8.30 Writing press releases 9.45 Picked up to go and talk to residents. 10.00 On the doorstep in Prittlewell. Some good conversations. 11.00 Visit to a local school - great to see the children doing so well. 11.20 Back on the doorstep. 11.50 Visit to a local charity doing fantastic work. Really good to meet the team and see the work they are doing. 12.10 to 12.30 On the doorstep 13.45 Attend a hustings meeting courtesy of the Southend Pensioner Campaign. A lot of familiar faces, and a good response to my speech. 16.05 Useful phonecall from a local paper. ...
According to the Bangkok Post the government have now agreed to meet with the red shirts if Thaksin Shinawatra (who has been just been granted citizenship by Montenegro) agrees that it is ok. This seems slightly odd to say the least given the government's stance on Thaksin up until now. As far as they are ...
It was another busy day today, starting with an assembly on Fairtrade for Egglescliffe CE primary school, followed by Planning committee (which lasted over 3 hours) and then just time to nip home and collect the things I needed for the meeting at All Saints.About 180 people almost filled All Saints Church to make suggestions on the next moves and to volunteer their services to organise. There
No Jeff has been worried that his crystal ball has been a bit wonky of late. Well I thin that on this St Patrick's night this Irishman will be able to partly put his mind to rest. Almost 18 months ago, conveniently on my birthday so I could remember the date, he blogged: "Stephen Glenn is expected to stand in Linlithgow and Falkirk East for the Liberal Democrats. A very tough contest indeed for the genial Ulsterman."My response to him at the time was: "But I'm expected to stand then am I? You know the result of the selection process ...
What does it mean? Change that works for you. There have been grumblings over this choice of slogan - the Liberator has even printed on its front page 'change that offends no one - building a blander Britain'. But I ask you, when did you last meet a slogan you did like? The liberator demands clear gold water, but doesn't offer an alternative slogan. What could a party say to clearly and immediately distinguish itself from its rivals? Property is theft? Greed is good? There is no such thing as society? No taxation without representation? Deutschland uber Alles? Liberté, Egalité, ...
Got bored of the telly tonight and reduced to 'Magic' on Sky - but good to hear this 1989 hit by Sonia! Happy days!
I came down to our constituency office in Whickham 10 minutes ago thinking it would be an ideal time to print my village focus. Photos done this morning. Desktop published this afternoon. Proofed this evening. When I get to the office however I find Durham North West here printing their Focus!Plenty of activity going on. What mad life I lead! Now I have to join the queue for the printing machine.
I don't really do polls, but it seems that all the polling companies have been reporting a significant boost for the Liberal Democrats following the very successful and widely reported Spring Conference last weekend. These poll boosts have been around 3-4%. But the evidence from the YouGov daily poll tracker is that this has started to fall away as memory fades. So what might be the impact during a general election? Well the simple answer for me is that, because the Lib Dems get an roughly equal share of the TV coverage in a general election (unlike for the rest ...
News that Oxfordshire's economy has experienced low economic growth in the past five years raises a serious question over Tory plans nationally to start cutting the budget deficit immediately if they are elected in May. The Oxfordshire Economic Assessment prepared for the County Council says that the county experienced low economic growth compared to the rest of the South East. The improvement which has occurred was due mainly to growth in public sector, which is now being hit by budget constraints. Public sector growth is likely to fall further in the future so government action nationally will be essential to ...
Yup, Any Questions has done it again with this week's panel featuring a Tory MP, a Labour MP, a right-wing pundit and a Green candidate – but no Liberal Democrat. Details of how to lodge your complaint with the BBC here.
Well its now reached that time that almost every political campaigner enjoys, the preparation has been done, there is nothing more that can be done to persuade voters or issues to campaign about, and it's all down to how many people get out to vote tomorrow. I have to say I have really enjoyed the campaign. I've met a lot of people, got to know neighbours and people who live in my area so much better and feel that whatever the result, I have benefitted from the campaign in so many ways. More than anything else though, I am convinced ...
Wed 17th
22:05
Tories pledge 'minister for Cornwall' - probably because they know they won't win seats here
I read today that the Conservatives are planning to have a Minister for Cornwall should they win the General Election. Two thoughts arise... First, that there is nothing in the article which definitely confirms whether the Conservatives will do this - or whether they are just blowing smoke at the voters of Cornwall in the hope that they will fall for a fairly blatant bit of patronising campaigning. I've written to Mr Cameron asking him to confirm this one way or another. Second, does this indicate that the Conservatives are actually a lot less sure about winning Cornish seats than ...
The UK Libertarian party likes to declare that it is different from the three mainstream parties and it particularly enjoys calling the Liberal Democrats the Social Democrats. The party's blog posts throw up some interesting ideas and are nothing if not consistent. Today though, Tim Carpenter has made the case for regulation. It is regulation as opposed to banning something but nevertheless it is regulation. Whatever next?
Here's a statistic from this evening's event which shocked me. Just £15,645 of funding from Sport Relief comes to Cornwall each year. That's a tiny amount and I'm horrified that it's so little. Apparently the amount is calculated on the basis of population numbers and is, not surprisingly, massively over-subscribed. As well as their work in the UK, there are also lots of good projects around the world. I do not want to decry the work that Sport Relief does. What money they do spend here goes to very worthwhile projects that can make a huge difference to the lives ...
Out of a blaze of publicity, a new website and a couple of quotes in the local paper, this time last year 'local boy' Tony Clements was announced as the Labour candidate to take on Eleanor Laing. But since then he has disappeared. Gone quiet.Until today, when I was reading this article on the local guardian website and I noticed not Tony Clements as Labour's choice, but a woman called Katie
Obviously being married to an Anglo-Irish woman, I couldn't let today go past without a mention of St. Patrick's. However, you'll be pleased to know that I've not been going over the top with the wearing of the green and the shamrocks everywhere, but I did have a quiet glass of Guinness and a little Bushmills. Happy St. Pat's everyone.
I know it is wrong to extrapolate from a single poll, but the boost in Lib Dem share in the most recent Political Betting sponsored poll by Angus Reid does make you wonder what the impact of a 6 week campaign with Leaders debates will have? The figures are; Con 39%, Lab 26% and Lib Dem 21%. Last week the figures were 39%, 26% & 18%.
