The last fortnight has seen more events and activity on the Fairtrade front than ever before in Stockton. It wasn't all organised by the Fairtrade Borough Partnership but we were involved in many of the events. Of course the planning started before Christmas and it's been great this year to have support from sections of Stockton Council which previously haven't been involved. We've had a
"Whatever we think about Leveson, the libel reform bill has nothing to do with it: it's a separate argument ... The NUJ and left media reformers should not be cheering on Labour opportunism from the sidelines but telling Putnam and his cronies where to stick it. End of story." Gauche has no time for Lord Putnam and his allies, who are putting the badly needed reform of our libel laws at risk. Pride's Purge says the email exchanges between Vicky Pryce and the Sunday Times reveal a breathtakingly cold-hearted, manipulative woman who would do anything to get her own way. ...
More than a decade ago, I wrote a book called The Tyranny of Numbers, which was an early attempt to puncture a hole in the cult of statistics, evidence-based policy and the corrosion of intuition and common sense that goes with it. It had a whiff of naivety about it, I admit. Of course there are times when a good bit of measurement can take a situation by surprise. You don't want to lose that option. But I was staggered recently, working in a government department at rather closer quarters than usual, to find how much the cult of measurement ...
The Daily Express enjoys being able to report a difficult time for Nick Clegg at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference this afternoon: The atmosphere became more heated when activists began to challenge Mr Clegg over the Justice and Security Bill, which would allow courts to sit in secret in some civil cases. The legislation was comfortably given its third reading in the Commons last week, despite a rebellion from some Tories and Lib Dem MPs and continuing opposition from civil rights campaigners. One Lib Dem member questioned why Mr Clegg had "abandoned the high ground" by engaging with the proposals. ...
A conference rally without Tim Farron is a bit like strawberries without cream. When he wasn't there telling his bad football jokes, I wondered if he'd been put on the Naughty Step for his interview earlier. But, no, he hadn't even arrived in Brighton. What we did have was a sense of almost cleansing, confessional, cathartic and heartfelt speeches tackling the pain of the last few weeks head on. Nick Clegg made clear that he wanted to change the culture in the party. What he said is not new for him. He's always been very pro equality, but this was ...
A grey morning on the coast of Fife. When Clegg decided an article had to be written for Liberal Democrat Voice defending his ridiculous decision to support secret courts, he announced there was only one thing for it: Sir Walter Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP would have to be got out of mothballs and launched from Rosyth. It is a magnificent sight as Ming takes to the water again, urged on by Elspeth - the only woman I have ever met who could have gone fifteen rounds with the first Lady Bonkers - and amid much hauling of ropes and ...
The reason we are Liberals. The reason we are not Tories. The need to oppose this sort of thing.
The agenda for this year's Liberal Democrat Spring Conference carries the strapline Stronger economy, Fairer society. Given the parlous state of UK plc, and the deeply inequitable impacts of the Coalition austerity policy, the strapline touches on two of the biggest issues of the day. So the unwary among us might think that the discussion would have the economy somewhere near the top of the agenda. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the cynic might suggest there was strong circumstantial evidence to the contrary. The party leadership is doing as much as it can to avoid giving ...
[IMG: Autumn 2012 conference - Some rights reserved by Liberal Democrats] Here's a few highlights from the first day-and-a-bit's action at Brighton... Secret courts rouse conference passions – on both sides It's no secret that many Lib Dem members are angry with the vast majority of Lib Dem MPs for their decision to over-ride the vote of the party conference last September and approve legislation extending the use of Closed Material Procedures, aka 'secret courts'. Ming Campbell is one of the few MPs so far publicly to make the case in favour – which he did on LibDemVoice here. Nick ...
A short video to mark the 250th anniversary of the great man's birth.
Here is Isabel Oakeshott of the Sunday Times writing to Vicky Pryce on 8 March 2011: In theory, it's likely there is a minor risk of you being prosecuted, but we think in practise (sic) it is highly unlikely, especially if we handle it right.Nice one, Is!
