My blood rarely boils. Tonight it is pumping about my body like nobodies business. You see this evening the Tories banded together and decided that Cllr. Karen Chilvers wasn't up for being Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee because basically she was scrutinising them and wasn't letting them do whatever they like. Interesting decision. So they put a motion to remove her as Chair (which from what I can gather is against the actual constitution as currently written, although this seems to have been up for much debate) which succeeded tonight. A Conservative councillor will now oversee the Overview ...
This is winter in my mind, warm, cosy and with lots of snow that you never have to actually come into contact with. Last year, the snow left my partner stranded on a bus to Shepton Mallet - somethingI'd never wish upon anybody! Not a great long essay, just a thought I had. A while back, I thought I was alone in how winter made me feel. Some people argue that it's Seasonal Affective Disorder, some people think I just take too much notice of the seasons but what can't be denied is how horrible and hopeless this particular change ...
Last month I posted a trailer for the film Project Wild Thing. That video has disappeared off the web. The good news is that it has been replaced by a better one.
I was at home this lunchtime and able to watch prime minister's questions. Two things struck me. The first is how unpleasant David Cameron becomes the moment he is challenged. The second is that Labour has obviously decided the suggestion that we should wear a sweater when it is cold is ridiculous and insulting. Perhaps in a socialist paradise we would be able to turn up the central heating and go around half naked. But until that day dawns I think it will remain a good idea to dress warmly in cold weather.
Don't forget Faith, Pride, and Chat, our informal social evening, is taking place on Friday, 25 October at 7 p.m in Costa Coffee in Victoria Square. Please note this is NOT our usual venue. More detail....
Two children taken from their Roma parents in Ireland because they have blond hair and blue eyes have been returned by the authorities. When I heard about this ludicrous story I was reminded of this story: A girl thought to be Madeleine [McCann], in a tourist's photo, turned out to be the daughter a Moroccan olive farmer. The Daily Mail reports that the girl, Bouchra Benaissa, lives in an area so remote that her parents had not heard of Madeleine's disappearance. Bouchra's colouring is, says the Mail, typical of the local Berber people. ... They are unusual among African people ...
I hope that the proposal I have made for Cornwall Council's office strategy is one which gives reassurance to councillors and communities that the authority is truly a council for the whole of Cornwall. The dilemma was this: The previous administration took the decision to move most of the staff currently based in various locations around Bodmin into a new building on the Beacon Industrial Park. Although there would be a cost to the new building, it would be a lot more efficient than those it replaced and would also allow the other buildings to be sold off. This scheme ...
The latest issue of the paper-based "Focus on Bar Hill" leaflet is currently being delivered across the ward. An electronic version, as a PDF, is available as a download here (from Google Drive). Main stories in this issue include; Dutch-Style Cycle Lanes for Huntingdon Road in GirtonAndrew Duff MEP commenting on the recent European Union vote on planned changes to Tobacco marketingSchool places Fiasco in GirtonThe leaflet also includes a form for people to complete if there is anything they would like help with. It's available online to complete here; http://goo.gl/4n08ma If you'd like to help us deliver it please ...
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 24th October. 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 John's School, Rufford Road, Crossens every month (except August) on the second Saturday ...
We are delighted to advertise this event on behalf of the Botanic Gardens Community Association. Do come along and plant a daffodil bulb to help make Botanic Gardens look beautiful next spring. Proceeds to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
At the last Dulwich Community Council East Dulwich councillors had to make tough decisions about their devolved highway budget. After visitng various part of East dulwich we decided to spend your taxes on: - Resurfacing Goodrich Road between Barry Road and Friarn Road – it's currently in a shocking state, quite frequented and on a route to schools. - Resurfacing Pellatt Road eastern end. Again the road is in a terrible state. Te main council resurfacing budget is planning to resurface Ashbourne Grove and the remaining third of Landcroft Road.
