15 April 2026 - the glitch-affected press releases (part 2)SNP candidate laughed at for education comments Responding to SNP candidate Deirdre Brock's comments on education at a hustings on Wednesday night, Scottish Liberal Democrat Edinburgh and Lothians East list candidate Jane Alliston Pickard said: It was utterly bizarre to see a wannabe parliamentarian declare that basic skills are no longer needed. People in the room were literally laughing at her. Then again, when your only real goal is pushing SNP plans for breaking up the UK, perhaps it helps to have kids who are mathematically illiterate. Education can be transformational but under the SNP Scotland is no longer the ... (more) |
Reform bar chart shows Gateshead is Lib Dem/Reform battleThank you Reform for publishing the above bar chart showing Gateshead is a battle between Reform and Lib Dems. It speaks for itself! (more) |
Reform's attack on Lib Dems in GatesheadReform are circulating a leaflet in Gateshead which is packed full of attacks on the Lib Dems. With the meltdown of Labour, Reform's leaflet shows just how much the local elections in Gateshead have become a two horse race between Lib Dems and Reform. In their leaflet, Reform attack Lib Dems for being focused on local issues."Like other wards, in Low Fell they [the Lib Dems] 'focus' on minor (more) |
13-15 April 2026 - the glitch-affected press releases (part 1)With apologies to all, as it seems as though my primary e-mail account has decided to glitch, only accepting some but not all e-mails directed to it... here are some press releases that have been issued over the past few days that we missed... Legislate to make schools smartphone free, says Cole-Hamilton Scot Lib Dems comment on Green manifesto launch Scottish Lib Dems launch plans to revive high streets Scot Lib Dems warn of "farming fuel crisis" as red diesel prices soar Legislate to make schools smartphone free, says Cole-Hamilton Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today set out ... (more) |
16 April 2026 - the press releasesChamberlain: Peach ballot key to holding SNP to account on secrecy and broken promises Vote to cut the cost of living urges Scot Lib Dem leader Scottish Lib Dems lay out manifesto plans to tackle violence against women Greene: Tory downfall due to Findlay and Badenoch's leadership Chamberlain: Peach ballot key to holding SNP to account on secrecy and broken promises Speaking ahead of the SNP's manifesto launch, Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader and campaign chair Wendy Chamberlain MP has urged Scots to use their peach ballot paper to give their verdict on the SNP's record of secrecy and broken ... (more) |
The Mouse That Roared (1959)I had somehow avoided seeing The Mouse That Roared until a few weeks ago. Perhaps because I'd seen its sequel, The Mouse on the Moon, I expected a gentle comedy where the action all took place in the fictional European statelet of Grand Fenwick. So I was surprised to find that much of the film is set in New York. That was not the only surprise. With its satirising of Cold War thinking and the multiple roles played by Peter Sellers, it looks forward to Kubrick's Doctor Strangelove. Grand Fenwick declares war on the USA, reasoning that when it is ... (more) |
Ed Davey: If Keir Starmer misled parliament he must resignAfter today's revelation that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting when being considered for appointment as ambassador to the United States, but was appointed anyway, Ed Davey issued this statement: Keir Starmer had already made a catastrophic error of judgment. Now it looks as though he has also misled parliament and lied to the British public. If that is the case, he must go. Labour came into Government on a promise to clean up politics. Instead we're seeing the same old sleaze, scandal and cover-ups as we did under the Conservatives. You can read the Guardian story that broke the ... (more) |
Three chords and the truthThe new Fabian pamphlet, Common Endeavour, has one of the sharpest lines written about populism this year. In chapter 8, Labour MP Liam Byrne borrows the old country music saying that all you need is "three chords and the truth." Populism works, he argues, because it plays three simple emotional chords: patriotism, nostalgia, and moral combat. Pride, loss, fight. Simple, repeatable, and perfectly tuned to social media algorithms that reward feeling over thought. He's right. And he's honest enough to admit that mainstream politicians have been answering with word salads while populists holler a battle cry. Reform UK doesn't win ... (more) |
All The President's Men, and the myth it sells youThe latest edition of the email newsletter for my podcast, Political Fictions, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: [IMG: Screenshot of door from Watergate Centre in All The President's Men] Perhaps the most important door in US political history, and the film used the real door. Take a listen to the podcast to find out all about it. The latest episode of Political Fictions is out, taking a look at the classic US political ... (more) |
100 things @ 100 daysHello lovely Liberal Democrats! This week, we reached 100 days since I took office as Party President – and what an honour it's been so far! I've been working with incredible members, activists, councillors, parliamentarians and staff across our party to help us to reach more people – voters, donors, volunteers, media and more – with our liberal message and to reinforce our position as the last line of defence against populism and division in our country. Below are 100 things that I've been doing since I was elected to play my part in that fight as Party president. It's ... (more) |