I have been amused to see that the end of our road is now adorned by a billboard announcing that Virgin Media (officially supplier of multimedia to the Wooley household) are the only broadband supplier with super-fast cable broadband. Unsurprisingly, ever since said billboard has gone up my connection has been slower than an arthritic snail. Hello, ASA 
The violence steps up a gear as the US embassy is set alight in Belgrade by a crowd claiming Kosovo has been "stolen". The UK embassy has also been assaulted, but it appears less severely.
Now it is time for a full scale inquiry and a naming, shaming, and jailing. Britain should not be a country associated in any way with torture. It is repugnant that it appears that our government turned a blind eye. That makes us complicit in the torture and holding without trial of scores, if not hundreds, if not thousands of people. Besides the moral argument, this fucks our soft power. Britain, former colonial overlord, we can deal with. Britain, America's dorky little brother who stands behind cheering as big brother smashes in somebodies face in the playground; that we can't ...
One of the issues discussed at last night's meeting of the Selly Oak Ward Committee was the possible return of a funfair to Selly Oak Park. The new Friends of Selly Oak Park group has been exploring the possibility of bringing the funfair, at least on a one-off trial. Funfairs have not been held in Selly Oak Park for a number of years (although some residents had happy memories from their
Remember this story James Purnell was busted claiming a 20k second home allowance on the flat he officially claimed was his first home when he sold it to avoid paying Capital Gains Tax. Why isn't this being followed up It looked very dodgy to me; why does no one seem to care Come on Guido, don't you want to get Hain's successor too
Hillary Benn, who has always struck me as an pretty ethical kinda guy, has changed his tune considerably. When he did his good work as Secretary of State for International Development he railed against CAP for effectively discriminating hugely against third world farmers, massively damaging economic and social development in the Developing world. Now he's the boss of DEFRA he is opposing the EU plan to limit CAP payments to any individual farm at 300,000 Euros. Very sensible, I hear you say. Why should Prince Charles received a couple of millions quid from the tax payer for his considerable land ...
The visit of Jose, banana producer from the Dominican Republic, draws closer. Queen's Campus of Durham University here in Stockton is hosting the evening. Their catering department along with 2 of their Fairtrade suppliers are sponsoring the refreshments. Invitations are going out all over the Tees Valley and we hope to fill the lecture theatre for the evening. For any reader who hasn't yet
‘The cult of Cable’ - rather sweetly profiled by The Guardian’s Michael White yesterday - comes to tonight’s BBC Question Time (broadcast on BBC1 and online from 10.35 pm GMT). And what better week could there be for Vince to be a guest, with Labour having finally accepted the Lib Dem shadow Chancellor’s advice to [...]
Listen to the show: In this weeks Realpolitik podcast with Richard Holloway and myself The nationalisation of Northern Rock comes a cropper, with the LibDems possibly withdrawing their support. Is the Speaker doomed Blair for EU President! Dutch DNA data goes missing in the UK. UK helps the US extraordinary rendition programme. New poll and public apathy. The podcast was recorded on Thursday [...]
After a long day of chairing interviews for a senior director at the Town Hall, I sat down in the evening to eat my chicken saag masala, while flicking through Grazia magazine. Front page feature on Amy Winehouse, and as a big fan of hers was pleased to read she seems to be overcoming her addiction problems, and peforming well. I got to a page on Courtney Cox Arquette. She is the dark haired Monica from Friends. Apparently her friends are worried about her health as she's lost weight, and her life has been 'blighted by ....problems and lukewarm professional ...
Very early start this morning (4.30am!) to go up to Pitlochry to help with early morning polling day leaflet deliveries in the Highland Ward by-election for Perth & Kinross Council. Lightly drizzling rain but otherwise a pleasant start to the day. Back to Dundee in time for a site visit to Barnhill to see the new rapid rhino road pothole repairs system in action and very impressed with the finished result, creating a permanent repair rather than the traditional pothole repair which often fails, resulting in repeated patching over a period of time. The other positive outcome is the financial ...
