The Traidcraft Shop is open again in Middlesbrough, thanks to the determination and hard work of Jenny Medhurst and a dedicated band of volunteers. What a treat it is too, with a good selection of Christmas and other cards; unusual decorations; lots of jewellery; even more chocolate; and gifts from round the world, large and small. I had gone to buy Fairtade choc bars for our...
Antedote to the X-Factor Wham/George Michael efforts ...!
It would be worthwhile to compare the headlines in the Sun, Mail and Express of a week or two ago with those that greeted the actual appointment of the first full time president of the European Council and the high representative for foreign affairs. One moment we were being told of our pending subjugation to an all-powerful president of a European superstate, and the next we were being insulted by having a person of such low profile appointed to chair meetings of the prime ministers. Most of the work of coordinating EU activities will still be carried out by whichever ...
The Lib Dems' deputy leader Vince Cable is the cover star of the December issue of Total Politics, trailing a feature interview with the Tory blogger we all love to name-check, Iain Dale. Here's a taster: Do you see the Liberal Democrats as a centre-left party? No, I don't use that description. I know some of my colleagues have in the past. There are some areas where we are, to use the jargon, centre-left progressive. A redistributive approach to taxation is obviously one of them, but there are other respects in which we are genuinely liberal, which puts us on ...
Yesterday I got the papers through from RBC in connection with the licence review of the Kings Tavern on Kings Road. This is a serious chapter in the recent troubled history of this venue as the latest application for a review of the licence comes from Superintendent Steve Kirk of Thames Valley Police. The grounds for the review are set out as follows in the agenda papers: 'Thames Valley Police have serious concerns that firstly, an unauthorised Licensable Activity has been carried out at the premises otherwise than authorised and secondly that ther is an unsuitable Designated Premises Supervisor, resulting ...
I have to admit that I hadn't exactly expected to do anything more than attend the ELDR Congress, take a few notes and otherwise listen to some speeches. Indeed, I took in the working group on the theme resolution in the expectation that it would be interesting, informative and make good reportage. I didn't expect to have to do very much. However, as it appeared that virtually all of our delegation had other plans for their time, I became the second spokesperson for our group on the resolution itself, with Gordon Lishman leading. Fortunately, Gordon is good on the political ...
For those of you who don't know, I am a fan of Tranmere Rovers Football Club and have been for a heck of a long time, almost since Dixie Dean played for them in the 1920s. It's been the worst start to the season that I can remember, and almost inexplicably so! We beat The Orient mid-week and lose to them today! Why, oh why, oh why?
On the one hand we have 1,000 year floods in Cumbria and on the other the world's politicians failing to reach agreement in Copenhagen on a deal to avert dangerous or runaway climate change. Makes you think doesn't it? Not waving but drowning, I'd say.
Plymouth schools do not get their fair share of investment. In fact, there are 107 councils in England that get more money per pupil than Plymouth, many of them much richer areas than our city. Take Kensington & Chelsea, for example. It's one of the richest places not only in England, but probably in the World. Yet, despite this, central government gives K&C an average of £5,956 per child to spend on education in that borough. In the City of London - home to the richest banks on the planet - they get £7,603 per pupil for education. Here in ...
Five of years ago we all marvelled at the pace of technology when it was announced that Currys would stop stocking video recorders. Then manufacturers stopped producing cathode ray tube TVs. Now one specialist manufacturer of audio equipment has announced it will stop making CD players, such is the dominance and better quality of digital music. The fact that Blu-Ray players also play DVDs mean that DVDs still have some life left in them, but it does make me wonder what the next technology to be dropped will be.
Pouring rain did not spoil the fun at the switching on of Redcar's Christmas lights. Grandson Daniel with his friend Bob the Builder Granddaughter Jessica with dad Ashley Granddaughter Charlotte (brown coat) sang carols with fellow Lakes Primary School pupils
I've been in touch recently with local parents who educate their children at home, and quite frankly I'm feeling for them right now. They & parents like them take onto themselves the colossal responsibility of educating their own children. As parents, they have decided that that is best for their children. They should be supported. Yet the Government is proposing a new law that will set up a big new registration system for them. This will cost bags of money, of course, that won't then be available for educating children. It also seems to run the risk of officials starting ...
