I've been following with some incredulity this evening an astonishing exchange of messages on Facebook between Gareth Epps and the Chair of the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference Committee (FCC), Andrew Wiseman. A few days ago, I received an e-mail that said: "Dear Mark, just to confirm, we have received information from Greater Manchester Police that you have been successfully accredited for the upcoming Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 2011. Your conference pass will be posted to you in September". My e-mail response to the Lib Dem conference office was this: "It's good to know. I was worried my past in the ...
I absolutely love Yes Minister and I adore Yes Prime Minister. Like many people before me from Mrs T on, I chuckle at how the cynical officers manipulate the clueless politicians, no doubt before going to County Hall to be told how my ideas aren't practical by the officers! But the character who always impresses is the person who the Chief Civil Servant in the series (Sir Humphrey Appleby) refers to as "the enemy" or "that Wainwright woman" (not to forget "dear lady" when they are in the same room!). Dorothy Wainwright, the prime ministers political advisor. Dorothy is always ...
It should be made clear that the quotes in my last blog about the Liberal Democrat Conference insecurity regime were actually not mine, but taken from a quote by a respected Manchester Lib Dem colleague. (the quotes about the Newbury event with Nick Clegg, however, were). Unfortunately it does seem likely that there will be further developments in this story later in the week. socialise this: [IMG: add 'Postscript to last blog re: Conference insecurity' a Del.icio.us] [IMG: add 'Postscript to last blog re: Conference insecurity' a digg] [IMG: add 'Postscript to last blog re: Conference insecurity' a Stumble Upon] ...
It looks like the SNP govenment has put Labour, Conservative and SNP councillors in Scotland's capital on the political naughty step for playing silly buggers with the tram project. As I wrote last week, all three groups had ganged up on the Lib Dems (who are the senior adminstration partner) and voted to turn the tram project into a farce that would cost the city's taxpayers millions. Now the beeb reports the government has said it will provide no more cash until councillors can agree a sensible route for the tram. A special council meeting has been called for Friday. ...
Today we visited the end of Britain. The South-western end, that is. We went to St Agnes, Scilly. Technically that isn't the last bit of dry land before America. That's Bishop's Rock with its famous lighthouse, which I circumnavigated by boat some twenty years ago. There's also Western rocks. And, arguably Annet. [Oh dear, this has become more tenuous than I originally anticipated!) I took a lovely photo of the huge boulders at the tip of St Agnes, with the Western Rocks and Bishop's Rock in the background. It was quite thought-provoking to stand there and think "This is it". ...
...but not in the way you might think. I am too tight, too sensible, too rational. Call it what you like but they are all the same. I am too cautious and I always worry about the supposed rainy day. I am not a risk taker in any form. I think about things to their nth degree and often by the time I have formulated a plan of action the time has passed and I don't have a choice in how to proceed – it has been made for me. In the autumn of 2008 I was offered a job ...
Apparently, bank shares have risen following criticism from bankers that they might have to face some more regulation. The BBC reports, the chief Executive of the British Bankers' Association, Angela Knight, saying, "This means allowing the banks to finance the recovery first, pay back the taxpayer next, and only then turn to further regulatory change." Well they would say that. In other news apparently the Britsh Bears' Association has called on the government not to prevent them defecating in woodland areas and the Bishop of Rome has asked to be allowed to carry on attending mass. My problem with the ...
Proving that a decade can flash past in what seems like a moment, today marks the 10th Anniversary of my election to Dundee City Council at the then Tay Bridges Ward by-election on 30th August 2001. Can I thank all residents for their support, feedback and involvement over the past decade. I hope to continue to represent the West End for some time to come and always pleased to help residents on any local issue or concern.
Vimeo has a fascinating film of Swindon, made in the year this blogger was born. I can't embed it, so you will have to watch Home Town 1960 on that site. There is plenty about Richard Jefferies, starting at 10:15 or so.
Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Broxtowe Borough Council. 1. Stapleford Walk In Centre I'm afraid that the NHS has confirmed that Stapleford Walk In Centre will close at the end of September. This is a dreadful decision and totally ignores the very strong views expressed by people locally. The argument that Stapleford shouldn't have a facility like this as other places didn't have anything as good is one of the most ridiculous I've ever heard, Rather than get rid of such a ...
