Two important, yet conscientious, issues were on Monday night's agenda. Both The People of Bangor Community Group (TPOBCG) and a Bangor Market were proposed by Cllr Nigel Pickavance. TPOBCG is unlikely to be able to continue as it has after this years' Bangor Carnival and the group are looking towards the Council to take over [...]
A lot of rubbish was said and written about Margaret Thatcher immediately after her death. The consensus was depressingly deferential - partly in the spirit of "never speak ill of the dead"; partly due to her supporters seeking to exploit the mourning to reinforce her legacy; partly due to her opponents being overwhelmingly defeatist; but mainly because, although the economic orthodoxy she established has crashed in flames, no one has any idea what to do next. The few who dared to criticise her openly were no better. Many of these critics descended into appropriately 1980s-period SWP-style gesture politics (the 'Ding ...
Mon 20th
22:55
11 Liberal Democrat MPs vote for registrars to be exempt from marrying same sex couples
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has made fairly easy progress through the Commons tonight. After a Government/Labour compromise on a review for extending civil partnerships to opposite sex couples, and the heavy defeat or withdrawal of amendments, including "son of Section 28", it looks as though many of the barriers to this Bill's passage have been removed. There is still a further day of debate tomorrow, though, and further amendments to be debated. One of the amendments discussed today, defeated by 340 votes to 150 in favour, was to allow registrars to exempt themselves from marrying same sex couples. ...
The View from the Hills offers 14 thoughts on British politics after three years of the Coalition. "It was a gorgeously sunny and calm day yesterday afternoon on the south west coast of Wales. 13,000ft above sea level, somewhere above Swansea Airport, I was sitting hunched up in a 'plane, ready to free-fall back to Earth!" Read what happened next to Mark Cole - and he is quoted in the current Private Eye. Ballots & Bullets finds that children with politically engaged parents are more likely to deviate from their parents' political views. Delia Smith is quite right to criticise ...
After my weekly ward surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre, I took part in City Council committee meetings at which : * At Education Committee, in a discussion on the funding of the rebuilding of Harris Academy, I sought assurances about the level of the Scottish Government's part-funding of the project. * At Environment Committee, I welcomed a report on promoting bowling in the city and pointed to the facility at Lochee Park and why it would be good to see the second green utilised and the Bowling Green's building improved. I also welcomed improvements planned for ...
As you can see, the whole thing was set up to look like it was advocating love, when really those there were just spreading hatred. I heard one preacher take up the microphone and say that the liberalisation of things like abortion and divorce had led to progress on equal marriage, and what ...
This afternoon, I took part in the latest meeting of the Balgay Stakeholders' Group that gives the opportunity for representatives from Friends of Balgay to discuss issues around the park area with local councillors and representatives of the City Council's Environment Department. We had a very productive discussion on a number of issues including the planting of wildflowers just inside the Scott Street entrance to the park, progress towards the new toilet provision at the Lochee Park Pavilion and improvements at the Rose Garden. Friends of Balgay are having a litter pick on Sunday 2nd June from 2pm to 3pm ...
Congratuations to the Stamford & Rutland Mercury on winning my Headline of the Day Award.
Lord Bonkers was drawing our attention to The Telegraph story that Tory members were defecting to UKIP because of the so-called 'loons' smear. Now given Farage's reception in Scotland and given my distaste for banding around derogatory remarks usually aimed at people with mental ill health I got to thinking about loons It is, as I pointed out to his lordship, a perfectly good Scots word defined as: loun [lun] n. A youth, boy, fellow, rascal. dim. lounie, lounock(ie) You can hear it here in a poem, Co Education by John C Milne, written in the 'doric' the characteristic speech ...
Reblogged from TED Blog: Every day, most of us do something morally indefensible -- we go about our lives without sending help to the 6.9 million children under the age of 5 who will die this year from poverty-related disease. In today's talk, philosopher Peter Singer makes the case that ignoring these kids is as [&hellip
In April Claire Young carried out a survey in Dodington Road to find out what people thought about various options for pavements to increase pedestrian safety. Most people supported both extending the pavement on the school playing field side to a safer crossing point and creating a pavement on the same side as the houses from there up to at least the bend. Given the costs, it would be difficult for the Area Forum to fund both in one year, so they have been added to the Local Transport Priority List as two separate schemes. It would not make sense ...
