For anyone who was unable to attend the Liberal Democrat Friends of Cake Annual General Meeting last weekend, here are the notes the Underbaker circulated on Facebook a couple of days ago: CONFERENCE POLICY IN FULL: at our AGM in Brighton, the following composited motion was passed reflecting the current values and direction of the party, including the proposed "friends of friends of someone who once met a Lib Dem at a train station and she seemed fairly nice" system of selecting party leader. This AGM Notes:a) CAKE; b) biscuits; c) tarts; d) pies and what have been termed "other ...
This was a title that just grew at the Brighton Conference. Paddy Ashdown started it by remarking at one of the huge Consultation sessions on Vince's new ideas,"You're all extremists! Or you wouldn't be here!" By the end of Conference, extremism had attached itself to the formerly scorned idea that we activists are moderates, adherents of the Centre ground where the majority of the British public live. So, we are happy to admit a connection to the moderate majority, so long as it is known that we are extremists too! Of course, we are not THAT sort of extremist - ...
... are landing in inboxes right now. If you went to LDconf please fill it in and be as honest as you can be. I promise you that I, personally, read all your responses and try to get them acted upon. [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Around April 2015, I was seriously considering not voting for the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming general election. It wasn't the mistakes of the coalition that worried me, it was something about the values of the party around that time that gave me pause to wonder if it was the right thing to do. I read about the scandals about complaints in the party, and it seemed that attitudes were not as progressive or inclusive as I expected. Complaints against members appeared to be inadequate and chaotic, leaving victims (especially women), feeling unsafe in the party. I wondered if I ...
1, The Abortion debate I'm genuinely pleased that for the first time ever we have a party policy on abortion. I wish I'd been more prepared to say so, but I hadn't planned to speak in the debate; one of the joys of being on FCC is that if a debate is running low on speakers you quite often get asked to put a card in, and this was one of those times. That speech was therefore scrawled hurriedly on the back of an official FCC debate planner. This might explain why it's a bit short and I'm shaking like ...
When it comes to education policy, we need blue sky thinking. And I think that scrapping external exams would be a fantastic example of this. Let's remind ourselves of some of the negative consequences of our exam system: Stress – Student wellbeing is considered collateral damage. Having yearly exams which have such a huge impact on your life is incredibly stressful, and I doubt that adults would cope any better than teenagers do. We are sacrificing our young people to a system which we know is harming their mental health, but which we persist with nonetheless. Teaching to the exam ...
We not only have debates in the Town Hall but also have an opportunity to ask written questions of the Mayor and Cabinet about city issues. As you can see they are not usually very helpful and its the none ... Continue reading →
miss_s_b | That Was The Conference That Was In which I talk about the things I enjoyed most at conference. miss_s_b | Blog Maintenance Stuff In which I complain about spambots. Twitter will soon let you switch between chronological and ranked feeds weekly_food_challenge | Challenge #53: Hand Held Foods This week's food challinj is live live live Software disenchantment The most frustrating thing about this is that similar articles were being written at the time of Windows 95... Reaching out and making friends, just like Vince says I'm not going to stop giggling about this for quite a long time. ...
The panel at our fringe: from left to right: Back row: Caron Lindsay, Liberal Democrat Voice editor (Chair), Sarah Brown, LGBT+ Lib Dems, James Morton, Scottish Transgender Alliance, Emma Ritch, Engender and, front row, Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat President. Most of you may notice the odd advert on Liberal Democrat Voice. These help LDV to contribute to the Conference Access Fund, making it easier for those of modest means to attend Lib Dem conferences. With the advert funds, we also sponsor or host fringe meetings at conference. At Brighton on Saturday, we hosted a fringe meeting in the Hilton hotel ...
This post first appeared on the Radix blog... Socialists are naïve about power; Liberals are naïve about money. That is the rule of thumb that I find myself judging current policy by - and especially when the parties that represent them are being particularly naïve. I had the temerity to say this again in a Demos/Centre for Progressive Policy fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton and I was quite rightly contradicted. It isn't, as I suggested , that the Lib Dems are empty-heads when it comes to economics. It is that they tend to cling, for whatever ...
Socialists are naïve about power; Liberals are naïve about money. That is the rule of thumb that I find myself judging current policy by - and especially when the parties that represent them are being particularly naïve. I had the temerity to say this again in a Demos/Centre for Progressive Policy fringe meeting at the [...] The post Are Liberals bored by economics? appeared first on Radix.