Writer: Jen Van Meter Artist: Cully Hamner Colourist: Laura Martin Letterer: Travis Lanham Publisher: DC What's it about? Metropolis' Southside is a slum. Ignored by police, run by gangs (well, one gang), even Superman doesn't touch the area – he says his powers don't work there, but that's no comfort to the residents. From a once promising upcoming middle class neighbourhood, the place has sunk to the point that the locals and the rest of Metropolis call it Suicide Slum. Back to this troubled neighbourhood comes Jefferson Pierce, superstar high school principal with a track record of turning around five ...
These comparisons are from the WHO World Health Statistics 2009, except the under 5 child mortality figures which are from a Commonwealth Fund report. Total %age of GDP spent on health: UK 8.2% USA 15.3% %age of health spending by government: UK 87.3% USA 45.8% %age of health spending that is private: UK 12.7% USA 54.2% Doctors per 10,000 population: UK 23 USA 26 Nurses and midwives per 10,000 population: UK 128 USA 94 Hospital beds per 10,000 population: UK 39 USA 31 Under 5 child mortality rate per 1,000 births: UK 6 USA 9 Cancer mortality rate per 100,000 ...
Battersea Park Charges Temporarily Scrapped, Remember to Have Your Say While You Can On Wednesday 29th June Wandsworth Council announced it would be looking into its proposed plans to charge children £2.50 for playing in the Adventure Playground in Battersea Park. Just three days before they were due to be introduced on the 4th July. The Lib Dems ran a campaign against the charges and have collected numerous signatures on their petiton against the park charges which the Battersea Lib Dems felt would unfairly disadvantage children from poorer children. However, while it appears that the charges have been scrapped for ...
Oh dear, just when you thought the rank and file of the Tories had caught up with Camerons "liberal" conservatism. You see a tweet like this. Who said something about Modern Tories? When I asked him about why he posted such a vile tweet his response was this: "@AAEmmerson I've stated my case, and before you ask, yes there are more personal reasons, like when gypsies visited my home-town."
Tue 30th
20:41
Scottish Labour have a chance to show the party has changed. Electing Tom Harris will show they have...
Now I can't say I know a lot about the Scottish Labour scene, or the ins and outs of Scottish politics, but I do know Scottish Labour is in a pretty bad state. In May 2011, where Labour should have been winning plenty of seats from the Lib Dems they didn't. Lib Dem seats went to the SNP, and no one up in Scotland seems to have a good narrative to beat the SNP. Labour look like they are about to turn to Tom Harris, I hope they don't. Now I have no axe to grind with Tom Harris, he ...
Please support this amendment to F28: Stimulating Growth in the Digital Economy, which you will find on pages 33-35 of the Conference Agenda. If you are a conference representative, then please add your 'signature' by filling in the form below. ... Continue reading →
Liberal Democrats have come to know The Liberal as a magazine that appears at Autumn Conference each year with an issue that calls for the party's leader to be deposed. The only other place I have seen it on sale is at Borders in Leicester, and that shop closed some time ago. When I saw The Liberal there it often had some impressive names among the contributors, but it could he hard to see what was Liberal about their views. The magazine's antics at Conference are irritating, but the amount of publicity that what is essentially a trustafarian arts magazine ...
Tue 30th
20:25
August Books 31) Lichaamstaal Wordt Banaal /When Body Language Goes Bad, by Scott Adams
I found I had acquired this Dilbert collection translated into Dutch for some reason. As per usual, variations between the surreal, the banal and the bleakly plausible from the world of work. I particularly liked the one about two guys emailing each other, each demanding that the other call him back, when they are actually in adjacent cubicles.
It's a re-hash of Tony Blair's old mantra that is the focal point of this week's edition of our local paper here in Cardigan. The Tivy Side reports fairly in today's paper and on its website here, on a public meeting that I organised and chaired last Thursday between housing association Tai Ceredigion and local residents regarding a potential development of 6 single bedroom flats in the Maes-Yr-Haf area of town. As the article states, it was an angry meeting that faced senior officers of Tai Ceredigion last week in the Bethania Chapel vestry here in town. It dealt with ...
It has always stuck me that if the Government is: intent on academies being the norm and greater independence and freedoms for schools, yet wants schools to collaborate, so that higher performing schools buddy up with lower performing schools (though ... Continue reading →
It's the end. But the moment has been prepared for. Because I have a spreadsheet and a calendar. It was our final show and my last chance to catch other people's. I reluctantly wrote off the chance to see an assortment of stand-ups I'd meant to get to (sorry), managing to squeeze in three shows before The Last Night in Edinburgh. And that, as you can imagine, was going to be a Big One. I have had to buy in an extra consignment of Capital Letters. I made my first ever trip to The Counting House to see The Choob, ...
