We have already done the District, the Central and the Jubilee.
Today Tim Farron, Libdem Party president released this statement via email to Party members. It has been a difficult few days for the party. Many of you have contacted me directly to express your anger and disappointment at Lord Rennard's refusal to apologise following the recommendations of the investigation into his behaviour. As President, I wanted you to hear from me. Along with Nick Clegg, I made my view absolutely clear - Lord Rennard's refusal to apologise is unacceptable. Most importantly, Lord Rennard is actively rejecting calls to apologise from party members and is refusing to comply with a formal ...
[IMG: image] Virtually everyday I walk past the River Kennet. I often stop and wonder about the vast volume of water running down it. Recently, it has been overflowing. There has been a vast torrent going along it, morning, noon and night. It is very dramatic. I stand by the side of it, usually with our dog Charlie, and just wonder at the huge amount of water in it. If you just imagine freezing the river and then cutting out the small section in front of you, as you stand by it, that's a vast volume of water in itself. ...
At school, my O-level history course ended with the Causes of the First World War; anything beyond that was Current Affairs, and that was not on the curriculum. Oddly, this is one of the few things that I remember about my school days, maybe because I would go on to read for myself all about [...]
Mon 20th
21:05
Amidst all the media furore over Lord Rennard, here's a little note about due process...
As a longstanding member of the sovereign governing body of the Liberal Democrats in England (the English Council, as it is internally known) I am deeply concerned that an area with which we have responsibility, i.e. the rules governing the burden of proof required for complaints to be upheld, has caused such a problem for the party - both in terms of our standing with the electorate and in relation to individuals who feel, with good reason, let down by the party's processes for dealing with complaints. I therefore welcome the commitment made last week by the President of the ...
Ed Miliband was right to raise the issue of the dominance of British banking by a small number of companies. A Liberal Democrat solutions to this problem is supplied by Re-banking the UK: How to create a diverse lending infrastructure. This is a report written for the independent New Weather Institute by David Boyle. The work behind it was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and carried out with Susan Kramer before she became a minister. As the institute says, this is important unfinished business for rebalancing the economy, because: The big banks bad at assessing and pricing the ...
I listened the other day to an interview of Jamie Bryson, leading flegger shit-stirrer flag protester and putative European election candidate (that'll be a laugh). Now wee Jamie is not exactly famous for his joined-up thinking (in fact there are probably those who would be pleasantly surprised if he has managed joined-up writing), but there was a section of the interview that got me thinking.
The Council's planning committee will next week (28th Jan) decide on a plan to build houses, and a couple of shop units, at the Crescent in Speke (this is by Speke Town Lane) The agenda and report are at this link (you need to scroll down a bit)
Saturday Noticing that our own Evan Harris had fallen out with the press, and reasoning that this was an unfortunate state of affairs for someone who still has political ambitions, I decided to take action. Last week I offered him the chance to write for my own newspaper, the High Leicestershire Radical. "Why not write about famous murders cases?" I advised. "People always like reading about That Sort of Thing." This morning his first contribution arrived at the rag's offices. It begins: "A doctor always acts on his or her judgement of the clinical best interests of the patient. Therefore ...
Edmonton Alberta. -11°C with windchill. The journalist Michael Den Tandt has the following article in today's Edmonton Journal attacking musician Neil Young's opposition to the Tarsands. I reproduce the first few paragraphs, but with some substitutions, imagining what a journalist with the same mindset as Den Tandt — that immediate profit trumps ethics — might [...]
Labour's proposals for the unemployed just get better and better, it seems. Listening to Rachel Reeves, it seems that Labour policy is now to require claimants to take numeracy, literacy and IT tests within six weeks of lodging a claim to Jobseekers' Allowance.Now, I do see the importance to those seeking work of having some basic skills, but what we aren't hearing is the "or else", i.e. what the penalty for failure, either to attend or to reach the standard set, will be, because you just know that there will be - she is, after all, boasting that she'll be ...
After some consideration of the theory that the paper is now doing it on purpose, the judges awarded the Rutland Times our Headline of the Day Award.
I also tried to bake some red velvet cupcakes, however, I burnt them, and they dipped in the middle. I'm sure that I am the only blogger in the world that cannot bake - I keep seeing beautiful recipes on other lifestyle blogs, but I just seem to have one baking disaster after another! I also burnt the balsamic onions that I was cooking to go with our hot dog supper, so have come to the conclusion that cooking is definitely not my strong point. Before bed, I wrote these 2 post-cards to send to the Boy's grandparents. They live ...
What is the purpose of jobseeker's allowance? There is a clue in the title as it is for people who are looking for work and there are two types of JSA. One type is based on the contributions made in the previous two years which, unsurprisingly, is called contributions-based JSA and there is also an income-based JSA. If you are over 25 the benefit comes to £71.70 and is less for those under 25. It isn't guaranteed that you will receive this money as there are criteria to fulfil, but this benefit isn't the safety net that gives you the ...
[IMG: Liberal Democrat Poster] Reading Lord Rennard's candid statement today, I was embarrassed on behalf of my party, the Liberal Democrats. That Chris was put in a position where he felt he had to make candid admissions about depression, illness etc is, frankly, appalling. He shouldn't have had to do it. The party really has made the most almighty balls-up of this whole affair from the word go. I have found myself agreeing with Chris and Lord Carlile in so far as the basic operation of natural justice goes. At the same time, I trust Alistair Webster when he said ...
