I know I only said that on Thursday and I mean it again. I have some rather exciting news which I will blog about tomorrow probably after a few of the finer details are sorted out. So don't say I haven't warned you. I do love blogging as a medium and I do intend to get back to it as soon as I possibly can with the same gusto as ever. I'm just warning you that may be some changes around here over the next few months and this page may not have new content as regularly as you are ...
Please note that the original version of this story omitted a by-election in Oxford City Council on 21 October, where Labour gained a seat off Lib Dems.Apologies! The story and tables below have now been amended. My psephologically-inclined Birkdale Ward colleague Simon Shaw has continued his by-election research, which he has now updated to the end of October. Previous reports to the end of August and September showed a picture that was a lot better than some national opinion pollsters would have you believe. Simon has updated his research to last Thursday, and it shows that there have been 146 ...
Excellent news about Brighton Green Party councillor Jason Kitcat, who has been cleared of standards charges for posting footage of a council meeting on YouTube (story covered previously by us here and here). Meanwhile in Scotland, charges against Labour councillor Gilbert Davidson for inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague (which we briefly covered here) have been dropped.
Lunch time saw me at the Tower Care Home in the Murrayfield part of my ward. The event was a care home version of "Come Dine with Me". Three Care Homes The Tower, Clermiston and Clovenstone were taking a leaf out of the TV shows book and a couple of residents from each of the homes were hosting the dinner parties. First up was the Tower and I was invited along to help get the ball rolling. The imagination of our staff at our care homes never ceases to amaze me for example one care home organised a Tennis tournament ...
By my standards it's been a time of heavy TV watching. More through inertia than anything else I caught part of this evening's episode of The Apprentice, and wondered if it gives a clue as to what is wrong with British business. I understand that each week "Lord" Sugar divides his contestants into two teams, each with a leader, to undertake a particular challenge. In the snippet I saw, one of the team leaders was trashing one of her subordinates for supposed mistakes. But surely in a business environment, the person in charge should take responsibility for their decisions and ...
The portrayal of politics in soap operas is a strange thing! Older readers who also listen to Radio 4 will remember how Mark Hebden, first husband of Shula Lloyd (née Archer) was elected in the 1980s as an SDP councillor without ever having to put out Focus leaflets or attend meetings. Viewers of Coronation Street with political interests might puzzle over how an inner city ward in Greater Manchester seemed to elect a succession of independent councillors Alf then Audrey Roberts, then Curly Watts) when contests in such an area would certainly have been party political. Similarly, the depiction of ...
In my view there are three fundamentals to educating people: 1. Be fair, ensure what is done is based on ability 2. Spend what is needed to ensure academic excellence and what ensures we do what we can to ensure economic growth 3. Make education free within the above paramaters So, where does that take me. We are educating far too many people to "degree level". Approaching 50% is ridiculous.
It is time to visit Rutland's most popular fictional peer again... Autumn has come to Rutland. As I look out across the lawns from my Library windows, the skeletons of distant trees stand stark against the low skies. Nearer at hand stand piles of leaves - and from one of those comes muffled cursing and swearing. I fear that, in a surfeit of enthusiasm, one of the undergardeners has dumped them on top of Meadowcroft. But my thoughts are far away in the Welsh Marches...
I walked back from posting letters in Yarm today (I do miss our post offices in Eaglescliffe) via Memorial Garden and St Margaret's. Memorial Garden is looking really good - thanks to the workers from the Shaw Trust and despite the efforts of the local rabbit population to destroy the planting. I'll take my camera tomorrow and put some photos on here. I hope people do find it an improvement on
I was really annoyed at the news that David Cameron needs a photographer, I am sure it wasn't in the coalition agreement. I know against all the other spending in government it may be a small ammount of money, but remember the MPs expenses, the public was as upset about packets of biscuits, sink plugs and tins of dog food as they were helipads and moat cleaning. Dear Mr Cameron, As a local
From the The Snow in the Summer or So-So: Received from the email pile: Dear Weaver,The ConDems [....]At this point, we switched off. Like «Bliar» before it, this wordplay might have been mildly amusing when it was first coined, but has long since moved past its chortle-by date. It's become symptomatic of a weak and vapid lack-of-argument. If you have a strong case, you will be able to make it and give respect to your opponents. If you have a weak case, you will need to distract with shrill words and glossy imagery.Well said.
The Royal Canadian Legion is yet again threatening a legal action to prevent the sale of white poppies in Canada -- this time in Prince Edward Island (the last time was in Edmonton). In recent years, as well as opposing the sale of the internationally known symbol of the Peace Pledge Union, the Legion has objected to an academic reassessment of Vimy Ridge -- a battle which has become a totemic symbol of Canada's nationhood. I used to buy a red poppy in the UK, but I've been rather taken aback by the political stance taken by the RCL. That ...
Cross-posted from Liberal Democrat Voice Ed Miliband had an unusually deep voice at Prime Minister's Questions today. I don't know whether he had a cold, or perhaps he'd been gargling with liquid chocolate on the advice of his spin doctors. But it sounded as though he could do a passable Barry White voiceover. He started in a very subdued way about "Friends of Yemen" and I was expecting the Speaker to turn down the lights and play "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More" in the background. Ed Miliband's main point was about a breakage of trust based on ...
So now the Repubicans have seized control of the US House, guess what their first priority is? The economy? Unemployment? Citizen debt? No: The GOP plans to hold high profile hearings examining the alleged "scientific fraud" behind global warming, a sleeper issue in this election that motivated the base quite a bit.
