the big event of the day was certainly the announcement that Edward McMillan-Scott was joining the Liberal Democrats. It was quite a surprise to me - and a pleasant one. EMS has a very good reputation. He is certainly someone taken seriously by anyone who has worked with him. His dispeasure at the Cameron policy of pandering to extermists (as he puts it) is well-known). But it seemed likely that the PPE group would prove an acceptable home for him in the European Parliament. His decision to join the Liberal Democrats seems to be in large part inspired by his ...
20 years after attending my first political conference, I find myself sitting in the audience for the launch rally at the Lib Dems spring conference. After being welcomed by a plethora of prospective parliamentary candidates, a quarter of whom I gladly noted were women, the big guns of party come out to inspire us, to rouse us for the remaining short time before the election. Paddy Ashdown came on first and appealed directly to our heads. The country faces four great threats, he says and goes on to tell us why the Lib Dems are the party to address them. ...
Lovely morning with a fairsized team covering a wide expanse of Prittlewell Ward. A particularly warm response as Mike Grimwade and myself had our papers in the (redently delivered) Yellow Advertiser saving the Post Office. and some very interesting conversations all morning. In the afternoon, we were out again. First we looked at one of the local issues affecting people in a group of wards. Then we returned to talking to residents, but in Blenheim Ward this time. Again we covered a good area.
Liberal Democrat Voice is very proud of its new How Authoritarian is your MP? website. With all due respect to Nick Clegg (may he live for ever) and Edward McMillan-Scott, the Lib Dem of the day is Anna Arrowsmith. Heresy Corner will tell you all about her. Liberal Burblings has the video of David Cameron's bad hair day. Don't bother asking Diamond Geezer, the sea-green incorruptible of London blogging, to promote your product. The strange case of Steven Purcell is explained by J. Arthur MacNumpty. Mike McSharry suggests that you visit the Harborough Museum on Saturday 20 March. Sensible man. ...
The following is an exclusive guest post from Scotland's Liberal Democrat MEP George about what his new colleague Edward McMillan-Scott's joining of the Lib Dems earlier today means for the Conservative Party. If ever you needed proof that David Cameron is not fit to lead Britain, then today we got it in the principled defection of former Tory MEP Edward McMillan Scott to the Liberal Democrats. My new colleague was damning in his assessment of Cameron's Conservatives saying that their European Parliament group - the European Conservative and Reformists - contained "MEPs who have extremist pasts". He also said that ...
When I did the original blog post earlier this week, SNP and Labour MSPs pay tribute to Hugo Chavez!, I really did not think that even more MSPs would have signed the Motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by SNP MSP, Jamie Hepburn. As Lib Dem Hugh O'Donnell MSP said on my blog in a guest post; "The indecent haste of some Members of the Scottish parliament to rush to the aid of the Chávez administration, by signing up to a sugary sweet motion in the name of Jamie Hepburn MSP reveals a naivety which beggars belief."Well, sadly four more ...
The winner today comes from Sri Lanka. Well done to the Millennium Elephant Foundation. Who knew that out favourite fluffy blogger was such a philanthropist. Make that philelephantopist.
Woe! Everyone is at #ldconf listening to barnstorming speeches by Paddy and Tim Farron, and I'm stuck at home with dicky innards, and nothing but a Spotify premium account to cheer me up with endless Dragonforce. Still, might as well make myself useful and catch up on some of the stuff that's been piling up for me to do on the computer, starting with some...Fresh Squeezings From the Veins of the InternetHow Liberal or Authoritarian is your MP? Mine gets 45/100 (15 of which are votes she was absent for, which I feel is a little unfair), which isn't bad ...
This morning, I attended the Westminster Husting meeting at City Quay, organised by the Institute of Directors - Scotland and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in Scotland, and hosted by Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce. John Barnett, Liberal Democrat candidate for Dundee West, spoke and answered questions, along with Dundee candidates from the other three main parties. It was a good opportunity for candidates to discuss issues with the Dundee business community. John is pictured (above) after the hustings meeting.
Edward McMillan-Scott, MEP for Yorkshire and and the Humber and the longest-serving Conservative MEP in Europe, has today joined the Liberal Democrats. McMillan-Scott, a former leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, has a proud record of achievement in the European Parliament and has taken a sensible stance on the Tories' foolish decision to leave the European People's Party and align itself with politicians like Michal Kaminski, whose politics are, frankly, embarrassing. The Tories have detached themselves from the sensible elements of Europe's Centre-Right, including the leaders of both France and Germany, and attached themselves to politicians with whom ...
