At a fascinating fringe meeting this lunchtime at the Lib Dem conference in Glasgow, four parliamentarians from various parts of the world (Sweden, the Netherlands, Lithuania and New Zealand) expressed their admiration for our conference, or congress, as they preferred to call it. Clearly we must be doing something right. For those of a more reflective nature it can be a bit difficult to work out what it is all about, and therefore how it should be developed. Today's debates have not made things much clearer. But let's start with yesterday. We had two debates of particular importance. First there ...
The Conference slogan, "Stronger Economy, Fairer Society" is the on-message mantra of choice for the go-getting Liberal Democrat this week. Luckily, I'm not go-getting any more - was I ever? - so don't have to be quite so faithful to the 'line'. I think that it was Simon Hoggett who suggested that you should reverse a slogan to measure its worth... "Weaker Economy, More Unfair Society" No, doesn't really appeal, does it? But, whilst I gently poke fun at my Party, there is a point, indeed points, to be made. I find myself wondering what a stronger economy looks like. ...
This afternoon, the Liberal Democrat party conference voted against the bedroom tax. Many of us have said that, while the concept of the policy was fair enough - to do more to encourage people in social housing to downsize - the practicalities made this impossible from the start. The supply of housing is just not there to enable those who are willing to move to do so, yet they get penalised just the same. And there are many tens of thousands of people with disabilities whose homes are specially adapted. These adaptations would need to be done all over again ...
Hertfordshire County Council has unveiled a new scheme that uses the latest technology to help older and vulnerable people stay safe and independent. The number of older people living in Hertfordshire increases each year and the majority of people say they want to stay in their own home. In response, the county council is developing innovative ways to expand its provision of care and support. The pioneering Hertfordshire Telecare Service provides a range of alarms and sensors and a 24-7 response, supported by the British Red Cross, so people can live safely in their own homes. Eligible older and vulnerable ...
Benedict Brogan wins our Headline of the Day Award.
Apologies for the lack of updates recently — I've been unwell, and before that my wife was. (Just the flu, nothing too bad, but I'm still not well enough to focus properly on writing). So have a few links: Obverse books have another open call for authors, this time for an Iris Wildthyme collection edited [...]
We know I've been following the #losetheladsmags debate for a while. "No it's not about nudity!" scream supporters as they continue to quote parents saying things like "I don't want my little one seeing those pictures when I go shopping!" (because who can turn down an opportunity for a proper "Won't somebody think of the children?" scare quote, even if it undermines your stand that it isn't the pictures that are the problem?). I'm currently playing a game of pointing out objectifying comments made by people who support #losetheladsmags. Great fun, almost as much fun as "spot the puritanical Christian ...
Firefighters across Cambridgeshire are holding a number of car washes to raise funds for charity. Soap and sponges will be at the ready at locations across the county to collect cash for The Fire Fighters Charity, which provides support, rehabilitation and care for fire service personnel across the country. Parkside Place Community Fire Station, Cambridge, is holding a car wash on Saturday (Sep 21) from 9am until 5pm. Firefighters at Ramsey Fire Station, in Great Whyte, Ramsey, are soaping up their sponges on Saturday (Sep 21) from 11am until 2pm. Also on Saturday (Sep 21) firefighters at Wisbech are holding ...
A consultation on proposals to create a safer way for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy A10 north of Cambridge has been launched today by Cambridgeshire County Council. The improvements follow on from the new £240,000 dual use path built earlier this year between the villages of Milton and Landbeach. The council is asking for feedback on two crossing designs. The first involves closing the slip lane to Milton, narrowing the Cambridge bound carriageway and creating a two stage crossing across the A10. The second option is to widen the existing triangular island in the middle of the A10 ...
