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 warm welcome to the new readers that we have this week. 1. Field FarmThe Development Control Committee at Broxtowe Borough Council met last week to consider the application to build 450 homes on Field Farm in Stapleford. This was granted after a lengthy debate. To avoid filling up the newsletter with the details I have prepared a fact sheet about the application, the issues involved and why the vote went through. ...
There is a crisis in social housing. In Southport there is a dramatic shortage of affordable housing. Our residents are living longer and-despite the borough's falling population- we need more homes to satisfy the growing elderly population and people who live in single person households. Many people under forty are choosing not to marry and in addition the divorce rate means that where a family used to occupy one house they now need two. Southport had a particular combination of circumstances. Firstly we have very few social houses-ie council houses or Housing Association stock. To be precise we have no ...
President Obama has just addressed the American People in the wake of the Boston bombing. The President spoke for only five minutes, and could say little, but the sense of hurt and anger was clear. Obama said that he had spoken to leaders in both Houses from both parties, saying that on days like today ...
On Wednesday, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will see the funeral of one of the greatest Prime Ministers of our history unfold from the first movements at the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster along the streets of Whitehall in the city of Westminster into the City ...
An eyewitness, Dan Mercurio, has just told NBC that he believes that about half the runners had finished the Boston marathon. He had finished about 15 seconds earlier and said from where he was that it was clear the explosion was something serious.
via @clarerrrr
In just over two weeks' time there is an opportunity to choose a new County Council. Please find more information about your local Lib Dem candidates here: If elected to run the Council, the Liberal Democrat Group promises: 'To tackle Tory waste. Despite their constant claims of 'good housekeeping' large sums are wasted on ...
Reports are continuing to emerge of the multiple explosions that occurred on the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I am trying to put together many of the news that is coming together on social media and the Boston Police Scanner. The Commentator is also updating. The police were looking for a yellow van ...
Memorial Rail now in situ I have previously mentioned the proposal for a cremated remains section in Western Cemetery that Western Cemetery Association and I have promoted and has the support of the City Council. Earlier today, along with representatives of the council's Environment Department and of the Western Cemetery Association, we discussed progress on-site. The main memorial rail is now in place and we discussed many practical issues including planting and the seating area. There is substantive and welcome progress on this important project for the West End and representatives of Barclays Bank are kindly assisting with planting at ...
Nick Clegg on libel reform in January 2010: "Libel tourism is making a mockery of British justice," Mr Clegg will say. In one case, a US academic was successfully sued for £130,000 by a Saudi businessman in an English court, even though the defamatory book sold just 23 copies in Britain over the internet. "I am deeply concerned about the stifling effect English libel laws are having on scientific debate," Mr Clegg will say. "Scientists must be allowed to question claims fearlessly - especially those that relate to medical care, environmental damage and public safety - if we are to ...
Mon 15th
20:25
Vince increases the minimum wage. It's the right decision, but we do need to get local about it.
This was the Mirror (and many other news outlets) two weeks ago: Minimum wage cut fears: Fury as Government considers 'kicking' low-paid workers The reality? The Government has accepted the independent Low Pay Commission's recommendations to increase both the adult and youth National Minimum Wage rates. The BBC reports: Minimum wage to increase to £6.31 To be clear, the 1.9% increase is below the expected rate of inflation — so this is a real-terms cut. The increase is, however, higher than either public sector workers or those on benefits will receive. The only recommendation of the Low Pay Commission that ...
I recently bought petrol and noticed a sign that has been seen on garage forecourts - No Mobile Phones. I did search the reasons for these signs and discovered that while there have been lurid reports of terrible accidents caused by mobile phones on garage forecourts, those reports are all false - see http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp To summarize that page: the American Petroleum Institute said "we can find no evidence of someone using a cellphone causing any kind of accident, no matter how small, at a gas station anywhere in the world", and nobody has ever demonstrated that an accident of any ...
