Earlier today it was announced that Iain [M] Banks had died. Whilst it was known that his death was imminent, the news was no less the galling for that. The Man Himself (TMH), as he was known on the fan forums, was erudite, witty, intelligent and humble. His books were imaginative: exploring the extremes of human nature, love and relationships with a mixture of comedy, pathos and violence. The landscapes of his non-Sci Fi books were often evocative and (for Scots at least) recognisable. His characters were mostly well rounded and complex, reflecting reality rather than being standard tropes. His ...
No matter how annoyed we are at the closure of the Broomsdene tip (and I've had two emails complaining about the service provided at the Annfield Plain Household Waste Recycling Centre this week-end) I hope we can all agree that fly-tipping is both illegal and a scourge of our locality. [IMG: TIPPIN~1] Following these emails I thought I'd just check whether the fears were justified which many people expressed about the effect that Broomsdene's closure would have on fly-tipping. The picture tells it's own story, and I have written to the council's cabinet member with responsibility for waste to draw ...
[IMG: Liberal Democrats Logo] My preview of the June 2013 meeting of the Liberal Democrat's English Council was posted on Liberal Democrat Voice last Friday. What's on the agenda for the English Council? The English Council is the governing body of the Liberal Democrats in England and meets twice a year to consider matters of importance to the English Party. The agenda for this meeting was rather light so I have to be honest and say that I struggled to make the post very interesting. However, if any party member has some feedback that they'd like to give me to ...
I use the middle lane of motorways a lot. I do not consider myself a hog. I have rational reasons for using the middle lane. The government wants to bring in penalties for people hogging the middle lane, but middle lane use has to be considered in the context of overall road use. Some others consider me a hog, usually those intent on breaking the speed limit. If I am travelling at 70 mph, I cannot legally be in anybody's way. If somebody comes up behind me, flashing their lights to get me out of their way when the outside ...
In which I discuss Paul Cornell's novel Timewyrm: Revelation
With this weekend's RadFem2013 conference, there has been sizeable controversy due to it taking place at the Camden Centre, which is a conference venue owned by the London Borough of Camden Council. Because of this, several people, including myself, have FOIed the council for documents relating to the booking. While we're waiting for that, one of the councillors for the ward the centre is in — Sarah Hayward, Leader of the Council and one of the three councillors for Kings Cross — has been rather helpful in elaborating some of the council's reasons over the weekend. With her permission, I ...
[IMG: Random Thoughts logo] I can't really believe we are in June already. I seem to be having problems properly organising my time — and then there never seems to be enough of it. Also been suffering from "the curse of the interesting". I keep finding new things interesting — but don't have time/energy to do anything constructive about them. For instance; I've been hugely fascinated by the debates and arguments over equal marriage recently, wanted to think more deeply about the issue, and write about it. But haven't. Too important a topic not to do a proper job and ...
[IMG: Lib Dem email training with Rob Blackie] Rob Blackie organised a great email campaigning training session today for Liberal Democrats in London. The format, covering only a couple of things and therefore giving people lots of time to try them out hands on and with plenty of trainers in the room to give direct assistance, worked really well. We used the Southwark Lib Dem offices, a venue I really rather like, and I'm sure the format means that more people will actually go and implement what they've learnt than usually happens after the more traditional style training the party ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 329th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (2-8 June, 2013), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. Embarrassment for SNP ...
I have just returned from a fabulous day at WestFest's Big Sunday on Magdalen Green, definitely the best-attended Big Sunday thus far! It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and I and my colleagues on the Friends of Magdalen Green/West End Community and Sports Hub stand are delighted at the number of people discussing our groups' activities - and Friends of Magdalen Green signed up a load of new individual members too. There was loads for all who attended to see, participate in, listen to ... and eat and drink! Here's a video and some photos from today's Big Sunday: Huge ...
[IMG: Lynne Featherstone on the doorstep] Want to know how to win election campaigns? You can learn from the very best of international experience with a free 10-week email course from myself and Ed Maxfield. Sign up at www.CampaignMasterclass.com and each week you'll receive one lesson by email, helping you become a top election winning campaigner or candidate yourself. We've helped, advised and run election campaigns across Europe and even further afield - and we've got many victories to show for it. Now you too can learn from what we've discovered along the way. We do hope you sign up ...
