The Evening Standard reports that Phil Woolas has confirmed he is ending his legal challenge to the Election Court ruling. A writ to allow voters to elect a new MP could be served as early as next week. Commons Speaker John Bercow is "studying the judgment" before deciding how to proceed. Mr Woolas complained there was no avenue open to him to mount a further challenge. "It is the end of the road – I am out," he said.
I've just finished watching the Battle for Barking and I'm still in shock at the startling ignorance shown by some of the people within the film. To hear people talking about being 'swamped' this country with foreigners and how they ... Continue reading →
"Vince Cable is looked in a furious row with Nick Clegg over the party's chaotic stance on tuition fees, says the Telegraph. It sounds like Clegg is going around shouting "Don't Panic" like Corporal Jones: As students gathered for another angry demonstration on the streets of Westminster, Nick Clegg suddenly had a change of heart. Having nailed his colours to the mast so forcefully, Mr Cable was determined not to be seen performing a u-turn. He made clear they should not back out now. Mr Cable had also defended the proposals vociferously, and not just to the general public. It ...
Sat 4th
22:08
"Just because you don't take an interest in politics, it doesn't mean politics won't take an interes...
At least, Pericles believed so in 430B.C and I believe so now. And finally, it would appear that the general public are realising the reality of this statement. "What's the point in politics, it's boring, pointless and doesn't affect me." It has been rather amusing to see the ignorance of individuals come crashing down, for them to suddenly be plunged into panic, thrown into the frenzy of numerous protests and, God help them, become politically active... Pericles must be laughing in his grave... Although, sadly, it would appear at my school this enlightenment is limited, self centered and poorly informed. ...
Welcome to the Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of Broxtowe Borough Council. A special welcome to the new readers that we have this week. Refuse Collections Due to the bad weather we had to abandon bin collections part way through the week. It just wasn't safe for the refuse lorries to be out and, in the event of a collision, it would almost certainly be the other party who came off worst. I'm very grateful to those people who took the time over the past few days to email ...
The Independent on Sunday has an interview with Nick Clegg. There's a full front page photo of our glorious leader with the headline "No apologies. No regrets. No shame." and this strapline: I'd do it exactly the same way all over again says Deputy Prime Minister. -and this text: A defiant Nick Clegg dismisses his critics, insists there is no alternative, and tells LibDem MPs why they should break their pledge and back the trebling of university tuition fees. Political correspondent, Matt Chorley, has been revealing choice snippets from the piece. He's been doing a sort of "dance of the ...
This is the title of the new white paper on education published last month. I'm just getting round to reading it, not because I'm not interested but because it's 95 pages long and I haven't had that much time. At first sight it says a lot of good things - teaching should be a higher status job, schools should have freedom to innovate in order to find better ways of raising the achievement level
[IMG: World AIDS Day] There was a time in Belfast when a man with HIV was asked to leave a gay bar because the management were afraid that other customers would be infected if they drank from the glass he had used. I was amazed to read that this didn't happen in the 1980′s but in the last year! 1st December was World AIDS Day and to mark the occasion the Belfast Telegraph published the story about Matthew Cavan, a 21 year old actor. Matthew was diagnosed with HIV in September 2009 and he was stunned at the reaction of ...
Today the Northern Ireland campaign team was attending the Ulster Unionist Conference in the Ramada Hotel in Belfast, meeting MLAs, councillors and members. In other parts of the United Kingdom, the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign was launching its first wave of 50 phonebanks across the country. The phonebanking operation constitutes the most ambitious direct ...
I've spoken today to more residents about road gritting/ploughing, footpath and grit bin issues across the West End. Here's today's update to councillors from the City Engineer : "Please find below an update on the winter maintenance services being carried out over the weekend. The forecast for the weekend is mainly dry and very cold with occasional light snow showers with the risk of more persistent sleet/snow on sunday afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be as low as minus 8 degC overnight. All available resources will be working over the weekend on the following priorities: Carriageways:- (05:00 to 20:00 Sat ...
This year's Community Unity Party was a great success. Held as usual at Archbishop Ilsley School the party involved contributions from Acocks Green's Muslim and Polish Communities as well as groups such as the 260th Scouts and the Autumn Leaves. As always traditional entertainment and food was provided by all groups and this year the Lord Mayor came and spent an hour with us. All in all a great event - many thanks to everyone involved in organising it.
Attila and the Huns continue to ravage both halves of the Empire, particularly Italy. Eventually Attila dies in the process of getting intimate with the latest of his many wives.