Got a very welcome email from Jonathan Fryer, Chair elect of the London Liberal Democrats, and delegate at the ELDR (European Liberal Democrat) Congress in Barcelona: Jonathan's blogged about this , but think its of significance, and sets out a clear position, where we've only heard warm woolly words. He says: "We passed a resolution clearly stating our support for Turkey´s accession to the European Union, as well as calling for more EU efforts to further a settlement of the Cyprus situation and an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. The motion as passed was the product of negotiations ...
Vince Cable has been interviewed by Iain Dale for this month's Total Politics magazine. The full interview is available to read HERE. I love his refreshing honesty in dealing with a question from Iain which seemed to imply that he was inconsistent. Vince, unlike most politicians, simply says that he was proved wrong by the extreme financial mess we were in and he changed his mind accordingly. If only a few more politicians could be less entrenched. Iain Dale : "In September 2008, you said the government must not compromise the independence of the Bank of England by telling it ...
Earlier today Cllr Dr Rodney Berman, leader of the Welsh Local Government Association's Liberal Democrat Group, issued the following press release. Me thinks the Local Government Boundary Commission may have a little explaining to do... A failure to understand how to compare different ratios has led to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales wrongly proposing cuts to the number of councillors in at least two Welsh local authorities to date. And in doing so, the Commission appears to have wasted valuable time and public money producing draft proposals that may have to be ruled out as invalid, with ...
Last night was a regular monthly meeting of Friends of Garston Park. Our next one is 18th December. We usually use meet at Long Lane Church although we're checking whether we can for this one. We have a website -www.fogp.blogspot.com where I'll post meeting details when I have them. Next steps for the group include the very boring but necessary and the very creative. On the boring side we are sorting out our constitution and our bank account. This will put us on the sort of footing that means we can apply for grants. On the more creative side plans ...
I'll be going to this dinner which has been organised by Cllr. John Russell to celebrate the life of his father, Conrad, Liberal Democrat peer and historian. Other very welcome to come too. The price of the £50 ticket includes reception and dinner. Bookings in advance only. Guest speakers: David Starkey CBE, FSA, Baroness Sally Hamwee and Councillor John Russell. Tickets available from: Cllr. John Russell, 22 Thorpewood Avenue, London SE26 4BX. Tel: 07951 024588 Cllr_John.Russell@lewisham.gov.uk Please make cheques payable to Lewisham Liberal Democrats
With grateful thanks to Rob who has uploaded this to www.seabraesfireworks.co.uk, here's a video of today's West End Christmas Week Balloon Launch for the P1s at our local schools - ably led by local singer Chris Sinclair!
I have a new sponsor. That is all.
The launch of the West End Christmas took place this morning with a Community Fayre at Dundee West Church - at which no less than eighteen community and local organisations took part. The turnout of local people was absolutely superb - a great start to Christmas Week! On Tuesday evening, the Christmas Concert, Lights Switch On, Fireworks and Carnival all take place - don't miss it! Above : Community Fayre in full swing! Above : The Church Christmas Coffee Morning also had a great turnout! Above : Me making the "Digital UK" prize draw with Alan Cowie of Digital UK! ...
OK, cards on the table time: I'm an Arsenal fan who doesn't give a rat's arse about international matches (particularly the meaningless ones in which pivotal Arsenal players always seem to pick up injuries). For that reason I haven't really become overly excited about the Thierry Henry incident in the World Cup Qualifier between France ...
This is a message I recieved from Pace - the parents & carers group at Ewing. As you are aware the statutory notice has been issued, and we only have a very limited time to appeal against the decision to close our school. The School's profile and the campaign now more than ever need to be raised even higher. We have organized an awareness day for the 27th November between 10am and 2pm. We plan to take our banners and placards to the junction of Lapwing Lane and Palatine Road, which is just round the corner from school. We have ...
