Social Mobility, or the ability to achieve to your potential unencumbered by your start in life, is a frequently used piece of jargon. It is intuitively understood. A young Mozart who never had access to a piano would be a tragedy. But empirically vacuous. There is no agreed end point where a society can be judged to be 'socially mobile'. Nick Clegg's new report on the Coalition's social mobility strategy has not resolved this. Social mobility is not for example the same thing as equal outcomes. It is merit-based. To get a footballer's salary you have to be good at ...
After I had visited Belgrave and the tin tabernacle on Saturday I made my way to Leicester's Museum of Science and Technology at the old Abbey Pumping Station. For me the most interesting of the permanent displays there is the one devoted to Leicester's tram system, which closed down in 1949. There was a model railway exhibition going on in out of the outbuildings. Part of it was housed in the structure you see at once. When I saw it I felt an instant thump of recognition in my stomach. It is the old bookstall from Leicester station, which was ...
Firstly, the answer to Liberals in literature and films (6) was "Trouble with Lichen" by John Wyndham.Now the new one. "He was Asquith's new blood in the Home Office"..."A man by the name of Strafford. But that's literally all I know of him - a few years of office, then nothing..." I hope that phrase won't be heard again.This comes from the opening pages of Robert Goddard's "Past Caring", the
Regine Anderson (UKIP)David Bowley (Independent)Mohinder Farma (Unity for Peace and Socialism)Geoff Forse (Green)Ross Grant (Conservative)Gary Hunt (Lib Dem)Rick Moore (Independent)Nima Patel (Independent)Mu-hamid Pathan (Independent)Peter Soulsby (Labour)Lee Sowden (Independent)Thanks to the Leicester Mercury. And thanks to the Mercury too for directing us to this map of where the candidates live.
Last year under leadership of the Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition the Council signed up to a new landlord accreditation scheme (las) to help improve standards in the private rented sector. We took the decision to join this scheme which is operated by the National Landlord Association following a review of the old scheme which was operated inhouse by the Council when it was under Labour control. The review found that: "'while LAS is a useful tool to stakeholders, the re-launch of Reading's current LAS would not deliver outcomes in the most cost-effective way.' It continued: 'The (previous)scheme did not drive up ...
The article by Dr Evan Harris was published in the Guardian's 'Comment is Free' section on 4th April 2011. Our determination to amend the health bill demonstrates the value of the junior coalition partner's democratic processes There have been a ... Continue reading →
If like the majority of people who I talk to, you believe that your vote has little influence on the events at election time, then a quick look at http://www.voterpower.org.uk should set you straight. For instance looking at my constituency, Gainsborough, if we have the Alternative Vote the voter power would increase by 31%. Have a look for yourself at http://www.voterpower.org.uk/gainsborough
Another milestone tonight in the developments around Preston Park - the protest group that developed out of the threat by the Tory/Labour coalition cabinet in Stockton Council to build a secondary school in the park transformed itself. Protect Preston Park, having won the battles of last year, formally became Friends of Preston Park at its AGM tonight. It was a smaller, lower key meeting than
With nominations closed Liberal Democrats will be contesting all 44 seats up for election to Uttlesford District Council. Conservatives are contesting 42 seats, Labour 17 and Independents 2. As expected there are more Labour candidates than in 2007. In my ward of Stansted North Labour have put forward one candidate for the two member ward. Of course, with their record of support for a Eco town at Elsenham and a second runway at Stansted Airport their environmental credentials are poor. Locally we have put together a strong team of experienced councillors complemented by keen first time candidates. The photo shows ...
Here are the Liberal Democrat entries in the top 100 political blogs as ranked by Wikio: 1 (5) Liberal Democrat Voice Up 1 2 (38) Caron's Musings Down 5 3 (39) Liberal England Up 1 4 (52) Jack of Kent Down 16 5 (58) Mark Thompson Up 16 6 (59) Mark Pack Up 7 7 (73) Liberal Vision Up 3 8 (90) Nick Thornsby Down 4 9 (93) Lynne Featherstone Down 21 10 (95) Miss S B Down 12 Dropping out of the list this month are Millennium Elephant and Liberal Burblings. Under Wikio's methodology the overall profile of blogs ...
Even if you don't have time to read the whole document, the executive summary of the Coalition Government's Social Mobility Strategy makes salutary reading: "There is a long way to go. The income and social class of parents continue to have a huge bearing on a child's chances. Only one in five young people from the poorest families achieve five good GCSEs, including English and maths, compared with threequarters from the richest families.25% of children from poor backgrounds fail to meet the expected attainment level at the end of primary school, compared to 3% from affluent backgrounds.Almost one in five ...