This evening I've been at Truro College for the Funding Fair organised by the Cornwall Sports Partnership. It was a great event attended by over 200 people and with a range of potential funders and advisers on hand to give information to sports clubs and those associated. I went with my councillor hat on but also looking at what funding might be available to hardworking local clubs such as Launceston Boxing Club and Launceston Rugby Club. But I've picked up a huge range of ideas which I'll be passing on to clubs the length of Cornwall. Among the organisations giving ...
With thanks to Sheena Wellington, here's the latest update from Friends of Wighton : On Saturday 20th March, the Friends of Wighton are presenting a Cappuccino Concert in Dundee, performed by the well-known entertainer Tich Frier, from Edinburgh. Held in the atmospheric Wighton Centre, upstairs in Dundee Central Library, the event starts at 10.30am with coffee and newspapers. The music will be start at 11 am and run for about an hour. Admission is £5. Tich has been singing folk songs for over 40 years, and has shared stages with some of the greats of folk music and taken his ...
50 days to canvas, 50 days to build the database, 50 days to deliver leaflets, 50 days to write Focuses, 50 days of email boxes full of pledge requests, 50 days of trying to hold it together on the work front, 50 days of stress, 50 days of taking one's partner for granted, 50 days ...
I recently mentioned that Stagecoach Strathtay was giving consideration to my request, on behalf of residents, to extend the 69 bus service to cover Richmond Terrace and Richmond Court (see above). This morning, I took part in a site visit with the bus company and a City Council officer to ascertain if the bus can safely turn to allow it to cover the area. Conclusion - no problem - it can. The next step is to see how the additional 4 minutes needed in the timetable can be achieved. Stagecoach Strathtay will investigate this and I will update residents when ...
Was taking stuff there and back so had to use the car – amazing the anomalies in border security now. On the way back through the tunnel just a casual wave of the passport, no security checks whatsoever. It's the same on the ferries – sometimes they'll check the car, but most vehicles get waved ...
Over at The Guardian's Comment Is Free website, Simon Hughes – Lib Dem MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey since 1983 – writes about his experiences as a constituency member of Parliament, and how a good and effective democracy is under-pinned by approachable MPs who deliver top-quality personal responses. (Peter Black recently blogged a letter in the Guardian from someone whose train journey was disrupted by Simon's assiduous work ethic). Here's an excerpt: It is a seven-day, 80-hour a week job being a constituency MP. Every day by phone, letter, email or simply being stopped in the street, people ask ...
Spring appears to be creeping round the corner slowly, and people are getting back into their gardens following our freezing winter. The garden waste drop-off point at the junction between Riddons Road and Mayeswood Road in Grove Park is re-opening this Saturday. Between 9am and noon every Saturday between this Saturday (20th March) until 28th November, you can take along garden waste in plastic or reusable bags. Flowers and plants, grass clippings, hedge trimmings, leaves, and twigs and branches up to four inches in diameter will all be accepted. Alternative drop off points are available at Girton Road Car Park, ...
Mark Reckons he has launched a new channel called Lib Dem TV. But with all due respect to Mark and to our new campaign song, the Liberal Democrat story of the day (and our photograph) comes from Bridget Fox. She remembers a loved cat who has just died: "Percy would sit on top of the big old TV, often draping one paw elegantly over the screen. He would play with the landline phone cable, change TV channels by wrestling with the remote, and would also regularly climb onto one of our laptops - sometimes with unintended consequences, like the time ...
Before I start writing this, I just want to point everyone in the direction of the comments to my Joe The Barbarian post. There's some fantastic stuff there, and I'm just sorry I've not been online enough to engage in that discussion more. It's comment threads like that that make the ridiculous amount of time ...
I spent this morning and lunchtime on the Little Red Bus with Brian, a warm, wonderful and helpful driver! Little Red Bus is a not-for-profit, independent, voluntary organisation tackling isolation faced by people living in rural—and urban—areas. It is a vital link in the provision of community transport throughout the Skipton & Ripon constituency. The crisis regarding the lack of adequate public transport in rural areas is well known, and I won't bang the drum about its importance here. Suffice to say that it has to be central to any local council's integrated transport planning, as it provides a lifeline ...
Supermarket Shakespeare is coming back to Lee Green Sainsbury's for the third year. Previous performances have attracted rave reviews. This year's performances at Lee Green are at the following times: Tuesday 20th April 7pm Wednesday 21st April 7pm Thursday 22nd April 7pm Friday 23rd April 7pm Saturday 24th 12pm & 6pm Sunday 25th 12pm & 3pm There are also performances at Forest Hill, New Cross and Lewisham Sainsbury's – details on the Teatro Vivo website. You can also watch a trailer here.
Lovely pm there with the people whale meat again dont know where dont know when well i do actually it'll be Friday
[IMG: Twitter] I have finally given in to something that I have been trying to avoid for a long time. Unconvinced by certain evangalists that it was the solution to almost everything and with a contrary desire to avoid following the herd I thought I could stay away from it indefinately. I was naive. It's powerful pull was too strong. Yes, I have signed up to Twitter. You can find me at: http://twitter.com/andymstrange To be fair I can see the logic of the service and how it can play a useful role in my ongoing project to simplify my online ...
Stumbling and Mumbling reports on "Mephedrone and the Frankenstein Syndrome".Political Betting highlights a polling fillip for the Lib Dems.Lib Dem Voice on the 24 Lib Dem MPs who are 100% liberal.The Spectator's Peter Hoskin on Dick, I beg your pardon Nick Griffin's expense claims since becoming an MEP. Wednesday bonus: The 7 Karma Sutra Sex Tips that will land you in hospital courtesy of Cracked.com
If you're a Londoner and are concerned about the possible closure of the A&E department at the Whittington Hospital, you will be pleased to hear that Lynne Featherstone secured a 90 minute debate about this in the House today. Click here to read her blog and comments. It is essential now that the campaign to secure the future of the A&E department does not loose interest or support!
