LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Wednesday 20th June 2007

The Guardian Talks Rot

I have to admit to reading the rubbish in the Guardian today with a large amount of disbelief. It is highly unlikely Ming would have been foolish enough to do a deal with Brown in the light of Labour's pathetic record on civil liberties. Had he done so he would have risked splitting the party. Many of us who have had the dubious pleasure of dealing with Labour in the North of England know what an appalling lot they are. I could never imagine being in a coalition with illiberal lackies such as ...

Brothers & sisters

absolutly brilliant :) of the one and a half episodes ive seen far (im watching the other half at the moment) this is one of the best dramas to come out of America in years. with an all star cast the first episode sees the return of daughter Kitty (Calista Flockhart) to the familys home in LA, as she has an interview for a political tv show filmed in LA. what makes it interesteing is that her character hasnt spokent to her mother, Nora, in 3 years, and the closest they ever come to is arguing over anything, ...

Brilliant Bloggerheads Video - "Goodbye Mr Blair"

Click on the wonderful video below to see Tim Ireland's (Bloggerhead) take on the Blair years.

Just do it

As there is currently a meeting (political, rather than religious) taking place in my lounge, it seemed apt that someone has just sent me this photo as part of an email of amusing signs.

Best Day Ever For Norfolk Blogger

Sometimes blogging can be a little depressing. You put your thoughts down in to words and wonder why nobody reads what you have to say. My own stats shot up quickly to an average of 80 to 90 individual readers a day in just three months, and with a lot of hard work that eventually got up to 120-150. However, in the last couple of weeks things have gone potty. Last week I averaged about 210 a day whilst yesterday I had my best day ever with a staggering 858 unique visitors. So many thanks to all ...

Breast is best

Why? You can see what I'm on about here. I haven't (knowingly) bought any Nestlé products for about 10 years. And although I don't drink coffee, giving up Smarties and Kit Kats was tough. They're such a massive company it's difficult to make sure you avoid everything they have a finger in - including L'Oreal (and so now The Body Shop too), but worth the effort. The various Nestlé boycott groups like Baby Milk Action have designated the 2nd to 8th July as International Nestlé-Free Week - so if you think the issue is important, please at ...

Oh Come on Japan!

I have read with disbelief claims by certain right wing Japanese MPs that what happened in 1937 in Nanjing did not violate international law. Even if the numbers killed were to be as low as 20,000 which is hugely unlikely (my view is that the truth is somewhere between 150,000 and 300,000 based on eyewitness evidence and evidence on the ground) genocide is still genocide and a crime in international law. Sino-Japanese relations are not helped by these absurd claims and they only serve to stoke up instability in the region. Prime Minister Abe should act ...

Palaver Scots Song concert in Marryat Hall this Saturday!

With thanks to Sheena Wellington for the following information : On Saturday 23rd June 2007, there will be a Cappuccino Concert in Dundee's Marryat Hall, organised by the Friends of Wighton. The event starts at 10.30am when coffee and newspapers will be available, with music from 11am till 12 noon. The performers will be Palaver, three of the most exciting singers in Scotland. Aileen Carr, Barbara Dymock and Chris Miles are all highly regarded solo singers of a wide range of songs. Their collective repertoire is enormous and varied. Still strongly rooted in traditional song, they will also sing ...

Tory public schoolboys snigger at Prescott, but he has the last laugh

I caught a glimpse of the exchange between William Hague and John Prescott in the Commons today. First of all, it was good to see John Prescott looking strong, after what must have been a fairly devastating bout of pneumonia. Bizarrely the exchange got on to the classics. Prescott said: "It seems that while I was away the Leader of the Opposition had something to say about me too." "He

Brown and Miliband get the GMTV soft sofa treatment

If I manage to get to the switch first, we watch BBC Breakfast as we get dressed in the morning. Most of the time I don't get there first and we have GMTV on, courtesy of her nibs. It gives me a fascinating glimpse of.....er.....well....GMTV actually. There's Fiona simpering away and Andrew trying to look authoritative. There seems to have been a government schmooze offensive this week. Gordon

Lib Dem Exec Meeting

I chaired the local party executive meeting tonight and I have come away from the evening very positive. All members showed a passion for the oparty, for campaigning and 'doing' better. The cogs are turning and the party is turning into a big, mean, campaigning machine.