It's Area Committee time again: 6pm on Tuesday 24th September 2013 at Bolshaw Primary School, Cross Road, Heald Green. Up for discussion this time include Planning application 52823 – to build a new house to the rear of 103 Gatley Road – coming back as we were concerned last time about how close it was to the Ambleside and Patterdale homes. Planning application 52858 – change of use of 20 Old Rectory Gardens from off-license to hot food takeaway Proposed quiet cycle route from Cheadle to Parrs Wood along Kingsway (I'll write a separate piece about this). Amendments to parking ...
Belinda Brooks-Gordon and Andrew Duff MEP at the NW university site Travellers have moved onto Cambridge University's northwest development site prompting concerns from former Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Belinda Brooks-Gordon. She has written to residents living near the site to keep them up to date on the situation as the university management team works with the county council to find a resolution. The travellers broke a lock to gain access to the site and have moved six families in six caravans onto the land. There are young children among the group. Belinda said: "This encampment has caused residents some concern. I ...
Adrian (far right) with Bob Maclennan and Willie Rennie By Adrian PageI have been a member of the Liberal Democrats for only a few months.As a new member I was keen to attend federal conference, although I have to also admit my brother (Andrew) may have influenced that decision to some degree. Unfortunately I was only able to get to Glasgow for the weekend but it was an incredibly eye-opening experience.The first thing to note is that I was surprised at how positive the mood was. That doesn't mean that the party at the moment isn't openly debating what the ...
I hope you will forgive this piece of self congratulation. However, much to surprise a post of mine seems to have become rather popular. I wrote this piece about the Minions being voiced by Despicable Me's co-directors partly to lighten the tone of this blog. I certainly did not expect it to become the most [...]
The Real Blog (AKA David Boyle) expresses its disbelief at being Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year and expresses his gratitude to, amongst others, "all my fellow bloggers who are dedicated to the grand cause that conversation about ideas, with ideas, for ideas, shall not perish from the Lib Dems". "The difference in understanding was the most direct: those in favour of the filters seemed to have very little comprehension of how the internet worked - or even how young people think and behave." Paul Bernal's Blog on the Lib Dem Conference's rejection of 'default-on' porn filters. Writing on Free ...
This afternoon, Federal Conference in Glasgow passed the following: Conference accepts there is under-occupancy of social housing, and all tenants, including pensioners,should be encouraged to live in homes that meet their housing needs. Conference is concerned that the Government's extension of Labour's policy of reducing housing benefit entitlements for private rented sector tenants considered to have spare bedrooms to the social housing sector is discriminating against the most vulnerable in society. Conference also believes that: I. The majority of rural and urban areas outside large cities such as London have insufficiently large,diverse and dynamic social housing markets to make moving ...
On Monday night, I helped launch Coalition and Beyond: Liberal Reforms for the Next Decade, a collection of 20 essays published by Liberal Reform which I edited. Good turnout for our launch of "The Coalition and Beyond: Liberal Reforms for the Decade Ahead" with @stephentall pic.twitter.com/J5F5LNHyRW — Liberal Reform (@liberal_reform) September 15, 2013 The Spectator's Isabel Hardman was there, primarily to interview Mike Thornton, but previews the publication today: Last night I attended a fringe held by Liberal Reform, a group in the party that campaigns for a market-based approach to policy-making. It's reasonably young, and was set up as ...
[IMG: Jeremy Browne - Some rights reserved by Foreign and Commonwealth Office] Jeremy Browne, the Liberal Democrat Home Office minister, told The Telegraph that there is a need for a national debate on whether Muslim women should be banned from wearing the veil in public places. He said: I am instinctively uneasy about restricting the freedom of individuals to observe the religion of their choice. That would apply to Christian minorities in the Middle East just as much as religious minorities here in Britain. But there is genuine debate about whether girls should feel a compulsion to wear a veil ...
Mon 16th
16:05
Our survey says Lib Dems want a 50p top-rate of tax - but will they vote for it at conference?