And so another week with Rutland's most popular fictional peer draws to a close. Sunday I have heard a lot of people pointing morals over the fall of Chris Huhne. Leave the sermons to the Reverend Hughes: what a chap needs at a time like this is a cake with a file in it. Lord Bonkers was Liberal MP for Rutland South-West 1906-10. Earlier this week in Lord Bonkers' Diary... Monday: Digging up the Bonkers' Arms car parkTuesday: Why Welsh education is the finest in the worldWednesday: Nick Clegg unveils his winning tacticThursday: Ming Campbell is brought out of mothballsFriday: ...
I've had a number of negative comments about local East Dulwich GP practices. I'm sure a number of complements are also out there. Since 1 April 2013 to make complaints about NHS health care: If you have a comment or a complaint about a GP, dentist, pharmacy or optician contact the London office of NHS England at england.contactus@nhs.net. You can also contact NHS England on 0300 311 22 33. There is more information available at http://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint. If you have a comment or complaint about a hospital, mental health or community trust please contact the respective organisation directly. If you have ...
Good news via Jo Swinson: .@britishvogue signs @equityuk #codeofconduct to protect #models at work bit.ly/XqblZX — Jo Swinson(@joswinson) April 15, 2013 Take a look at what it covers: The agreement stipulates that models hired by Vogue will not work longer than ten hours a day, will have adequate food provided and will not do any semi or fully nude shoots unless agreed in advance. The code also prohibits models under the age of 16 from being photographed for shoots representing adult models. Other requisites include mandatory breaks, changing rooms, transport, prompt payment and suitable temperatures for the clothes being modelled. ...
Taylor Wimpey have submitted a planning application O/2013/0434 – which you can view here: http://tinyurl.com/co8wfyj to build 150 houses on land behind Maidensfield and Grovelands Park, round the back of Winnersh Farm. The proposed access is through Maidensfield, which is a cul de sac off Watmore Lane. I think this is a dreadful application. The good news is that Wokingham Borough Council are likely to turn it down, because they have not allocated the site for housing. However, there is still the possibility of an appeal. Taylor Wimpey will also be arguing that the site should be allocated for housing ...
In today's Guardian, John Harris wonders what happened to that extinct species, the One Nation Tory. He finds a revealing statement by Margaret Thatcher (quoted in a book by Ian Gilmour, one of her cabinet 'wets'): "Do not say it is time for something else! Thatcherism is not for a decade. It is for centuries!"Thatcher said this in 1990, towards the end of her premiership when she was already going round the bend. Nevertheless, the idea that Thatcherism is permanent or inevitable is widely held, even among her opponents. The apologias by juvenile right-wingers among the comments on Liberal Democrat ...
So the bells of Big Ben are to be silenced. What else? There's the suggestions of a statue in Trafalgar Square and a USA style library. Maybe we should have a national holiday on her birthday, a two minute silence every anniversary of her death, and a flag day in her honour. Maybe they could ...
Mark Thompson poses seven awkward questions for the Liberal Democrats. "Being tribal involves the unmitigated vilification of the Lib Dems as accomplices in the Tory cuts. Being tactical would involve the quiet encouragement of Labour supporters to vote tactically for the Lib Dems in marginal seats where Labour stands no chance." LabourList urges its readers to choose tactics over tribalism. Max Atkinson discusses the making of Margaret Thatcher. While Ballots & Bullets debates the political meaning of the Wizard of Oz in the light of her death. "It's kind of humbling to know that music that inspired me to get ...
Interesting selection of artwork on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard selected from the biennial Art in the Dockyard competition. (Apparently there were a lot of entries and, although the small winning selection hanging in the gallery is a beautifully put together display, it would have been good to see more of the rest, perhaps displayed in the enormous empty courtyard next door?) It's also worth noting that the revamp of the yard continues with the opening of the 'Hearts of Oak' digital theatre updating the old Wooden Walls exhibit. For more information, opening times and tickets, visit the website ~ ...
Canada's Liberal Party has had its troubles in recent years. Two years ago they suffered the worst election result in their history, returning only 34 MPs and falling to an unprecedented third place behind the Conservative and New Democratic parties. The Guardian reports that Justin Trudeau was elected the party's leader with a massive majority. He attained 80% of the vote, a good start for somebody who needs to unify the party after years of infighting. His acceptance speech attempted to put those divisions behind the party: I don't care if you thought my father was great or arrogant," Trudeau ...