It was a gorgeously sunny and calm day yesterday afternoon on the south west coast of Wales. 13,000ft above sea level, somewhere above Swansea Airport, I was sitting hunched up in a 'plane, ready to free-fall back to Earth! As I have mentioned already in this blog, I was doing it to raise money to buy defibrillators for our rural communities here in mid-Wales as a part of the British Heart Foundation Cymru's two-year £200,000 appeal. I was also doing it in memory of my Dad Lance Cole who died 10 years ago next month and who survived open heart ...
The annual beer festival at Blyth Rugby Club is this weekend, 24th to 27th May Friday 5pm to Midnight Saturday Noon to Midnight Sunday 11 am to Midnight Monday Noon to 10pm I don't know the beer line up yet ( or should that be line out ...? ) , but I'm yold that over the weekend 20 beers and up to 12 ciders will be available Blyth Rugby Club is on Plessey Road, Blyth, with postcode of ME24 3LE for Sat Navs or Google Maps. Now I have to persuade my wife to let me out to play ..... ...
Under the Coalition Government, crime is at its lowest level since independent records began. That's fewer homes burgled and possessions stolen; fewer communities blighted by vandalism; and fewer people [...]
Now there's a surprise the recent demise of Transeuropa ferries is going to cost Thanet council 3.3 million pounds. It seems that the entrepreneurial brains of Thanet council thought it a great idea to prop up the ailing ferry company back 2011. The grisly details of this debacle are attached, to be honest I don't have the stomach, as always the victims of local authority, dabbling in the entrepreneurial world, will be those who can least afford it as housing benefit funds have been ear marked for plundering. As always you can be sure that staff pensions are safe, free ...
Lewis Baston has analysed this month's county elections results for the Fabian Society. He concludes that "these elections were not a vote of confidence in any party". Because of the website it was written for it is chiefly concerned with the fortunes of the Labour Party, but it will still interest all politicos. And I was particularly interested in this sentence: The Lib Dems were ahead in some seats that were Tory in 2010, such as South East Cornwall, Oxford West & Abingdon, Winchester, St Albans, Watford and Harborough.
The General Assembly crawled to consensus Today, the Church of Scotland at the General Assembly received a report from the Theological Commission concerning the ordination of ministers who are in civil partnerships. That report offered two, greatly divergent options. There was the "revisionist" proposal (2A), which would have (subject to ratification by a majority of Presbyteries, and then the General Assembly of 2014) enabled ministers who were in civil partnerships to be ordained and to serve as ministers, but to permit individual congregations formally to opt-out of calling ministers to their charge in such relationships on the grounds of their ...
Apparently, Lord Andrew Feldman of Elstree has called the Conservative party activists "swivel eyed loons." "Lord who?" Yes, you'd be forgiven for thinking that. Cameron's friend from Oxford; the Conservative Party Chairman, and former Chief Executive was yesterday accused of referring to the party's activists as a mad bunch. When asked for comment, Cameron denied that his friend from University had uttered such a phrase. But hold on... Let's think about this.; "Conservative party activists... Swivel eyed loons. Even the keenest of political anoraks has to admit that there are a huge number of activists from each of the three ...
Bootle Labour Councillor Dowd's legacy of extravagant waste 'the lack of prudence beggars belief'-Liverpool Post No apology, unrepentant and unreconstructed Mark Dowd sits on the Labour front bench at Sefton glowering his defiance. His colleagues protect him and rubbish every report issued that details his outrageous behavior describing them as 'tawdry and rubbish'. How much more is there to come out? When will the Labour party act . To date we know about what the Daily Post calls: ...............'the monstrous black elephant that is Merseytravel's monolithic HQ at Mann Island' which it describes as having 'entered the realms of the ...