I was disappointed to read about the student tuition fees proposals - I understand the necessity if we're to maintain 45% of kids going to university. If we're going to have 45% going to uni when only 20% of jobs actually need graduates then the system proposed makes sense with: All students repaying less per month under this Government's policy than they currently pay. Lowest earning 25% of graduates will repay less under this Government's policy than they do now. The top earning 30% of graduates will pay back more than they borrow and are likely to pay more than ...
Tonight, I attended the November meeting of "Community Spirit" - the community group for the "north" part of West End Ward, covering Tullideph, Ancrum, Pentland and the Cleghorn area. There was a presentation from the Dundee Travel Active group and a useful discussion of numerous local issues, including how parking could be improved in Pentland. The group was updated on the recent correspondence I have had with the City Council's Housing Department over the issue of controlled entry provision. The problem up to now in many blocks of flats is that, as the department has sought 100% approval from owner ...
Fox News reports a hitherto overlooked result from last night's elections:Denver residents have jettisoned a plan to officially track space aliens. The proposal defeated soundly Tuesday night would have established a commission to track extraterrestrials. It also would have allowed residents to post their observations on Denver's city Web page and report sightings. Early results show Denver residents voted 106,776-20,162 against the proposal.This plan was put forward by Jeff Packman, who once produced who in May 2008 publicly screened what he claimed to be a video of an alien...
Recent events have forced me to re-evaluate my position on Twitter. I'm not leaving, but will have a lower profile. I feel it is for the best. The @cjmillsnun account will remain for politics. It is also where my blog posts will be publicised (except for non political posts) I have created another account which is for my friends (that includes the friends I have neglected from Simply Syndicated – sorry guys), and also Geographic Information related. I will probably spend more of my time on this account, as my friends matter more to me than anything. Those people will ...
Now that the local Labour Party is no longer running Reading Borough Council they clearly have a lot of extra time on their hands which, sadly, they appear to be using to spread misleading, inaccurate stories about policies of the Coalition Government and the Coalition Council. On the plus side they have finally discovered Twitter - which is to be welcomed. They were seemingly the last political Party in Reading to do so, but never mind they got there in the end. Don't get me wrong - I have no problem with Labour issuing press releases. It's reasonable to expect ...
Ok, I'm going to be nice. Partly because I can refuse the Almighty Vince nothing - but he's going to have to give me a bit more than this in the future. This is the e-mail he's sent out to Party members this afternoon. I will give him the floor for now and then I'll have my tantrum at the end. Dear Caron, The Liberal Democrats have always championed our universities. We have long fought for a fair deal for students. Now in Government we are in a position to turn that campaigning into real action. The higher education package ...
I have a pair of SDP lapel pins up for sale on ebay. The sale ends tomorrow, so if you are a former SDP member, or somebody interested in political memorabilia, get your bid in fast. One is 9ct gold, the other sterling silver. The highest bid at the moment is only £2.19 + postage!
Today the Government has outlined its response to the Browne review, and the future of higher education funding. This is arguably the most challenging issue for Liberal Democrats in the coalition so far. Our party has long prided itself on its commitment to education as the great leveller; the best way to create social mobility and equality of opportunity in society. The flagship "penny on income tax for education" was one of the reasons I joined the party in 1997. My first conference speech was in a debate about student funding, as we passed our policy to abolish tuition fees. ...
Sharing of aircraft carriers, a 1000-strong joint reaction force, a common nuclear simulation centre in France, a common nuclear research centre in the UK, sharing air-refueling tankers and joint training. It would have been hard to imagine a hundred years ago. Two hundred years ago it would have been unthinkable. Yesterday, however, the unthinkable became ...
Yesterday an EU delegation toured the tar-sands. What is at stake is how the EU Fuels Quality Directive is implemented. Since the Directive is intended to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of fuel used in the EU, it has the potential to ban the import of tarsands oil. However, a direct reference to tarsands oil was taken out of the legislation, thanks to oil industry lobbying. It's interesting to note the importance the Canadian and Albertan governments have attached to this visit, even though the EU is currently a very small market for Alberta's dirty oil. Federal minister Iris Evans ...
The Traditional Unionist Voice, has published its response to the draft Programme on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration, and I have taken this opportunity to make some comment upon it. TUV welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation. We will go through the document and highlight areas of particular interest or concern to our party ...
Some great news today as Cornwall Council reversed their proposal to end the subsidy given to evening and weekend buses. The effect of this proposal would have been to cut off towns and villages and hit workers, students and those wanting an evening out. One of the bus routes planned for the axe was the 576 service linking Launceston to Plymouth and Bude. The u-turn came during a scrutiny meeting discussing environment and transport aspects of the proposed budget. Portfolio holder Graeme Hicks interrupted proceedings to hand out an alternative budget cutting proposal which restored the subsidy to bus routes ...
Stockport Council have said that, for the next week only (i.e. until the first round of black bin collections are completed), additional bags of rubbish will be collected alongside black wheelie bins. If you have too much non-recyclable rubbish to fit in your black bin, fill the bin up (making sure the lid can close) and leave any additional bags of rubbish next to it on your new bin day, which you can find from the online calendar here. The Council has also apologised that stickers on the black bins were less than clear - giving the impression that the ...
