Responding to Home Office figures which show that just 300 visas have been issued to Ukrainian refugees under the Family Scheme, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: Ukrainians fleeing for their lives deserve far better than being stuck in a queue for a Home Office visa appointment. People across the UK want to welcome Ukrainian refugees with compassion, but instead Priti Patel is keeping them out with pointless extra bureaucracy. No amount of spin can disguise the inadequacy of her response. Our country has a proud tradition of offering sanctuary to those in need. The Government should ...
Two people have put their names forward for the vacancy on Ludlow Town Council created after the resignation of Graeme Perks: Darren Childs (address in Shropshire) Thomas Ian Scott Bell (Broad Street). Both are standing as independents, as is the normal, but not compulsory, practice on Ludlow Town Council. Darren Childs is known for his work on campaigning for better ambulance cover for Ludlow. Ian Scott Bell stood unsuccessfully for Ludlow North as a Conservative in the May 2021 unitary elections. The date of the by-election will be announced shortly.
NB: With Russia's unprovoked murderous assault on Ukraine, I am actively looking at alternative hosts for this journal, preferably those which will retain as much content as possible. I am very uncomfortable with being part of the Russian economic system at present, in however small a way. In the meantime: This will probably be the second last of my ten-day bulletins on COVID. Today, almost all restrictions were lifted in Belgium. Masks are compulsory only on public transport and in hospitals. The passenger locator forms for entering the country and the COVID-Safe pass for entering restaurants have been scrapped. We're ...
Responding to the news that Home Secretary Priti Patel is now investigating a humanitarian route for Ukrainian refugees without family in the UK, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: It is shameful that Ukrainians escaping Putin's terror are being turned away from the UK. It flies in the face of our country's proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing war and persecution. Priti Patel has spent her time as Home Secretary closing down safe routes for refugees to come to the UK. For her to say she's just started 'investigating' those routes for Ukrainians is a ...
Tomorrow it's International Women's Day and I have been asked to speak about the problems of domestic and street violence caused to women at two separate events in Liverpool. These both follow my intervention at the January Council meeting when ... Continue reading →
If you know me at all, you'll know I never wanted to be on the Federal Board. But... In the wake of 2019 I dusted myself down from my Westminster campaign in Hazel Grove (you would be very welcome to get involved this time!) and decided that enough was enough. We need to do more winning. Dorothy Thornhill agreed with me, and I got stuck-in to reform efforts by taking on the role of Chair of the Federal Communications and Elections Committee (and therefore a member of the Board). We've come some way in the last few years, but it's ...
A former managing director in the toys industry, Clive Jones is Leader of the Opposition on Wokingham Council.
Sun, 12:56: RT @ICRC: We've received thousands of questions on the Geneva Conventions. So, we're going to break down the rules of war you need to know... Sun, 16:05: The uncanny reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. https://t.co/Hz2TlTUyLY Very interesting reflection on President Zelenskyy's victory in the information war. Sun, 16:31: The Cornett Connection https://t.co/Znd70z0XpL Mon, 07:52: Back in the saddle, but failing to see the obvious: Wordle 261 5/6 ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 ⬜🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Mon, 10:45: #Britainofthewelcomes https://t.co/pqK0qDVz3K
As I am writing this article, there are two months until the next local elections. Time has flown by. I started campaigning quite early, in October 2021 and so far, I really enjoyed the experience. Feedback? Quite positive! It is not always easy to predict the final results of any elections, however I often wonder what the key ingredients of winning a campaign are? I do believe that making your face known to local residents is crucial. The human connection and authenticity are one of the elements to win a seat. During months of campaigning, I already have countless examples ...
The Liberal Democrats have launched a bid to shut the "oligarch loophole" contained within the Economic Crime Bill, which is set to come before Parliament today. The Party has tabled an amendment to the legislation which seeks to close a backdoor route for oligarchs to avoid meeting crucial anti-money laundering requirements contained within the Bill. The Bill establishes a register of beneficial ownership for overseas entities. However the Bill as drafted gives the Government the power to grant individuals - which could include Kremlin-linked oligarchs - an exemption from its registration requirements on the broad basis of "the interests of ...
Boris Johnson may have just unleashed a rather nonsensical six point plan to save Ukraine, but where it really matters his government is falling down badly. The Independent reports that as few as 50 visas have been issued by the UK for Ukraine refugees to come to the UK, despite the crisis being labelled Europe's worst since the Second World War. The paper says that Home Secretary, Priti Patel was challenged over the low figure - as she became embroiled in a spat with France over refugees trapped in Calais without visas to cross the Channel: On a visit to ...
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the government to reverse defence cuts and urgently boost investment in the Royal Navy, to counter the threat posed by Russia following Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking ahead of a visit to Portsmouth on Saturday, Ed Davey said additional funding was needed to fix warships in urgent need of repair and ensure the navy is able to defend the UK's interests in Europe and around the world. All six of the navy's Type 45 destroyers were recently docked in port, four of them in Portsmouth, due to problems with their engines. The ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 7 MARCH 2022 Perth Road (at Millbay Gardens) - off‑peak temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 22 February for 3 weeks for footway works. West Port roundabout - lane closures for one week for BT work. Scott Street (Glenagnes Road to City Road) - closed eastbound from Tuesday 1 March for one week for Scottish Water mains repair. Tait's Lane - closed from Wednesday 2 March for one week for Scottish Water mains repair. Wright Avenue - closed from 7.30pm on Friday 11 March to ...
