It's not teenage boys who form corrosive opinions because of social media: it's Kemi BadenochEmbed from Getty ImagesKemi Badenoch doesn't have time to watch television, she told, Nick Ferrari this morning, but she does know one thing about Adolescence: "The story which it is based on has been fundamentally changed, and so creating policy on a work of fiction rather than reality is the real issue." She's referring to a story that has been spread widely by right-wingers on social media, which maintains that the Netflix series Adolescence is based on a real case where a black boy stabbed a white girl. The race of the boy was changed, the story runs, because of ... (more) |
It's a mystery why boys seek out online male influencers?Now that public policy is being driven by fictional TV shows (rumour has it the government is next going to ask Daniel Craig on his views on reforming MI6) I thought I'd have my two penny's worth about boys disengagement. So forgive me if I'm manterupting or mansplaining but whilst I sit down and drink from my #maletears mug I'll try not to manspread. Before I start I' d probably best take off my "boys are stupid throw rocks at them T shirt" (£23 on red bubble if you're interested) Anyway where was I . Oh yes. Boys being disengaged. ... (more) |
It's just gone 12 noon - were you fooled?We enjoy preparing articles for April 1st each year. Our "LDV and AI – a new venture" was, as usual, near the knuckle. The AI tool's name of "Packed" had our esteemed Party President wondering out loud as to whether he should trade mark his name. In an example of reality reflecting farce, our team editor Mark has now revealed that the article he wrote on Monday morning was in fact AI generated. This went unnoticed by all. Well, it did seem a bit verbose! In other April 1st news, Christine Jardine MP circulated a draft early day motion as ... (more) |
The Nicotines: Mary WanaThis was on a Q Magazine sampler disc back in 1997 and I still think of it. (more) |
No ward surgeries tonight #dundeewestendAs the school Easter holidays are currently taking place, please note that our ward surgeries do not take place today. Surgeries return after the holidays are over but we can be contacted at any time at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk (more) |
LDV and AI - a new ventureLast week, Conference in Harrogate passed a wide ranging science and technology paper, Victoria Collins MP contrasted our approach with that of Labour and Conservatives. Liberal Democrats take a different approach, one grounded in our values of internationalism, respect for individual rights, and challenging concentrations of power. One issue the policy paper looked at was how we should deal with AI. In accordance with those values, our new policy calls for us to develop a legally binding code of ethics and a "Lovelace Oath" which would be similar to the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors. Recently an author friend of ... (more) |
Quaker arrests foreshadow police stateThe Guardian reports that more than 20 uniformed police, some equipped with Tasers, forced their way into a Westminster Quaker meeting house and arrested six women attending a gathering of the protest group Youth Demand at 7.15pm on Thursday. "No one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory," said Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain. "This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. "Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an ... (more) |
Exclusive: Ed Davey starts training for 2028 election stunt[IMG: Ed Davey campaign tour 2024] Ed Davey confuses fighting an election with going on a summer holiday. 'How on earth do you follow that?' That is the question that has been bugging Ed Davey's team after his spectacular stunts stole the show at the 2024 general election. However, with the next general election now expected by Westminster insiders to be in autumn 2028, his team have hit on the answer drawing on one of the less well known aspects of Ed Davey's youth. It is also an answer that will flip on its head the party's usual complaints about ... (more) |
Pair of beavers released on the River Clun in ShropshireBBC News reports: Beavers have returned to a Shropshire river for the first time in 400 years. The Severn Rivers Trust introduced a pair to the River Clun in the south of the county on Monday afternoon. It hopes the pair will have offspring and can help transform the natural environment through their dam building. The beavers have been released into an enclosure, but the story quotes Joe Pimblett, the chief executive of the Severn Rivers Trust "If you're a nature lover and you've got an interest in the rural environment this is huge, this could be the precursor to ... (more) |
Is the tax system shafting Gen Z and Millennials?The tax system in the UK exacerbates age inequality and puts an increasingly unsustainable burden on Gen Z and Millennials. A millionaire like Rishi Sunak pays an effective rate of 23% tax on his £2.2m income. And yet, someone in their late 20's earning, say, £55,000 will pay 51% of every extra £ they earn (40% tax + 2% NI + 9% Student Loans). And we wonder why younger voters are disengaged and demographic time bombs arise. In percentage terms, the tax burden rises, falls hardest on the struggling middle income, and then reduces, as wealth becomes sufficient to afford ... (more) |