So I got a parcel today: [IMG: New shirts in box on bed] James took pictures of me trying the shirts on. SOME of the pictures were not me pulling ridiculous faces, or blurry from James laughing, so here they are. All pictures can be clicked to be embiggened. It all started reasonably sensibly... [IMG: Me in stripy shirt and suit jacket, posing] ( more under the cut ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Ind seat. Death. Prospective Candidate: George Normington
Con seat. Death. Prospective Candidate: Barry Charles Coward
Con seat. Death. Prospective Candidate: Lesley Rollings Returning Officer: West Lindsey.
As someone who has never exactly been a supporter, there have been very few bright spots in the otherwise suffocatingly dark firmament which is the Coalition Government. One was and is the appointment of Norman Lamb as Care Minister who has been doing a remarkable job, also the undoubted achievements of Lynne Featherstone. So the news yesterday that Simon Hughes has been appointed a justice minister was one of those rare occasions when some of my perennial despair was tinged with just a little hope. I have a lot of time for Tom McNally and I think he will do ...
Last week saw the Lib Dem vote collapse by 35% in the one ward they were defending and failing to stand in the other three constests. In the last council by-elections of the year there are nine contests today. Labour defend two rock solid seats in Bolton and Torfaen, the Tories defend six and there is an Independent vacancy in the Black Isle Ward of Highland Council. Once again UKIP are standing more candidates than the Lib Dems - eight to seven, but both beat Labour who are only standing in six contests. Wards to watch are in West Sussex ...
[IMG: Katherine and me at Finsbury Park] Haringey's Labour Cabinet has this week adopted plans to treble the number of days there can be large music concerts in Finsbury Park from 5 to 15, despite strong opposition from many local residents. Both the Stroud Green Residents Association and the Friends of Finsbury Park oppose the change and argued against such a big increase at Tuesday's cabinet meeting. My colleagues and I ran an online survey on the council plans, and found 75% of respondents were opposed. The new policy means that there can be 5 concerts each lasting up to ...
The great vacuous bubble of ambition that is Boris Johnson doesn't seem to get the point of Vince Cable's remarks about London - "a giant suction machine draining the life" out of the English regions. Neither does the Evening Standard. Boris has hit back explaining that London is generating more of Britain's GDP than ever, without apparently realising that this is exactly the problem. London is an economic vacuum cleaner, sucking up the available people, investment and ability to earn from everywhere else. That is why the economy still needs re-balancing. Of course, the ability to earn for the exchequer ...
Thu 19th
16:45
Lord Roger Roberts writes...Liberal Democrats in Government must fix failing asylum system
Yesterday was International Migrants Day. Sadly, celebrations for many were rather subdued. [Yesterday] morning marked the end of a long, hard and emotionally-charged battle. Isa Muazu, a 45 year old asylum seeker from northern Nigeria, who had been on hunger strike for nearly 90 days, landed in Lagos, Nigeria. Lawyers and campaigners fighting his cause ran out of avenues through which they could challenge the removal decision in the limited time-frame given. The case has been enormously distressing for many of those who have chosen to engage with it, but it has also raised the profile of many long-standing concerns ...
The knowledge that attempting to block porn on the internet is bound to backfire has now gone mainstream. (BBC News, Telegraph) Well, there's a temptation to say "we told you so", because we did. Repeatedly. So far, sites we know that are subject to overblocking on either TalkTalk and BT include BishUK (a sexual education site for teenagers), LGBTfriend, Edinburgh Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Sexual Abuse Scotland, Doncaster Domestic Abuse Helpline and Reducing The Risk (Another domestic abuse help site). At the same time, the filters failed to do what they were supposed to – when BBC Newsnight ...
According to the historian Martin Gilbert almost 8 out of 10 Jews in Nazi occupied Europe perished during World War II. This makes the survival of the Jews of Denmark all the more remarkable. This is not to say the Nazis didn't try to kill them. In 1943, Eichmann ordered that the Jews of Copenhagen [...]
This recovery would not be happening without the Liberal Democrats. 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. Three and a half years in, and the Coalition's priority is still the same: fixing the economy and cleaning up the mess Labour left behind. That task has never been simply about balancing the books. We inherited an economy that had become profoundly unbalanced. Growth was driven almost entirely by one industry: financial services. Almost exclusively from one city: London. And ...
Con Seat. Death Prospective Candidate: Trevor Brookman
Over at British Influence, Sir Nick Harvey has been writing about today's EU meeting on defence co-operation and what he thinks could be achieved from it. He sets out why co-operation is a good idea EU defence cooperation has a crucial role to play in achieving security around the globe and preventing an onslaught of failed states. This is clearly in the UK's national interest since failed states create a series of associated and interlinked problems which impact on the UK, such as severe poverty, irregular migration and terrorism - as we have seen in the case of Al-Shabaab in ...
