Andrew Reeves' Running Blog dissects a bad day for the Conservatives in Scotland: "Chris Walker, the former Conservative candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk comes out to back Liberal Democrats Michael Moore to win and then only hours later North Ayshire & Arran Conservative candidate Philip Lardner is suspended over his homophobic views." How can Nick Clegg win the third debate too? Jeremy Hargreaves has some ideas. The campaign trail brings Peter Thornton, Lib Dem candidate for Penrith and the Border, to Pooley Bridge farmers market. Tomorrow night there is a hustings in Ashfield. Labour will be represented, not by ...
Had a busy week today as the postal votes hit peoples door mats. But a few awards need to be handed out by this blog: First Lib Dem vote in the bag here - surely from a lovely woman I met in Ryton who had already posted her postal vote and crucially voted Lib Dem in both the local and national elections. Most repulsive pitch of the day: The BNP who in their leaflet show Nick Griffin with Winston Churchill, the pro European former Liberal who fought right wing extremism. Most ridiculous claim of the day: The areas outgoing Labour ...
Amidst all the media hype it is easy to get lost amid smoke and mirrors: The fact is that the betting and the reality of this election is that the Conservatives are set for a majority government, even upon no more than 36% of the vote. The fact that the Tories genuinely believe that 36% qualifies them for 100% of the power is why the Conservatives should not be given such power. The Liberal Democrats are going to face attacks from all sides in the last week of this election: and we are more than capable of dealing with the ...
It was to be expected that at some point the Liberals would wobble a little. That moment seems to be now. I am not referring to the polls - though a couple of the most immediate ones do open up more of a lead for the Tories. I am referring to the immensely confusing mixed-message that we are hearing about who the Liberals will and won't do business with in a hung parliament. Watching Nick on Sunday - Nick seemed very clear, very bold, very statesman-like in his position that, in the event that Labour polled the fewest votes of ...
Three polls published tonight: Populus in The Times ... CON 36%(+4), LAB 27%(-1), LIB DEM 28%(-3) YouGov in The Sun ... CON 33%(nc), LAB 29%(+1), LIB DEM 28%(-1) ComRes for ITV/The Independent ... CON 33%(+1), LAB 29%(+1), LDEM 29%(-2) The big shift is in the Populus survey – however, the last time they polled was at the peak of the Lib Dems' post-debate surge, so the result is pretty much in line with other polls showing the Lib Dems hovering around the 30% mark – albeit the Tories are at their highest point since before Nick Clegg's rise to fame. ...
SNP Tactical Voting reports the results of a Populus/Times opinion poll conducted in Scotland. They are: Labour - 37% (-3%) Lib Dem - 24% (+1%) SNP - 19% (+2%) Con - 16% (-) The blog says this would mean Lib Dem gains in Edinburgh South and Aberdeen South.
Who says? One of their own MPs, our very own Dari Taylor. She's calling on Gordon Brown to visit the area. Could it be that she sees her seat disappearing from under her? Jacquie Bell, the Lib Dem candidate for Stockton South says "LibDems are taking on the challenge in Labour's traditional North East heartland. Whillst the public and media are aware of Mr Brown's absence on the local
Time of an astonishing bit of Bi Partisanship. Not only am I going to include a link showing 2 SNP councillors but they are at Tynecastle home of Hearts rivals of the Mighty Hibernian and they are giving them money! All in a very good cause I have to say. I know Norman and David were delighted to be able to present the cheque to Hearts Trust which does excellent work changing the lives of young people for the better. The boys are also ably supported at the event by Jaqui Doig of the City Councils Community Safety Team. ...
Now, there's a headline you didn't expect to see in this constituency. But, if the Oxford Mail website is to be believed, I am set for an historic victory in this constituency. On latest figures, the Liberal Democrat candidate would gain 46%, far, far ahead of the Conservatives (10%) with Labour behind them (6%). Obviously, ...
'It's called "democracy", and I kind of like it.' - Nick Clegg, party conference March 2010 Electoral reform is surely a idea whose time has come, and Liberal Democrats are no longer lonely voices in the wilderness calling for it. The surge in Liberal Democrat support over the past fortnight has left the very real prospect of Labour getting fewer votes but more seats than the Lib Dems. The inequality had been apparent for some time before that, of course, but it seems as though as long as the parties came in in the right order, no one much minded. ...
On Saturday I posted about Blair Peach and how thirty years on justice was still waiting. Today news came that the Cass Report which said that a police officer is likely to have "struck the fatal blow" which killed Peach, is to be made ...
Tue 27th
22:19
One of my #roundtable mates just told me about his children's new game in the car: count the number ...