The Lib Dem Story part 2.....Campbell v Cameron

I have been giving a good deal of thought to the conundrum I first raised a few days ago about the relationship between a party and its leader. To be credible there has to be some sense of integrity between them. Thatcher and the Tory party of the 80s, Blair and New Labour.....but somehow it doesn't quite work the same way for Cameron. The Tory party would be much more comfortable with someone like Ming - not in terms of politics clearly, but certainly in terms of image. And so, what resonates with people is the discordance between party and ...

Piara Khabra passes away

Piara Khabra, Ealing Southall's MP has passed away aged 82. Mr Khabra had been ill for sometime.

Report slams Breckland Council's election count and questions the results

A report released today in to the fiasco that was the e-counting system employed by Breckland Council has raised questions about Breckland Council's competence in running the system, but also calls in to question the results themselves. In one ward, a ward top be unique in the whole UK, the vote was conducted both manually and electronically. Bizarrely the electronic vote counted 56% MORE votes than the manual count. Given the Labour lost some seats by just a handful of votes, they need to think hard about whether they have grounds to challenge the Tory Council over the ...

Morally bankrupt Guardian shows that it is no guardian of free speech and high political values

The Guardian today exposed itself in the most ludicrous way today. The paper finally blew its cover story that it is a newspaper of the middle ground with high moral values. Instead, it showed itself to be the poodle of the Labour Party. Who else would have encouraged The Guardian to print such a silly story as to claim that the Lib Dems were in talks with Labour to join a coalition ? With Lib Dems refusing to work with Labour in Scotland and Wales, wouldn't any serious journalist have realised that the story was completely false, baseless and ...

The Cowley Street jam war breaks out again!

The seasonal jam war in Cowley Street has broken out, coinciding with the first crops of fruit. The story so far: friendly competition took place last year between myself and Linda Seekings, wife of Gordon from Membership Services, to win the affections of colleagues by providing home made jam in the Cowley St kitchen. . Staff were treated to a huge array of the usual and downright obscure from

EU drops plans for a constitution

One word. Good. That says it all.

Vote for Julian

Yep it is election time again. I can sense you doubt me. This election is for Julian Cox for the Council worker of the year award. Julian looks after our parks in the south west part of Bristol...

Liberals resist headless chicken hysteria at "bums on seats" story

Nick Clegg was very robust on Radio Four's PM concerning the possibility of LibDems in a Brown cabinet - "It's not going to happen" is what he and Ming said. It is very difficult to think of any greater level of denial. This is confirmed by the Guardian story of this afternoon: Sir Menzies Campbell today confirmed that he had had private discussions with Gordon Brown, but ruled out the prospect

Olympian Tasks

It would be somewhat bad taste when at least five people have died and five are missing as a result of flash floods in Texas to play my all time favourite Stevie Ray Vaughan track, but Texas Flood cam...

Do we really worry the other parties that much?

First it was Cameron proposing a joint Lib Dem/Tory mayoral candidate in London. Now it is Brown proposing that Lib Dems join his first Labour cabinet. I can’t decide whether it is because they believe that the Lib Dems have such excellent potential mayors and ministers, or whether it is because they see as such a threat [...]

A cosy consensus

This report in today’s Guardian has created a bit of a rumpus about the possibility of Lib Dems joining Gordon Brown’s government. And it is resoundingly quashed here. There is no prospect of any Liberal Democrat joining the Brown Government. On so many issues, the Tories and Labour are part of a cosy consensus and Liberal Democrats [...]

Deny everything, Baldrick (UPDATE)

For me, the most interesting thing about the Guardian’s exclusive today about Lib-Lab talks is that it is credited to an anonymous “staff writer.” Clearly whoever wrote it (Wintour? White? Mulholland?) considered it so explosive that they didn’t want to alienate their sources by being outed as the author. The other interesting aspect [...]

