The Lib Dems continued their strong start to 2022 with 3 great by-election wins on Thursday night – and some excellent second place performances too. We start off on South Somerset DC where newly elected Lib Dem councillor Ray Buckler gained the seat of Neroche from the Conservative with over half the vote – increasing the Lib Dem vote share by over 26%. Congratulations to Ray and the Lib Dem team South Somerset DC, Neroche ward Liberal Democrat (Ray Buckler): 390 [52.8%, +26.8] Conservative: 315 [42.6%, -18.8] Green: 19 [2.6%, from nowhere] Labour: 15 [2.0%, from nowhere] Next to Rochford ...
Many say Putin's vision is to rebuild an empire for Russia, a policy he has been pursuing incrementally since his invasion of Georgia in 2008. After all the suffering unleashed in Ukraine, it is imperative that Putin must be stopped in his tracks at the juncture, despite the danger this may entail. If Putin is not dissuaded by the heavy economic cost he is suffering now, we must up the game, especially if Kyiv is subjected to a full-scale attack coupled with an attempt to decapitate the Zelensky leadership. What to do? Firstly, increase substantially the risk for Putin. Biden ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:"Yes, ma'am," I say.Sequel to the very entertaining Catfishing on CatNet, which won the 2020 Lodestar Award. Takes the story and most of the same characters in quite a new direction with a second rather less cute AI, a riff on Pokemon Go, and a slightly divergent timeline where Minneapolis and St Paul have successfully reformed their police as demanded by Black Lives Matter. Lots of good stuff, plenty for YA readers, and older readers, to chew on. You can get it here.
The Samson Option is a not widely known Armageddon-type Israeli nuclear strategy. The world is worried that Vladimir Putin will adopt it and adapt it to the current crisis. The strategy is based on the dramatic suicide story of the Biblical strongman Samson. Shorn of his locks, blinded and a prisoner of the Philistines, the once powerful Samson was brought in chains to the temple of his enemies. He appeared weak, but he retained enough of his strength to throw his chains around the temple pillars and pulled with all his might so that the walls and roof came crashing ...
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has called on the UK Government to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council, with the aim of declaring a military exclusion zone around nuclear power plants. It follows the shelling overnight of Zaporizhzhia power plant by Russian forces. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "People all across Europe - including in Russia - will have woken up today with fear in their hearts, following the reckless shelling of Zaporizhzhia power plant. While thankfully it looks like disaster has been averted, it is vital that we now use every diplomatic lever available to prevent ...
Thu, 18:17: Roger Zelazny, by F. Brett Cox https://t.co/N28VOkUrPp Thu, 18:29: RT @cdeaker: @maxseddon @pwnallthethings Putin wants Moldova next. They know it & have rushed to apply to join the EU Thu, 20:48: Revenge of the Patriarchs: Why Autocrats Fear Women https://t.co/r8Ng17hbY2 Interesting! Fri, 05:50: RT @coreyspowell: For the first time, astronomers have discovered a quadruple asteroid. Three asteroid moons dance around Elektra, a 200-k... Fri, 06:53: RT @KyivIndependent: ⚡️Ukraine's State Emergency Service reports that the fire has been put out at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station i... Fri, 06:55: RT @nicupopescu: The Republic of #Moldova has publicly announced application ...
The news this morning that the Russians had seized control of the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine has send shock waves across the world. Ed Davey has said the the UK must take the lead and call for the UN Security Council to place military exclusion zones around nuclear power plants. He says: People all across Europe – including in Russia – will have woken up today with fear in their hearts, following the reckless shelling of Zaporizhzhia power plant. While thankfully it looks like disaster has been averted, it is vital that we now use every diplomatic lever available ...
It's hard to see much good news coming out of Ukraine but perhaps whatever terrible things happen there, good may come of it. In the short-term we have seen what bravery amongst politicians really means. President Zelensky rejected the offer ... Continue reading →
Lib Dems are calling for an emergency session of Parliament this weekend to pass legislation to sanction oligarchs who are in the process of selling off their assets in the UK. Layla Moran is our Foreign Affairs spokesperson and here she is explaining why it is necessary. MPs across the House are willing to work weekends to strengthen any legislation that is needed for further sanctions. Yet, the UK is still lagging when it comes to sanctioning individuals that have already been named by other jurisdictions. I have one simple question – why? pic.twitter.com/VjT0Q6LBAX — Layla Moran [IMG: 🔶] (@LaylaMoran) ...
As readers of this blog site will know I follow what Jim Hancock has to say on his 'Hancock's Half Page' blog, indeed I often agree with him. However, I was a little taken aback by this quote from a very recent piece on Jim's blog:- 'Public support for devolution and elected mayors is rising, but not spectacularly according to recent polling. People want more say over housing, transport, and crime. But to energise that lukewarm enthusiasm, voters want to see results and a strong leader for the whole of the North' I don't think I have ever heard anyone, ...
There is universal outrage this morning that Boris Johnson has given the former education secretary, Gavin Williamson, a knighthood. The Independent reports that the honour comes six months after Williamson was sacked as education secretary by Johnson in the wake of the fiasco surrounding school exams during the Covid pandemic and a series of U-turns over free school meal policy when he was shamed by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford. Williamson had previously been sacked as defence secretary by Theresa May in 2019 after being blamed for a leak from the National Security Council. Unfortunately, No 10 was not immediately ...