So MPs are currently discussing Equal Marriage and as is custom for MPs they have differing views. Some more extreme than other. Some think that this is just a starting point for something more in a sinister way and some are just flat out barmy. Happily many others are more middle of the road and don't think that same sex marriage is the first strep to gay people taking over the world and enslaving and discriminating against straight folk. A lot of this debate is revolving around what teachers should and shouldn't be allowed to teach. If same-sex marriage goes ...
So, what with UKIP surging in the polls (despite having donors and elected representatives who are frequently misogynists and/or racists), the Tories imploding over an EU referendum (and comments which may or may not have been made by one of Cameron's chums) and the Lib Dems being asked about our manifesto "pledge" of an EU referendum, I've decided to cut through the spin and present an honest assessment of the Lib Dem position on an EU referendum: Our position in brief We're pro EU but we want an in-out referendum the next time there's a major transfer of powers from ...
As MPs debate equal marriage in the Commons today, anti equality campaigners have set up a hate camp outside Parliament. They are singing hymns, preaching and praying on a green outside parliament, as well as flyering passers by. While some members of the public showed support for their cause, many others shouted "shame" and ...
From the age of 17 to my mid 30's I worked on a part-time basis at what was then the Maghull Homes which was originally set up as an epileptic colony. My job was assisting the disabled residents to participate in social and sporting activities such as snooker (I was taught to play this by residents of the Maghull Homes), cricket and football on the charity's Liverpool Road South site. [IMG: rsz_photo0212] The second site, located off Deyes Lane, was where a school for children with epilepsy was based and which operated until the mid 1980's, if I recall correctly. ...
The Liberal Democrats are proud to announce the hosting of the ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe) Congress in London at the end of November this year. The ALDE Party Congress is the biggest annual event gathering Liberals across Europe: over 650 members of liberal parties from around the continent; top politicians including Prime Ministers, European Commissioners, Ministers, Members of the European and national Parliaments, Members of the Committee of the Regions, and many other delegates an event with European visibility, acknowledging the role of the supporting party within both a European and the national political context topical ...
I'm going home. This is not what I wanted, and it's stressing me the fuck out. But it's okay in many ways. I miss Abby. And Charlie. I miss Izzy, and Sam and Lauren. And I hate uncertainty. New York was the very best thing I could have done for myself. The reasons didn't pan out, but I am a healthier, happier, more knowledgable person than I was three years ago. And New York, Bank Street, Gotham Girls, Ana and Becca made that happen. The job I'm leaving is the very best job I could ever have had – the ...
Only a short while ago Norman Lamb MP was one of our best. He stood up, and spoke out, on principle against needless government intrusion. A true poster boy for all those liberals amongst us who object to the nanny state telling adults how to live our lives. Back in 2008, when the the Labour government suggested hiding cigarettes behind shutters in shops, Norman was one of the first to speak out. As Shadow Health Minister he rightly stated : "This is the nanny state going too far." And he didn't stop there. He also said "This will hit small ...
Every so often, Assembly Members have the opportunity to form their own law. We put forward an idea, it is entered into the ballot and then one of the ideas is drawn at random. The AM then has the opportunity to take that forward and it could eventually become law in Wales. Last month I was not lucky enough to be selected but my idea is something I feel strongly about so I will continue to campaign for it. In the wake of the Mid Staffordshire scandal, I am calling for a change in the law to require minimum staffing ...
Mon 20th
15:51
Quote of the Day - Sean Thomas on how David Cameron will win the next general election
From The Telegraph "And thus it is revealed: this is the Tory election masterplan for 2015. It's based on getting out that vital 0.0000000000000001 per cent of the electorate that went to Eton, personally knows and likes David Cameron, lives in the nice bit of Notting Hill, is totally cool with gay marriage, and who isn't called "Jesse"."