Government to force ‘vulnerable’ to pay double for digital TV?

Somebody please tell me this isn’t true: The Government is asking pensioners and disabled people to pay £40 towards the cost of the digital switchover, despite digital boxes being available for as little as £20. Government figures have revealed that up to four million people will be asked to contribute a total of £160m towards the cost [...]

Speed

My driving licence has just been returned with three points endorsed on it - my very first. I'm not proud of it and I'm not making excuses (well, only to myself). But I can use this platform to warn you! You see, some years ago the local Lib Dems campaigned with Ed Davey to have a 50mph limit on the A3 where it passes through the borough. The stretch between Hook and Tolworth is...

Defection from the Conservatives

David Acock, Conservative Borough Councillor for Eastfield Ward, Northampton from 2003 to 2007, has left the Tories to join the Lib Dems. Mr Acock said: “Only the Lib Dems have show consistent principles in opposing ID cards from the start, the war in Iraq and in defending our civil liberties.”

Day 2361: How not to launch a policy (part deux)

Tuesday: Last week, Mr James told us how we'd made a mess of announcing our new Liberal housing policy. Well, let us see what we can do with our latest tax proposals… The Liberal Democrat Tax commission has had another think and come up with some MORE interesting ideas for liberating people from the burden of TAX. We can give LOADS more people the opportunity to create wealth by reducing the burden of Income Tax, and we can fund this by closing some of the LOOPHOLES that so-called "prudent" Mr Frown has set up for ...

Cabinet and other Government posts accepted

Yes it has happened – shock offers of government places for people outside the governing party. And they have been taken up. Result – possible disruption for the opposition parties and movements involved. The Government of France of course, not Irn Broon’s still-fantasy front bench. President Sarkovsky appointed François Fillon as Prime Minister and they have announced 33 ‘Government Appointments’. The oddities are: Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (previously a Socialist party member). Founder of two NGOs : Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde) In favour of military interventions – he backed the Iraq invasion of ...

Pay and Display: have your say

My colleague Martin Newton (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) is running an online survey to find out what people think about the Pay and Display schemes in Crouch End and also in Muswell Hill. You can take part in the survey at http://www.libertyresearch.org.uk/take/97

Punch and Judy dies

Sadly, Guy Higgins has died. He was the Punch and Judy 'professor' on Weymouth beach for years (about 30), was loved by decades of children and parents and will be missed.

100 days since kidnap

Wednesday 20th June 2007 - Thousands of people around the world observed a vigil today, marking 100 days since the kidnap of BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, in Gaza. Alan's parents released 100 balloons in his honour. Alan was abducted on March 12 and efforts to secure his release since then have proved fruitless. Alan, who turned 45 in captivity, is the only Western correspondent based full-time

Day 2360: Mr Balloon puts a Brave Dave Face on things

Monday: "If you want something done properly, kill Gideon Osborne Baldrick before you start."- Mr Edmund Blackadder, "Dish and Dishonesty" Right, just so we are ABSOLUTELY clear on this, the Conservatories are NOT the "Heirs to Blair" and anyone who said that would be TOTALLY STUPID. (Until the next time Mr Balloon changes his mind again.) In case you did not see it, Mr Balloon performed this week's relaunch on Monday, but do not worry – like "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps" on BBC3 it will be round again before you've had ...

Ming's Project

The Guardian has quite a scoop today - 'Revealed: secret talks over Lib Dems in cabinet'. This blog has eagerly anticipated what Brown's Bank of England moment will be after (ie what will he surprise us all with when he finally assumes power). It seems that The Guardian think that bringing Lib Dems into the Cabinet might be the answer. Like many scoops, the story isn't quite as exciting as the headline. What starts off as a 'plan for one or two senior Lib Dems to join Mr Brown's first cabinet' becomes, a few sentences later, 'an all party ...

Planning Applications

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/01679/FUL Parish: N/A Registered: 13th June 2007 ...