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Almost 700 party members responded – thank you – and we're publishing the full results. 56% of Lib Dem members back a 50p rate of top-rate tax As I type, the party is debating its tax policies. It's highly likely the Lib Dems will vote to extend its popular tax-cuts for the low-paid package by lifting still further the personal allowance so that no-one paid the minimum wage has to pay any ...
Mon 16th
15:57
When not to argue when a man sits down in a seat beside you reserved for a steward....
When he has an earpiece with one of those curly see-through wires, and a distinct lump in his jacket just around his left armpit. It was during Nick Clegg's Q&A. Say no more. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
Here's the new film from the Liberal Democrats: Also on YouTube.
The outcome of this morning's Liberal Democrat conference debate on the economy was a mixed bag for social liberals. At the Huffington Post, Liberator's Gareth Epps has just posted his assessment of the debate. Meanwhile, there is another consequence of this debate. After prostituting himself to support the establishment line on the economy for the second year running, party president Tim Farron MP can kiss goodbye to the party left's backing for his leadership ambitions.
[IMG: school children] While all eyes were on the Economy debate today, in the hour before Conference debated another important motion. It was entitled 'A new Liberal Democrat approach to Race Equality', and can be found on page 36 of the Conference Agenda. This motion was the outcome of the first report by the Liberal Democrat Race Equality Task Force: 'Towards Race Equality: A Liberal Democrat Approach', which focused on education and employment. This new approach sought to bring race equality back into focus in public debate. In recent years it has been increasingly subsumed under general equality issues so ...
We Liberal Democrats have been praised in the media for being the only one of the three main parties which permits real debate at our conference.Well yes, but I suspect some of the the votes on these debates are based as much on sheeplike support for the leadership, with many a glance over the shoulder at a press eager to proclaim the leader's humiliation, as on the strengthen of the arguments. I wasn't at this morning's debate on the economy so can't assess the strengths of the arguments, but I strongly suspect many of the votes in favour of the ...
A relaxed looking, tieless Nick Clegg is about to take to the conference floor, for the second time today, to take questions from conference representatives... Zero-hour contracts: 2.47 pm... Pauline Wilson (SE Cambridgeshire) says they work for her grandson, so please don't ban them. Nick Clegg says yes, they do work for some, but can easily topple over into unfairness. For example, if an employer has an exclusivity contract which stops the employee from taking other work. Economy debate 2.53 pm... Richard Rowles (Romsey & Southampton North) asks, "Are we still fighting for all the people of Britain?" Nick reflects ...
Mon 16th
14:25Vince pitches for the Lib Dems to be the new unity party; Nick breathes a sigh of relief
[IMG: Vince Cable smiling - Some rights reserved by Liberal Democrats] Overnight it was reported that Vince Cable wouldn't be attending the Lib Dem debate on the economy because he would be busy preparing his keynote speech to conference. As diplomatic excuses go, it wasn't subtle. In the end he managed to combine both, belatedly joining the debate thronged by cameras, before his turn to take centre stage. The speech – which you can read in full here – reminds us of Vince's original roots both in Glasgow and in Labour in the 1970s, though he doesn't sound overly nostalgic, ...
[IMG: Vince Cable - Some rights reserved by Liberal Democrats] The agenda for Tuesday morning was rounded off with a speech from Vince Cable, which we publish here in full: Friends. It is a special pleasure to speak to Conference in the city where I had my political baptism of fire. Glasgow is a great city and Glaswegians are warm, hospitable and humorous. But Glasgow has experienced one party, Labour, rule for decades. And I was part of the Labour political machine here in the 1970s. On one level it worked. Insanitary slums were razed to the ground. We built ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Economy motion carried: Nick Clegg wins overwhelming backing from Lib Dem conference My take on the #ldconf economy motion: @timfarron won it. Then @Nick_Clegg did too. http://bit.ly/1ehOCbs The Lib Dem conference economy debate: Nick Clegg raises the stakes. He'll have only himself to blame if he loses Me @libdemvoice on why I think Nick Clegg may well lose the #ldconf vote on the economy http://bit.ly/18n3wos The Lib Dems know their future lies in power-sharing – Telegraph Decent analysis by Matt d'Ancona » The Lib Dems know their future lies in power-sharing http://bit.ly/17BwxA0 ...