The City Council are proposing to reduce the speed limit, for the section of the Stockfield Road between the Warwick Road and Mansfield Road, from 40mph to 30mph. This follows a review (which included a study of accidents and a survey of traffic speeds) that the Department for Transport ordered in 2006 (with a completion date of 2011). A initial stakeholder consultation is taking place until 21st April, which, if it has a positive outcome, will lead to a formal statutory consultation via the normal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Implementation process. If you have any comments, please let me know ...
Nick Clegg at last seems to be finding his feet at Deputy Prime Minister's Question Time. He is treating facetious Labour questions with the dismissive brevity they deserve. He is taking them head on. For example, when Labour's John Spellar asked a particularly smart-arsed question, Nick Clegg replied with "I cannot be bothered to answer that question." It seemed a very appropriate response. I thought Clegg dealt with Harriet Harman's questions very well. She asked about the Educational Maintenance Allowance and University funding. On the latter point, Clegg replied that there are still two or three months to go before ...
It was a great social event at the Vine this evening - a great turnout of residents and people representing community groups in the West End - where all had the opportunity to meet some of the organisers of this year's WestFest and to view the library and garden of the Vine. Above : WestFest exhibitionAbove : Exhibition about the history of the VineAbove : This was supposed to be a photo of me, but rather appears to have turned out to be the world's shortest video!
Next week at Cabinet we will be considering a report on plans to re-introduce weekly black bin collections in some narrow terraced streets in central Reading to help residents who have faced disruptions to their bin collection service to get a better service from their Council in the future. This is something we pledged to do in our published local Coalition Agreement with the Conservatives. The list of streets where additional collections are to be considered identified by officers working in Streetcare and to be discussed next week can be viewed here As the press release issued by Reading Borough ...
I've just arrived home from my daughter's school play. They were fabulous, by the way. They've worked so hard on this for months. It had comedy & poignancy & excellent vocals. It was all about the home front in World War 2. Anna played a child being evacuated. There wasn't a dry eye when she said 'Mummy, I don't want to go.' Well, I bet that's not what you expected to read when you clicked on that headline. Anyway, my proud mummy moment is over. And that leads me to a proud Liberal Democrat moment. One line from the manifesto ...
Great news today that the Government has announced a period of extended consultation before steamrollering fundamental changes to that beloved, of all our public institutions, the NHS! This backtrack by Tory Lansley follows on the back of the success of a motion at the recent Lib Dem Conference in Sheffield where, overwhelmingly, delegates registered their concerns over plans that could see groups of doctors spending time bogged down with budget and procurement issues at the expense of dealing with patient care. So today, safe in the knowledge that he has party backing, Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg alluded to "substantive ...
Today Ireland finally allowed same-sex civil partnerships. One thing that the Daily Fail, even its Irish edition doesn't fail to do is live up to the fail element that us of a liberal nature constantly find it to do. This morning it was the case of Richard Waghorne who seems to neglect the need for it simply because he doesn't want to be civilly partnered or married as a gay man. I'm allergic to cats so don't want to have one of them if I can help it, hardly an argument to prevent others who love cats to keep one ...
Responding to Plaid Cymru's 'pledge to protect rural Wales', Wyn Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat Montgomeryshire Assembly Candidate and local farmer said: "Elin Jones and Plaid Cymru are totally out of touch with farmers and rural Wales. Plaid Cymru have their heads stuck in the silage when it comes the real issues that affect farmers. If they are promising to protect rural Wales now, where have they been for the last four years? "In government, Plaid Cymru has bungled from one rural issue to another starting with the doomed-to-failure Glastir agri-environmental scheme. Farmers across Wales want a non-bureaucratic system of managing ...
Despite the hard earned success of the Lib Dems in forcing Central Government to perform a U-turn on the invasive introduction of Identity Cards, it would appear that the new Chief Inspector of Police in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge, David Hollingsworth, is proposing a course of action that strikes at the very heart of civil liberty. Announcing with great gusto recentlyy his intention of allowing plain clothed officers to mix-in, undercover, with ordinary pub and club goers does raise concerns. Predominantly the idea that the guy sitting on his own in a corner nursing half a pint of shandy ...
Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments ...
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This week sees the Scottish Parliamentary election campaign step up a gear with the publication of manifestos. Today it was the turn of Tavish Scott to launch our manifesto. Among the interesting ideas was an exemption from council tax for pensioners whose income is below £10K. I also welcome the protection of Free Personal Care, the expansion of Telehealth and the support for more self directed support for those requiring care. While in Edinburgh we probably won't have much call for the "Home on the Farm" scheme to develop rural housing I do welcome the general thrust of the Housing ...
