I was the guest speaker after Choral Evensong this evening at St James, Paddington — the church where Oscar Wilde got married. The theme I was asked to address was Islam Today, a subject that perplexes many non-Muslims in Britain, in the wake of 9/11, our own 7/7 and the rhetoric of fundamentalist zealots. As I [...] 
For some reason I am very dubious about the new development of a 15 year old boy in South Waziristan admitting to being involved and fingering Baitullah Mehsud as the mastermind. What do you think
Here is some warped logic for you. India, which by some measures is now the fourth largest economy in the world, is going to be given £825 million in aid by Britain, which by the same measure is the 7th largest economy in the world. The next time someone asks why they have to wait for an operation, why they can't get a certain drug on the NHS, why there are no police in their street, why their village cannot get a bypass, indeed, why we in the UK have to wait for anything when the country pays £825 million ...
Juan Cole has a very thorough run through of the events and violence surrounding this most holy Shia day. For a bit of background to Ashura see this earlier post.
… when she comes out with this: You don’t walk in areas you don’t know in any circumstances and I never have in my life. Presumably she only walks around places that she has driven through or done a low-level flight over first to get to know them Hmm … her deciding that I’m not a real person seems [...]
The new café, Full of Beans, is now open in the Hook Centre. This is a very welcome addition to the Centre itself, and to Hook Parade. Ian and I dropped in for lunch there yesterday - they offer sandwiches and paninis made on the spot from a big choice of fillings, plus jackets, soup, homemade cakes and a wide range of drinks. They will also sell takeaway food and provide a catering...
Islington South’s Labour MP Emily Thornberry was on the radio tonight expressing some scepticism about nuclear power - to my surprise. Why Well, this time last year - on 17 January 2007 - Lib Dem MPs tabled a motion, “This House opposes the construction of a new generation of civil nuclear power plants.” Ms Thornberry [...]
I have two minds when i watch political news - one as a Lib Dem and another as an ordinary swing voter. Seeing Gordon Brown that supercilious devious grin joking with Richard Branson in China whom he just happened to `bump into` (yeh, right) made my flesh crawl. I guess he’s going to `pull something out of [...]
Please read this on the ground reporting from Kenya. Warning: graphic imagery.
The news that Lib Dems, including Nick Clegg, support the proposed "opt-out" system of organ donation is astonishing; here i was thinking that we were a party that championed the freedom of the individual from intrusions by the state, and yet on such an important issue as this we seem to have succumbed to the "but it will save lives.." argument. The fact that lives will be saved is irrelevant, in so far as whether the ends justify the means is irrelevant. It is about the means being an extension of state control and an exhibition of statist presumptuousness. It ...
Former top policeman Brian Paddick has been selected to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor in May 2008's election. Brian, who as deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police was the most senior openly gay police officer in the UK, said "For too long Londoners have been denied a serious debate on the future of their city. Less crime, better transport, cleaner air and fewer Londoners living in poverty are all crucial in making sure that London remains one of the most exciting cities in the world. "I strongly believe that the position of Mayor can be a powerful ...
Ever heard someone who has benefited from some form of nepotism themselves do anything but extol its virtues I've had a few years experience of work now - and never fail to be surprised when someone else in an organisation is revealed to be married or related to a fellow colleague or former employee. I can think of at least ten instances of this - both in our party and out...I'm sure I will encounter more which will further strip me of my innocence and naivety in this area. But when you start to think through the issues - it ...
Sorry for the delay: I have been wrestling with a faulty Broadband connection.
We have some great news for Ryemead residents. Spotlight has agreed to extend coverage to the whole of Ryemead. The editor of Spotlight says –”Spotlight is a community magazine run by local residents which has been covering the communities of Micklefield and the Wycombe Marsh - part of Ryemead - since 2002. From March this year a new publication, Spotlight East Wycombe is expanding to cover Micklefield, Totteridge, Bowerdean and the whole of Ryemead. See www.spotlightmagazine.org.uk Frances Alexander will be coordinating the Ryemead submissions to the Editor. Send stories to Frances - Frances5Walex@aol.com We have a number of residents who ...
Check out this video. I'm not sure this is the sort of praise and support Hillary is looking for.
