LibDem Blogs - Archived!

The BBC has helpfully provided a list of the contendors for the Tory top job. Well, not quite, there are a few notable omissions, so here's the full list: Adam Afriyie MP Peter Ainsworth MP David Amess MP Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP Peter Atkinson MP Richard Bacon MP Tony Baldry MP Greg Barker MP John Baron MP Henry Bellingham MP Richard Benyon

Could I be the only person in the world who is getting really bored with this subject? The media time and inches devoted to this subject are out of all proportion to its relevance or importance. Having said that, something in me wants to read everything there is on the subject and I found the article in today's Times of particular interest. Read it for yourself by following the link but I really

My article on Liberal Democrat blogs appears in tomorrow's Liberal Democrat News. You can also find it here with all the hyperlinks in place. Apologies to any bloggers I did not find room to mention. The article should be accompanied by a box advertising Ryan Cullen's libdem blogs aggregated, which lists every Lib Dem blog in creation. And please feel free to advertise yourself in the comments here.

This has been a busy week for meetings in local communities. There were 70 people at the meeting about The Sheldon Pub in Sheldon. Then we had three meetings the "police surgery" and Elms Farm Residents Association tonight plus Sheldon Residents. It is nice to see reasonable turnouts at public meetings. This is nothing like the turnouts we get in the inner cities though where you have

Yes, its true! Thanks to Tom for the link.

by Jabez Clegg Erin O'Brien over at Great Court has picked up on a recent Guardian Article by Nick Clegg MP examining the prospects for those contesting the Tory leadership election, and their potential impact on the battle between the Tories and the Lib Dems to replace Labour. She argues that: "There is a greater freedom of not being pigeon-holed into the ‘Government’ or the ‘Opposition’ slot that can allow the Lib Dems to pursue policies and to encourage debate on ideas that would otherwise not be immediately palatable to a party seeking to gain government. For me, the political ...

Seem to have my 'knickers in a twist' at the moment preparing all the things I need to get ready for conference - not quite in panic mode yet. That's the downside of being on so many committees and other party commitments - all seem to jam at the same time. At the moment rushing to complete artwork - one of my better skills - I seem to have been burning the midnight oil over the last few days in haste to get them all ready in time. Pete Dollimore has been busy on the Riso printing them - 500 ...

The close of nominations for the Livingston by Election was 1 hour ago. There are 10 candidates nominated.

‘With such impiety pervading the human race and the state threatened with destruction, what relief did God devise? I myself was the instrument he chose. Thus, beginning at the remote Ocean of Britain, where the sun sinks beneath the horizon in accordance with the laws of nature, with God’s help I banished and eliminated every form of evil then prevailing.’ No, not Tony Blair, that was Emperor

Weavers Safer Neighbourhood Team will be meeting for the first time with the public to set their priorities for the coming months. at The Fleapit (cafe on the corner of Ravenscroft Street and Columbia Road)

Yesterday, I went to a talk entitled Power in Unity with Harriet Harman MP and Dr Md Abdul Bari (Deputy Secretary of MCB) with Operation Black Vote. Sometimes it's awkward with both hats on: I'm OBV's management accountant as well as being a local Councillor - it certainly gives me a national view on things as well as a local one. It was reassuring to see a packed hall of young people. Harriet Harman launched into what the Government will do to address problems of disengagement. Did you know that it's the number of registered ...

Readers of this blog will know that I haven't been writing that much recently. And once you start lapsing, it's hard to know where to start again. September has been a busy month, so if you're interested in what a Councillor does, this is what I've been up to. If you want to know more about any particular meeting - send me a comment & I'll go into more detail. 1st - Councillors training in the new Local Development Framework 3rd - Picnic at Weavers Fields for the campaign against the FOYER extension 5th - Safer ...

Following his previous post on this blog, Charles Clarke MP and Home Secretary* has written in again to explain the latest anti terror arrests and his new anti-terror proposals: "Another successful raid against dirty little foreigners that want to destroy the British way of life. As some of you may be aware, a few of those detained were acquitted earlier this year of being part of a plot to

There is a small group of journalists and commentators who are unable to get over Princess Di's death. While the rest of us have finished mourning, this emotionally constipated group still need to keep criticising us for having mourned at all. The latest example is Muriel Gray in today's Guardian, who describes those who did mourn as 'social misfits'. Ms Gray commits the fallacy common to the anti-Di'ists, of stating that the habit of leaving bouquets at scene's of a tragedy dates from Diana's death, when in fact it predates it by decades. After the ...

At the Green Fair on Saturday I got asked by another stall-holder if I was holding a democracy dinner. I had to admit that I did not know what a democracy dinner was. Everyone else seemed to be holding one. I felt rejected. Was it my cooking, my inability to stimulate conversation, or wasn't my potential guest list intellectual enough? Catherine Bennett discusses democracy dinners in her Guardian column today. From her slightly sour tone I guess that she was not invited to host one either.

Having returned to the motherland for a meeting at BBC Bristol, I am now pining after cider once again. Buying local produce has long been a cause which liberals have espoused, but frankly drinking Thatcher's cider, and in paticular 'Mendip Magic', is something any rational person should do, regardless of their policitcal persuasion. They've been making it for 101 years and it's just lovely. Cold winter nights, bored Sixth Form afternoons, the night before a General Election: Thatcher's is a friend on all these occasions. The best pints can be found in the pub where, legend has it, The Wurzels ...

"Censored" ads from Sun Microsystems. (Via.)

The Western Mail has well and truly put a cat amongst the pigeons gathering for the Plaid Cymru annual conference in Aberystwyth today. The supposed challenge of Dafydd Elis-Thomas for the leadership of his party is all anybody can talk about. Even their Assembly Leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, is being forced to use his Conference speech to appeal for unity within his own party rather than set out his stall for the elections in 2007.Ieuan's troubles do not end there however. According to the Western Mail this morning, Ladbrokes have made former Tory AM, Peter Rogers, the favourite to win ...

Of Glasgow Airport and "Glasgow" Prestwick Airport, only one is close to Glasgow. The other is 30 miles away. It is best to know this before booking flights. Grrr.

The Conference Directory has so many interesting fringe events this time around - it'll be difficult for members to decide which ones to attend. I hope blogging delegates will think of LDO in their plans and attend their fringe.LDO Fringe: Successful Lib Dem bloggingTuesday 20th September 200520:00 - 21:15 Aperitif BarImperial HotelSpeakers: Lynne Featherstone MP & Lord Tim GardenTopic: The Blogging phenomenon is spreading fast: it's easy, cheap and a more personal way to get the Lib Dem message across. Lynne & Tim will speak on what works and what doesn't.Something else that may also interest Lib Dem bloggers.The party's ...