The Guardian reports that Greenland's ice sheet is melting much faster than previously thought, threatening hundreds of millions of people with inundation and bringing some of the irreversible impacts of the climate emergency much closer. They refer to data that suggests ice is being lost from Greenland seven times faster than it was in the 1990s, and the scale and speed of ice loss is much higher than was predicted in the comprehensive studies of global climate science by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As a result it is believed that sea level rises are likely to reach 67cm ...
I used to be a Guardian reader which, given that I'm a Liberal Democrat, might not surprise that many people. And yes, there were annoying aspects to it - Polly Toynbee, for the most part, but I could put up with that. But, about six years ago, I switched to The Times, newspaper of record and all that. Their sports coverage was quite good, and whilst I didn't necessarily feel comfortable with either their editorial line or, to be honest, their ownership, I took the view that I'm enough of a sceptic to consciously filter out their right-wing bias. One ...
Swinson: One day left to stop Boris Johnson and stop Brexit Welsh Lib Dems: Put a penny on income tax to transform mental healthcare Swinson: One day left to stop Boris Johnson and stop Brexit Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson will today (Wednesday 11th December) deliver her final speech of the election campaign in Esher and Walton, urging voters to back the Liberal Democrats to stop Boris Johnson getting a majority and stop Brexit. Jo will be attending a series of rallies with activists throughout to the day including in the Conservative-held seats of Esher and Walton, Guildford and Wimbledon. ...
Here's the details of the upcoming evening classes from Harris Education and Recreation Association - together with information about enrolment night. You can click on the images below to enlarge and can also find more details are available here :
The latest You Gov MRP poll shows us gaining slightly in both vote share and seats from 2017 but still gives Boris Johnson a majority. But before we all panic, the figures show that we can stop him and gain more seats. The headline figures have the Tories on 339, Labour on 231, us on 15, the Greens on 1, Plaid on 4 and the SNP on 41. The study has us on 12% and with 15 seats. That doesn't 't tell the whole story. Seats like Lewes, Finchley and Golders Green (Luciana Berger) and Cities of London and Westminster ...
Tories' plans on health tourism enforcement unit is the latest example of dog-whistle politics Lib Dems: GDP figures show economy is grinding to a halt under the Tories Lib Dem launch poster urging Remainers to stop Boris Johnson Lib Dems: Boris Johnson is lying on a bulldozer instead of in front of one Lib Dems: Johnson attack on international aid will destroy our global credibility Tories' plans on health tourism enforcement unit is the latest example of dog-whistle politics The Liberal Democrats have today branded the Tories pledge to double the budget of the 'health tourism enforcement unit' as dog-whistle ...
Head to libdemnewswire.com/ge2019 where you can: Look up your Liberal Democrat candidate... Pick your reason for backing them... ... and then easily share a special graphic on social media along with your message to show your friends the reason for your support These sorts of personal endorsements for candidates are very powerful. So please do go, create and then share your own.
Let's stay in the Shropshire hills with another video about the Orthodox monastery beneath the Stiperstones.
Good to see Jo Swinson emphasising the values that make the Liberal Democrat distinct during the closing stages of this general election: Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson says voters need to decide whether Britain is "open or closed". "Are we generous or selfish, do we reach out or pull up the drawbridge?" she asked supporters at a rally. She insisted that the party's plans to stop Brexit are popular and that only the Liberal Democrats can secure a second referendum. She also accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of "stoking hostility" and "division and hate". [BBC] If you're a Liberal Democrat ...
From the Shropshire Star: South Shropshire's area of outstanding natural beauty is under threat from a loss of biodiversity and increasing light pollution, the Liberal Democrats election candidate for Ludlow has said. Heather Kidd said that some animals including butterflies are now a rare sight at the Shropshire Hills area of outstanding natural beauty ... and that air pollution is partly to blame. The Lib Dems are recommending replacing street lamps with LEDs and issued a stark warning that "we need to act now" to protect the hills' tranquillity.
