Former Richmond Park MP, Jenny Tonge, appeared with a couple of antique Spanish chairs on yesterday's edition. You can catch the exchange on BBC iplayer here at 41 mins.
This morning, a delegation from Cornwall Council went to London to speak to local government minister Brandon Lewis. The meeting had been arranged for us by North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson who also joined us. We were lobbying the government for a fairer funding deal for Cornwall and to speak about some of the projects Cornwall is keen to pursue in partnership with the government. As has often been said, the current funding arrangement for Cornwall is unfair. Like many rural councils, we get less per head than similarly sized urban authorities. And, whilst some predominantly rural areas have big ...
[IMG: Astro Turf] Labour councillors tonight voted through plans to treble music concerts in Finsbury Park despite huge opposition from local residents who are worried about the impact on the local area and park. About a dozen ordinary residents spoke out at the special committee meeting called by Lib Dem councillors to review the plans – including the Chair of Stroud Green Residents Association, the Chair of Governors at Stroud Green School and representatives of the Friends of Finsbury Park. Katherine Reece and I also spoke up in favour of keeping the current limit of five days of concerts. Despite ...
We'll be seeing a lot of Nick Clegg this week. Today was his monthly press conference, tomorrow is Deputy Prime Minister's Questions and on Thursday, there's the return, and first birthday of, Call Clegg. Today he faced journalists an hour after George Osborne's speech on future spending cuts in which he appeared to relish the prospect of removing Housing Benefit from young people. Nick was keen to point out the difference in the Liberal Democrat approach from Osborne and Labour. On the right, you have got a Conservative party now who are driven, it seems to me, by two very ...
Parents in Cambridgeshire who have a child born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 must submit an application by 15 January 2014. The process, which opened on 18 November 2013, can be completed online at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/admissions or by returning a paper form, which can be obtained from any Cambridgeshire primary school and returned to the Admissions Team at Cambridgeshire County Council. The completed applications must be received by the Admissions Team by 5pm on the national closing date, 15 January 2014. If parents submit their applications late - or do not make an application - there is a ...
I am delighted that Nick Clegg has said this.
Local health chiefs are supporting a national campaign where just small swaps on a January shopping list can mean big healthy changes in fat and sugar intake. The 'Smart Swaps' campaign calls on families to sign up and make one easy change - like swapping sugary drinks to low sugar drinks, or swapping a biscuit for a piece of fruit. The campaign comes at a time when being overweight or obese is high up on the health agenda because of the risks to health. Currently it is estimated that around 21 per cent of people in Cambridgeshire are obese, approximately ...
Liberal Democrats tend not to approve of church schools, arguing that children should be left to form their own religious views later in life. But, as I once pointed out in an article on the Guardian website, that is not how we behave when it comes to politics: And it is not how Liberal Democrats behave in practice. One of the most important jobs on election day is getting the numbers from the tellers at the polling stations back to the committee room. And, having worked in many local byelections, I have come to the conclusion that the best people ...
Just yesterday I was ranting on Twitter about people who "suffer from same-sex attraction". Their odd beliefs that they or, in the minds of their allies, others "suffer" from something akin to a "disability" because they are attracted to people of the same-sex are worthy of strong bouts of derisory laughter. Sadly yet another example of this appeared within hours when Evander Holyfield put forward the Christian perspective on same-sex attraction: Holyfield remarked that finding someone of the same-sex attractive was akin to having a birth defect that needed medical attention. This is enough for anyone to recognise he hasn't ...
I don't have anything scheduled on the blogging on demand meme (LJ | DW) for tomorrow, so if you want me to ramble about something, you'd better get to it. Anyway, the 6th January, [IMG: [personal profile] ] herdivineshadow asked for my favourite 5 things about the Natural History Museum. Archie the Giant Squid [IMG: archie] Giant Squid, Architeuthis dux , were until relatively recently a bit of a mystery to scientists, with everything we knew having come from the study of incomplete specimens washed up on beached, or found in the stomachs of sperm whales. If you've visited the ...