Compare and Contrast: 26 February 2010 - Salford Council Press Release "Salford's ice rink could have a new home this year if councillors agree a move for the festive attraction. Alternative venues, including Salford Quays, are being looked at in a bid to improve the pulling power of the event for would-be skaters and to offer ...
You can see him getting ready to face the nation. Making his serious face. Gravitas, David. That's what you need. But, no, there's one thing more important than making the serious face – getting the hair right. From Political scrapbook via Mark Pack.
The former leader of the Conservative MEPs and the longest serving Conservative MEP who also stood against Tory-backed Michal Kaminski has announced his defection to the Liberal Democrats at the Party's Spring Conference in Birmingham. Edward McMillan-Scott, the Conservative's most senior MEP, has today joined the Liberal Democrats. Edward is the Vice-President of the European Parliament with responsibility for human rights and democracy, was welcomed to the Liberal Democrats today by Leader Nick Clegg. Edward McMillan-Scott, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire said: "I have been around the higher circles of the Conservative Party for long enough to fear that ...
Further to my previous posting, please take a moment to vote now. I cannot see that forming a coalition with the Tories is a vote winner in any manner – we are fighting against them in order to win seats, so how can we even expect to win disillusioned Tory voters if we are going ...
Hi caught sight of an article in the Times today, talking about the possibility of Clegg and Cameron forming a coalition, should the need arise after the general election. NO. NO. NO. And once again, in case you missed it, NO If I wanted to be involved in a right wing party I would have joined UKIP or the Tories ...
Have just spent the evening updating google analytics tracking codes and re-formatting some page designs food.chrisandeddie.info for example new navigation menu seems to work quite well comments?
In just under an hour's time, the Lib Dem Voice spring conference fringe takes place in Birmingham, marking the official launch of our new website: How Liberal / Authoritarian is your MP? The site's web address is http://rank.libdemvoice.org. (We will be uploading the podcast of the Lib Dem Voice fringe meeting here as soon as possible.) How Liberal / Authoritarian is your MP? has a very simple aim: to provide an easy way for the public to find out online how liberal or authoritarian are the views of their MP according to his or her voting record in parliament. Here's ...
As a sportsman there is nothing I hate worse than telling someone hey shouldn't do that sport whether because of disability, race or sexual orientation. I'm a great advocate of the paralympian movement. I believe we should show racism the red card and same applies to homophobia. Therefore the words of Rudi Assauer former player, ex-manager of German team Schalke 04 and now a player agent really upset me. "If a player came to me and said he was gay I would say to him: 'You have shown courage'. But then I would tell him to find something else to ...
I thought I had alighted upon the most obscure fact of arcane Senate procedure that a Brit layperson could assimilate (without his/her head exploding) when I mentioned the "Byrd Bath". However, this one is on a par with that, I think: From Daily Caller: Machinations continued also over how Democrats might pass a bill procedurally to limit defections. Democrats might use a highly unorthodox procedure, called the "Slaughter Solution," to pass a reconciliation bill that simply deemed the Senate bill passed, allowing hesitant lawmakers to circumvent actually casting a ballot in favor of a law they don't like. Rules Committee ...
Alan Frumin. It's a name worth remembering in case you ever end up in a game of Trivial Pursuit (US Congress minutiae edition) – presumably in the section of hell reserved for political anoraks. He's the US Senate Parliamentarian. Eh? Well he's like one of the clerks in the House of Commons really. He sits just below the Senate President and whispers into his/her ear to advise on procedure. This week, Mr Frumin played a pivotal role in the US Healthcare reform process by ruling (allegedly) – according to The Hill - that: President Barack Obama must sign the broader ...
A week and a half after the full announcement, my brain comes charging in with this: Each debate will be 90 minutes. So that'll be four and a half hours of debate; no ad breaks. I'm wincing at the thought. It will be astonishing if non-politicos (aka normal people) be motivated enough to watch. Particularly daunting is the prospect of 90 minutes focused on "foreign affairs". The current mainstream issues are basically the UK's involvement in Afghanistan and the European Union. Are they going to stretch these topics over the full hour and a half? Eeek.
Former leader of the Conservative MEPs, Edward Mcmillan-Scott has joined the LibDems. He is one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament. I did wonder whether this would happen. He is a man of principle. It should be remembered that he parted company with the Tories because he refused to support (and indeed stood as a candidate in opposition to) an ultra-right winger as the ECR candidate for Vice-President of the EU. (The ECR – European Conservatives and Reformists) being the rag-bag of ring-wingbuts that the Tories have washed up with now).