Current The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas Hild, by Nicola Griffith Wildthyme Beyond!, by Paul Magrs Last books finished Revelation of the Daleks, by Jon Preddle Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo Next books Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution, by Stephen Zunes She Was Good-She Was Funny, by David Marusek
The last time there was a General Election in December was in 1923. The BBC has a fascinating account of the event. It was not a particularly cold winter, more dull and drizzly than crisp and blindingly white, although there were occasional snow and sleet flurries with December seeing a mean temperature of 3.9C. Houses were decorated with festive bunting and heated by coal fires, shopping streets bustled with rattling trams and women wore ankle-length skirts and cloche hats. The Representation of the People Act five years previously had given them the vote, although not all women – only those ...
Due to the legal secrecy requirements around voting, the Electoral Commission does not want people taking selfies when they are voting.
First, two gems I've heard in the past few days: 1. From the joint leader of the Greens, Jonathan Bartley, on a radio "Question Time" last night: "If the environment were a bank it would have been rescued already." Yes indeed: the powers that be rushed to rescue the financial system - and don't forget it was Gordon Brown who led the world in this in 2008, though the Tories aren't too keen on acknowledging this. One at least is still peddling the lie that the UK Labour Party were responsible for causing the world financial crisis. Be that as ...
Liberal Democrat Rob Castell thought he would be standing against Dominic Grieve in Beaconsfield. However, he stood aside when the election was announced. Dominic Grieve has been an important pro-Remain voice in the Commons, crucial to stopping Brexit. He is standing as an independent and the Liberal Democrats locally and nationally agreed not to oppose him. Rob has been campaigning with Dominic Grieve, who is picking up much unexpected support. Rob's generosity in standing aside is clear. He has been a great and positive presence on social media during the campaign, though. Recently, he was put in touch with the ...
A recent visit to that lovely city of York and I was riding on its network of park and ride buses, which I've done many times before. But this time was rather odd as 'real time' notifications at bus stops can clearly be a little bizarre. It was around 6.30pm and the First Bus back to Designer Outlet (No.7) from Tower Street was said by the real time bus stop screen to be 20 minutes away, with the following one only a minute behind it. I thought that was odd and that's what it turned out to be. The screen ...
Mon, 18:24: Dragon's Claw, by Dave Gibbons, Stebe Parkhouse and Steve Moore https://t.co/SyXTlbbqW2 Mon, 18:52: Lois McMaster Bujold Named SFWA Damon Knight Grand Master - The Nebula Awards� https://t.co/rFrE6mtIOJ Tue, 10:43: RT @CrisisGroup: Not able to attend tomorrow's event on how European leaders can respond to conflicts in its neighbouring regions? We've go... Tue, 10:45: RT @sturdyAlex: It's very interesting indeed. Not only do they all have the same friend. They all have the same person writing their tweets... </ul
Yesterday was extraordinary for two stories that went viral, and in one case threatened to derail the Tory General Election campaign. How those stories were handled by Conservative Central Office however, illustrates perfectly both the inadequacy of the scrutiny being applied to politicians by journalists, and how those promoting 'fake news' are seeking to manipulate our opinions. As the Guardian reports, with just days to go until polling day, the Tories suffered one of their worst days of the campaign as Boris Johnson refused on camera to look at a picture of a sick four-year-old boy forced to sleep on ...
The Greens in this election are promising in their manifesto "a Universal Basic Income, paid to all UK residents to tackle poverty and give financial security to everyone". They state that their Universal Basic Income (UBI) will replace the current benefits system. And they will phase it in over five years. The rates are £89 per week for working age adults, and £178 per week for pensioners. They will provide an unstated amount as a supplement for people with disabilities and lone parents. For families earning under £50,000 there will be £70 per week for each of the first two ...
