Good news from the South West - and I don't mean the repeal of the pasty tax. This is Cornwall reports that the Lib Dems are to contest the Devon and Cornwall police commissioner election in November: Adrian Sanders, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, said the party needed to be influencing the debate on cutting crime, but focusing on repeat offenders and involving victims of crime. He added: "The Police and Crime Commissioner is going to have a major influence on how our area is policed and how resources are deployed, and that will impact on everyone's lives."I was critical ...
Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe Borough Council. May I give a special welcome to the new readers that we have this week. It's been a bad week for me as someone forced the gate at the side of my house and stole my bike, which I really liked and used most days. 1. Borough Housing PlansMay I remind everyone that the public consultation on the borough's core strategy, which sets out the councils housing plans for the next 15 years along with ...
This week's Friday favourite is a day late due to a work commitment. And having caught up with BBC4's excellent 'Punk Britannia' I thought Stiff Little Fingers would be good...
A delightful evening in London spent watching a pair of helicopters fly through Tower Bridge. It appears that it's part of the London™ 2012© Olympics® opening ceremony. First, the practice run: Then the three flights through the bridge Thanks to IanVisits for alerting us to the event, and Tom Scott for organising the picnic. [IMG: flattr this!]
Imagine living in a nation where the Government sends people to prison for using the internet to mock public figures. Imagine living in a nation where the Government forces websites to reveal information about its users such as IP addresses. Imagine the Government begins to use its muscle to force service providers to block certain websites. You aren't in Iran, you're in the United Kingdom. Recently, a Judge made a landmark ruling in which Facebook will be forced to expose the personal information of its users under the branding of 'Cyber bullying': Student Liam Stacey was sentenced to a ...
It has proved to be a busy Saturday, starting with giving the Bonnie Dundee team a hand with tidying the garden of Dundee West Church at the top end of Roseangle: Trudy Cunningham and me in gardening mode at Dundee West Church this morning! Thereafter, I attended the Blackness Primary School Jubilee Fete, which was hugely well-attended! Here's a couple of photos from the fete: The Fete stalls were really busy! And yet again, Mr Ferrier, Head Teacher, was a good sport (and rather cold and wet!) At lunchtime, I had the pleasure of addressing the Justice for Palestine Festival ...
By Liam Quinn I recently joined the Liberal Democrats, and I can honestly say I've enjoyed every minute of it so far. Be it Twitter barbs against people who pray for our extinction at the next General Election, or merely pointing out what a huge impact we've actually had in just 2 years, being a Liberal ...
So, it's that time of year again when I sit down in front of a computer and, after much hair pulling, finally come up with a first draft of a policy motion for Lib Dem federal conference. Once again, I've ended up drafting something on sickness and disability policy - mainly because the Welfare Reform Act is a horrific piece of legislation which will destroy lives which Lib Dem parliamentarians have ended up supporting because we don't have any real policies on sickness and disability and so ended up going along with a tory policy because we didn't have any ...
There's no prize at stake - just the opportunity to prove you're wittier than any other LDV reader... Here's Labour leader Ed Miliband waving across the aisle to David Cameron at the Diamond Jubilee service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. What do you think might be being said or thought by or about them? And the winner of our last caption comp is... Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, Nick.i.am "Hands on with Clinton" Edition. The winner, according to The Voice's judging panel of one, was this one by Andrew K: The question all three ask ...
One of Rommel's complaints was that the Luftwaffe weren't doing enough and historians are keen to point out the lack of German aircraft over the advance towards El Alamien and even over the fortified front. So what were the Luftwaffe doing in North Africa? In a prophetic message to the advancing British soldiers in 1941 a fighter pilot of Jagdgeschwader 53 wrote on the blackboard of their airbase: "We Come back... Happy Christmas!"Two months later they had riding forward with the Panzer armies. As the successes of Rommel's push became apparent aircraft were taken from Kesselring's Malta operations and his ...
Today's newspapers cover – see today's Guardian – reports that Theresa May is determined to break up families in an attempt to stop 'sham' marriages for immigration purposes. The move would potentially, according to the Tories, help meet their increasingly wrongheaded promise to slash immigration, regardless on its effects on the economy or anything else. Reports earlier in the year suggest May was lobbying Nick Clegg behind the scenes hard to get him to support this proposal, which appears to fly in the face of this Government's commitment to 'be the most family-friendly Government ever' by forcing families where ...
Thursday was the first meeting of the Prestwich Township Forum for this 'municipal' year (2012-13). This is the meeting that brings together the nice Prestwich councillors, together with a similar number of appointed 'community reps'. As it was the first meeting of the year, the first thing we did was elect a Chair. This year David Stanley, from the Prestwich Clough Day Committee was elected as Chair – here's to a successful year for him as Chair. Onympic Torch Relay We had a briefing on this from the Council. The torch is coming through Bury, Whitefield and Prestwich on 23 ...
