After 158 years, Liverpool Post has produced its last print edition. You can watch the last edition of the post being banged out, and read how it was put together on The Post website. A sad day for regional media.
I'm working on stuff that's not for this blog at the moment — doing a rewrite of a short story for an anthology, interviewing Phil Sandifer for the Mindless Ones, doing a guest post on Final Crisis for Phil's blog, and finishing up the second draft of my novel — so my apologies for the [...]
In January of last year I linked to a murky video of otters on the River Welland in the centre of Market Harborough. Now the Harborough Mail has linked to a much clearer video of two of the creatures on the river behind Lidl. As this is the way I walk to and from the station, I shall keep an eye out for them. I have already photographed a heron there. One thing worries me. In the first video one of the otters was playing with a beer bottle. In the new one the two otters are fighting. This is ...
You know all those right-wing bloggers and columnists who like to attack the left for being too politically correct to celebrate Christmas properly? I wonder if any of them will have the courage to condemn the Conservative-run Hammersmith & Fulham Council for sending this appalling card to their tenants.
A strategy to provide better quality temporary accommodation for vulnerable people who find themselves without a roof over their head has seen a council's B&B bill plummet. Along with a range of initiatives to keep people in their homes, South Cambridgeshire District Council has purchased ten former empty homes in the district to increase the amount of temporary accommodation available. The housing strategy agreed earlier this year aimed to half last year's £8,000 monthly bill the Council had to pay housing people in B&Bs on a temporary basis while permanent accommodation could be found - but efforts this year has ...
Wed 18th
21:29
Sefton Libraries: Unbelievable, Labour unravel, regroup, get lectured by their leader and then put o...
A new low point was reached last night in Labour's leadership of Sefton Council. Community groups cane forward willing and able to take on the challenge of keeping their libraries open only to get the Labour put down. The Labour Leader will blame the Government, he always does. But this is down to his administration. They, and nobody else, are responsible for the way these decisions were made. They came up against well informed local campaigners and they fell apart. My colleague Tony Robertson has the full story in a series of posts
The Mayor of London announced some good news earler today (at the Mayor's Question Time) that Piccadilly line trains will stop properly at Turnham Green once modernisation work is complete. Although this may be a number of years off, he did make a commitment that tubes will stop all night when the Piccadilly line becomes part of the "Night Tube" in 2015. Lib Dems back in 2010 at a demonstration The Liberal Democrats have campaigned for ten years to get this good news for residents. It may not be happening straight away but we will be counting down until the ...
The news that UK banknotes are going to be made of plastic has got more coverage than it really quite deserves. US dollar bills have been made of plastic for years (when they are worn out, they get made into plastic wheelbarrows). This is not monetary news, especially since notes and coins now only make up about 3 per cent of money in circulation. But it happens to coincide with a very interesting and thoughtful report by the Bank of England's bank note department about the likely impact and future regulation of local and complementary currencies. The officials who wrote ...
Cambridge's jobless figures fell again last month bringing hope of a brighter 2014 for those seeking work in the city. The news that there were 371 fewer people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in November compared with the same time last year and 63 fewer than in October has been welcomed by Cambridge MP Julian Huppert. He said: "We have seen our unemployment figures falling steadily month by month and this is very good news for those looking for work. The national picture is also brighter which is testament to the fact that the economy is moving in the right direction. "Clearly, ...
Between December 15th at 22:00hrs and December 16th 08:00hrs, there was a report of shed burglary at The Spinney, Bar Hill. Overnight perpetrator(s) have gained entry into a wooden shed and taken a petrol hedge cutter. If you have any information regards this theft, please get in touch. On December the 16th there was a report of shoplifting at Bar Hill Tesco's. Offender was arrested and dealt with accordingly. Over the past month there has been numerous of incident reports relating to suspicious circumstances including reports of door to door sales persons, rogue traders, and vehicle driving slowly around the ...