Oh dear. The BNP are having to cough up £60,000 in legal costs and cannot recruit new members until they rewrite their constitution. Oh dear. It is important to note a key distinction in today's ruling as outlined in the Independent: The judgment found that, while not unlawful to hold discriminatory views, it is illegal to use them to control entry to a political party. ...Though I doubt that will stop Griffin saying that the BNP are being silenced for expressing their views....going down his usual matyrdom route, in other words.
The former leader of the Conservative MEPs in Europe has joined the Lib Dems. Edward McMillan-Scott fell out with the Conservative Party when he dared to oppose David Cameron's plans to form a new European alliance with a rag tag bunch of nationalists, racists and homophobes. Mr McMillan-Scott highlights the very real concerns that many have about David Cameron in that he should be judged by the company he keeps and his actions more than his platitudes and talk show appearances. More information on the defection HERE.
Although the public frequently says it likes politicians who are positive and who get on with each other, up beat and consensual only gets you so far with online political campaigning. In that arena, it's the unofficial, humorous knocking material that frequently gets the larger audience. So it was with My David Cameron and now too so it is with the clip of David Cameron coiffuring his hair. As Political Scrapbook points out: With print coverage from the Mirror and (bless 'em) Daily Mail, the original video has now had more than 60,000 views. That's more than the last five ...
http://twitpic.com/17ek2z – Yay for latest Amazon book delivery – now which to read first ... Views? # via @journalismnews Dan Zarella: When to publish articles to Facebook http://bit.ly/bVX2UG << best at w/ends, apparenrtly # The Oscar effect >> STV for you and me? << @TheEconomist's Schumpeter backs STV (instant run-off) elections for US. # RT @TimMontgomerie Crazily, the homepage of http://www.conservatives.com does not reference the Tories' six key election pledges << well, quite. # RT @markpack @libdemvoice #ldconf fringe meeting is 8pm Fri, Hall 8b – incl unveiling of our secret project [IMG: :)] << not fighting inflation tho # ...
It's Friday. It's five o'clock. Here's a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week: 5 most-read stories on LDV this week 1. Lord Clement-Jones on the Digital Economy Bill: web blocking amendment (231) by Tim Clement-Jones. 2. Digital Economy Bill: Parliamentarians reply to prospective candidates (44) by Mark Pack. 3. BNP announce Parliamentary Candidate for Buckingham (8) by Helen Duffett. 4. 5 reasons Nick Clegg should rule out a coalition now (23) by Stephen Tall. 5. Lib Dems select Nick Griffin's biographer to fight BNP in Barking (3) by Helen Duffett 5 active LDV Members' Forum threads Emergency ...
It's that time of the week again. But I think I might just show you the test card, but what if YouTube shut down. Apart from anything else how would I fill this slot on a Friday?(hat tip to Doctor Vee) Sandra Bullock made an acceptance speech last weekend, but I doubt you're thinking of this one. Yeah that is the Oscar's best actress picking up the Razza's worst actress award 24 hours earlier. And finally Johnny Weir has been turned down from the American touring company Stars on Ice after finishing 6th in this years Olympics. The reason he ...
We've twice covered the question of gender balance in (Westminster) politics in recent days with the challenge from the Fawcett Society What about women? and Dinti Batstone's call to Make politics fit women's lives, not vice-versa. With party conference in Birmingham about to start, we now have the latest figures on how the party is doing at getting a less male-dominated Parliamentary party. The Campaign for Gender Balance reports: Winnable seats: approximately 40% of our most winnable seats have women PPCs. Held seats: 4 out of the 8 seats that have MPs standing down have selected women. The last point ...
Do you really think that, were the opportunity to arise, it would be wrong for this man to appear in a debate next to Nick Griffin?
Despite local Labour party stooge's suggesting that Cllr Daisy Benson was some how too busy to do ward work because she's also PPC for Reading West, she is still one of the top three councillors in terms of casework. Below are the top 10 councillors in terms of casework for the last two quarters. [IMG: 10] In fact, all three Redlands Lib Dem councillors were in the top 10 and this end of the table was dominated by Lib Dems. Also, two of these Lib Dems are actually PPC's, Gareth Epps for Reading East and Daisy Benson for Reading West ...
It certainly is a year for change for Edward McMillan-Scott MEP. For 25 years he was a Conservative MEP, but on the first day of business of the new parliament that all changed. His was the lone Conservative voice in Europe that was heard about David Cameron's European shift to the hard right leaving the European People's Party (EPP) to join the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR). Indeed he stood against Michal Kaminski for the position of group leader, he had previously held the the position in the Tories previous grouping. At that time he said: "Standing as an ...