[IMG: Wormwood Scrubs prison - Some rights reserved by TheGoogly] 3 years ago Liberal Democrats entered into the Coalition to put our nation's economy back on track; building a fairer society and a stronger economy. But it wasn't just about doing things in the national interest, we also went into Government to put Liberal Democrat policies into action. At conference last year I moved a motion on reoffending so I am pleased that today Nick Clegg has set out many of the ideas passed by conference to rebuild our criminal justice system. Our plans are revolutionising a system which was ...
A senior Tory has allegedly stated a belief commonly held amongst central party managers everywhere: that their activists are 'swivel-eyed loons'. 'Loon', of course, is ultimate derived from 'lunar'; the traditional belief that madness was more common during full moons. If we assume that voting Conservative is a form of madness, we can check whether [...]
Today's Liberal Monday celebrates the 207th birthday of Liberal philosopher and politician John Stuart Mill. With Harriet Taylor, he wrote arguably Liberalism's most influential text of all: On Liberty, the book that created the Harm Principle, from which I've picked two key quotations. For many Liberal Democrats, this crystallises the party's essential belief, and I've already touched on it in both previous Liberal Mondays in freedom from conformity and from other restraints... But, though you can see On Liberty's influence right through to today's Equal Marriage bill, it still challenges Lib Dems - has it really influenced our policies enough? ...
It seems to be a reoccurring theme that the Welsh Government doesn't have real solutions to the problems within our education system. The most recent of these action plans on education is fixed penalties for parents whose children continually truant. Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews held a consultation period from November 2012 to February 2013. [...]
A lot of the refuse and recycling collections will take place a day later than normal due to the Spring bank holiday on Monday 27th May. Speaking to Ealing Council they told me that the items of refuse and recyclables should be left at the front of the property, or in a place which does not block the pavement, by 7 am on the collection day. The Stirling Road refuse and recycling centre in Acton will be open, as usual, over the bank holiday. Collections will return to normal on Monday, 3 June Please see the details below: Usual collection ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Lord Ashcroft: Enough! Time to behave like the governing Party we all want to be .@LordAshcroft with a forlorn plea to his party: "Enough! Time to behave like the governing Party we all want to be" http://bit.ly/12onXQJ Austerity's foundations have crumbled - and advocates have blood on their hands – Comment – Voices – The Independent "Austerians such as Osborne + Cameron have blood on their hands." David Blanchflower jumps the academic shark http://ind.pn/161dz8f Q1 RAJARs: Global's audience continues to increase, Classic FM adding over 200,000 listeners | News, Radio | imediamonkey® ...
If there is one thing that is clear about the current controversy over Europe it is that the consequences of any decision to pull out are so serious that maybe there is a case for keeping politicians out of the debate altogether. That is just a whimsical remark of course. After all many of those expressing a view on this matter could not and should not be silenced. But it does underline a basic point, which is that so far the real issues are not being discussed. That is why an article in today's Independent is so important. They report ...
The culmination of more than three years of heartfelt campaigning by the LGBT+ Lib Dems finally comes to the final hurdle in the House of Commons battle for equal marriage this week, with votes today and tomorrow. It will sadly see the ultimate opportunity for those MPs who remain implacably behind the times in opposition to equality and fairness in the United Kingdom to block progress. It is also the opportunity for the sun to shine on those MPs who vote in favour of equality, fairness, human rights, respect and love. LGBT+ people want to celebrate and share their love ...
Meols Ward Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Nigel Ashton and David Rimmer, together with FOCUS Editor Jo Barton, are holding their next advice centre in Churchtown. We will be at Cafe Moo Moo on Cambridge Road (by the junction with Preston New Road, next to Boots) from 10:30 to 11:30 am on Thursday 23rd of May. Jo Barton, John Dodd and David Rimmer (Nigel Ashton took the photo) We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in. We also hold a monthly advice centre in Crossens, at St ...
Mon 20th
12:52
My open letter to Liberal Democrat MPs on same sex marriage - it's not about you, it's about fairnes...