One of my #roundtable mates just told me about his children's new game in the car: count the number of Lib Dem poster boards in #chelmsford
Today Nick got a standing ovation from the Royal College of Nursing Annual Conference as he pledged to put the professionals at the heart of the NHS. With more managers and administrators in the NHS than there are hospital beds, it is clear that action needs to be taken. But that should not mean yet another disruptive revolution in the Health Service. This message went down very well with the audience who also warmed to the Lib Dems' pledge to raise the income tax threshold so that nobody earning less than £10,ooo a year will pay any income tax at ...
I have seen my first ballot papers of this election. Unfortunately, I've only seen the backs of them rather than how anyone voted – and even if I had seen how people had voted, I'd be committing an offence by telling you how they did. Yes, I was at the first day of opening the ...
We're just outside the final week of the 2010 Election campaign and with one Prime Ministerial debate to go on Thursday (well assuming that the SNP Legal Action isn't successful!) there's still time to show your support for the Liberal Democrats by downloading and printing out either of the two A4 Window posters below: Alternatively just drop me an email and I'll send you a poster in the post. One thing's for sure though; this is certainly a campaign that will be talked about, for one reason or another, for many years to come!
The Tories seem to be doing their best to lose the vote of gay people. Last month it was shadow Tory home secretary Chris Grayling who landed himself and his party in trouble by defending the rights of bed-and-breakfast owners to discriminate against gay couples. Then the party's shadow defence minister Julian Lewis alleged that equalising the age of consent had increased the risk of HIV infection. And now the Tories have had to suspend one of their would-be MPs for describing gay people as "not normal". The BBC reports: Tory election candidate Philip Lardner has been suspended for describing ...
My two ward colleagues - Marilynn Ord and John McClurey - and I took the decision that the big target mail drop we were doing today should be delivered by us, rather than by our delivery network. Whether or not this was a sane decision is a debatable point but we had 1500 letter between us for delivery. We felt we had asked a great deal from our team of volunteers so it was time to give them a
If you've not had chance yet, those of you in Thanet South, which is in my case north of where I live, will no doubt be much interested to know what Stephen Ladyman has been doing for you in recent years, well the answer is plenty, to find the detail click below and you will be able to see, the not very pretty sight of a Labour candidate, clutching at straws. Much is made of the spending on schools and medical services new and improved, but no mention of the much increased population it has to serve. Transport is another ...
Earlier in the week it was Gordon Brown addressing the nurses but today it was Nick Clegg's turn. As journalist Paul Waugh put it: Ooh, Matron. Clegg going down a storm with at nurses' RCN conference. Better ovation, more laughs at his gags than Brown. Here's the speech which got this reaction: Thank you so much for inviting me to speak to you today. It is a real honour to be here. You don't need me to tell you that the job you do is one of the most important jobs there is. You are the lifesavers as well as ...
We stand on the cusp of something. Something that could be immense. As the Tories and Labour begin to recover themselves from the shock of two weeks ago, we must accept there are now two possible futures: 1) the Liberal Democrats are pushed back and either the Tories win outright or the Lib Dems are forced to prop up a Labour Government and not get much in return, a bit like in the seventies. or 2) the Liberal Democrats hold their ground or gain more and return to Parliament more powerful than previously conceived possible, and perhaps in charge. The ...
This is now available as a download from the Liberal Democrat national website, you can click here (PDF) to download (or click the image below):
can be found here. Why? Well, it ought to be clear that the characters inhabit what looks like a Big Society. Everything is run by a member of the community – in fact, Miss Rabbit seems to do most of it, selling ice cream, tickets at the Museum, running the fire station, and so on. ...
Tue 27th
20:25
Not a good day for the Conservatives - one former candidate endorses the Liberal Democrats as one ca...
Not a great day for the Scottish Conservatives today, firstly Chris Walker, the former Conservative candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk comes out to back Liberal Democrats Michael Moore to win and then only hours later North Ayshire & Arran Conservative candidate Philip Lardner is suspended over his homophobic views. Chris Walker has been very brave to come forward and publicly support another party's candidate and it is great to see his obviously sincere words about Michael Moore. John Lamont heard the news from BBCs Richard Gordon apparently, just as Lamont was about to welcome SamCam.......ouch! You can read about ...
A friend of mind recently mentioned a British National Party leaflet he'd received in the post, adorned with the slogan: 'voting BNP is common sense - it's the party of choice for thinking people.' If we didn't know the BNP as well as we do, it'd be easy to dismiss that as a local PR gaffe. Surely the last thing you want, as a BNP campaigner, is for voters to think. Hell, a little thinking negates the notion that far right nationalism can form the basis of a workable political system, let alone a desirable one. But that's the sentiment ...
And now off to #chelmsford #roundtable for the first meeting of the new year
The Institute for Fiscal Studies today delivered its Election Briefing 2010 verdict. We've looked at what it says about Lib Dem policies, and publish relevant extracts, below – highlighting both the positive aspects, and those where the IFS says the Lib Dems are lacking. But if you don't have time to read even our filleted version, here's the filleted fillet: In terms of reducing the deficit, the Tories will cut public spending most, Labour least; while Labour will increase taxes most, the Tories least. The Lib Dems are in the middle when it comes both to public spending cuts and ...