We are running an anonymous survey in order to find out how you came to be here today. On the right of the page (scroll down a little bit) you will see a survey box – take 2 seconds and click on the appropriate button (and before you ask, there is NO identifying data being collected) – this is just a little bit of fun and provides me with some additional information. Thanks everyone! Chris
Noted in today's issue of the Telegraph online, was the following article 'The role of the father has been downgraded' in which they explore the role of the father in today's family. It was interesting to note that the Tories where quoted as saying '...the Conservative leader has promised that civil partners will benefit from extended paternity and maternity leave (in the case of adoption or artificial insemination babies). David Cameron has also promised that proposals to extend flexible working and married couples' tax breaks would be granted as well. He has stated that the party is no longer hostile ...
From The Times: A Conservative parliamentary candidate for one of the safest seats in the country has used a doctored campaign photograph that appears to have removed wrinkles and patched up her smile. The assistant of Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative candidate for Gosport, took her photograph to a digital laboratory to turn the snap into a billboard election poster. Speaking to The Times today, the 38-year-old candidate insisted that she had not intended for her photograph to be airbrushed. She said: "The photograph was taken by a friend in my front garden and was not of a good enough quality. ...
Some members of the House of Lords have been demanding the right to vote for MPs and want to see the law changed to remove the ban on peers voting at general elections. Do you agree with them? That's the question asked in our latest Twitter poll:
Wed 17th
19:11
Vote for what you believe in... or you will wake up on May 7th facing another five years of more of ...
This is what Nick Clegg said in his closing speech at the Spring Conference today. He opened his speech by telling delegates (and the electorate) by telling the conference what bothered him about political attitudes and opinions, that the phrase "That's just the way things are" is not the way things have to be (link to LibDem YouTube upload of speech at the end of this posting, Chris) He went onto the subject that in my opinion is the biggest vote winner – taxation. Is it fair that we '...live in a country where the poorest pay the biggest chunk ...
Dear All After a malicious denial of service attack and a server hack, we are back online in a 'fresh and new' format. Sadly, all previous postings (pre 13.03.10) have gone, but this has given me the chance to tidy up a cluttered blog hierarchy and start afresh. Chris
Vote here – this is by no means a scientific poll, but so far. the results have indicated that 46% of respondents have said NO to the question. As a centre-leftist, I cannot see that a coallition is a good idea as it will discourage the wavering Tory voters from coming across to the LibDems (Clegg/Cameron = Tory?) and the Labour voters who have just had enough – well they cannot be encouraged to vote for a party which is going to be in bed with the Tories... A loose loose situation in my mind. But then again, I am ...
As friends already know, my much-loved cat Percy was taken ill late on Monday night and died early on Tuesday morning. He had been very ill in December, and had a heart condition diagnosed then. His lifestyle changed, from being free range to being a house cat, on daily medication, ever since; and our excellent ...
This will not be one of my more finely tuned highly researched post's as I am bloging on the way home and is based on little more than hearsay and may or not reflect the wasteful attemps of Labour to fight, claw, bribe, etc its way to a fresh term.As with many initiatives there are different viewpoints and this one comes from an astonished co-worker. Many will have seen the Governments offer of free laptops for families on benefits with school aged children to help with their education, perhaps not as familiar are parents who are having a bit of ...
Facebook has apparently just overtaken Google as the most popular website in the US. The world returns to normal.
When my wife was (recently) pregnant she was very aware of how rarely people offered her their seat on the Tube - even in the somewhat obvious final stages. Those who did tended to be women aged 25 and over. We always assumed that this was largely because they could imagine being or had been in the same situation themselves. And men always had the slight excuse that some women might take it as a comment on their weight. Cobblers. I am now hobbling around on a crutch with a ripped calf muscle (tedious). I am clearly not going to ...
I secured a 90 minute in Parliament today on the Future of London Hospitals - obviously about the Whittington A&E, maternity and paediatrics. I wanted to use this opportunity to really put the case to the Minister that the sweeping changes being proposed have no clinical evidence base and no business case. I demonstrated (for about half an hour) how there is no evidence of where or how 45,000 A&E patients who could not be handled by an alternative means would be cared for, nor any existing services in the community to deal with the 38,000 shoved from the A&E ...
Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, has issued this pastoral letter to the Anglican churches in his diocese, about the elections. "Although its date has yet to be announced, it is certain that there will be a General Election by early June, and the political parties are clearly now well embarked on a pre-election campaign. We ...
Remember those hazy days at the beginning of March? It was obvious, innit: a hung parliament spells doom to the pound. Since then, the possibility of a hung parliament has remained just as strong (see Betfair) and yet the Pound is up. From the $1.50 level to $1.54. Nothing spectacular: just enough to confirm my hunch ...
US cable network C-Span, bless them, have just put their entire unedited video archive online for FREE access. The videos go back 23 years. Bear in mind that C-Span don't do things by half – they cover entire events, so we're not talking 2 minute clips here – they show you, for example, the entire speech with speaker entering, applause and waves at the end. There's a list of links to memorable moments here. I've picked out a classic Ted Kennedy speech from 1980 here. It's the full 30 minutes in high quality video from the Democratic convention of that ...
[IMG: Manchester Irish Festival Booklet] Happy St. Patrick's Day to all those who celebrate it. There are many Irish people and people with Irish connections in Fallowfield and across Manchester, and they continue to contribute to the city. If you're interested in all things Irish, be sure to check out the Manchester Irish Festival!
This Friday night at 7.30 in the Media Centre at Darlington Arts Centre, the Darlington Cycling Campaign have an open meeting with leading cycling campaigner Karl McCracken as the guest speaker. Go here for more details.
It was great to attend to the Liberal Democrat Spring conference in Birmingham last weekend. It was even greater to see and hear Lord Ashdown first main political speech since he stood down as leader of the party. Paddy was the reason why I became a liberal democrat. He represents for me honesty , decency and above all commitment to the party. He shaped the party that exists today and will in my opinion go down in history as one of this country greatest political leaders who saved thousands of Bosnians life's. My only regret is i didn't get chance ...