The recent Labour leaflet pushed through my door (sure sign of an election coming up) contained the following fascinating "Did you know?" question – and went on to state: Independents on Durham County Council voted with Conservatives and Lib Dems in every single recorded vote between the creation of the new council and Summer 2011. Think about it! There are at least three independent groups at County Hall containing more than twenty members between them, some of whom tend to favour Labour, some tend to be more oppositionist. They are by definition likely to vote whichever way they feel – ...
Cllr Iain Roberts is fighting to get a £100,000 allocation to re-lay pavements in Cheadle Village Centre. Iain has proposed spending the money as part of the Council's spending on road and pavement repairs for the next year. "Cheadle needs this money – re-laying the pavements in the village centre is a key part of the improvements for the village," said Iain. Following the consultation late last year, further proposals to improve the village will be brought forward shortly. These are likely to be spread over two or three years to ensure the money is available to implement them. The ...
Steve Webb, Lib Dem minister for pensions, delivered his speech to conference earlier today. The text of his speech is below. As some of you know, I used to teach at Bath University. And I enjoyed nothing more than setting my students tough questions to get them thinking. So when I was planning what I would say today, I thought - why not set all of you a tricky exam question instead. You may have thought that you had come to Brighton for a good time. But not while I'm on the platform! And my exam question is this: "How ...
Nick Clegg will face party members in a question and answer session from Lib Dem Conference. He is likely to face questions on secret courts, the economy...and maybe even onesies!
The email from BT confirming I will have a line and broadband from Monday, the letter from Scottish Hydro confirming my contract with them, the email version of my new TV license, even the notification from Orkney Islands Council about my council tax are not enough. This is the proof that I have finally arrived in Orkney.
I have written a short post for my friends at British Future about the Anglo-Irish, prompted by recent memorial event to celebrate the life of Dick Hutchins, a fascinating man.
On 25 January, I rang BT to say that I was moving and would no longer be a BT customer. I was told that I owed big fees for cancelling my services near to the start of a new contract. I explained that I had not started a new contract; what had actually happened is that BT had mistakenly disconnected my phone line in September, and immediately re-connected it when I complained - that is not 'starting a new contract'. They offered me six months' free broadband (or something like that) in lieu of proper compensation and I said No ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Marginal Territory: the seats that will decide the next election – Lord Ashcroft Polls Interesting-not-surprising results > Ashcroft polls: Marginal Territory: the seats that will decide the next election http://bit.ly/ZqCkoy Lib Dems' mood transformed despite Huhne and Pryce's disgrace | Politics | The Guardian Thx @PatrickWintour for accurate report of #ldconf > 'Lib Dems' mood transformed despite Huhne and Pryce's disgrace' http://bit.ly/ZqvDTs Why The Tories Shouldn't 'Lurch To The Right' | Platform 10 .@DJSkelton on Tories' right-lurch "'Right campaign, wrong election" has never worked as a motto in British politics' http://bit.ly/Zqj0Ys Lib ...
LDNI utterly and without hesitation condemn the orchestrated mob violence in Glengormley on the evening of Fri 8th March, which culminated in injury to several PSNI officers and an attack on the premises of the office of David Ford MLA, which resulted in damage to a neighbouring, unassociated business. This is the latest in a ...
Figures from HMRC alcohol bulletin
I am not at the Liberal Democrats Federal Conference in Brighton. I find that two spring conferences puts a strain on my time and in any case the Welsh Conference is far more important. It is also the case that after 32 years of attending Federal party conference I am bit bored with them. I am sure that I will recover my interest by the time that Glasgow comes around in September. Despite all that I was tempted to make the effort if only to vote against the latest lunacy from the Lembit Opik camp. As the Daily Mail reported ...
Paddy Ashdown has just delivered a rallying speech as chairman of the Lib Dem's 2015 General Election campaign. Here are my live tweets from the speech.
Sat 9th
11:00
Paddy: "You've heard the saying it's not the winning that matters, it's the taking part. That's b***...