Young people can beat boredom this half term with a packed programme of sports activities lined up by South Cambridgeshire District Council. A netball camp for ages 7 to 15 will take place on Wednesday 30 October, from 10am to 3.30pm, at Impington Sports Centre. Players of all abilities are invited to join in and develop their skills with one-to-one help from England Netball qualified coaches before putting what they have learned in to practice in a fun competition at the end of the day. An athletics camp for ages 7 to 15 will take place on Thursday 31 October, ...
Next year, on Monday 7 July, Cambridge will experience a day like no other as the passion, colour and spectacle of Le Tour de France takes to the streets as the city hosts the start of the third stage of the Grand Depart 2014. The route was revealed at a press conference in Paris earlier today, where all the stages of the 2014 Tour have been announced to the teams, dignitaries and media. Beginning on Gonville Place by Parker's Piece, the peloton will ride through the historic city centre via Regent Street and Sidney Street before turning left at the ...
The Cheadle and Gatley Round Table fireworks display is back, and at a new home. Saturday 2nd November will see the fireworks at Cheadle & Marple College (Cheadle campus) As the Round Table say on their website: In previous years Cheadle & Gatley Round Table worked with the Together Trust to host this wonderful community event, a fun and entertaining evening for children, parents, friends. In 2013 we have moved venue and are delighted to be working with Cheadle & Marple 6th Form College in order to continue to offer this event to the local people, to provide hopefully a ...
Around 800 people across West Lothian and Falkirk are to lose their jobs with the announcement today that Ineos are to shut down the Grangemouth petrochemical plant with immediate effect. The fate of the remaining 570 jobs linked to the refinery on the same site are yet to be determined. It is one of the biggest loss of jobs in the area following on the the 3,100 lost with the shutting of the Motorola plant at Bathgate in 2001, the same number lost their jobs at NEC, Livingston the same year. More recently 500 lost their jobs with the shutting ...
Some great news on local jobs today in the Knutsford Guardian: Nuclear engineering firm AMEC, based at Booths Park in Knutsford, is one of the key partners in EDF's nuclear new build programme - the first of its kind in the country in almost 20 years. Earlier this week, it was announced the Government and ... Continue reading »
[IMG: Tim Farron] The Huffington Post today carries a frank interview with Tim Farron by Mehdi Hasan who asks whether he a a Lib Dem leader in waiting. Farron tells Hasan he is a social liberal not a classical liberal and, making the distinction between free markets "with a referee", which he supports, and "laissez faire", which he dismisses. On energy, Tim admits he is uneasy with the decision to approve the Hinkley Point reactor: The most fundamental thing is that we keep the lights on and so that the investment is justifiable in that sense. Personally, I don't think ...
What was the Bosnian War? It was the most violent of the conflicts that followed the collapse of Yugoslavia. Between 1992 and 1995 Serb, Croat and Muslim forces clashed over whether territory the borders between Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia would fall. It was marked by atrocities as different sides used murder, rape and house [...]
The following update has been circulated to those that signed the Change.org campaign in relation to the Sun's shameful attack on people with mental illness and the spreading of fear;Brilliant news! Following public outcry and concern from mental health organisations, today The Sun newspaper printed a correction to their offensive front page headline which read "1,200 killed by mental patients". As a psychology teacher with a family that has a history of mental health illness, I was shocked and appalled at The Sun's coverage of such a sensitive issue. To my amazement, so were over 82,000 of you! The petition ...
The Second Reading of the Immigration Bill (22nd October) can be found here. Sarah Teather made a good speech, which I include below. The final vote was: AGAINST (3): John Leech, Sarah Teather and David [...]
Speaking last week, Nick Clegg declared that when a referendum on the EU comes the Liberal Democrats will campaign unambiguously as the party of IN. As he said, leaving the EU would be 'economic suicide'. He called on pro-Europeans, businesses and organisations to join a 'coalition for the national interest' to make the case publicly for the benefits of being in Europe. He launched the party's #whyiamIN campaign, calling on people to declare why they are in favour of being in Europe, which received thousands of online responses including support from Richard Branson. He said: "Whatever you do, just don't ...