Vince Cable, Lib Dem secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, has sent the following email to Lib Dem members following today's announcement of the Coalition's proposals for higher education funding in England: The Liberal Democrats have always championed our universities. We have long fought for a fair deal for students. Now in Government we are in a position to turn that campaigning into real action. The higher education package I am announcing today will promote high-quality university teaching and research. It will guarantee fair access for all, regardless of background. It will deliver a progressive, sustainable funding structure. ...
There's an interesting set of e-mails we have seen between a member of the public and his MP. It concerns a query the constituent had about the growing volume of speeding road traffic near his home, located on a road ... Continue reading →
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills have set out the government's initial plans in response to the Browne review of Higher Education Funding. It is something of a fudge, with a weak cap on fees at £6,000 and higher cap at £9,000 linked to agreements for improving access through the Office for fair access (OFFA). OFFA itself was set up in 2004 as part of Labour's compromise with their left-wing to vote through variable fees above £1,200. It has been nicknamed 'OFToff' and critics regard it largely as political sop to those obsessed with the notion higher education is ...
Kirsty Williams, AM for Brecon and Radnorshire and the Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Rural Affairs, has once again criticised the Welsh Assembly Government's flawed flagship agricultural policy Glastir during an Assembly debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) today. Kirsty Williams said: "CAP reform will be absolutely crucial in supporting agriculture in Wales in the future. Single Farm Payments make up between 80 and 90 per cent of many farm incomes, and moving to area based payments will cause great upheaval, especially in areas such as my own Brecon and Radnorshire who have traditionally benefitted from ...
The position of the Regional Party in terms of complaints handling has, it appears, been an issue for some time. On assuming the position of Regional Secretary, it became apparent that the role included responsibility for handling disciplinary issues, in the absence of any evident structure. Events over the past nine months have made it clear that such a situation is untenable, and I have taken this opportunity to design a process for future incidents, which was formally adopted by the Regional Management Committee in the course of its meeting last night. It reads as follows; All complaints submitted for ...
Today, I received a response from the Private Office of the Minister of Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, to my query about the provision of bus shelters in the Mountcollyer are of Belfast. It is clear from the response that there is need for further work to be done surrounding the need for bus ...
Once upon a time, in the Magical Gumdrop forest...or something, there were two families of hardworking Field Mice. Why Field Mice chose to live in the Magical Gumdrop forest I'm unsure, but regardless, that is how this story goes. If such rash assumptions annoy you, you may wish to reconsider your decision to read this article. One family of Field Mice was very very large and headed by a big red mouse known as Mr Westminster. The other family was smaller, with about 5-6% of the total number of Field Mice according to the most recent census. This family was ...
[IMG: gold-card.jpg] Durham County Council's Labour Group showed its true colours today. I proposed that the council look into following Derbyshire's example of setting up a "Gold Card" discount scheme on the back of bus passes. All it takes is to offer local businesses a chance to offer discounts to holders of a bus pass, and the scheme has real benefits. Money off for pensioners, potential extra business for local companies, and a positive image for the county council for doing something unexpected for local people. Costs would be minimal as bus passes are already being issued anyway, and all ...
Mark has invited me to write (yet another!) guest-post on Lib-Dem Voice about the Political Innovation project. Specifically, this one is to promote the events that we're doing in Edinburgh and Belfast over the next few weeks - details can be found here. The agenda? Well, these are 'unconference' events - largely bereft of big-name speakers or tied-down timetables. It's a good deal more democratic than that, and anyone who hasn't been to one of these type of conferences is particularly welcome. It's a very democratic way of organising a day, and one that, ironically, works very well in many ...
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There is nothing that a blogger more that somebody giving them stuff to put on their blog. Yes, even if that blogger is as prolific as I can be. Therefore earlier today I received an email from one of my Edinburgh friends and fellow campaigners containing his overview of the American mid-term elections and how it relates to us in the coalition. I am therefore of course happy to share it with you all. The US midterm results are in, and the results seem bad for Obama. Even though the Democrats held the Senate, many of the Senators who survived ...
Dine and Paul will be interviewed by Lazer FM on Thursday. This is the Culverhay web radio station and you can listen to it at http://www.culverhayradio.co.uk/player.html The Cabinet member for Education in B&NES Cllr Chris Watt (Conservative - Midsomer Norton) was interviewed by the head boy during the centenary celebration. You can...
Kellie and her mum have both replied to my post on the article about her in the Daily Mail. As I suspected, the Daily Mail contrived to give an impression of a much more luxurious lifestyle than Kellie actually has.
At the heart of politics lie battles over meaning. In an uncertain world there is plenty of scope to contest the definition of problems and the perceived effectiveness of solutions. Under Labour we came to think of agenda management as "spin", and to condemn it. But the Blairites were simply the most egregious and effective exponents of the political arts. All politicians face decisions about the message and how one would ideally like it interpreted. This seems particularly pertinent in relation to current discussions about affordable housing. We're seeing the government providing some creative readings of what is on offer. ...
Julian Glover over at comment is free on the Guardian has 'Ten top Tips for the Liberal Democrats'. 10 points I totally agree with. Point 4 is also one I never considered before. 'Join forces with Labour in Scotland next May. A Lab-Lib Dem coalition in Holyrood would prove that pluralism runs more than one way. Lib Dems aren't Tories in disguise', what a good idea, I hope there is enough votes to get a coalition in Holyrood.