It’s been another week of bad news for Islington’s post offices. On Tuesday, the Post Office unveiled their latest plans for closures in London. Islington is set to lose two branches on Caledonian Road to the west of the borough, plus three just over the Hackney border - Murray Grove, Blackstock Road and Wilton [...]
For those who believe climate change is real, man-made and reversible, it constitutes a huge public policy challenge, and is the greatest challenge facing humanity at present, and for the foreseeable future. For those who believe either that it is non-existent, or that it is but is not man-made, or that it is but is irreversible, environmentalists are often seen as deluded, self-righteous do-gooders at best, and a threat to order, prosperity and liberty at worst. The reason that climate change is such an impossible issue is that, unlike poverty in Africa, homelessness in the UK or repressive dictatorships in ...
Chris Davies this morning said on Today that, on the basis of the evidence (albeit without names attached) of fraud that he has seen, MEPs "will be imprisoned". Strong stuff.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has voted to oppose Post Office closures in the district. A Liberal Democrat motion calling for the Council to speak out in the consultation process, which begins on Monday, and recruit the support of local MPs, was overwhelmingly adopted. "Post Offices are of intrinsic value to communities and are one of the things which help define a community'...
First up, news of the Tories being ejected from the town hall in Southampton: The Conservatives have lost control of Southampton City Council. The change came as the full council met on Wednesday to agree the 2008/9 budget and fix the new council tax rate. Liberal Democrat and Labour members joined forces to oust the [...]
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg answered The Guardians questions in their environmental (and virtual) Green Room today. We learn that Nicks carbon footprint is getting smaller, that he enjoys catching the train, would love an electric scooter, and that he speaks five languages (something sme of us may have heard before). Click here for the [...]
New research reported in the Guardian today shows that there are no harmful effects for middle-class children who go to local state schools. Middle-class parents who want their child to mingle with working class kids may be dissapointed, however, as they often choose friends from similar backgrounds who have more in common with them. After all, you can't be friends with someone who only receives a third of the pocket money you do, that would be just be so annoying. Are private schools really worth the astronomical fees they charge
It's the longest word in the English language and I think it describes the position I am about to take here, There is a certain style of politics - common in Lib Dem circles but by no means confined to them - which I have come increasingly to reject. It involves speculating at an abstract theoretical level about what an ideal constitution would look like, how schools should be organised or the proper relations between church and state. The thinker then looks at the real world, discovers that its institutions do not match the models that he has come up ...
The Home Secretary braved the mean streets of Islington the other week, well Upper Street at least, with a mere half dozen police in attendance. She was here to launch the latest strategy on alcohol abuse. Today the BMA is suggesting a crackdown on cheap alcohol pricing. If the Governments serious about tackling the booze [...]
Oh goodness me. Just when you have been lulled into a false sense of security, up pops Anne Atkins Radio 4's "Thought for the day". Oh crikey. As usual, I have to brace myself and remind myself not to be judgmental, before I have heard what she has got to say. So, I try to ignore the smug, patronising and sanctimonious tone and the hushed, melodramatic delivery which seems to be designed to
Ah bless. I get two phone calls from Symantec within seven minutes of each other. Only a pessimistic dog would mind that neither knew the other one was ringing me but both were ringing me for exactly the same reason. It's great to know that Symantec Customer Support loves me so much it is doing things in duplicate now! Woof woof! Or should I say: woof woof woof woof! And I'm so happy I really won't mention how the caller I talked to about my problems with Symantec Customer Service (computer) kept on ignoring them in the phone conversation.
Ming told to sex his memoirs up...
How did I miss this story Two Russian bombers have flown over an American aircraft carrier in the pacific. Read the story . And watch the AP report below.