We will have to get used to calling it an Act, as the Energy Bill that I've been driving through Parliament is now law. Creating the world's first ever low carbon electricity market is a major achievement for the Liberal Democrats and the Coalition. And it has been delivered on time. So, what will the Energy Act deliver? It will create 200,000 green jobs. The framework we've now put in place will create 250,000 jobs in the energy sector by 2020 – and 200,000 of them in renewables. The investment that we're unlocking will produce green jobs up and down ...
From the government's Behavioural Insight Team's blog: [IMG: Post It notes. Photo courtesy of Spiders. Some rights reserved http://www.sxc.hu/photo/379214] Garner (2005) tested the impact of attaching a Post-it note with a hand-written request to survey materials. The study found that the note roughly doubled response rates (76%, compared to 36% with no Post-it note). In addition, using a Post-it note increased the quality and timeliness of survey responses. The Irish Revenue has now transferred this finding into practice - and crucially they have tested the results in a randomised controlled trial. Of 2,000 businesses, 1,700 were randomly assigned to receive ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... www.nytimes.com Brilliant from David Brooks on being 'A Thought Leader': "his eyes blaze at the echo of the words "breakout session"" http://nyti.ms/1hnNO3H Worthing Lib Dem councillor defects to UKIP (From The Argus) We-ell tbf our policies and theirs do overlap a lot > "Worthing Lib Dem councillor defects to UKIP" http://bit.ly/1jlljZ8 Alan Bown's Ukip polling only tells half the story – Telegraph Also by @ProfTimBale (busy guy today) good sense re Ukip polling > Alan Bown's Ukip polling only tells half the story http://bit.ly/1jlkYWe Members only: views of the Conservative Party's rank-and-file ...
[IMG: jo swinson Alex Folkes/Fishnik Photography] I wish Jo Swinson had been around when I was a teenager. My self-loathing teenage self could have done with a friendly looking government minister, a shining example of healthy living, telling me that the images society measured me against were unattainable and I should just concentrate on enjoying life and living healthily, taking loads of exercise and not being obsessed with weight and crash dieting. Last week, someone posted a photo on a Facebook group about Inverness which had a 12 year old me in it. It took me quite aback to realise ...
I've got a lot of time for Harville Hendrix. He's a marital counsellor, and I've discovered him through Psychology Today, Slate.com and other areas of the internet. In an nutshell, for those that aren't familar with him, he argues that if we can see the other person's point of view, and reduce our perception to a perspective - i.e. admit that we may not be correct - it's just the way we see the world and other viewpoints can be just as valid - that helps in marriages and other relationships. It boils down to "I see what you mean, ...
Yesterday was my first visit to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and it was definitely one I won't forget. It was also my first Wagner opera, an important event in one's life I think. The music was absolutely incredible. It was a real honour to see Antonio Pappano live - he is both [...]
Responding to the Local Government Finance Settlement announced today, Local Government Association Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell said: "Today's settlement confirms that councils will continue to be at the sharp end of public sector spending cuts up to 2016, but that government has started to listen to local authorities and made some important concessions without which local services [...]
Thu 19th
12:30
Day 4735: If the Economy Is Getting Stronger Why Are the Queues at Food Banks Getting Longer?
Wednesday: The latest figures show that unemployment has fallen to 7.4%, the lowest since 2009 (i.e. now lower than Labour left behind), and an email from Mr Danny Alexander arrives to celebrate that there are now thirty million people in work. Inflation, down to 2.1% is also at a four year low. So "Yay!" But there's also been a huge rise in people getting emergency food from food banks - as highlighted in today's Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons. We need to cast some light on this debate; we need some understanding of what's driving this increase. ...
My friend Marc Rogers, the eminent security consultant, was quoted the Guardian talking about his predictions for information security and cybercrime in 2014. The ongoing development of the internet of things will continue to impact cyber security in 2014, as attackers now have more potential entry routes to sensitive governmental, corporate and personal data than ever. Mundane objects - such as thermostats and fridges - which were once completely unremarkable from a security perspective, have suddenly become the guardians of sensitive data, ranging from sensitive financial information to detailed telemetry about personal aspects of our lives. I think he's right ...
Thu 19th
12:00Tim Farron MP writes: Liberal Democrats must stand up against blanket internet surveillance
I regularly get asked "who are your Liberal Heroes?" and I'll reel off a list of people like Beveridge, Penhaligon and Paddy Ashdown and usually the person who has asked the question nods and smiles. Then I will tell them that the person I most admire is Harry Willcock. That's typically met with a look of bemusement! I got similar looks of bewilderment when I cited Harry in 2005 in one of my first speeches in the House of Commons when I opposed Labours ID cards bill... But Harry is at the top of my list because he was the ...