It's time once again to update the local community committee's priorities for next year and we want to hear what you think. Last year our priorities ranged from Improving health and reducing crime all the way through to initiatives for investing in young people, encouraging learning and creating prosperity. You can email me your thoughts at steve@stevemiddleton.info, use the contact me page here or simply leave your comments below. Your comments can be anonymous if you wish, but I'll make sure all suggestions are heard by the committee. Subscribe to the comments for this post? Tweet This! Share this on ...
Back in late 2007 an idea was muted by council officers that Salford needed a shiny new "gateway" into the city that looked appealing, instead of the drab entrance to Salford that the M602 roundabout offered. With the news that MediaCity:UK was to happen, a £3m funding application was submitted to the North West Development Agency and the idea was born. The programme was split into two phases, the first involving updates to lighting, subways, plaques and pedestrian crossings at the M602 and Broadway roundabouts, which many considered necessary due to the complete lack of maintenance by the council. The ...
At the Ordsall & Langworthy Community Committee on 2nd November Neighbourhood Manager Ross Spanner confirmed that funding is in place and secured for new fencing that will close off Chimney Pot Park from dusk until dawn. Regular readers of my blog will remember that this has been a contentious issue, with residents divided over whether to close off the park or provide better lighting, which would have made it safer to keep it open. A consultation event was carried out by Seedley and Langworthy Trust (SALT) and after a worrying delay of a couple of months, ratified by the community ...
As regular readers will know, during the general election I worked (on an expenses only basis) as the in-house photographer for the Lib Dems covering Nick Clegg's tour around the country. So today's row about Andrew Parsons making the move from working for Cameron to working for the Government is of particular interest to me. On the one hand, I have a great deal of sympathy for Andy. He is a genuinely nice guy who doesn't deserve the flak he is catching at the moment. On the other hand, Cameron does seem to have skirted the normal rules. Whilst senior ...
There's an interesting piece by an academic on the architecture of Manchester in the Manchester Evening News today. It's of particular interest to me because he also mentions the regeneration of recent times in Salford. He writes: '"the stuff over the river in Central Salford is incredibly badly-made, incredibly bad architecture. In Salford, the old towers ...
Ed Miliband had an unusually deep voice at Prime Minister's Questions today. I don't know whether he had a cold, or perhaps he'd been gargling with liquid chocolate on the advice of his spin doctors. But it sounded as though he could do a passable Barry White voiceover. He started in a very subdued way about "Friends of Yemen" and I was expecting the Speaker to turn down the lights and play "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More" in the background. Ed Miliband's main point was about a breakage of trust based on tuition fees. He talked about ...
Checking my desktop diary this morning I should by now have completed my last, scheduled, conference call for work for today. However, I have one more conference call today, with the Yes to Fairer Votes Campaign. It feels good to be only a few hours away from kicking off a campaign that will at some point deal with my itchy feet to get out there doing stuff, whether it does. anything to deal with my ever increasing waistline since I returned may well depend on what role I end up getting with the campaign. Hopefully by the time of the ...
One of the nice things about my job is getting to meet some very cool people. I remember when I met Elvis' guitarist Scotty Moore and being struck by what a gentle, humble man he was. This year I've been busy working on the launch of the Martin Taylor Guitar Academy, which is based in ...
Post the Browne report, Vince Cable's been working to produce a more progressive way of funding Higher Education. I have always believed that education should be free – for everyone – and always will. However, Labour ended the principle of free education with the introduction of tuition fees – and whichever way you turn in the current climate – those fees or costs are going to go up. I also despair that virtually the entire conversation around Higher Education is about the economics and nothing else. Vince, as I said, has been working beyond hard to try and make this ...
Charlie Stross has a ripping yarn. Part of me hopes it's true; another hopes it isn't, because as much fun as political thrillers are to read one tends to hope that real life is slightly saner. I am left rubbing my eyes. Did a not-obviously-insane member of the government — a corporate troubleshooter and Conservative life peer — really just stand up in the House of Lords and announce that a shadowy Foundation (that might or might not represent the Vatican) was offering the British government an investment of umpty-billion pounds in order to reboot the economy — free, gratis, ...
Wed 3rd
14:29
Those who suppress, or are party to the suppression of criticism, shall be held accountable?
The atmosphere is a mite tricky at the moment in Liberal Democrat circles. There is a sense, because the Government is doing things that we're not keen on, and our Party is part of the Government, that it is right and proper to criticise our MPs and, in particular, our Ministers. I find myself tempted to join in from time to time, but find myself holding back. Can I insist that every major area of Liberal Democrat policy is enacted, or should I accept that, as a minority part of the administration, I am going to have to accept the ...
I find media narratives strange at times. Two years ago, Barack Obama was elected on a wave of enthusiasm at his message of hope and change. Was he? Or was he elected in a wave of rejection at the unusually unpopular George Bush? At the same election, the Democrats entrenched their leads in both Houses of Congress. Did they get there on Obama's coattails, or did they ride the same anti-Bush wave as he did? Elections are made or lost on a hundred million micro-choices. Media narratives occasionally pick up on dominant trends but never tell the full story. All ...
Last month, I raised concerns about the proposal by Royal Mail to close the 'undelivered mail collection centre' in Crichton Street and transfer the service to the Edward Street depot, pointing out that, although the Edward Street depot is handy for some West End residents in the Blackness/Milnbank area, for many West End residents it is not a convenient location. I wrote to Royal Mail about this and have now received this response : Dear Councillor Macpherson RELOCATION OF SERVICE FROM THE CRICHTON STREET COLLECTION OFFICE, DUNDEE Following recent press coverage in the Dundee Courier on plans to close Crichton ...