Brian Jefferson, former Conservative Borough Councillor and currently Chair of GOLD (Growing Old, Living in Darlington) has quit the Conservative Party and joined the Liberal Democrats. He has pledged his support to me as the Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington.Brian writes, "I decided to leave the Conservative Party because the local association imported a candidate to be the town's
We are happy to learn that Camden Council has just announced £65,000 for Castlehaven Community Centre, which serves our local community. Everyone locally knows what an important job Castlehaven does for young people and the local community – it's a unique community resource and local councillors have been grateful to hold their monthly surgeries there. The capital ...
Not my words dear reader, but those of the former leading Tory Edward McMillan-Scott. He has joined the Lib Dems because as he says has, "long fought against totalitarianism and the extremism and religious persecution it brings. It was wrong of Cameron to associate with MEPs who have extremist pasts in his new European alliance". We welcome him into our ranks and the experience and expertise he brings especially after representing (parts of) Yorkshire in the European parliament for more than a quarter-of-a-century.
Exciting news live from the LDV Broom Cupboard in Birmingham's ICC. News reaches us that Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has defected to the Liberal Democrats and will be joining us here at party conference. The MEP said today: "I have been around the higher circles of the Conservative party for long enough to fear that on Europe Cameron says one thing in opposition and will do another in government. "I have long fought against totalitarianism and the extremism and religious persecution it brings. It was wrong of Cameron to associate with MEPs who have extremist pasts in his new European ...
The Liberal Democrats have today reaped benefits from David Cameron's unsustainable Euro-scepticism with the defection of estranged Tory MEP to Nick Clegg's party. Edward McMillan-Scott is the MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and the former leader of the Conservatives in the European parliament. He clashed with David Cameron last year over the Tory leader's decision to remove his MEPs from the centre-right European People's party and set up a new group, European Conservatives and Reformists, with controversial allies from eastern Europe. He successfully stood against Michał Kamiński, the Polish MEP chosen to lead the new group, for the post ...
Dacorum BC, Adeyfield WestCon 486 (32.8; -8.6)Lab 429 (29.0; -13.3)LD Steve Wilson 362 (24.5; +8.1)BNP 203 (13.7; +13.7)Majority 57Turnout 35.83%Con holdPercentage change is since May 2007Wellingborough BC, Redwell WestCon 570 (57.2; -20.3)Lab 186 (18.7; -3.9)BNP 84 (8.4; +8.4)LD Penny Wilkins 72 (7.2; +7.2)English Democrats 62 (6.2; +6.2)Green 23 (2.3; +2.3)Majority 384Turnout 37.7%Con
The longest-serving Conservative MEP has joined the Liberal Democrats. Or so it says here. Later. There is a report confirming it on the Guardian site: The MEP said today: "I have been around the higher circles of the Conservative party for long enough to fear that on Europe Cameron says one thing in opposition and will do another in government. "I have long fought against totalitarianism and the extremism and religious persecution it brings. It was wrong of Cameron to associate with MEPs who have extremist pasts in his new European alliance." He added: "My reasons for joining the Liberal ...
So part of the reason I am not at #ldconf this weekend is because I couldn't get my shifts covered at work. What happens, on a weekend when I know there's no cover? I come down with enteritis, and can't work because my work involves food handling. So not only am I missing out on conference, and not only does my gut feel like someone is tying knots in it, but I have caused a massive problem at work, and am losing money through not being able to work to boot. Isn't life a joy? My March sponsor is Mark ...
The BBC informs us that it will be the rather wordy: "Change that works for you, building a fairer Britain"A naughty part of me is reminded of the efforts of Reginald Perrin's son-in-law Tom: Tom: I have distributed among you a few campaign ideas - I'm not really a campaign person - and slogans. I won't bore you with my slogan ideas now. Perrin: No, no, Tom, I insist that you bore us with them now. Tom: Oh. Well, there was one - I'm not really a slogan person - it went: "Go to Grot shops and get an eyeful, ...
There was a little flurry of interest last year as to whether MPs with "MP" in their Twitter name would face a problem after Parliament is officially dissolved for the general election. That's because after that point technically no-one is an MP and you're not allowed to call yourself an MP if you aren't one. That story was rather over-played though it did spur me to dig out quite what the sanctions would be, which in turns out isn't that simple a question to answer. But what about MPs' websites and text on them saying they are an MP? That ...