Cabinet seats and spin

So much for Gordon Brown wanting to end the culture of spin. The real Brown oozes out of his every pore. So today we have the well spun story, originating in the Brown camp, that General Secretary Stalin Brown is offering Ming places in his politburo once he gets the keys to the Downing St Kremlin. This is spun to make him look inclusive in contrast to the real Stalin Brown who no doubt has

Pacts with Labour

I am glad that the Grauniad is now reporting that Ming has ruled out LibDems in Brown’s cabinet. I do wonder what this has all been about. The mess with his spring conference speech and now this. Is this just poor handling or does someone have an agenda? As far as I can see, those who’d benefit [...]

Riding for the Disabled

Riding for the Disabled has been running for many years now. My mother-in-law, Mollie McGivern, was an active member from its earliest days. At Lackham College today they unveiled a plaque in her memory on the mounting block she donated for disabled riders. As part of the ceremony the 'James Bond' team from Chippenham performed for us their ride which has just won the 2007 National...

More Guardian Tripe

I stopped taking the Guardian many years ago, and the Observer some years later. While my political views are generally on the progressive left I got utterly fed up with the paper's ability to agree with pretty much every position the Lib Dems took, but then belittle us anyway. Today has seen yet another example of their willingness to cause trouble for the Lib Dems. First they run a story on their website with a headline that suggests that Ming Campbell is about to jump into bed with Gordon Brown. When you read the detail of ...

Piara Khabra MP

Just heard that the oldest MP, Piara Khabra (Labour, Ealing Southall) has died, at the age of 82. My sympathy to his family and friends.

Day 2359: Lord Hesselswine's New Night-Mayor

Sunday: Far be it for me to suggest that there is a touch of the MEGALOMANIAC about him, but the man who once restyled himself "President of the Board of Trade" rather than just being another minister has now come up with a plan to vest all local authority power in the hands of a single individual. Yes, this is the Lord Hesselswine and his scheme to create super-mayors, presumably by exposing our local government to GAMMA RADIATION… er, no sorry. He wants them to have all sorts of powers, but probably not including FLIGHT! ...

Ed Davey slams Guardian smears

In a comment on Lib Dem Voice, Ed Davey has quashed the Guardian’s far-fetched reports of Lib Dems joining a Labour government. Ed is Ming’s chief of staff and chair of the party’s Campaigns and Communications committee. The story was mentioned by Stephen this morning, but Ed replied: For the record, there is no prospect of [...]

Day 2357: Sir Mr the Merciless Million Mansion Mission

Friday: Mr Colin (and the BBC) tell us that Sir Mr the Merciless has a new plan to build a MILLION houses. Some people, like Mr Dale Winton, have suggested that this is DANGEROUS MADNESS. But I remember that DOCTOR WHO was working on a building site when he got the news that he had been cast as TOM BAKER, and HE is over 700 years old, so this proves Sir Mr the Merciless is certainly not past it, if he want to go out and start building! We all know that house prices are out ...

Oldest MP dies

The BBC is reporting the sad news that the oldest MP in the House of Commons, Piara Khabra, has passed away at the age of 82. Lib Dem Voice sends condolences to his family, friends and staff. Mr. Khabra was an expert on India and completed the 2006 Sport Relief charity run - perhaps a [...]

Piara Khabra has died - Ealing Southall Labour MP

Sad news that Piara Khabra, the oldest MP in the House of Commons has died. One would imagine that Gordon Brown would want a swift by-election in order to stamp his authority on the Labour Party, although a loss could mortally wound him early on. With the Lib Dems jumping up 14% at the last election ahead of the Tories, who slipped to third, a big by-election battle looks very likely.

The problem of politics

There’s a huge problem in politics. Its the relationship between people and politicians and our expectations of politicians and what politicians want to do. It’s best described as the ’something must be done’ syndrome. People have a tendency to demand results from politicians and politicians encourage this as it grants them more power. The first port of [...]