Earlier this month, LDV published a piece of mine suggesting Vince Cable would make an excellent candidate for London Mayor, which I wrote because I happen to think that he can win. Some people agreed with my supposition, others for various reasons disagreed. It was the third set of responses that surprised me. That it was the very fact that Vince could win that made him a poor choice - because the allegedly approved strategy in London was to find a candidate 'who understands that their role is not to try and win the mayoral election but to help our ...
The two things I was pressing for as part of the funding of student tuition have been announced today.The first of these was to make the scheme more progressive so that those graduates who earn quite a lot more pay more than those who earn more than average. The second was to have some system whereby those who wish to pay upfront pay a premium and participate in burden sharing on an equitable
There are some silver linings in a very big cloud: I felt so proud of Charles Kennedy, standing up to say that he can't support the proposal as he is closely associated with the policy of free tuition, having led the party through two elections. He asked Willetts to ensure that the playing field on research was not skewed within the UK. And then we have the new poster boy for science Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge, asking whether it'll be more difficult for graduates, particularly on lower incomes, to get mortgages and whether this will be a ...
Gerry Holtham has an interesting and rather technical article over on the IWA blog in which he explains why it is that Wales did comparatively worse than Scotland and Northern Ireland in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Far from Wales being a victim as the First Minister and other Labour politicians allege it seems that the difference is down to the way that the Barnett formula treats the Department of Communities and Local Government budget. The First Minister has said that Wales suffered because it does not have influence around the cabinet table. Gerry Holtham has shown that assertion to be ...
This morning, along with two of my ward colleagues, City Council officers and members of Blackness Area Residents' Association, we had a "walkabout" around Corso Street, Abbotsford Place and Street, Peddie Street and parts of Blackness Road and Blackness Avenue to look at any repairs required and issues needing tackled in the area. Another useful and productive walkabout - and on a beautiful autumn morning too.
Lord Tebbit (Conservative): My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I had the pleasure of being seated at dinner last week next to our right honourable friend Mr Kenneth Clarke but that he did not talk to me, whereas the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was opposite, was quite chatty? I particularly enjoyed a long conversation with our coalition partner the Viscount Thurso, who is of course a Member of the House of Commons. Lord Strathclyde (Leader of the House of Lords, House of Lords; Conservative): It is immensely interesting to hear of my noble friend's dining partners and ...
It has just been announced that the winner of the V&A Dundee design contest is the Kengo Kuma design and congratulations go to Kengo Kuma & Associates on their success. As Lesley Knox, Chair of the V&A at Dundee project and of the jury panel, said, "Kengo Kuma's proposal was the unanimous choice of the jury panel and is a worthy winner; a building that will delight visitors and encourage them to revisit it again and again. It demonstrates a clear understanding of the city, offers a new experience of the river, and will be as exciting internally as it ...
Reproduced below is the Open Letter as sent to Vince Cable (Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills) and responsible for the implementation or not of the Browne Report. It has also been sent to every single Liberal Democrat MP. It is signed by myself and other key influencers, I'll try and provide as many links as possible from the signatories. (I know there are more links I will add them when I can) Dear Dr Cable, On the 12th of October, Lord Browne published the findings of his report into higher education funding, which contained some good points ...
The announcement that the cap on university tuition fees is set to rise to £9,000 a year is not exactly unexpected, but that doesn't make it any more acceptable. There'll be a lot of synthetic rage from Labour, of course. That's Labour, who introduced the current system of tuition fees; who introduced top-up fees when they said they had legislated to prevent them; and who commissioned the Browne report which is the basis of today's announcement. I suspect they're rather hoping we'll forget that. But just because your opponents are posturing like Vogue models doesn't automatically mean you have right ...
GREEN DEAL OFFERS MASSIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne yesterday announced today that by 2015 up to 100,000 Green Deal workers could be employed in the effort to upgrade and insulate Britain's homes. The Green Deal, a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment, is the Government's new and radical way of making energy efficiency available to all, whether people own or rent their property. The Green Deal, which is expected to be available from Autumn 2012, will be open to homes and businesses and will involve a 3-step process: An independent energy survey of the property, ...
Wed 3rd
13:16
Dr. Peter Wilmshurst faces second libel suit as NMT escalates its libel action against him
Cardiologist Dr. Peter Wilmshurst will be well-known to readers who are engaged with the movement to reform English and Welsh libel laws - Peter was sued nearly three years ago by the medical device manufacturers NMT, over comments made to an American website regarding a clinical trial of an NMT product and its effects on migraine patients.As the libel reform campaign has made clear, this
Wed 3rd
13:05
New LDV members survey now live: your views on the Lib Dem party president contest, the economy, and...
The new LDV members' survey is now live. So if you are one of the 1,000+ registered members of the Liberal Democrat Voice forum - and any paid-up party member is welcome to join - then you now have the opportunity to make your views known. Questions we're asking this month include: what qualities you want to see in the new Lib Dem party president; who you think has run the better campaign, Tim Farron or Susan Kramer; and who you intend to vote for; what you make of the Coalition's Comprehensive Spending Review announcments; including your views on the ...