Friends. It is a special pleasure to speak to Conference in the city where I had my political baptism of fire. Glasgow is a great city and Glaswegians are warm, hospitable and humorous. But Glasgow has experienced one party, Labour, rule for decades. And I was part of the Labour political machine here in the [...]
Here's the new film from the Liberal Democrats: Also on YouTube.
Here's the new film from the Liberal Democrats: Also on YouTube.
[IMG: Nick Clegg Economy Motion 4] Chairman Andrew Wiseman called Nick Clegg of Sheffield to summate on the economy debate. Nick said: Colleagues, just to show that I can also agree with Paul Homes, I strongly agree with Paul about what a brilliant, brilliant debate that was. It really, really does show us at our very, very best. No other part could stage such a democratic and respectful debate. Well done to everybody on whatever side you were on the debate. Now, I'm gonna gallop along. They say summarise all that in four minutes. I will try. I want to ...
Lib Dem conference has spoken — and it has overwhelmingly backed Nick Clegg. Before the debate I had a hunch the result would be somewhat different. Though Nick had shrugged off a reported split with Vince Cable as "a storm in a tea cup", I thought Vince's obvious discontent with the decision to make this vote a test of strength, together with the assiduous ground-work and careful drafting of the Social Liberal Forum's amendments, would pose a real problem for the party leadership. And for the first third of the debate I thought my hunch might be fulfilled, with warm, ...
Mon 16th
12:40
Remember when the Tories used to say a vote for the Lib Dems was a vote for Labour? Look what they a...
It seems we are getting somewhere then. Click here for the full article
DECEIVED by Julie Anne Lindsey Ever since she could remember, Elle has had to hop from town to town to keep up with her dad's demanding career as a corporate insurance agent. Each time, a reoccurring nightmare followed her wherever she went--until the day that the frightening figures haunting her at night became all too real. When news of a serial killer spreads throughout her new school, Elle worries that the Reaper has been leaving her his calling card in the form of cigarette butts on her doormat and an unusual ribbon in her locker. With the help of Brian, ...
Mon 16th
11:49
Not in the NI Executive? Got a view on parades, flags, etc? Dr Richard Haass wants to hear from you.
Once again Northern Ireland has a friendly American or two on hand to help us sort out our differences. This time round, however, the parties in the talks will be those which are in the Northern Ireland Executive. As a result, many other organisations, political parties, etc will not be involved directly. Therefore, the Independent...
I have today been in touch with City Council officials about security on the Harris Academy Perth Road site following a fire at the school site which is currently subject to demolition in preparation for the building of the new Harris Academy. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service today advised me: "The fire started in a classroom on the first floor and spread to the room above through an open duct. Due the FRS actions and the concrete and brick construction the fire was contained to those rooms. We are of the opinion that the fire was started deliberately, probably ...
Last night, at 7.55 pm, Channel 4 aired a short video of me visiting some of Hornsey and Wood Green's finest independent shops, and talking about the local Lib Dem campaign for 30 minutes free parking. The shops are Big Green Bookshop of Wood Green, Crocodile Antiques of Muswell Hill, and Dunn's of Crouch End. You can watch the video here:
A man being entombed in his own body sounds like the premise for a horror novel. However, this book is the autobiography of a historian. Tony Judt's Postwar is one of my favourite books. An epic history of Europe since World War II that spans the Iron Curtain and a massive range of historical fields. [...]
A quick reminder to those at Conference that this is a great opportunity to invest in a Lib Dem table flag, which is all you need to organise simple socials to engage your local membership. There are also a lot of AGMs on the fringe today for you to get involved with party organisations.