[IMG: 35 christchurch rd] Over on my other blog I have given a roundup on activity by RBC officers to bring hundreds of Reading's empty homes back into use. This important work is only happening because of the active campaign my Lib Dem colleagues and I have led locally on this issue which led to strategy and resources being allocated to this issue. In Redlands, one of the most prominent empty homes is the beautiful house on the corner of Christchurch Road and Kendrick Road. I have been nagging officers for years to work with the owner of this property ...
I was very lucky on Sunday to be witness to a great exercise in democracy. Lib Dem conference delegates, myself included, overwhelming supported an emergency motion clearly outlining their opposition to the Government's draconian, authoritarian, Digital Economy Bill. In doing so, they effectively admonished the party's leadership in the House of Lords, who had supported parts of the bill and introduced amendments that amounted to censorship of the internet. It also prompted MPs in the House of Commons to do what they could, in the limited time remaining in this parliament, to ensure that the ill judged bill does not ...
So goes the old children's rhyme, something that probably every school child in the country is familiar with and I was reminded of this phrase earlier today whilst watching Prime Minister's Questions when Gordon Brown admitted that he had lied to the Chilcot inquiry. I am of course talking of his statement that "defence spending ...
The Liberal Democrats have released their election campaign song, "We'll be the change that works for you" by The LD Community Choir. It is available for download from iTunes at: www.itunes.co.uk/theldcommunitychoir (you will need to have iTunes installed to use this link) I will make no further comment other than "let's get it to No. 1!".
As an Irishman you'd expect me to be celebrating St. Patrick's day this evening. Well I may have a dram of Whiskey (note the spelling) later to celebrate but there is a local party meeting this evening first. Of course that doesn't stop my blog from celebrating without me. As a Northern Irishman it is over to the Muppets to sing the song of our country. As a Rugby fan I'm still on a high from the events around the time of the last St. Patrick's day. Ok there was a bit of disappointment on St. Valentine's day but our ...
All three of these fellows have prominent careers in the entertainment industry. Their fathers are, or were, very famous. Can you name the three famous fathers using the comments facility below? If noone gets all the answers by this time tomorrow, I'll post a few light clues.
I remain deeply concerned about the Council's proposed Affordable Housing PFI scheme. I think that the houses that it will produce will be very expensive and I am concerned that there is too much focus on this scheme as the answer to our housing needs when it will only meet 7% of our affordable housing need per year for four years. However, at today's Cabinet meeting there was no debate allowed on the principle of the PFI scheme. So instead I was able to ask some more specific questions. In response, I receive a commitment from Mark Kaczmarek, the Cabinet ...
Neil Burden, Leader of the Independent Group (sic) on Cornwall Council is to take over as the Children and Schools Cabinet member at the end of the month following Sally Bain's departure. At today's Cabinet meeting there was much discussion about the Lib Dem request for the portfolio to be split. The job is a huge one and the field of children and safeguarding is actually very different from that of schools. However we were told that it is a legal requirement for the job to be held by a single cabinet member. Doris Ansari suggested that Cornwall apply for ...
I'd like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very happy St Patrick's Day, particularly to the many Irish and people with Irish connections across Manchester. It's great to see so many events going on across the area during the 15th Irish Festival. Wherever you are going to celebrate the big day, ...
Following the tragic deaths of Louis Wainwright and Nicholas Smith in Scunthorpe this weekend it was inevitable that there would be calls for the currently legal drug mephedrone (also known as meow meow) to be banned. Indeed the government has now announced that the legal status of the drug will be examined. Lord Mandelson has been quoted as saying that it will be reviewed "Very speedily, very carefully". Putting aside the fact that Mandelson's statement is a contradiction in terms (you can either review it carefully, or speedily, not both) the government is at risk of making the same mistake ...
A Returning Officer's work is never done and so, with a new Federal Executive mostly in place, there is a vacancy for the position of Vice Chair Finance, following the elevation of Alan Belmore to the position of Supreme Leader (and no, that doesn't mean that he's the senior backing singer for Diana Ross, although, now that I mention it, why is that so ridiculous?). So, in due course, a calling notice will be issued for a co-option to last until 30 June. As a one term Treasurer of the Young Liberal Democrats of England (1992 wasn't a great year...), ...
Is this the best book trailer ever? Very possibly. It's not out in the UK until 15th April 2010 but a must read for anyone wanting to understand how we got into this financial mess.
This morning in the Independent we learnt that the the Youth Justice Board are not publishing their figures on youth crime as scheduled but in 6 months time. An official at the government agency has said that the reason for this is official "purdah" period. The former Civil Servant in me is screaming Gordon hasn't gone to the Palace yet he can't be suppressing reports under the election "purdah" period, that is unless the politico in me has missed the actually calling of the General Election (and I know that hasn't happened). We also have Helen Goodman Labour MP for ...
Commenting on Gordon Brown's announcement that he is writing to the Iraq Inquiry to clarify evidence he gave on defence cuts, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: "Gordon Brown should do more than simply clarify the matter with the Iraq Inquiry. "He should apologise for the fact that under his watch our troops have not had the equipment they need to do the job. "They have struggled without sufficient helicopters for too long. "It is a scandal that it has taken so long to get the Snatch Land Rover out of service in Afghanistan."
I attended a reception held by the Vote Cruelty Free campaign where I learnt about the work that the group is doing. Vote Cruelty Free is a coalition of five different animal welfare charities: BUAV, Compassion in World Farming, IFAW, League Against Cruel Sports and Respect for Animals and covers a broad range of animal welfare issues. They oppose animal experiments ...
Last week AstraZeneca announced it would be axing up to two hundred jobs from their European Business Services Centre in Chorlton. This is a big blow, particularly as the economy's recovery still appears to be weak and as unemployment in the area remains at a high number. The jobs that are to be lost are skilled ...
So reports Adam Bienkov: Boris Johnson's fire chief Brian Coleman has lost his position as Chairman of a National fire board after increasing concerns about his behaviour. The LGA confirmed to me this morning that Brian is no longer Chairman of the National Organisation of Employers of Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services. A spokesman said that Brian had lost his position but would not confirm the exact date or circumstances of his departure. Brian himself has also failed to respond to my questions about this. However sources within the National Joint Council tell me that Brian's chairmanship was recently ...