Mon 6th
16:45
Carmichael: Job security and stronger economy mean more than illusory SNP independence promise
The Sunday Herald carried an interview with Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael yesterday. He talked about how he relaxes away from the stresses of his job, ensuring he gets home at weekends to spend time with his family: "That's important to me, that's the sanity valve. As long as I can just spend some time mucking about with my boys, or walking the dog on the beach," he says. But can he really keep that up to September 18? "That's my intention. Look, this is an important, exciting job, but I have other jobs as well. ...
Michelle Kilfoyle and Hayley Birch: Citizen science isn't new, but new mobile technologies open up huge potential benefits for science, society and the environment.
OK "tuition fees" alert. Yes sorry I am returning to the subject close to the dark heart of every Lib Dem. As our students return for a new term I yet again reflect on the day we as a party crossed that fast flowing Rubicon and I despair. Yes I know the pros and cons of the new [...]
"When is a horde not a horde"? This post is contributed by my friend John Cole, who is also writing a letter of complaint to the Press Council. I hope he is one of may and shall publish their response. It is a source of constant regret and surprise to me that so many of my acquaintances, all seemingly decent people, continue to buy the Daily Mail. I do wish they would cancel their order and write to the Mail and tell them why. The Euro-phobic right-wing media have been running a series of scare stories regarding the UK about ...
Jayne, Monica, Muhammad and I have arranged for some additional free Limited Time parking bay parking bays to be provided outside number 7 - 9 Beddington Gardens. This has been made possible by removing the Car Club parking bay which is not required now that car club cars are able to be parked in streets around Wallington and the rest of the borough. We hope that this additional short term parking for visitors to the nearby shops will be welcome.
Mon 6th
15:30
Moves to close Edinburgh saunas show illiberal and centralising effect of Scotland's Police merger
For the New Year, a story which shows the adverse effects of both illiberal and centralising measures. In Edinburgh, for the past 30 years, "saunas" have been licensed with the unspoken knowledge that it was sex, rather than massages, which were on offer inside them. Even if you don't approve of sex being sold like any other commodity, there are obvious advantages in giving sex workers a safe environment to work in.However, this tolerance is set to end after a series of raids on saunas. The City of Edinburgh Council is set to withdraw licences from these facilities within the ...
Mon 6th
15:24Moves to close Edinburgh's saunas show centralising and illiberal effects of Scottish Police merger
For the New Year, a story which shows the adverse effects of both illiberal and centralising measures. In Edinburgh, for the past 30 years, "saunas" have been licensed with the unspoken knowledge that it was sex, rather than massages, which were on offer inside them. Even if you don't approve of sex being sold like any other commodity, there are obvious advantages in giving sex workers a safe environment to work in. However, this tolerance is set to end after a series of raids on saunas. The City of Edinburgh Council is set to withdraw licences from these facilities within ...
Today the eminent US economist Larry Summers writes in the FT. His subject is the US economy, but the problem he addresses affects most developed economies in some shape or form, and the British economy quite closely. Unfortunately, so many economists of his generation, an obsession with short-term macroeconomic theory means that he doesn't seem to get the big picture. Inequality lies at the heart of our economic malaise. This debate is being conducted by academic economists in their own language, but it matters to all of us. I will summarise. Mr Summers's starting proposition is that the US economy ...
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we'll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the first part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let's celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013. You can read part 1 here. ...
Requiring voters to show ID may sound innocuous but it actually risks disenfranchising people and tilting elections The majority of US states now have so called voter ID laws. These require someone arriving at a polling station to show a government issued identity document before they can vote. This might sound sensible but it poses [...]
One of the Conservative election posters featured in the excellent collection Dole Queues and Demons: British election posters from the Conservative Party Archive by Stuart Ball contains David Lloyd George and chocolate: [IMG: David Lloyd George's sauce - 1909 Conservative Party poster] Dating from 1909 it was intended as an attack on the then Chancellor of the Exchequer's support for free trade, which he and the Liberals frequently couched in terms of bringing about free (ie free of tariffs) food. Yet Lloyd George's own People's Budget proposed not only keeping many duties on food and drink, it even proposed some ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... England cricket can learn from Michael Foot | The Times (So to could politicians and voters) » England cricket can learn from Michael Foot | The Times http://thetim.es/1cSIi8A What must cameron do to win? – Telegraph A canny overview of where British electoral politics is at by James Kirkup http://bit.ly/1i9xEvq The left is too silent on the clunking fist of state power | John Harris | Comment is free | The Guardian Worth a read: John Harris on "the politics that reduces socialism to higher taxation and bigger government" http://bit.ly/1i9xtjv
It is a really disturbing fact that 1 in 4 members of the prison population has a severe mental illness. Addressing this is one of the big social reforms which has not yet happened. Far too often these conditions are diagnosed for the first time in prison. In many cases, their mental illness will have been a significant factor contributing to their criminal behaviour. If these people had been properly diagnosed when they first came into contact with police, and they had been provided with appropriate support and therapy, their offending actions might have been averted. Identifying offenders with mental ...