We had a distinguished guest at the latest meeting of Parliament's all party group on Palestine. The United Nations Rapporteur on Human Rights, Richard Falk, came to report on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Ironically, he has to do this from reports on the ground as Israel restricts his entry and has ...
Lib Dem Councillor for Oval, Ishbel Brown, has spoken out in support of the Vauxhall Civic Society's campaign to block the approval of the proposed 42-storey Octave Tower on Bondway, overlooking Vauxhall Park. The plans to build the tower were rejected by Lambeth Council's Planning Committee following pressure from local residents and Oval ward Lib Dem councillors; following an appeal by the developers, the decision now lies with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles. Vauxhall Civic Society's campaign encourages local residents who object to the proposals to write to Eric Pickles outlining their objections to ...
A quick update on the case of electoral fraud in Walsall, where father and son were charged. The father, Conservative councillor Mohammed Munir was cleared in September. His son, also a Conservative Party member but not a councillor, has now however been convicted. Ali Hayder Munir has received a three month jail sentence after admitting to two charges of faking proxy vote applications in the run up to the 2008 elections for Walsall Council. The fake applications involved identifying real but unregistered people and then making electoral registration and proxy vote applications on their behalf. The government's plans for individual ...
That was the cry of a much beloved relative as the news of the MPs' expenses scandal came in. (I think it was oft repeated across the land). This relative is one with whom I never respond on the matter of politics, other than to murmur "Uhm" frequently. Dissent would probably lead to World War Three. Let's just say he's rather right wing. No point in causing upset. The expectation was that most of the MPs should immediately be "clapped in irons". Well, it's taken a long time – about 18 months by my reckoning – but the news this ...
I've written a piece on the version of liberalism I've been reading up on for some time. Do come over and join in the debate.
I do get fed up with commentators referring to the free education had by my generation and comparing it to the high cost of further education for students now. Actually, taken as a whole, students now are better off than my generation for two reasons. Firstly, far more young people have the opportunity to go to college. That was something only enjoyed by a minority of my generation. The lack of opportunity started long before you got to further education. In the London suburb where I lived there weren't enough grammar school places for all the girls who passed the ...
Well, would you bid more for this? Mind you, he's good on perspective. And it is for charidee, so full marks to him for doing it.
Cross-posted from Liberal Democrat Voice Compass director Neal Lawson and the Guardian's John Harris have written a very thoughtful and forward-looking article for the New Statesman. It proposes a new direction for the centre left, which they call "New Socialism". The authors start from the premise that the Labour party suffered a stunning defeat in May. Currently, they say, the party is "sleepwalking from the car crash". Old Labour ran out of steam. New Labour ran itself into the sand. Now, however, "the party seems to have switched off", while "social democracy" dies throughout the world. Labour has "almost forgotten ...
John Redwood has written what he probably thinks is a witty and topical piece about British industry in the wake of the failure to win the 2018 World Cup. He seems to think the 2018 World Cup bid failure is metaphor for Britain not selling things abroad in general. However, he undermines his whole argument by totally failing to have understood what the England 2018 bid was all about. John Redwood states What had happened to our market research? Such a brief meant either we should not compete, as it was not for us, or it meant a different vision ...
So wrote former Labour Party General Secretary Peter Watt in a piece over on Labour Uncut this week: There is an arrogance at the heart of our politics that is going to make it difficult to really understand why we lost. It is an arrogance that says that we alone own morality and that we alone want the best for people. It says that our instincts and our motives alone are pure. It's an arrogance that belittles others' fears and concerns as "isms" whilst raising ours as righteous. We then mistakenly define ourselves as being distinctive from our opponents because ...
Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now. Day Two: Nine things about yourself. Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart. Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot. Day Five: Six things you wish you'd never done. Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever) Day Seven: Four turn offs. Day Eight: Three turn ons. Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now. Day Ten: One confession. Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot. How much I love London. It's an ...
The Guardian's Owen Gibson has written a great piece today looking at the five FIFA men who promised their votes to the English bid and then reneged. He colleague Paul Hayward has also looked at what could happen next with the FA and FIFA. I'd like to suggest one other outcome. Given the anger at some of the FIFA men from the far east, I would suggest that Game 39 - the plan by some in the Premier League to hold an additional game each season in some money-spinning venue overseas - is likely to be dead and buried. Game ...
