On Liberator's blog Simon Titley suggests some ways of putting life back into the Liberal Democrat Conference and incidentally wins our Phrase of the Day Award: If any government ministers want to deliver speeches, let them take their chances in the rough and tumble of debate. Or speak at a fringe meeting. Or do a TV interview outside the hall. Anything but clog up the agenda with the sheer tedium of their over-rehearsed speeches. The belligerent youths in the leader's office wouldn't like it, of course. I have just finished Ferdinand Mount's The New Few: Or a Very British Oligarchy ...
From a deputation quoted the minutes of the meeting of Rutland County Council held in the Council Chamber, Catmose, Oakham, on Monday 9 September 2013: Lord Bonkers aka Guardian journalist Jonathan Calder was shocked enough to include an RCC press release in his satirical blog. Since he lives in Market Harborough one wonders if he will be arrested by Leicester Police in the near future."Guardian journalist" is a large exaggeration, but you can read my articles for the newspaper and its website if you wish. I have no fear of being arrested, but to understand the comment you would have ...
Three ways are up for a Lloyds Bank Community Award and need your vote to win £3000 towards a set of sports wheelchairs. You can vote by text and online and in branch so if you have time please help by doing all 3 and spread the word. https://communityfund.lloydsbank.com/voting/cf_home.asp
Thu 26th
20:26
South Cambridgeshire District Council/ Parish Council Liaison Meeting (1st October 2013) Agenda
The agenda is available here, via Google Drive and I've copied most of it below. If you have something you'd like to see raised then please let me know as I'll be attending on behalf of Bar Hill Parish Council. South Cambridgeshire District Council and Parish Councils Liaison Meeting 6.45pm-8pm, Tuesday 01 October 2013 Council Chamber, South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6EA AGENDA 1. Welcome by Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council 2. Parish Precept 3. Housing Delivery 4. Enforcement 5. Parish Questions - Open Forum Programme for 2013/4: 1 October 2013 - Parish/Cabinet Liaison ...
Here are the questions Councillors raised during today's Full Council meeting in Cambourne, The full agenda (with reports) is available here (on South Cambs DC website); 15a From Councillor Charles Nightingale "Could the Leader please inform this Council of any planning applications or licences that have been applied for to carry out Fracking in South Cambridgeshire? Could he also tell us if this Council will ever support any possible future applications for Fracking or Hydraulic Fracturing in South Cambridgeshire?" 15b From Councillor Ben Shelton "Would the Portfolio Holder please update Members on any recent property purchases made by the Council?" ...
The minutes from the 25th July Meeting of South Cambridgeshire District Council were agreed and approved at today's meeting - the document is available, with the text extracted, here (via Google Drive). The answers to the questions asked at the previous meeting are included; 33 (a) From Councillor Tumi HawkinsCouncillor Tumi Hawkins asked the Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Localism the following question: - "The Cambridgeshire Future Transport project was supposed to be working with communities to come up with alternatives to replace subsidised buses in the district. Unfortunately, that work came to a screeching halt in May, and ...
This Tumblr collects some of the worst reasons. For example: You get a job that starts in two weeks time. You don't look for work while you are waiting for the job to start. You're sanctioned. You are forced to retire due to a heart condition, and you claim Employment and Support Allowance. During your [...]
Councillors in South Cambridgeshire have confirmed changes to the rules on filming council meetings following new guidance being issued by the Government. At a meeting of Full Council today (Thursday 26 September), councillors at South Cambridgeshire District Council agreed for the constitution to be updated so bloggers, journalists and anyone attending a public meeting can film, photo or record events. The Council had previously asked anyone wanting to film at meetings to make contact in advance but generally always allowed filming to go ahead. Filming will not be allowed where the public have been excluded during the consideration of exempt ...
Over the last three years Liberal Democrats in Government have: given a £700 tax cut to more than 20 million working people and lifted nearly three million of the poorest workers out of paying income tax altogetherhelped businesses create more than a million jobscreated a record 1.2 million apprenticeshipsgiven extra money for the children who need it the most through the £2.5billion pupil premiumgiven generous rises in the state pension through our 'triple lock' now worth an extra £650 since Labourgiven the poorest two-year-olds and all three-and-four year-olds 15 hours of free childcare per weekintroducing equal marriage for all couplesannounced ...