It's always interesting during election campaigns when people outside of politics and the mainstream media get involved in the election process. You'll no doubt have seen the large number of "viral videos" (from supports of all parties) being uploaded to video-sharing sites like YouTube. This one is one of my favourites. Enjoy ...
I have not had a good day. The bits of it I have been awake for have been vile. But mostly I have been sleeping. I got up to pick Anna up from school and then spent some time working. Now I am about to limp back to bed. It would probably be better if I could learn to pace myself, but that wouldn't get the work done. Anyway, one thing did cheer me up today. Actually, two. If you are getting scared by what Gordon Brown and David Cameron are saying about a hung parliament, read these two articles. ...
So I've been thinking and I think the way to come out winning the last of the three debates, this Thursday, is to say something dramatic and new. The first debate was obviously the game changer. People had the chance to see that there was a third real option, they liked it, as few as 1 in 10 people decided to switch to it, and the rest is history. The second debate was always destined to be the quiet one - neither the first or last chance to see the leaders, supposedly focussed on foreign policy (though if you had ...
There has been some lovely use of animation by parties and other groups during the election. Below I've selected some of my favourites. I find it quite reassuring that new technology is boosting, and bringing to a wider audience, one of the oldest forms of political communication, that of the satirical cartoon. First up is a re-run of the Gorvid Camerown video from the Labservatives: ——– ——– The second one is my favourite reaction to the first leader's debate. If you didn't watch it, don't worry, this video will sum it up in 15 seconds: ——– ——– Then there is ...
Councillors of all parties - myself included - have been warning about the very significant financial challenges that face Dundee City Council. At last night's Policy and Resources Committee, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive about proposals for a voluntary redundancy and voluntary retirement scheme - principally about the possible detrimental effect on service provision for elderly and vulnerable citizens - a point also highlighted by deputations from UNISON and Dundee Pensioners' Forum. So, with all the financial difficulties ahead, you'd think that councillors of all parties would be seeking to ensure that the council always achieves best value ...
Nick Clegg has been addressing the largest nursing union in Bournemouth today, reports the Guardian: Clegg's speech, emphasising "fairness" and accountability, won two standing ovations as he sought to position the Lib Dems as the party NHS workers could trust. He offered a radical new blueprint of the NHS, with employees forming John Lewis-style companies to take over services, and said trusts would be governed by Swedish-style health boards made up of local people rather than central government appointees. "Local health boards [will be] answerable to the people who use the local NHS: two-thirds of the members directly elected by ...
Today Tory leader David Cameron accused the Lib Dems of wanting to "hold the whole country to ransom", saying their proposed overhaul of the voting system would result in a "permanent hung Parliament" describing it as a "great con." In response Chris Huhne said: "David Cameron doesn't want change at all. He's just another old-style politician making a grab for absolute power with just one in three of the votes. "He's happy for your vote not to count so that he can keep his MPs in safe seats tending to their moats and duck houses instead of the people they ...
Did anyone see the Tory PEB ? Did anyone notice the money in the broken piggy bank ? If you look closely you will see all the coins were US dollars. Isn't it slightly odd that the "keep the pound" party are using piggy banks full of US dollars ?
Breaking news is that the Labour party have called in the help of a director from 24 to help pull together the party's next PEB. Channel 4 have done their own version of what they think it may look like. Not sure it is the best pitch, being as the series just had the plug pulled on it.. Hat tip.. Channel 4
Bear with me here. I know that the Conservatives seem viscerally opposed to a change in the electoral system for the Commons. I have heard enough Tory MPs speak about this and debated with enough Tory members and activsts to know that there are very few of them in favour of any change to First Past the Post. In fact it is possibly the issue that unites them the most. So why on earth would David Cameron introduce a proportional electoral system if he were to become Prime Minister? Well I think something fundamental has changed in the last two ...
This morning I opened the Edinburgh Violence Reduction Conference at the Assembly Rooms. The Violence Reduction Strategy does exactly what is says on the tin! It is targeted at three main areas - Violence against Women Alcohol and the night time economyand lastly other street violence. Today was all about early intervention and we have various people along from many agency's. I am appalled at the number of young people of both genders who think it is all right for a man to slap a woman. We have to change that attitude or we will never tackle domestic violence properly. ...
From BBC News Tory election candidate Philip Lardner has been suspended for describing gay people on his website as "not normal", the party has confirmed. Scottish Conservatives chairman Andrew Fulton described the Ayrshire North and Arran candidate's comments as "deeply offensive and unacceptable". "These views have no place in the modern Conservative party," he said. The primary school teacher's name will remain on ballot papers because it is too late to remove his nomination. He will still be listed as a Conservative candidate, although a party spokeswoman said they had made clear they no longer supported him. Mr Lardner had ...
