Below is the text of a proposed motion on House of Lords reform for the party's autumn conference. It's been pulled together by various people including those of us in the Liberal Democrats for Lords Reform campaign and we're now after support from conference reps so that it gets enough names behind it to be able to make it on the agenda. So if you're willing to put your name to this motion and you are a voting conference representative for your local party, please email me (mark.pack@gmail.com) with your name, your membership number and your local party. Many thanks. ...
There will be five names on the ballot paper for the Inverclyde by-election on 30 June, reports BBC News: Sophie Bridger (Liberal Democrats)Iain McKenzie (Labour) Anne McLaughlin (SNP)Mitch Sorbie (UKIP)David Wilson (Conservatives)This follows the Leicester South by-election in May, where there were also just five candidates. That could in part by explained by the simultaneous city-wide Mayoral election, which attracted the fringe candidates. But perhaps we are seeing the start of a new trend?
Shadow Labour Chancellor Ed Ball's call for a permanent or temporary VAT cut puts him half into the same camp as liberal think tanks who opposed the VAT rise in January. Philip Booth, Programme Director at the Institute of the IEA wrote "Today's VAT rise is simply bad economics... If the government insists on increasing taxes, there are better candidates than a general VAT rise." Where Balls and Booth part company however is on the flipside of the balance sheet. Booth writing: "Today's news should be a wake-up call that the spending cuts are insufficient. If the government wishes to ...
I know I should feel excited, even vindicated, that the Lib Dems have exerted their influence to make the NHS proposals a little less terrifying. And I do - don't get me wrong - I do. But I am afraid that the result looks far too like the status quo, when the NHS desperately needs a little radicalism if it is going to survive. This is what I wrote on the New Economics Foundation's blog.
So on the back of todays evidence, Labour would presumably have us bringing more private enterprise into the NHS to cherry pick profitable services, and staff, without the level playing field of broad health care responsibilities. The New Labour fascination with all things Americano never ends! Meanwhile from the same Party, Ed (it was all the banks' fault) Balls calls for a temporary reduction in VAT to stimulate consumer spending. 'Temporary', I thought they were against .......? Oh well, it changes by the day! We are cutting tax in a targeted way to help the lowest paid. The alternative to ...
In the USA they have the White House correspondents' dinner, an occasion for leading politicians to take pot-shots at the media, themselves, and – most crucially – their opponents. Barack Obama's quip-assault on Donald Trump ended the wannabe Republican presidential hopes before they'd begun. The UK has no equivalent, but (as PoliticsHome's Paul Waugh notes) the Parliamentary Press Gallery lunches are the nearest equivalent. And today was Nick Clegg's turn to convey a serious message... whilst landing a jab or two. So, who was in Nick's sights? Step forward Labour's troubled leader Ed Miliband, and one-time rival Chris Huhne. Here's ...
Primary Education is the period in which children build the foundations and grasp a basic understanding of the key subjects, being mathematics, reading and writing and the sciences. Secondary School is where children are grouped according to ability to ensure that those who need additional help are given the attention they need, and those of
I have blogged extensively about problems connected with inconsiderate parking on Cintra Avenue by Cintra Park and at the junction with Warwick Road. This area can get very busy as it is a short distance from a school and Cintra Park. A number of residents have contacted us in recent months calling for action to be taken by the Council to improve road safety. We responded by highlighting the problem to RBC and getting officers to visit the area. We then actively consulted residents about possible solutions. After investigating the problems earlier this year officers recommended introducing no-waiting restrictions at the junction of Cintra Avenue with ...
I'll bore anyone when it comes to my taste in music. As the various musical blog posts on this site will testify, it's nothing if not eclectic. So I may as well add to them with this call out for what in my mind is the finest of the NOW (That's What I Call Music) CD collections. At my last count, the series has now reached No.78 - the first being released back in November 1983. Of all of those to date, there's one that stands out for me - NOW 29. Why? Well, it's a mixture of the songs ...
My emotions are all over the place at the moment, I'll admit it. There's a potent cocktail of pride, gratitude, fear and empty nest syndrome slushing around my psyche. In just two weeks' time, it'll be Anna's last day of primary school. I feel pride because she is (and I'm being totally unbiased here, obviously), such a clever, funny, quirky, unique, creative, lovable girl. Gratitude for the fabulous and nurturing environment provided by her school which helped settle the slightly reluctant 5 year old who wanted to stay at nursery forever and which has kept her happy and encouraged her ...