The Lib Dem MEP for the North West may not be every blogger's favourite Lib Dem (I'll name no names) but he's doing some excellent work on behalf of the people of Europe by uncovering the shameful "expenses abuses". Whilst I disagree with Chris on many matters, this is really the work of a top notch Parliamentarian. We should be very proud and hope he succeeds and manages to clean up Brussels. More information here, and here. 
It seems that Ming Campbell is the new favourite to head the new commission looking into the possibility of extending the powers of the Scottish Parliament. This is a cross-party initiative involving Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories. Today's Scotsman elaborates: A plan to appoint a former High Court judge has been all but ruled out as party leaders prefer the idea of someone with political experience. A Labour figure close to the decision said last night: "We need to have someone who is credible. Ming Campbell has that." Another Labour source said: "We don't want somebody who could ...
Earlier today I received an e-mail designed to persuade me to sign up to an online "VIP Casino". It came from a Tory Bird. Well done, my dear.
Nick Clegg was on Channel 4 last night, explaining why he's against ID cards - you can watch what he had to say on YouTube by clicking here.
A BBC article from Tuesday reports that the speaker in the House of Commons, Michael Martin, is being investigated by the standards watchdog for using 'air miles' for personal use. The complaint has been brought by Michael Barnbrook, a member of the BNP. He is also nipping at the ankles of Tory MP couple Mr & Mrs Winterton for issues surrounding expenses & their mortgage. A thorny issue, this, as MPs are allowed help with their housing costs - some take it all the way and use it to pay towards a mortgage, entirely forgetting that money occasionally comes attached ...
I cant wait for the Liverpool Conference to finish, and it hasnt even started yet. Why I'll tell you why. Since the nominations for the Gender Balance Blog Awards were announced it seems that barely a day has gone by without one female blogger or another reminding me that they have been short-listed for this or that award. I have already voted! And I didnt vote for anyone who begged for my vote. Nor did I vote for anyone who, in my opinion, had been nominated purely because they were a woman. Not for the merit of their post or ...
Continuing my run of personal announcements, and as revealed by Iain Dale on a Tory Radio podcast yesterday, I’m going to be joining the new political magazine and website Total Politics in May (i.e. once my LLM degree is over). Iain describes the new venture in the following terms: "The magazine is meant to be a [...]
David Miliband has today acknowledged that two "extraordinary rendition" flights landed in the UK in 2002, a fact previously denied by the Government. There were no lies involved...just 'misplaced knowledge' you understand. The UK colluding with America in cases of torture What an 'unfortunate' mistake to make. In their own words, of course.
On Wednesday 13th February the Chairman and Representatives of the Mid-Somerset Competitive festival and Chief Executive of Bibs had a photograph with me in the Parlour over a cup of tea handing over the Mayors Badge as the each Mayor becomes the President in their year in office. They have worked together for several years to keep the important part of the cultural life of...
The primary focus of the next Belsize Local Area Forum will be transport movements in and around Belsize. Are we happy with traffic management in our neighbourhood Is the Belsize 20 mph zone working Should it be extended Do we need more traffic control measures to make it work properly Should we split the CAB Controlled Parking Zone in two because its too big Come and give your views at the Belsize Local Area Forum on Wed 12 March at 7pm in Burnham Residents Hall on Fellows Road.
www.e-day.org.uk (27-28 February) 
The recent massive profits posted by British Gas owner, Centrica, underline once more the need for effective regulation of energy companies. According to their announcement they made £571 million profit last year, up from £95m on 2006. This is a 540% increase at a time when prices for British Gas customers have recently risen by 15%. It is scandalous that energy companies are making such huge profits at the expense of their customers, many of whom are struggling to pay their fuel bills. The recent hikes in gas and electricity prices are hitting some of the most vulnerable people in ...
Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies has spoken out at the levels of fraud uncovered in the European Parliament in a report he has seen. The document, which is yet has not been placed in the public domain, reports that an estimated £100 million has been paid out, be cannot be properly accounted for. This £100 million relates to allowances and staff costs which have, in at least one case, been paid out to an MEP who did not even employ any staff. Chris Davies said of this "Let's be quite honest. I think the allegations within this report from our ...
Nick Clegg used his Political Slot on Channel 4 last night to discuss his opposition to the Government’s identity cards and database. If you missed it, you can watch it right here via the Liberal Democrats’ YouTube account: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=LONA3Acc5js
I’m not the biggest fan of rendition, extraordinary or otherwise,which is why I’m disappointed by today’s announcement by Foreign Secretary David Miliband that the UK has been complicit, albeit seemingly not knowingly, in the practice, by allowing two flights carrying detained persons to refuel at the British dependent territory of Diego Garcia. For those uninitiated in [...]
The Guardian has an interesting article about the links - both real and imagined - between Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign, and the fictional Matt Santos Presidential campaign in The West Wing. Of course, as anyone who’s seen series 7 of The West Wing will remember, if the links continue Obama may find it hard to persuade anyone to be his running mate, and if you happen to live near an American nuclear power plant, it might be a good idea to think about moving something soon.
It is with vast pleasure that I announce the cast for London's Regional Conference on 18 March. You would expect our Mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, of course. However, we also have our new Leader's London debut, four members of the House of Lords (the noble Lords Rennard and Tope, plus the noble Ladies Hamwee and Ludford), a member of the European Parliament and our London spokesperson in the
A small but perfectly formed poll on PinkNews.co.uk puts Lib Dem mayoral hopeful into City Hall this May. Although Labour’s Ken Livingstone wins a plurality of votes, he fails to get over the threshold of 50% needed in the first round for an Supplementary Vote win. Second-placed Paddick takes enough second-preference votes to push him a hair-breadth [...]
The Tories have raced ahead of Labour for the period Oct/Nov/Dec 2007 with a whopping £11,294,900.45 against £5,921,561.83 for Labour and £1,427,467.92 for the Lib Dems. The largest donations to the Tories were: £ 2,990,582.20 Irvine Laidlaw (This is a previous loan now converted into a donation). Lord Laidlaw is a well established and somewhat controversial donor. £ 508,094.00 IPGL Ltd City Index, again regular though rather capricious donors founded by Stuart Wheeler. Donations from this source have totalled over £5,000,000 over the years £ 347,624.53 Malcolm Scott (Treasurer of the Scottish Party) £ 279,750.00 Michael Farmer, A previous major ...
The Foreign Secretary will confirm that UK territory has been used for the extraordinary rendition of suspected terrorists.
We all know that people are pissed off with the way things are going. Voters in the US, the UK and elsewhere keep telling pollsters that their countries are on the wrong track. But they dont necessarily want big policy changes. The voters are finding their own solution (as they inevitably do): get in some new faces at the top, without risking policy shocks. They are also more and more interested in leaders from a new generation who are untainted by old arguments and who carry less political baggage than whats already on offer. Senator Barack Obama, with his offer ...
Answer one of the questions below. You have 30 minutes. Do not be one of the stupid kids that answer all the questions. There will be no oral test, coz dey are well stressful. Question 1: Orange By Name has two friends called Tristan. Try calling, they may come. If one friend has a blog, and the other is a student in a band, according to Dadaist theory, is the blog actually art and the band anti-art Question 2: An Iain Duncan-Smith exists. Discuss. Question 3: Is Question 2 a question Question 4: Read this review of The Shrieking Violets ...
Recently, there's been a fair amount of publicity given to a case about a compulsive gambler who lost around £2m in William Hill (famously due to putting £347k on the USA to win the '06 Ryder Cup - the largest ever golf bet on the worst ever US Ryder Cup team). This has shed partially a light on the practices of bookmakers, but I'd like to focus on one particular element - Fixing results and then putting lots of money on the result on exchange sites such as Betfair (hence the punning name). Now some sports are very very difficult ...