PR Week has a report up today, including a comment from myself about the (lack of) role for user-generated content on political party websites. You can read the piece here.
Leaflet signed off and now off to knock on doors again - in Springfield
I'm sure most of you will have already played with the the FT's online deficit buster. So too has Adam Boulton, but when he asked Mandy to give some of his own brutal preferences, he got a prolonged smackdown, culminating in the undeniable "neither the IFS nor the FT are standing in this election". The ...
Three blogs have recently joined Ryan's Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: Darren Looby - http://darrenlooby.wordpress.com/ – whose blog currently has the lovely trio of tags, "Pragmatism", "Practical" and "Principles". Keyur Patel - http://www.crackpotliberal.com/ – including this post which caught my eye: Way to take the moral high ground, Dave. Terence Eden – http://shkspr.mobi/blog/ – long time blogger but decided to join the party a few days ago. Good luck to all the new bloggers, and why not take a moment to pop over to their blogs, take a read and post a comment? Whether you are a new or experience blogger ...
Cross-posted from the International Business Times: Let's be clear: the Obama-Clegg comparisons that a few (a very few) in the media have made are not designed to flatter. They have been peddled for two reasons. First, because journalists are lazy, and will grab for the easiest political analogy. And secondly because journalists from the rightwing press have been hoping to over-hype 'Cleggmania' to try and provoke a backlash. But there is one single instance in which I think the comparison holds. The first TV debate was the equivalent of Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries: the time when a new ...
Yesterday was another busy day on the campaign trail, kicking off at 9am and ending about 9pm. The nine o'clock start (powered by a quick coffee) was to deliver leaflets. Matt came over to help me. Matt is a star of the local team - thank you! After a couple of hours' delivery with Matt, it was over to see Emma - our candidate for Eggbuckland ward in the city council elections. Emma and I polished off lots of streets here and there that hadn't yet been delivered to. After a quick pint of Doom in the Prince Maurice pub, ...
One of the most remarkable clips from this election campaign: I did see it last night, but thanks to Love and Garbage.
Over at The Guardian's Comment is Free website, the former Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, who defected to the Lib Dems earlier this year, argues that both principle and practicality dictate that Conservatives must rethink their stubborn opposition to proportional representation. Here's an excerpt: David Cameron talks irrationally about the power to sack a government, when, in reality, the only voters properly enfranchised in the UK are those in marginal seats - and these have been bought, he hopes, with Lord Ashcroft's millions. ... Having chaired numerous observer missions, often organised through the EU's Democracy Instrument, which I founded in 1990, ...
David Cameron in the Prime Ministerial debate on 22nd April: I just think it is disgraceful to try and frighten people in an election campaign... You should not be frightening people in an election campaign, it is just not right. Latest Tory election broadcast, 26th April - three minutes of fearmongering about how a hung parliament would wreck ...
New post here
See here Updated today - an amusing postscript :-)
With the polls continuing to show all three parties within around 5-6 points of each other, Labour and the Conservatives have been floundering around attempting to craft a coherent new strategy in the face of the Lib Dem surge. Judging by their new Party Political Broadcasts, they have decided to fall back on hilariously transparent scaremongering. Just watch these, and revel in their utter ineptitude:
The 'genius' of Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary Leader, Elfyn Llwyd, laid bare for all to see. Huge thanks go to BBC Wales' 'Dragon's Eye' programme, for sharing this gem with the nation!
Philip Lardner, Conservative candidate for North Ayrshire & Arran has been suspended following deeply offensive remarks he made regarding homosexuality. The Tory candidate believes that homosexuality is "not normal" and that Section 28 was correct. Although he has taken down the offending comments, PinkNews.co.uk can exclusively reveal them below. This is what Mr Larder said: ...
Dear Nick, This election had the promise of being the most significant for a generation. My generation. It should be an opportunity for a radical change in direction in the same way that the elections of 1945 and 1979 were for our grandparents and parents respectively. This seems to be lost on Labour and the Conservatives, who simply want to preserve the status quo. You're making an appeal to the youth vote. If you're listening, we've got plenty to say. Those of us in the eighteen-to-thirty age bracket have been collectively failed by the electoral system. We were afraid that ...
I was improbably excited yesterday to see that demolition works are starting on the buildings at Forest Hill Pools. Feeling a little bit giddy about it, I have to keep reminding myself that this is just one part of a very long process: the architects and council haven't even submitted the planning application yet – ...