Vince Cable has agreed with the Low Pay Commission that the minimum wage should rise to £6.31 for adults this year (Oct 2013). Vince disagreed with the Commission that the rate for apprentices should be frozen, deciding instead that this should also be increased: "Apprenticeships are at the heart of our goal to support a ... Continue reading »
The Financial Times website carries an article suggesting that senior Liberal Democrats are preparing to make the issue of Lords reform a deal breaker in any future coalition negotiations. It quotes Deputy Leader Simon Hughes as saying: If the time did come for more coalition negotiations, the experience of coalition the first time will be clearly taken on board when we think through what we would do a second time. The constitutional reform agenda and particularly reform of the Lords would have to be a part of the package. The article goes on to say that sources close to Nick ...
Mon 15th
14:07
SMR Column; Trident would already have been replaced under a Labour or Tory only Government.
One thing is absolutely certain. If the Liberal Democrats were not in Government now, the decision to replace Trident would have already been made. Because of us, no decision is ...
From the Shropshire Star: Elections have been cancelled in a Shropshire town - after the mayor and another long-serving member declined to put themselves forward as candidates again. Keith Pinches, who has worn the chains in Bishop's Castle for the past four years, and the town's longest-serving councillor Dr St John Penney - who has been a member of Bishop's Castle Town Council for 46 years - have decided not to stand again. The remaining 10 candidates will now be co-opted onto the council without the need for a public vote. An election had been pencilled in for May 2 ...
I wasn't going to bother talking about Thatcher. As my mother always used to say, "Least said - soonest mended!" However I am now breaking my self-imposed abstinence on the subject because of my absolute disgust at the Military honours ... Continue reading →
Thatcher's expensive funeral-signed off it is suggested by the last government-seems inappropriate in today's environment. Other PM's with a claim to greatness like Atlee and Lloyd George seem to have got the tone better. Perhaps best of all there is Gladstone. His funeral is described in the Liberal History Journal is some detail and concludes: Gladstone's funeral was, in retrospect, especially remarkable for its absence of bombast. Held at the very peak of Empire, it emphasised civic, non-military, and religious values. It was striking that the British could at that moment hold a state funeral which had no soldiers and ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Spare a thought for the late unlamented one-nation Tory | John Harris | Comment is free | The Guardian Whatever happened to the one-nation Tories? asks John Harris http://bit.ly/ZkxVDW The night Margaret Thatcher won Britain – Telegraph Brilliant review of BBC's 1979 election programme http://bit.ly/16XHMlk by @MichaelPDeacon How Labour saw Cameron in 2010: his face reddens and his hands shake when he is caught on the back foot | Ballots & Bullets Lab's private view of Cameron's debating strengths/weaknesses. Fascinating, esp cf PMQs' perform http://bit.ly/16XHmv3 (via @philipjcowley) Good grammar test: can you ...
I'm composing this on my phone so it's going to be quick and dirty, but I have the following things to say: 1, asking someone to consider what impact their words will have is not censoring them or banning anything 2; being told you have hurt someone is not fun; but it's better than hurting people 3, people with privilege are used to not considering other people's feelings and get upset when they are asked to consider other people. On one level this is understandable because considering other people is work. But it's nowhere near as much work as living ...
[IMG: Bridge Street Works] A recent article in the Peterborough Telegraph claimed action "...needs to be taken to protect Peterborough's revamped city centre from the destructive actions of skateboarders.." However, local LIB DEM ward councillor for South Werrington and North Gunthorpe has said he is not surprised by the latest complaints, as he highlighted the issue over 6 years ago! Then, during discussions and meetings heads of Opportunity Peterborough, other Liberal Democrat councillors and other interested parties Darren urged them to look at including a Skate Park into their plans for the City Centre! Commenting at the time he said: ...