Thursday evening I chaired the launch meeting of the Irish Traveller Movement's report Planning for Gypsies and Travellers: the Impact of Localism, the Principal Authors of which are Michael Hargreaves and Matthew Brindley. (See They got 100 responses to their survey of local authorities in England in three different regions and found that the number of residential pitches for which planning permission would be granted has fallen from 2,919 in the Regional Strategies now being abolished, to 1,395 in current plans. This is because the Coalition Government has torn up the laboriously constructed system of Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation ...
From the Consultant Haemato-Oncologist at King's to my GP Dear Dr M I reviewed Lord Avebury in the clinic today with his wife. He was well in himself and I note that he had pulmonary angiogram carried out by Dr MacCarthy recently on 3rd February 2011 which showed no evidence of pulmonary embolus with some evidence of emphysema, but no evidence of lymphoma. He is otherwise reasonably well and his haemoglobin has slowly increased and is now back to the levels in early 2010 prior to his EVAR procedure. The only other thing of note is that his platelet count ...
What could possibly be wrong with that? The common perception is that farming is green and sustainable, or at the very minimum it must take CO2 out of the atmosphere. In most places this is true. But the fens are a special case. When peat fen is drained the loss of water pressure allows the extremely porous peat to collapse and restructure, but it also exposes it to the air, causing wastage by oxidation. This process of wastage is unique to peat soils, which are largely composed of organic matter. When peat is saturated, oxygen cannot reach it, so there ...
I was more than a little bit perturbed to see First Minister's Questions today completely dominated by Alex Salmond's thrawn refusal to apologise to Lord Hope. Yes, it's an important issue, but ultimately, Lord Hope can look after himself. A vulnerable female prisoner with mental health problems in Cornton Vale can't, and, as yesterday's inspection report shows, she's unlikely to get the care in the women's prison that she needs. Only one person raised the Government's consistent failings at Cornton Vale. Unsurprisingly, it was the Liberal Democrat leader, Willie Rennie. He feels really strongly that prison should be about rehabilitation, ...
You may remember that Kids for Kids ran a very successful film-making project in Consett last year which culminated in a World Premiere at the Empire! I, my fellow councillor for Consett North, The Derwent Valley Partnership team and Leisureworks have been working towards seeing a lot more of them in Consett over the summer and Autumn as you can see below. It would be great to think that some of the creative spark they ignited here would result in an entry to this year's national competition which is planned to be hosted at the Empire Theatre in Consett. Details ...
Heron is putting on an exhibition of their latest proposals for North Yate over the next couple of days. The exhibition will display a masterplan as well as further details on key issues raised during the first consultation. The sessions are as follows: Friday 17 June 2011 2pm - 8pm Yate Outdoor Sports Complex (YOSC), Broad Lane, Yate Saturday 18 June 2011 10am - 4pm Yate Library, 44 West Walk, Yate If you are unable to visit the exhibition, you will be able to view the exhibition material in full on Heron's project website from 20 June 2011. An online ...
I've seen academies that work really well, but that doesn't necessarily mean I support Gove's school reforms. What happened to the principle that the free schools movement was optional, for starters? No Notice Authoritarian Measures By swooping in today and announcing the 'failing' primaries would be converted, tout suite, Gove is creating a worrying precedent that could allow him to take over any number of schools with minimal decision. Will Gove decide next week that 200 schools in London is not enough and decide to make all failing primary schools change? Who is going to take over the administration of ...
I went last night to an LSE event on Turkey in the World, following the weekend's re-election for a third term of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A very interesting discussion that can now be viewed online. The sort of reasoned, academic discussion on foreign policy that really should be an example to us all. Nobody shouted, nobody booed, nobody denounced anybody...And it was about all events in the region, without overly focusing on Israel/Palestine, which, when it was discussed, was at least discussed (mostly) reasonably. At the end, Professor Michael Cox expressed surprise that nobody had asked a question ...
Things are starting to slowly settle down in the Assembly and about time too. Yesterday's Plenary meeting was almost back to business as usual with three opposition debates. And it was not short on the odd confrontational moment, not least when we got down to discussing the economy. Here is an exchange between Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader, Kirsty Williams and Tory leadership hopeful, Andrew R.T. Davies: Kirsty Williams: My colleagues Peter Black and Bill Powell will speak at great length on the details around enterprise zones and tax increment financing— Andrew R.T. Davies: Anyone else? Kirsty Williams: Andrew, I would ...