[IMG: Paddy Ashdown video screenshot] Paddy Ashdown, Chair of the Liberal Democrat General Election Campaign, is about to speak to the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference. Here's what he'll say: You know, making this speech today gives me a strong sense of déjà vu. I gave a speech at the Conference here in Brighton, right after the last time we won a by election in Eastleigh! Some things haven't changed. Orange diamonds. Fighting against the odds, Simon Hughes. But one big thing has changed. We were a Party of Opposition then. We're a party of government now. And that changes everything. ...
Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats held the first of our three fringe meetings at Lib Dem conference in Brighton last night. The star speaker was Roger Lynch, a highly successful entrepreneur from Peckham in south London. ...
Sat 9th
10:45Jo Swinson talks directly to Lib Dem members about her role in the Chris Rennard allegations
[IMG: jo swinson Alex Folkes/Fishnik Photography] Last night, Danny Alexander wrote this post for LibDemVoice explaining his role in the allegations concerning Lord Rennard, confirming he spoke directly to the party's then chief executive to make clear any future conduct would have consequences: "These were not easy conversations, nor should they have been." Jo Swinson, whose only previous public statement on the issue was posted here on LibDemVoice, took to the stage at last night's party conference rally to talk directly to members about how she'd handled the allegations which were brought to her. Here's he speech in full... Conference, ...
I don't know if you read/follow Gallifrey Times, but if you do, or you think you might like to, I've put up an intro post and poll in advance of me taking over tomorrow. If you get chance to go and answer the poll, that'd be nice http://gallifrey-times.dreamwidth.org/57510.html [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
[IMG: nick clegg] Huhne, Pryce, Rennard, Eastleigh. A mass of events converge this weekend as Brighton once again becomes centre of the Lib Dem universe for a weekend. These topics will inevitably dominate conversations in the conference bar. But when Nick Clegg stands up on Sunday lunchtime to make his speech he has to look beyond the short-term events that have dominated Liberal Democrat discourse for the last few weeks and months. It's often said of a speeches that they are "one of the most important X has made in the course of his leadership". Generally, though, conference speeches come ...
...even at our expense http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
[IMG: faron ad lib intvw] I interviewed Lib Dem president Tim Farron for the February issue of the party magazine, Ad Lib. Here's what I wrote... together with a few quotes at the foot that didn't make the final cut... I meet Tim Farron - the party's un-spun, down-to-earth, heart-on-his-sleeve president and über-campaigner - in his Westminster office. A vast grid, running almost the entire length of one wall, pin-points Tim's campaigning activities over the next few weeks. It's hard to imagine his well of enthusiasm ever running dry. Yet the previous night he had lined-up with the Conservatives - ...
[IMG: budget1] At Hertfordshire's County Council meeting on 26 February, the Liberal Democrat Group offered the only alternative to the Conservative budget in Hertfordshire, with a budget that invested heavily in highway infrastructure and supported public transport, young people and the homeless. Liberal Democrats in Hertfordshire proposed a fully costed budget that delivered a huge boost for our neglected roads. It supported bus routes, school crossing patrols and allowed for local decision making in areas where the part-night lighting scheme is not working. Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Central Watford and Oxhey, Leader of the Opposition) commented, "This is a fully costed ...
What exactly is the point of this? I could, sort of, almost, see the point of the Hitch-Hiker's sequel written by someone else — while the whole point of those books was Adams' writing, I can sort-of imagine thinking "well, there just aren't enough books about those characters I love" because there were only five ...
Sat 9th
09:07
Lib Dem conference voting reps: Please vote for the secret courts emergency motion #ldconf
My secret courts emergency motion I submitted on Tuesday has not been selected for the ballot for debate tomorrow morning. However the good news is that there was another motion on this subject submitted by Jo Shaw who has campaigned tirelessly on the issue. I am very pleased there there is a motion on this available and I strongly urge any Lib Dem conference voting reps reading this who are in Brighton today to please vote for it. The ballot is preferential and although a 1 would be best, if you are supporting another motion please put the secret courts ...