[IMG: nearly there] Will the TC gallery result in the renascence of Margate? Not alone, I think, it will take more, than the gallery, still efforts are being made, even small things like painting the light house on the Harbour Arm, with hoops which if nothing else will brighten the seascape even if it offends, Local Labour who recently appear to have a nutty nimby tendency. Local business cafes and gallery's are improving and particular mention ought to be given to those involved with the Harbour Arm I see this weekend, there is as is often the an exhibition, in ...
I had reason to phone Barclaycard today. I faced three automated phone "security" checks. Calling from the registered mobile, then knowing my year of birth and my month of birth. So just get through all somebody needed to know whas my birthday. When I got through to the call centre (outside of the EU) I was read out a pile of my personal details to confirm. Great for anybody to steal my identity.
If you believe everything the right wing papers and the Labour party say, you will believe that Europe is an economic disaster zone that is going to descend into chaos and that the UK has gone from a visionary economy into a basket case that must get even further into debt just to stop a complete meltdown. Strangely this total change in the UK economy apparently happened in early May 2010. But strangely, the economic figures keep coming in which contradict this. In Europe, yes the economies of the delightfully named "PIGS" - Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain look in ...
Our political discourse has become increasingly dominated by insubstantial 'buzzwords' like 'fairness' and 'progressive' to the point where discussions about politics have begun to focus less on policy differences and more on how these words are to be used. Truly, British politics has entered an era in which the works of Wittgenstein are more relevant to the debate than any properly political philosopher or theorist. This is perhaps exemplified by the debate within our party over the meaning of the word 'fairness'. Prompted by Nick Clegg's Hugo Young lecture, the Social Liberal Forum (SLF) recently wrote in an article here ...
Peter Oborne's Telegraph column made painful reading, and I think that the outlook is somewhat brighter than he suggests, but this is well worth a look. In particular: The whole point about a coalition is that it is like a marriage. Neither party can get all their own way. They have to make sacrifices. That is exactly what happened during the hectic five days that followed the general election last May. It is true that the Lib Dems made certain concessions, of which the most important were their agreement to move faster on deficit reduction and to accept a different ...
I said I wasn't going to blog about personal stuff but when I am accused of doing something that I clearly haven't done, I have to speak out. I have every right to defend myself against disgusting allegations made by people who ... Continue reading →
There have been a number of Luton related stories over the last few weeks that I wanted to highlight. I should start with the delightful news that my friend and colleague Qurban Hussain was given a peerage by the Liberal Democrats in the recent honours list. I think the award is a recognition of a long record of public service, his work on behalf of the people of Luton, and his campaigning on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. Having worked alongside him in Luton politics over the last few years I know that he will be an asset to the ...
Next Monday sees a great tram crash in Coronation Street. It sets the scene for a dramatic week of deaths, a wedding and a birth - just a normal week in suburban Manchester then! It will culminate with the soap celebrating its 50th birthday next Thursday, 9th December with a live 1 hour episode. To pay tribute to the world's longest current runnning soap, I'm blogging a quote a day from Corrie's past up until the big day. So, quote No.3... "You know what your trouble is, Stan? You're lax - lax from the neck up and relax from the ...
Unfortunately my blogging is temporarily suspended whilst I attend to the needs of my partner who had an accident yesterday and broke her shoulder. When she's in a bit less pain and is more mobile I'll start blogging again. In ... Continue reading →
David Chaytor's guilty plea yesterday and the decision of the courts not to allow Phil Woolas to appeal against an election court ruling that he can no longer sit as MP because he made false statements about his opponent are two welcome steps towards cleaning up politics in this country. However, the current agitation by MPs against the new independent body set up to oversee their expense claims shows that many still do not get it. It is also the case that Woolas still retains some support amongst Labour MPs, who can see nothing wrong with the disgraceful campaign he ...
So do we know yet the reason for England's failed World Cup bid? As ever, the answers are in plain sight. Yes, the media was responsible - but not, as is claimed, the entirely legitimate and necessary Panorama and Sunday ... Continue reading →
There is an interesting article in this morning's Western Mail in which they report that the Department for Communities and Local Government have scrapped a Council Tax revaluation exercise pencilled in for 2015 and have passed over the decision on any future revaluation in Wales to the Welsh Government. Naturally the Conservatives are really pleased with themselves over this initiative, especially after the problems caused when Wales carried out its own revaluation exercise a few years ago. Eric Pickles is quoted as saying: "Hefty council tax bills are a constant financial worry for many people in England and Wales. The ...