Professor Kennedy's report into the practice of Ian Patterson at Heartlands Hospital has just been released. It is a good report and demonstrates how confidentiality can at times be used to protect the interests of the powerful. The problem is a more general culture of the Health Service to cover things up rather than resolve issues. I have two cases at Heartlands Hospital where
Thu 19th
11:15LibLink: Stephen Tall: Where the parties are at the end of 2013 and what they face in 2014
Stephen has been writing over at Conservative Home again. This time, he's done his end of year report for each of the main parties. The Telegraph's Toby Young even complimented it. Here are some snippets: Labour With economic growth returning, Labour has deftly segued their economic attack. The assault on public spending cuts that go "too far, too fast" has been ditched, and in its place is a new refrain, "the Tory cost-of-living crisis". It's an ingenious line, tapping into the lag between the nascent recovery and people's wages, with Ed Miliband's populist pledge to freeze energy prices for 20 ...
There is less than a week to get Liberal Democrat nominations in for the LGiU-CCLA C'llr Awards. Let's make sure there are plenty of Lib Dems to choose from this time! More information below: LGiU & CCLA C'llr Achievement Awards – Deadline only two weeks away The deadline for the 2014 C'llr Achievement Awards is [...]
It is a tradition for LDV to bring its readers copies of our new MPs' and Peers' first words in Parliament, so that we can read what is being said and respond. You can find all of the speeches in this category with this link. On 28 November, Baroness Humphreys made her maiden speech in the House of Lords during a debate on broadcast media and its role in the economy. Her words are reproduced below. Baroness Humphreys (LD): My Lords, I thank my noble friend for initiating this debate and for allowing me the opportunity to make my first ...
This week's fuss over what may be an attempt to pre-empt a change in Liberal Democrat policy on airport expansion forms part of a pattern which should be understood and resisted. The pattern goes something like this. First, news emerges in some form – never officially announced – that a key and contentious policy is to be implemented in Government in a way different to that agreed by Lib Dems or the Coalition Agreement. The increased use of anonymous briefings has been a key tool. Secondly, ensure this is timed in such a way that the leadership or ministers have ...
The arrangements for bin collections next week are complicated, or simple, depending which way you look at it --- Monday and Tuesday As normal Wednesday collected Friday Thursday collected Saturday Next week is green bin ( ie non-recyclable general waste ) week
A rather well done fan made tribute. I think it serves as a pretty good appetiser for Capaldi's arrival and Sherlock's return Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Arts, BBC, Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Who, Martin Freeman, Programs, Sherlock, Television
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. Some 750 party members responded – thank you – and we're publishing the full results. Members back Coalition with Conservatives by 80% to 17% Do you support or oppose the Lib Dems being in the Coalition Government with the Conservatives? 80% (+1%) – Support 17% (n/c) – Oppose 3% (n/c) – Don't know / No opinion No matter what the travails of the Coalition — and there have been plenty in the ...
posted The Blood is The Life 18-12-2013 http://t.co/srcGWSROgi on #dreamwidth (tags: dreamwidth (from twitter) ) Disability Rights Adviser - Calderdale DART - Halifax http://t.co/nCINYIpvtu #Calderdale #jobs (tags: calderdale jobs (from twitter) ) http://ldv.org.uk/37535 The piece that appears to have set today's news agenda, published yesterday afternoon on LDV: http://t.co/ETzNOVBCTS (tags: (from twitter) ) http://open.spotify.com/track/55vOiiSoDJaZw4M28uQpu5 This morning's earworm: http://t.co/M3QiHH0Sb0 "for he is so Gay and fancy-free..." (tags: (from twitter) ) careful Boris; remember what happened to the last Tory who compared the lib dems to a bird (tags: ) http://twitpic.com/dp1v01 Are atheists waging a war on Christmas? I explain, ...
Glenn Greenwald spoke to Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight last night, declaring a "huge victory" in his campaign against state surveillance.
Reblogged from Alex Sparrowhawk: HIV & Me: This week I've tucked myself up in bed early and watched a drama I've only just heard about on Twitter "Don't Ever Wipe Tears without Gloves" a Swedish three part series set in the 1980s at the beginning of the AIDS crisis. It focuses on two gay men...
After about a week of not being able to wake up in the morning, today I have the opposite problem. I found it well nigh impossible to sleep all night—despite having my cuddly ginger "Build-a-Bear cat to cuddle—and so find myself wanting to sleep now. Today is a relatively busy day for me as I...