[IMG: Plymouth CityBus] Tory-run Plymouth City Council has now published the terms on which they plan to sell CityBus off to the private sector. You can read their press statement HERE, which also links to the full report. What jumps out at me? Well, for starters the fact that existing routes are only guaranteed to continue for six months. After that period of protection... which takes us until after the next set of elections to the council... the new private owner would just have to give the council 90 days' notice to make changes. School routes get slightly more protection, ...
Any Questions was very entertaining this week. They had Harriet Harman on. I actually felt sorry for her at one point, as she was asked about using mobile phones in cars. Quite rightly, she refused to answer (even managing to avoid to use the words 'sub judice'). But her explanation of the Fiscal Responsibility Bill did not evince sympathy. Does she think we are thick? She spent a lot of time telling us why deficits need to be reduced and attacking the Tory party for their inheritance tax plans. We got a sentence to say that having a bill would ...
According to today's Guardian the Tories are in a bit of trouble over the badly-thought through plans to create elected police commissioners. Some might say that they have been watching too many Batman films (yes, I know Commissioner Gordon wasn't elected) but for the Association of Chief Police Officers it is a bit more serious than that. They believe that the Tory proposals will damage the fight against crime and cause resignations from the service. The incoming president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde has warned that some of his members will quit because they believe ...
The BBC report on a report by Consumer Focus Wales which warns that there is a risk of a growing digital divide for the 750,000 adults in Wales who either cannot or choose not to use the internet. The report found 67% of households in Wales have a home internet connection and 94% of these internet connections are broadband. People aged 35-44 are most likely to have a home internet connection (83%) and 37% use a computer outside the home. However the one in three Welsh households which lack internet access could miss vital information and better deals in goods ...
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader, Kirsty Williams has an article on Wales Home in which she calls for cross-party co-operation to get a referendum in place by autumn 2010 so as to secure the future of devolution: The challenge for yes campaigners is to probe beyond the party politics and ask "is it right that such decisions are made in Wales?". And this is perhaps the most compelling reason to hold the referendum in 'peace time' between ordinary elections. If held too close to the Assembly election in 2011, the question of further powers will inevitably be muddied with debate about ...
A gem from Jonathan Calder today. Turns out he was the ward councillor where Martin Johnson grew up. So it's thanks to Jonathan that the pavements were in a good state, as a result of which Martin Johnson didn't get broken ankles and legs at an early age, as a result of which he was able to lead England to a World Cup victory. Never let it be said that bloggers under-rate their own influence [IMG: :-)]
Highways officials are now processing this after my protests. A letter is being sent to residents. [IMG: churchill-jennings-tro-1.jpg] [IMG: churchill-jennings-tro-2.jpg]
Iain Dale: So you don't do what Ming Campbell used to do every morning when he was shaving and think: "God, I wish I'd stood against Charles Kennedy?" Vince Cable: No, absolutely not, I genuinely don't. I quite enjoyed the 'acting leader' period, and did quite well, but I've got a very full role. Read the whole thing in Total Politics.
Victoria was here all day yesterday very kindly and usefully helping with paperwork, and is coming back again next Tuesday. My leg continues to make good progress, and I have abandoned the crutches for a stick around the house. I'm still sleeping on my back, an unnatural position for me, which makes me snore loudly and has compelled Lindsay to sleep in the spare room. I'm intending to have a short trip in the car to see if I have any difficulty with the leg movements that are necessary for driving, but I don't anticipate that there will be any. ...
FOOTWAY REPAIRS: Definitive Footpath St Albans City 25 Note from Hertfordshire Highways Hertfordshire Highways intend to carry out resurfacing works to the definitive footpath, known as St Albans City 25, that commences from Bernard Street between No. 29 and No. 31, runs west between houses, walls and garden fences and ends at Dalton Street opposite No. 27. Work will take place between 08.30 and 16.30 on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th November 2009. While works are in progress, the footpath will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Access to property will still be available but residents may face delays when critical ...
