The National Trust is taking on the running of the 10 museums in the Ironbridge Gorge, with the help of a £9m government grant, reports BBC News. At present they are run by the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, which was set up in 1967. The National Trust is also assuming responsibility for the upkeep of 35 listed buildings and scheduled monuments, including Blists Hill Victorian Town, the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and the Old Furnace. When I visited Ironbridge back in 2011, I didn't bother with any maps or guide books, I just set out for a stroll along the ...
Welcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention polls for the next general election, along with the latest MRP projections and party leadership ratings. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email, The Week in Polls: General election voting intention polls PollsterConLabLDGrnRefLab leadFieldwork Find Out Now 17% (nc) 15% (-2) 12% (nc) 15% (nc) 32% (nc) -17% (vs Ref) 15/10 GB YouGov ...
A big Liberal England "well done" to Cardiff Council, which is to to become the first local authority in Britain to require large vehicles to pay more for parking. The Guardian reports: Councillors voted on Thursday to approve a new parking plan for the city whereby owners of larger vehicles will be charged more for parking permits because their cars "take up more parking space and are a danger to other road users". The plan states that vehicles that weigh more than 2,400kg fully laden will be subject to a surcharge "to encourage drivers to switch to smaller vehicles"; this ...
[IMG: 4 parallel white vertical lines on orange background ALDC logo] This week saw ten local by-elections across the country, with there being a Liberal Democrat candidate in all of these. We start in Preston, where a close-fought contest emergedbetween us and Reform UK. We were able to gain this seat from Labour, whose vote share collapsed by over half. Congratulations to Councillor Ronan Hodgson and the local Liberal Democrat team for winning this seat off Labour! Preston City Council, Ashton Liberal Democrats (Ronan Hodgson): 659 (35.5%, +14.0) Reform UK: 548 (29.5%, New) Labour: 429 (23.1%, -35.7) Independent (Cowell): 101 ...
This week, tributes to Ming Campbell were made in Parliament. We always knew how well respected he was across the political spectrum and it was quite emotional to see his wisdom and kindness universally recognised. I wish to add my words of tribute to my friend, Ming Campbell. He had an impact on me long before I met him. The first general election I was active in was 1987. No offence to any other Liberal MP at the time—none of them are present here—but I was very impressed with Ming Campbell. He struck me as not being like other Liberal ...
Fri 17th
11:55
Climate change is here: coral reefs are dying - but ecological economics provides an answer
According to the Global Tipping Points Report published by the University of Exeter and other partners, "The world has entered a new reality. Global warming will soon exceed 1.5°C. [...] where multiple climate tipping points pose catastrophic risks to billions of people." Most tragically, "warm-water coral reefs are crossing their thermal tipping point and experiencing unprecedented dieback, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of millions who depend on them." This is a betrayal of a generation, and the product of systemic political failure. A failure to recognise the climate crisis for what it is - an urgent crisis with serious, long-lasting ...
I'll be there!
There was a sizeable bag of by-elections yesterday to pick through. The overall pattern was one of creditable Lib Dem performance, a flash in the Tory pan, Labour's continued collapse and a rare reform victory against the Lib Dems.So let's start with the Lib Dem good news stories. We made gains in Preston from Labour, in Surrey from the Conservatives, again in Surrey from RGV (presumably a local
This week, tributes to Ming Campbell were made in Parliament. We always knew how well respected he was across the political spectrum and it was quite emotional to see his wisdom and kindness universally recognised. Here is Calum Miller's contribution: Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. It is an honour to follow the tributes of so many across the House. Ming Campbell was an inspiration to me and to many others who admired his integrity, courtesy and tenacity. I am lucky to have known Ming all my life, and I know how much his death will be felt ...