The party's next national Day of Action is taking place on Saturday 1st Feb 2014. The more individual action days we have, the more we can amplify the effect of our national campaigning for our local areas - especially those facing local elections only eleven weeks after! What do I need to do? 1. [...]
Is your child due to start primary school this year? The deadline to apply for South Gloucestershire primary school places is 15 January. Applications can be submitted online or by post - for further information and an application form, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/primaryadmissions
ALDC is currently recruiting for the following staff position: Development Officer (to cover the South West, Wales and the Midlands) (3 days a week, location flexible) Help us support and develop teams of Liberal Democrat activists around the country in our ambitious programme to help develop effective campaigning and local election success. SO1-SO2 £24,646-28,636 pro-rata [...]
This week's policy updates from our Lead Members on LGA policy boards includes news and information from: Housing and Environment Culture, Tourism and Sport Fire Commission Finance Committee. Regular updates on the work of the LGA Lib Dems on policy boards will be published on the ALDC website and feedback on any of the matters [...]
I make no apology for returning to Roy Lilley's NHS Managers blog, partly because it is probably the most expert influential public services blog we have, and partly because meeting Roy a year ago inspired me to take up blogging rather more often than once a month. I don't always agree with him, but he has that absolutely vital ingredient that seems to be lacking from so many other experts in public services: humanity and common sense. I've only written two posts this year and both have been about much the same idea and this is too. It is how ...
[IMG: libel-reform-campaign-logo] As we start a New Year, we always tend to look back on the past, as well as think to the future – and we do have a bad tendency to focus on the problems, not the successes. But for a change, let's celebrate another achievement – another manifesto commitment delivered, as the Defamation Act 2013 came into effect on New Year's Day. This will hopefully mark an end to libel tourism, an end to the abuse of libel law by companies, and an end to the chilling effect threats of libel action on free speech. We will ...
I am not a happy bunny. Last year, while trying to buy a house, Symantec's MessageLabs decided to block my Estate Agent and my bank from receiving any emails from my personal domain. In the middle of a rather stressful house purchase, I had to swap my email addresses and convince the parties involved to all to use the new one. This year, they're blocking me from contacting media organisations, potential clients, and the Houses of Parliament. What on Earth is going on? Rather than run my own mailservers, I use Google Apps for business. I'm grandfathered in to their ...
Well it is good that the party is gearing up for a pro-Europe stand in the Euro elections. Disappointing however that Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander have been specifically mentioned in the Full Fact 'New Years resolution' pages for basing policy arguments on unsubstantiated claims. Perhaps the longest-running 'zombie claim' we've seen is the notion that three million British jobs rely directly upon the UK's involvement in the EU. There is no research to support this, as we pointed out over two years ago when we first came across the claim, which itself dates back a decade. At best, there ...
The Times has an interesting article today on the dangers of 'no win no fee' legal claims and how they are not as risk fee as people think. This is an issue I first too up over six years ago when I raised with the UK Government problems with 'claim farmers'. This arose out of a case referred to me by a constituent, who had gone to court to make a public liability claim with the assistance of a 'no win no fee' deal with a firm of solicitors. When the case collapsed, the family were left having to meet ...
This article first appeared on Liberal Democrat Voice. There's been a spate of articles and comments by Liberal Democrat politicians which, at a guess, isn't co-ordinated, but they all address the same themes - the problems with the way that we do politics and lack of trust in politicians and institutions.Paddy Ashdown told the Times (£), reported also for free in the Guardian that public faith in British institutions was "crumbling into dust" with some very harsh words for the BBC and NHS:The BBC is revealed as an organisation which can't manage its own affairs, misspends public money and seems ...