The Daily Telegraph has further information today about former Conservative Minister David Curry. Curry, a former agriculture minister, was appointed chairman of the dairy industry's lobbying organisation Dairy UK in May 2005. He was contacted by the official who oversees the Register of Members' Interests, and asked to sign a declaration that the directorship was within ...
There's no prize at stake - just the opportunity to prove you're wittier than any other LDV reader ... [IMG: nick clegg microscope] Here's Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg campaigning in Winchester - what do you think he might be saying/thinking? The winner of the most recent caption competition, Nick Clegg's desk-job (according to The Voice's judging panel of one) - Andy Mayer.
From BBC News: Cocaine-snorting rabbi "lonely"
The House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee, which is tasked by the House of Commons to scrutinise the Department for Communities and Local Government, is conducting an inquiry into the Government's Decent Homes Programme. As part of that inquiry, the Committee are visiting Stockport on Monday 23 November 2009 to find out more about how the programme is working on the ground, and how councils and ALMOs are handling the funding and management challenges of the programme. The Committee is particularly interested in views on how the programme should look after 2010, given the lessons which have been ...
The Council are setting up a mobile advice centre at Morrison's on Wednesday 25th November. Essential guidance regarding applications for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, pension credit, free school meals and secondary-school clothing grants will be given by advisors. There will also be a great deal of advice for people who need to keep warm this winter or save money on fuel bills. The advisors will be there between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
This is yet another example of the Government making empty promises to our Armed Forces," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary. The first Annual Report on the Governments' Command Paper on services provided to the Forces, their families and veterans, published today, reports that: The Royal British Legion considers that 'little effective progress has been made ...
I was invited to St James' Church, Muswell Hill, to talk to a new group that has formed to engage in a variety of topics - this one being about politics generally - and politics and religion. In our modern world - new challenges arise as we battle with where the right place is to draw the line between legislating to prevent discrimination - and the freedoms we treasure to believe and practise whichever faith we may follow. An example would be the relatively recent case of a registrar whose religious beliefs led to her refusing to perform a civil ...
Argleton, Lancashire still only exists on Google Maps. But it's now got it's own blog: Argleton – Gateway to the North. The latest posting says that Argleton boasts the last remaining Woolworths in the country with chart CDs at only £5! On its "About" page, the blog says: Argleton is an exciting new town near Ormskirk. Previously believed to be a figment of a map makers imagination Argleton looks set to become the hippest area in Lancashire with rumours of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both looking for property locally. Move over Freshfields and Formby. Argleton is the newest property ...
I am at the first Lib Dem Bloggers Unconference, which is being held at the Scottish party's office in Edinburgh.
The Council has now published the Traffic Regulation Orders to implement a Controlled Parking Zone which will affect the following roads in Walcot: Margaret's Hill Pera Road Pera Place Thomas Street Clarence Street Seymour Road Belgrave Cresecent Camdem Road (from Lansdown Road to Claremont Shops) In short the plan is to introduce a controlled parking zone which will operate from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. A map of the proposals can be found here. This map is quite large. Once it opens up you can change the zoom level 100% and then scroll around the map looking at the ...
As I previously blogged, I was due to go to the first preview of Public Property at Trafalgar Studios last week, but due to a technical hitch that performance was cancelled. Got tickets rearranged for last night and it was well worth the wait. It was a good night before the play even started, as Stephen Fry (who makes a videoed appearance in the play) was also there to watch. Just standing next to him as he was chatting to the playwright in the bar was in itself pretty exciting - and I did manage to resist the temptation of ...
Sat 21st
10:24
Tales from Wales: I averted my eyes from the 'Question Time' chairman's gaze to avoid being asked to...
People who know me probably do know that I have been on a brief, but intensive, Welsh language course. I enjoyed it very much, in the 'total emersion' environment of Nant Gwrtheyrn, on the Lleyn Peninsula. Although the course was excellent it certainly didn't prepare me to answer political questions in Welsh. During the 2003 Welsh Assembly ...