A bumper ten principal authority council by-elections this week and a bumper set of good news for the Liberal Democrats – with an important caveat. Preston has had much attention as an example of a pioneering Labour authority, getting positive coverage from the likes of The Guardian. But the reality on the ground is rather different and this week served up a Lib Dem gain from Labour: Ashton (Preston) Council By-Election Result: [IMG: 🔶] LDM: 37.3% (+15.8) [IMG: âž¡] RFM: 25.9% (New) [IMG: 🌹] LAB: 24.3% (-34.6) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: 5.7% (New) [IMG: 🌳] CON: 3.5% (-16.3) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: ...
What should our democracy do when a very rich man encourages violence on our streets? That's the question that Britain faces today with Elon Musk's recent behaviour. Traditionally, this hasn't been a problem. While media tycoons like Rupert Murdoch had influence, they did not provoke criminality. They didn't call for violence on the streets. They didn't transfer cash to criminals. And their companies didn't openly flout the law. Today things have changed. A few weeks ago, Elon Musk spoke to a nationalist march in London calling for a dissolution of Parliament, and going on to say: My message is to ...
From Sheena Wellington of Friends of Wighton : Saturday 18th October from 11am to noon Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library Cappuccino Concert with Woolverstone Woolverstone is an English alternative folk duo formed in late 2019. They are known for their cinematic songwriting and harmony-rich sound. Admission £5; tea/coffee available for donation - all welcome!
Scottish Liberal Democrats to debate plans to end ferries fiasco for good Scotland has Britain's highest rate of violent injuries to school staff Scottish Liberal Democrats to debate plans to end ferries fiasco for good On Saturday 18th October, Scottish Liberal Democrat conference will debate plans being put forward by West of Scotland MSP Jamie Greene to end the SNP"s ferries fiasco for good. It follows a consultation run by Mr Greene which heard from island communities directly, respondents included ferry experts and businesses who have been badly affected by endless ferry disruption. The motion calls for a series of ...
Lib Dems say China witness statements raise "more questions" than they answer and call for statutory inquiry Hospices: Govt must reverse NI hike to deliver real change GDP growth: Govt must kickstart growth and "quit slowcoach approach" Lib Dems: Summon US ambassador over secretive meetings with Farage on rolling back women's rights in UK If China is a "daily threat" then "insane" not to cancel super-embassy, say Lib Dems Chinese embassy plan must be "put out of its misery" Lib Dems say China witness statements raise "more questions" than they answer and call for statutory inquiry Responding to the Government ...
Alan Robertshaw looks at the Crown Prosecution's decision not to pursue the case against two men who were charged with spying on behalf of China. Reading between the lines, he is puzzled by it. He gives links to the three witness statements the government supplied on YouTube, and he has also posted an earlier video on the case there. Alan's YouTube account is well worth following for topical discussion of legal matters.
Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, has called on Nigel Farage to explain why a US anti-abortion advocacy group helped arrange a meeting he had in London with Trump administration officials and diplomats. The Guardian says the meeting took place in March between Farage and a delegation from Trump's state department. According to the New York Times, it was overseen by the US embassy and brokered by the Alliance Defending Freedom group. The meeting discussed abortion rights, free speech and online safety laws. The Guardian reports goes on to say: In response to the meeting, the Liberal Democrats accused ...
Reform has shed the following councillors from the May local elections: Donna Edmunds (Shropshire, suspended by Reform UK and then quit the party) Luke Shingler (Warwickshire, now an independent) Desmond Clarke (Nottinghamshire, resigned as councillor) Andrew Kilburn (Durham, resigned as a councillor) Wayne Titley (Staffordshire, resigned as a councillor) Mark Broadhurst (Doncaster, expelled by Reform) Adam Smith (West Northamptonshire, suspended by Reform and then expelled) John Bailey (Durham, resigned as a councillor) Daniel Taylor (Kent, suspended by Reform UK) Sam Booth (Doncaster, resigned as a councillor) Ed Hill (Devon, expelled by Reform) David Maclean (Isle of Wight, resigned as a ...
Thanks to a nomination from a reader, the Hastings Independent wins our coveted Headline of the Day Award.