Today Tom Baldwin in The Times reports on its exciting persistent investigative journalism into the party's "triple lock" rule for deals with other parties: The exact wording of this rule, disclosed only after repeated inquiries to Liberal Democrats headquarters this week, sets a high bar for clearing "any substantial proposal which could affect the party's independence of political action". A pedant would point out that it was "disclosed" here back in November. Then it was Steve Richards I took to task (for calling the rule – which was debated in public at party conference – "secret"). Perhaps you should add ...
My House Points column from today's Liberal Democrat News. The material on the Stockport murder case of 1861 comes from an article by Gitta Sereny which was published in the Independent in 1995. Modern times House Points has reached an age when it is allowed to have fogeyish moments. And when it has them it argues that modern Britain no longer understands the distinction between adult and child. The murder of James Bulger in 1993 showed this development at its starkest. Rather than being merciful because the perpetrators were children, the press and public were angrier. The judge, who allowed ...
For today's women "motherhood, not sexism, is the issue". So says The Economist ("We Did It", 30 December 2009), noting that "women who prosper in high-pressure companies in their 20s drop out in dramatic numbers in their 30s and then find it almost impossible to regain earlier momentum". Could the same be true in politics? Nearly 80% of current male Lib Dem MPs first entered Parliament in their 30s and 40s. Yet our female MPs were overwhelmingly elected in their 20s or 50s, and not one was first elected while raising young children. Achieving the same age spread as the ...
I'm in Birmingham in advance of the Spring Conference, but I'm not exactly slacking. Ros is working, and as a result, we're getting to see what the City Council is doing. Our first stop was Alexander Stadium, and the parkland surrounding it, for a tree planting event. To encourage children to take an interest, schools are encouraged to send groups to take part, so we were surrounded by small children armed with spades and a steely determination to make sure that their tree stayed planted. It was raining, but that will only ensure that the roots are properly nourished... One ...
Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee We had a record breaking agenda for this committee meeting - one of the longest ever with a total of 424 pages. We started with a joint briefing from the Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) and Consultant in Public Health Fiona Harris on how joint working with the NHS can help target interventions ...
There is an interesting letter in this week's Mercury, it's signed by a "Neil Watkins" who declares he just moved to this Borough. A quick Google of the keywords Neil Watkins and Lewisham and Labour clarified further where he comes from. A rank and file Labour Member whose Facebook profile puts in the UK Parliament network. ...
Journalists seem to have got a thing about the triple lock today, talking about how they've dug it up or found it hard to find. So far be it from me to tell them what to read, but back in November last year I posted up the text on Liberal Democrat Voice. [Insert cliche of choice about bloggers and journalists here [IMG: :-)] ] Anyway, here's the relevant text again: Conference agrees that: (i) in the event of any substantial proposal which could affect the Party's independence of political action, the consent will be required of a majority of members ...
Parliament has been in Strasbourg this week for four days of formal debates and votes. We had our first debate with external relations commissioner and EU high representative Baroness Catherine Ashton on foreign policy. I think she acquitted herself well. Despite starting with virtually no support she has gathered good people around her and gave a competent, if not quite visionary, view of her plans to set up the EU diplomatic service which our governments committed themselves to in the Lisbon Treaty. She has taken a lot of flack, some of which a man would not have received. I appealed ...
Over the years you think there's little to shock you about the Royal Family, and then along comes Prince Phillip... Yesterday at a parade in Exeter meeting cadets the following exchange apparently took place. HRH PP: Hello what do you do then, in ...
Yesterday Recolight installed a bank to collect energy saving lightbulbs (and batteries) for recycling at the recycling point at Budgens in Arbury Court. This is a one year trial to see if the amount collected is viable for the company, there is no charge to the City Council for the service so they need enough donated bulbs to make it profitable. The bulbs are recycled in the UK. There are also collection points atTesco on Newmarket RoadCherry Hinton HallFocus DIY on Tenison RoadLammas Landas well as the first one introduced at Coldhams Lane Sainsbury. Picture from wikipedia care of Creative ...
Anyone with even the tiniest sliver of social grace knows that being a political activist of any stripe is faintly embarrassing. Politics is not cool and obsessing over turnouts and boundaries and psesphology marks one out as a bit of a weirdo. How much more embarrassing, then, to be a Lib Dem activist. A social leper to even other politics geeks. Someone who hasn't got the entitlement complex and the brass to be a Tory, hasn't got the superiority complex and the moralising nature to join Labour. Someone who can tolerate being thought of as a sandal-wearing, muesli-eating, hippy do-gooder ...
Interested in living more greenly, but don't know how: collaborate with us all here: Green Living Grog.
