The news from the Charities Aid Foundation that the wealthy give relatively less to good causes than those with less income should give some people a reason to feel guilty! There is an old saying that the rich get and remain rich because they are mean with every penny and awake to every dodge to keep cash in their hands and those of their family. The UK's richest people give a smaller proportion of their wealth to charity than the average person, according to new figures. It comes as research found British millionaires donating just 1 per cent could boost ...
Ed Davey has demanded a recall of parliament so it can debate the possible deployment of British troops in a peacekeeping force in Ukraine. The Politico website quotes him as saying: "Keir Starmer should bring back Parliament to debate his plans to support Ukraine. "We have just days for the U.K. to lead in Europe and save Ukraine from a shoddy deal cooked up by Trump and Putin." Politico says this comes from an interview of theirs with Davey, but I can't find it on the website. Later in this report we read: Davey ... offered flexibility about the timing ...
So now we have no alternative. We have to raise taxes. Trump's appeasement of Russia threatens European security. But it also poses the full extent to which the Conservative government ran down Britain's public capabilities - and, let's be honest, the Coalition also underfunded our public services and infrastructure, and so did the Labour government (and the Thatcher government) before that. Since the election we have been learning about the appalling state of our hospital and prison estates. We already knew about the desperate shortage of social housing, the poor condition of many of our roads and the backlog of ...
After a week in in which both Conservatives and Labour have competed to outbid each other in inhumanity and sheer nastiness towards immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, the Liberal Democrat policy makes heartening reading. Here are a few extracts from our 2024 Manifesto: The UK has a proud history of welcoming newcomers - whether people seeking to build their lives here, or refugees fleeing war and persecution. People from all over the world have greatly enriched our economy, our culture and our communities. Liberal Democrats are fighting for a fair, effective immigration system that treats everyone with dignity and respect. ...
I wear many hats in our party. From being a councillor in Barnsley through to former Westminster candidate in both Yorkshire and the North West, and now, Regional Chair in Yorkshire and the Humber and the new Vice Chair of the English Party. In every role I have taken up, I have done so to highlight problems and find solutions. As a Regional Chair, it is clear to me we are long-overdue change. It is time our English regions were better supported to deliver their vital responsibilities. This is exactly why I am supporting the motion to implement the General ...
The Guardian reports that a group of more than 900 Labour members and trade unionists, including MPs and peers, have accused the government of copying the "performative cruelty" of the Conservatives in its migration and asylum policy. The paper says that the group, in a joint statement, singled out the Home Office's decision, revealed last week, to refuse citizenship to anyone who arrives in the UK via "a dangerous journey" such as a small boat over the Channel: The statement also criticised ministers for highlighting the number of people being deported from the UK, with a Home Office publicity blitz ...
As the schools are closed today to pupils and the public as it is an in-service day, we have no ward surgeries. However, we can be contacted at anytime at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk - many thanks!
The Nationalist news website Nation Cymru has been passed a copy of an email sent to all member in Wales by the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds. With Labour holding only 30 of the 60 Senedd seats, it needs the support of one more MS to get its 2025-6 Budget passed. Nation Cymru says Labour has been discussing with Ms Dodds, the only Lib Dem Senedd Member, what concessions it could make to secure her vote. Jane sets out her thinking in the email, which you can read on the Nationl Cymru website (if you have not ...
Keeping up this blog's practice of covering "random news items from Shropshire (where he doesn't live) - New Statesman", here is Shropshire Live: Post Office Limited has announced the unplanned closure of hosted outreach services in Minsterley, Hope, and Shawbury. They say the closure, from this week, is due to unforeseen circumstances preventing the Pontesbury postmaster from continuing to operate these outreach locations. Last year, nearby Marton, Longden, Stiperstones and Wentnor lost their weekly outreach post offices. Reader's voice: And the rather plain building above? Liberal England replies: That's Hope village hall, where the outreach post office was housed. Find ...
Embed from Getty ImagesRepublican politicians from the poorer states are already having doubts about Trump and his team. This is from the Guardian: Bill Cassidy, the Republican US senator, has said his home state of Louisiana's recent decision to cancel the promotion of mass vaccination against preventable diseases is a disservice to parents who want to keep their children healthy. Nonetheless, before those remarks, the medical doctor-turned-politician who has clashed with Donald Trump joined 51 of his fellow Republicans in voting to confirm anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr as secretary of the US's health and human services department. ...
JD Vance's critique of the liberal consensus at the Munich Security Conference touches on an uncomfortable truth: the liberal project, while achieving peace and prosperity on a global scale, has left many working-class communities behind. Economically, politically, and culturally, these groups feel abandoned, leading to resentment and distrust of the ideals that have propelled progress. For decades, the liberal elite has prioritised building a brave new world, but in doing so, it neglected to build consensus with the people it sought to serve. Programmes designed to alleviate poverty or reduce inequality often came across as top-down mandates rather than collaborative ...
The past week has seen three big appearances from Lib Dems. You used to go weeks without anyone so it's great to see that we have a bigger profile and that there are multiple opportunities for us to differentiate ourselves from everyone else. Last Thursday, Lisa Smart, our Home Affairs spokesperson, made her Question Time debut and did very well taking questions on Rachel Reeves cv "of course it's daft to embellish a cv but performance matters" also pointing out that Labour inherited a "steaming pile" from the Conservatives, immigration and Ukraine. Here she is on Trump: "The way Trump ...
I know from experience that leading the Liberal Democrats is a frustrating job; marginalised in the media and patronised by the two traditional parties. But periodically we hit on a message which resonates in the country, as with Charles Kennedy's opposition to the Iraq war. Ed Davey may have found another: 'Stand up to Trump'. These are early days in the second Trump administration, but a political, economic and cultural revolution is under way. The MAGA movement is also much bigger than its capricious, unpredictable leader. Trump's apostles like JD Vance and Hegseth are ideologically extreme but also articulate, smart ...
The Guardian reports that Kemi Badenoch is being urged to overhaul her approach to prime minister's questions and bring in more experienced advisers to prepare for the weekly political joust, amid criticisms of her approach to taking on Keir Starmer. The paper says that some MPs are complaining that their fledgling leader is raising the wrong topics and picking unconvincing lines of attack against the prime minister at PMQs, which is her most prominent opportunity to make the political weather, while others have been concerned about the level of support for her from colleagues during the exchanges: While most MPs ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2025 Seafield Road, Dundee - closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development until November 2025. Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) - closed until August 2025 for construction works. Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) - temporary traffic lights until August 2025 for construction works. Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) - closed until ...