Plans to purchase an existing and run down Travellers' site in Fen Road Chesterton have taken a step forward today (Thursday 26 September) as councillors approved a budget for the project. At a meeting of Full Council at South Cambridgeshire District Council, cross party backing was given to plans that would see an under utilised privately owned site which is in poor condition on Grassy Corner purchased and brought back into full use. The Council wants to build nine high-quality pitches for rent at affordable rates and has already secured £500,000 of Government funding only available for investment in Travellers' ...
The Rock the Boat Group, the internal Lib Dem group campaigning against sexual harassment in the party, have released the following statement following the police's decision not to prosecute Lord Rennard. Liberal Democrat internal campaign group 'Rock the Boat -Lib Dems Against Sexual Harrassment', have responded to the announcement that no charges have been made [...]
Students in Cambridgeshire are being urged to stay fire safe as they move into digs, meet new people and start a new term at university. The student lifestyle - which can involve partying, drinking and smoking - can increase the chances of a late night visit from firefighters. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) want students to take a few minutes to make sure they are not putting themselves or their housemates in danger. Jim Meikle, Cambridge Community Safety Officer at CFRS, said: "For new students there is so much going on it is easy to put fire safety on ...
It has been reported that one of the coalition minister Tory Eric Pickles wishes to relax parking restrictions. He fear local authorities are "anti-car". We've had our own local issues around Lordship Lane and the bus lanes being zealously enforced but what would happen if Mr.Pickles had his way? Through a weird quirk of fate an full scale experiment along the dogmatic lines Mr.Pickles proposes has taken place in Aberystwyth. Due to a mix=up between the police and Aberystwyth local authority they've had no parking enforcement for exactly 12 month. These extracts from 1 June Daily Mail describe the chaos ...
Conservative group leader Fiona Ferguson might have labelled them 'a massive PR exercise' but I think that the series of public meetings I am holding on the Cornwall Council budget are a fantastic way to understand more about what the people of Cornwall think about how we should approach the financial challenges we face. And it is something the Conservatives didn't do in their past four years in office. I believe that this is how politics should be. As councillors, we do not shirk the final decision, but it is surely right that we should be listening to the communities ...
I realised the widget in the corner appeared to be missing some of the more recent editions. I've updated it and deleted some older versions. There are a few missing as I need to compress them some more due to the file size
Lib Dem Voice had a partial round up of last week's results - which saw the Lib Dems losing both seats they were defending - Labour picking up Oxford North and the Tories in Woking. But in a not unsurprising result the Tories lost to UKIP in Canterbury in a ward they were just 83 in front the last time it was fought in May. This evening Vote UK reports another bumper crop of ten by-elections. There's a distinctly southern bias to the contests with eight out of the ten in the south and south west of England and just ...
"The decision by the police not to prosecute Lord Rennard with a criminal offence means that the party's disciplinary process, led by Alistair Webster QC, can now resume. We consider the allegations made against Lord Rennard, which he strenuously denies, to be extremely serious and we can now continue with our internal inquiry into [...]
The Metropolitan Police have tonight issued the following statement following their investigation into allegations against Lord (Chris) Rennard broadcast on Channel 4 News: Following reports in the media in February, officers from the Specialist Crime and Operations Command launched an investigation into allegations of sexual touching. Various inquiries were conducted – including meeting with officials from the Liberal Democrat Party – and a number of individuals were spoken to as part of the investigation. Those inquiries have now concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support a prosecution; a decision which has been made by police. There was early investigative ...
Lord Rennard will face 'no further action' from the police due to 'insufficient evidence'. There remains a Lib Dem investigation, which will look into whether the former Chief Executive has brought the party into disrepute. Breaking: Scotland Yard will not press charges against Lord Rennard I understand – investigation being handed back to Lib Dems [...]