If getting young people interested in sports is your thing you might be interested in Sportivate, a nationwide programme that aims to capture the enjoyment of sport, providing increased opportunities for teenagers and young adults to participate regularly in sport. Sportivate is a £32 million National Lottery funded programme. During the four year programme, the overall aim is for 300,000 participants aged 14-25 years to complete weekly coaching sessions, with 120,000 (2 in 5), carrying on playing sport regularly. Sportivate will try to bring about behavioural change by encouraging participants to take part regularly in sport over a sustained period. ...
Classical liberalism is often associated with the 'night watchman State': the government of the day defends the liberty of the people by ensuring defences are effective and crime is kept under control. Giving the way our society is structured with strong public welfare provisions and active government many wonder if it is at all possible, or desirable, to return to the night watch. The attempt to go back to such a situation would lead to a cruel paradox. The State would have to be active in the extreme to change things. Given the classical liberal view that one individual cannot ...
Cllr Fraser Macpherson marks the launch of the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the Scottish parliamentary elections. "In the wake of a series of anti-cuts rallies outside council buildings recently I thought I'd look at them through a slightly different lens - that of the original gentle rebel, Colin Ward." libcom.org considers the wisdom of the British anarchist writer who died last year. John Hemming is not impressed by the outcome of the Ministry of Justice's family justice review: "The review panel consisted substantially of people who run the service rather than people who have experience of how it does things. ...
I have only just found this one which I think is accurately reported below (but if it is not please give me an accurate report).KING'S BENCH DIVISIONR v SUSSEX JUSTICES ex p McCARTHY [1924] 1 KB 256 November 9 1923 Editor's comments in bold.Here, the magistrates' clerk retired with the bench when they were considering a charge of dangerous driving. The clerk belonged to a firm of solicitors
Thats a really good question I'll bet most of you are saying right now. Especially when you consider just how petty and tribal certain Labour MP's behaved in the House of Commons today. I noticed that Nick had to answer ... Continue reading →
Britain's unfair and outdated voting system is at the heart of what's wrong in our country. It has allowed Governments and MPs to ignore us and take us for granted. But all that can change with the Fairer Votes referendum on the 5th of May. Under the fairer Alternative Vote system all votes will count, making sure your voice can't be ignored any more. A Yes vote on the 5th of May will put power back in your hands - where it belongs.
......that has the instant ability to cheer one soul when you have been feeling rather down in the dumps. I have had a miserable week to be fair thus far and i needed cheering up. It didn't help that someone ... Continue reading →
Our winner is Ashley Waterhouse, a Tory standing in the Normanton ward of Derby City Council, who rang the city's BBC local radio station under a false name to take part in a phone in. The subject of the phone in was honesty in politics. If you listen to his interview on the BBC website, it is hard to avoid forming the impression that Mr Waterhouse is not the sharpest pencil in the polling booth. And an honourable mention to Phil Bailey, chairman of Derby South Conservative Association, for his comment: "I think it was a genuine mistake, I don't ...
A new website has been launched that aims to do what the Guardian's Comment is Free section does but from a different perspective. On their website they say that they support freedom, democracy and an open society.
You can read the post by clicking this link.
A new five-a-side 'kick-about' football pitch for young people is the latest improvement at Crossens Rec. The new pitch is due to open in May. The £33,000 cost has come from a Playbuilder grant available for keep-fit projects for youngsters. Crossens is one of just 12 places throughout Sefton to get its own scheme. Crossens Community Association, which has its headquarters at the former library on the recreation ground, suggested a five-a-side football pitch would be the most popular youth attraction. Lib Dem councillor David Tattersall took that up with the council and the good news is that it's going ...
Thank you to all the residents of the Roe Lane / Hesketh Drive area who replied to our local survey. A clear majority of residents were firmly against putting a zebra crossing on Roe Lane at the site identified by the council between Hesketh Drive and Wennington Road. We agree with the majority who stressed that the position would have been seriously dangerous. A small number of residents suggested moving the proposed crossing to a different position, but this would have involved moving a bus stop and for technical reasons that was not possible. Faced with our protests and the ...
The launch took place in a working factory in Innerleithen A week or so ago, I e-mailed the Scottish Lib Dem press office and timidly asked if I might be allowed to go to the manifesto launch today, on the grounds that if you don't ask, you don't get. I was quite surprised to be told that I could come along and I didn't even have to promise to behave myself. I was quite excited this morning, but it also felt a bit weird. I was neither official party person, nor proper journalist. I was probably too tentative when it ...