Sometimes I hate this country – or at least the prevailing winds of the media in it. Take Baroness Ashton's elevation to be the EU's top foreign representative. This is a fantastic achievement for this country! Fantastic! There are 27 countries in the EU, who could have had one of their foreign ministers promoted to the position, but ours was chosen. That is absolutely great! So when the EU is represented around the world, it will be by a Brit! Fantastic! And it's a woman – even more brilliant! But what do we get at home? Rejoicing? A display of ...
Somewhat unexpectedly, one of the most immediate changes brought about by televising the House of Commons was to male MPs' hairstyles. Until then, it had been the habit amongst some of the, er..., thinning on top MPs to brush their hair forward so that when you looked at them face to face it appeared that they had a bountiful mop of hair above their forehead. Unfortunately, if you looked down on their head from a slightly elevated position, this impressive wave of hair instead looked like a toupe that had slipped forward leaving a bald patch further back. And where ...
[IMG: letter-from-first-capital-connect.jpg] [IMG: letter-from-first-capital-connect-2.jpg]
In a recent post I commented on the challenges for communicators. I used a Labour party video as an example and the way it has been rebutted. Thanks must go to Tory Bear for highlighting this video on YouTube that shows how effective communication can be done. It has been made cheaply but is clearly heartfelt. As Tory Bear says: "The message behind it is far, far more powerful than anything that has come from the top." Tellingly, it has not been sent up or attacked by opponents. The video is here:
One of the things I find most intriguing about technology is how it, invariably, ends up expanding to be far more than it was ever intended to be. A security system to be certain who is in a building in the event of a fire, for instance, soon turns into a clocking-in and clocking-out system ...
My Saturday mornings don't normally include self-tagging in marker pen, then photographing the results. So why was I doing that today? In the midst of all the debate about Copenhagen, Greenpeace has come up with one simple proposal that, if adopted, would see at least some good come out of the global climate summit. As they explain, ...
Next Wednesday the councillors from South of the Borough and Surbiton will be meeting together to mull over a couple of issues that affect both neighbourhoods. I'm told that technically we will be having two Neighbourhood Committees, at the same time in the same place, which sounds as if it could be chaotic! But we will be sensible and run it as one meeting, of course. The main item is the Tolworth Project. . . . At the meeting we will be hearing the results of the consultation and deciding the next steps. The other item will be around some ...
Having had a few days off and then several days of catching up it's now time to reflect on the past week. The blog will catch up over the course of a few days I fear.On Thursday morning we flew (yes I know - Carbon Footprint!) out to Amsterdam from Durham Tees Valley (aka Teesside) Airport. The reasons for flying were complex and not to be gone into here. I know that carbon offsetting isn't
In June's European elections, turnout amongst postal voters was 64% in Great Britain. Turnout amongst non-postal voters was 30% – a full 34 percentage points lower. There's a lesson in there about campaigning... The figures for the different regions were: South East 68% (+34%) South West 68% (+33%) East Midlands 67% (+34%) Eastern 67% (+33%) West Midlands 66% (+35%) Scotland 63% (+39%) Yorkshire & The Humber 63% (+37%) North West 63% (+37%) Wales 62% (+36%) London 61% (+31%) North East 59% (+38%) The Isles of Scilly were the only area where turnout amongst postal voters was lower than that amongst ...
[IMG: Young woman, blogging by window] Welcome to part seven of our "Introduction to blogging" guide for Liberal Democrat bloggers or would-be bloggers. It's appearing each Saturday between now and Christmas, with all the posts available via this page. The series will then be revised and collated into an e-book, so please do post up your comments as the series progresses. Today it's the turn of The Voice's Mark Pack to talk about building up your audience. There are many reasons for blogging and, depending on your own motivation, getting a bigger audience is not necessarily important. My occasional blog ...
Welcome to the latest LDVideo instalment, featuring three of the most memorable video clips doing the rounds on the blogosphere. First up is Ed Balls – the guy might have a debating style reminiscent of a school bully demanding tuck money, but here he completely out-smarts tongue-tied Tory education spokesman Michael Gove: (Hat-tip: Sam Coates). The second clip shows Rupert Murdoch furiously denying suggestions that he alleged President Obama made a racist remark, followed by Rupert Murdoch alleging that President Obama made a racist remark: (Hat-tip: Marbury). And finally for today, enjoy impressionist Jon Culshaw's G. Brown rap ("I'll go ...