Apparently there's some sort of competition for Lib Dem blogs. Lib Dem Voice has the details.
The end of last week was rather busy so it's taken me until now to write about Thursday. Oops. After the horror of yesterday's croaky show, I determined to do everything I could to make my voice function. I spent much of the morning gargling salt water, which certainly helped, but the best solution, it turned out, was tea. I had soup for lunch and when I told the man in the sandwich shop that it was for my voice, he suggested lemon and ginger tea. I fell immediately for his cunning point of sale marketing and went away with ...
A war of words has erupted between two North West England Euro-MPs over claims by the UK Independence Party that EU regulations could force up rail fares by 50 per cent. UKIP's Paul Nuttall claimed last week that the European ... Continue reading →
If there's one thing I despise, it's religious morality. Not religion; I have no problem with people believing in whatever macro-scale pixy they wish. However, any conception of morality that provides a ready-made package of quick answers to complex issues is not simply incorrect, it's positively dehumanising. The most fundamental freedom imaginable is the freedom ...
TweetSometimes I wonder why I read the Standard. Today they are wilfully misleading people on Squatters again with a gaggle of people being supported in vigilantee-ism. The Standard refers to their uncovering of a 'string' of homes being squatted by Romanians. Notwithstanding the grammar issues with the verb, it should be noted only one property has been resided in illegally. For all the Standard knows, the others could be rented completely legally, as the current residents insist. No home owners have come to dispute this. Therefore, while the Standard persecutes the innocent-until-proven-guilty residents, they appear to have also triggered a ...
Last week I reported that Peter Phillips, the long-serving Lib Dem councillor for the Bishop's Castle ward in Shropshire, has resigned his seat. The by-election has now been called and will take place on 29 September. And the Liberal Democrat candidate will be Charlotte Barnes: Charlotte lives in Norbury where she runs an electrical business with her husband, Paul. They have two children, Edward (8) who attends Bishop's Castle Primary School, and Dominic (2) who is due to start at Crowgate Child Centre. Charlotte is parent governer at Bishop's Castle Primary School. She is also a Parish Councillor for Myndtown ...
Saturday: Okay, it's Doctor Woo not Torchhoot so we're going to try to keep UP TO DATE. But... we've been a BIT busy... writing the 50th Anniversary Special: "The All The Doctors". Last weekend, Daddy Alex recruited the Villainous Valeyard and here's me auditioning a cast of itty-bitty heroes. Now, all I need is for someone to buy me a Lego SUPER STAR DESTROYER for that big scene at the end... Meanwhile, Daddy Richard can get on with doing reviews... If I can put it like this - and without pejorative - Russell writes soap opera while Moffat writes opera. ...
News from Lib Dem HQ of the Liberal Democrats' new campaign software: Campaigning across the party is set to get a major boost when Connect comes online later this year. Connect is the UK version of the world's leading campaign software that's being built for the party by Voter Activation Network (VAN). It is based on the tried and tested technology successfully used by Barack Obama and the Democrats in the US and in several other countries around the world. Connect combines high level security and stability, powerful campaigning tools and a user friendly experience. Kingston & Surbiton Lib Dem ...
I couldn't believe it myself. But Brian 'Gordon's Alive!' Blessed is standing to be the next Chancellor of Cambridge University! This has passed me by but apparently, Cambridge University is preparing itself for its first election to the Chancellorship since 1847! Will this man be the next Chancellor of Cambridge University?! The University's choice to succeed the retiring Prince Phlilip (who has served as Chancellor for 35 years since December 1976) is Lord Davd Sainsbury, the former Labour Party Minister for Science and Innovation between 1998-2006. However, his expected unopposed elevation hit the ropes when a local shopkeeper Abdul Arain ...
It's not very often I find myself agreeing with the English Defence League - in fact, I pride myself on not agreeing with their crude, petty nationalism and their sensationalist misrepresentation of Islamic theology. Last Friday, however, a number of councillors and MPs from all three main parties, alongside the Metropolitan Police, have successfully persuaded the Home Secretary to ban all protest marches in five London boroughs for a month, in response to the EDL's proposed September demo. There are two main excuses being given by supporters of the ban that this is not just the tyranny of the majority ...