It is interesting to note last weekend's election results from Germany in the context of Nick Clegg and David Laws' attempts to turn the Liberal Democrats into an economic liberal party. There is an economic liberal party in Germany - it's called the Free Democratic Party (FDP). On Sunday in state elections in Baden-Württemberg and in Rhineland-Palatinate they got trounced. In the former poll they barely made it into the state parliament with 5.3% of the vote; in the latter they didn't cross the 5% threshold and are no longer represented. One thing that has changed in Germany is that ...
Iris Tomlin's Funeral Iris Tomlin spent her life giving her time for the benefit of the community, so it was with huge gratitude for the work she has done that I attended her funeral at the Trinity Church in Wallington. I knew Iris from her role chairing the Friends of Wallington Library and Gardens, which ...
There will be much more about this morning's manifesto launch in gorgeous Innerleithen, but I've come home to find 3 tabloids for proofreading NOW in my inbox. So, for the moment, have a look at this wordle some clever people have made which shows very clearly where our priorities lie with local, jobs, best, excellence, young, innovation and growth all in there as top priorities. No surprise there, really, because those things are where our heart lies.
Apparently there's a bogus caller operating in Gorton posting as a United Utilities Repair man coming to repair a boiler leak. He's described as white, 5'5", slim build, in his late 40s and clean shaven. If in doubt do not let unexpected callers in to your home. Please warn any vulnerable neighbours.
Don't hurry, the train isn't due for another seven minutes...
A Labourite has been attacking my views on behaviour contracts. Just wanted to write this post to better set out why I'm against them especially when tackling anti-social behaviour. Every council & housing association has the right to set conditions on how people behave within the tenant agreement. Its similar to the fact that employers
Politicians get a lot of grief – in many cases, because they have said one thing and then done another. The Lib Dems, in particular, got into sticky water with the electorate over Tuition Fees (which we still want to get rid of as a party, but it is just not affordable at the moment). However, when a politician engages in downright deception – as was the case yesterday of Derby Conservative council candidate Ashley Waterhouse, it is understandable when the electorate refuses to engage in the democratic process. I have lost count of the number of times someone has ...
There are two good things I've come across today. The first is a flowchart explaining the incredibly complicated AV system versus nice and simple FPTP: Pictured: the complexity of the AV system The other thing I saw was this report which was covered in the Independent. Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to read it. Instead, I'm providing the results in, wait for it... gratuitous bar graph form! Pictured: Gratuitous bar graph So, as you can see, there will be more marginal seats under AV and will increase the power of the average voter. Admittedly, it's not a ...
Cllrs Sue Walker and Ruth Davis checking out the site It's good to see that work is well under way on the new buildings for Yate International Academy. The new development, at the rear of the existing buildings, is due for completion in July 2012. The buildings will include learning resource centre and ICT rooms, a vocational centre including a hair and beauty salon, motor vehicle workshop and technology rooms, a theatre, an auditorium and a dance studio that will double as a 150-seater cinema.
Although Brits are likely to know what I mean by the term 'Marmite book', those from other country may not have a clue what I'm talking about. This is where this link will help you. It seems my début novel, Too Close For Comfort, is causing something of a stir on the internet. Aside from being the number 1 Amazon best-seller and a top-ten best-seller on many other stores including the Apple iBooks store, it seems to have polarised opinion quite drastically. Pleasingly, there are those who love the book. At the time of writing, there are six five-star ratings ...
Johann Hari gave Ed Miliband some suggestions the other day about to make himself more electable - and this included the advice that he should use more everyday language. I have observed the opposite factor in David Cameron. He brilliantly understands how to use everyday words and phrases that 'de-Etonise' our Prime Minister very well. We saw it the other day in Prime Ministers questions. While showing that Ed Balls had got to him was probably a tactical mistake, his criticism was couched using common language and phrases that chime with anyone that uses them. Consider the phrases 'I wish ...
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced yesterday that he is to delay the Health and Social Care Bill. Because of the concerned over it expressed by GP's and by Lib Dems at the conference and others. Some believe this is a a u-turn. However this is what coalition government is all about, compromise and being forced to listen. This government is not run by a few at the top because it has to compromise with the rest of the MP's in two coalition parties and indeed the voting membership of the Liberal Democrats. Surely a listening exercise is a good thing ...