Wow. (Even allowing for some uncle-inspired bias.)
Many thanks to Mark Pack fot sending out this press release on the Liberal Democrats for Lords Reform. Please sign up at the Facebook group below. The number of Liberal Democrat peers opposing the government's plans for elections to the House of Lords has triggered the creation of a new campaign group by grassroots activists who back the introduction of elections. "Liberal Democrats for Lords Reform" is campaigning for Liberal Democrat peers to stick to the party's long-standing policy of an elected Upper House. "We've already been waiting over 100 years for Lords reform to be completed. It's absurd that ...
Given all the moaning I do here on this blog, I thought it was time to say something positive. And on this particular subject I can offer nothing but praise; the lowering of income tax. Since the change came about in April my pay packet is healthy enough for me to be able to buy an extra 5 days off of work a year, and still have a few extra pounds left over each month on top of what I was earning in the last tax year! The extra time off allows me to enjoy life a little more, and ...
Regular readers will know all about the problems with the new unit at St Luke's Hospital, Market Harborough. Yesterday there was a meeting between local councillors and senior officers from Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust to discuss what has gone wrong. According to the Leicester Mercury report: Trust chief executive Catherine Griffiths admitted the contract had been signed without a bank guarantee in place and without financial diligence checks being carried out. Finance director Sue Bishop admitted the bank bond put in place after the mistake had been noticed ran out on March 31 and that the trust ...
Thanks to Matthew Lambert at iradar (@_iradar_ on twiiter) for adding me to his blog roll. As ever, greatly appreciated.
Ed Balls has called for a temporary reduction in the rate of VAT to boost the economy. What is it with Labour and the VAT rate ? Is there sound evidence that the last temporary drop had a great effect ? I remain convinced that the best way to boost the economy is to build more houses, particularly low cost ones. This would create work for people who spend most of their incomes and therefore
Brian Paddick, who is now reported to be running for Mayor of London, has the experience and the high profile to take on Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone. Like it or not, the race next year is going to be personality politics at its most intense. With polls showing a lead for the Labour party in London, but Johnson and Livingstone running neck and neck, it's in the big parties interests to make this "Ken vs Boris". I like and respect the other names who have put themselves forward for the Liberal Democrat nomination. Mike Tuffrey has quietly and determinedly ...
Today Ed Balls followed the footsteps of Ronald Reagan in demanding a tax cut to stimulate the economy. Yes, you read that correctly. Part of "Reaganomics" was the contention that cutting tax rates would stimulate the economy so that tax ... Continue reading →
Thu 16th
17:11
Laurie Penny tells someone they are an 'hopeless inadequate' as well some from worse things. Harsh.
Sometimes life is hard. We all know that. Sometimes we say things we didn't mean but if we say them on a social networking site the odds are that someone will notice. When you just being you draws the ire of many fellows you have to be very safe with your social networking words. This is something Laurie Penny may have forgotten earlier today when she tweeted the following: (Screenshot courtesy of twitter user @Parlez_Me_nTory) [IMG: Laurie Penny not amused] Laurie Penny has a potty mouth Is this the voice of someone who is a columnist over at The New ...
I am reliably informed that man doth not live by bread alone and I'm all for some public subsidy of the arts, but...if Transport for London is cash-strapped, does it really now have several thousand pounds to spend on art on the Central Line? I'm sure it's all marvellous, but what budget is this coming from? At a time when London Underground can't say where it will find the money to fund the Piccadilly Line upgrade, how come they can say where they will find the money for this new art project? We do have to make hard choices when ...
The latest unemployment figures show different trends across Essex. Uttlesford enjoys the lowest unemployment in Essex, both in terms of percentage of joblessness in the labour force and in numbers out of work. Unemployment in the district has fallen by 0.2 percentage points since May 2010. Unsurprisingly, Uttlesford represents just 3% of the unemployment in Essex. However, the county is very diverse and there are varying levels of success in the battle against unemployment. At the other end of the spectrum from Uttlesford is neighbouring Harlow, where unemployment has reached 4.5% – among men, it is 5.8%. This compares with ...
Today's (London) Times had a slightly mystifying story about the deportation from Kenya of a British human rights lawyer called Clara Gutteridge. I can't share the Times' story (which raises as many questions as it answers) as it's hidden behind a pay wall, but what is going on? What is going on, both when it comes to Ms Gutteridge's work in Kenya, and the fate of Al Amin Kimathi? I for one would be pleased to know a lot more about all of this.