The Lloyds Group has launched a Community Fund to support good causes around the country. In each community the top two will receive £3,000, and the two runners up will get £300 to fund their activities. I am delighted that four Haringey groups have been shortlisted. These are: Haringey Phoenix Group (Provides IT training to the blind and partially sighted) Haringey Rhinos Youth Rugby Programme (Volunteer-run rugby club for more than 125 kids) Kith & Kids (Activities and support for children with learning disabilities and autism) The Markfield Project (Community group for disabled youths to ensure their voice is heard) ...
Wed 23rd
16:16
LibLink: Stephen Tall - Lib Dems recontaminating the Tory brand? No, the Tories do it to themselves
[IMG: Stephen Tall - resized - small - H&S] Our Stephen Tall has been moonlighting over at Conservative Home again, this time pointing out that it's the Liberal Democrats who are the good cops in the Coalition and that may not be the case in any future deal with Labour. Some of his comments will controversial amongst Liberal Democrats... We're lucky to be in coalition with the Conservatives: Yet we are lucky and here's why: we disagree with the Conservatives enough to protect our own identity within Coalition. The politicos call it differentiation. Most people would recognise it as "good ...
I had a mailing yesterday from the Council about the bin service. It was a standard letter from the Mayor about the changes. It explained that people with wheelie bins would have their purple bin emptied just once a fortnight instead of once a week. It went on to make some points about recycling and landfill. Ok, you'd think. It's good they're keeping people informed. Except in my area (traditional terraces in Garston) nothing is changing. We are not having our frequency changed and the day stays the same. In other words the Council is telling people for whom there ...
Latest news is that Southwark Council as the planning authority has said it is happy for the Dulwich Hopsital site to have different planning applications for different parts. It removes one of the Department of Health excuses for not freeing up a small part of this public land for a new local primary school. Hopefully they'll now see sense and release 4,500m2 of the total 27,000m2 for a much need new local primary school.
Have spent a few hours today campaigning for Cllr Susan Leslie, our superb candidate for tomorrow's Dunfermline by-election. Here's me pictured (below) with Jim Burke, Chair of Dunfermline Liberal Democrats, on the campaign trail!
Wed 23rd
14:49Opinion: Thanks to Simon Hughes and Liberal Democrat Voice for helping get Florence Nightingale back...
The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has announced that Florence Nightingale will remain in the National Curriculum after all, reversing a decision earlier this year to boot her out. I want to offer my hanks to Liberal Democrat Voice for letting me state my reasons why Nightingale should stay in earlier this year. Thanks also to Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, for his efforts in getting the decision re-examined. Liberal Democrats can take a particular pleasure in seeing a fellow Liberal re-instated. Florence Nightingale was a lifelong Liberal supporter, at a time when political allegiances were fluid. ...
Whatever one might have thought about John Major when he was Prime Minister, there is no way that we can fault his timing. Sir John's intervention on fuel poverty and energy bills yesterday was perfectly timed and made Ed Miliband's efforts to make an impact on this issue look clumsy and inept: Sir John Major challenged ministers to levy a windfall tax this winter on energy companies' profits to protect the neediest in society as he warned Conservative chiefs of the electoral dangers of vacating the political centre ground. The former Prime Minister urged his party to reconnect with voters ...
Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar, is today calling on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to ensure that green spaces are protected from over development. The council has fallen behind with new homes targets in recent years and has not put in place a long-term plan for housing, leaving green spaces everywhere open to development. Under the Labour government's2004 Planning Act R&C Council was forced to build 300 new houses every year, regardless of population - the target was only met in two of the past eight years.The recently overturned planning decision on the Galley Hill development at Guisborough ...