An otherwise intelligently realistic article jointly authored by Nick Clegg and Iain Duncan Smith in today's Telegraph is let down by a glaring inaccuracy: Millions of children have doors closed to them. One in five qualify for school meals - but they make up fewer than one in 100 students at Oxbridge. Quite simply this isn't true (at least for the 'Ox' part of Oxbridge). At Oxford, there are currently 930 undergraduate students from households with an income below £16,000, one of the key qualifying criteria for free school meals. The total UK and EU undergraduate population at Oxford is ...
All, Just to let you know that the polling station for Shipston on May 5th has changed from the Primary School and will be up at the Norgren Sports and Social Club instead. Some people may find it a little difficult getting up there and as ever, the Lib Dems will be offering lifts on the day (5 years and no accidents!). Thanks to Olly at shipstononline for the nice 'photo used on this site – who'd believe that I didn't have one of a polling station? Regards, Philip
After re-reading the BMA response, I find myself more in agreement with them than with our own list of essential amendments!
There has been an interesting debate over at Lib Dem Voice as to the reason why we languish in the polls compared to our coalition partners (see the 'comments' section). The argument seems to be that that we poll badly currently as we are blamed for the cuts and age of austerity - whereas cuts and attacks on public services are just what you expect the Tories to do, so they don't lose 'credit' from the electorate. They are, after all, the 'nasty party'. I think this is nonsense. The reason we languish in the polls compared to the Tories, ...
We have a problem. A big problem. This country is spending more than it can afford. At the end of this Parliament, in 2015, the executive will be spending nearly £800 billion. To understand the value of that figure, the ... Continue reading →
Nancy, Flick and myself have just received the following, rather worrying letter... Dear Stakeholder, Finchley Road - National Grid Gas Works TfL is writing to make you aware of forthcoming works proposed by National Grid Gas (NGG) on Finchley Road between Swiss Cottage and Hendon Way. NGG wishes to replace 6.5km of old metallic gas mains, replacing them with new hard wearing plastic pipes. NGG would like to start their preparatory work in April 2011 for a mains replacement programme lasting up to 24 months. TfL has yet to receive NGG's detailed proposals, however we thought you would wish to ...
With yesterday's holding announcement from Andrew Lansley – yes, the health plans might be changed but no, there are no details as yet – the future of the health White Paper is very much up for grabs. It's not quite as simple as Liberal Democrats versus Conservatives, as although there are not many Conservatives who share the principled objections to parts of the plans from the Liberal Democrats, there are many who share concerns over the practical workings of the detail and fear the political impact. In a smart move, which reinforces how the Social Liberal Forum is becoming one ...
Come Saturday and I'm heading over to Canary Wharf for the London Region conference where I'm doing a session on how the Parliamentary boundary changes are being handled in London. (For background see my Parliamentary Boundary Reviews page.) Not sure whether or not to come to London Region conference? Here are a few reasons: Training sessions including Rob Blackie on e-campaigning and a bloggers / tweeters meet-up organised by Helen DuffettDebate on clear air in London - a motion from Mike Tuffrey (he who I think should be our Mayor candidate)A chance to say farewell to London's long-standing regional administrator ...
One of the things that I like to do at the beginning of a campaign is check out my opponents, if only to get to know them better. Admittedly, I know the incumbent Conservative quite well, in my capacity as one of my village's parish councillors. I was, however, interested to find this article from the BBC News website. I already knew that Caroline was fighting to save her local Household Waste Recycling Centre, but perhaps she ought to be a little more cautious with the media in future. If she was, she might not make comments such as; "It's ...
Tayside Fire and Rescue is keen to establish links with volunteers in the community who may be able to assist in the delivery of their Home Fire Safety Visit Programme, including generating and conducting Home Fire Safety Visits, with the appropriate training. The Fire Station Manager at Blackness is keen to hear from any volunteers within the community who may be interested in working in partnership with Tayside Fire and Rescue to make communities safer from fire. If you are interested, please let me know and I'll pass on details of your interest - firesafety@frasermacpherson.org.uk - many thanks.
Pam and I have reported a few pieces of graffiti on the Sharston side of Gatley, including graffiti on green comms boxes on Clifton Drive, Dingle Grove, at the corner of Longley Lane and Altrincham Road and on the Council rubbish bin at the bus stop outside 73 Altrincham Road. If you see graffiti around Cheadle and Gatley (or anywhere else in Stockport), just email the details to streetscene@stockport.gov.uk. If it's on council property, and sometimes even if it's not, the Council can get it painted out or cleaned off.