As an education campaigner and someone who believes in the principles behind the NHS, I have been following the news about the changes we have managed to make to the health bill with interest, and, obviously, pleasure that we have made a difference. But when are we going to get our collective heads out of the sand when it comes to the privatisation of state education, where "any willing provider" that we were all so horrified about when proposed in the health bill is already rampaging through the education sector? It will not be long, believe me, where we are ...
Lib Dem councillor Joyce Underhill and her husband Cllr Tony Underhill have both left the Liberal Democrats because of something the Conservative Prime Minister said during Prime Ministers Questions yesterday. Joyce Underhill is mayor of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and her husband is a standing councillor. David Cameron was constantly asked over a change to the welfare bill that according to Ed Miliband and Macmillan cancer care that will lead to a situation where up to 7,000 cancer sufferers will be £94 a week worse off each week. The PM said that it wasn't the case but the Labour leader ...
This afternoon Nick Clegg delivered a speech at the Press Gallery lunch – a who's who of political journalists.Of course he covered serious topics such as tuition fees, the economy, and the future of coalition politics. However, as is apt on such occasions, he managed to slip in a couple of jokes too. On Ryan Giggs and Ed ...
Just a couple of quick notes concerning this website, firstly the search box above the header and to the left, appears frankly useless, sometimes out of idle curiosity, I like to check whether my mood swings, actually result in changes to what I say, other than the attitude with which I deliver each post, so for this reason I have placed a new search gizmo titled FLAIGY DIDN'T YOU MENTION? which seems a bit better. (Flaigy is one of the names I'm referred to at work, the others being unsuitable). I like to encourage open exchanges and honesty, if I ...
Over the past five financial years, Uttlesford Tories continued to raise taxes, cut services and cut staff Just under £1 in every £5 Uttlesford took taxes over the past five financial years was in the bank The Conservatives pride themselves on their supposed financial prowess. But a policy of raising taxes just to massively boost savings is the economics of the mad house. Tory Tax And Don't Spend Over the past five years, the Conservative-controlled Uttlesford District Council has saved 18% of the tax it has from local households, cash that has just sat in the banks doing nothing. This ...
Thu 16th
14:44The biggest issue on the doorstep in Southend is Southend Airport and we have big news on that...
If you are a resident in Southend (certainly in Southend West) then you probably have a very strong opinion one way or the other on the proposed expansion of Southend Airport. The once major airport has fallen rapidly in recent decades and now can only to said to be a small regional airport. However for years it has been mooted that the airport was going to expand and news today that it will be the new home of EasyJet shows that it will indeed happen and they are serious about this expansion. Now personally speaking the airport's expansion will have ...
An interesting piece from our local Safer Neighbourhood Team who are concentrating their efforts in a campaign to tackle burglary on and around Fordwych Road... Operation Poppins takes a three-strand approach to reducing the long-term burglary problems in the Fordwych Road area, by aiming to arrest offenders, reduce potential victims, and secure vulnerable locations. Read the full piece on their blog.
London could be in for a re-run of the 2008 Mayoral election, as Brian Paddick has thrown his hat into the ring to be the Liberal Democrat candidate. He does though reserve the right to withdraw his name by 12th July. Paddick ran against current Mayor Boris Johnson, and defeated Labour candidate Ken Livingstone in ...
Recommended reading for Lib Dem councillors and local campaigners from the last seven days: The big political news this week has been the changes to the NHS reforms. A full briefing and campaign artwork is available on the ALDC website and Huddle, but for two different sides of the story there's the praise for Nick Clegg's role in amending the reforms and Alan Milburn's attack on the lack of reforms. For further political balance, it's worth reading a report done by the London School of Economics on the impact of Labour's policies on the NHS. This week's changes to the ...
Liberal democrats have always called for parliamentary reform. Now we're in government, what's the score ?1. Electoral reform: AV lost, PR forgotten2. House of Lords reform: unlikely to overcome opposition of Tory, Labour and half of LD peers.3. Err, that's it.The price for this immense cock-up is a reduction in parliamentary constituencies accompanied by a massive redrawing of boundaries which
In recent months, LDV has been bringing its readers copies of our new MPs' and Peers' first words in Parliament, so that we can read what is being said and respond. You can find all of the speeches in this category with this link. Last night, Baron Stephen, of Lower Deeside in the City of Aberdeen, made his maiden speech in the House of Lords during a debate on the Barnett Formula (the formula that determines the distribution of public funds in the different parts of the UK). His words are reproduced below. My Lords, it is a great privilege ...