A guest post by Councillor Mark Cole, current Mayor of Cardigan. The future and the promotion of the Welsh language is, quite simply, a matter of the utmost importance for everyone who lives in Wales as we enter the 21st century. As a native Welsh speaker, I have always been proud to be able to speak fluent ...
On behalf of the Chorlton Liberal Democrats I would like to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick's Day. I know that the newly refurbished Chorlton Irish Club is having a family fun day with Irish music and games. In the evening there is the St Patrick's Dance with music from Pat Jordan & Finians Rainbow. The dance starts at 8:30 pm and admission is £5. However you choose to celebrate St Patrick's Day I hope you have an enjoyable time. To find out more about what's going on during the Manchester Irish Festival visit: http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/
Unfortunately Trafford Council have voted to approve the Mega Tesco in Stretford application, but they rejected the Salisbury's at White City application. This will have an enormous impact on Chorlton district centre and we must do all we can to try prevent it going ahead. This a message I have received from the No Mega Tesco Campaign this afternoon about trying to get the application called in by the Secretary of State. Please join me and the rest of the group in writing to the Government Office North West to ask for the decision to be called in. Email from ...
After 7 months, my term as an executive member of Liberal Youth has finally come to a close. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with Alan Belmore, Matthew Folker, Alex Royden, Elaine Bagshaw, James Shaddock, Paddy Elsdon, Neal Brown, Callum Leslie, Kristian Chapman, Richard Morgan-Ash, Matt Smith, Katy Pritchard, Robson Brown, Martin Shapland, Michael Atkins, Nathan Khan, Jenn Warren, Cara Drury, Thomas Hemsley, Usaama Kaweesa, Ed Sanderson, Callum Morton, James Harrison, Chris Ward, Chris Keating, Erlend Watson, Naomi Smith, Mark Valladares, Sam Lockwood and Catherine Alice Turner as well as many others along the way (forgive ...
Party members have just received this email from Lib Dem Chief Executive Chris Fox: At our successful spring conference last weekend, a number of delegates came up to me to ask about the music they heard at the rally, opening each session and on the video before Nick's speech. This music is called We'll be the change that works for you and it has been specially prepared for the election. The more you listen to it the catchier it gets. Following the positive comments we got at conference we wanted to make it available to members and supporters and I ...
Yesterday morning I was sat on the front row of the audience for what I thought would be a packed Cabinet Meeting regarding the Guided Bus. After the tales of woe and wringing of hands over contractual stalemate the previous week, I was expecting some robust discussion at the very least. In the event it was underwhelming. A statement was read out that negotiations are being held at the very highest level and we shall wait and see what arises. At least the people of Cambridgeshire are finally being given some more information about the problems and the overspend - ...
The Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams has criticised the record of nationalist parties in Government after the latest unemployment figures showed unemployment rising in Wales and Scotland as it goes down in England. Wales has the highest unemployment of any nation in the UK at 9.2%, up 9,000 to 133,000 over the most recent period covered. In Scotland unemployment has gone up 16,000 to 205,000. Commenting, Roger Williams said: "These figures are extremely disturbing for Wales, and highlight the failure of Plaid to get a grip on unemployment. "The common feature in Wales and Scotland ...
Norman baker the Lib Dem Shadow Transport Secretary has made it clear that FCC should lose its franchise because of its continuing poor performance and the way passengers have been treated. He was speaking at public meeting called by the Party to discuss the railways company's record. The meting was also addressed by Sandy Walkington and chaired by Chris White. [IMG: norman-baker.jpg]
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will use their opposition debate time this afternoon to seek the support of the National Assembly for the Independently Funded News Consortia pilot project in Wales. As the digital switchover and financial problems cast a shadow over ITV's commitment to providing regional news in its Public Service Broadcaster duties, this could leave Wales with only the BBC providing current affairs and news programmes. We believe that high quality television and radio news and current affairs are essential components of an inclusive democracy. Without a wide range of voices, people will not get the robust scrutiny of ...
Below is a copy of my leaflet to get myself elected as a Town Councillor for the Old Bracknell ward. I also include the original words I wrote which didn't all fit onto the leaflet just so you can get an idea of how political leaflets may be edited. Why I am Standing for you I am standing because I believe in the good work of the Town Council and because I would like to go on and represent the people of Bracknell at the Borough council in the May 2011 local elections. I am a user of the local ...
The New Yorker of 15 March has a fascinating article by George Packer, called "Obama's lost year". Packer traverses the political and strategic mistakes that the president has made, the opportunities he has lost over the past twelve months. [Sorry - there's no hyperlink to the full article unless you're a paying subscriber] Inevitably, one of the issues that Packer discusses is Obama's failure to craft a narrative and tell the American people a story about what he is doing, and why he is doing it. "Phrasemaking, throughlines, frameworks and narratives simply aren't the stuff of the Obama press office." ...
Well I was wondering what Labour was up to on my patch, this being a constituency with a sitting Labour MP and after boundary revision nominally a dead heat with the Tories. To hold on they need to squeeze every vote possible. And this morning a glossy gold card through the door with headline 'LibDem Leader: Thatcher was right' and parading a certain remark about 'savage cuts'. On reverse a bar chart of NATIONAL vote figures and the mantra 'Only Labour can beat the Tories'. I suspect 'Thatcher' and 'savage cuts' will be a drumbeat mantra from the Brown Trousered ...
Paul Krugman has issued a provocative call for a surcharge on Chinese imports, in order to counter the effect of their exchange rate policy, which: "seriously damages the rest of the world. Most of the world's large economies are stuck in a liquidity trap — deeply depressed, but unable to generate a recovery by cutting interest ...
[IMG: climate-change.jpg] Scientists would probably tell me that accurate climate change facts are part of the problem, but if people are to have confidence that climate change is occurring and that they should support national and international efforts then accuracy goes to the heart of the matter. It was a shame therefore that the Government has been ticked off for an advertising campaign about climate change which has been stopped by the Advertising watchdog because it exaggerated the problem. Incidents such as that and the recent questions about scientists exaggerating the issue are causing real problems when it then comes ...