Wed, 12:37: Belgian prime minister @CharlesMichel also representing Netherlands for today's session of EU summit, due to... https://t.co/9ZD8W6Yz8W Wed, 12:51: RT @hughBXL: @nwbrux @CharlesMichel @MinPres A few years back @David_Cameron asked @MinPres to represent the UK at the European Council. I... Wed, 12:56: A new frame for the sky https://t.co/BCwcXKnInO Knowing where we are more precisely. Wed, 19:05: The Guermantes Way, by Marcel Proust https://t.co/nP3ugGDZPg Wed, 20:48: Life Echoes in Eternity: On J.R.R. Tolkien's "Leaf by Niggle" https://t.co/Xb4kmRWfsS Not much to say, but saying it well. Thu, 07:12: BBC News - Ian Paisley: DUP MP keeps seat after recall petition ...
There is now a superb summary of all the conference motions on the Liberal Democrat website. This allows you to see, at a glance, the final passed motions, incorporating any passed amendments. One really important motion was that on the party disciplinary process. This process was initiated by a motion at 2016 conference to review the party's disciplinary processes. There have been reviews conducted by Helena Morrissey, Ken MacDonald and Isabelle Parasram. The review was delayed by the 2017 general election. The process was debated at the 2018 Spring Conference, where it was referred back for further work. The Federal ...
Another night, another set of blood transfusions, antibiotics and iv fluids for which I'm grateful. I feel stronger again today. However, lack of sleep over the few days means fatigue is kicking me to Devon and back. I'm also grateful that my MCL treatment has been possible at all. As a rare cancer, it was only identified as a specific ... The post Transplant +8: Grateful and demanding better appeared first on ten pence piece.
Thu 20th
10:16
Ormskirk – Preston Trains an update on a line that's struggled to deliver decent service level...
Ormskirk Station – The train in the foreground is Preston bound (when it's not being replaced by a bus). The one behind it is Liverpool bound. Along with many railway routes across the Northern Rail franchise the Ormskirk – Preston Line has suffered some very poor levels of performance for a long time now. Indeed, whilst you may be forgiven for thinking the melt-down that is Northern Rail started when the May 2018 was brought in the reality is that the rot set in well before that on this line. Cancellations and the dreaded rail replacement buses have been the ...
In a recent report from Tes, schools stated that, if they were to cut subjects entirely from their curriculum, music would be the most likely to be the first to go; closely followed by a couple of languages and drama. Southbank Centre, London I've written previously about how important the UK's soft power is around the globe; and with this latest revelation, it is increasingly likely that this cultural capital will be reduced in the future. The arts are always seen as 'soft' subjects; the connotation here that softness equates to ease; but speak with any artist from any discipline ...
It is telling that despite there being no vacancy, Theresa May's position is so precarious newspapers and others are already speculating on her successor. The Telegraph is no exception and they have an exclusive this morning in which they reveal what is described as an explosive internal memo suggesting the Prime Minister will be forced to "stand down soon after March 2019" and detailing the pros and cons of her potential successors. They say that the excruciating dossier is being widely circulated among Tory MPs and analyses the leadership prospects of her cabinet colleagues and other contenders, including leading Brexiteers ...
On Saturday, Ian Kearns electrified the Conference rally with a brilliant speech explaining why, in June, he left the Labour Party and joined the Liberal Democrats. You can watch his speech above from around 10:49 in and the text is below. Good evening conference. My name is Ian Kearns, and after many months of soul-searching, I joined the Liberal Democrats in June of this year, from Labour. I'm here on the stage tonight to tell you why. I'm here because I could no longer tolerate the sight of a Leader of the Opposition, a Leader of the Opposition, portraying himself ...
Last week, following complaints to me from residents that the lift at the Seabraes lift was again out of action, I reported this to the City Council. The lift was swiftly repaired but I have asked for - and been given assurances - that signage will be provided with the contact phone number for reporting when the bridge is not working.
Yesterday, Shropshire Council published more details of the Foldgate Lane application (18/02413/REM). They include revised landscaping and planting plans, a change to the location of the pedestrian and cycle access by the retail park and details of the play area and house designs. One of the significant changes is to the pedestrian and cycle link to Foldgate Lane. This has been moved further north to provide an opportunity for a future link into the retail park between Pets at Home and Ludlow Nut Company. This is very welcome as it will improve safety. People will no longer need to walk ...
Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Daniel Lewis, Nigel Ashton and Yaso Sathiy, Focus Editor are holding their next advice centre in Churchtown. We will be at BoxTree Kitchen for Queenscourt café, Manor Road/Cambridge Road, roundabout, from 10:30 to 11.30am on Thursday 27th September. We also hold a monthly advice centre in Crossens, at St John's School, Rufford Road, Crossens every month (except August) on the second Saturday of the month from 11:00 am to 12:00. We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in.