Following interest in last night's story, here is the roll call of Hots Spots and Have Nots – the telephone exchanges that have, or are currently planned by BT to have, super-fast Fibre Access broadband through themselves: Chester le Street Area NOW – Chester le Street In Progress – None Future intention – Fence Houses Derwentside Area NOW – None In Progress – None Future intention – None Durham City Area NOW – Durham City In Progress – Meadowfield, Coxhoe, New Brancepeth Future intention – None Easington Area NOW – None In Progress – Seaham Future intention – None Sedgefield ...
Having been critical of Liberal Vision's approach towards the Party it claims to support yesterday, I have been challenged to debate with them, rather than 'griping' as one of their Deputy Director puts it. So, I had a look at their latest posting, and was interested to see that it addressed industrial relations. Given that I'm a fairly cynical member of a public sector union, PCS, what did Liberal Vision's contributor, Leslie Clark, have to say? "Despite the recent results of Mugabesque proportions that were widely interpreted as an endorsement of anger against the Coalition..." The use of 'Mugabesque', redolent ...
Business Secretary, Vince Cable writes in the Financial Times on the Coalition Government's deficit reduction plan, following the International Monetary Fund's endorsement of the Government's Plan A. Cable, as do the majority of the Liberal Democrats, still believe that the only sensible – as Cable called it – policy is the one that the government
The campaign by Sasha Gillard-Loft and myself to highlight the fact that Cornwall Council car parks in Launceston are now free after 4pm is taking off. For all the bad news of the parking changes that came into force on May 9th, the one bit of good news is that you no longer have to pay after 4pm (previously charging hours ended at 5). But the Council has not been promoting this change leading to many people still paying when they don't need to. The response from the Council was a small and unclear message on the car park noticeboards ...
Cornwall Council has decided that it will talk to local members and town and parish councils about car parking charges for next year. It's a year too late, but it's a welcome change nonetheless. This year's charges have caused widespread resentment across Cornwall. I've blogged ad nauseam about how the changes are affecting Launceston, but the story is the same in places like Camborne, Newquay, Helston, Bude and Liskeard. In deciding how to change prices for the year starting in April 2012, parking panel members will tour Cornwall talking to local councillors and town and parish councils about the car ...
Politicians are not celebrities and should never, ever engage in a Q&A session-unmoderated-on a social networking site. You will not get serious questions, if you publicly advertise a PR event on Twitter. In total, Ed Miliband only responded to 18 ... Continue reading →
It seems that Manchester's Labour administration have decided to bin plans to consult with residents over changes to the bin collections and just impose the changes anyway. It does make sense that in areas where the multiple recycling bins are clearly causing issues in terraced streets to consider switching to communal bins, however residents have arrived home this week to find a letter on their doormats telling them that they will have communal bins starting next week and some unlucky residents have found paint outside their homes outlining where those bins will be. Whilst in some cases the proposed sites ...
Michael expresses his disgust at seeing AIDS grouped with Death, Suicide, and Homosexuality in a Christian bookshop in Belfast, and suggests that churches need to be more aware of the world.
Fourteen blogs have recently joined my Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: Alun Eurig Williams – http://degwm.wordpress.com/ Andrew Tennant – http://10anta.wordpress.com/ Rhys Taylor – http://rhystaylor.wordpress.com/ Paul Hurst – http://notadirtyword.wordpress.com/ Lee Dargue – http://www.dargue.co.uk/ Keith Legg – http://climbingrussellsmountain.blogspot.com/ Chris Sams – http://gingerliberal.blogspot.com/ Paul Hindley – http://radicalpaul.blogspot.com/ Andy Thompson – http://themorethingzchange.wordpress.com/ Andrew Burgess – http://andrewjburgess-eu.blogspot.com/ Mike Dean – http://pacman-minoritypolitics.blogspot.com/ Jason Lower – http://www.jasonlower.com/ Simon McGrath – http://whywelostav.wordpress.com/ Daniel Brett – http://councillor.danielbrett.com/ Good luck to all the new bloggers, and why not take a moment to pop over to their blogs, take a read and post a comment? Do you know of a blog by ...