I've just asked Gordon Brown a question on Radio 4's Election Call on The World at One , today, 27 April. I asked him whether, in view of Labour being below the Conservatives and Lib Dems in the opinion polls, he would support Conservative or Lib Dem if there is a hung parliament with Labour having the fewest seats. My bit starts 34 minutes and 42 seconds into the programme. To hear Gordon and me click on Listen Now for 27 April after opening the link. I question Gordon Brown
We have carried postings on campaign songs from the past in Southport as well as The Land Song. One of our longest serving friends and supporters,Bernie Blaney, who helped us produce the first Birkdale Bulletin back in 1981(before we changed the name to FOCUS) has suggested Beatles' songs for the election Labour: Dear Prudence Don't let me down Every little thing Get Back Help I'll be back I'm down I Should have known better Misery Oh! Darling TaxmanCons: Ask me why Baby you're a rich manBad to meI don't want to spoil the partyI'm looking through youIt's all too muchLike ...
I not worked out how you embed this delightful video. Liberals of my generation remember Adrian Slade-the Liberal member for Richmond on the old GLC. He entertained us magnificently at the Glee club year after year with his original witty ditties. I still have an old cassette tape of his 'greatest hits' which I must get on to the computer. I think it must be at least a decade since I last heard Adrian perform live but it is great news that he has released a new song for the election . Enjoy
A thought-provoking short video by nathankw
Good thing there is a paddle store...
Kirsty Williams has challenged the Labour-Plaid government to come up with a credible and workable plan to create and protect jobs in Wales after recent figures show yet another disappointing rise in unemployment. Last week, Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, was in Cardiff detailing how the Liberal Democrats would create green and sustainable jobs in the first year of a Liberal Democrat government by providing an immediate financial stimulus package. Kirsty said: "Throughout the recession, as unemployment levels have been up and down, a clear pattern has emerged. Wales is consistently facing higher unemployment than most of ...
Tue 27th
14:00
Day 3403: As the Tory Panic Continues... A Hung Parliament Means Parties having to "Make Agreements"...
Tuesday: You'd almost feel SORRY for Mr Balloon's Conservatories, seeing their carefully laid plans of "wait for the electorate to drop power into our smug, entitled laps" all fall to pieces at the first whiff of people getting a GENUINE CHOICE in this General Election. Almost. But then along comes Master Gideon, the Boy Blunder, with another video rushed out in a fit of panic to say that if the public CHOOSE a Parliament where Parties have to work together, then the Conservatories CAN'T play nicely with the other kids. Which is why they're not FIT to be in Government. ...
ComRes: Con 32, LD 31, Lab 28 ICM: Con 33, LD 30, Lab 28 YouGov: Con 34, LD 30, Lab28 Things remain tight!
Jakob Nielsen, the usability experts' usability expert, has an interesting post reviewing the election emails from the main parties. It's a good piece – and you can read his own words here. Rather than repeat here all the good points he makes, here are some (small) caveats to it: He writes, "It's not enough to have a full privacy policy elsewhere on the site. Users need to be told the policy on the spot when you ask for sensitive info", saying that having a link to a full privacy policy from the spot where you ask for sensitive information isn't ...
The Tamil Guardian emailed me asking for my views on situation facing Tamils in Sri Lanka. I replied as follows: "In Sri Lanka, there must be an investigation into allegations of human rights violations and war crimes. The government in Colombo will be judged by the international community on its political and judicial reforms and by the way it treats the media. The Sri Lankan government must reach out and recognise its past mistakes."
Ikea has launched a website where consumers can find kitchen designs inspired by the three major political party leaders. The site, ikeadomesticpolicy.com, shows the three kitchen designs - Brün, Kamerun and Kleggi - which have been designed to match the personalities of the party leaders.
What a whitewash the Cass Report into the 1979 murder of Blair Peach by members of the Met's SPG turned out to be; no charges were pressed, because coppers are never charged when people "bang their head against something" (qv Tomlinson, de Menezes, Jarrett, Waldorf, Towers etc.) The BBC and the press are redacting the names of said officers - but they're available here. What is the point of covering up when such information is more-or-less in the public domain? In this information-rich age, where anyone who cares or dares to undertake a little research can find out information that ...
Don't let the Conservatives scare you about a hung parliament which will provide a genuine springboard for a change in the way we are governed. We will insist on a new voting system that will be more representative of the wishes of the voting population. There is also no evidence that it will be negative for the country as you will have the services of Nick Clegg and Vince Cable to call on – two of the most trusted people in politics. It's funny, isn't it that the Tories say they want change until it doesn't suit them, then you ...
I, like a large number of other local residents attended the hustings in St John's Memorial Hall in Woking last night to hear the candidates speaking at one of the final hustings before the General Election next week. The conservatives in Woking have in this campaign tried desperately paint their candidate Jonathan Lord as a ...
My speculation that we might be seeing the emergence of a British tea party has led to the most comments I have ever had on this blog. The contributors include the libertarian MEP Dan Hannan, who pointed out that I had misinterpreted his argument. Charlotte Gore's post 'Do what you're told, don't vote Lib Dem' makes the point that we are seeing people turning to the Liberal Democrats because they like the sense of what the party is about and not because of its policies. That is what I was attempting to argue regarding the tea party. Voters are turning ...