All of the experiences listed in this poll are ones that Sandra Scantling and Sue Browder in their book Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Sex describe as "extraordinary" and not experienced by most women. This struck me as surprising; the things on the list certainly aren't ones I expect to experience every time I have sex, but I've experienced most of them at least once, and my anecdotal impression was that they aren't that rare amongst my friends, either. I'm also now curious as to whether there's a gender difference, something the book doesn't address at all. Satisfy my curiosity? Detailed results ...
Wed 17th
12:50
The Independent View: The Digital Economy Bill should not be pushed through without proper scrutiny
Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group, writes about the Digital Economy Bill: The Open Rights Group would like to thank the Lib Dems for taking a strong policy stance against the Digital Economy Bill's disconnection and web blocking proposals. The biggest danger now is that Parliament will not debate or amend the Bill at all. After the budget, the Bill could be passed with little or no debate, as the election must be called within the next few weeks. The result could be that the Bill becomes law in very bad shape. The Lib Dems have a ...
I must say that I was again shocked by the latest report of public services think tank Reform. They argue for reductions in NHS hospital beds and for care to be moved out into the community, therefore saving money. This is fair enough and replicates much of what goes on in the country. Unfortunately they then focus in on the fact that the North East has more beds per 1,000 population, with the clear link that the North East has over provision of hospital beds. I recall Tory health spokesperson Chris Grayling making a similar point on a visit up ...
I had a very interesting meeting last night with officers of Gateshead Council about the use of social media for communicating with constituents. Currently I am the only member of the council to have my own blog. More of us are on Facebook. I am the only one with a YouTube channel and as far as we are aware, I am the only one with a Flickr site. So we had a good look at other sites and how to use
Worrying suggestions from today's FT (free reigistration needed) of potential for a "divided Britain" and of a Tory government lacking a real mandate that covers more than the well-off in southern half of England: David Cameron would have to push through painful economic reforms without a mandate from large swathes of the population, including the working-class voters who are set to bear the brunt of public spending cuts, suggests Financial Times analysis of recent polls. Drawn from data spanning the past three months, the findings suggest Mr Cameron lacks Tony Blair's famed ability to bridge traditional class and regional divides. ...
Roger Williams, Lib Dem shadow secretary of state for Food and Rural Affairs, is the subject of an interview in the Voice's favourite read, Horticulture Week. He gives his views on Defra, the party's call for a supermarket ombudsman, soft landscaping and school visits to rural industries. Here's an excerpt: An issue on which the Lib Dems have long been vocal is the creation of a supermarkets ombudsman, as Williams is keen to point out. He explains: "The Liberal Democrats have led the call for an ombudsman. The way in which horticultural producers and top fruit producers have been treated ...
It is extremely unfortunate, or perhaps richly ironic, that the drug mephedrone, making headlines this morning because of the tragic deaths of two teenagers who had taken it, has the following nicknames: "M-Cat", "MC", "mieow" and "meow". Because, when I heard this, my mind turned to thoughts of yellow bentines, cake (the made up drug) and, ...
My two ward colleagues, Marilynn Ord and John McClurey, arrived at my house this morning for a quick tour of the area and photo session for our next Focus leaflet. Marilynn said she had just received a call from a local resident who was furious with the Conservative leaflet and was angry that their candidate was posing as a local guy. The resident had tried to contact him but all she got was an
Lib Dem Voice has the details of a new website assessing how authoritarian your MP is. I am delighted to report that Southport M.P.John Pugh tops the poll as the least authoritarian. I think we can -judging by previous behaviour-be sure that any alternative would not do as well.
Much interest has been created by the shenanigans at Mersytravel where the Tories are propping up a discredited Labour administration. They are now looking at charging for the car parking facilities at Birkdale. One can't help thinking that if they had wasted less money on the tram-even long after the government had signalled that they were not backing it-they have the resources to expand the park and ride facilities not restrict them. Below is the correspondence between my colleague John Dodd and the Chief Exec: sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:45 AMSubject: FW: PAY TO PARK AT STATIONS Dear Cllr ...
I know it sounds astonishing to say it – yet I sense that there'll be a pincer movement against us by Labour/Tories attacking Vince Cable. Their arguments are already being rehearsed on OUTeverywhere: 1. He's just a `rent-a-quote` who just tells you what's gone on 2. `Anybody could have predicted the house price crash etc – it's like ...
The Council's Cabinet has just voted to approve the bid for Next Generation Broadband for Cornwall. This could bring internet speeds of up to 100mb for domestic use and up to 1gb for businesses. That's fantastic news and builds on the first generation broadband project led by the Lib Dems on Cornwall Council. And, what's more, the work will start in East Cornwall. The entire project will cost well over £100m and will rely in the main on convergence funding - ie support from the EU - but there will be £1 million of Cornwall Council money. I believe that ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSzbOOVnbV8 I missed this, which was such a shame. Maybe next time.
Having suffered the fate (again) of having someone else claiming to have done case work I'd sorted long ago I thought I would add a couple of stories. Firstly the good people of Dickenson Court have had problems with the cleansing department. Dickenson Ct is a sheltered housing complex owned by Pierhead Housing and is situated off Bedford Rd on the old laundry site. There are 39+ flats in the scheme and the cleansing department left them with only two Euro bins-which for a fortnightly collection is not acceptable. After a little too-ing and fro-ing we managed to get the ...
At 9:58 I blogged: "However, just like that and the Digital Economy Bill I'm expected a knee-jerk, ill-conceived, poorly thought out Labour reaction any minute now." The connection with the DE Bill was uncanny at 10:21 the BBC are reporting that Lord Voldemort of Foy and Hartlepool (aka the Business Minister) is saying the government would take "any action that is justified to deal with this" and that it will be examined "very speedily,very carefully". I'm sorry but as the Government are currently proving with Lord Voldemort's Digital Economy Bill speedily and carefully do not sit well side by side ...