Those lovely people at Liberal Democrat Voice are having their annual every-expense-spared but entertainment rich blog awards ceremony at Federal Conference in Birmingham. As I write this, the Divine Ms Duffett is running around like a mad thing constructing the Blog of the Year (BOTY for short) awards themselves out of sticky back plastic, toilet roll holders, metallic spray paint and diamante crystals. They are asking you to nominate up to 3 blogs in each category by e-mailing the Divine Ms Duffett herself, on helen@libdemvoice.org by this Friday. The categories are as follows: Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since ...
I've recently come across the story of Lt Newgass, someone who saved a lot of lives by defusing a mine in Garston during the war. A local man is keen to see Lt Newgass' bravery commemorated someone - perhaps with a plaque at the library or on another local landmark. I've put my name to a motion about this for the next Liverpool City Council meeting (along with colleagues Tina Gould, Lynnie Williams and Richard Oglethorpe). The local man , Stuart Daniels, who told us about this is hopefully going to take part in an interview on Radio Merseyside to ...
There is a great silence in Westminster. A lack of ambition, a sense of reality and, dare I say, cowardice. After strong support of Libyan intervention the party, apart from Sir Ming Campbell, fell desperately silent on Libya and the Arab Spring in general. Vietnam Syndrome has left a vacuum within the party; an unwillingness ...
I wanted something fairly unemotional to rate the players coming and going from highbury so I've come up with a star system. The idea is it should be based on what level they played in last season. So... squad player ... Continue reading →
The Daily Telegraph write Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg focuses on wealth as he eases out of bed with the Tories in which they highlight some strengths Clegg has shown in recent days: Hence the timing of the Deputy Prime Minister's impassioned (and impressive) defence of the Human Rights Act and the schisms appearing on immigration, abortion, ...
I heard on the radio today that people in Scotland are three times less likely to get access to a new cancer drug than neighbours in England. Apparently the gap between England and Wales is even greater. People in Scotland and Wales will be asking why their chances of accessing an important cancer drug are so much worse than in England? In recent times there has been controversy as Scotland has abolished prescription charges, seeming to be offering a better health deal than in England and Wales. However, there are some aspects of medical care where the offering outside of ...
I don't think so being as happy as I am in my little rented house on the hill with its roaring coal fire. However its indicative of the society that we live in that these days one can only consider ...
I don't normally use my blog to 'advertise' other company's products – for one, my blog is independent of commercial interest. If I did introduce advertising or worse blogged about products in a way destined to influence my readers (perhaps for some sort of commission), people would quite rightly stop reading it. I wouldn't blame them! However, I felt compelled to share the video below: following my purchase of new car insurance today. After picking myself up off the floor on receipt of my renewal from my current insurer (£700 or £800 if I pay monthly) I used all of ...
Laws are infringements of an individual's liberty. Where they exist, they must be justified (and plenty of laws are perfectly justifiable), but those that cannot be justified should be ditched. We have seen some of this work being done by the Coalition – through the Protection of Freedoms Bill and Vince Cable's Red Tape Challenge (which is set to repeal the wartime Trading with the Enemy Act) – but there is a hidden layer of rules and regulations, much of it petty, obsolete or needless: council bye-laws. Let me justify each of those criticisms with examples from the bye-laws currently ...
The reform slate in the ERS Council election have achieved an extraordainary success. Only 4 of the 9 council members who were restanding for election have been successful with the remaining 11 Council members all being new. The current Chair,Vice Chair and Treasurer were sucessfully re-elected along with Michael Meadowcroft but the other incumbents were ...
I rarely write on the issue of the Edinburgh Trams project but feel compelled to post on the topic now. Last week the Council voted to curtail the line to Haymarket, well short of the City Centre, blowing apart a carefully crafted deal between effectively the Council and the Consortium building the line. This was not a move I voted for and the public outcry has been extraordinary. This week the Contractor has come back to us and said that if we choose to go to Haymarket only then the price will rise by £30 million that hadn't been factored ...
[IMG: Newsletter screenshot] Issue number 11 of my regular email newsletter about the Liberal Democrats is a Birmingham conference preview and will be hitting people's inboxes shortly. So if you want to be sure to receive it, sign up here now or use the form below. You can unsubscribe whenever you want using the link on the bottom of all the emails, and I won't pass your email address on to anyone else (except if required by law). Sign up now: * indicates required Email Address * What would you like to receive? Mark's Monthly Mailing: Liberal Democrat news from ...