During a surprisingly upbeat and productive Lib Dem conference, I found the time to interview some Lib Dem members about their views on the coalition. These views I then collated in a video, lasting approximately 20 minutes, entitled "Conference People". Featuring opinion from Alex White, Hannah Bettsworth, Tracy Connell, Greg Judge, Mathew Hulbert, Bob Maclennan, Eilidh Macfarlane and Alex Wilcock, I hoped to produce something that is able to present both the range of views within the party while ultimately demonstrating how united we are in key respects. That "Conference People" is the views (almost entirely) of "ordinary" party members ...
Two new houses on Western Road in Launceston are to be built after an inspector overturned the decision of Cornwall councillors to reject a planning application. The houses will be built on land next to 32 Western Road although the entrances will be on Carboth Lane. With others, I have made representations about the lack of outside space for the proposed houses and that there would be a retaining wall of up to 4 metres at the back of the properties - in one case just eight feet or so from the back upstairs windows. These arguments were accepted by ...
Over the years, I've been collecting weird videos – namely, videos focused on Lib Dem MPs. I didn't mean to, but after I noticed the first few during the "Election Song Contest 2010", they just kept coming. So, below, are ... Continue reading →
In part three of the Artist Development Stages model for musicians we cover refining your music, marketing, sound and songs. Video Highlights: 0:07 – Refining your sound, songs and marketing 0:44 – Finding an agent 1:04 – Difference between agents and managers 1:27 – Making music your full time job 1:44 – Refining your marketing as a musician 1:54 – Viral growth 2:10 – Playing in new touring markets 2:27 – Your first album Join Gigs Academy to boost your live career. Get the Free Video Training for Musicians If you missed the first video in the series you can ...
[IMG: UKIP-MEPs-collage-2] UKIP's farcical national conference and the subsequent forced resignation of Godfrey Bloom this week have brought cheer to the party's opponents, across the political spectrum. Mr Bloom - the most 'colourful' character in a technicolour party - managed an unprecedented series of gaffes in the space of a single, tumultuous day. He began by hitting a journalist on live TV when asked about the party's 'all white' conference brochure and ended with the now infamous 'sluts' comment. A tearful Nigel Farage later took to the stage to declare that his erstwhile flatmate had single-handedly "ruined our conference". Rarely ...
I make no apology for returning, for the second day running, to Ed Miliband's speech (well, OK, I am sorry actually). But the reaction to it by much of the media preyed on my mind all day yesterday. The overwhelming reaction was that the speech marked the return of 'Red Ed'. The headlines took the part of the power companies, threatening black-outs if their prices were cut. Matthew d'Ancona in the Evening Standard talked about him "abandoning the centre". Now, I'm as sceptical as the next man about the Labour leader. When he talked about bringing back socialism, I did ...
The Right Nation by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge includes this impressive passage explaining why the notion of America as young country is nonsense that also includes this impressive fact: Start with the idea that the United States can no longer really be regarded as a "new nation." There is no doubt that America is [...]
On 19th September, HubLaunchpad and Futuregov opened their joint 7-month Public Service Launchpad programme for innovation in public services. In addition to encouraging councillors and officers to create and submit ideas for new ideas in developing and delivering public services, there is also the chance to win an investment of £9,600 per project during the [...]
[IMG: June 2011 Watford, UK Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill] Good news in Watford, where Dorothy Thornhill, who in 2002 became the first directly-elected Lib Dem mayor in the country, has announced she will run for a fourth term of office: I am really pleased to announce that I am going to stand again as the mayoral candidate for the Watford Liberal Democrats in the 2014 mayoral elections. Last night we held our official party meeting at St Luke's Church, at which I was unanimously reselected. The turnout was great, and we started work right there on my election ...
The table below is part of the Statistical First Release. It demonstrates that the increase in adoption numbers isn't as a result of getting older children "languishing" in care adopted, but instead in an increase in toddlers and pre-schoolers getting adopted. Some children are placed for adoption because the courts claim that the mother agrees to this when she doesn't. Others are in care
One of our members has been in touch after receiving a reminder from his local Electoral Services officer about changes to the publication timetable for the new electoral registers. The annual canvass and the new register are both working to a different timeframe this year due to the implementation of Individual Voter Registration. Whilst the [...]