Following the BBC's Young People's Question Time programme, Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, said: "Tonight Jo Swinson proved - yet again - that she is the next generation leader this country needs. "Jo could not be more of a contrast to Corbyn and Johnson - two men who are willing to trash our future, yet couldn't even be bothered to turn up tonight to answer young people's questions. Meanwhile Angela Rayner made it crystal clear that the Labour party won't lift a finger to stop Brexit. "Jo is leading the only party with an ambitious plan to empower young ...
In elections, winning matters. There are very few politicians or political activists who would suggest with an entirely straight face that, by taking part, you influence the debate and that winning is thus not so important. Yes, I acknowledge that your better, more attractive ideas will be stolen by your opponents, which is on the whole fine, but it's how you implement them that really counts. Someone who steals something shiny probably won't understand the basic mechanics that make an idea truly effective. So, winning matters. But, in a democracy, you ideally want voters to be properly informed, able to ...
As part of an initiative to encourage tactical voting, comedian Steve Coogan joined Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewes Oli Henman for a campaigning session: Fantastic to have the support of STEVE COOGAN for my campaign to be the next MP for #Lewes #Seaford #Newhaven #Polegate – as he says, we need to box clever and #VoteTactically to defeat the #Tories #StopBoris #GTTO #VoteHenman #BrighterFuture pic.twitter.com/LdH7pL84fw — Oli Henman (@OliHenman) December 8, 2019
Lib Dems: Brexit is already costing our public services more than £350 million a week Swinson warns of Johnson threat to human rights Business backs the Liberal Democrats Lib Dems are listening to Gen Z's climate emergency fears Lib Dems: Brexit is already costing our public services more than £350 million a week The Liberal Democrats have revealed that Brexit is already costing the government £380-470 million a week - money that could have been spent on the NHS instead. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has estimated that GDP is £55-66 billion lower this year than it would have ...
West End Community Council meets at 7pm tonight at the Logie & St John's (Cross) Church Hall in Shaftesbury Terrace - all welcome! The agenda is as follows : WEST END COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETINGTUESDAY 10th DECEMBER AT 7.00PMLOGIE AND ST JOHN`S (CROSS) PARISH CHURCH HALL(ENTER FROM SHAFTESBURY TERRACE - OFF BLACKNESS AVENUE) 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES2. OFFICE BEARER & OTHER ROLES- Appointment (votes if required)3. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING - 8th October 20194. CORRESPONDENCE5. POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE6. PLANNING UPDATE 7. OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED ON BEHALF OF WECC8. AOCB - MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Light refreshments ...
Tue 10th
06:46
Hurrah! Ludlow Town Council to buy Sidney Road Green for a nominal sum and protect it forever
I became quite emotional as I walked home from Ludlow Town Council last night. My route took me across Sidney Road Green. The whole town has been trying to save this green space from development for five years. But five bungalows were approved and the green space was slated to be destroyed. Despite light pollution, I could see the outline of Taurus above the Norway Maple as I walked. As the ground began to freeze underfoot, I could imagine a great future for this space. More trees. Wildflower meadows. Bee corridors and more. This is no longer a figment of ...
To mark Human Rights Day, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson has said: "Human rights are under threat at this election. "Boris Johnson's Brexit deal would rip up protections for workers' rights and children's rights, while his manifesto threatens our Human Rights Act itself. "Liberal Democrats have always stood up for human rights, whether it was ending child detention in immigration centres, opposing the Snoopers' Charter or introducing same-sex marriage. "Liberal Democrats stopped the Conservatives from scrapping the Human Rights Act before, and we will stop them again now. We are the only party that can win seats from ...
Responding to an Amnesty International survey showing that young people view climate change as one of the most important issues facing the world, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary for Climate Emergency, Wera Hobhouse said:"Gen Z have been shouting it in the streets: the climate emergency is one of the most important issues we have ever faced. It's real and we have to act now."Young people shouldn't have to strike from school to get the Tories to listen to their concerns. The Conservatives are climate delayers and are complacent in the face of a crisis. The Liberal Democrats are listening. We have ...