Ok a quick question. How long does one have too wait for "as soon as possible to be over" The reason we Smannell Lib Dems ask is on Monday the Area Highways Engineer instructed his staff to clean the signs at Smannell and Little London "as soon as possible" following County Councillor gettting angry with the state of the highways street signs and what is called "furniture" in the parish. Now 4 working days later here is the said sign at Little London looking even grubbier than when we reported. Hampshire is a 4 star council, with a big thirst ...
My "Save our Back Gardens" petition was discussed at the Development Control Committee yesterday. I'm very pleased that it received full support from all the members, across the political parties. The main point I made was that Kingston's planning policies are not strong enough to stand up against all applications, especially when they go to appeal. Character Area Studies...
A series of revelations highlighted the current crisis caused by prison overcrowding: · The Government has ordered that dangerous criminals on indeterminate sentences be moved to lower-security prisons · Figures from a ministerial written statement show that the Government is asking for an extra £35m to cope with the costs of Operation Safeguard (Previous parliamentary questions by the Liberal Democrats revealed that the Government spent £28 million on Operation Safeguard in 2007) · A report published today last Wednesday by the BMA says that prisoner safety is being put at risk by the Governments inhumane, expensive and overstretched use of ...
So the USA calls for democracy in Palestine. Hamas wins the election in Gaza and the US decides that maybe democracy should be put on hold in Gaza. Then the USA calls for elections in Pakistan. Pakistanis vote in what are widely accepted as pretty free, fair elections and the party of the increasingly autocratic former general who seized power nine years ago is defeated. The USA shuffles nervously, looks at its feet and calls on the victorious parties, er, not to depose the corrupt president who has held up these elections for ages and who removed the country's independent ...
"7.56% is the real tax increase Bath & North East Somerset Council residents are facing this year", this is because a Conservative budget was approved by full council on 19th February 2008 despite Liberal Democrats voting against after failing to get other opposition parties to agree to amendments that would have softened the blow. Directly, residents are going to be charged a 3.95%...
Because of outside commitments, Richard and I were unable to record this week’s Realpolitik podcast last night. But don’t worry, you won’t miss your regular dose of inane chatter and half-baked political analysis, as we’ll be recording it tonight and it should be up by tomorrow morning.
“Overstretched, underpaid and over there” might be an appropriate modern-day take on the infamous line of the Second World War, used in its original form to describe American GIs in Britain. With intense operations on two fronts, in Afghanistan and Iraq, combined with the cumulative effects of underinvestment by consecutive Conservative [...]
In a shapshot, heres what was agreed at last nights Budget Council: - a Council Tax rise of 3.4% from 1st April. This is a significantly lower rise than in recent years - which is good. - A discount for the over 65s of 3.4% off their council tax. - The ability for people to pay their council tax in 12 installments, not 10 as is the case now, if they want. - More money to pay for pressures on services for disabled people, more money (thanks to the Lib Dems!) for environmental issues like parks, street cleaning and environmental ...
Last night was “Budget Council” for Bury MBC. This is probably the most important meeting each year for a local Council as it is when Councillors set the full budget for the following year. In a shapshot, here’s what has been agreed: - a Council Tax rise of 3.4% from 1st April. This is a significantly lower rise than in recent years - which is good. - A discount for the over 65s of 3.4% off their council tax. - The ability for people to pay their council tax in 12 installments, not 10 as is the case now. - ...
The Daily Telegraph has just blown the whistle on the widespread and criminal abuse of expenses by MEPs in the European Parliament. So endemic is the extent of the fraud, it is claimed, that the Report which documents it can only be seen by Members of the Budget Control Committee in a secret Bond-style room accessable only by having your thumb prints and eyeballs scanned. I asked around. It's on PHS Second Floor, if office gossip is to be believed. Maybe someone will leave the door open. It wouldn't be the first time security here were lax. But I digress. ...