[IMG: Bicycle Stands] Spokes East Kent Cycle Campaign have sent a questionnaire to all local Kent County Council candidates asking their views on cycling locally and how they would seek to improve it. Their questions, and my answers, are below. 1. Widespread 20 mph speed limits are increasingly being implemented across the country in places that people live, work, and shop. They provide a cost-effective means to reducing the number and severity of casualties and make our streets more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists whilst having smoothing traffic flow. Kent County Council regularly receive requests for widespread 20mph limits to ...
Jonathan Vernon-Smith, a self styled consumer champion, is a radio presenter for the BBC. He took up Iain Duncan Smith's gauntlet when the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions famously suggested that it was possible to live on £53 a week. On his programme today, for BBC Three Counties Radio, JVS said he lived on that, and had £7 to spare. Iain Duncan Smith: photo: Wikipedia On April Fools' Day 2013, Iain Duncan Smith claimed he could live on £53 per week as Work and Pensions Secretary, after a benefits claimant told the BBC he had £53 per week ...
Way back in 1981, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, the SDP was formed and took up residence at 4 Cowley Street, just round the corner from the Houses of Parliament. That building became the home of the Liberal Democrats after the 1988 merger between the Liberals and Social Democrats. Today's Times carries a report which suggests that our former headquarters could house the proposed museum to Margaret Thatcher. However, if you read the article in full, it amounts to little more than a bit of gentle stirring by Conor Burns, the Conservative MP who is a strong proponent of ...
Mon 15th
12:26
Letter from America: a memo to chief scientific adviser Sir Mark Walport | Roger Pielke Jr
In the seventh of our series on scientific advice, Roger Pielke Jr identifies a few lessons for the UK's new chief scientific adviser from the experience of his counterparts in the White House Congratulations Dr Walport on your appointment as the UK government's chief scientific adviser. You join a select group. Since the position of chief science adviser was established in the US in 1957 and in the UK in 1964, fewer than 30 men (yes, all men) have occupied the position. Today across Europe, only Ireland, the Czech Republic and the European Commission have formal equivalents, which also exist ...
The refurbished Atkinson Library is now open to general acclaim-although some have commented on the number of books missing which may be a temporary situation. But one area that does concern me is that our local history section is missing. Apparently it is lodged elsewhere. Surely the right place for the archive of local Southport newspapers is in Southport Library According to wikipedia the ...'Old Southport newspapers now out of print are as follows: Independent 1861-1920s; Liverpool & Southport News 1861-1872; Southport News (West Lancs) 1881-1885; Southport Standard 1885-1899 Southport Guardian 1882-1953; Southport Journal 1904-1932 Southport Star; Southport Advertiser Now ...
Mon 15th
11:55The Independent View: How the Payments Council is delivering a payments system for all
Since the beginning of the financial crisis there has been real appetite for reform into how our financial sector works and how we want it to operate. The Liberal Democrats have played an important part in this, both from within Government as well as from the backbenches. During its time in office, the Coalition has already introduced a Financial Services Act into law and is currently legislating for a Banking Reform Bill. In addition, there is also the ongoing Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, which I appeared in front of in late January. Not only is Danny Alexander ensuring the ...
Yesterday, I started with education policy, and today it's time to look at how we would address concerns about looking after those who receive, and give care; Appropriate Care provision, for all who need it 'Care' has been the Cinderella service of this Tory council. Liberal Democrats will: make sure the Tory divestment of our Care Homes does not produce a worse servicesupport Family Carers with fast, targeted, assistance, recognising they are the bedrock on which the county depends!scrutinise the impact of the Suffolk Circle and, work with local organisations to develop new ways to help vulnerable peopleimprove public health ...
The Lib Dems have welcomed an extra £770,280 being given to primary schools across Stockport to boost PE and Sport. Cheadle Primary School will receive £9,120. Gatley Primary will get £9,795, Lum Head £8,765 and North Cheshire Jewish £9,095. Schools will have to spend the sport funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but they will have the freedom to choose they do this. Possible uses for the funding include: hiring specialist PE teachers or qualified sports coaches to work alongside primary teachers when teaching PE new or additional Change4Life sport clubs paying for professional development opportunities in ...