Compass director Neal Lawson and the Guardian's John Harris have written a very thoughtful and forward-looking article for the New Statesman. It proposes a new direction for the centre left, which they call "New Socialism". The authors start from the premise that the Labour party suffered a stunning defeat in May. Currently, they say, the party is "sleepwalking from the car crash". Old Labour ran out of steam. New Labour ran itself into the sand. Now, however, "the party seems to have switched off", while "social democracy" dies throughout the world. Labour has "almost forgotten how to think, or even ...
I'm angry. Very angry. Angry at the MPs that took advantage of the old expenses system to rip off British tax-payers. I'm angry on behalf of those who pay their taxes, and also on behalf of those low-ranking politicians such as myself whose reputation has been dragged into the gutter because of their selfish actions. Yesterday, one of the four politicians (Labour MPs David Chayter, Elliott Morley and Jim Devine along with Conservative Lord Hanningfield) who are going to court to answer for their misdemeanors, pleaded guilty. David Chayter, a former Labour MP, is now facing a criminal conviction for ...
I hope you like the new, fresh businesslike design and that you'll come back here on a regular basis.
Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now. Day Two: Nine things about yourself. Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart. Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot. Day Five: Six things you wish you'd never done. Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever) Day Seven: Four turn offs. Day Eight: Three turn ons. Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now. Day Ten: One confession. Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart. Communication. Tell me how you're feeling, tell me what's ...
A new film from Tim Farron MP on what he wants to do when he takes over as President of the Liberal Democrats on 1 January (and watch out for an exciting close-up of the back of my neck): Also available on YouTube here. You can watch Tim's other film from this week here.
One of the things we're launching along with the Saturday Surgeries we're holding locally is the "Prestwich Priorities" survey, which I'd like people's opinions on. We all know that, one way or another, there are going to be some tough spending decisions made on local services to deal with the £160bn budget deficit and the £800bn national debt. All three major parties said they'd be necessary, so locally I think the important thing is to make sure they happen in the least bad way. The Conservative Council are doing it their way, consultation-free. Labour seem to be burying their head ...
In recent Stockport news a leaflet designed to be read (and not thrown on the floor), to combat littering on the Brinnington Estate has `shocked residents` or rather seems to have mainly shocked Labour's Cllr Maureen Rowles. She was so outraged that she put forward a motion at Full Council. The motion was defeated with ...
[IMG: 002-2.JPG] Another Saturday Surgery took place at the Longfield Centre this morning. The snow and ice didn't put us off (although it did mean a debut for me scarf!), and my thanks to everyone who said hello and signed our petitions. The photo above shows me (and scarf) with Cllrs Steve Wright and Ann Garner from Sedgley ward. St Mary's ward Cllr Mary D'Albert was there too, and took the photo. We picked up lots of anti car park charges signatures, as well as casework ranging from grit bins to blocked drains. We'll be back again next Saturday morning, ...
[IMG: dredd] Professor Richard Thaler, Chief Justice of the Nudge movement sweeping politics, is back in Brit-Cit this week to advise the government on using his analysis of irrational behaviour to design non-coercive policies that encourage individual choices for longer, healthier and better lives. A philosophy he calls libertarian paternalism. Underlying libertarian paternalism is a truth, that all of us frequently make 'bad' choices that do not extend, improve or enhance our lives; and a conceit that the state is always good at knowing what the best choices might be, that they are good at nudges to help us get ...
The other day I watched a film called Invictus, a lovely movie depicting how Nelson Mandela, in his quest to build a new nation, recognises the ability of sport (in this case, rugby) to touch every heart, regardless of circumstance or ability. As an England fan I watched the build up for the announcement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup with anticipation but it seemed far removed from those ideals of sport. Instead it seemed much more about the marketing of a huge money-making machine that is now international football, all decided in an opaquely secret manner by only 22 ...
As you may have heard on the news, High Court judges have dismissed the appeal by former Labour MP, Phil Woolas, against his conviction for illegal practices in the General Election. There will now be a by-election in Oldham East and Saddleworth with a likely polling day of January 13th. Last May, Elwyn Watkins lost by just 103 votes because of the lies told by Phil Woolas that have been condemned by the Court. A couple of days ago I canvassed one couple who told me: "We we're going to vote Liberal Democrat, but when we read what Labour were ...
It's no secret that I'm supporting the 'Yes to Fairer Votes' campaign. This is a non-partisan grassroots campaign managed by a collective of organisations and led by the Electoral Reform Society. It seems 140,000 people have already signed up, not just to support but to actively volunteer their time to help. Today they are launching an extremely ambitious phone operation, with 50 phone banks across the country, all manned by volunteers. Then in the New Year they will be adding a virtual phone bank, which means any volunteer will be able to work from their own home. The campaign is ...