This is what I've spent the morning drafting and sending to Liberal Democrat MPs on the same sex marriage bill. I've sent it to everyone unless I know for sure that they are wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supporting the Bill and not voting for any of the Tory Wrecking Muppetry. I have had two replies so far - one from Malcolm Bruce, who can't be at Westminster today but who supports the Bill, and from David Heath's office, confirming his support. Dear I'm writing to ask you to enthusiastically support the same sex marriage bill today. I'm a huge fan of ...
24 Hours In Any City In The World – "The perfect, meticulously-searched guide to Any City In The World for people who, for some bizarre reason, have only allocated 24 hours to explore it." 4 Things We Should Remember When Arguing About Politics – Useful perspective from Cracked. As Millenials Shun Cars, Boston Rethinks Its Transportation System – "when I was learning to drive, the idea of driving out in the country and even driving around town and not spending a lot of time sitting in traffic was actually something of a reality. As Americans started driving more and more ...
In 2009 the Premier League returned and Mark Halsey refereed at Goodison Park on the opening Saturday of the season. Nothing interesting here despite the 6-1 scoreline to the visitors Arsenal but the referee that day had just been given some pretty horrendous news. Mark Halsey had been diagnosed with a Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had a cancerous tumour in his throat. This was removed and the battle started not only to return to full health but to also to return to his previous career of a full-time professional football referee. He would do so and would referee for two more ...
[IMG: Marriage ring - License Some rights reserved by jcoterhals ] May has been a good month for equal marriage. Minnesota became the 12th American State, plus DC, to allow same-sex couples to marry and France became the 9th country in Europe (the 14th around the world) to introduce this landmark change. Millions of gay and lesbian people are now able to marry the person they love. This week, in Britain, the debate returns to the House of Commons. I have no doubt that a significant majority of MPs are in favour of equal marriage. But let's also be in ...
Turn Right or stay put? Chishti, Crouch and Reckless Yesterday I read Tristan Osborne's piece on Medway's MPs swinging right. Definitely worth reading and Medway could be a UKIP target.concur there may be a shift right by Conservative elements. I've already postulated that The Coalition was easily formed as both the Liberal Democrats and liberal centre ground Conservatives had similar aims and yearnings for change - albeit with different approaches and maybe different outcomes. Both parties have had their problems. We've lost good people because they are unhappy with us joining the Conservatives, others because we broke our ...
[IMG: Lib Dem councillors and residents campaigning for a 20mph zone] Haringey Council have u-turned and will be consulting on implementing a borough wide 20mph zone having twice previously rejected the idea. Neighbouring Camden and Islington have already agreed to implement borough wide 20mph zones in their areas. The consultation on the proposals is due to be approved on 18th June when the idea will be discussed at the council's Cabinet. The Liberal Democrats have campaigned locally for the change arguing that the costs involved are justified by the reduction in accidents and injuries, which have been experienced in other ...
The influential NHS blogger Roy Lilley asks precisely the right question this morning. Why is the Accident and Emergency service not like the Fire Service? If the incidence of fires has dropped by 40 per cent, and it has - as we know thanks the review by Sir Ken Knight - what can the NHS learn from that? The answer lies in the neglected word 'prevention'. The Fire Service has been devoting increasing energy and ingenuity into preventing fires. Partly the success is down to smoke alarms, which are now in 86 per cent of homes. Strictly speaking, this isn't ...
[IMG: jo swinson] Last week, I said that Liberal Democrats should use the word feminist much more than we do. Women Liberal Democrats has done so much to advance policy on women's equality over the years and its successor Liberal Democrat Women has a bright future ahead of it. However, women's hard won rights are under attack all over the world, whether it's the disgrace of female genital mutilation practised at home or abroad, domestic violence, employment rights, rape culture or abortion rights. Projects like Everyday Sexism expose a misogyny that is engrained in the country's psyche. It's time that ...
Last week, the Labour leader of Haringey Council, Claire Kober, took to the local newspapers to complain about the shortage of housing for Council tenants. She has a point. Here in Haringey there are well over 10,000 individuals and families on the waiting list for a council property - and most will have to wait for years before they are even considered. This poses a terrible problem for vulnerable individuals and overcrowded families, who are in desperate need of social housing. It is all well and good to sit and complain about this – what we really need from our ...