Yesterday, I suggested that it was time to make the moral case for liberalism. Today Nick Clegg and Iain Duncan Smith have set out their vision for social mobility. It already has its critics. The way policies are implemented will be crucial: if it becomes more social engineering it will betray its liberal roots but if you agree that liberals need to talk about poverty then this has to be a step in the right direction.
As a supporter and campaigner for a Yes vote in the referendum on the 5th of May, I have often faced the argument that, "I support a proportional system, but AV is not proportional, so I will be voting No". A prima facie logical argument - if you do not like AV, then why on earth would you vote for it? Big names in the world of electoral reform have signed up to this "No to AV, Yes to PR" ethos, including Lord David Owen, one of the Gang of Four. According to the No to AV, Yes to PR ...
This morning, Scottish Liberal Democrats are launching the party's manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections. Solutions for Scotland is the 2011 manifesto of the Scottish Liberal Democrats : "We are clear about the challenges. We are clear about the solutions for Scotland. Our manifesto sets out the details of our action plans. People will see that we are serious, determined and practical. A ten year vision for ScotlandPeople know that there is only so much that any new government will be able to do, even in a five year term. We show how we would use the resources we have ...
Last week I helped to set up a series of visits around the Midlands for Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister. There was a visit to a major engineering firm, ARUP in Solihull, a meeting with local party members in Hinkley, a "Town Hall" style meeting and a visit to a Mosque in Leicester. There was a demo of about 50 people outside the public meeting in Leicester. The chant of choice for demonstrators these days seems to be "Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you for turning blue." I had it chanted at me a few weeks ...
Following the recent refurbishment of the Tullideph Sheltered Lounge, for the Scottish Parliamentary Election & Fairer Votes Referendum on 5th May, voters in polling district WAE will go back to voting at this lounge. These electors were temporarily moved to voting at the Morven Terrace sheltered lounge for the General Election last year during the works on the Tullideph Sheltered Lounge. The change back to the Tullideph Sheltered Lounge affects electors in : Ancrum Road (2-6 evens)City Road (103-129 odds, 130-162 evens)Colinton Place (1-15 odds)Loganlee Terrace (2-16 evens)Logie Street (66, 80, 82, 86, 88 and 90)Pentland Avenue (30 -76 evens)Pentland ...
Nice to see that David Miliband is making the most of his self-imposed exile from the Labour front bench. According to the Independent, the former Foreign Secretary is earning thousands of pounds from speaking engagements around the world, and is represented by the London Speaker Bureau, a company that provides high-profile speakers for conferences and events. His other earnings come from his role as vice-chairman of the Premier League football club Sunderland, which pays £75,000 a year. In addition he receives £65,738 for his role as Member of Parliament for South Shields. To top it all though, Mr. Miliband has ...
Excellent article by Joan Marc Simon in the New Federalist. Joan Marc says the problem with EU Common Foreign Policy isn't the High Representative herself but the impossible role of that office. I agree with Joan Marc's general point but still think that Baroness Ashton could achieve more. Her background and her approach are managerial where what is needed is something a little tougher, a
This graphic is from Anthony Smith via Mark Thompson: [IMG: Voting flowchart]
This morning's Independent carries news of an independent study by nef (new economics foundation) think-tank, which finds that a Yes vote in the 5 May referendum would boost people power by increasing the number of very marginal seats from 81 to 125. The number of very safe seats would fall from 331 to 271. I don't think that anybody can claim that the Alternative Vote is significantly more proportional than First Past the Post but the one thing that is clear to me is that it is fairer. It will also empower voters over politcians and enable a first step ...
Vincent Price Audio Listening to The Price of Fear made me hanker after Vinny P's velvet tones: much googling came up with lots of nasty torrent sites, and this glorious archive. If you only listen to one thing, make it Boys (right at the bottom, under spoofs) (tags: radio horror) "Reformed" House of Lords will still have bishops in *headdeskheaddeskheaddeskheaddeskheaddesk* (tags: government) Lib Dems demand changes to the Health and Social Care Bill | Social Liberal Forum A nice petition to sign (tags: libdemmery) Darla Moore School of Business hosts UK Minister of State Gregory Barker, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, ...
- Are here on the West Berkshire Council website along with the other parish council election nominations for West Berkshire
Chris White demands halt to closure of any services provided by Herts County Council that have not been consulted on correctly. Last week it was revealed that the closure of The Crescent had been sneaked through without consulting or briefing councillors. The service provides around 250 people support in living with HIV. Chris White, Lib Dem Opposition Leader and County Councilor for central St Albans, has called for the county council to shelve the plans to close the centre and properly consult and plan the future of this service. Chris said: 'This has been shockingly handled. The plans were kept ...