Following a barage of criticism over amendments to the Digital Economy Bill, the backers of the amendment are to make concessions which, they hope, will answer many of the objections. As the FT reports [free registration may be required to view article]: The Liberal Democrats will publish changes on Friday to their original amendment, of which the Conservatives said they were "broadly supportive". Under the new proposals, which will be put to the vote on Monday at the bill's third reading in the Lords, a judge could order copyright owners to pay legal costs and other compensation for asking a ...
The Police Federation claim that an exercise at the four Welsh political conferences involving bags of chocolate coins shows that funding for police community support officers is low on political parties' list of priorities: Each of the bags represented a separate policing priority: 999 response; local police stations; counter terrorism; police training and equipment; administration support; PCSOs and police officer numbers. But delegates, which the Police Federation said included Assembly Members, MPs and government ministers, were only allowed to choose four. Steve Williams, a detective for 27 years and now the organisation's secretary for Wales, said if they took up ...
For reasons best known to the Department for Schools, Children and Families (good name by the way) Maurice Smith's review is not in an editable-text formatted PDF. I have, therefore, had to skim-read the thing! I admit I have mixed feelings about how we should treat the BNP: On one hand they are a political party that represents an opinion that I find abhorrent and so provide a political outlet for opinions that, thankfully, the vast majority of British people do not share. On the other, by having a legitimate political party, people can legitimately argue that they should not ...
There are many different reasons why I'm standing as a Liberal Democrat against Nick Griffin in Barking. Here is just one of them. My bus stop on the way home is outside Brixton station, next to Iceland supermarket. Waiting there, I recall what the BNP's message of hatred can bring. For it was exactly at this spot on Saturday April 17th 1999 that the London nail bomber David Copeland planted his first bomb. The following Saturday, he planted another bomb in Brick Lane. A week later, his final bomb exploded inside a Soho pub, killing three people. Altogether 129 people ...
[IMG: 1988_heaton_park_under_threat.jpg] Last nights Save Heaton Park meeting wasn't quite the doom laden meeting you might have expected following the disgraceful Manchester City Council Planning meeting that gave the green light to Goals. In fact by the end of the meeting it was clear that far from being over we still have a number of options and avenues to pursue. Certainly in my book Heaton Park and for that matter green open parkland, is so precious we should not leave any stone unturned in our campaign to preserve the park from development. So the fight continues. The campaign group are ...
I am in Birmingham and about to head to the Conference hall to register and take part in some consultative sessions before the rally tonight with Nick Clegg, Shirley Williams and Paddy Ashdown. I note from this morning's Daily Telegraph that Nick Clegg is already making it clear that the party will not be distracted from its core messages by talk of a hung Parliament: Mr Clegg repeated the four tests he will set for Labour and the Conservatives if they are to seek his party's support in a hung Parliament. He said whichever party had the clearer mandate from ...
Nick Perry, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hastings & Rye, visited Lib Dem colleague and Shadow Fisheries Minister Andrew George MP at Westminster on Wednesday to lobby him on behalf of Hastings and Rye fishermen. After having submitted a motion to his party's Spring Conference on the under-10 metre sector (in partnership with local fishermen), Mr ...
[IMG: bishop] It's not often I write to a bishop, let alone 26 bishops. But I was inspired by (not to mention encouraged by the easiness of) the Power2010 website's call (and tool) to email all 26 Lords Spiritual and ask them to support a fully elected Upper House of Parliament. Naturally, I didn't just accept the words provided by Power2010. Firstly, I have a natural predisposition to disagree slightly with anybody else's wording, especially on matters of politics. Secondly, I think that my email has a slightly higher chance of being read and receiving a tailored response if it ...
This announcement has just been posted on the Hither Green Community Forum: 25th March 3pm - 6.30pm Low Carbon Zone Lewisham Central Launch Event Lewisham NHS Hospital Education Centre (the Old Lewisham Library) Lewisham has been successful in receiving funding from the London Development Agency to reduce CO2 output by 20.12% for an area in Hither Green and ...
I love my role as councillor and the opportunities it gives me to help local people and improve their quality of life - not just in my ward but right across Reading. I particularly enjoy my role as chair of scrutiny as it enables me to get a better understanding of issues Borough-wide and to hear from other councillors and other bodies not just the Council in relation to a number of key local issues. In scrutiny we have no budget or decision-making power as such but we can recommend action to the executive and external agencies - including health ...
Fri 12th
10:46
Bridget Fox, Jonathan Sheppard and David Weber on House of Comments Podcast - Episode 17
The latest "House of Comments" podcast with myself and Stuart Sharpe of the Sharpe's Opinion political blog is now live. The website for the podcasts is here and the seventeenth episode which we recorded on Tuesday 9th Feb is available to download via this page here (raw mp3 file here if you prefer). You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here. Or you can listen to it right now here: The format is to invite political bloggers on each week to discuss a few of the stories that are making waves in the blogosphere. This week we were joined ...