There is nothing more certain to drive me up the wall than the writings or the image of Peter Hitchens. I am the first one to put the boot into the Tories, but in his Mail on Sunday today he appears to have finally flipped his lid under the title "The Tories helped kill Gary Newlove": They had helped pass the laws that stopped police policing and judges judging. They killed Garry Newlove, in my
This is a little mystery which has excited the interest of Terry Wogan and his listeners. Why is there always a flurry of constabulary activity behind Nick Robinson when he reports from outside Number Ten Downing Street Is it all choreographed - our Tell wants to know. It turns out that the police tend to"ham up" their shift changes so they can get on the telly: One of those who guards that
{Lynne Featherstone MP with Quenin Givens protesting against the Planning Bill} Yesterday it was a case of rain, rain go away - but it didn't. So trooped off to the Friends of the Earth stall in front of Wood Green library to show solidarity against the swingeing powers of the proposed new Planning Bill. Cutting to the chase - decisions about big developments will be taken away from local decision making and we local people won't even have a voice. Hence Quentin Givens being blind-folded and gagged in the photo. This is a really serious issue and as the Bill ...
... or very very dense. Either way I think I would be coming round just about now if I had been on the receiving end of this: Hat Tip: rugby dump
"The Possibility of Progress" (Mark Braund) Mark is an occasional writer on Comment is Free (often on LVT related economics issues) and author of a recent book called "The Possibility of Progess" 
I like Gordon Ramsay's TV shows. I set Sky + to record his excellent Kitchen Nightmare's program whenever it is on. Not only do I like him for his cooking, but also because is keen to tell people exactly what he thinks about their food, their effort and their attitude. So in fairness to Gordon, I'll be blunt about his program from last Friday night called "Cooking With Ramsay". it was truly shite. I understand that he wanted to have people able to cook along with him so his menu had to be fairly uncomplicated. However, his choice of menu ...
Conservative party leader, David Cameron is on record as saying that he thinks it is socially unacceptable for motorists to drink and drive. Socially unacceptable! Its more serious than that Mr Cameron, its down right dangerous and it should be against the law! According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, deaths from drink driving are now at their highest for a decade. So, whats to be done about it Perhaps we need less promotion and understanding about the risks involved and more changes in the law. Perhaps then and only then, will people like Cllr Roger Kerslake ...
Hat tip: Chris K
Welcome to the 48th of our weekly round-ups from the Lib Dem blogosphere, featuring the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (13th-19th January), together with a hand-picked quintet you might otherwise have missed. Here are the best-read posts this last week, in descending order:
Via BBC News: Metal detectors are to be installed at hundreds of schools in England as part of a drive to reduce knife crime. How could a teenager evade this complex piece of machinery and carry a knife in to school My suggestion is wear braces and they’ll expect you to set the alarm off. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Metal Detectors in Schools", url: });
Is this the saddest communist fan-site in history A site for political analysis and opinion of an avowedly liberal view. It's all about freedom.
Local residents will be aware of the Anti Social behaviour that we have recently had at Highland Road. Many issues have been brought to our attention on this matter including the amount of litter and Rubbish that had been left lying around. I have complained to both Somer Housing the landlords of many of the houses and Bath & North East Somerset Council about the problem and have...
I took the train over to Cambridge yesterday to attend the Campaign for Gender Balance Inspiration Day, which was attended by about 30 women from the east of England. I talked to them about my experiences as a woman in politics and in business. Its absolutely right that that the Party should put more effort into creating an elected presence which better reflects the society we live in. Ive never had a lot of patience with the line that this is all some kind of male conspiracy - whether its true or not, it doesnt actually advance us very far. ...
Andrew Sullivan has alerted me to this article by Mark Steyn and this quote in particular: "McCain's is a genuine national candidacy. Rudy's campaign announced itself as one, but, as I said a while back, it quickly turned into a 1-800 candidacy, rooted in no real area code, with no real physical presence, as if he'd outsourced the thing to a call center in Bombay." 
Last May, I wrote a piece about my concerns over trade talks between the European Union and the various South Pacific island nations. I wasn't against the notion, merely newly aware of the issues of isolated states with predominantly subsistence economies, where competition may overwhelm small-scale local producers. My 'reward' was to take flak from some of our more zealous defenders of a
Will somebody please ask the Government how much Brown's jaunt to China cost. Who footed the bill for the business leaders to go Why were they there Is this a corporatist state Will Gordon stop making promises he can't keep Trade up 300%. Ha. He doesn't have the right to choose that, we do. Trade is not some centrally controlled affair, it is the spontaneous beneficial relations between people in different countries. I would love trade with China to increase by 300% but there is little Brown can do to make that happen. He seems to think that he can ...