Rather worrying news about the London 20 12 Olympics. The Olympics marathon and distance walking events were being organised by Dave Bedford and the London Marathon team. Great choice as every year they run a fantastic event with hundreds of thousands of spectators that involves the cooperation of many central London communities, local authorities, emergency services, Royal Parks and many other public bodies. They also generate charitable funds for the area. He resigned stating "I quit my role. We [London Marathon] are a professional business run by professionals and it was very difficult to work for another organisation who in ...
I have always felt that the short hand answer to this question is that when you get what you want it is meaningful when you don't it's a sham. But some interesting interpretations of this question raised it's head this morning on radio Humberside. They had a senior union activist on complaining about the consultation that has been conducted regarding new Council structures in the aftermath of the budget. The complaints can be boiled down to three points. 1. The Council started to consult them before the budget. Apparently this is a bad thing although I would have thought they ...
Seventy students, who have been told that they have to finish the graduate medical course in Cardiff, have been badly let down by Swansea University, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Candidate, Peter Black, has alleged. Mr. Black, who is a member of Swansea University's ruling Council, is angry that failures by University authorities to fill key posts on the medical course in time has led to the General Medical Council questioning the robustness of the course and forced the transfer of the students to Cardiff. Mr. Black has met with some of the students concerned and with the senior members ...
I'm spitting feathers about the complete lack of warning to residents about the waste charge. This has been known as an option within the council for months [it was published in the Cabinet papers in the first week of February] and information for residents should and could have been prepared well in advance. To not let people know about it with plenty of notice is in my opinion unforgivable. But this is not an isolated case, the lack of notice about the changes to the free bus passes is another that is fishy. In fact there seem to be a ...
As the situation in violence-ravaged Ivory Coast deteriorates even further, there has been a belated stepping up of the UN's role in the country in an effort to prevent civilian casualties. UN and French helicopters yesterday opened fire on military camps loyal to defeated President Gbagbo, who refused to leave office after November's Presidential elections. The situation in the Ivory Coast is rather like that in the former Yugoslavia, which followed a similar cycle of political systems failing, rising violence with civilians often the victims and an international community for a long period only willing to take very limited steps ...
This artcile from Pensions Minister Steve Webb showcases much of the excellent work he is doing. The restoration of the earnings link and the prospect of a £140 per week pension are eye catching policies.
In all the discussions about the NHS it does appear that one thing is clear. We need to avoid the NHS being subject to EU Competition Law. This is the argument I have been putting. The danger is that commissioners are forced to accept tenders that they don't want to accept because of external pressure. It is that key distinction that changes the system from as it has been described as an
I'm off to the gorgeous Borders today for the Scottish Liberal Democrats manifesto launch. Or at least I will be if they actually tell me where it is. I know the town so far, and Jeremy Purvis has just said on Good Morning Scotland that it's in a working factory - I'm sure I'll work it out. Getting there means I have to be extremely brave, though, as it means coping with my former boss, Willie Rennie's driving which, though always legal, is of a more robust style than mine. In terms of detail, I expect to see more flesh ...
In a post yesterday, I took issue with a few of the points in our conference motion, in particular 9) that talks about a "majority of councillors". Well, this had me wake up in the middle of the night and unable to sleep. I've now decided that Conference took the notion of "democratic accountability" way too far. Healthcare is as much an industry as is making paint. It is nonsense for a bunch of councillors to tell a commissioning consortium what to do as it is for a councillor to tell Dulux how to make paint. It also makes a ...
Yesterday, Pollwatch looked at the current state of the parties; today it's the turn of the party leaders, Messrs Clegg, Cameron and Miliband. As with all polls, what follows comes with caveats. Five of the polling companies - YouGov, Ipsos-Mori, ComRes, ICM and Angus Reid - ask questions specifically to find out the public's views of the party leaders. And each asks variants on the basic question - do you think Clegg/Cameron are doing a good job - to come up with their figures, so comparison ain't easy. For that reason, I'm taking a 3-month rolling average which isn't very ...
I've just seen Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg talk about "substantive changes" ahead for the Government's NHS reforms on BBC Breakfast which will follow the delay in the legislative process announced yesterday by Andrew Lansley. Clegg is taking an enormous risk here. These reforms are a Tory idea, and so far removed from Liberal Democrat thinking and policy that our Spring Conference delivered a strong statement to our MPs, asking them to amend the legislation. I am sure that there will be some of our number who baulk at Nick's close association with the issue - but when our Conference ...