Over at the Telegraph, Lib Dem blogger and former London Assembly candidate Charlotte Henry takes a look at the Lib Dems' 'woman problem' in the light of the recent publicity concerning allegations against Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock and former party chief executive Lord (Chris) Rennard. Here's an excerpt: The Lib Dems need to get more women elected at every single level, of that there is no doubt. It is galling to still walk into party meetings with barely any women, or to still see male dominated panels at party conference. ... All that said, it should be noted that ...
Hurrah! For years we (Liberal Democrats) have been campaigning for 20mph zones in Haringey – and now it's paid off. I guess Labour finally realised the level of support we had on this issue – and hence this massive u-turn – when for so long they refused to even consider it. Campaigning works! So thanks to everyone for supporting this campaign to date. We very much want to now know local peoples' views on the detail so please fill in this survey.
A few weeks ago Libdem Council group leader Geoff Juby had this to say in his Party People column for the Medway Messenger. I went on a day trip to France to visit friends living in a tiny hamlet in the countryside. What an eye opener. Britain is part of Europe but we don't enjoy the same economic benefits as our partners. First, utilities - water rates where they pay in a year what I pay in a month, and their equivalent of council tax is £140 per year (including TV licence). As many of our utilities are now provided ...
The Liberal Conspiracy blog reports that Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake has resigned from the Advisory Council of the Henry Jackson Society, a neoconservative and hawkish think tank, following anti-immigration statements made by the society's senior executives. Brake is the first parliamentarian of any party to sever ties with the society. Well done for taking a stand, but what on earth was he doing on the Advisory Council of such a group in the first place? And why is another Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson, still a member of this council? And why, for that matter, have we heard nothing ...
Charles Kennedy and Malcolm Bruce today celebrate 30 years as MPs for their constituencies. They have both issued messages to mark the occasion. Here is Charles'. This coming Sunday will mark thirty years of serving Ross, Cromarty and Skye; Ross, Skye & Inverness West and currently, Ross, Skye & Lochaber. Through the many boundary and name changes it's a continued privilege to serve the largest and arguably one of most beautiful constituencies in the country. The last three decades have brought have a wealth of issues to the constituency table; from the building of the Skye Bridge, ensuring the continuation ...
Once again I find myself apologising for a lack of recent bloggage... I intend rectifying this in the coming week - I have a reasonably sized list of blog ideas awaiting execution! Meanwhile, it's Sunday afternoon, so here is a Sound for your earholes: The Rasmus with In The Shadows. Enjoy! Andrew
H/T Here are three ideas for you.... Put all alcohol in plain packaging Ban betting logos on sweatshirts Print health warnings on the actual cigarettes You might think these have been lifted from the latest indie spoof movie. Think again. These crackpot ideas are actually being put forward, for real, by those who "know best". You see that is what happens when governments spend millions supporting so-called "charities" and institutions whose raison-d'etre is to come up with ideas that justify their existence (and their next round of funding). As for evidence? Forget it. All you need is to get some ...
Malcolm Bruce and Charles Kennedy have issued messages to mark their 30 year anniversaries as MPs. First up, Malcolm's: Thirty years ago this weekend, I was elected as Member of Parliament for Gordon - for the first time and at the third attempt. It had taken nine years of sustained campaigning. I was of course exhilarated and excited but little realised that that was the first of seven successful elections. Campaigning has changed beyond recognition. Then we had 60 plus public meetings and there was no Facebook or Twitter. Technology was limited too. Then there were no mobile phones, no ...