Vince Cable's speech to conference has become one of the most keenly anticipated by representatives, and not just because we want to play the media game of spotting subtle nuances that may distinguish him from the leadership. One announcement due to be made in his speech and already trailed by the BBC is further action on zero hours contracts. That is very welcome. The BBC say that Vince will say economic recovery must not come at the cost of workers' rights. He is also looking at how to raise the minimum wage without costing jobs, and will unveil a crackdown ...
Here's the piece I posted over at the New Statesman forecasting how I thought conference would pan out; am I doing so far...? So, a former minister of state has announced she won't stand again for election in protest at the leader who sacked her (with half the membership yelling 'disaster' and the other half muttering 'on your bike'); the party president has been making big cow eyes at the Labour leader, while our Home Office minister has been doing similar to the Conservatives. There appears to be a Christians vs. the Lions debate raging in the party. Oh, and ...
posted The Blood is The Life 15-09-2013 http://t.co/EnYBEKjWb0 on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) http://www.complicity.co.uk/blog/2013/09/talknottech/ New Blog Post: #TalkNotTech - 81% of Liberal Democrat members oppose opt-out internet censorship http://t.co/q71X1Wcg00 #ldconf (tags: (from twitter) talknottech ldc ) victim blaming - the easy option? hands down the best post on victim blaming I have ever seen. (tags: ) On the giving and recieving of apologies part II of this, on political apologies, is spot on (tags: ) Domestic violence is everyone's business - so let's start noticing it http://t.co/mw9PbBabzS (tags: (from twitter) ) Occupy Liberal Democracy! Part ...
The BBC report that Nick Clegg has accused his Conservative coalition partners of delaying further devolution in Wales. The Deputy Prime Minister told the BBC that if he had been prime minister he would have already agreed to give the Welsh government the power to vary tax rates: He said he supported the Silk commission's "sensible" proposals and admitted he was frustrated by the delay in responding to them. He added that he could not put a date on when the UK government would reveal its policy but said that if he were prime minister it would have been delivered ...
[IMG: image] I'm very conscious that these six days in Glasgow are very much a luxury which I am very privileged to enjoy. For my family allowing me to come here for six days, for my dearly beloved (whose middle name is "reduced for a quickie") getting us some great deals on my hotel and train, for being able to see my much respected work colleagues in Erskine, for being able to savour the luxury of the wealth of informed debate here and to enjoy the vibrant, brash, culturally rich city of Glasgow. These are all things for which I ...
Mon 16th
09:40The Lib Dem conference economy debate: Nick Clegg raises the stakes. He'll have only himself to blam...
After a weekend of averted rows – nuclear power and 'fracking' supported, axeing of tuition fees dropped – today's debate on the economy will see a return to Lib Dem conference tradition: a dust-up between the leadership and the activists. A year ago, there was a poorly coordinated attempt by Lib Dem members within the Social Liberal Forum and Liberal Left groupings to get the party to change the Coalition direction on the economy, to bring in an explicit Plan B. It suffered a crushing defeat, with Vince Cable, Steve Webb and Tim Farron all speaking in favour of what ...
[IMG: Ed Davey Glasgow] Today's big debate is on the economy and the Guardian reports Vince Cable and Nick Clegg at odds over future economic direction: Clegg has decided to stage what Cable and some on the left regard as an artificial showdown over economic policy during a set-piece two-hour debate... Cable's aides said he will stay away from the debate, which is being billed as a test of Clegg's authority. Cable believed a compromise could have been reached between the leadership and the left over their amendments to the economic motion, especially the right for councils to borrow more ...
A study by Emma Fulu funded by a UN programme to tackle gender based violence has delved into the causes of male sexual violence in some countries. Sadly the UK wasnt one of the countries. Overall the study showed that 58% of thgose who raped started while in their teens. This tells us that the potential to divert and stop rapists exists in childhood and education programmes could target this issue. What we need now is such a study in the UK and South London.