Women in Politics

I've just finished filling in a survey for an academic who's researching on candidate selection and women in politics, specifically in the Liberal Democrats. It's the sort of subject that comes up a lot in all political parties. And my views have changed dramatically over the years. I used to think that any form of all women shortlists, reserved places on shortlists etc was absolutely wrong. I even spoke at a conference to say so. And I had no problems getting selected for things myself, doing better than male would-be candidates in the process. But ...

Freedom of information - next chapter

I had a letter in the Daily Post yesterday (Tuesday) about the latest on the Freedom of Information changes. Enough MPs voted in favour of a Bill to exempt themselves for it to go to the Lords. However, none of the Lords wanted to put their name to it, so it looks like the end for what Lib Dem Tom McNally called "this squalid little bill". Why MPs, including the one for Garston, should think it's OK to wriggle out of a law they made is beyond me. My letter was in response to a Daily ...

Lib Dems to join Brown cabinet?

That’s the startling story in today’s Guardian, which reports: Gordon Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, have held private discussions in recent days about a plan for one or two senior Lib Dems to join Mr Brown’s first cabinet, the Guardian has been told by a well-placed source. It is being emphasised that [...]

Family Court Solicitors and Conflicts of Interest

I was surprised to find that it is commonplace that solicitors act both for the local authority and for parents with cases against the same authority. I have confirmed that this happens with solicitors. I have also checked it out with the law society who say it is acceptable. Personally I don't think it is acceptable. When solicitors acting for parents on relatively badly paid legal aid also

The Sick Pig

Once upon a time there was a pig. It was a sick pig. Now, in a town far away across the hills there lived a vet. The vet had undergone many years of training in the veterinary sciences, and numerous diplomas in frames hung on the walls of his surgery. The surgery was a clean [...]

Behind the scenes

In the Assembly talks are going on behind closed doors. Labour AMs are far more relaxed after the traumas of last week, whilst Plaid members are walking around looking serious and tight-lipped. Even the Western Mail cannot find a new angle on the negotiations to form the next Government of Wales. A search of their columns finds only the letters page still focussing on this issue. Star letter is from Gareth Williams of Ystrad Mynach who tells us that as an active Labour Party member and an officer of the Caerphilly constituency he will be walking ...

What is the EU for?

Well it has now voted to ban the import of cat and dog fur across the EU. Does anybody want any further reason than this video.

Chip on shoulder politics

I reviewed another of my party's press releases today without much joy. We seem to have got into a rut of late of making even our more sensible and moderate proposals sound like headlines from Socialist Worker. The latest effort to irritate was the launch of a collection of moderate and sensible tax-proposals under the banner of 'making the rich pay'. What the package does in substance is close some tax loopholes in respect of share-dealing and offshore home ownership and uses the dividends to dramatically take many people out of the widely-hated inheritance tax. Hooray! But that ...

In Memoriam Vilma Espin

The ‘First Lady of Cuba’, Vilma Espin Guillois, has died. The wife of acting leader Raul Castro (and thereby sister-in-law of El Comandante, Fidel), she was a great revolutionary figure in her own right. Like all the best Communists, she came from impeccable bourgeois stock. Her father was an executive with the Bacardi rum company. [...]

Latvian girls are SO easy - That should come as a relief to Essex girls

Hat tip to Kiwi blog for unearthing this. It appears that of all the nationalities in Europe, Latvian girls are the "easiest". Can I hear a collective sigh from the girls of Wickford, Billericay and Basildon ?

Whitehouse Renault Orpington - the latest

Regular readers will have followed with excitement the tales of how dreadful I have found the customer service at Whitehouse Renault Orpington. I sent a print out of my last blog posting on the subject to Renault Customer Service, copied to Whitehouse - as you can see in the comments to that posting. I received a nice letter from Renault, who asked me to telephone. So I did. The return phone call

Mary Stevens Hospice

My good friend Ann Isherwood who works for Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge is looking for willing volunteers to take part in a fantastic Abseil event on Saturday 1st September 2007 at the rather prominent building Number One, Hagley Road in Birmingham.

Wednesday 20th June 2007

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