Local rail campaigners are winning their battle to keep Yate commuters dry this winter. Last month, rail user Chris Willmore slammed First Great Western's decision to leave Yate commuters with no shelter from the rain after Perspex panels in the shelters were destroyed by vandals. At Monday's Friends of Yate Station meeting, she and other campaigners met representatives of the rail company face to face to push for action. After the meeting, Chris Willmore said, "First Great Western are now investigating using the sort of metal mesh with holes that Yate Town Council has used successfully on its bus shelters, ...
I'm very pleased to hear that we're to have new play equipment at Scholes Field in a few months time. The Playbuilder scheme was put on hold by the Coalition Government whilst they examined whether it was affordable. They've now concluded that it is, so we're getting the money. The new play equipment should be in place by the end of March 2011. The other Playbuilder schemes in phase 2 will also go ahead, also to be completed next Spring: Bean Leach, Hazel Grove Brindale Road, Brinnington Cheviot Road, Hazel Grove Crescent Park, Heaton Mersey - View the proposed design ...
[IMG: Mark Pack speaking at Ealing Liberal Democrats AGM] Last night I went over to Ealing to talk at their AGM about lessons from the 2010 election for winning future elections. If you missed me there and would like to hear the talk, you can catch me at the Watford AGM on 13 November or the Hillingdon AGM on 20 November. The Hillingdon event is open to Liberal Democrats from other local parties too - details over on Facebook. Of course if you can't make any of them and really want to hear me speak, (a) think again or (b) ...
It's three weeks since Vince Cable announced in the House of Commons that he, on behalf of the Coalition Government, supported the broad thrust of The Browne Report's recommendations — in particular, that tuition fees in England should be increased. This Lib Dem policy U-turn sparked the biggest outcry among party members of the Coalition to date, with many members regarding opposition to tuition fees as fundamental to a belief in free education and to the party's broader identity. (See the comments threads here, here and here, for example.) Lib Dem Voice's survey of party members suggested that a bare ...
I find the government's response to the Browne Report on student fees incredibly disappointing and short sighted. The Lib Dem pledge-smashing makes a mockery of my party's campaign and everyone who voted for us, and if we abstain to allow this through then it makes a liar out of me and everyone else who signed the pledge not to raise tuition fees. We promised, and we shouldn't break that promise. Coalition politics is about compromise, not doing the exact opposite of what we said we'd do. When Labour did exactly the same thing over top-up fees we rightly took to ...
Reproduced below is the Open Letter as sent to Vince Cable (Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills) and responsible for the implementation or not of the Browne Report. It has also been sent to every single Liberal Democrat MP. Dear Dr Cable, On the 12th of October, Lord Browne published the findings of his report into higher education funding, which contained some good points and some very bad points. One of the bad points was to remove the cap on tuition fees meaning that some courses could end up leaving a student in debt by over £36,000. This ...
Recommended reading for Lib Dem Councillors and local campaginers in the last week: Post CSR its been a busy week for Government announcements, including many from our Lib Dem team on the front benches. Labour tried to make an issue in the last week of proposals from the Government to cap Housing Benefit at around £400 a week (Observer: Housing Benefit Cut would make London Unaffordable). Amusingly Lib Dem Voice looked back at their own 2010 General Election Manifesto in Labour's manifesto pledge to cap Housing Benefit On the Environment we have seen the welcome launch of the Green Deal. ...
Yesterday was the day when certain people showed their true colours. I was branded an 'Illiberal c*nt', told to 'fuck of to Labour' and had other offensive bile posted about me and to me on Twitter which continues today branding me an advocate of the death penalty for child killers. This gross misrepresentation has left me to consider my position. Some may have already noticed that I have deleted my Twitter account altogether. I have now decided to take a step back altogether. My reason for this? It wasn't comments from other parties that led to this, it was comments ...
"Evidence-based" top Labour blog Left Foot Forward makes an extraordinary and alarming claim this morning that hikes in tuition fees will "deter four in five students" from enrolling at university. More specifically that hikes to £10k a year will deter 79%, £7k 70%, and £5k 53%. This is based on one survey by the National Union of Students and HSBC, released in September that asked current students: "If tuition fees were increased to XXXX, how likely would this be to have deterred you from going to university?" Yielding the following results: [IMG: student-price-sensitivity1] The validity of such an approach to ...
For completeness here is Catherine Bearder MEP reply to Bill Bloggs letter 'EU increase maternity leave policy' Dear Bill, Thank you for contacting Catherine regarding the vote last week in the European parliament on the revision of the pregnant workers directive. Catherine forwarded me this email and asked me to respond on her behalf and also pass on her good wishes. She hopes to be getting down to Bracknell soon. If you have any questions for Catherine in future it is best to contact her via catherine@bearder.eu rather than her cix account, which she is phasing out and doesn't check ...
In this age of austerity and a seemingly liberal justice minister there is room for a new look at crime and punishment. The book 'When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment' is exactly that, a liberal approach to the issue and has some interesting conclusions. The author believes that there ...
No. I don't like Vince Cable's announcement today on higher education either. Nevertheless, Party Policy is clear: we want fees to go. This means that we don't need to spend a six figure sum on a special conference just to repeat ourselves. Or to say we're cross with Vince. Nor is there any need of a grand public statement in the Guardian letters page. Or a row at Federal Policy Committee. FPC is still asking itself what it is for. On the one hand, it must get on with developing new Party policy - but with sharply limited resources. On ...