Years of work to curb pollution in the North West's streams and rivers has led to the Mersey basin gaining recognition as one of the most improved river systems in Britain. The River Dee also gained recognition in the Environment ... Continue reading →
Please support this amendment to F28: Stimulating Growth in the Digital Economy, which you will find on pages 33-35 of the Conference Agenda. If you are a conference representative, then please add your 'signature' by filling in the form below. ... Continue reading →
TweetIf the Lib Dems hadn't been in coalition with the Tories, we'd now have a government with the power to turn social media off at the drop of a hint of a riot. Thanks to Clegg, Cameron stepped down from his agressive, Twitter-limiting agenda. But that isn't stopping local governments using technology againt people. The Metro uses the story to focus on an insinuated waste of money by giving binmen ipads instead of paper. However, the information that is more nefarious is the fact the purpose of these pads is to "log details of houses that don't recycle or leave ...
Time's ticking till close of nominations for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011, so here's a reminder of the categories and an exhortation to vote! Nominate up to 3 favourites in any or all of these categories: Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st September 2010) Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public office (The Tim Garden Award) Best use of blogging / social networking / e-campaigning by a Liberal Democrat Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2010) Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year 2011 To ...
You Know You're From IT In 1990s If ... I have sadface. Only about 2/3 of these apply to me. Mind you, I was only ever an amateur. (tags: geekery) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Arthur Askey, a man who cheered up many an hour.
One topic I get my students at SOAS to discuss each year is the familiar proposition that Religion and Politics should never mix. Of course, historically in Britain they often did. Until the emergence of the SDP in the early 1980s, the Church of England was often referred to as the Conservative Party at prayer. And ...
Tue 30th
09:27
What if the Lib Dem Party was wrong and Clegg and the Tories were right? Academy schools could be a ...
The Academy schools programme has been a contentious issue for the Lib Dems. While the idea was introduced by an ex-Lib Dem turned Labour politician and now trumpeted by Tories, it has generally be opposed by most in the Lib Dems. Conference voted against the Academies policy, yet the Coalition Government went ahead with it ...
Bury Council will be launching six Township Forums in September. They are looking for representatives from the local community to be involved. This is your opportunity to make a real contribution and help influence decisions that affect your area. Each Township Forum will have its own Advisory Group, comprising of up to nine local representatives from voluntary organisations, community groups and the business community to provide expertise and local knowledge in order to help inform decision making. Nominations for these positions are now open. We have attached a leaflet to give you more information about Township Forums and what it ...
[IMG: Haverstock Hill Pizza Express] As with the Coptic Street Pizza Express, take a look at the lights if you visit the Haverstock Hill Pizza Express. Coptic Street's lights are made from milk bottle, fitting the venue's previous use as a milk dairy. Here they are made from upturned wine glasses, for a less obvious theme, though it is one that goes with the wall out front that has 180 bottles of wine displayed on it (why yes, service was a little slow). Also of note - it would be an understatement to say they are generous with the sauce ...
Further to my article yesterday in which I suggested that the only way to reduce the cost of housing was to build more, the National Housing Federation has joined in with a similar argument in this morning's Western Mail. Clearly, they have an interest in this argument but that does not undermine the validity of their case. As I suggested yesterday, this is not about unchecked development. There has to be a balance. But if we don't start building new homes for sale or rent then we will continue to price local communities out of the market, add to social ...
Further to my recent article following the site visit I participated in at the Roseangle playpark regarding repainting the swings to a more appropriate colour, in keeping with the rest of the playpark, the swings are now repainted and look really good - see below. Many thanks to the City Council's Environment Department for resolving this matter.
The BBC report on further revelations from behind the scenes on the decision to invade Iraq that add to the case against Tony Blair and his government. They report former MI5 boss Baroness Manningham-Buller as stating very clearly that Iraq posed no threat to the UK when Tony Blair took Britain to war in 2003. She added that the service advised war was likely to increase the domestic threat and was a "distraction" from the pursuit of al-Qaeda. On both counts history has proven the advice to be correct. However, the significance is that the revelations once more underlines the ...
Stephen Tall on Lib Dem Voice has a lot to answer for. As a result of him posting footage of the 1997 general election coverage I have wasted rather more of my bank holiday weekend than I should have. As I was involved at a count until 4am I didn't get to see it at the time, so although much of it is familiar there are some bits worth seeing again. Here's where a rather cross David Mellor who had been ungraciously heckled by Goldsmith senior during his acceptance (of defeat) speech - gives the old goat both barrels.