An interesting collection of on-line poll results are emerging over at gaugeopinion.co.uk. The next government will be a Labour/Lib Dem coalition, with Vince Cable as Chancellor but Samantha Cameron as Prime Minister, if the people responding to our facebook and google ads get their way. 41.7% of our site visitors would like to see Sam Cam in power, if the tables were turned, with only 35.4% backing Sarah Brown. Vince Cable scores much higher than his party's general ratings with currently 56.1% wanting to see him given the top job at the Treasury. I'm not sure how well Sam and ...
Over in The Telegraph Labour MP Martin Salter asks the, by now, very cliched question: Just who are interested in MPs Twitterings? ... And given the prime audience for these dull statements are likely to be opposition bloggers or hostile hacks waiting for you to screw-up spectacularly, I have to ask, what's the point? Easy one to answer Martin. Who's interested? Constituents, that's who.
Sorry, folks, for the second time in 18 years, I missed a conference. Pneumonia is a b@$t@rd. We got back from a loverly holiday in Cyprus, thanks Mum and Dad, but I had picked up an infection which moved rapidly to my chest and knocked me sideways. I have decided to start this up again. So it will be a mixture of politics, christianity and costuming, Lord help us all. :-)
Listening to First Minister, Carwyn Jones in yesterday's Scrutiny Committee meeting I could not help but feel that I had slipped into an alternative universe. Just hours earlier the Wales Audit Office had published a report suggesting that as a minimum the Welsh Government will lose £1.5 billion of its budget over the next three years and yet the man who heads that adminstration was telling the Committee that he would be seeking to avoid job losses. Tom Bodden has the details on this political equivalent of feeding the 5,000: Mr Jones conceded he was preparing for a "very tight ...
Adrian's story: I completely support the campaign to keep the A&E service going at the Whittington and have had three experiences:- 1. About 18 months ago I cut my foot badly at home (I live in Crouch End). My wife drove me to the Whittington, where I had a rapid first examination and assessment, before taking my place in the queue while more serious injuries were dealt with. Had the Whittington not been available, (and because of the amount of blood!), I would have had to call for an ambulance. 2. I have a stepbrother with Aspergers syndrome. About 2 ...
Popular Lib Dem blogger Mark Thompson has launched a new project called Lib Dem TV. As you can probably guess from the name, the site will feature Lib Dem related videos from around the country. The first video Mark has uploaded is an interview with Lib Dem PPC for Winchester, Martin Tod, and I think ...
Show off your artistic skills at the Busy Bee Toy Shop in March! Pick up a form at the shop for our competition to produce a design for an Easter egg, and return it to us with your most colourful design by Saturday 3rd April. There are three age categories: * up to 4 years, * 5 to 8 years * 9 to 12 years. The winner in each category will receive a prize and all entries will be displayed in the shop.
"Just because [mephedrone] is legal to possess it does not mean that this is at all safe." That is a balanced view from Kay Aisthorpe of police community initiative Safer Neighbourhoods. There are a lot of things in our live that are not entirely safe if used in the wrong way: household bleach kitchen knives motor cars Just because something is not "at all safe" through one use does not mean that all the rest should be banned. Same goes for our net usage. However, just like that and the Digital Economy Bill I'm expected a knee-jerk, ill-conceived, poorly thought ...
So says that well-known intellectual powerhouse, Martin Salter MP. He's got a point, but it depends how Twitter is used. There are two approaches: 1. Occasionally use it to notify constituents of visits, activity, speeches etc. 2. Use it frequently as a sort of "stream of consciousness". Though 2 is a laudable use of Twitter for most people, it is probably a mode of use which is a waste of time and a risk to reputations if used by politicians, a Martin Salter suggests. One thing's for sure, if Martin Salter was tweeting on a regular basis using method 2, ...
Spent part of the weekend campaigning with Lib Dem Councillors in Halewood. They've had quite a few campaigning successes although frustration with the Labour run Knowsley Council runs quite deep and there certainly seems to have been quite a bit of "foot dragging". People who use buses a lot will recognise the name Ravencourt as one of the main bus stops or the end of the route. What you see if you get off the bus there though is a derelict shopping centre with one poor shop open. It actually reminds me of some of the derelict centres in Liverpool ...
In case the 4.5 hours of Prime Ministerial debates featuring Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron were not enough to sate the appetite of even the most politically-obsessed television viewer, the BBC has revealed plans to broadcast nine Cabinet Contender debates. Digital Spy reports: ... the nine Cabinet Contender debates will see Labour ministers, their Shadow rivals and Liberal Democrat counterparts discussing the key issues ahead of the general election. ... The Daily Politics host Andrew Neil will front the Cabinet Contender debates on BBC Two in the two weeks before the election date, which is still to be ...
Regarding this article I'm surprised I'm having to complain again when we are so close to an election. Anyway, I sent the following complaint: In the report Stephanie Flanders reported and compared on the Labour/Conservative Economic narratives. She didn't mention the third Liberal Democrat narrative at all. We are in an election period in all but name ...
UKIP have been making the following claim entirely without foundation: I achieved a major breakthrough today with a committment from Herts Highways that the phasing of the traffic signals at Peahen junction of Holywell Hill will be changed in the next two to three weeks so that the pedestrian lights in Verulam Road will stay green whilst the main lights are green. This should immediately ease the long traffic queues along Verulam Road that have blighted the junction for years. This is an area which I have been campaigning on for some time and I received yesterday the following statement ...
Lib Dem Voice launched our new website – How Liberal / Authoritarian is your MP? – at the party's spring conference on Friday. LDV has identified 10 key votes from the 2005-10 Parliament – ranging from ID cards and freedom of speech to freedom of information and trial without jury – in order to rank all MPs according to how liberal or authoritarian their record is. All MPs are marked out of 100: the higher their score the more authoritarian they are. The lower their score the more liberal is their voting record. 24 Lib Dem MPs recorded a perfect ...
John Kampfner has launched his pamphlet, Lost labours, with Nick Clegg. Below is the text of the email he sent advertising it.
Just too late to make any difference, Jack Straw finally lets slip that he has a plan for reform of the Second Chamber. Because, let's be honest, thirteen years is barely long enough to even scratch the surface of getting rid of an unelected legislature and replace it with one that is fit for the third millennium. Best of all, it is all being done by leak. There will be just 300 seats in the new House, provisionally called a Senate. Salaries will be less than that for those in the Commons (will that be renamed too?). It will be ...