On the Andrew Marr show this morning Nick Clegg wheeled out one of his most-loved statistics during a discussion on inequalities in the NHS: "In Sheffield, the city where I’m an MP if you’re a child born in the poorest ward in Sheffield you will die, today, in two thousand and eight, fourteen years before a [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Clegg’s Oft Used Phrase: A Clanger", url: });
There have been a few personnel changes inside the GLA/Mayoral campaign. Tom Brake has taken over from Ed Davey as overall campaign Chair. This is a sensible move given Ed's promotion to Shadow Foreign Secretary and continuing overall national campaigns role. Andrew Reeves will act as full time Campaign Organiser. I think it is a wise move to have at least one of the campaigns department's full timers committing 100% to this. There are now only 3 and a half months of campaigning left. Emily Walch is running the Media/Press side and has access to PR and Policy support from ...
Somewhat unusually for me, I have been to the cinema twice in the past week, and there could not have been a bigger contrast between the two occasions. On Monday, I really enjoyed Charlie Wilson's War, which I had always planned to see. Sorkin's writing was characteristically entertaining, and all the actors gave admirable performances, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was witty, yet also tragic, with some retrospectively ominous lessons for the present day. Last night, I had planned to attend a performance of Verdi's Requiem at King's with some friends. The cheapest ticket that could be booked in advance ...
Last month, we asked if you’d promote LibDemVoice.org to your colleagues in your local party. We have refreshed the artwork a little, and are now able to offer an extra inducement. Every copy of a members’ newsletter including one of our ads (available in a wide variety of sizes) received in London by the end of [...]
When you buy goods from a trader, such as a shop or a supermarket, you enter into a contract. Having entered into that contract you know that there are many laws, which give you certain implied, or automatic, statutory rights. So, if those goods then fail to meet the standards that any reasonable person would expect, you are legally entitled to request one of the following remedies: A full refund, Compensation, Repair or replacement, Rescission or reduction in price. But what if you are not satisfied with the standard being provided by your local authority What then Write a letter ...
Labour has turned the UK into a Soviet tractor. To get something different we need to understand systems dynamics. An arresting image penned by Simon Caulkin, the management correspondent of The Observer. LibDems will find a lot of comfort and stimulation in his weekly pieces. His New Years bracketing articles could be seen as a submission to our new Leadership team. Tear up the (management) Textbook he says and gives examples that may give us pause. See his article today (Jan 20 2008) where he says (about the horrors of Labour style centralised command-and control management) . the most graphic ...
2008 is the year when there won't be a general election, unless something very strange happens. It will be the year for the parties to sharpen their positions and messages for 2009. Mind you, some commentators now believe the voters will not be going to the polls until 2010. That seems unlikely. Politicians don't like waiting until the last minute. It makes them look as though they have called an election when they had no choice. One way out of that is to have fixed term parliaments. During 2008 we will probably see more political pundits and parliamentarians making the ...
Lynne Featherstone expertly uses football to explain the case for fixed term Parliaments: It’s 80 minutes into an Arsenal-Tottenham football derby. Tottenham lead 1-0. Arsenal are piling on the pressure. The Tottenham manager shouts at the ref, “OK, that’s it – can we have the final score now please” The ref agrees, all the players troop [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Fixed Term Parliaments: An Analogy", url: });
A news story from the Liberal Democrats: Liberal Democrat Mayor candidate Brian Paddick has launched an online advertising campaign targeted at voters in London to mark the fourth anniversary of Ken Livingstone’s statement about reducing crime by 50%. Livingstone said he hoped the massive increase in his portion of council tax would result in crime being reduced [...]
The link is to a story in the Sunday Telegraph about the probable scrapping of targets for adoption from 1st April 2008. That does not, however, mean that suddenly everything will be OK. It is a step forwards, however. From the article: The number of newborn babies removed from their parents has almost doubled from 540 in 1995 to 1,400 in 2005/6. Yet the policy has failed to reduce the number
Lots of people, particularly the Tories seem to believe that there is a bias in the BBC's reporting of politics that is unfairly weighted against them, and some, rather ignorantly, hailed the return of the ITV News at Ten as a "counterweight" to the BBC. Only, the truth is that ITV's News at Ten have already shown a tendency to let the government off the hook for "favours". Although this hasn't stopped Sir Trevor McDonald (Stuffed Shirt of the Year 1989-2007) from managing to cause the cock up of the year and throwing away a golden opportunity for a scoop ...