Good news from Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable who has said that he is minded to ban the use of exclusive zero hours contracts. These are the deals which give control to employers and can mean huge uncertainty for workers. The concept of a zero hours contract isn't automatically bad. It means, in effect, that a staff member is guaranteed work when some is available but the employer does not have to pay them when there is nothing to do. But the employee still needs to earn a wage and so they should be free to take work from ...
From the Cabinet Office comes the news: [IMG: Electoral registration form] The government has ... confirmed its intention to move to IER [Individual Electoral Registration] on 10 June 2014 in England and Wales and 19 September 2014 in Scotland... This means that from those dates, people will no longer apply to register to vote as a household. Instead, everyone will apply as an individual, providing evidence of their identity such as a National Insurance Number and date of birth. The timetable was originally set out in the White Paper Individual Electoral Registration in 2011 and confirmed in the Electoral Registration ...
In response to Harold Wilson's comment that he was willing to "join Europe if the price was right," Jo Grimond commented that this was rather like reserving judgement on the reformation until you knew what the monasteries would fetch. Unfortunately the current Liberal Democrat attitude to the coming European election seems unlikely to rise above this "what's in it for us" level. Our slogan, according to the Christmas greetings I've just received from Yorkshire's two Liberal Democrat MEPs, is to be "In Europe: In Work" and we don't seem to be going to say much beyond hammering away at the ...
I've been thinking a bit more about the extra money that the government has announced for rural councils. It is only about £9.5 million nationwide and Cornwall will receive £462,000 of that. I said yesterday that I agreed with Andrew George MP that this is chicken feed in comparison with the disparity between funding for rural and urban councils. And I still think that. But, on a positive note, this may be a recognition by the government that there is a lack of fairness and that they are committed to redressing the balance. If so then I hope that next ...
SouthEastern trains are consulting on their timetable changes to take effect 20 December 2014. Please pasds your comments to mike.gibson@southeasternrailway.co.uk These are my comments to him: A number of residents in my ward use services from Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill stations. The ward I represent is only 10mins walk away from these stations. Many found the loss of the South London Line appalling and we still anticipate its return after London Bridge redevelopment has been completed. So any improvement in services to and from Victoria Station help fill the timetable void left from the SLL closure. So I warmly ...
As residents are aware, with the old Harris building in Perth Road currently being demolished, the stretch of the road outside the school site is narrowed (and will remain so for three years) due to the construction company's temporary site buildings and boundary fencing to the south side. See photo below: Perth Road at the site, taken early morning yesterday I have had a number of constituents express concern that, with the road narrowed, there is more limited space for vehicles passing each direction - this is a busy bus route - and the white lines are no longer in ...
The first round of the EU's new research programme was announced yesterday, meaning universities and businesses across the UK can now apply for £12.5bn worth of funding for 2014 and 2015. UK universities already receive more funding than those in any other country. Lib Dems fought to increase research spending while cutting the EU's long-term budget.
Incredible as it may seem, Christmas has caught up with us once again – and I hope that this special season will leave its mark on your household in the days to come. However, it is also a time for us to look out for others who may be alone or anxious at this time and it is very much in the Carmarthenshire tradition to do just that. In less than a week, however, our thoughts will turn to the New Year, with its mix of public and private reflections on the past 12 months and on the times to ...
With Labour failing to make any impact against the Coalition Government's economic policy the Sun reports that Ed Miliband is losing patience with his shadow chancellor. The paper quotes senior Labour sources as saying that Ed Miliband is ready to axe his right-hand man next autumn unless he starts winning the economic argument with George Osborne: Relations between the two men have grown steadily worse in recent months as the recovery has gathered pace. Mr Balls also came under fire for his disastrous response to the Chancellor's mini-Budget earlier this month. A senior Labour insider told The Sun that Mr ...
The death after a prolonged illness of the train robber Ronnie Biggs received massive cov erage in the UK media and even the BBC showed a sickening degree of reverence for the subject. It is often said that one should not speak ill of the dead, but neither should we sanctify villains. The Great Train [...]
[IMG: 4604466137_65e4ae185d_n] Yesterday I had a meeting with someone about a thing. Before we got started my interlocutor looked at me rather accusingly and, apropos of nothing at all, said "Someone tells me you're a member of the Liberal Democrats". This was a decidedly unexpected turn of events. I felt obliged to concede that, yes, I was a member. Indeed, not only am I a member I am a Federal Conference rep. Some might even suggest I'm a grassroots activist. Grassroots, certainly. But activist might be putting it a bit strongly. I felt compelled to stutter and stumble that I'm ...
