Everyone has a different perspective on this last year, for me just looking at how things have degenerated in public life, I've little confidence, that things are likely to improve. In Thanet,it seems to me that in particular, Labour has shown themselves to be at the very least, less tolerant of scrutiny. It's easy to understand why given the thinly spread talent that makes up Labours front bench. Thanet councillors seem to expect the mere fact of being elected demands respect, whereas those of us in the real world know that is earned. In my view, Thanet council officers and ...
Christmas (Day not Town): How can you have a duck pond if there aren't any ducks? How can you have Time if there aren't any Time Lords. The Time of the Doctor was everything you would expect from the capstone of the Matt Smith era: beautiful, touching character moments; ingenious, retrospective plot explanations; and ever so slightly not as good as he deserved. We got answers: what were the cracks, who blew up the TARDIS, where the Pandorica Alliance came from, the origins of River Song, what "Silence Will Fall" actually means. What we were missing, though, was a story. ...
It is that time of year once again to dust of my crystal ball and try and work out that is going to happen over the next twelve months. 1. An Olympic medalist will make a statement/protest about LGBT rights live on the Olympic Broadcaster. This will be the reason why we were right to let the athletes attend the Games at least one of them will make a protest and it will be the LGBT communities 1968 Black Power moment. 2. After the 400 bomb alearts, some of them viable, in Northern Ireland in 2013 one of the ones ...
Here are my top ten posts - at least in terms of pageviews. Oddly enough, they all seemed to make sense at the time... 1. Does Better Together care about free speech? I suggest the "no" campaign should distance itself from Ian Taylor. 2. Are we a party that supports Northern Isles separation? A pertinent question following a vote at Scottish spring conference. 3. 50 Lib Dems you must follow on twitter. A list of Lib Dem twitterati I find interesting, entertaining or otherwise compelling. 4. Is there a need for a UK Constitutional Convention? I suggest there is, but ...
Well, what a year eh? So much has happened that it's literally impossible to try and cover it all here, so instead I'm going to pinpoint a few highlights. First of all it's remained (and remains) the greatest honour of my professional life to represent the good people of Barwell as their Councillor; in March, [...]
Three days ago I received a post on my Facebook news feed which was entitled 'Top Ten Tory Lies of 2013 and had been shared by a Labour supporter. I subsequently placed it on my timeline and added this comment - "I received this photo on my news feed yesterday. It is a shoddy piece of work by Labour supporters, not referencing any sources to justify either what it says are Tory claims or its supposed refutation of those claims. You're just supposed to take it all on trust. Well, while I'm no apologist for the Tories, I do think ...
All this week I'll be winners the winners in my personal award season. We kick off today with the surprises and disappointments. Biggest Disappointment I haven't actually seen any bad films this year. If a film is awful then reviews and word of mouth will generally give me a heads up to avoid it. This [...]
We've had part 1. We've had part 2. We've even had part 3. But something is missing. So here is part 4. October Ad Lib magazine appears to have decided it can get along without me, but I did write a column for its first year mythologising the mighty Chief Whip: "...and I can't be in two places at one time," I finished triumphantly. "Nonsense," said the Chief Whip, "I do it all the time. Go back out and get him to vote."I explained who John Moore was for my younger readers and welcomed Norman Baker to the Home Office. ...
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Clyde - will the mascot be quickly forgotten after the games? As is customary at this time of year, I make public a number of my predictions for the coming year. Enjoy them - before they come true! Politics The Labour Party - Ed Miliband will struggle to convince the British public that he is a Prime Minister in the making. His party will continue to maintain a lead in the polls, but his personal credibility will take a battering when he concedes that a Labour government would effectively have its hands tied on the spending front. He will also ...
This blog is about to enter its ninth year of production being founded in July 2005. However, before I update my copyright declarations it is time to look back at the top 10 posts of 2013, I am restricting this only to posts that were written in 2013 as other two of my Olympic history posts and my first look that the 2020 contenders are in the list. The latter obviously was a push at the selection of Tokyo (which I predicted in that 2012 post) came closer. So in traditional reverse order here are my top 10 hits that ...
Remember Richard Reeves, Nick Clegg's former head of strategy? He left about 18 months ago but has written a couple of pieces in recent days, one for the Guardian and another for the Centre Forum blog. In his Guardian piece, he suggests that it's after 2020 that the Liberal Democrats will really reap the rewards of our performance in Government. His theory is that we'll do well enough to stay in government in 2015 and by 2020 we will have killed "the presumption of one-party government." At Centre Forum's blog, he concentrates on Nick Clegg and his achievements and opportunities: ...