Last night in Scrutiny we discussed the impact of the private rented housing review I championed last year. We recommended last year that landlord accreditation scheme in Reading be re-introduced to give students and tenants more confidence when renting properties and to help raise standards in the sector. Officers told us that a slew of government announcements relating to planning and HMOs has meant that the review is still not complete - not the Council's fault but it's a pity it's impacted on the revival of this scheme. I contacted Reading University Students Union officers about this issue as they have been lobbying the Council for many years ...
After Wolfie Munchau went off on one about the wickedness of naked CDS's, the letter pages of the FT have enjoyed a slow-motion explosion of discussion (I love the pre-Internet, it is so civilised. I wish the 'publish' button had a one-day delay, the writing would be so much better). This is not chronological. But the ...
With the Liberal Democrat spring conference in Birmingham this weekend, Nick Clegg is giving his last conference speech before the general election. Who knows, there may even be two general elections before he gets to give his autumn conference speech... So what does Nick need to achieve with his Sunday speech? Conference speeches have two audiences: the external and the internal. For the external one, the job is in the main fairly straightforward: give a speech that has at least one eye-catching section which means it gets more than a nano second of passing media coverage. The party's overall messages ...
Miramar, a Bulgarian production company, has sent the following message to councillors: The streets in which we'll be filming on Sunday 14th March are French Row, Market Place and the corner of High Street with Chequer St. We won't film any members of the public as we're providing our own extras.
Yesterday's appearance in Westminster Magistrates Court of the MPs accused of expenses fiddles was an excellent reminder to us all that no one should be above the law. Not even MPs. But what was most disgusting of all was that these clowns Still Don't Get It. Their appeal to not have to appear "in the dock" was contemptible. ...
It is Lib Dem spring conference this weekend and Birmingham is the lucky location for this gathering. I'm at Newcastle Central Station now, waiting for the train. I got here unreasonably early but at least I had the chance to chat to constituents on the bus on the way in. Before I started working for the Lib Dems in London in my various guises, conferences were always leisurely affairs for me.
Here's a view of the Five Pound Note Bridge, Darlington's iconic bridge over which Locomotion 1 travelled, a sketch of which appeared on one version of the £5 note, that you don't often see. No, not because I'm in the picture! It's because the archway to the left of the photo is usually bricked up, so it's normally a tortuous scramble to get to this point.For my cycling readers, by the way,
Fri 12th
09:00
I pledge my support to the British Youth Council's General Election Manifesto campaign
I have pledged my support to the British Youth Council's General Election Manifesto campaign
Our Area Conditions Officer, Julie, has confirmed to me that the most recent batch of tyres dumped on Gatley Hill will be cleared away shortly. We want to identify the culprits behind this illegal dumping, so please get in touch if you've any information.
Following complaints from residents, Cllr Pam King asked the Council's Enforcement team to investigate vehicles being sold in front of 1 Stonepail Road. The Enforcement team have investigated and we've now heard back that selling vehicles is not permitted from those premises. The owner was given fourteen days to remove the vehicles or further action will be taken.
I just ousted @litmanlive as the mayor of Make Mine on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/62hCYd # Digital Economy Bill: Parliamentarians reply to prospective candidates http://ldv.org.uk/18200 # @Glinner There's been a reply to the open letter re Digital Economy Bill now - http://ldv.org.uk/18200 # @jamescrabtree Hey, who you calling bemused... [IMG: :)] in reply to jamescrabtree # In case you missed it earlier in the week: Does it matter how young or old an MP is? http://ldv.org.uk/18157 # Poll ups pressure on Cameron over TV debates [updated with new poll result] http://bit.ly/bYEZlw # Majority of internet users in UK now female (latest stats ...
Bad news about Fraser Nelson's interview with Nick Clegg in the Spectator Daniel Hannan and others have spun it to link Nick with Thatcher. In the interview Nick was claiming that Liberalism requires standing up to vested interests and that just as Thatcher stood up to the Trade Unions, so he will stand up to the banks. I can see that the comparison may have appeal to older Middle England
Off to Speke last night for a great event to celebrate the success of children and young people across South Liverpool. A series of awards ranging from young entrepreneurs to awards for school attendance. The young people from the Valley Community Theatre performed a short piece about diversity and there were two great singers called Attitude. I'm getting some pictures so I'll post those when I can. I was there as a Councillor for Cressington ward, but also as a representative from Edge Hill University. Edge Hill sponsored three of the awards. I made a resolution to see if we ...