Saint Cecilia's Day is 22nd November - she's the patron saint of music. When I was in the 6th Form at school Betty, our music teacher, invited us all to a party to celebrate St Cecilia. Of course a sing-song was part of the occasion. She was a wonderful singing and choir teacher. She did not play the piano, yet our school choir won first prize in nearly every music festival (apart from once only getting a second place). We sang the interludes in concerts by Germani (Vatican Organist) three years running. One time when we did a recording for ...
Shocking news this week that NHS managers are considering downgrading Islington's Whittington Hospital, closing its Accident & Emergency department. Changing the Whittington to a 'local' hospital would mean 24 hour emergency surgery would instead be handled by 'a wider clinical network'. Some of us remember the same story played out with Barts. We must not ...
The Council is consulting on its walking and cycling strategies. You can access, and comment on, both here. The consultation runs to 14th December. I've had a brief look through the cycling strategy and it seems pretty good, with an understanding that its about more than plastering the roads with cycle lanes. However, as always there's a big gap between having a strategy and making it reality.
[IMG: ros-scott3.jpg] Ros Scott, or Baroness Ros Scott of Needham Market to give her her full title, is the very well respected President of the Liberal Democrats so the local branch of the party is delighted that she will be visiting Consett next week to speak at our dinner. There was time when we would have had trouble filling a table. Now we are looking forward to filling Chapters Restaurant at Derwentside College to hear Ros's inspiring story of how she found herself joining the party in conversation with a hard working local councillor, and then got hooked on "making ...
After posting my T-Mobile blog post link on Twitter this morning I then had a look through the stories that had been running overnight and there was one that caught my eye, "Kirk votes against trainee gay clergy". Now, everyone that knows me well, knows I have a view on religion, which isn't good, however I do respect those who partake in religion of whatever faith. However, that aside, I do take racism, sexism and homophobia very seriously and I fully believe that if any organisation said they couldn't employ anyone openly religious we would never hear the end of ...
As it is a few days since my original post about this I thought I would check the T-Mobile website again since they haven't had the decency to respond to my email asking whether my data was compromised. This update is now available on their website; "Update T-Mobile takes the protection of customer information seriously. When it became apparent that contract renewal information was allegedly being passed on by an employee to third parties without our knowledge, we alerted the Information Commissioner's Office. Working together with the ICO, they conducted an extensive investigation which we believe will lead to a ...
I spent part of this afternoon trying to reassure my mother that she is not going to lose her attendance allowance under the government's new social care plan. My mum is probably typical of elderly people receiving the allowance. She is 83, widowed for 5 years and living alone in her bungalow. Despite having failing eyesight and reduced mobility, she is able to continue living in her own home through a combination of supportive friends and neighbours and buying in services. She pays for a cleaner to come twice a week, and a gardener to prune shrubs and mow the ...
PR 8984 Let the music and dance project begin! Children from 13 schools will benefit from a confidence-boosting project thanks to funding from a Hertfordshire county councillor. Cllr Chris White (St Albans Central) has donated £3,840 from his locality budget to Nexus Extended Schools, to fund a music, dance and movement group therapy project. Jo Maher, of Nexus Extended Schools, based at Fleetville Junior School in St Albans, said: "I'm really grateful to Chris White for supporting this project which will enable us to help children who lack confidence, suffer with low self-esteem or are generally struggling at school. Nexus ...
Yesterday's blog reminded me of when I attended Any Questions at Morecambe High School. John Hutton was the Labour representative and he had just been appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, so it must have been November 2005. The subject of benefit fraud arose and Mr Hutton certainly had conviction when he criticised the Liberal Democrats for not saying a word about this subject. His conviction got cheers from the Labour supporters some of whom were sat behind me. Lembit Opik was quick with his response by saying that the Liberal Democrats had lots of policies which ...