Since the economic chaos started in 2008 central government has been cutting the amount of money they pass to local councils. More has been cut from council receiving very large sums. Some have said this is unfair. Southwark Labour have suggested that Epsom (&Ewell Borough Council) have been treated very generously versus Southwark being picked on. I've finally looked at the numbers. Southwark Council. Population 274,400 and government forumla grant of £217,078,000 or £791.10 per head. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council. Population 75,200 and government grants etc of £4,191,000 or £55.73 per head. Both have other local authorities – Greater ...
Exciting news today as Nick Clegg's decision to appoint Simon Hughes MP as Justice Minister is revealed. Hughes has confirmed that he will stand down as Deputy Leader once his replacement has been selected. It's generally accepted that the Deputy Leader should be outside of the Government, so not a Minister, Whip or PPS. It is also likely that the Deputy Leader will be seen to be from a different ideological tradition to the Leader, Nick Clegg. This suggests that Hughes' replacement will also be a 'lefty liberal'. Although, as only incumbent Lib Dem MPs can vote for Deputy Leader, ...
The Davies Commission's interim report published yesterday has elicited many column inches in the newspapers but little clarity from the other two major parties as to the basis on which they will judge the final report. In contrast, Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats made our approach to the Davies Commission clear yesterday. We will not endorse an expansion in airport capacity which would increase noise pollution for the hundreds of thousands of residents living beneath the flight path or break the Committee on Climate Change's recommendations on aviation. Of course we will look at what the final Davies Report ...
There will be a Lib Dem deputy leadership election in the new year, following (as Caron reported earlier) Simon Hughes's surprise appointment as Minister for Justice, replacing Lord (Tom) McNally. The post's full title is Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons – so the ballot is restricted to MPs. Last time round, in summer 2010 following Vince Cable resignation to take up the post of Business Secretary, it was contested by Simon and by Tim Farron. Simon beat Tim by 38 votes to 18. The party's standing orders were changed following the decision to enter ...
This guy is trying it: Hat tip: SalonFiled under: Uncategorized Tagged: Art, Crafts, Culture, origami, Sipho Mabona, Switzerland
Wed 18th
16:30
Opinion: Europe and peace - the ties that bind and the dangers of the rise of the right
There are many sound economic reasons why Britain's continued membership of the EU is good for our country and for Europe itself. We are already making that case as the Euro elections approach in May 2014 and must continue to do so. However, there is one over-riding reason that is barely getting mentioned as the whiff of 'little-Englander patriotism' in euro-sceptic campaigning risks once again becoming the stench of right-wing xenophobic nationalism in Britain and across Europe. The historical development of the EU has provided the ties that bind European nations together in peace after a century of vicious blood-letting, ...
Times are hard in urban areas – no-one in the Lib Dems disagrees with that statement. The response of the Labour Party is threefold: 1. To deny that they have anything to do with the problems and that somehow the ... Continue reading →
Wed 18th
16:08
More on legalising prostitution and why the Lib Dems should take this baton and run with it
Just before I left for a long stroll to our local AGM last night, there was a bit of a furore on Twitter about a new piece up on Lib Dem Voice. The palaver wasn't really about the piece as such but more the title. The original title by the author was to be As Liberals We Must Stand Up For Sex Workers but instead the editorial team used the title Opinion: As Liberals, we must stand up For sex workers instead. Now I didn't get to read too much more for a couple of hours so I don't know ...
This Autumn Statement shows that Britain is on its way back. We are sticking to our plans to make sure this is a recovery that is built to last. That is the only way to improve living standards. Our economy is growing because of the hard work of people and businesses throughout Britain. The Coalition's economic plan is the rock on which our recovery is being built. This Autumn Statement: Helps with the cost of living by freezing fuel duty for the rest of the Parliamentby cutting energy bills by £50by capping rail fares at inflation in 2014by delivering Free ...