A local action group has started a petition to oppose any building on the Odd Down plateau. Your chance to make Eric Pickles (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) and our MPs Don Foster and Jacob Rees-Mogg aware of our opposition to the 300-home development on South Stoke plateau. Please share with friends, family and neighbours http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/
[IMG: shed_tm] Posting made as a result of a unique, ground-breaking "taking turns" agreement with Liberal England. For me, this morning was unusual. I started with a run around Greenham Common, which must have been more than 10K, by my reckoning. I then came back and couldn't get back into our house. It's a long story. The events leading up to that moment were a series of unfortunate events worthy of a Gerald Hoffnung monologue but, thankfully, not reaching such a hopeless crescendo as in the film Clockwise. So, with only the running kit I stood in, plus stepcounter and ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Factcheck: Are speed cameras causing more fatal accidents? | Full Fact "Are speed cameras causing more fatal accidents?" http://bit.ly/13ONOCH SHOCK! Daily Mail reports a thing inaccurately... Tim Harford — Article — A statistical needle in a bureaucratic haystack Tim Harford is right about the ONS website: it's impenetrable » "A statistical needle in a bureaucratic haystack" http://bit.ly/11oxSnq After Thatcher | TLS Fantastic essay by Ferdinand Mount, reviewing the spate of Thatcher biogs and her life for the TLS http://bit.ly/19bOjwb Send to Kindle
We have asked the county council to deal with this – there is clearly the beginning of some quite serious subsidence. [IMG: IMG_0014]
Did you have the misfortune to hear the appalling James Delingpole on this weekend's Radio 4 Any Questions? As usual, he paraded his ignorance and prejudice about climate change. As an antidote, do watch and, indeed, relish the forensic demolition of Delingpole by Sir Paul Nurse during a BBC2 Horizon documentary: (This is just a short extract but you can watch the whole documentary 'Science Under Attack' here). Delingpole later complained on his blog that this interview amounted to 'intellectual rape'. No James, it's simply that Sir Paul Nurse is President of the Royal Society and a Nobel Prize winning ...
[IMG: Tim Farron in his constituency] Farmers Weekly reports: Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron has called for a parliamentary debate based on Farmers Weekly's campaign to get more UK food into our hospitals. Mr Farron, who is also MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, launched an early day motion in support of the Get Better, Get British campaign on 5 June. The motion calls for MPs to debate the issue at the earliest opportunity and calls on the Department of Health and DEFRA to support the campaign's aims. And here is early day motion 193: That this House welcomes Farmers Weekly's ...
The stand-off in Ankara about the future of a public park that is about to be handed over to developers has been treated by the media for what it says about the Turkish government and its relations with ordinary people. What the story really demonstrates is the vital importance of green spaces in people's lives. We are extraordinarily lucky in British cities with open green space, though the environments the poor have to live in are often unremittingly brutal - especially in the big cities and thanks to the architectural fantasies of the 1960s and 70s, a blot on the ...
Yesterday, I attended the wind up of Women Liberal Democrats and the inaugural meeting of Liberal Democrat Women; and whilst it may sound like the most semantic of all name changes, there is indeed a real change in the organisation as a result. For a start, it is not so much a name change as a merger of the two groups that promoted the role of women. The Campaign for Gender Balance (CFGB), a top down organisation appointed by the Federal Executive, is no more but the activities that it undertook are within the scope of the new organisation, including ...
[IMG: David Steel at Malcolm Bruce's anniversary dinner] Two senior Liberal Democrat parliamentarians have been celebrating 30 years representing their constituencies in parliament. Sir Malcolm Bruce MP for Gordon and Charles Kennedy MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber both thanked constituents and Liberal Democrat party members this weekend for their support. They have both marked the occasion with events in their constituencies. I travelled to Inverurie on Friday to attend a dinner in honour of Malcolm. His wife Rosemary had organised a few surprise guests for him too. The evening had no fewer than nine speeches, with each course being ...
Today we bring you the 1956 Annual Report of Southport Women's Liberal Association. It is notable for several features. Firstly the context; the faltering Liberal revival had begun. Deep in the wretched winter of 1954 a by election was held in Inverness-shire on December 21st. In fact so poor was the weather the result did not reach the London Press till Christmas Eve. The Liberal candidate, John Bannerman, was a 'popular Gaelic speaking Highlander, sportsman, potato developer and broadcaster; he had played Rugby for Scotland on thirty seven occasions between 1921 and 1929'. He reduced the Tory Majority from 10,000 ...
I chose a Joanna Newsom song, Baby Birch, back in 2010 and here is another. This Side of the Blue is best known for its use in an Orange commercial that seemed to be aimed at getting us to use our phones less. This Side of the Blue, which is taken from her 2004 album The Milk-Eyed Mender, seems to begin in the classroom and ends who knows where. As I heard Guy Garvey point out on BBC Radio 6, no one bothered to remove the hum from the electric piano at the beginning and end, but you wouldn't be ...