Mon 6th
10:45Immigration: 87% of Lib Dem members back free movement of EU people; but 65% also support benefit re...
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. 87% of Lib Dems support the free movement of EU citizens Overall, do you support or oppose the right of people in EU countries to live and work wherever they want? 87% – Support 6% – Oppose 1% – Don't know 5% – Other An overwhelming proportion (87%) of Lib Dem members support the right of people ...
Local Lib Dem campaigner Dawn Barnes today sent the very helpful email (below) to local residents. You can sign up for email updates by opting in here. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to 2014. It's time to take the Christmas tree down and if you are looking for ways to recycle it you may find the following information useful. If you receive a green garden waste collection, you can cut your tree into smaller pieces (maximum length 1 metre) and put it out for collection. Christmas trees can also be taken to Haringey's Refuse ...
Today's Western Mail reports that the Welsh Health Minister, Mark Drakeford has called on people to take greater responsibility for their own health if Wales is to win the battle against major public health threats: The Welsh Government minister called on people to do more more for themselves to improve their wellbeing. Speaking about tackling issues such as obesity, smoking, inactivity and drinking, Prof Drakeford said the government also also had a role in providing the necessary conditions to enable them to do so. He said that there was a need to look again at the bargain struck between the ...
Mon 6th
10:25
Sign up for next Lib Dem Newswire and read about 3 key LibDem elections in 2014 - and a leadership c...
[IMG: Lib Dem leadership contest. Photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chris_and_Nick_01.jpg - some rights reserved] Want to know about the three key Liberal Democrat elections coming up in 2014? And wondering what the odds are of a leadership contest too? Oh, and also want the chance to win some great business cards from MOO? Then sign up to receive the next edition of my monthly email newsletter, Liberal Democrat Newswire, going out tomorrow (Tuesday). Sign up for it here and make sure you don't miss out. "A must read for senior Lib Dems and politicos alike" - Daily Telegraph "Don't fear: you ...
Chris White has raised the problem of unlit zebra crossings with the county council. Chris said: 'There are currently two unlit crossings in my division – Beechwood Avenue near the junction with Beaumont Avenue and Clarence Road near the junction with York Road. 'These crossings are lethal and the county council must realise that if anyone is injured as a result of their negligence, they are liable to civil and possible criminal proceedings.
Chuka Umunna's tribalistic attack on tribalism (tags: ) posted The Blood is The Life 05-01-2014 http://t.co/MFIZ2A025U on #dreamwidth (tags: dreamwidth (from twitter) ) Wrote this about the sheer vindictive stupidity of sending anyone to prison without hope of release http://t.co/YZZ1SZRFLC (tags: (from twitter) ) posted How to do Politics Better: Yet Another Suggestion. http://t.co/EUEhYN4HWl on #dreamwidth (tags: dreamwidth (from twitter) ) http://twitpic.com/draht6 Homemade croissant or cylon warship? http://t.co/HxrelNe58x (tags: (from twitter) ) http://m.imgur.com/a/xsE6O That "exposé" of the Cameron Help to Buy photocall that everyone is tweeting? It's junk: http://t.co/QGpvHKoNYA by @jimwaterson (tags: (from twitter) ) 10 Reasons ...
The Telegraph reports that Liberal Democrat pensions minister Steve Webb is considering allowing pensioners to switch annuity providers bringing more competition and better value for pensioners. The intervention comes before a report from regulators that is expected to accuse pension firms of making excessive profits from millions of people converting their lifetime savings into annuities. Currently, most people are forced to use their pension savings to buy an annuity — paying an annual income for the rest of their lives. For many people, it is the biggest financial decision they will make. However, in recent years annuity rates have plunged, ...
I have the kind of friendship circle and consume the kind of media where Edward Snowden is not a controversial figure. There may be people who think he should be executed for treason but there not the people who I generally listen to. In fact, the shrillness of their denunciations just seemed like further evidence [...]
From Dundee City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Scottish Water repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Milnbank Road (from its junction with Polepark Road to Lawrence Street), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Tuesday 14 January 2014 for 1 day. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Edward Street / Forest Park Place / Forest Park Road. For further information contact (01382) 433168. ...