A couple of years ago, the RSPCA called for compulsory microchipping of dogs and a database of dog owners. A call that I supported at the time and do so today. Furthermore, I agree with the notion that the blame should lie with irresponsible owners ...
Welcome to Friday – and Lib Dem Voice is already in Birmingham for the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference 2010. If you're coming too, make sure you join us for the Lib Dem Voice fringe meeting: I'll be chairing the discussion on how to Make authoritarian MPs pay at the ballot box, and we'll be unveiling our new website which will help to do just that. 2 Must-Read Blog Posts What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here are two posts that caught my eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: A bizarre political injury Jeremy Rowe vs the radio. Old-Fashioned ...
Gillian's story: In 2005 I became unwell and developed a high temperature. I wasn't well enough to go to the doctor and was prescribed antibiotics on a home visit from our local doctor on a Friday. Unfortunately I was extremely allergic to the drugs and was told on Saturday by Camidoc (phone call) to stop taking them if they were making me vomit. On Sunday I felt considerably worse and a Camidoc doctor visited and immediately called an ambulance. One of the side effects of my illness was that I remained rational and quite convincing that I was not as ...
Jointly published by Soundings, Social Liberal Forum and Compass, After the Crash is a call to arms for a coalition of ideas and action on the centre left, working together to find common ground for change. It was jointly edited by Richard S. Grayson and Jonathan Rutherford After the Crash (Final) The challenges faced by the country in the next few years require those who share a commitment to equality, democracy and sustainability to form a coalition not of parties but of ideas. It has become clear however that a pre-condition for progressive change in Britain is the removal of ...
The Social Liberal Forum believes Nick Clegg's newly promulgated policy to rely on spending cuts raises serious questions. We believe that this policy has to take into account the following issues: It could require even deeper cuts in areas like affordable housing, schools and universities that are central for either the growth potential of our economy or to social harmony. Tax increases help the stronger in our society absorb more of the pain of deficit reduction. Taxation increases should not only come from individual taxpayers but can be obtained from sectors of the economy like the City of London that ...
The National Audit Office found that re-offending by criminals cost the UK up to £10bn a year. Short term prison sentences were found not to work as there was little rehabilitation or effort to correct criminals behaviour. The report and views of a former inmate argued for more rehabilitation and robust community sentences. Both proposals ...
Last week's crash on Lewisham High Street by the Courthill Road junction is reported in this week's South London Press and the Mercury. Following the accident I had a good discussion about what's wrong with that place with the Lewisham reporter John Hugill, who then contacted TfL that told him: we are currently investigating whether we can ...
Two by-election results just in – both saw a reduction in the Conservative vote and increases in the Liberal Democrat vote: Dacorum BC, Adeyfield West ward: Con 486 (32.8%; -8.6%) Lab 429 (29%; -13.3%) LD Steve Wilson 362 (24.5%; +8.1%) BNP 203 (13.7% +13.7%) Turnout 35.8% Con HOLD Wellingborough BC, Redwell West ward: Con 570 (58.2%; -0.8%) Lab 169 (17.2%; +2.2%) BNP 84 (8.6%; -7.1%) LD Penny Wilkins 72 (7.3%; +3.8%) Eng Dem 62 (6.3%; +6.3%) Green 23 (2.3%; -0.9%) Turnout 37.7% (-5.6%) Con HOLD Last fought: 2008 by-election Thanks to Lloyd Harris and Chris Nelson for providing the results, ...
People who live in Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill and Shotley Bridge are invited to join the partnership in cleaning up the area. Details as follows: The "Big Tidy Up" on Saturday 13th March 2010. Meet at 9.30am at the Bridgehill Communal Room on Pemberton Road (bring gloves, all other equipment provided). Stout shoes are also recommended! All children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
On Sunday I went to check out the new College with the three women in my life and was astounded by the size of the space. So impressed with the diversity of performances – my two year old particularly liked the Indian dancing. It's in the blood after all. Back on Thursday evening for the Star Awards ...
There was one sentence on the news last night that struck me as particularly poignant. "I have done nothing dishonest ever", said Lord Hanningfield. He is one of the four politicians who are pleading not guilty to charges related to their claims for expenses. Now the Crown Prosecution Service has looked at the evidence and decided that there is a case to answer. Whether they are guilty is up to the court, and I am quite willing to wait for that decision. What I can't wait for is an answer to Lord Hanningfield's statement. Is he really saying that he ...