Scriptonite's informative take on PFI I don't think it's that the electorate don't care; I think it's that they don't see what we can do about it. labour were just as bad as the tories and my own party aren't really covering themselves in glory... so what the hell are we meant to do? (tags: ) amazon's tax arrangements are a work of art (tags: ) What Clara is thinking when she looks at River this is clearly the unaltered truth (tags: ) Terrorist safety signs translated (tags: ) baby Brigadier is so cute! (tags: ) posted The Blood ...
David Cameron was elected Leader of the Conservative Party with a manifesto to modernise, though it would appear from the grassroots rebellion in the shires that a worryingly high percentage of Tory Party members have changed their minds. On issues like equal marriage this clearly has something to do with the high average age profile [...]
[IMG: Meeting Stroud Green Road shopkeepers] The deadline for voting in Lynne Featherstone's competition to find the best local independent shop in Hornsey & Wood Green is the end of May. There are three categories - best shop front, best customer service and best all round shop. In March, Katherine and i went around many of the independent shops on Weston Park, Ferme Park Road and Stroud Green Road encouraging them to take part in the competition (see photo), which is all about supporting and celebrating our unique local high streets and small shopping parades. The winner will be announced ...
It used to be call Longley Lane Tip. Now it's Longley Lane Resource Recovery Centre – more of a mouthful, but quite right because it's all about re-using and recycling as much as possible. Here's their latest community newsletter.
I posted yesterday on having to beware of the amendment on opposite sex Civil Partnerships – because the proposers are no friends of Equal Marriage – which makes me uber suspicious. However, I have always wanted both same sex marriage and opposite sex civil partnerships. So my task this morning is to try and get some facts. The Conservatives are not champions of 'living together' – they believe in marriage – and that has been their rationale for their support on same sex marriage. I am concerned as to whether there is any truth in their assertion that this will ...
So, Yahoo! is to buy tumblr for $1.1 BEEEEEELLION. I don't understand money. Well, specifically, I don't understand how companies are funded, classify shares, or any of that finance stuff. But, there's something which has been bothering me about the recent sale of some social media properties. According to some estimates, tumblr has 170 million users. $1.1 billion / 170 million users is.... double checks workings $6.47 per user. Err... what? Even if those number are off by 50% - Yahoo have paid the equivalent of just $13 per user. Now, I realise that $6 - $13 is a lot ...
The Independent reports: [IMG: Prison fence] Sending a criminal to prison costs more than sending a child to Eton and "we need a better return on our investment" Nick Clegg will say tomorrow. Announcing an extra £7million of Government money to help the rehabilitation of offenders the Deputy Prime Minister will warn that successive Governments have been tough on punishing crime but weak on preventing it from happening again.
In association with the University of Dundee Institute of Sport and Exercise, the Botanic Garden is holding a 5K Fun Run on the evening of Wednesday 22nd May. More details are available here. It is good to see that proceeds are going to the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust.
Some thoughts on British politics three years into the current government. 1. The Conservative Party has never understood nor accepted coalition. 2. The Conservatives have never really accepted they didn't win the election in 2010. 3. The Conservatives historically have always eaten themselves every generation or so over tariff reform / Europe. 4. The Conservative Party are split between two generations and split over Europe. 5. The Conservatives head for the next election split from head to foot, somewhat directionless and their idealistic drive for public sector cuts and excessive austerity (too deep, too quick and no plan B) discredited. ...
On looking through past posts on this blog I find that I provided just such an explanation as long ago as 2007 when Ming Campbell was still leader of the Liberal Democrats: I have been asked - all polite and requesty - by Ming the Merciflold to explain to you our new polytito on the European Unibode. Though confdentimost, conference, if there's a mercifold one in that marriage, it's Elspeth. Indeedy-ho! Now historibold, which is of the oldest, we have the European wars. Schlesswig versy Holstein. Alsace versy Lorraine. And all huffalo dowder until the Congress of Viennit with the ...