New Year's Day 2014 has become an almost totemic date in the British political and media calendar over recent months. Well, that is when the whole of Bulgaria and Romania are due to turn up uninvited on Britain's doorstep. Isn't it? Rarely has a single event been so buried in misconceptions, misunderstandings, and downright misinformation. It all started with the Eastleigh by-election, where UKIP claimed that 'next year, the EU will allow 29 million Bulgarians and Romanians (i.e. the entire population of the two countries) to come to the UK'. They were effectively testing their electoral masterplan: tying a dull ...
The debate about our Lib Dem hero of 2013 has thrown up a number of names. The campaign to pardon Alan Turing, led by William Jones, John Leech and John Sharkey would, in normal circumstances get my vote – but this was the year that saw the passing of Stan Hardy. Stan, was an exceptional man – someone who truly encompassed everything a Liberal should. 'A worker... a winner' is a bit of a Lib Dem cliche, but Stan was exactly that. His support for the likes of Simon Hughes MP and Baroness Susan Kramer was immense. Stan, was an ...
The comedian John Fortune has died. He was one of the pioneers of the satire boom of the early 1960s and later he and John Bird had their own short-lived situation comedy Well Anyway. He and Bird found their greatest fame with Rory Bremner. Such was the uselessness of the Conservative opposition through most of the Blair and Brown years that the three of them sometimes seemed to be forming the official Opposition. Here they are Bird and Fortune in 2008. It was John Fortune's turn to be George Parr and this week he was an adviser to Gordon Brown. ...
It was the year Bi Community News - a survivor in an ever-shrinking field of LGBT print magazines - turned eighteen, and the year Brighton BothWays celebrated ten years of giving bisexuals a friendly and supportive space. What else might we remember 2013 for? [IMG: Bi-coloured UK map] For England and Wales the first six months of the year were the story of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill. Unveiled in February after Westminster's largest public consultation exercise ever, this seemed to go on forever at the time, and eventually passed by a huge majority in the summer. So great was its ...
Ahead of both the 2005 and 2015 general elections there was a key Liberal Democrat Parliamentary by-election win which massively altered the political atmosphere ahead of that general election - motivating activists, persuading media commentators and influencing the public. One was Brent East in 2003, the other Eastleigh in 2013. The impact of both is all the clearer if you consider what the impact of missing out on the gain in 2003 or slumping to defeat in 2013 would have meant. Ten years apart, the first showed how the party could gain urban seats off Labour, with some huge Labour ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Stephen Tall: Five predictions for 2014 | Conservative Home My 5 political predictions for 2014 http://bit.ly/1k3ltof (via @ConHome) Twitter / GuidoFawkes: LibDemVoice's @StephenTall ... I see @GuidoFawkes has fallen for my expectations management on LibDem Euro election result http://bit.ly/1hRV8Vz You wait til we come 1st Richard Reeves: The Clegg Factor | CentreForum Blog 4 reasons for Lib Dem New Year cheer & 4 factors in a Clegg comeback by @RichardVReeves via @CentreForum Blog > http://bit.ly/1hRUQOs 2013 was a horrorshow - and it can just Bake Off | Charlie Brooker | Comment is ...
Well, not the first actual picture, of course, but the first that the likes of you and I are allowed to see. And, the undeniable fact is that the firstborn son of Jo Swinson and Duncan Hames is incredibly, snuggliciously cute. [IMG: Andrew Hames] In addition to the gorgeousness of the baby, I love the obvious besottedness of his parents, And the Lib Dem yellow pram. Congratulations to Jo and Duncan. * Caron Lindsay is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
As 2013 draws to a close, I am hoping to use the break to kick-start the writing habit. Here's a few brief reflections on the year gone by, from Mandela and economy, to tales of abuse, to gigs and gadgets. For those who don't get to enjoy the break, especially those suffering floods or worse – may 2014 be kind to you. The Good The biggest miracle for me of 2013 isn't one I'm going to write much about publicly, beyond acknowledging that my inner life has grown far richer. My relationship with She Who Inspires Me has grown deeper ...
Every year, party leaders do this kind of New Year's message and every year party leaders try and come up with a reason why the next twelve months will be more important, or significant, or eventful than the last. Some kind of exciting, breathless prediction. But not this year. Not from me. After a long period of drama and upheaval in the economy, how about a year of stability rather than surprises? More steady-as-she-goes than spectacular-highs-and-lows. Finally there's light at the end of the tunnel. The economy's growing. Businesses are hiring. 30 million people are now in work - that's ...