Only 3% of the benefits budget goes to people seeking work. Half the benefits budget goes on pensions. I had a look at the DWP source stats. You'll find a summary of those stats here. Here's the pie chart I've drawn up from the data.Click to enlarge. Tip of the hat to Jon Leighton - his blog post was shared by thousands on Facebook. His chart is slightly different to mine.
If you live in Folkestone West, you can help Tim Prater's campaign for the Kent County Council elections by displaying a poster in the window. The poster looks best printed A3 in full colour, and displayed in the window as a diamond rather than square. Thank you! Published and promoted by Tim Prater, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone, CT20 3BYPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
[IMG: Tim Prater Poster] As you may know, in a few weeks on May 2nd there will be elections to Kent County Council. I've been honoured to serve as your Liberal Democrat County Councillor for the last four years. It really doesn't seem that long! I remember how close the result was in Folkestone West in 2009. We overturned a Conservative majority of over 1,300 votes to take the seat with a majority of 11. Four years on, we are fighting to win again. This election will again be a straight fight between me and the Conservative Leader of Shepway ...
Here's my latest Ham and High column. Also available in full on Lib Dem Voice. Week after week, I meet local residents at my constituency advice surgeries. Many are working hard in full or part time jobs, but still struggling to make ends meet due to the current economic climate. The unemployed and part timers often tell me they want to work more but also keep more of the money they earn. The Lib Dems have known this for a long time. And from now, the amount you can earn before being taxed has risen to £9,440. That's £600 less ...
Over at the Guardian's Comment is Free, Nick Clegg marks the publication of the Foreign Office's 2012 Human Rights and Democracy report with an article stating that promoting human rights has never been more important. He writes that many countries choose authoritarian capitalism over liberal democracy and this represents the "most serious challenge to our values since the end of the Cold War," especially as power transfers from west to east. But, he says, younger populations and easily available technology make people more aware of their rights and less likely to accept authoritarian rule: In the Middle East two-thirds of ...
With the departure of Time Montgomerie to The Times, Mark Wallace has been appointed Executive Editor of Conservative Home, with Paul Goodman becoming Editor. Frankly, I'm furious about this. With Tim leaving I had hoped that the rest of the political blogosphere might have a chance to be as agenda setting as ConservativeHome, but by ...
It is the evening of 1 August 1798, in a sticky Mediterranean dusk, and Horatio Nelson's Mediterranean Fleet has finally tracked down their French opponents at anchor in Aboukir Bay on the Egyptian coast. He is determined to bring them to action, even in the gathering gloom. The British gun crews are crouching by their cannon while their French counterparts heave their heavy armaments onto the seaward side where the British will come. The Battle of the Nile is about to begin. Nelson had prepared for this battle by setting out clear rules of engagement, discussed with his captains evening ...
Earlier this year a paper was published in a peer reviewed journal that was so contrived and so flawed that I had hoped it would convince any doubters that the evidence for miraculous immediate health effects from smoking bans is entirely the figment of activist's febrile imaginations. Sadly, it appears that I was wrong and that true believers including David Cameron still cling to the notion that smoking bans "have had a pretty dramatic health effect". This delusion is shared by Anna Soubry who unforgivably and untruthfully claimed reductions in heart attacks and childhood asthma admissions as a result of ...
Steer clear of Facebook's Home for Android this genuinely sounds like the stuff of nightmares to me (tags: ) Your Handy Doctor Who / Game of Thrones Actor Crossover Guide (tags: ) India's elites have a ferocious sense of entitlement -- New Internationalist "what does this wealth do to their minds that they always want more, they don't want anyone else to have anything? Indeed, why does wealth make them lose all sense of humanity and compassion?" - I wish I knew, but it's not just in India; although to be fair, it's not all rich people either. (tags: ) ...
2 Free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses starting in May: English and Life in the Community - for those who have limited English language skills and need to improve their speaking and listening skills The Armadillo, 10am-12noon, 10 sessions, 8th May-17th July 2013 English for Work - for those who are more confident with English but need to improve their skills for job seeking and the workplace The Armadillo, 1pm-3pm, 10 sessions, 8th May-17th July 2013 There will be an assessment and enrolment session at Yate Library on Tuesday 30th April from 2-4pm. Please come along - ...