I have been really impressed with the way West Lothian Council has kept in touch with people over the last week, since Snowmageddon hit. I particularly want to highlight their helpline for vulnerable people, 01506 773440. This is what they've written about it on their Facebook page: We are extremely concerned that there may be very vulnerable people in the community who may need urgent support. A special helpline 01506 773440 to deal solely with enquires for help from people who are frail, vulnerable or severely disabled and who have no other support. Staff from across the council have volunteered ...
The Charter for Compassion is as follows: The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the ...
In the past, Stockport has collected all the household refuse people want to throw out. The problem with that approach has been people who could recycle but choose not to - the rest of us pay more tax to fund them (because it's far more expensive to throw rubbish into landfill than to recycle). The new system aims to encourage those people to recycle more - for most households, Stockport will collect one black wheelie bin full of rubbish once a fortnight. It's working. After the first month of the system, recycling was up a massive 45% with refuse down ...
Today is Ulster Unionist Party conference - so Stephen Glenn, Regional Organiser for Yes to Fairer Votes and Michael Carchrie Campbell, one of the Volunteer Coordinators are heading up the team to go and canvas UUP opinion. Ulster Unionists believe in Standing up for Northern Ireland securing devolved government for this part of the United ...
The Edinburgh Capitals, Edinburgh's ice hockey team are offering a 50% discount to season tickets holders of all SPL and SFL teams this weekend. The season ticket holders need to provide proof of their identification and show their season ticket to qualify for the discount. The Capitals have two home games this weekend against the Belfast Giants with both face offs scheduled for 6pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Murrayfield ice hockey rink. Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team play in the UK's top league the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Ice hockey is a fast and exciting game with ...
The BBC is reporting that Ali Munir, son of Walsall Conservative Councillor Mohammed Munir has been jailed for 12 weeks for councillor's son jailed for making false applications for proxy votes.
Here's your starter for ten in our Saturday slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate... With the news that Ed Miliband wants to give the public a share of the votes in future Labour leadership elections, and with the Conservative Party already having run several open primaries in which the public could vote for Parliamentary candidates, the Liberal Democrats are currently the only one of the three main parties looking to keep such party elections in the hands of party members only. Should the Liberal Democrats stick to that position or should the rules for leader ...
Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this. Albert Einstein (on US Prohibition) Prohibition in the US Prohibition has been tried before, ...
The Tenth Doctor and Donna go back to the future Earth to find Susan. A brilliant piece of work by karli_meaghan aka wicked_visions.
Just a few lines from Shirley Williams's highly readable autobiography, Climbing the Bookshelves The historic evidence is clear deeply unequal societies are far less committed to democracy and the rule of law than fairer ones. The most stable and happy societies, according to much international research, have moderate differences in wealth and incomes both within and between the public and private sectors. They enjoy high standards of education; they support and admire public service; they understand that a good society requires as its foundation a sense of the common good. (Page 383, Virago paperback edition) And to turn for a ...
broadcast anniversaries 4 December 1965: broadcast of "The Traitors", fourth episode of the story we now call The Daleks' Master Plan. OMG, Katarina gets killed by a mad space criminal!!!!! Last year we had Susan leaving, this year we have a companion dying - what will they do next year, try and change the lead actor or something? (Also debut of Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom, killing off her brother Bret Vyon who was played by Nicholas Courtney.) 4 December 2003: webcast of fourth episode of Scream of the Shalka. The Doctor reclaims the Tardis, but there's a Shalka in ...
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL TEMPORARY CLOSING OF CAMP ROAD AND DELLFIELD, ST ALBANS NOTICE is given that the Hertfordshire County Council intend to make an Order under Section 14[1] of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all traffic from using the following lengths of roads:- 1. that length of Camp Road, St Albans from its junction with Dellfield north westwards for a distance of approximately 77 metres. 2. that length of Dellfield, St Albans from its junction with Camp Road south westwards for a distance of approximately 20 metres. The purpose of the Order is to enable highway maintenance works to ...
MPs have never been popular but things have gone worse for them since 2009 when The Daily Telegraph revealed the details of how there was alleged misuse of expenses. Most MPs claimed it was a matter of interpretation. They had to live in a second home because they had to do their job in London. Even this defence was not particularly strong as the household items that were bought didn't fit with the need to carry out the job. Decorative and artistic items were an expense. They did get advice and they did get the expenses, but some things were ...