In these straitened times, we are sure that you have better things to do with £32 than pay it needlessly to the party's Conference registration Department. You could of course still give it to the party, but that's by the by. It could also pay for a meal out, or a trip to the sales, or 3 or 4 books, 4 one day travelcards in London and a coffee when you get there. Or a round of drinks in the Conference bar... Today is the last day when members can register for Liberal Democrat Spring Conference at the lower rate. ...
Dr. Richard Haass the American diplomat who was chairing talks in Northern Ireland is flying home after another all night session on the 7th draft of his proposals to deal with Northern Ireland's past, parades and flags. After seven drafts the DUP came away saying that they agreed with the "broad architecture" of the agreement, but that ""some of the language and detail is not what we would have chosen and in some cases we strongly disapprove of the language". So what did the other parties think: Sinn Féin thought there was a "basis for a deal in the proposals ...
Tue 31st
10:45
Snowden leaks: 72% of Lib Dems say he was in the right - and 69% think state surveillance powers sho...
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. Edward Snowden's leaking of US and British intelligence material revealed the extent of the authorities' surveillance – what do Lib Dem members make of it all? Almost three-quarters (72%) say Snowden right to leak intelligence files to media Earlier this year Edward Snowden, an IT contractor working for the CIA, leaked confidential documents to the press about ...
[IMG: TOP10] This has been a good year for this blog. Although the audience remains relatively modest, traffic has nearly doubled compared with 2012. Thanks for reading. The blog spent all year in the ebuzzing monthly politics top 100. Such rankings are not to be taken too seriously, but being there is better than not being there! I'm grateful to everyone who thought one of my posts worth retweeting, liking or linking to. Thanks also to those who crossposted my posts to other group blogs and to all those who took the time to comment on one of my posts ...
One of the more enjoyable television highlights this Christmas was watching David Jason reprise his role as Granville in Still Open All Hours, which aired Boxing Day on BBC One. Open All Hours, with the much-missed Ronnie Barker in the role of Arkwright, the tight-fisted grocer, first appeared on our screens in 1976. Judging by the appearance of the shop, little changed (except the prices) in the intervening 37 years. However, Granville the errand boy had become Granville the shop owner and was now displaying the money-grasping traits that had been associated with his former boss, rather than dreaming of ...
The Telegraph reports on comments by Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander that a vote for the UK Independence Party will derail Britain's economic recovery: In his New Year message Mr Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, warns that a vote for a party that wants to leave the European Union is "the surest way to throw our recovery away". And in an article for The Daily Telegraph Mr Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, suggests that a "surge" in anti-European sentiment as a result of a strong showing in the polls by Ukip would lead to less investment in the ...
I am hopeful for 2014. I've been checking the tea leaves and it's going to be a good year. I am confident the economy will continue to grow and that we'll create more jobs, cut taxes further and increase pension higher. I am also confident we'll reaffirm Scotland's place in the United Kingdom family of nations so we can share risk and reward for generations to come. We won't undermine the progress by splitting Scotland from the UK. My confidence also extends to a boost to nursery education to give children the best start in life. And I am confident ...
The New Year Honours were announced last night and there are just three names on the list from Cornwall. In comparison, there are 28 from Devon. The three that are there are thoroughly well deserved, but why were the talents and dedication of so many others overlooked? On the list is Jill Carr, who is HT director for Pendennis shipyards, which has produced one of the best (and most popular) apprenticeship schemes in the country. Her MBE is testament to the company's commitment to educating and training young people. Two people who receive BEMs are Bob Bulgin, chair of RNLI's ...
Continuing his recent emphasis on the party's pro-European policies, Nick Clegg's New Year message also has a strong pro-European theme to it:
Here are my faves for the third quarter of the year... 'Coalition and Beyond' - read all 20 essays online now, absolutely free (September 27, 2013) I wish I'd heard this graduation speech at mine (September 26, 2013) Ed Miliband's speech: 5 thoughts on what it means for Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and the 2015 election (September 25, 2013) 5 reasons not to assume the FDP wipeout in the German elections will happen here in the UK (September 23, 2013) Flow-chart: The 5 questions that will decide if there's another coalition in 2015 (September 22, 2013) Good on Damian McBride ...
Tue 31st
09:00Paul Burstow MP writes... Government should make New Year's resolution to tackle mental health emplo...
Mental health has rightly gone up the political agenda since the coalition came to power. Long neglected, mental health problems cost the UK in excess of £105 billion annually and affect one in four of the population. Earlier this month saw publication of the most comprehensive picture of progress on mental health. The government's Mental Health Dashboard brings together in one place mental health data from a wide range of sources for the first time. Its aim is to monitor the progress achieved in implementing the No Health Without Mental Health strategy. My successor at the Department of Health, care ...