The local government settlement announced today is the usual riddle, wrapped in a mystery surrounded by an enigma. The determination by ministers to make the whole thing as unclear as possible seems to have the motive of allowing them to spin whatever line they like to a media which cannot understand it either. The basic numbers are largely as we expected, but council staff will have to do weeks of work to be clear about precisely what some aspects mean. The one thing every council, just like any business or household, needs is clarity. Whilst the government has talked about ...
We take an occasional look at the Early Day Motions tabled by MPs. These are basically House of Commons petition and are used to raise awareness of an issue. One of the biggest elements of an MP's postbag or inbox is a pile of requests from supporters of a particular organisation or charity to sign a particular EDM. As a rule, ministers don't sign EDMs. Most popular Winning for this session so far is our own Greg Mulholland's EDM 57, on getting pub tenants a fair deal from breweries, signed by 166 MPs. Now this is where I get annoyed, ...
Simon will be standing down as Deputy Leader but will remain in post until his successor has been elected. No timetable set as yet. — Tim Farron (@timfarron) December 18, 2013 MPs will pick his successor. #TeamJeremyBrowne.
Vertical ticket splitting is the academic term used to describe the act of voting for two or more different political parties when elections are held to fill different levels of government. So if you voted Lib Dem in the locals, but Labour in the nationals, you'd be engaging in split ticket voting. The last four general elections have coincided with local elections. Holding different elections on the same day seems to have become relatively commonplace, and as a result, ticket splitting has become more commonplace within the UK. It is no longer an activity that primarily relates to US, or ...
Simon Hughes has been appointed a minister of state for justice, replacing Lord McNally who become chair of the Youth Justice Board. This is all rather odd. Hughes, the current deputy leader, has previously said he would not take a government job, and it is better if the deputy leader remains outside of government. His predecessor as [...]
For many years the Council has faced the problem of setting its own wages. A few years back, it was agreed to get an independent panel to work out what should be paid. They reported back what would have been a big increase at the time that many were seeing their pay frozen due to Labour's economic crash. So the Council followed suit and froze allowances and continued to do so for many years.
COUNCIL OPENING TIMES OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR Stockport Council opening times over Christmas and New Year are as follows: Tuesday 24th December 2013 - 8.30am to 12noon Wednesday 25th to Friday 27th December 2013 – closed Monday 30th December 2013 - 8.30am to 5.00pm Tuesday 31st December 2013 - 8.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday 1st January 2014 – closed The Contact Centre opening hours for the Christmas Period are as follows: Tuesday 24th December 2013 - 8.00am to 12noon Wednesday 25th December to Sunday 29th December 2013 – closed Monday 30th December 2013 - 8.30am to 5.00pm Tuesday 31st December ...
[IMG: Simon Hughes] News just in: Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes has replaced Lord (Tom) McNally as the Liberal Democrat Minister of State for Justice. Lord McNally has been appointed as the new Chair of the Youth Justice Board, a post which he will take up in mid-March 2014. Simon Hughes will take over as Justice Minister with immediate effect. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "Tom McNally has been a fantastic minister who has pushed through a Liberal agenda in the Ministry of Justice. He will now bring the same wisdom, experience and ...
With 2013 drawing to a close we thought it would be useful to produce a timetable of key dates for the 2014 elections. Download it here Two things stand out: Thursday January 23rd - the start of the regulated period for the European elections • Any literature using European "400 money" has to be delivered [...]
This morning I am wondering whether, like the Christmas season, April Fool's Day has been spotted in record early time. Because this article [paywall] in today's FT could only be made up. It claims that the Liberal Democrats have changed policy on airport expansion: a false and indeed malicious claim. The article alleges that: 'The Lib Dems have abandoned outright hostility to new runways in the Southeast in a significant shift that could lead to a future cross-party consensus on Heathrow's expansion. As the Davies Commission published its interim report into aviation, the Lib Dems executed a subtle change in ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... BBC News – Rowan Atkinson Comic Relief skit tops Ofcom complaints Most complained about TV moment of year: 487 complaints only. We're losing our touch as a nation of complainers http://bbc.in/1jfVRnJ The gross distortions of GDP Tim Harford on "The gross distortions of GDP" http://bit.ly/1hifF5B Historical separated at birth: Mary Tudor and Dennis Waterman Forget Cameron and Catherine the Great > Historical separated at birth: Mary Tudor and Dennis Waterman http://bit.ly/1bXM7cb Immigration controls are the new Corn Laws. Why don't more free marketeers care? | Adam Smith Institute Why do some supposed ...
