women. This year the theme is equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all, and ...