Liberal Democrats have known that Miriam Gonzalez Durantez has put considerable time and effort into supporting women within the party. She has now moved on to the national stage to launch a campaign, Inspiring Women, which aims to send 15,000 women to talk to 250,000 girls in schools about their careers and to encourage them to aim high. Earlier this month, we covered her article in the Telegraph in which she explained why she wants to do this: The new generation of girls are clever, engaged and curious; they are ambitious, but in a realistic way; they are not afraid ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Twitter / toadmeister: Not surprised by Ferguson's ... #trollemic "Not surprised by Ferguson's disloyalty. Lefties always stab people in the back." (Toby Young) http://bit.ly/16suoJz We need to build more homes – just don't make them social housing – Telegraph Well worth a read from @allisterheath > We need to build more homes – just don't make them social housing http://bit.ly/16spYCL Why job interviews don't work – Daniel Willingham 'Why job interviews don't work' by @DTWillingham. Not good predictors of performance (but make us feel better) http://bit.ly/Hh45u7 The Great British Bake Off: why ...
Surely this tweet says it all Presumably Hoody manufacturers are also waiting for the PM to turn on them? Although of course, that is the other half of Cameron's energy strategy (put on an extra jumper)....
You know your leaflets and letters are working when supporters of the THIRD/FOURTH and FIFTH party in your area tell you they're voting Lib Dem to stop the FIRST/SECOND party in your area winning. That's why we put barcharts, and other messages on our leaflets all year round. Read on for advice and materials on squeezing ....
This year's Great British Bake Off ended last night. It was an immensely enjoyable show, and also very popular with the general public. Drawing wider lessons from such apparent trivia is a tricky business – but I was particularly concerned by this article by one of the contestants (Ruby Tandoh) in today's Guardian. There has, apparently, been a lot of abusive comment in the press and on social media. What does this say about the state of British manners? First let's have the good news. The manners displayed in the contest itself were quite beautiful. In spite of the highly ...
[IMG: Lynne featherstone by paul walter] Last month, Liberal Democrat International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone wrote about her visit to the UN General Assembly where the focus was on putting the needs of people with disabilities at the heart of the overseas aid agenda: More than one billion people worldwide live with disability and suffer huge discrimination as a result. They face unequal access to education, employment, healthcare, social support and the justice system. Consequently, they are disproportionately some of the poorest and most marginalised people in the world - part of an unseen great neglect. To follow that up, ...
I've just come across this information (pasted below) which sounds like a good thing for 16 to 19 year olds in Liverpool who are not in work and not quite sure what they want to do or should be doing. The contact details are at the end. The organisation is based at STEC which is on Speke Boulevard. ************************* Employability Solutions Ltd is currently recruiting for an exciting new programme aimed at 16 - 19 year olds. "AMBITION" The programme is individually tailored to meet the needs and interests of the young people will improve a young person's employability by ...
[IMG: Owl] So, I've been in post for a few weeks now, and I thought that I really ought to give you a taste of some of the issues that have arisen so far. Is it fair to judge someone's performance whilst they're on maternity, paternity or long-term ill health leave? This question did spur some slightly guilty reflection on my part. Childless by choice, and with little experience of the impact of either children of long term ill-health on one's ability to function, it had never crossed my mind that, by including someone who was temporarily away from their ...
Wed 23rd
11:13
Dog castrated after rescue by Richmond Park and North Kingston MP Zac Goldsmith's mother
The Kingston Guardian wins Headline of the Day. Thanks to Living On Words Alone.
I've never yet come across a ward or local party that has more helpers than needed. But I also find that in most places the councillors or lead activists are too busy to go recruiting. As a councillor myself I understand that - I'm often busy trying to cram everything in and end up trying [...]
[IMG: colm-toibin-the-testament-of-mary] The Testament of Mary, Colm Tóibín The idea is simple: to tell the story of Mary, mother of Jesus, in her own words. The Mary who emerges is human and humane. She despairs of the self-destructive path of her son's life; she recoils from the dubious company he keeps; and she admits to terror when confronted with his crucifixion. This is Tóibín's alternative, poignant story of the Blessed Lady; it will strike many as more plausibly real, rounded and flawed than the testaments that have been passed down to us (and which his Mary hints over-claim and suppress). ...