The Tradition Unionist Vote has published its response to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister's (OFMDFM) draft Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Programme. Here are some telling phrases with my response: "We strongly believe that respect for the Unionist/Protestant marching tradition is a key indicator of whether or not this country is genuinely moving forward." I'm sorry to be truly moving on this should not be the be all and end all. We have people from different countries now living in Northern Ireland. We have people of multiple-identities and indeed family that cross over previous diversities in ...
We had a great visit to Culverhay School yesterday for the 10th Cluster School Festival. It was great to see so much activity and enthusiasm in the school. I think that Chris Watt and Ashley Ayre who were at the visit too were also impressed. Let us hope that this starts to turn their thinking on the future of the school as they avaluate the consultation responses. It is absolutely...
Both candidates for the Presidency of the Liberal Democrats have been hard at work in recent weeks, touring media outlets, local parties and online blogs (such as Liberal Democrat Voice, Liberal Vision as well as some excellent individual bloggers) putting their case to the party membership. The Social Liberal forum asked both Tim Farron and Susan Kramer to answer a series of questions about their candidacy – Tim's answers are below (bold and italics), look out for Susan's in the near future! Are you committed to helping the party develop policies which are as distinctive, radical and progressive as possible ...
Looking forward to the Yes to Fairer Votes conference call this evening. Britain needs a fairer way of electing our leaders. On May 5th, 2011, we'll get a unique chance – the Yes Campaign will lead the fight for fairer votes. We will represent supporters of all parties, and none. We will bring together people ...
It is an often erroneous fact that the Poppy in a symbol of Unionism in Northern Ireland. However, between 1914 and 1918 over 300,000 young men from this island fought in the various armies across Northern Europe. 49,400 of them never returned. They are remembered at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens (Gairdíní Náisiúnta Cuimhneacháin Cogaidh na hÉireann) in Inchicore (Inse Chór), Dublin (Baile Átha Claith). Also at the Garden of Remembrance (An Gairdín Cuimhneacháin) in the city at the Northern end of O'Connell Street. But these are just two of the many memorials around Ireland. They are there as ...
I am a member of 'Keep Sheffield Station Open to the Public' on Facebook. There a few dates for the diary, I thought I'd share: Friday 5th November, 4.30 pm - meet outside Sheffield Train Station, with a little twist for East Midland trains. Alternative Carol singing on Friday 10th December, contact the group if you can play a musical instrument!
Wed 3rd
08:55Market Research Society rules that it is ethical to poll about false personal allegations
The Market Research Standards Board (MRSB) has cleared YouGov of all the complaints made about its polling of 16-19 April during the general election – but in so doing has raised a big question about what now counts as 'ethical' polling. The MRSB's ruling gives the green light to pollsters asking questions on behalf of their clients which contain false allegations about a person, even if those allegations have not previously been made in public. The Market Research Society Code of Conduct (to which YouGov subscribes, along with other British political pollsters), states that "researchers shall be ... honest" and ...
I've just read Matthew Norman's column in today's new i-paper and was left coughing and spluttering into my late (skinny of course). I know what I'm about to say will infuriate many Strictly Come Dancing fans, most of all my good friend Caron Lindsay. Ann Widdecombe, or Widders as she is now affectionately known across the nation, I'm afraid it is time to hang up your dancing shoes. For the first few weeks you were amusing and I agree, you improved week on week. However, last Saturday, you were the worst dancer and you received the lowest score. Did we ...
Commenting on Carwyn Jones' speech last night, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader, Kirsty Williams said: "Years ago, Rhodri Morgan talked about clear red water setting out his vision for Wales, Carwyn Jones' speech is just colourless. "This Labour-Plaid government is not serving us well at all. We have poorer educational standards compared to England, worse health provision than in England and Scotland and economic indicators that put Wales at the bottom of all the wrong tables. When challenged on his failures, he blames everything on Westminster "The people of Wales are looking for leadership and what we're getting from Carwyn Jones ...
This is my last from the Middle East, Amman Airport to be exact. Jericho where the Israelis will rebuild the wall If I have learned anything from this trip it is that the Israeli Government and the Quartet have no real interest in the 'Two State' solution. In East Jerusalem and the West Bank/Palestine they are guilty of what I can only describe as ethnic cleansing (think native Americans or even the Clearances). I've seen people's land, homes, religious centres, economy and culture slowly destroyed by a regime that seems determined to drive them out of their own land. I ...
As part of the Belfast Divercity Project, I have a place on a course in Equality, Diversity and Conflict Management which is being organised by a consortium of four organisations: read rest of post here Filed under: Blogging
Wed 3rd
08:25
'Palin set to be 2012 Republican Presidential nominee' - trebles all round in the Oval Office
The Democrats won two seats from the Republicans in yesterday's elections. ...Well, I thought I'd just mention it. The two seats were the Californian Governorship and the Louisiana 2nd congressional district in New Orleans, since you ask. Both those seats were won by the Democrats due to freak wins by Republicans last time (Arnie after a recall election in California and Cao in New Orleans after the Democrat was under federal indictment and when most of the electorate were living in tents). It is quite extraordinary that Harry Reid seems to have survived in Nevada. Poll after poll showed a ...
Whilst the future of the Liberal Democrats is being decided in Cowley Street, as the two contenders for the Party Presidency hear their fate, the current, and still undefeated, incumbent will be on the road, supporting local activists. And here's an invitation from one of them to join her... Stowupland Action Day - Saturday, November 13th Dear All, It gives me great pleasure to invite you to the first Stowupland Ward Action Day, in less than two weeks time. Mid Suffolk have nominated the ward as a target for next year, and as, hopefully, the candidate, I would love to ...