Plans for a new rail station at Cambridge Science Park are on track after planners agreed the proposals today, Wednesday, December 18. The new station will transform train travel to one of Cambridge's main business areas, including the Science Park, St John's Innovation Centre and the Cambridge Business Park. This key project will create a transport hub which joins up rail, bus services, cycling and pedestrian facilities. The plans were recommended for approval at a meeting of Joint Development Control planning committee for the Cambridge Fringes. The new station will be on the main line between Cambridge and Ely and ...
(With a little upfront investment). I've blogged before about our Solar Panels and how they're performing. Liz and I have recently moved house, and decided that it made sense to get panels on our new property. Basically, we're so capitalist that we can only enjoy the warm glow of Earth's yellow sun when it is enriching our bank accounts. [IMG: burns excellent sunshine] We looked at several local installers, before settling on Sims Solar. Paul was able to produce a detailed set of measurements, understood my crazy data-logging requirements, and gave us an excellent price. As a bonus, he went ...
I've just thought to myself that I'd just take 5 minutes to register for Liberal Democrat Spring conference in York, which takes place from 7-9 March. Every time I've thought that in the past couple of months since registration opened, I've never done anything about it, thinking that it was fine, I had till 31st December to get the cheap rate, don't need to do it now. By some minor miracle, while procrastinating from something else, I got as far as the Conference registration page this morning. Then, of course, I couldn't remember my user name. I tried all the ...
Technology has brought backbenchers more potential power, but few choose to exploit it. In yesterday's Times(£) Rachel Sylvester declared that "the party leaders are losing power" claiming that "MPs, who have given up all hope of promotion, are standing up more and more to the party machines." While there some notable exceptions, few MPs combine new [...]
The latest figures from the DWP and ONS have shown that the majority of new jobs created over the last twelve months (95%) have been full-time. This statistic gives the lie to the increasingly complacent Labour response to positive jobs figures that "they're all part-time". Not only is this not the case, but the difference [...]
On December the 12th between 19:45hrs and 22:00hrs, a theft of caravan took place in St Vincent Close, Girton. Perpetrator(s) have removed all security placed on the caravan and taken it. Kind Regards PCSO Alpo Mani
[IMG: Danny Alexander] Putting the Autumn Statement, with its decisions by Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander, under the microscope – and discovering what Christmas present Simon Hughes got for party members. That's what you got with Liberal Democrat Newswire #42 when it hit email inboxes last week. It's now also available online to read here. If you would like to receive the next edition of Liberal Democrat Newswire direct to your own inbox as soon as it is published, just sign up here. It's free! You can unsubscribe whenever you want using the link on the bottom of all the ...
Nick Clegg has written about the need to reform the House of Lords in today's Mirror in response to the latest mini-scandal concerning Lord Hanningfield. When I read the first sentence, my blood pressure hit the roof: What's worse than a greedy Lord clocking in to work for just a few minutes a day to pocket hundreds of pounds from the taxpayer? What's worse is when the same peer - caught red handed as a result of the Mirror's excellent investigative efforts - shrugs their shoulders and tells you: everybody's doing it. But there are lots of good ones who ...
Fuck the centre ground. Seriously, fuck it with a ten foot barge pole. I have no issue with the Lib Dems being equidistant between left and right; that's as it should be, given that even within my own local party there are people who range from extreme socialist to somewhere right of Attila the Hun. You know why that doesn't mean we are on the centre ground? BECAUSE WE'RE FUCKING LIBERALS. No matter how far left or right each of us is on the economic axis, we are ALL anti-authoritarian, some of us extremely so. And for pretty much all ...