It comes, naturally, from the Shropshire Star: Prescott hits town
It's not what you don't have, it's what you do with what you do have. A Hong Kong architect has made the most of his tiny apartment with a revolutionary "Domestic Transformer" system. Gary Chang can reconfigure the 344 square foot space in 24 different ways, using sliding walls and panels. Watch this: Also available on YouTube here. (If it's design with a political flavour you were after, there's always Ikea's tongue-in-cheek range of kitchens: Brün, Kamerun and Kleggi.)
"The real question that politicians now have to answer is not: How much do you love the NHS? It's, how do you protect and improve the NHS at a time like this?," the Liberal Democrat Leader said. Speaking at the Royal College of Nursing's conference in Bournemouth today, Nick Clegg will say: "I am wholly ...
David Cameron claims in this Guardian interview today that he is the "most pro-BBC Conservative leader there's ever been". He added however that the corporation needs to cut back and "focus on what matters most". I do not think I am alone in seeing a contradiction in those words. It is not difficult to be the "most pro-BBC Conservative Leader" on the basis of that party's previous record in government, but you cannot do so whilst at the same time seeking to dictate how the corporation should be run. After all, the whole point of having an independent publicly funded ...
I have been sent a copy of a resignation letter to the Labour Party by one of its long-term members in Darlington. In his letter, this gentleman remembers the vibrant, exciting times when he campaigned to help get Alan Milburn elected as the town's MP.I will not detail his reasons for quitting here because some of them are personal and relate to his treatment by the local labour Party, but he
From The Independent ...
I did the blog thing first yesterday, then surfed the internet, the rest of the morning, going out in the afternoon for a stroll. I must say that since that big fire last year, Northdown Road looks about as depressing as is possible, without an earthquake or other catastrophe, not even the odd specialist food shops that open from time to time seem to improve the look of the road. Its almost unimaginable how Cliftonville has changed since my childhood or even the last twenty years. Taking a gander at Margate Sea front, the Turner Contemporary now dominates the area ...
The Bournemouth Daily Echo reports: A BOURNEMOUTH councillor has defected from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats, claiming the "controlling" Tory group would not let him speak his mind. Cllr Michael Griffiths, who represents Littledown and Iford, claims crucial council decisions are made by a "ruling clique" and that Conservative councillors are "whipped" into agreeing. He cited the issues of Townsend School, the town centre master vision and the plans to outsource council services as examples where councillors were not allowed to question decisions. He is also critical of David Cameron and his performance as Conservative leader. You can read ...
Commenting on today's focus on health, Redcar Liberal Democrat candidate Ian Swales wants less waste and a new approach to the NHS. Ian said: "The NHS is a vital service that must be protected, but the Government have increased careless administrative bureaucracy and funded hospitals through Private Finance Initiatives. Across in Durham the taxpayer is paying back £521m for a £60m hospital. "That so much money is wasted as unemployment in Redcar rises is incredibly disappointing. To protect the NHS we need to stop the waste of public money by the old Government. "Patients must come first and money must ...
This story was found at Global Research using the URL of this article: www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=18838 It turns out that Tony Blair came close to being indicted for war crimes. Taken from the above article it states; While on a speaking engagement in Malaysia organized by "Success Resources Company", former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was the object of an articulate protest movement demanding his indictment for war crimes. This was no ordinary protest. Tony Blair has been accused of war crimes in a legal initiative led by the country's former Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. A War Crimes Tribunal as well ...
If you realise you are going to be away on polling day there is just time to get a proxy vote (someone else goes to vote for you) The form needs to be back to the Municipal Buildings in Liverpool by 5pm today (if that is where you live) You can download a form from the electoral commission website or here
Well I don't know who nathankw is, but he or she has made one of the best videos of the election. It's beautiful and very clever. Share with everyone you know!
So I saw a tweet yesterday which mentioned Brian May was campaigning for the Labour party, and decided to look further into it today. I am relieved to report that it's not quite that simple. He was campaigning alongside a Labour candidate on Saturday, in favour of a single issue campaign on blood"sports" which he is running, mainly focussing on the Hunting Act, but also on badger culls and other bloodsport-related matters. He says on his blog (which is STILL not RSSable - ARGH! LOL) that he is supporting ANY candidate from ANY party who pledges to support the Ban ...
As their hopes recede of using our broken voting system to secure a majority government on a minority of support in the country, the Party most set against reform, the Conservatives, and their media proxies begin to reel out the scare stories. "Lib Dem rules could paralyse government," warned the Scotsman "Paralysis, indecision and political chicanery," were the fear of the Daily Mail's full page editorial. "The IMF could have to be called in," thundered Ken Clarke! Far from making a positive case to earn your vote, they resort to the desperate tactics of the protection racket: give us a ...