[IMG: Princeless2] What is it? A (so far) 12-issue comic series consisting of two volumes of eight main story and four issues worth of short stories, written by Jeremy Whiteley, drawn by a variety of artists and published by Action Lab. It is clearly aimed at young readers, especially girls. What is it about? When Princess Adrienne turned 16, she was locked in a tower by her parents, awaiting a prince to come, slay the dragon guarding her, and claim her hand in marriage. This is apparently standard practice for finding a husband in this universe, and Adrienne thinks it ...
More at Project Wild Thing.
Thu 26th
14:00
Day 4651: A Reminder Of Why Hard Labour Cannot Be Allowed to Change the Argument On the Economy
Wednesday: This week I thought Ed Balls got something right. It's a good idea to get Labour's budget plans audited by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The Liberal Democrats have long asked the IFS to check our figures; it would be very useful to voters to have an independent eye scrutinise the numbers of all the parties to have choice based on priorities not dogma. And it would make Mr Balls spell out Hard Labour's policies well in advance of the election. I just don't think that makes him the fiscal paragon that Polly Toytown seems to think he is. ...
I've been watching the political party conference season with interest this year and a couple of things have leapt out at me from the start. The first is that the electioneering for May 2015 has begun and secondly is the shift in the political positioning of the main parties. Public perception of the Liberal Democrats is at a low, the dash to power has resulted in a 'Conservative Lite' feel, pushing the party right of central and into capitalist territory that certainly I find uncomfortable. But this week has also seen the remnants of 'New Labour' clothing thrown off to ...
The Friends of Churchtown Library are holding a public meeting to establish what sort of library service the community want after Sefton Council closes Churchtown Library. The meeting is open to everyone and is on Thursday 10th October at 7:30 pm at St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Botanic Road, Churchtown. Councillor Nigel Ashton, Chair of Friends of Churchtown Library, said "Despite a brilliant campaign supported by over 4,000 residents, Sefton Council has ploughed on with their library closure plans regardless. Our beloved local library will close its doors for the last time on 15th November. "We are holding this public meeting ...
Our very own Caron Lindsay has been moonlighting over at The Herald, with an excellent piece on the relative merits of independence and home rule. Here's a sample: First and foremost I'm a mum. I want my daughter and her children beyond her to live in a prosperous, inclusive, progressive, liberal, Scotland. That word liberal is a bit of a giveaway, however. I've been active in Liberal Democrat politics for 30 years, since joining as a curious 15 year-old during the 1983 election. I'm a federalist and my views on how Scotland's governance should work were very neatly summed up ...
I look out across Rutland Water in the twilight. Someone has lit a bonfire on one of the islands and is desperately waving his arms and shouting for rescue. The telephone rings. It is someone from the Deputy Prime Minister's office asking if I have seen Clegg. "The last time I saw him he was swimming away from my boathouse and a baying mob of students and civil libertarians" I tell them. "I am afraid we must assume the worst." Lord Bonkers was Liberal MP for Rutland South-West 1906-10. Earlier this weekTelling The TruthNick Clegg in the boathouseThe students are ...
[IMG: iain dale no nukes] On Tuesday, Conservative blogger, publisher and LBC radio presenter Iain Dale hit the headlines when he took on anti-nukes protestor Stuart Holmes, who'd annoyed him by insistently trying to get in shot while ITV's Daybreak programme interviewed his latest high-profile author, Damian McBride. (See Iain Dale unilaterally disarms anti-nukes protester in front of TV cameras.) Iain immediately blogged his justification, but after the police became involved, he decided to apologise and has today accepted a police caution. He's now issued a Statement and Apology, recanting his actions: Following the incident on Brighton seafront on Tuesday ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Ed Miliband's speech: 5 thoughts on what it means for Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and the 2015 election "How would Tony Blair have done it?" Me y'day on how New Lab wd hv approached energy price freezes (3rd point) http://bit.ly/1fq9DlR A man of his Times – the curious case of Lord Daniel Finkelstein » The Spectator Oborne slates Finkelstein http://bit.ly/1h3SGZK < unconvincing, esp that he thinks John Witherow's a better Times editor than James Harding A tale of two conferences From @libdemvoice > "A tale of two conferences" #ldconf v #lab13. Interesting ...