New post GE2015 - the scene is set for four way tactical voting http://t.co/PYBqbu1kvE (tags: (from twitter) ) https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BikesQ Please retweet my dissertation survey for motorcycle racers :) https://t.co/gEoSkpc6gJ @CresswellRacing @PadgettsRacing1 @TeamHARIBOStar (tags: (from twitter) ) posted The Blood is The Life 30-12-2013 http://t.co/8U4nBhiWG9 on #dreamwidth (tags: dreamwidth (from twitter) ) http://www.flickr.com/photos/75992994@N05/11032441266/ FAO @BradfordBatman @ThoughtBubbleUK: really like this photo from this year's Thought Bubble convention http://t.co/NgZGyG2IBl #casualBatman (tags: casualbatman (from twitter) ) Christopher Lee's Fireside Tales - I'll be in my bunk. (tags: ) I am clearly the best Harry Potter Character (this is why I FAOed that ...
Being a review of 2013, from my FourSquare check-in and blogging perspective :-) The year started off cold and snowy in Woking. I was busy teaching a Code Club in the local library. For our anniversary, Liz and I went on holiday to Las Vegas. The jetlag was unfortunately crippling, and the Beatles' Love show was cancelled 5 minute in - which was very upsetting. That said, we had front row seats to Rebo and Zooty Penn and Teller, Saw Ray Kerzweil speak, And flew over Vegas in a helichopter and landed in the Grand Canyon. If that wasn't enough ...
It's the last day of the year, so it's time to look back on the events that have caught the attention of this blog over the past 12 months. So here's the Living on Words third annual review: In January Michael Gove visited a local Girls' Schools and talked about boys toilets In February, this blog spent some time reporting on the presidential elections in Kenya, but also managed to highlight a great footballing coincidence. March saw the 50th anniversary of the Beeching Report as well as the introduction of secret courts - in the face of a campaign by ...
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 22,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 8 sold-out performances for that many [...]
While we have been preparing our own Liberal Democrat Stars of 2013 (you can still submit your nominations), the Government has published its own list of recipients of New Year Honours list. For the first time ever, surprisingly since women make up more than half the population, they make up a slight majority of this list. It really might be time, though, for them to change the outdated way they list women. Married women are listed as their first names, then Mrs surname. Others have the designation Ms. This is not the case for men, who are simply listed by ...
For those whose New Year Resolution is to stop smoking I would not call the following advice, because all our psychologies and physiologies are different, and what works for one does not necessarily work for another. But for what it's worth, here's how I did it. If it works for you it may save considerable expenditure on Nicoretteor other expansive aid flogged by Bigpharma. It may also give you an excuse to postpone the big moment for a couple of months! First the background. Towards the end of 1983 I read a short paragraph in the paper (Guardian of course) ...
Following a constituent's enquiry regarding damage to the traffic sign pole in Wilkie's Lane (see above), I have reported this to the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership to ensure a new pole is erected.
Competition between supermarkets can get pretty fierce but every now and again a promotion designed to get customers through the door backfires. According to this site Waitrose may have scored a bit of an own goal by adopting a free coffee loyalty card. They say that is facing a middle-class revolt from shoppers who claim that its free coffee and tea are attracting the wrong type of customers: The high-end supermarket currently offers a free cup of coffee or tea for customers holding a myWaitrose loyalty card - even if they don't make a purchase. Angry shoppers used Facebook and ...
County Councillor Chris White (St Albans Central Division) has allocated £200 from his locality budget to Aboyne Residents' Association to buy a salt bin. Cllr White said: "Local residents have been concerned about the lack of salting in the area and I am delighted to be able to use the county council's locality budget to help out."
If so it might explain his open letter that he kindly dropped through my door yesterday that calls on the Lib Dems to stop a third runway at Heathrow. In it Goldsmith calls on the Lib Dems to 'apply maximum pressure on your own local MPs and Ministers to kill of the threat of Heathrow expansion..." Now given the Conservatives have more than five times the number of MPs of the Lib Dems, have the majority of Cabinet Ministers, including the Chancellor, Transport Secretary, Local Government and Planning Minister, as well as the Mayor of London and are responsible for ...
"I am hopeful for 2014. I've been checking the tea leaves and it's going to be a good year. I am confident the economy will continue to grow and that we'll create more jobs, cut taxes further and increase pension higher. I am also confident we'll reaffirm Scotland's place in the United Kingdom family of nations so we can share risk and reward for generations to come. We won't undermine the progress by splitting Scotland from the UK. My confidence also extends to a boost to nursery education to give children the best start in life. And I am confident ...