In Stamford the other day I mourned the loss of secondhand bookshops. I could think of three that have disappeared from the town (though one of them has moved to Uppingham). These days, when most trade in books is done online, there is less point in paying the rent on a shop. Another of those lost shops was to be found in the Wharf Road part of town. I seem to remember an old warehouse that you entered from the yard at the rear. When you don't visit town often the buildings tend to shuffle themselves, making individual shops hard ...
The conventional wisdom holds that once a political leader starts to talk about standing down, he or she is drained of authority. In the case of Vince Cable (whom I have always rather admired as a political operator) the conventional wisdom is being proved right. Suddenly he looks his age and his leadership is being openly questioned. Business Insider (which normally gets its Liberal Democrats stories from 12-year-old workers at party HQ) has an interview with Layla Moran: Moran said that while she supported "really well-respected" non-MPs from inside the movement leading the party — like councillors, or parliamentarians from ...
After years as being described by the media as a blogger, they then upgraded me occasionally to being a strategist. But as you can see from my appearance on the BBC Politics Show in London...
"One thing I heard a few times at Liberal Democrat Conference was an assertion along the lines of 'most people are centrists, therefore they'll want to join us and vote for us if we just give them a chance'." Nick Barlow unpicks this centrist fallacy. Want a guide to making your voice heard on the proposed changes to the Lib Dem membership and constitution? Paul Walter is your man. Antonio Garcia Martinez says Silicon Valley's economics are fuelling a new caste system: "One of the most refreshing things about living in Europe (or small towns in the rural US) is ...
At Autumn Conference I moved an amendment to F8 "Power to People and Communities". Our amendment, concentrating solely on English regional devolution was opposed not by a rebuttal of its text and my speech but, sadly, by means of mischaracterisation and misrepresentation of what was written and said. Since attending the Agenda 2020 session at Autumn Conference 2015 and then the East of England Regional Conference (which near-unanimously passed my motion "Fair Devolution for the East of England") I have proposed additional criteria to the policy of "devolution on demand" – three little words encapsulating a seemingly straightforward and liberal ...
One thing I heard a few times at Liberal Democrat Conference was an assertion along the lines of 'most people are centrists, therefore they'll want to join us and vote for us if we just give them a chance'. This is normally backed up by some 'recent polling' that has shown people are generally centrist, and an earnest belief along the lines that they just need to be told the right words and then they'll realise they're just like us. This is a belief I like to call the centrist fallacy because it rests on a number of assumptions about ...
Second paragraph of third chapter: Entre la couleur grise et douce d'une campagne matinale et le goût d'une tasse de chocolat, je faisais tenir toute l'originalité de la vie physique, intellectuelle et morale que j'avais apportée une année environ auparavant à Doncières, et qui, blasonnée de la forme oblongue d'une colline pelée — toujours présente même quand elle était invisible — formait en moi une série de plaisirs entièrement distincts de tous autres, indicibles à des amis en ce sens que les impressions richement tissées les unes dans les autres qui les orchestraient les caractérisaient bien plus pour moi et ...
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
1, I have updated my Endorsements page. 2, With some regret I have turned off anon commenting. I've had a sustained campaign from a particularly persistent (and resistant to anti-spam measures) spambot while I've been at conference, and while it will have made no difference to any of you lot because I screen anon comments by default, scanning through 647 comments to see if any of them were actual comments from actual people was extremely irritating. I'll probably turn anon comments back on in a bit, once the spambot has realised it's pointless, but until then if you have a ...
On a personal level, I have always got on well with Jeremy Corbyn. We have sometimes shared platforms, at home and abroad, on issues of mutual concern, such as Kurdish rights and Palestine. On such occasions, his integrity and passion for justice shine through. I haven't seen him so often since he became Leader of [...]
In one episode of the masterly political comedy Yes Minister, the knowing civil servant advised his naive minster on the art of public presentation. It depends on how radical you are. The more radical that you want to be, the more sober the presentation needed to be, to reassure the wary. A contentless speech, on ... Continue reading Vince Cable sets a bold course for the Liberal Democrats
So, I'm on the train home and I figgered I'd give you a little rundown of the highest of lights. You can all watch the bits from the hall on iPlayer, if you want, so I don't propose to spend too much time on that. And there's a fair amount of newspixels been expended on actually happenings, so this is going to be from a very personal viewpoint. One or two things though:I am very very glad that so many keynote and debate speakers went out of their way to talk about trans rights. Special props to Layla Moran, Jane ...