All I got to hear when I graduated was about the importance of why the ceremony's still in Latin. This bit of awesomeness from Tim Minchin is simpliciter mira (or something – I only got GCSE Latin).
Con seat. Resignation.
LD seat. Resignation. Candidate: Roger Hurst Contact: Michael Watson, Campaign Manager, 01306 880120 md.watson@btinternet.com
Have a good conference, did you? I was unable to join you this year but watched much of the proceedings on TV. And to be frank, it was thoroughly tedious. Most of the speeches were read from scripts in a flat monotone. Rarely did any debate come to life. Rarely did anyone enthuse or persuade. And it occurred that, if an old hack like me can find the conference boring, how much more boring must it seem to a lay audience? Indeed, all of the party conferences have become a tedium-fest, and if Britain's political parties are trying to accelerate ...
The fact that FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup would have been bad enough with the heat of the time of year it will be held and its human rights and LGBT offenses. But now it appears that the immigrant population that is building the infrastructure to host the event is being held in slave-like conditions. Forty four young Napalise men died in a little over two months in June-August. They are not being paid and have their salaries retained to stop them running away. They are also not being allowed free water as their toil under the hot desert ...
[IMG: edward mcmillan scott gets medal of honour] The Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, Edward McMillan-Scott, has won a Medal of Honour from the Venice-based European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, Professor Horst Fischer, "in recognition of his lasting efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights." Previous winners are Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Manfred Nowak, human rights lawyer and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. Speaking after the awards ceremony at the opening of the academic year at the Scuola Grande, ...
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Peter Black saw his Private Members Bill to protect mobile home residents passed into law in Cardiff yesterday. The new law will not apply to holiday sites - only to sites where people have permanent homes. "Under the current law there is little protection for residents from unscrupulous park homes site owners, a minority of whom may exploit their position for personal gain," Mr Black said, "Many of Wales's 96 park homes sites are run well but there is little legal help when disputes arise. "Problems can include poor site management and vetoing or deterring legitimate ...
Con seat. Death. Prospective Candidate: Amanda Peters Contact: Councillor Gary Scott, Election agent, North East Essex Chair of local party, 21 Laxton Road, Alresford, Colchester, Essex, CO7 8EG, 01206 820769 garyscott1822@hotmail.com We shall be fighting this seat to win. Amanda is our candidate and a former councillor on Tendring District Council. This seat is due to [...]
Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of attending the 10th Birthday celebrations at Dundee's Maggie's Centre (see photo right). It was a hugely well-attended event, marking an important milestone for Maggie's, which provides vital emotional, practical and social support to people with cancer and their families and friends. Maggie's Dundee was designed by Frank Gehry and was opened in September 2003 by Sir Bob Geldoff. Later yesterday, I called by the Great War Dundee's Open Day at the Wellgate Library. It was good to speak to many of the participants - a whole host of organisations from the Black Watch ...
I blogged earlier about the odd lack of material about the Meadowlands decision on this week's Cabinet agenda. I was surprised not to see it there, particularly as it had earlier been listed as a September decision. It now turns out that it's first going to be discussed by the Regeneration Select Committee, which meets next week. It'll go to Cabinet after that. It may seem strange to talk about a decision. After all there's been lots of publicity already for the Cabinet saying "yes go ahead and sell it". Because its the loss of open space though, it has ...
Next month sees the second in a series of literary events at Garston Library. And this time the focus is on local history. On 17th October, local author Mike Axworthy will be there to talk about writing and researching local history and in particular about his book "From Monks to Mudmen". The event is free, with refreshments from 6 and the talk starting just after 6 30. Its's open to anyone so do come along. There'll also be a guest of honour and a presentation to two youngsters who've won the summer review writing competition (I'll blog again nearer the ...