Ask teachers what they think of Michael Gove and I suspect that most will reply with derision. Ask doctors and nurses what they think of Andrew Lansley and I would imagine that, similarly, most will spit with rage. Ask housing professionals what they think of Grant Shapps and you certainly get an equally dismissive response from the vast majority. Does the lack of professional support for the Tory policies being pursued by Tory Ministers in these crucial public services mean that these sectors are hopelessly leftist, resistant to change, and are just keen to protect their status, or is the ...
I myself quit the Guardian habit ages ago. "Guardian reader" used to mean a club of which I wanted to be a member, like "Radio Four listener" or "real ale drinker". I still sometimes read The Observer, but I gave up The Guardian as I find large parts of it boring, wannabe-trendy and not for me, although it does still have some very good writers.My friend Charlotte Henry was still a Guardian reader until yesterday, but then, like a smoker who catches sight of themselves smoking in the mirror and thinks "No more!", she decided to give it up. Charlotte ...
This morning I joined some of the residents of Kensey Valley Meadow for a litter pick of their estate. It's a relatively new development, with 200 properties and a burgeoning residents association. There were eleven of us, of all ages, out with grabbers, gloves and vests kindly loaned by the Council's waste team. In an hour and a half we collected roughly four full bin bags full of rubbish - not a huge quantity, but enough to make a difference for local residents. If you think your area could do with a litter pick and you're willing to help make ...
Anyone with even a vague interest in football must know that the run up to the Euro 2012 tournament has been blighted by reports of racism amongst fans of both host nations. (as well as the whole issue of Rio Ferdinand not being selected for England, which many suspect is less to do with football and more to do with his relationship with John Terry). Now, even before the tournament had started, Dutch players suffered racist abuse at a training session (there's a link to a video of the incident here) and astonishingly UEFA have come out to say they ...
I guess Jo Swinson is seen as a far more friendly face to Lib Dem activists than say Danny Alexander who always does badly in polls of party workers, for it is she who has written to ask us for our views on jobs and growth. Time will tell if this is a genuine attempt to engage members or if it just looking for confirmation of a plan many -I suspect most of us- feel is unbalanced. So its time to 'get it off your chest' as all the best FOCUS leaflet say: Good evening Ms Swinson Liberals have argued ...
Sat 9th
12:20
LDV poll: 80% of Lib Dems back wealthier households in social housing paying full market rent
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 560 party members responded, and we're publishing the full results. 4-in-5 back change, just 1-in-10 oppose outright The Coalition last month announced it was consulting whether to charge a full market rent to those in social housing whose household income is over £60,000. We asked our sample of Lib Dem members for their views... LDV asked: At the moment, rents in social housing are capped at 80% of the market value. ...
Sorry, The Committee for Measuring the Attraction of Hills. You are no longer my favourite committee. Instead, your place in my affection has been taken by The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names for British Official Use, which as aficionados of course know has a writ that spans all the globe except Antarctica. Quite a remit for a body with three permanent staff. Even if the name does make you love it, including the lovely implication that this is not a mere Temporary Committee upstart, surely your love can be won by discovering its need to issue guidance that tells us ...
This...? Despite the positive objectives for transfer of freight from road to rail in the Department for Transport's recent Command Paper, the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) is proposing new charges on railfreight. ORR has received advice on the risk of loss of business (and consequently more heavy goods traffic on roads) that might arise from some of these specific charges - aimed at particular market segments e.g. nuclear waste, coal for power stations, iron ore, biomass. However ORR is prepared to contemplate the high risk of a 10% reduction in some types of railfreight. Nick Hollinghurst says, "The ...
By Tom Wood Last week Alan Milburn's report Fair Access to Professional Careers was published, with some particularly interesting points about internships. But what's important on this issue isn't that he reached the inevitable conclusion that a system – based on who you know, not what you know, and requires people to work essentially full ...
Sometimes I get the odd spiteful comment, from I suppose brainwashed idiots within the Labour Party, who like football supporters have a blind faith, that their team are automatically best. Me I like to be objective, back in 2006 when Labour were in power, they took an opportunity to do something about forced marriage, which after consideration and consultation, they then decided that despite it being wrong, with no excuse, they'd pretty much, do nothing, a press release at the time carried these words "In the future, we will continue to provide information and assistance both to potential victims and ...
I am only aware of two meetings at Blyth Town Council next week. Assets Committee, Tuesday 12th June, 6:30 pm at Ebor House Planning & Development Committee, Thursday 14th June , 6:30 pm at Ebor House
If someone wants to sell me something, I have no objection to them presenting their products to me and allowing me to make an informed decision in my own time. Here are some rules, though: 1. The huge pile of unopened junk mail on the gramophone in our hall is testament to that being an utterly useless way of contacting me. Just save yourself the stamp and the production costs, why don't you? 2. Don't ring me. I have no way of verifying whether you are from my bank, mobile phone company, or some scumbag fraudster looking for my personal ...