Party leader Nick Clegg’s plan to appoint Greg Mulholland MP as the official Lib Dem spokesman for Seniors has found favour with the Senior Citizens Party. They stress that there are over 20 million people over fifty in Britain - some 43% of the voting population. Mulholland (38) commented on his own appointment, saying, “I am delighted [...]
Oh dear. The lack of metal detectors in our inner city schools is something that I’ve held on to as a symbol of the difference between the US and the UK, but all that could change with Jacqui Smith looking across the pond for her ideas. Yet, even the least intensive investigation into the effects of School Metal Detectors turned up a paper on the subject by Susan Friedfel from 1998: Many schools are hiring security personnel and employing technology in their chool security plans. Some schools have installed permanent metal detectors while others ave opted for hand held wand ...
This week I'm being topical again. Here are two totally different candidates with two totally different messages. On the one hand, here's Mitt Romney, who wants to change everything that's wrong with Washington at the minute. He wants more healthcare and less taxes. Who could possibly vote against that What's more, he's local. (For Michigan, anyway). And it's because he knows Michigan that it's so important someone has to fix what's wrong with Washington. I think that's a powerful message. Washington is broken. Romney is the man to fix it. Of course, there's an implicit did at John McCain there; ...
The BBC’s reporter on the Greenpeace ship following the Japanese whaling fleet is called Jonah.
I never thought I would be a character in a computer game but yesterday a good person drew my attention to Prime Minister Forever. Before I go on, I realise this post will be the nerdiest thing ever written in blogland, which is saying something. Anyone who thinks I’m reasonably normal, or even slightly cool and happening, may change [...]
{Andover Guildhall} The debate over the future of Andover’s Guildhall took a fresh turn this weekend when Andover Lib Dem councillors announced they would pay for using the Guildhall for councillors surgeries. Councillors surgeries, once held monthly, are now held fortnightly in the Upper Guildhall. The additional meetings were introduced at the request of Sir George Young MP who attends all the surgeries. The Lib Dems have long argued that the surgeries promoted and organised by Sir Georges office and North West Hants Tories are political and as such councillors should pay for the use of the room. Local Tories ...
Test Valley Borough Council have agreed to just two funfairs at Smannell Road open space this year. This follows some residents concerns about anti-social behaviour at last years fairs Funfairs will be held from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th April and from Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th September. At my request the organisers have agreed to extra conditions this year. This will include provision of public toilets and closer co-operation with police and neighbourhood wardens to prevent disorder. Smannell Road is the best location for a funfair but the rights of local residents must also be protected. I am pleased ...
Having been to school, lived in, and been a councillor in Hackney, I can honestly say that I have never been afraid to walk around there. I did live in Stoke Newington, which some residents will tell you is 'not really Hackney..' Clearly, like any woman, you need to exercise a degree of common sense, and not put yourself at unnecessary risk. There are, however, parts of Hackney, particularly estates, that I would not contemplate walking around late at night. The Home Secretary's comments, will not have instilled much confidence in members of the public who are forced to walk ...
It is always interesting to do a search to find out how people are coming to your blog. I think I might make it a weekly review of the most popular ways people got to my blog. So for week one, the search term "Cottaging in Norfolk", seems to be ever popular. Every other day I get at least one visit to this blog from someone who has typed that phrase in to Google or Yahoo. Presumably had my blog also gone on to mention "Dogging in Norfolk" or "Cottaging in Hampshire", then I would have got even more hits ...
Last week David Cameron unveiled the Tories' latest wheeze - the idea that those able to work but not doing so and claiming benefits should be forced into some form of "community work" to justify their benefits after a period. Two years on Job Seeker's Allowance is enough to prove someone either unemployable or simply lazy goes the line. In some quarters it was hailed, not doubt with the help of the party spin machine, as an end to the "something for nothing culture" that pervades the benefits system. Now, set aside for the moment the debate about whether this ...
Francois Mitterand, the dead former French President and Nazi collaborator in Vichy France during world war two, is to have his belongings sold in France to raise fund for a foundation named in his honour, presumably the "Hypocrites Foundation". This is, for all those with short memories, the Mitterand who claimed to be a good Europeans but always maintained he would stand up for decency and France, who had an illegitimate child, numerous extra-marital affairs, was a collaborator with the Fascist Vichy French regime, sanctioned the bombing of The Rainbow Warrior Greenpeace ship, allowed the French Army to support the ...