Former special adviser and Liberal Democrat candidate Christine Jardine writes in today's Scotsman about the prospects fora privatised Royal Mail. She first talks about her shock when she heard that our government was going to take this step: Were they really going where Peter Mandelson had failed and Margaret Thatcher had not dared? But gradually as I researched beyond the tabloid headlines and thought about it in detail it began to make sense. After all, when was the last time I ordered a delivery and expected it to arrive in the daily post? That same daily post that arrives after ...
[IMG: A troll doll] I'm speaking tonight at a Social Media Week event about the unsociable side of social networking – and how to deal with it. No prizes for guessing that I'll be saying people should ignore conventional wisdom and try feeding the trolls (once, at least). I'll also be talking about how design choices can either encourage good quality discussion or foster the accumulation of low grade insults. How commenters behave isn't just up to them; it's up to people who design the sites on which they comment. On which point, this news is very relevant: Popular Science ...
...on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Hat tip: this video on the Netherlands, which has lots of other facts: Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Caribbean, France, Netherlands, Saint Martin
One of the themes that a number of journalists decided to pursue during last week's Lib Dem conference was the possibility of a 2015 election outcome which leaves the door open to an arrangement with either Labour or the Conservatives. The LDV team has taken the bait: Stephen has reminded us of the challenges of forming a coalition with either party in 2015, and Joe has warned of the dangers of an equidistance which seeks simply to slit the difference between Labour and the Conservatives. But amidst the discussions of the politics and the personalities, the one thing that is ...
Thu 26th
09:09
Actually, ASDA, apologising for that "mental patient" Hallowe'en costume is not enough
So, ASDA thought it was a good idea to put up a gruesome Hallowe'en outfit and bill it as a "mental patient's" outfit. Gee, thanks. That sort of stereotype of people with mental health problems is why I lost my teens to Depression and a good bit of my 20s to Depression and Anxiety. If it had been easier to talk about these things, maybe, just maybe, I'd have had the help I needed sooner. Encouraging such awful and inaccurate stereotypes is offensive and irresponsible What gets me is that more than one person must have seen that before it ...
Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State, DCLG, Eland House, Blessenden Place, London SW1 27th September 2013 Dear Eric, Re: Payment of staff member at rate of £500,000 per year plus perks It has come to my attention recently ... Continue reading →
Just a quick reminder that from tonight until the 24th the M11 Northbound 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 via the A11 northbound to join the A14 eastbound to junction 37. Traffic will be directed on the A14 westbound to re-join the M11 at junction 14." If you have any questions the contact details for CarillionWSP are 01767 684633 during the ...
I have called on the City Council to consider a tightening up of planning and licensing limits for Houses in Multiple Occupation to curtail any further growth in the number HMOs in residential areas of Dundee. There are growing concerns from residents in parts of the West End Ward about the proliferation of HMOs and I have cited the granting of an HMO licence in an award-winning residential block in the West End as an example of a poor licensing decision, which highlights the need to consider operating a lower HMO limit outwith immediate higher education campus areas. The current ...
Once more the Welsh Labour Government has failed to get a grip on cancer waiting time after statistics released yesterday show that the waiting times target has been missed by over 10%. The target is for 95% of urgent patients to be seen by a specialist within 62 days, but figures for July show that only 84.5% of people were seen in this time. Being diagnosed with cancer is a terrifying experience. To then have to wait over two months until the start of your treatment is appalling. It was staggering to hear Labour's Shadow Welsh Minister on the radio ...
The BBC report that the Wales Audit Office has branded a pledge by Carmarthenshire council to cover the court costs of its chief executive fighting a libel case against a blogger as unlawful. They say that the authority was wrong to provide indemnity in Mark James's libel action against Jacqui Thompson. He won the case and Mrs Thompson was ordered to pay costs of £23,217. The BBC add that in a separate issue, the auditor's report found that a council payment of £16,353 in lieu of pension contributions to Mr James was also unlawful. The Council say that both decisions ...
Reblogged from The Dish: Sorry Franzen, indie booksellers are actually doing quite well in the Amazon age. The real victims are the chain bookstores: Borders is long gone. Barnes and Noble isn't in the best health. And Waterstones in Britain has started selling Kindles. The reason? There is very little difference between big, impersonal chain stores selling [...]