Lib Dem Councillors Chris and Glynis Abbot's blog has a link to download a Lib Dem poster. Click here to go to poster download ...
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win — Mahatma Ghandi. This seems to sum up the experience of the Liberal Democrats in respect of the two old parties so far. At the outset of the election campaign, they thought they could ignore Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems – the "third" party, the fringe, unimportant, why bother? Then came the ridicule, as if this upstart party could presume to be taken seriously. Then, after the first debate, when the electorate were able to hear the party's position and Nick's voice on an ...
Cameron, Osborne, Ashcroft and the rest of the Tory project can feel the prize of absolute power slipping away from them, and they don't like it one bit.
Want to keep up with what's happening in the media but too busy campaigning? Here's a handy guide to a trio of today's most essential stories ... Nick Clegg: I could work with Labour, just not Gordon Brown (Guardian) The Lib Dem leader states his position in the event of Labour coming third behind the Lib Dems in share of the vote: I think, if Labour do come third in terms of the number of votes cast, then people would find it inexplicable that Gordon Brown himself could carry on as prime minister. As for who I'd work with, I've ...
I'm confused. You see, when it comes to the economy the Conservatives say, "Look at all those other European countries, running their economies so much better than us. We should be doing as well as them." When it comes to public services the Conservatives say, "Look at all those other European countries, running their public services so much better than us. We should be taking some of their ideas." But when it comes to political systems, the Conservatives say, "Look at all those other European countries with their PR and their coalitions and their foreign ways. OMG! What a disaster! ...
Tue 27th
10:08
Visit to a supported living service house for young adults with learning difficulties in Portishead
Yesterday afternoon I had a delightful tea with Dean Thurgood, Tom Kane, Ben Gradwell and Anneke Evans, at the supported living service house for young adults with learning difficulties in Portishead. The points that were raised by group are very relevant to many people living in the Town and perhaps by putting them down here we may be able to get something done quickly. The biggest issue was crossing the road at Cab Stand in Portishead. Why on earth has it taken the Council six months so far to do nothing about making the crossing safe for pedestrians? The so ...
An interesting anti-Tory vid based around Common People by Pulp:
First, from the BBC page about today: Labour say their rivals' plans amount to a "coalition of cuts for children" as parties try to focus on policy after days of debate about a hung parliament. Labour will attack Lib Dem plans to axe child trust funds and Tory proposals to scale back child tax credits. ...
From The Guardian's report on its latest ICM poll (which puts the Lib Dems in second once again*): There is also evidence that the bandwagon effect is helping the [Liberal Democrats] pick up votes: 31% of all voters, including 26% of Labour supporters, say knowing that other people are switching to the Lib Dems encourages them to do the same. That's one of the reasons why posters in windows, avatars on Twitter, group membership on Facebook and so on all matter: they help persuade more people to vote Liberal Democrat. * Although the spread from first place to third is ...
So let me get this clear yesterday that I get a tabloid from my Labour oppenent, telling me that it is clearly a two horse race between Labour and the Conservatives for government(you can get more of this nonsense the back page tells me by following him at yourname). While at the same time his leader was saying: "It it's a clear result we'll accept it, if it's a different result then we've got to deal with it but don't persume what the people are going to vote efore they vote because that would be arrogant." Parenthesis mine. So let ...
Last night's Newsnight was the best I've seen for a long time, Ed Balls aside. Jeanette Winterton did a brilliant job of backing the Lib Dems and putting the slimy Philip Blond and the smarmy Andrew Roberts firmly in their place. There was a lovely piece from Antony Jay, writer of Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister, showing what Sir Humphrey might have made of the Conservatives' manifesto. But by far the best was this: Jeremy Paxman getting a taste of his own medicine from a Plaid Cymru politician and economist. The roles of interviewer and interviewee - or, perhaps ...
Isn't it funny how the Conservatives have been put on the run by the Lib Dems, of all people... The Lib Dems, their most hated enemy. And yet, there was Cameron all those years ago calling himself a liberal Conservative. Oh no, that was the other day. And then there was the guff of libdems4cameron.com ...
Bridget Fox tweeted that Emily Thornberry failed to turn up at a hustings last night. Now I hear that Labour pulled out of a Greater Manchester Radio (GMR) special on immigration – leaving ex-immigration officer and Stockport PPC Stuart Bodsworth out in the cold. Just 9 days before an election.
Question time today, at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. This election started with everyone expecting it to be the cynical election with "difficulties on the doorstep". It's been anything but, it's become the "Peoples Election" with a real concentration on issues and policies. One of the most encouraging, and challenging, sessions was yesterday with the 6th formers at QUEGS in Penrith. Politicians find that their vision tends to become narrowed by the pressure of needing to the continually elected and we sometimes forget that politics should be about a vision as well as the process. The 6th formers reminded us of ...