Thu 16th
11:47Dyfed Powys Police react to media enquiries on #daftarrest and proceed to shoot themselves in the fo...
So the Dyfed Powys Police have finally got back to David Allen Green over their reasons for detaining and arrested blogger Jacqui Thompson for videoing a council meeting, which is neither against the law nor against the published rules for council meetings in Carmarthenshire. They were first asked on Friday of last week but on Wednesday they finally replied in the form of a statement on their website which was simultaneously CC'ed to the New Statesman's columnist who originally asked the questions. However over in his column in the New Statesman, David Allen Green shall we say rips the statement ...
i) births and deaths 16 June 1937: birth of Michael Kilgarriff, who played the Cyber-Controller in The Tomb of the Cybermen (1967) and Attack of the Cybermen (1985), an Ogron in Frontier in Space (1973), and the Robot in Robot (1974-75). 16 June 1994: death of Eileen Way, who played Old Mother in An Unearthly Child (1963), Karela in The Creature from the Pit (1979) and the older of the two women in the woods in Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D (1966). ii) broadcast anniversaries 16 June 1973: broadcast of fifth episode of The Green Death. The Doctor confronts BOSS, ...
Shirley Williams writes in the Times [£] today of her strong support for Future Forum's recommendations for NHS reform, and suggests that listening exercises may be the way forward for future policy-setting: Like many others, I was sceptical about the listening exercise. It seemed to me a way for the Government to win time so that it could rethink its proposals for NHS reform in the light of great scepticism from medical organisations, distinguished think-tanks, health service managers and staff, and, not least, doctors. My concerns were not justified. The Future Forum, chaired by Professor Steve Field, himself for many ...
Normally drugs and horse racing only exist in crime thrillers, where a less-favoured animal is given some substance to make it perform better. However, according to today's Telegraph the real world has intruded onto the sport of Kings in a very different way. The paper says that organisers of Royal Ascot have installed drugs amnesty boxes to encourage racegoers to dispose of illegal substances before entering the course. They have positioned white boxes at the turnstiles, into which punters can place drugs with no questions asked: The move comes amid a police crackdown on drug-taking at the five-day event. Officers ...
Ed Balls has arrived at a policy; no, not the deficit reduction plan. But an 'emergency tax cut,' without naming the tax he aspires to reduce*. In contrast, the Labour party still opposes reducing corporation tax – which aims to ... Continue reading →
I don't personally have particularly strong views regarding the Monarchy. I'm of the opinion that the Royal family is nice harmless tradition, that brings in far more money in tourism then it costs to maintain. So long as it's not involved in any political decision making I'm happy for it to continue, and for people to derive enjoyment from the traditions and pageantry it provides. The recent Royal Wedding has shown that there is a tremendous amount of good will towards the monarchy amongst the general population. Whilst many enjoyed the event, there was chunk of the population who poured ...
It must be the mathematician in me (and that is over 50% of my DNA) that draws me to the drawings of the Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher who was actually born 113 years ago tomorrow. Here are some of my favourites. First up is Relativity which was first produced in 1953 in which the normal rules of gravity are not suspended but operating in triplicate. There are three distinct centres of gravity operation along each of the three dimensional axis. It is why on each of the staircases two people are able to use them in their own gravitational ...
Further to my recent post on the subject, another piece of entertaining comment spam has just landed in my blog's filter: Mythical! This blog looks just like my prehistoric identical! It's on a completely different subject-matter but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Sterling selection of colors! You've got to award this one 9/10 for effort ...
If the rumours are true – that Tory patience has finally snapped after yesterday's bizarre, yet depressing Cornwall Council Cabinet meeting – then yet another leadership saga is about to unfold at County Hall. This time Armand Toms is the man touted as the replacement for Alec Robertson as the Tories desperately try to shore ...
I always think the sign of a brilliant blog post is one that tells me something I didn't know, something that really makes me think (or indeed, blink), and something that's terribly well researched. This great article from Tim Leunig, over at Lib Dem Voice does all three. Tim is Reader in Economic History at the London School of Economics and Chief Economist at Centreforum. It exposes the untruth that people on benefits earn more than the average family. And demonstrates why capping benefits at £26000 will hammer the poorest in society. It's really got me thinking. Do go and ...