Should I have written a letter? I mean once I slide off this roof, I'm embracing death as we all eventually will. Death comes for us all in the end, and today it is enveloping me. Strange how most people never take the chance to decide the manner of their death. They fear it and therefore leave it up to the banality of nature and disease to take them. Today I am taking control and making that choice. The cold breeze slides up the back of my shirt. The cotton clouds block out the sun, and I pull my leather ...
Tue, 12:56: Fair comment. https://t.co/bKauKmCdHT Tue, 14:26: RT @holmesreport: APCO Appoints Arnaud Pochebonne To Lead Paris Office https://t.co/4WICbgIwqS https://t.co/cRmENKllQ7 Tue, 15:12: *You* can nominate candidates for the @AuroraPrize_ for Awakening Humanity, celebrating inspiring humanitarians who... https://t.co/uzZN5JLsjE Tue, 16:05: Extraordinary piece. https://t.co/qUJ7BmQgbD Tue, 19:56: Five Moomin books, by Tove Jansson https://t.co/RcxuSSNr05 Tue, 20:48: Has Political Correctness Gone Too Far? https://t.co/OgfoAbqM7r In short, no. (Essay from the @Economist.) Wed, 06:45: RT @BBCNews: Obituary: Denis Norden https://t.co/DEDblt4hPm Wed, 10:45: Paedophile cult leader Warren Jeffs tore this town apart. Now his victims are putting it back together... https://t.co/sRKUlUalV5
During the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton, one of the most frequent questions people asked me (coming a close second after "do you really still use a BlackBerry?"*) was about the proposals to introduce a registered supporters scheme. Regular readers will know I've long been a fan of the idea, and hence am pleased to see it migrate from being a fringe idea to being the subject of the conference's largest fringe session. But where should the line be drawn between members and supporters? There is lots of detailed work to go, along with some important arguments over principles (e.g. ...
I will start by saying that I base none of what is to immediately follow on rumours I've heard swirling around Westminster, nor some sort of insider's knowledge regarding what Boris may or may not be planning. I really have no idea what BoJo is thinking or even rumoured heavily to be thinking. I can only speculate on the basis of what is going on around him, what Boris is saying publicly and has said publicly in the past, and the timbre of the age in which we currently find ourselves. The things that make me think Boris will come ...
John Crace of the Guardian made a snide comment on Monday - in his piece about Gina Miller's speech he said we took a "two-and-a-half-hour lunch break. Presumably, because there wasn't much more business to discuss." I couldn't disagree with him more - and that's not just because I'm a member of the Federal Conference Committee. Of course, there was plenty to say on Brexit, where Tories and Labour are tearing themselves apart. However, we debated so many other important issues - how we enable people to thrive in a world of rapid technological change, how we address increasing inequality ...
An informal consultation event is being held in Prestwich on the proposed 'Beelines' cycle and walking network for Greater Manchester. This is on Thursday 27 September 2018, 7.00pm, at the Church Inn, Church Lane, Prestwich. All welcome please do let us know you're coming by registering for free here. Beelines is a plan for a cycling and walking network aiming to make local journeys by bike or on foot easier, to ease congestion on our roads and improve air quality. It is important we get the routes right for Prestwich so please do come along and share your views and ...
Yesterday's Daily Mirror comments on an expert report from the Migration Advisory Committee that it says busts some major myths about immigration, many favoured by the far right. The first myth, that EU migrants live off the state is rebutted by the stark fact that in fact they contribute £2,300-a-year more to the UK than average Britons: What today's report says: "The average adult migrant from the European Economic Area (EEA) contributed approximately £2,300 more to the UK public finances than the average adult resident in the UK. "The average non-EEA migrant contributed around £840 less than the average adult ...
Many European leaders have welcomed the vote of the Strasbourg Parliament on September 11 which, following the proposal of a Dutch environmentalist, opened a procedure to deprive Hungary of its voting rights in the European Council. They were wrong. Because, unwittingly, they are weakening EU cohesion – the last thing we need after Brexit. The [...] The post Do not subject Europe to the divisive dialectic of progressives versus nationalists appeared first on Radix.
Yesterday, Vince Cable told the Liberal Democrats to reach out and appeal to the millions of voters who are alarmed at the extremes of British politics. A wee while earlier, some Liberal Democrat members had been reaching out in a manner that can only be described as optimistic. Not the Leader's speech is an annual tradition that started during the coalition years. A group of the Awkward Squad would gather in a nearby hostelry, watch the speech on Twitter and work out at what point they would have walked out had they been in the hall. There is less cause ...