This week, tributes to Ming Campbell were made in Parliament. We always knew how well respected he was across the political spectrum and it was quite emotional to see his wisdom and kindness universally recognised. Ed Davey said: I want to let the House into a secret about Ming Campbell: he was obsessed with sport—as one might expect from someone who was the captain of the Scottish men's team at the Commonwealth games. I remember him talking about how he had been captivated by the 1948 London Olympics at the age of seven, listening to it on the radio with ...
[IMG: Prue Bray standing next to logo Prue for President] In a few months' time, members in Wales will be facing a massive test; a test we have proven we can manage at local government, but have yet to prove at a Parliamentary level. How do we respond to the rise of Reform? How do we put our best foot forward and be the Liberal anti-authoritarian alternative to the populist right? It is through that lens with which I am viewing our Presidential election. It is important now more than ever that we have a strong voice for Liberalism, pushing ...
It will all be happening on 26th November.
"The British physicist has dedicated herself to increasing diversity and accessibility within the STEM community, with a special emphasis on women of all backgrounds. Among her many advocacy initiatives are, of course, her Wikipedia biographies, which she began writing in her 20s. In less than a decade, she has created more than 2000 articles for the online encyclopedia, focusing on women and underrepresented scientists who have been overlooked or forgotten by history."Eva Baron on Jessica Wade's work to further the recognition of women scientists. Clive Simpson says the Lincolnshire Fens desperately need new flood defences: "Most of the area's pumping ...
A by-election is due to be held on 23rd October 2025 in Caerphilly to the Welsh Senedd. The constituency has, for 100 years, elected Labour representatives. It looks as though that is about to end. The reports coming out of the constituency suggest that there will be a near-complete collapse in the Labour vote. This reflects what can be seen throughout the country and indeed, what we can see
This week, tributes to Ming Campbell were made in Parliament. We always knew how well respected he was across the political spectrum and it was quite emotional to see his wisdom and kindness universally recognised. Here is Wendy Chamberlain's tribute: I stand here as a friend of Ming's, but also as the current representative of his seat. I know how much he felt the privilege of being elected to this House for 28 years as the representative for North East Fife. I also know the very high regard in which he was held in the constituency. All I have had—both ...
Tories defecting to Reform is a common activity but the traffic is not one way. There has been another defection of a former Parliamentary candidate from Reform to Advance. Patrick Sargent was Reform's candidate in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East last year. He was also the chair of the constituency branch.In his resignation letter, he wrote:Reform UK has become a hollowed-out organisation
I can't watch what's happening on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border without feeling both anger and heartbreak. Anger at the Taliban a barbaric force that has dragged an entire nation back to the Middle Ages and heartbreak for the innocent people who will pay the price of yet another war they didn't start. It's 2025, yet in Afghanistan, women are being treated worse than cattle. The Taliban's idea of governance is to lock women indoors and call it "virtue." They've banned girls from secondary school and university, stopped women from working, and ordered that no woman can travel without a male guardian. ...
Here's the tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held between the May 2025 and the May 2026 local elections: Con Lab Lib Dem Green Reform SNP Plaid Ind/ Other Net Con [8] +2 (+2/0) -6 (+1/-7) +1 (+1/0) -14 (+2/-16) – – 0 (+1/-1) -17 Lab -2 (0/-2) [12] -3 (0/-3) -5 (0/-5) -21 (0/-21) – – -2 (0/-2) -33 Lib Dem +6 (+7/-1) +3 (+3/0) [24] +1 (+1/0) 0 (+1/-1) +1 (+1/0) – +2 (+2/0) +13 Grn -1 (0/-1) +5 (+5/0) -1 (0/-1) [6] – – – -1 (0/-1) +2 Ref +14 (+16/-2) +21 (+21/0) ...
We are holding a Thursday street surgery tonight to speak with residents on any local issues or concerns they may have. Should you have an issue you wish to discuss with us, e-mail us at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk or call Dundee 459378 and we will be pleased to meet you - many thanks.