The social democratic think tank the Policy Network has invited me, along with thousands of others I expect, to a seminar on what they call the Insider-Outsider Dilemma. This is how it goes. Parties of the left are unsure whether they should appeal to people excluded from mainstream markets (claimants, outsiders) or to the mainstream people who get by (middle classes, insiders). If they go for the outsiders they can, at least, be clear about where they stand - but they risk alienating everyone else. If they go for the insiders, they have a potential winning constituency but risk losing ...
Responding to the announcement at SADC Cabinet by the Chief Executive that the Police and Crime Commissioner had agreed to the police renting space on the ground floor of the Civic Offices, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Anthony Rowlands said: 'This is good news. It makes sense for the Police to use vacant space in our Civic Offices. What we now want is for the Police to work with the District Council to ensure that a front desk service is maintained. Many people want the option of being able to talk face to face to the Police. Not everyone ...
The Kingston Guardian reports on the joys of having too much free time and money...
Wed 23rd
10:10The Independent View: The Living Wage can be fair but affordable in tough economic times
On Saturday, Adam Corlett outlined his concern that how the Living Wage is calculated could cause problematic increases over the next few years. He raises some valid issues. However, the Living Wage has been designed so that it cannot rise uncontrollably, and in reality it is likely to rise much less, relative to general pay, than Adam is suggesting. The Living Wage's growing popularity shows so many employers have been willing to take on the commitment to pay enough for a decent living standard, even though times are tough. With average living standards going down, this reflects a widespread moral ...
posted The Blood is The Life 22-10-2013 http://t.co/PDDPfFxahS on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) posted If they're smiling it's not art http://t.co/yRWIeAwUKF on #dreamwidth (tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth ) Bradford comes bottom in quality of life survey Nice quotes from Jeanette at work in this. (tags: ) Why is all our media grey and Brown? (tags: ) On wikipedia and the transphobia inherent in the system (tags: ) The Ocean is Broken A Newcastle sailor's trip across the Pacific Ocean after the Japan tsunami was frighteningly similar to a nightmare. (tags: ) Cthulhu visits Waterstones Chaos ensues ...
It is interesting to note the Defence policy briefing for the LibDems is a sole one-sheeter and moreover it is only half-full..(or half-empty). As we all know the party conference in September in Glasgow distilled our policy on the Trident issue: So even on this score the policy briefing for PPCs on the site has not been updated! Not having a more fleshed out Defence policy would appear to be a major flaw in our policy mix. While some activists just don't care (or can only get hot and bothered selectively, such as on Trident) the policy area ...
[IMG: steve gilbert] Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay Stephen Gilbert has been involved in the rescue of a woman from the Thames while he was attending an event on the House of Commons terrace last night. Last night he tweeted: shaken after seeing a body float past House of Commons terrace – she moved, I threw a life-buoy and she's now been rescued! #Result — Stephen Gilbert MP (@stephen_gilbert) October 22, 2013 The BBC takes up the story: The Liberal Democrat said: "What looked like a body just floated past. Then I saw that the person then ...
Wed 23rd
09:25
My column for ConHome: The Lib Dems are lucky, very lucky, to be in coalition with the Conservatives
[IMG: con home cartoon] My ninth column for ConservativeHome — The Other Side — ran yesterday. You can read it here, as well as the always interesting comments below-the-line. Over a hundred yesterday and the subject wasn't even Europe. My thanks as ever to the site's editors, Paul Goodman and Mark Wallace, for giving a Lib Dem space to provoke ... constructively, I hope. Some people are lucky in their enemies. Some people are lucky in their allies. So the Lib Dems have been doubly lucky that the Conservatives have been both our enemies and our allies in this first ...