Yesterday Stephanie Flanders, the BBC's usually excellent economics editor, wrote an article on her blog entitled 'The incredible shrinking gap'. The article deals with the plans that Labour and the Conservatives have for tackling the budget deficit, and points out that although the rhetoric of each party suggests there is a 'chasm' between them on policy, it is 'more of a ditch', and 'a fairly shallow one at that'. Flanders is a good writer. She is clear, precise and engaging, and a far better analyst than Robert Peston, her more lauded counterpart, the BBC's business editor. And this article shows ...
Fifty days to polling day, fifty days to deliver those leaflets, knock on those doors, make the phone calls and, if you're not in a target seat yourself, get along to your nearest one (preferably taking a nice big team with you). 2 Big Stories Top Tory loses expenses appeal As the Mail reports: A former High Court judge today dismissed an appeal by shadow defence secretary Liam Fox against a finding that he was overpaid more than £22,000 in parliamentary expenses for mortgage interest on his second home. Dr Fox was one of five MPs whose appeals were rejected ...
Another day, another authoritarian measure from our timid Government. In the past few years, we've seen them put the wishes of the US Government over protecting its own citizens (Gary McKinnon especially, then it failed to properly regulate the banking system which threatened us all and brought the global economy to the edge of a very nasty precipice. Then it decided to give the Police powers to lock up anyone they vaguely suspected might be a terrorist for up to 3 months before being forced down to a still grossly excessive 42. Now it's pandering to the record industry on ...
Last December Rupert Everett told the Evening Standard that he was to play Jeremy Thorpe in a BBC film. Now the Daily Telegraph, at the bottom of a story about Patrick Moore hanging up his telescope, reports that the project has been abandoned.
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I just chanced on this clip on You Tube and realised how much I miss George W Bush. The world is a less colourful place without him at the helm of the US of A. The clip is entitled "Before a Bush speech, this happens". It's the music which clinches it.
Tuesday To Westminster: whom should I come across but Sarah Teather? She is considering which measure to promote should she secure a favoured place in the next ballot for private members' bills. "I am thinking of taking up the problem of people slipping on carelessly discarded banana skins," she tells me. "I think we should give local authorities a duty to pick them up." "What, the people?" I ask with (I like to think) a twinkle. "No," she replies, "not the people but the banana skins." "What about people who are hit in the face with custard pies?" I return. ...
I have started a new site called Lib Dem TV. On it I intend to put up any interviews or other sorts of footage involving Lib Dem members and candidates that I can generate. I am also happy to post any relevant footage from other Lib Dem activists that might be of interest more widely. If you want to submit anything please e-mail me here. The first post went live early this morning and is an interview I did with Martin Tod, Lib Dem PPC for Winchester over a Skype video call yesterday. We discussed spring conference, his campaign in ...
It is St. Patrick's Day so I'm going to round up some Irish news stories this morning. First up and some sad news for Cardiff Blogger, Jedward have been dropped by Sony after just one single. John and Edward Grimes who were Louis Walsh's last remaining act on the show released their cover of Under Pressure mashed up with Ice, Ice Baby but it was kept off the top slot by Owl City and then dropped like a stone the following week. Walsh said: "I'm completely committed to Jedward and I know they still have a great career ahead of ...
Following the Auditor General's report on the Financial Challenges Facing Public Services, Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats has criticised the Labour-Plaid government for spending £11.2 million pounds on external consultants in 2008/09. Research by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has revealed that over the last five years, the Labour-Plaid Government spending on external consultants has increased from £1.9 million to £11.2 million, prompting questions about the government's priorities for the public sector. The report, out today, warns that the government will have to make cuts in public services that could lead to job losses across a sector that ...
Alright, so the abbreviation of General Executive Member is pretty tempting. And so I include a nice picture of Colombia's third most well-known export (I understand that the first two are brought to you by the letter C). But this isn't getting the result declared, is it? Time to get on... With ten candidates for six places, the first task was to calculate the quota. There were seventy valid ballots cast, with one spoilt by the use of three crosses and no numbers. As a result, the quota was determined as 10.01. The first preferences were as follows; Sophie Bertrand ...
I received further correspondance from TfL about my enquiries asking clarification on their position regarding the Courthill Road Junction. This latest letter, that I received last week, has some very interesting points indeed, and I'm much delighted to read that they agree with the point I raised about the context of the junction and how a ...
Yay! Blogs are getting their own theme tunes! So here's the official Split Horizons theme tune:
I had a quick chat with Martin Tod, Lib Dem PPC for Winchester yesterday to discuss spring conference, his campaign and his use of the internet and other technology to help with this and that favourite topic for Lib Dems, electoral reform.
Never being one to delay a result, I, Mark Jonathan Valladares, being the Returning Officer, blah, blah, blah... The number of ballot papers issued was 86, of which 76 were returned. For the election of the Chair, there were 75 valid ballots cast, with one left blank. Accordingly, the quota was 37.51 and the votes were cast as follows; Alan Belmore - 51 votes Sam Potts - 21 votes reopen nominations - 3 votes I therefore declare Alan Belmore to be duly elected to complete the current term, due to end on 30 June. As a result, there will need ...
If you have not read 1984 then I will give you a brief outline of the story. It involves a Big Brother. I think his name is Gordon. There might have been another Big Brother called David who had his airbrushed face on posters on every wall. The main character Winston works in the Ministry of Truth where he has to amend the news in order to conform with Gordon's wishes. If anything goes wrong then there is a Ministry of Justice, I seem to remember that the person in charge is called Jack. The reason that I am writing ...
The next meeting of the Yardley Constituency Committee is at South Yardley Library at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th March. The main items on the agenda (from an Acocks Green perspective), which looks to me like being busy one, are as follows: A report on the state of the finances of the Consituency for the current financial year The budget for 2010/11 An update on Building Schools for the Future An update on Operation Paragon - the reorganisation of the West Midlands Police An update on the anti-graffiti strategy A briefing note on 44 Sherbourne Road, Acocks Green This is the ...