I have been exceptionally busy here in Tallinn, so inevitably blogging has been sparse. Indeed I missed all of the excitement on this very blog. I think it speaks volumes about what people think of Peter Hain, that even the rather tired joke about him on these pages has received such wide currency! The fact is that whatever happens now, Peter Hain is a politician who is well passed his sell-by date. In fact the entire government have that slightly stale smell about them. Even David Milliband our kid foreign secretary does not look fresh. Indeed his absence of gravitas ...
Something for the Weekend comes this week from my secret bunker, where I’m hiding from Lord Rennard. A group of Lib Dem colleagues and friends went on a birthday trip clay pigeon shooting yesterday where I broke the cardinal rule of office politics: don’t beat the boss. And saying Chris Rennard is a little bit competitive [...]
Not usually one to watch early morning telly on Sundays, but this morning I watched Nick interviewed by Andrew Marr. The theme now well developed by commentators, is to keep comparing Nick with Cameron. All very predictable, as inevitably the first part of any interview puts Nick in the position of having to explain ad nausea, the very distinct differences between Liberal Democrats led by Clegg, and the Tories led by Cameron. Answers have to be given on the use of 'language', ie 'giving power back to people'. Since when has this been a traditional Tory vision Nick highlighted our ...
Slightly disquieting to start a Sunday discovering the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has decided I’m no longer (or perhaps never was) a person, but there you go. The reason I’ve been know to be out after midnight in Hackney and - shock, horror - to be walking along the street. Apparently, no real people actually [...]
"We regret to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, the publication of The Astrological Magazine will cease with the December 2007 issue." Hat Tip: The Volokh Conspiracy
A Liberal Lady, currently in Italy, writing mostly in Italian, but with the occasional gem in a language I can understand beyond my pidgin A Level Latin!
Writing in this morning's Wales on Sunday, Matt Withers provides a cut-out-and-keep guide to the men who made Peter Hain's Deputy Leadership bid possible. They are: Neville Allport, the chief executive of finance company Picture Financial Services, which received a glowing endorsement from Mr. Hain in August 2005 for creating 200 jobs. This endorsement is now on their website and appears to be an integral part of their marketing strategy. The company offers to lend people up to 125 per cent of the value of their home (less their outstanding mortgage), something that many other lenders will not consider because ...
The news from the Faroe Islands is in. Turnout 89%. The results a four-horse race: Republican Party 23.3% / 8 seats Unionist Party 21.0% / 7 seats People’s Party 20.1% / 7 seats Social Democratic Party 19.4% / 6 seats (-1) Center Party 8.4% / 3 seats (+1) Independence Party 7.2% / 2 seats (+2) Students’ Party 0.7% / 0 seats Note: the [...]
Cllr Alan Connett, leader of Teignbridge District Council, writes a passionate piece about his opposition to concessionary fares for the over 60's in this week's Lib Dem News. Sounds great doesn't it An excellent top-up to the state pension. But at what price Is this unlimited travel really sustainable by the taxpayer From April of this year, all councils will be forced to join the scheme whether they choose to or not. I support the general idea, but not the fact that it's unlimited. Or compulsory for councils. Or the fact that the huge cost will mean cuts to other ...
When is a win a win That is the question. Hillary Clinton won 51% of the vote in Nevada, with Obama getting 45%. Yes due to the way Nevada chooses its delegates using a system based on constituencies, of Nevada's 25 delegates, Obama gets 13 delegates and Clinton 12 delegates. So it appears that despite Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote, Obama actually won Nevada.
I refer to "the people", but really I mean those Labour Party members in those constituencies who, after being merged, have chosen to have Hazel Blears as their candidate rather than the other local MP Ian Stewart. A look at her voting record shows her to be in favour of MP's being exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, pro war, anti people having the right to protest near parliament, and in favour of reducing scrutiny of parliament. On the other the record of Ian Stewart shows his voting record to be ... almost identical so he hardly helped his ...
Mid Worcestershire Liberal Democrats have now advertised for their Parliamentary Candidate.
Today’s Sunday Telegraph contains an op-ed piece from Nick Clegg on the future for the NHS: As it approaches its 60th birthday, the NHS is at a crossroads. As with all our public services under Labour, good intentions have gone awry under the iron fist of central control. Money has been poured in, but it hasn’t [...]
Today's result in the Nevada Democrat Caucus still has on face value little significance to the final outcome in the race to be the candidate for the US presidency, and to replace Dubya one year from now when his term ends. But it may have rather more impacet than expected. The significant factor is how badly Edwards has done. I repeat that pre Super Tuesday primaries are there to sort the wheat | < | January 2008 | > | ||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