Wed 18th
10:41
My column for ConHome: Where the parties are as 2013 ends - and what they face in 2014
[IMG: con home cartoon] Here's my latest The Other Side column for ConservativeHome, published here yesterday. I'm worried I'm losing my touch, though... Not only have most commenters there said it's a fair take ("This is a balanced article by Stephen Tall"), but Toby Young praised it as "a good round-up of where the parties currently stand" in the Telegraph today. 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. 2013's on its way out, 2014's almost here. So here's my assessment of where ...
I do enjoy those increasingly more frequent moments when Nick Clegg, puts up his hand to some outrageous Conservative policy and insists that it cannot go ahead. It is at moments like these that we can all see quite clearly that the Deputy Prime Minister is a Liberal through and through. The latest incarnation of this phenomena was reported in the Times yesterday. They highlight the assertion by the Mr. Clegg that leaked government proposals to cap the number of EU migrants allowed into Britain are "illegal and unworkable": The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Home Office proposal to ...
Post by Liberal Democrats for Lords Reform.
Immigration remains a toxic topic for politicians in Britain - but those of us in the political centre cannot afford to dodge this debate, or we risk standing by while Britain becomes a country known for xenophobia, not tolerance. Across the UK, people are facing a tough Christmas this year. If you can pay your electricity bill without too much trouble this winter, you're one of the lucky ones. Many argue that immigration, or immigrants, are somehow to blame for this hardship. After all - 'they' are taking our jobs, using up our welfare budget, and filling up our local ...
The Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors are looking to recruit a Campaigns and Information Intern to work as part of their Political Team based in their offices in Manchester City Centre. Applicants will be expected to: have an interest in politics and local government. take an active role and be prepared to help in any [...]
Wed 18th
09:25Careful, Boris. Remember what happened to the last top Tory to liken the Lib Dems to a bird?
"The sooner we are shot of the great yellow albatross, in my view, the better." So said Boris Johnson yesterday, taking a pop at both Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems. But, as a classics scholar, Boris should beware a little thing called hubris. At the 1990 Tory Party conference, Mrs Thatcher poked fun at the Lib Dems' new logo, the bird of freedom, by performing the Monty Python "Dead Parrot" sketch: Within a couple of months, the Lib Dems had triumphed in the Eastbourne by-election and Mrs Thatcher had been sacked by her own MPs. * Stephen Tall is ...
Could do with a new winter coat. Anyone got £650 to spare? It's my birthday soon... http://t.co/2zknWBVkGG (tags: (from twitter) ) http://open.spotify.com/track/3X3lulSUZh5oAjTqFjd0hh "You'll never love another -- although she's not the kind of girl you'd take home to your mother..." http://t.co/DUuCGgfwv8 (tags: (from twitter) ) posted The Blood is The Life 17-12-2013 http://t.co/QtAYfZgvDY on #dreamwidth (tags: dreamwidth (from twitter) ) Have the Greens blown it in Brighton? via @Tomfooled (tags: ) Joseph Gordon-Levitt confirms he'll star in 'The Sandman' movie | The Verge Yes, but who's playing Death? And more importantly Delirium? (tags: ) Removing DRM increases sales ...
In an age when instant publishing via social media is easier and easier, it's never been more important to consider how you avoid expensive and politically damaging legal cases. Defamation is the blanket term that covers libel and slander, the difference being the permanence of the offending item. Libel encompasses more permanent forms of defamation, [...]
We were very upset last week by the blocking in the European Parliament of the Report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, authored by Portuguese MEP Edite Estrela and commonly known as the Estrela Report. The report recommended that all Europeans should have ease of access to sex education, contraception and safe abortions and was strongly supported by the European Humanist Federation, of which the BHA is a member. However, since the report was first brought to the attention of the European Parliament it has met with strong opposition from extremist religious groups, including the Federation of Catholic Family ...