Not this one - this one. And probably not. But still…
The frequency with which my fellow blogger, Nick Wallis, a Labour Party Cabinet member, attacks the Lib Dems on his blog, illustrates the success our small group is having in getting under the skin of the Labour Group. I wouldn't normally bother to refer to his blog here, but his latest broadside so misrepresents the facts that I must grit my teeth and do so. With regard to the Post Office
Last night Bury Council was stunned by a grossly irresponsible proposal from Bury Labour to cut funding for children, vulnerable adults, and vital reserves, to achieve the headline-grabbing and cheap stunt of a nil-increase Council Tax. Their tactics must be seen in their true light dangerous and short-sighted populism designed to do nothing more than win votes. Labour will claim that their budget is sustainable. They will claim that it is the sensible answer to our problems. But it isnt. It is a cheap political stunt designed to lure peoples trust. It is, in typical New Labour style, ...
The speech below was to second the Lib Dem amendment to last night’s Budget motion. The Lib Dem amendment ensured £350,000 of extra funding for Children’s and Environmental services whilst keeping the Council Tax rise at 3.4%. Cllr Pickstone’s speech dealt with the Children’s element of the proposal, and mine with the Environmental side. “Mr Mayor, once again this Council comes together to set a budget. Its an important thing that we do. It should not be treated with disrespect. My colleague Cllr Pickstone has made it very clear that although the proposed budget has some positive elements, having studied it the one ...
Bury Liberal Democrats broke new ground last night, ensuring the largest investment in the Councils budget from any third party in the history of the Council. In a budget amendment proposed by Group Leader Cllr Tim Pickstone, the Lib Dems ensured that £350,000 would be invested in services for the most vulnerable in our society, and to protect the environment and keep our Borough clean, safe and green. We earmarked a quarter of a million pounds to reverse dangerous Conservative cuts to Childrens Services which would have drastically cut back the numbers of youth workers, social workers and ...
Last night, prior to the Budget Council meeting, I spoke to the Council’s Director of Environmental Services. He said that he was confident of a start to the promised (and much delayed) deep clean of Prestwich Village on Sunday evening, and if not then, very shortly afterwards. We live in hope… Rick
In the summer plans are afoot to try and stem the tide of the so-called sick-note culture which affects the UK. Doctors will be urged to try and find ways to write a well-note, outlining what parts of the job a patient can do, or steps to be taken to try and get the patient back to work (and off benefits) as soon as possible. While some see this as asking doctors to 'police' the benefits system, I can't help wondering if our sick-note culture is the price we pay for our 24-7 lifestyle. A longer, harder look at our ...
Just heard Chris Davies MEP on the radio this morning saying how he had asked the EU’s anti-fraud office OLAF to look at cases of where MEPs have mis-used their secretarial allowances.Basically the nub of his final argument was well the up-right British (and the Scandinavians who are like us anyway) are playing by the [...]
Locally we are used to lots of success - on the streets, campaigning for residents and of course in the ballot box. But in the six years I've been a councillor, success in votes at council meetings has been harder to come by - thanks to the Haringey Labour bloc vote. But as I said earlier in the week, we had some good successes at Full Council on Monday. We tabled three emergency motions, two of which got passed. Haringey Labour had to agree that leaving hundreds of personal records lying around what is now a squat is not acceptable ...
This morning I received a rather sad email. Cllr Tony Floyd, Lib Dem district councillor for Comeytrowe, Taunton. Tony Floyd died at his home on Tuesday after a six-year battle with cancer. For those that didnt know Tony this is his story. Tony was born in Worcestershire and moved to Taunton when his parents took on a grocer's in Bridge Street. He was head boy at Huish's Grammar School and went to Nottingham College of Education. He was a PC in Frome before teaching in Swindon, Bishop Fox's Grammar School for girls, Clevedon Comprehensive School, and Monkton Priors School, where ... | < | February 2008 | > | ||||
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