It's me again and it's me again arguing for the abolishing of tuition fees. Way back in September 2010 when a 'Graduation Tax' was being mooted rather than increase in tuition fees, I posted my initial thoughts. In the article I raised a question: However, there is one point that I can't seem to answer. I am sure I have read it somewhere, but is there some research somewhere that says those
Opinion: What The Hell Is With That Hitman Trailer? - IGN (tags: ) Valley of the Dolls: Women's Wage Woes in the Tech "Shangri-la" of Silicon Valley | Marriage 3.0 | Big Think Women in silicon valley earn 49% what men do. But no, the tech industry isn't sexist... (tags: ) andrewducker | Some thoughts on nationality. Fabulous post on Englishness and what it means (and should mean) (tags: ) Tell me again how women are their own worst enemy (tags: ) Why I defected from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats to be in the right side of government. ...
Sheena Easton with Modern Girl [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
Candidates Chris Angell & Nitesh Dave at Moor End Rd Bus lane with Cllrs Nick & Rosemarie Hollinghurst An unexpected phone call yesterday had me scrambling through the traffic to get to BBC's Three Counties Radio for their Drivetime programme – to talk about the Moor End Road Bus Lane once again! People are still wondering about when/how they get their refunds – and Hertfordshire still haven't done anything. The HCC web site promised refunds in about 2 months with letters and a claim form going to the lucky winners of PCNs (Penalty Charge Notices to you and me). Well ...
Saturday: (*Sorry, Mr Simon got the better title first!) Bit put out! We got caught sneaking in to the cinema and they just let me in! Seems someone thought I was one of the SPECIAL EFFECTS! Baby Plush Face Hugger As for the movie... It's not so much "Prometheus" as "Pandora". As in "Take the money or open the box"! What's clear is that "Prometheus" struggles to find its STORY, because PLOT keeps getting in the way. Which is a shame because "At the Mountains of Madness" HAS a decent story, or at least it did when Lovecraft wrote it. ...
Here's your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate... Nick Clegg and Iain Duncan Smith have both been arguing within the government for rich pensioners to have their benefits cut: Nick Clegg is backing calls for cuts in pension benefits such as winter fuel payments and free bus passes. David Cameron is said to be adamant that the Tories should keep to a pledge made before the general election that the payments remain. But Clegg is understood to have told colleagues he wants the winter payments and free TV licences ...
The remote cove After breakfast, I leave the Well-Behaved Orphans on the beach and, stopping only to entreaty them to "Watch the wall, my darlings, while the pastymen go by," I set off in search of the remote cove. All morning I stride the cliff tops on my quest and, though I am wearing quite the lightest of tweeds, I have worked up quite a thirst by lunchtime. So I allow my steps to wander towards the Jolly Tyler. Sipping my pint of the local wallop, I see a man sitting at a table. He is staring into the distance ...
Logged into the new social network Zurker to be greeted by this banner: Oh well, that's one less password to try and remember I suppose.
The Independent reports that Lib Dem foreign office minister Jeremy Browne has turned down an invitation to attend talks in Argentina when he visits the Falklands next week in what appears to be a diplomatic but pretty unambiguous FU from the FO: "We have today received an invitation from Argentina's foreign minister, Hector Timmerman, for Mr Browne to visit Buenos Aires next week," the spokesman said. "However he has a full schedule of events in the Falkland Islands to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the conflict there. This has been arranged for some time. "Mr Browne is grateful for the ...
WestFest starts tomorrow with Big Sunday! Don't miss it!
Danny Alexander addresses the 'High Noon' lunch Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce 'High Noon' lunch at the Hilton Hotel, where Danny Alexander MP, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was speaking. It was good to meet Danny again and he gave an excellent speech in which he announced a further £32m Westminster Government funding for the delivery of superfast broadband across Scotland and made the positive case for Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom. Danny also visited Proper Games at Greenmarket in the West End Ward at which he saw ...
Over at the Washington Post site, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward reflect on the Watergate scandal, forty years after they first broke the story and how at that time they had only scraped at the tip of an iceberg of illegality at the heart of the Nixon administration. They say that 'at its most virulent, Watergate was a brazen and daring assault, led by Nixon himself, against the heart of American democracy: the Constitution, our system of free elections, the rule of law' and that 'In the course of his five-and-a-half-year presidency, beginning in 1969, Nixon launched and managed five ...
Blah blah apology for absence blah overworked and sick blah promise of actual content blah links: Lance Parkin reviews Beyond Watchmen Tales Of The City, the new collection of short stories about the City Of The Saved (yes, it's a spin-off of Faction Paradox which is a spin-off of Doctor Who spin-off novels. I don't ...