[IMG: Albert Road pothole] This photo was taken on Albert Road yesterday. Three things to note: Despite Haringey's PR blitz about its potholes blitz, it's still there. I first reported it 12 weeks ago today, and have chased it up in the meantime. The outcome so far? Some white paint around it. You can also see how sloppy and incomplete road works are tolerated, with road markings not being replaced after new tarmac is put down. (Though at least that is better than doing new paintwork before you put new tarmac down all over it) And the best of the ...
In Britain it was the Guardian that broke the PRISM story. But, while we liberals have been getting outraged and William Hague has been telling us that if we have done nothing wrong we have nothing to hide, strange things have been happening in America. There the story was broken by the Washington Post and, reports Ed Bott, odd things have been happening to its coverage: And then a funny thing happened the next morning. If you followed the link to that story, you found a completely different story, nearly twice as long, with a slightly different headline. The new ...
Poll result out today from YouGov: Thinking about senior professionals in Britain today, do you think they are unfairly dominated by men, or open to both men and women? Men 30% – Unfairly dominated by men 60% – Open to both men and women -30% net Women 48% – Unfairly dominated by men 39% – Open to both men and women +9% net That huge 39 percentage point difference in the net scores when the answers are looked at by gender (+9 agreeing amongst women, -30 amongst men), is fairly typical of similar sorts of questions in the past.
"If you've nothing to hide you've nothing to fear". Can I see your internet browsing history then, please? — Stephen Tall (@stephentall) June 9, 2013 Send to Kindle
This is the third, and most likely the last, post in a series of recent posts about feminist circles; the first was a rather theoretical post on the roots and problems within neoradical communities, the second then followed on and talked about political acts of sexuality. This third post looks at problems within queer feminist and otherwise queer circles, and how we can fix them. Some of this is inspired by a blog post/talk called "Communities Built on Exclusion", which has since been taken down, itself partially inspired by the Jo Freeman essay The Tyranny of Structurelessness. I identify as ...
Sun 9th
10:00
Nick Clegg's Letter from the Leader: 'Opening Doors' so that every young person deserves a great sta...
Nick Clegg has made social mobility — the aim that everyone should be able to make of their lives what they want regardless of where they come from — his driving mission as Deputy Prime Minister. It's a big aim and one he knows will be difficult to achieve. His latest attempt to progress it is the Opening Doors Campaign, asking all businesses to sign up to ensure they 'recruit fairly and openly, looking at people's talent not their background'. In this week's letter he explains why he thinks this is so important... [IMG: libdem letter from nick clegg] Every ...
posted The Blood is The Life 08-06-2013 http://t.co/HWFa1de8GP on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) Woolwich: Offensive tweeter arrested after threats - UK - Scotsman.com Joke about what someone is wearing, get arrested. Threaten to rape/kill/burndown the house of a joker? NO problem! (tags: ) I feel for Stephen Fry. Nobody who has known depression would wish it on their worst enemy - Comment - Voices - The Independent "I am often asked by families of depressives if there is anything they should do to help. Be there for them when it starts, I say. Be there for them ...
New from the Deputy Prime Minister's office: Also on YouTube.
Well would you adam and eve it, after years of fighting all the savings and cuts, telling us that they were not required and effectively saying that if in government Labour would reverse them we now have them falling in behind the fundamentals of the Coalition's economic plans. So where does this leave a Labour Party that has misled and raised false hopes about how much better the Country would be placed under them? Yes, their own supporters fell for this line but the penny has finally dropped with the comrades that if Labour wants to win enough seats in ...
WestFest 2013 launches today with Big Sunday on Magdalen Green - all starting at 1pm - an event not to be missed! Here's a plan of the layout on the Green below. You can download a high quality PDF of this plan here.
Having blogged previously about the adventures of Larry, I was fascinated by this account in the Independent about his neighbour and rival, Freya, who lives with George Osborne in No. 11 Downing Street. The paper says that Freya tends to be prone to disappearing for days at a time. They say that the Chancellor had bought the tabby as a present for his two children in 2009 when the Osbornes were living in Notting Hill, west London. But within a few months she went missing. Three years on and the family had moved to Downing Street, when Mr Osborne's wife, ...