With one eye on equality, I couldn't fathom the article in today's Guardian on the International Labour Organisation's proposal for better laws on domestic workers. As the article rightly observes, this 'modern slavery' is a minefield of trafficking, abuse and exploitation for people who work as cleaners, nannies and other domestic service roles. For some unknown reason, these job roles are excluded from employment regulations, including working time directive, minimum wage and health and safety. I appreciate not everyone agrees with these on principle, but ultimately, no group should be excluded from a universally applicable law. The proposal by the ...
andrewducker | What would we do without Samuel L Jackson? Hilarious "children's" bedtime story. I suspect all parents know this feeling. (tags: funny) Doctor Who: no full series in 2012 - Den of Geek :( (tags: doctorwho)
In writing about climate change I am aware that I am opening myself up to those who want to debate the science of it all and deny that it is happening. I will be honest in saying that I desperately want to avoid getting into that kind of conversation. There is a global scientific consensus that says that climate change is real. As a liberal I am bound to say that people are free to challenge that consensus. Scepticism, debate and challenge, when done properly, are healthy and often extremely necessary things. However, I am not a climate scientist. I ...
Yesterday I launched my bid to be our party's candidate for Mayor of London and I started as I mean to go on: working with a large team of experienced colleagues from across London (see photographs here) and talking about the urgent change our city needs. As a campaigning party, we must focus – pun intended – on the really big concerns Londoners have about living in this city. And as our candidate, I want to work with our campaigners to get out and listen to those concerns and what must be done. I believe that it is time for ...
From a Liberal perspective it is hard to be anything other than enthusiastic about Estonia. The laws of the country are generally fair, and the process of government is generally open. The adoption of generally liberal economics has helped propel the country towards becoming one of the richest countries in the world. In many aspects, from health care to the adoption of new technology, the country is dramatically ahead of the the UK. Estonians are often genuinely self critical and therefore look to find ways of improving the way the country and society works. Quite often I have been genuinely ...
I love the Labour party. Yesterday they made me laugh so much I almost did a tiny wee. This isn't a defection post, it's a long overdue homage to the ability of the Labour party to knock its own PR stunts into a cocked hat and bring some much needed joy and schadenfreude to everyone else in the political village. Yesterday, the much heralded hashtag #AskEdM appeared on Twitter. Billed as an intimate chat with the leader of the opposition, it was designed to offer the twitterati an opportunity to engage with the super-hip IT conscious Ed about his vision ...
In Ulysses (set on 16 June) by James Joyce the character Leopold Bloom said: "A good puzzle would be to cross Dublin without passing a pub." Well a computer engineer, with way too much time on his hands, and way too much sobriety, thinks that he has come up with the solution. Read his explanation for more of how he used modern technology to chart his route. However, there is a caveat. When Joyce wrote Ulysses serialised from 1918-1920 and printed in full in 1922, there were probably more pubs in Dublin. So does anyone else want to map the ...
The parish council discussed the issue of Linden House's licence application last night. The new owners want to extend licensing hours to 9am-midnight Sunday to Thursday and 9am to 1am on Friday and Saturday, including live music, recorded music and dance. The licence application goes well beyond the opening hours approved in the planning application, but the licence would take precedence. Although the owners of Linden House have done a very good job in gathering signatures in support of their application, some residents living near the venue in Silver Street are concerned about the potential for public nuisance caused by ...
The Armadillo (Yate Youth Cafe and Venue, next to the Sports Centre) hosts its first live gig this Friday (17 June) 7 to 11pm, featuring CONTRABAND SESSIONSFull live band - Hip Hop / Electro / Reggae / Breaks MC FrillaTroy da hybrid Brown DJ Skint plusB-Boys £2 entry, tickets available from the Armadillo Youth Cafe. R.O.A.R., alcohol and drugs strictly prohibited ID and/or search on entry may be required
My Mum, Laura Kemp, died yesterday. She was 90 and had been in reasonable health for 89.5 of those years but went downhill fairly rapidly after breaking a wrist last November. Before my sister, Ann, left the hospital the staff ... Continue reading →
Thu 16th
08:51
Great Ormond Street Hospital finally apologies to whistleblower who was suspended rather than listen...
Belatedly, and after initially refusing to follow the recommendations of an investigation, Great Ormond Street Hospital has apologised to whistleblower Kim Holt who raised concerns about the unit that subsequently failed to properly protect Baby Peter. Kim Holt (along with three other senior consultant paediatricians) tried to warn about serious failings in the unit which were, in their view, putting vulnerable children at risk. However, the hospital's reactions ranged from suspending her through to blocking her return to work and failing to follow up on the recommendations of an investigation into her case. The belated apology has taken Kim Holt ...