Lord of the Rings: A theory about the eagle 'plot hole'. Actually makes total sense. (tags: ) BBC News - Watchdog contradicts Cameron on impact of austerity on growth OBR basically says to Cameron "stop lying about the economy" (tags: ) Women in Sport - Holding out for role models, not glamour models (tags: ) Pryce should have done what Huhne asked: Don't. Talk. To. A. Newspaper | Marina Hyde | Comment is free | The Guardian "It's possibly too much to hope they will suddenly look at each other and realise they're still in love, a courtroom version of ...
Lord Ashcroft has done another enormous piece of polling, this time into the Lib Dem vote. A few of the more encouraging findings: • More people want a coalition including the Lib Dems (31%) than a Conservative majority (30%) • 30% of people could see themselves voting Lib Dem at the next general election • Only 1 in 5 think the Lib Dems have no real influence • Lib Dems outpoll the Conservatives on: o"Represents the whole country, not just some"(24% v 21%), o "Its heart is in the right place"(47% v 35%), o "stands for fairness"(41% v 30%) o "Stands for equal opportunity for all"(39% v ...
Iraq war anniversary: What went wrong reconsidered, 10 years later Carne reminisces about paths not taken. (tags: carneross iraq waronterror )
I suppose it is inevitable that Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce will be sent to prison for their chicanery: the going rate for their crimes is between four months and three years. The cost of keeping someone in prison for a year averages around £37 000 per person. I suppose it's necessary for us to pay this in this case just to show that, in our justice system at least, there is not one law for the rich and powerful and another for the rest of us. However, it is a foolish waste of money, and a cruel way to ...
I'm preparing this on Friday morning, en-route to Brighton for Lib Dem Spring Conference. One issue dominates this week - the votes in the Commons on Secret Courts (or Closed Material Procedures). Like most people travelling to conference, I consider Secret Courts top be an affront to Liberalism and Natural Justice. But I've written enough on the subject over the past few weeks and months for the regular reader to know my views, so here's a selection of other blogs, and consideration of where we go from he. Caron provided some initial reaction from Monday night's votes on Lib Dem ...
I've always enjoyed Channel 4 News and have great respect for the journalists on it, including Cathy Newman. Liberal Democrats mired in scandal, meet at Brighton and blame the media – was the story last night. If we take the two 'scandals' in turn: Rennard – we have two inquiries plus the police review in train. We should let them do their job. One inquiry is headed by a female QC, the other by an eminent advocate for women's rights in the workplace. Last night, Nick Clegg made an excellent speech covering the issue. Jo Swinson in her speech, and ...
Recently, Broughty Ferry Library has established a Friends group. Several West End constituents have said this seems like an excellent initiative and there appears to be support for a similar initiative for Blackness Library, a community library that is well-used and supported throughout the West End. The Head of Library and Information Services at Leisure and Culture Dundee has advised me: "As you probably know, the new Friends group in Broughty Ferry has only recently been established and is the first of its kind for libraries in Dundee. I agree that it is likely to be something we would look ...
Phase 1 of Plan Repatriate Jane and Ian is now underway. It commenced last week when I rang our realtor to instruct him to put our house on the market. Realtors in Canada do a lot more than British estate agents, but they also get paid a lot more. Despite their fees they are held ...
[I was extremely frustrated by this coursework essay in the end. There is just so much one could say on this subject and distilling it down into 2000 words does it no justice. But I hope the tactic of reducing it to one core idea that proves the whole, however much more that is, to be radical works!] There can be few political figures or concepts that provoke such visceral and opposing reactions amongst political friends and foes as Margaret Thatcher and "Thatcherism". Clearly Thatcher's period in power was sufficiently remarkable to have sparked such intense feelings, but what do ...
Unfortunately I can't embed this storify of my Tweets from the Vincent Cable fringe event at Lib Dem Conference, so here's the link. He was entertaining and on good form... Enjoy! Andrew
[IMG: Liberal Democrat Voice at Conference] On Lib Dem Voice: Reportage | Live Twitter Stream | Contribute On the official party website: Conference home There is no live coverage on BBC-Parliament.