First Minister, Carwyn Jones last night continued his campaign of talking down Wales in the face of his own party's loss of power at a UK level in May. In a speech he warned that the real impact of spending cuts would be felt in Wales for generations, cast doubt as to whether the private sector here can rise to the challenge despite his government having its hands on key economic levers and criticised the scale of cuts despite the fact that the Chancellor has cut less than planned by Alistair Darling, that Wales did better than most UK departments ...
Several years ago, I was wandering round the Louvre on a wet Parisian afternoon. I turned a corner from one gallery to another when I saw a painting which would change my life forever. Like a good many of you, I was completely unaware of Íñigo Melchor de Velasco, the 7th Duke of Frías. But then, how many of us know the person we are destined to become? [IMG: Information panel from the Louvre] Looking at the picture, staring into those familiar eyes, I felt like I was looking into a mirror. A mirror which showed the future. I wanted ...
Paul Elgood is a Lib Dem councillor in Brighton & Hove, but has been out in Boston, in the USA, watching closely observing the mid-term elections. Here's his early morning dispatch... Four years ago, Boston politics looked very different. Teddy Kennedy had just won what was to be his last campaign, Congressman Barney Frank romped re-election to make it 26 years in Congress, and new Governor Deval Patrick, backed by a then little-known Senator called Barack Obama won the State House, following on from Republican Mitt Romney. Obama's historic election followed just two years later, but so too did the ...
OK so the State of Delaware may not have elected a Witch ("I'm not a Witch, I'm not a Witch..." WHATEVER). However the United States has elected an awful lot of people whose opinions do not vary a whole lot from such simple superstition. Evidence gathered from peer reviewed papers is not the way that the US Congress conducts its business. Over 95% of the members of Congress- both new and old- have no Scientific background whatsoever. There are more people in American politics who say that they believe in the "literal truth" of the Bible than those who acknowledge ...
Wed 3rd
06:02
Whoniversaries 3 November: Richard Hurndall, Creature From The Pit #2, Mark of the Berserker #1
i) births and deaths 3 November 1910: birth of Richard Hurndall, who played the First Doctor in The Five Doctors (1983). ii) broadcast anniversaries 3 November 1979: broadcast of second episode of The Creature from the Pit. Adrasta interrogates Romana and K9; the Doctor, now in the Pit, meets Organon and then the Creature. 3 November 2009: broadcast of first episode of Mark of the Berserker (SJA). Clyde's father turns up and takes possession of a peculiar pendant found by Rani and Luke.
Back in the mid-1980s, as a regular train passenger between Belfast and Dublin, I used to cringe at the sound of American tourists pronouncing "Drogheda". This was entirely the fault of the mini-series based on The Thorn Birds, starring Richard Chamberlain as the dashing Father Ralph, and set on an Australian sheep station named after (but pronounced differently from) the Irish town. The book isn't really all that great. It is quite well written, but loses focus by letting characters drift in and out of view. The core narrative is the doomed love between Meggie and Ralph, but then there ...
We are not quite at the end of the Presidential campaign between Tim Farron MP and Susan Kramer, therefore, I would like to pick up a couple of points from the Liberator Q&A session. In answer to the question as to whether David Penhaligon's immortal phrase Stick it on a piece of paper and shove ...
Yesterday was quite a busy day now that Stephen and I have been 'unleashed back unto the world with a vengeance'. Filed under: Blogging Tagged: Michael Carchrie Campbell, Stephen Glenn
Considering that both Michael and I were taking a 'break' from blogging over the weekend (somehow we still managed the odd one here and there). Today was almost as if we were unleashed back unto the world with a vengeance or possibly it was displacement theory while we're both waiting to find out who may have got a certain job. I'd also managed to wake up three hours before my alarm clock. Anyway speaking of the job Michael and myself both managed a post about the Alternative Vote, hmm, I wonder why? On the subject of AV Michael also had ...
The next meeting of the Acocks Green Ward Committee takes place this Wednesday at Severne Junior & Infants School. The meeting starts at 7pm. The one substantive item on the agenda is the approval of the spending of the vast majority of the balance of the Ward's community chest funds, with the following projects being put forward by the Ward Advisory Board: £5,000 for books for Acocks Green Library £5,139 for an Anti-Graffiti scheme for the Fox Hollies shopping area £280 for the Westley Vale Millennium Trust £250 for the 260th Scouts Group £2,500 for a Burglary Lock Fitting Service ...
As budget cuts loom, the Liberal Democrats have called for assurances that there will be no feather bedding for Hertfordshire county councillors. Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader Chris White said: 'Councillor allowances will have to be looked at alongside all other savings. But there are some quick wins which could be implemented straightaway. 'For instance county councillors receive a three course lunch on county council days. This does not really help county councillors do their business and actually wastes time. But more importantly it costs £5,000 a year. This could be abolished now. 'Likewise other spending on hospitality - from the ...
I was listening to Radio Lancashire a couple of days ago and there was an article about a Steiner school in Lancaster. The woman who was talking about the school was explaining the difference between this sort of school and the usual state schools and one of the differences is that before the age of six we principally learn through play, so they don't formally teach reading until the child is six. At the age of four we are not ready to read and write. The sentence that took my attention was along these lines: - the evidence shows that ...