Thu 16th
08:50
Here are some pictures of people running the world. I know I didn't vote for any of them.
One of the favourite arguments for defending an unelected House of Lords is that the current system allows you to gather experts in every field in one place, allowing for an altogether better debate of the issues. Mark Pack has written an excellent piece pointing out the flaw in that argument - but I'd like take things a stage further and point out the terrible place that thinking takes you to. For if certain people in the Lords think that it's such a good idea for our nationally elected politicians to have the rule run over their work by an ...
Praise indeed in today's Guardian for the Social Liberal Forum, which 'meets in triumph' at Saturday's inaugural conference, according to the paper. (A very small number of tickets still available, if you go find them via http://socialliberal.net) Restrained triumph that is. There is an awful lot of work to be done. Much of it centres around the continuing need for Liberal Democrats to prioritise tackling inequality. Those who just see this through the prism of the rather nebulous concept of social mobility – which if it benefits anyone, will only offer passing support to a small minority of future generations ...
So what happened to the Spencer Davis Group after Steve Winwood left to get it together in the country with his new band Traffic and his brother Muff left to become a record industry executive? They did not have much success, but some of their later singles - Time Seller for instance - sound pretty good today. And they got involved in some more commercial ventures. They recorded the theme song for Magpie and here they are advertising Great Shakes, which seems to have been a funky version of Nesquik.
The road safety charity Brake has again highlighted the need for slower traffic speeds in residential areas. This is an issue I have recently raised with the City Council again, following discussions with residents. Although the city has 20 mph speed limits outside schools when school children are coming to/going from school, there is a paucity of "Twenty's Plenty" zones in residential areas in Dundee and I feel this should be addressed where there is resident demand for safer speed limits in areas of residential housing, children out playing and elderly residents. I have received the response below from the ...
Last month, I mentioned the launch of Barney's Fund from Barnetts Motor Group. Here's the latest press release about the fund that gives details of how to apply for funding : Local charities, community groups and worthwhile local projects are set to receive a boost to their fundraising efforts this year with the help of Barnetts Motor Group's new Barney's Charity Fund. The Barney's Fund Committee are now accepting applications and would like to invite local charities, community groups or projects to apply for a small donation or grant to help support their existing fundraising efforts in 2011. Barney's Fund ...
Media That Matters Film Festival: A Girl Like Me This was made by a teenager, exploring the implications of being a young African American in the modern world. She even recreates the doll test with modern kids. Want to guess how much has changed? (tags: race video women)
This is a collection of written dialogues between two well-established sf writers, originally published over the last ten years in the SFWA Bulletin. I was surprised by just how interesting I found it to be. I have an inkling of the problems facing the professional sf writer from reading their blogs and talking to them, but Resnick and Malzberg take their readers through the detail of foreign rights, agents, collaboration, publishers, the impending collapse of the print market, how to encourage the next generation of writers, and much more. I'm not a huge fan of the Resnick stories I have ...
-A remarkable evening at Hampton Court Palace. Don McLean and his band were truly magnificent. I think McLean is at his best with soft, gentle songs with little accompaniment. "Homeless Brother" and "Mountains of Morne" are the types of song which really suit him. The rendition of "Crying" tonight was absolutely exquisite - quite superb, and probably, for me, the highlight of the evening. It was greatly enhanced by some brilliant swelling keyboard work by Tony Migliore. It was also great to hear "Vincent" against a night sky (which was unfortunately not starry, starry). What a chillingly beautiful song that ...
Article in the Guardian Social Liberal Forum to hold first conference following its influence on party's stance towards health service reforms. Patrick Wintour, political editor The Liberal Democrat political grouping that can justifiably claim most responsibility for forcing this week's ... Continue reading →
TweetIn 2008, the world cheered "Yes we can" when Barack Obama was elected to the presidency of the United States of America. He took the world by surprise, with his emergence on the world stage, and carried almost all of the world with him, as the Anti-Bush candidate. He was broadly inspirational, and had promise beyond his years. But it I feel sad to say I will not and can not support Obama in 2012. When Obama was elected, I supported him. I thought it represented a fantastic chance to reinvigorate a crushed and soulless nation ruined by the rampant ...