This month 35,700 Hastings residents will have an Income Tax cut thanks to the Liberal Democrats. And a further 1,280 will pay no tax at all. Raising the Income Tax threshold to take those on the lowest incomes out of tax altogether was a central plank of the Lib Dem General Election manifesto and is ...
I would freely admit that the likelihood of a contested election in Creeting St Peter is low. Indeed, in 2007, the last time that an election was due, only two candidates put their heads above the parapet, making the Parish Council inquorate from its outset. Luckily, there has been progress this year, and all five sitting councillors have been elected unopposed, making this the first external election I have ever won. I'm not unique in that respect, as my fellow councillors, Dan and Dean, had never even fought an election, let alone won one. So, what do we do now? ...
Supported by Cambridge City's Recycling Champions three events have been arranged for the "Love food, hate waste" campaign. These are intended to be fun events to give ideas about how to reduce food bills and reduce rubbish in the bin. The first event was on Thursday last week with a butcher. The next two events are both at Arbury Community Centre, and are free with no need to book. Just turn up. On Thursday 14 April there is a family food fair, with lots of stalls about different ways to feed a family. The hope is for it to be ...
Not Three Mile Island but Chalk River in Canada; a fascinating historical note from the Economist: Three weeks after Japan's earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, spewing radiation as far as Iceland, clean-up crews have been working around the clock to bring the reactor under control and contain the leakage. Their life is a nightmare... The fear and danger is beyond comprehension for most people, and in particular the political leaders who must order men in to danger. But interestingly, it is not unfamiliar to former American president Jimmy Carter. Nearly half a century ago, as a ...
In a blaze of apathy, one of the rarest of British constitutional processes- a referendum- is getting under way. Most voters probably consider the referendum as to whether to adopt the Alternative Vote system- AV- either abstruse and arcane or simply just plain dull. Yet in fact, this referendum is one that will be significant for a generation to come. The current British electoral system- first past the post (FPTP)- gives a Parliament that is only approximately what the voters choose. Several times in the past, the party with the largest number of MPs, and which therefore becomes the government, ...
Michael Carchrie Campbell, chair of the Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats today urged support for the ICTU NI-organised assembly at Belfast City Hall tomorrow from 1pm to 1.15pm to show our publici abhorrence at the murder of PC Ronan Kerr. Michael said: I will be attending the assembly at Belfast City Hall at 1pm on Wednesday ...
i) births and deaths 5 April 1946: birth of Jane Asher, who played Susan Foreman in Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman? (1994) and Andrea Yates in Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? (2007), and has thus played alternative 5 April 1991: death of Gerald Blake, who directed The Abominable Snowmen (1967) and The Invasion of Time (1978). 5 April 1999: death of John Wiles, innovative producer who succeeded Verity Lambert but did not last long in 1965-66. ii) broadcast anniversaries 5 April 1969: broadcast of fifth episode of The Space Pirates. The Doctor and friends find they have been imprisoned with ...
For five and a half years now, this blog has been called 'Liberal Bureaucracy'. It's an original name, reflects who I am, has some name recognition, so far, so good. The down side is that, how can I put this, it's a bit constricting, in that it defines me by what I do, rather than who I am. So, to reflect my new circumstances, it's time for a change. It's probably far too early to tell what difference it will make, but perhaps it will become more fun than it has been of late...
Today was one of those days where I could feel the tiredness in my bones. I was aching all over, and very nearly fell asleep at work several times. And now? It's getting on for 2am, and I can't sleep.
I will be attending the assembly at Belfast City Hall at 1pm on Wednesday 6th April 2011 to show my abhorrence of the murder of PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr. The assembly is being organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland. I urge all members of the public to attend and let us [...]
Once again something is #nickcleggsfault – this time he is failing to deliver proposals for a fully-elected House of Lords. Instead it will be only 80% elected, including Church of England bishops remaining. This act of incompetent wanton vandalism, worse than the LD compromise on tuition fees, is evidence Nick Clegg should just go home before he does something worse. Oh wait. The last time the Lords was radically reformed was in 1911, by a Liberal government. The Conservative party and the Labour party have been in government on and off since then, and between them have accomplished the massive ...
When the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference voted overwhelmingly against Tory-led plans for NHS reform, it seemed to many that this would introduce friction into the workings of the coalition. Now, however, David Cameron has been forced to rein back the ambitious plans following criticism from all sides. When Norman Tebbit and Shirley Williams are both strongly critical of the same policy, and for the same reasons, you know that there's something wrong with it. Both coalition parties agree on the need for NHS reform, but the Liberal Democrats approach is that patients come first. This means having elected health boards. ...