Mon 16th
08:25
Sunday at Lib Dem conference: leadership gets past 2 crunch votes, but more loom on the economy
[View the story "Sunday at Lib Dem conference" on Storify] For my Saturday round-up, see here.
I know. I look so youthful. You could hardly believe that I can remember the seventies. Unfortunately, I can. Winter of Discontent. Nuclear annihilation. Flared trousers, you know the kind of thing. We used to talk then about the emergence of a new attitude in the UK: people who valued independence of mind and education, and put that above the need to impress their neighbours, people who believed in innovative local solutions, not big systems. You might very well call them Liberal Democrats. I couldn't possibly comment. Years later, one of the gurus of this idea told me he had ...
From the Northampton Herald & Post: The sinister clown that has been appearing on Northampton's streets made another visitation last night. He was pictured in his trademark white make-up and red wig on St Michael's Road waving forlornly with a clown teddy hanging from his other hand. The appearance came after a posting on the Facebook page Spot Northampton's Clown promised the clown would be in town. He said: "To prove i'm real to all the lovers and doubters, i'll see you in town today. Keep those eyes peeled." So far the clown as been seen in the Kingsley and ...
Just a quick reminder that from tonight until the 24th the M11 Southbound will be closed from 8pm to 6am. A copy of the letter sent to local residents is to the right, the main article (with a copy of the letter) is available via the link below; From the letter; "the diversion route will be via the A14 eastbound to junction 37 (Exning) to return westbound and join the A11 southbound. Traffic will join the A505 to re-join the M11 at junction 10." If you have any questions the contact details for CarillionWSP are 01767 684633 during the ...
In my Saturday conference round-up I commented on the interesting angle Tim Farron took in his speech to the Liberal Democrat gathering in Glasgow. You can watch it in full here:
Apparently our conference has decided to turn turtle and come out in favour of building more nuclear power stations. The approval is hedged around with conditions. A close eye is to be kept on costs and they are not to receive public subsidy. Ha! Arthur Scargill, the "wicked" Miners' Leader, pointed out thirty years ago that if the coal industry received the same level of subsidy as the nuclear industry miners could deliver coal to the power stations for free. I do not claim to be well informed on this issue, and I didn't hear the debate so there may ...
Do the Liberal Democrats want more homes and more jobs? That and other questions that will get an answer, one way or another, when our Conference debates the economy today (Monday). One of the two amendments tabled by the Social Liberal Forum with support from 100 Conference representatives calls for the Coalition to commence the dramatic increase in housebuilding that the Party endorsed last year. The barriers to this at present are, as ever, in the housebuilding industry and the Treasury. The former has by most estimates some 400,000 planning consents at its disposal, assisted by policies that effectively waived ...
St John's Church, Perth Road : This impressive church, with its imposing spire, is situated on the corner of Roseangle and Perth Road. It was opened on the 14th February, 1884. The architect was James Hutton. This church replaced an earlier church in Small's Wynd which had been the first Free Church built in Dundee, in 1843. It was purchased by the founders of University College, Dundee and has since been demolished.
I've already blogged today regarding the F17 debate and the speech I would have made. This, therefore is a quick round up of the other things I did - as told through an edited version of my tweets and retweets of the day. A full storify of my tweets from the Electoral Reform Society fringe on Lib Dem policy in the event of a European Referendum can be found here. Before I go any further, though, I was taken to task for not mentioning in yesterday's summary that I had seen and chatted to Steven Lambert, the leader of the ...
The results of the 30th British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) released last week show almost half of the population say that they do not belong to a religion. The increase in the non religious is almost entirely mirrored by a decline in the proportion of people who describe themselves as belonging to the Church of England, down from 40% in 1983 to just 20% now. Results show that religious identity in Britain has been in stark decline over the past three decades. Likewise, the public's attitude to various social issues is changing as well. Even people with a religious identity ...