A legally binding international treaty on plastics is the call from the Liberal Democrats following a major debate at their Party Conference. The treaty would encompass phased reductions in the production, consumption and trade of virgin feedstock. It would also include a financial mechanism providing aid and capacity-building assistance to developing countries. Liberal Democrat Group Leader in Bury, Councillor Tim Pickstone said: "The problem with plastics is not only on our shores. It is a problem that impacts the environment, communities and wildlife across the globe. The Government therefore has a duty to lead from the front and start weaning the ...
An informal consultation event is being held in Prestwich on the proposed 'Beelines' cycle network for Greater Manchester. This is on Thursday 27 September 2018, 7.00pm, at the Church Inn, Church Lane, Prestwich. All welcome! Beelines is a major plan to make Greater Manchester better for cycling with a network of routes across the area. It is important we get the routes right for Prestwich so please do come along and share your views and ideas. More information on Beelines here.
THE Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Salford Royal and North Manchester General Hospital are asking the public to nominate their NHS heroes as part of an annual staff awards event. If you or a relative have had amazing treatment at The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, Salford Royal, Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and its community and social care services, or if you or your family want to thank a particular doctor, nurse, support worker, or ward that did their best to treat and look after you, then this is your chance. The Patients' Choice ...
Wed 19th
08:04Transport For the North (TFN) make bold statements on rail but will anything much actually happen?
A Northern Class 158 DMU at York Station The article is on Transport for the North's web site – see link below:- A Transpennie Express Class 185 DMU leaving Liverpool Lime Street Station And why do I continue to hold a skeptical line? Keolis have recently announced that the Liverpool – Chester via Frodsham service, due to start in December, will not now appear until May 2019. This is due, I understand, to "rolling stock availability issues". Keolis take over the franchise from Arriva Trains Wales (which will run this new service) next month. With thanks to OPSTA for ...
This was my second conference as a member of the Federal Conference Committee (FCC). I had just joined FCC for the Spring conference and was really an observer. For the Autumn conference, I was involved from the start. The whole thing was well organised, and the team work well together (you have to give credit where credit is due). There were approximately 2400 members - more or less in line with previous year. One note of sadness, I learned about, was the passing of Robert Adamson (Chair of the Liberal Democrat Disability Association). My Condolences to the bereaved family. Rest ...
I am pleased to see the commencement of work last week on the car park extension at Lochee Park - see below :This is good news as it will provide additional capacity and also, when the park is busy with teams, ensure the spillage of parked vehicles onto local streets is minimised. Additionally, there will be improvements to the playpark with new equipment in the fairly near future which is further good news for the area.
Good morning! Following some unusual side-effects to treatment yesterday, I'm pleased to report that I seem, for the moment at least, to be turning a corner. Yesterday felt like the whole team went up at least a gear or two to make sure that I was supported. I've never spent so much time talking to haematology consultants and doctors as ... The post Transplant +7: Pulling an all-nighter appeared first on ten pence piece.
The Liberal Democrat team on Bury Council have been successful in getting the Council to take action on the rising prices of school uniforms, in a move to help parents who are struggling with the costs. According to research by the Children's Society, 3 million families in Britain are struggling to pay for school uniform costs. Liberal Democrat Councillor Mary D'Albert said: "We very much support the principle of school uniforms, but the rising cost in some schools is causing unnecessary hardship to parents who are struggling to make ends meet. This can be made worse where uniforms can only ...
Volunteers are needed to lead scenic walks across the Bury area which will help to keep local residents fit and well. A range of Walking for Health walks is planned for autumn, and the "Bury Walk with Me" team is looking for new recruits to complement their existing walk leaders. Hundreds of Bury people have benefitted from scores of walks organised across the borough in recent years, which have taken in Summerseat, the Kirklees Trail, Heaton Park, Birtle, Prestwich Clough, Ainsworth, Elton, Radcliffe and more. A volunteer walk leader training session has been organised for Monday 24 September. For more ...
Ribble Valley Lib Dem Leader Cllr. Allan Knox is backing a 4 point plan to scrap Business Rates and replace them with a Commercial Landowner Levy. The new levy would be paid by landowners, not tenants and would help boost many high street businesses. The plan was launched at the recent Lib Dem conference in Brighton, attended by Cllr. Knox and is based around the following four points. Business rates should be abolished and replaced by a Commercial Landowner Levy based on the value of commercial land only The levy should be paid by owners rather than tenants Non-residential stamp ...