A public service announcement from the Welsh Liberal Democrats follows... With record numbers of delegates attending and five Lib Dem Government Ministers taking part, the Welsh Liberal Democrat conference taking place this weekend already looks as if it's going to be a memorable one. Highlights on the agenda include: Keynote speeches - Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will be opening Conference, with speeches later on in the weekend also come from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander and Welsh Liberal Democrat party Leader Kirsty Williams. Gala dinner -Vince Cable MP will be guest speaker at the Conference Dinner. ...
One extraordinary thing about Margaret Thatcher's death is that there has been no mention anywhere in the media of her alcoholism. It was an open secret in Westminster that, by the end of her premiership, she was putting away a bottle of scotch a day (or rather, night, since she was notorious for staying up very late). I heard from a reputable source in the mid-1990s that she was receiving medical treatment for alcoholism. Her husband Denis's fondness for a G&T was well known but there was never any mention of his wife's heavy drinking. As with Charles Kennedy's problem ...
[IMG: Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice] The Liberal Party Constitution commits us to' ... create the positive conditions which will make a full and free life possible for all' . The last two words establish an unbridgeable gulf between us and the Thatcher approach. David Steel 1985 A journalist reporting the death of Thatcher tonight said that he learned the news whilst following Clegg on a campaign tour of Cornwall and reflected that Thatcher had a profound impact on our party.Writing in 1985 David Steel set himself the task of '...........presenting a constructive alternative to Thatcherism and ....'winning the intellectual ...
South Gloucestershire Council is currently planning the 2013 Discover Festival which will take place 12th September to 1st November 2013. The first Discover Festival in 2012 saw over 6,000 people attending 186 events across the local area and had themes around heritage, food, nature, arts, health and wellbeing, and also special events for people aged 50+. The Festival is organised by South Gloucestershire Council working in partnership with community groups and businesses. For this year's festival the council is inviting businesses, community groups or organisations to organise an open day, a talk, a walk, a taster session or a performance ...
You may have heard rumblings that "the EU wants to ban electronic cigarettes". This is not entirely true; the new EU tobacco directive proposes regulating electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) under medicines legislation and there is fiery debate as to whether this is appropriate. During the last few years e-cigarettes, devices resembling a cigarette or a pen/torch which enable the inhalation of nicotine containing vapour, have sprung up across Europe including in the UK. Many e-cigarette users call their habit "vaping" and some prefer to call their devices "personal vaporisers" or PVs. E-cigarettes use a liquid containing nicotine, the addictive component of ...
The Labour MP, Dianne Abbott has done us all a service this week by highlighting figures that show that the number of people prosecuted for cruelty to badgers has almost doubled in five years. The BBC say that 58 people were prosecuted in magistrates' courts under the Protection of Badgers Act in 2011, up from 30 in 2007. Ms Abbott said pro-cull campaigning has given a "green light" to those carrying out crimes such as badger baiting, and I believe that she is right. There is no scientific basis for a cull of badgers, but the method chosen by the ...
The Independent reports that after a string of by-election gains since last November, the Lib Dems can face the 2 May 2 and unitary authority polls with greater confidence than in any main contests since they went into the Coalition. Although no seats changed hands in the latest council by-elections, the Liberal Democrats had the strongest voting boost. They comfortably defended a Wigmore seat at Luton Borough and came from nowhere to take second place at Lascelles, Darlington. It is a sign of a growing recovery for the party in grassroots elections, however they still face some losses as the ...
Rev Andrew Greaves Over my 12 years representing the West End on the City Council, I have met and worked with many inspirational people in the area, but few are more inspirational and command more respect in our area than Rev Andrew Greaves, Minister of Dundee West Church. Andrew has always been hugely supportive of community events in the West End and has led our West End Christmas Week (now Fortnight!) Concert every year. But it is his work - and that of Vicky, his wife - with the people of Sri Lanka that has been the hallmark of what ...
I was interviewed on Wave 102 News yesterday about the good progress the District 10 Creative Media District is making at Seabraes Yards. You can hear the news item by clicking 'play' below:
The on-line version is here. Tell the county council what you feel about the local roads and pavements!