[IMG: Food-Waste] I cannot be the only Liberal Democrat who was appalled by the scale of the food waste which had been calculated earlier this week by our largest food supplier, Tesco. According to Tesco's research something like 40% of apples, or half of bagged salad, or half of bakery items end up in the bin, either put there by the stores themselves (because they've decided it's not fit to sell), or put there by us the consumer (because we've decided it's not fit to eat). Similarly I cannot be the only Lib Dem councillor who doesn't experience 'bins and ...
Wed 23rd
09:00
See it! Say it! Do it! A cultural partnership between Stockport, Manchester and Trafford
See it Say it Do it is a creative and cultural partnership between three councils: Stockport, Manchester and Trafford. In Stockport we've worked with residents from four of our poorer communities to create and deliver an arts programme, involving thousands of volunteer hours, giving people the opportunity not only for new experiences, friendships and partnerships but also to build valuable skills.
After the debacle over Ludlow's new hospital, there is concern whether South Shropshire will have adequate health provision. The NHS is now consulting nationally and locally on the shape of future health provision. The trend in the National Health Service is to provide more treatment at home, while concentrating acute services in major centres such [...]
Despite Friday's €70m rescue of the Spanish National Research Council, Spain's scientists are still in mourning. Amaya Moro Martín sets the scene as a range of commentators identify the challenges still facing Spanish science Amaya Moro-Martin
I have, for some time, campaigned for a better road surface in Westgrove Avenue, following concerns expressed by local residents. The road has now been resurfaced (see below) and residents have told me how pleased they are with the finished result.
Fire service funding is helping to educate young minds about the dangers of playing with fire. New Ark Play Association, in Peterborough, is one of two community groups to have received funding from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service's (CFRS) Community Fund. Children from as young as three and to up to the age of 15 learn about fire safety, cooking on a fire and the dangers of playing with fire all through the organisation's carefully structured programme at the New Ark Adventure Playground, which has been awarded £500 by the Service. Elisabeth Buck, coordinator at New Ark, said: "We think ...
I welcome the Welsh Language Commissioner's first report and I also welcome the First Minister's timely statement yesterday in which he confirmed that the original timeframe for implementation of the standards will remain as November 2014. Following the disappointment of the Commissioner's standards being rejected earlier in the year, it is important that no more time is lost. However, there is still a need for clarity as to when the standards will be applied to other sectors, and also the fact that there will be different models in place for different public bodies. It is curious that the new standards ...
Cambridge children are being encouraged to get creative by designing a fire safety poster ahead of fireworks night. Enthusiastic artists can design their poster around one or a number of fire safety messages aimed at making families aware of the dangers around fireworks and bonfires. The firework poster competition is being run in conjunction with the Cambridge News and the winning entry will be printed in the newspaper on November 4 and displayed at the fire station. The winner will also be invited to the new fire station to have a tour with Black Watch, which is the crew of ...
Parents across Cambridgeshire are being urged to make one change for Parents' Week this week - and to share their change with others. The commitments to 'one change' from local parents have included eating as a family more regularly, being more patient with children, and going to the park more often. Parents' Week is organised by the Family and Childcare Trust - the role of which is to make the UK a better place for families through policy, campaigns and research. The County Council's Information Service helps parents with a range of subjects such as school admissions, services for disabled ...
The County Council has carried out a final test of the gritting fleet to ensure the equipment and drivers are in top gear and ready to go when winter comes. The dry run was designed to check that the 38 gritting trucks are ready for the task ahead with no faults which could have developed during their summer break and the team of 80 drivers are familiar with the treatment routes. The run, which did not involve spreading any of the stockpiled grit, went well, and the machinery and man-power are now on standby for when the temperatures start to ...
It is essential that a new press watchdog is independent of both Government and the newspaper industry. The Privy Council Committee has taken a hard look at the proposals from the press, following the normal and proper processes, and has found them wanting. We now have to get on with sealing the historic agreement reached by the three major parties earlier this year. A final draft of the Royal Charter was published on Friday and has been placed on the agenda of a special meeting of the Privy Council on 30 October. This will finally secure the independent, robust and ...