Nick Clegg yesterday backed Olli Rehn, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs to become the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission in next year's European Elections. One of fourteen ALDE leaders to have co-signed a letter nominating Olli Rehn as their candidate, he said; I am delighted to nominate Olli Rehn to be the ALDE Presidential candidate. He is the perfect man for the job, and will be a powerful advocate for the liberal cause. I know Olli will help us build a ...
PsyBlog reports a new study suggests it might: In the new research on 59 participants, those who were confirmed night owls (preferring late to bed and late to rise) had lower integrity of the white matter in various areas of the brain (Rosenberg et al., 2014). Lower integrity in these areas has been linked to [...]
Yesterday, I had the pleasure, along with Ann Prescott of the West End Christmas Committee, of presenting an award to Dilly Milne of The Rosebud in Perth Road, winner of the best Christmas shop window display in the West End, as voted for by local residents during the recent West End Christmas Fortnight. Here's me, Dilly and Ann at the presentation and a photo of the excellent window display at night when it is at its most eye-catching!
On standards in GP surgeries: Patients have a right to expect the best care from their GP practice. That's why we have introduced this new, tougher system of inspection which will root out poor standards and celebrate the best. The new chief inspector will champion the views of patients, giving them more information so they can make better informed choices about services. Patients have a right to know about poor standards of care. On mental health: It is completely unacceptable for local commissioners to disadvantage mental health in the allocation of funds to local health services. This completely conflicts with ...
Last week I was lucky enough to have my name picked out of the ballot to bring forward my own law on anything which is already devolved to the Welsh assembly. This is hugely exciting for me. As health is my passion, I have chosen something that could make a real difference to levels of care and greatly improve health outcomes in our NHS. I will be bringing forward legislation that would set minimum nursing levels on Welsh hospital wards. We have amazing nurses in Wales, but often there are not enough of them to deal with the enormous workload ...
Liberal Democrat Councillor Rod Cantrill has called for urgent safety improvements to a major Cambridge road junction before someone is seriously injured or killed. Cllr Cantrill, who represents Newnham on Cambridge City Council is worried about the junction of Barton Road, Newnham Road and Grantchester Street. The busy junction is used by parents taking their children to Newnham Croft School and forms part of the major Blue Cycle Route from west Cambridge to Trumpington. Cllr Cantrill and his ward colleague, Lib Dem County Councillor Lucy Nethsingha collected 260 signatures on a petition calling on the county council to make improvements ...
Wed 18th
03:30
Government Grant Settlement Means Less Funding As Expected - But Councillors Warn More Details Still...
Council leaders have warned the "devil is in the detail" as information has begun to be released about the Government's grant funding for local authorities next year. Information released by the Department for Communities and Local Government today (Wednesday 18 December) has confirmed South Cambridgeshire District Council's grant settlement for 2014/15 will be cut by 24% - a reduction of around £870,000. Figures released for 2015/16 suggest a similar cut will be imposed, but senior councillors have said that more information is still needed before the full effect of the reduction in grant is known. In agreeing the budget for ...
Cambridge Liberal Democrats today (Wednesday, December 18) welcomed moves which would allow city residents to have their say on possible access through Bramblefields nature reserve to the city's new Science Park Station. They had fought to make sure residents had as many options open to them as possible to protect the reserve, including investment to help improve it. Crucially they argued that city residents should make the final decision on how and if the route through should be included in the plans. Members of the Joint Development Control Committee listened to the Lib Dems' concerns and referred the issue back ...
The Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Hugh Duberly CBE, has appointed four Deputy Lieutenants to help with his work around the county. The new appointments are: Colonel Roger Herriot OBEThe Rt Hon Sir James Paice MPMr Andrew Riddington JPMrs Penelope Walkinshaw Col Herriot was Commandant (Colonel) of the Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force, a role he held from 2008 until December 2012. He served in the Army from 1970 to 1976, the Territorial Army for 9 years and in both the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Army Cadets Forces. The Cambridgeshire Army Cadets Force doubled in size to 1,000 cadets under his command. Roger ...