Not that you would have guessed from the BBC News coverage yesterday, which tried to make out that Nick Clegg and David Cameron were slugging it out over a hung Parliament while the saintly Gordon Brown concentrated on policy, the Liberal Democrats launched their manifesto for the Armed Forces. Typically, this concentrates on righting the wrongs meted out to those who have least power - those at the bottom end who have to suffer low pay and poor housing. We've all heard about how horrendous some military homes are, with kitchens and bathrooms not changed in decades, damp, mould. We ...
nick in newcastle
Here's a last picture from Sunday, just to remind me of why I'm currently working almost 20 hours a day to represent this part of Cumbria.
Saw this bike in Pooley Bridge. It's the Triumph Rocket 3 and I love it! I love it because it has a three cylinder engine of over 2 litres. I love it because it has lots of chrome. But most of all I love it because it represents a company that fought back against foreign competition and has carved out a place in the world as a supplier of unique motorcycles. Our motorcycle industry was all but wiped out by the Japanese motorcycles of the 60's and 70's. Only Triumph survives as a major manufacturer and it survives because of ...
(Also available on YouTube here).
When we think of Penrith and The Border, it's easy to forget that it includes part of the Lake District and Ullswater, one of the finest of the lakes. Today we visited the Pooley Bridge farmers market. I know many of the stallholders, being a member of Made In Cumbria. They vary from very small businesses, essentially selling home baking, to small businesses with well developed products and exquisite packaging. I had a fascinating conversation with Jenny who has two hives of bees and is ambitious for more. Jenny's problem is finding land which is near enough to a good ...
Liking this video from nathankw this morning:
[IMG: http://www.wikio.co.uk] [IMG: DE Bill] Nick Clegg has stated that the Lib Dems would repeal Labours digital economy bill if they came to power at the next election. Mainly because of the authoritarian parts about blocking internet connections of first time offenders. Several broad band providers, such as TalkTalk, continue to oppose this bill. Nick said: "We did our best to prevent the Digital Economy Bill being rushed through at the last moment. It badly needed more debate and amendment, and we are extremely worried that it will now lead to completely innocent people having their internet connections cut off," ...
That's this Slapometer. Well, for goodness sake, just read this unmitigated pig manure: ...the beauty of the first past the post system is that it gives voters a direct link with their MP. If you don't like him, or her, you can sling him out, regardless of national swing or anything else. If you want him to vote against a particular issue (the Iraq War, say) you can lobby him to do so. The idea that our response to the expenses system should be to break this link and create a new class of MPs who are shoved in on ...
I was frankly astonished by commenters on the last thread who claimed not to understand that it was an offence to distribute free food and drink at an election rally. For the avoidance of further doubt, here is the law in question, from the Representation of the People Act 1983: 114.-(1) A person shall be guilty of a corrupt practice if he . is guilty of treating. (2) A person shall be guilty of treating if he corruptly, by himself or by any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly gives or provides, or pays ...
Back in 1992, Betty Boothroyd becames the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons in its 700-year history. It was (and remains) quite an achievement for a local Yorkshire lass from Dewsbury. I had the pleasure of hearing her ...
We are fighting for the essential unity of Spain. We are fighting for the integrity of Spanish soil. We are fighting for the independence of our country and for the right of the Spanish people to determine their own destiny. ...
The national Liberal Democrat manifesto is available here.
I've blogged on Gloria before, highlighting how she started to attract some negative media attention for being AWOL from the constituency, and then for not wanting to talk to the media. Well the media doesn't need to sit and and the corner and cry by itself anymore, because Gloria apparently doesn't want to talk to the voters either. Last week Gloria confirmed that she won't be attending ANY of the hustings organised for the people of Ashfield. There were 3 hustings planned for the final 2 weeks before the election, and The Politics Show had invited the 3 main party ...
Some of you may remember my post a few weeks ago about the hapless John Cowan, the Labour PPC in South East Cambridgeshire. Well, it so happens he's now the ex-PPC for South East Cambridgeshire, and what's more, won't be PPC anywhere else for that matter. I wonder if his friend Harriet got one of his emails? Good riddance to bad rubbish. EDIT - It gets better and better. Yes, there's the sledgehammer/nut thing, but there's the glass houses/stones one too, and there's nothing wrong with watching a self-righteous pratt being taken down. However, that fresh jar of Frank Cooper's ...
Most people that I meet are interested in politics. This may be more to do with the people that I meet rather than the mood of the nation. However there are some who don't engage with the political process. They don't recognise that political decisions affect them. I have tried to explain the need for involvement by writing these blogs but there are simpler methods of getting the message across. Poster campaigns, TV ads and political leaflets all play a part but they are still easy to ignore. What about the argument that we fought world wars to get the ...