First off, I would again like to thank to the British politician John Hemming MP, who notified me during the search for adequate solution in the case of Boor on the possibility for the Slovak Republic to enter into the proceedings before English courts as a third party. The judgment of Sir James Munby confirms that such approach of the Slovak Republic was accurate. It is a challenge also for
The following message from Lib Dem party president Tim Farron has just been emailed to members: It has been a difficult few days for the party. Many of you have contacted me directly to express your anger and disappointment at Lord Rennard's refusal to apologise following the recommendations of the investigation into his behaviour. As President, I wanted you to hear from me. Along with Nick Clegg, I made my view absolutely clear – Lord Rennard's refusal to apologise is unacceptable. Most importantly, Lord Rennard is actively rejecting calls to apologise from party members and is refusing to comply with ...
As we get more and more traffic on our roads, we know that the best solution we have is to get at least some people out of their cars and onto bikes, foot, buses, trains and trams. We can't just build more roads – there's no space (the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road is the first major new road built in Stockport for 30 years and it will help reduce traffic in our villages, but it isn't a cure). There are a lot of people who don't currently cycle, but say they would if there were safe routes end-to-end. ...
Lord Rennard has issued the following statement in response to the news that he has been suspended from the party: It is impossible to describe how enormously distressed I am by this situation and I am certainly too ill to attend the House of Lords today. In the interests of my party and all concerned, I will now release a statement that I have prepared: In 2009, I was the subject of a smear campaign in relation to House of Lords allowances. The timing of this campaign was clearly chosen as it was in the middle of major election campaigns, ...
It was the Chief Rabbi, perhaps unexpectedly, who had called for a debate on the interaction between the business community and wider society on 12 June, and Ros saw an opportunity to espouse her belief that businesses benefit from greater community involvement... Baroness Scott of Needham Market: My Lords, perhaps oddly in a debate on business, I am going to focus on the topic of volunteering. I am going to do so because the good news is that more and more people of working age are volunteering, but they are able to do so through the good offices of the ...
Lord Rennard has issued a statement, which reads like the release of months of pent up anger and frustration. It is impossible to describe how enormously distressed I am by
The English Council of the Liberal Democrats has suspended Lord Rennard. This is the only body that could end or suspend his membership, and comes after his refusal to apologise
The Liberal Democrats have just issued this statement: Nick Clegg made clear last week, and again this morning, that it would be inappropriate for Lord Rennard to resume the Liberal Democrat whip unless he apologises. Lord Rennard has refused to do so. The Regional Parties Committee, which oversees disciplinary procedures under the English Party membership rules, today decided to suspend Lord Rennard's membership of the party pending a disciplinary procedure. As such, he cannot return to the Liberal Democrat group in the House of Lords. Lord Rennard will now be investigated for bringing the party into disrepute on the grounds ...
Lib Dem Voice's co-editors, Stephen Tall and Caron Lindsay, have both written on their own blogs about the fall-out from the independent investigation into the allegations against Lord (Chris) Rennard. Stephen wrote on Friday summarising the background to the mess the party finds itself in here: Q&A on the allegations against Lord Rennard. (My conclusion: it's a mess.) And on Sunday Caron posed the question, How is the party going to get through this? There is an obvious path to peace. It's not too late for Chris Rennard to apologise, and to do it well. I really think that he ...
Sitting in the central lobby in Westminster I've just heard a police officer go pass, talking into a radio and saying "apparently he's not very well". Although it's not confirmed,
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Why Chris Rennard should apologise, or stand down from the Lib Dems in the Lords and FPC | Mark Pack / @markpack on "Why Chris Rennard should apologise, or stand down from the Lib Dems in the Lords and FPC" http://bit.ly/1e6x9xW Research Use Round | The Education Endowment Foundation Do you want to test how best to increase the impact of research in schools? The @EducEndowFoundn is open for bids: http://bit.ly/LG23Xp BBC News – Lord Rennard row: What does it tell us about Lib Dems? Generally fair take by @BBCJLandale > Lord ...
The ongoing row around Lord Rennard's failure to apologise is now threatening Nick Clegg's leadership. A source has told me that should Lord Rennard return to the Lib Dem benches
As the biggest Liberal Democrat crisis since King Solomon unfolds, I'll keep this post updated with historical and other references as they are used. Here they are so far: Ku Klux Klan – Edward Rennard Torture employed by Henry VIII on Anne Boleyn's courtier's – Lord Carlile North Korean judicial system – Lord Carlile Thomas Cromwell – Lord Carlile Salem Witch trials – Chris Davies Benny Hill – Baroness Hussein-Ece An Italian man – Chris Davies [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
If you know me at all, you know I'm a bit of a birder and so I am delighted that tonight sees the return of the BBC's Winterwatch programme, this year based up on the Mar Lodge Estate in the Scottish Highlands (field fare, red wing, ptarmigan, black grouse...) providing us all with a chance to get up close and personal with our wonderful native wildlife. Then at the weekend is the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch a great way to observe nature first hand in the garden. If, like me, you regularly participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch only to ...
200 years ago Liverpool was major beneficiary of the triangular trade which one one of its legs took slaves from West Africa to the Americas. We have gone a long way since that time and indeed Liverpool became one of the leading cities in the UK in working ... Continue reading →
Labour MP for Blaydon, David Anderson, seems to have decided that it is time to make a foray into the Lib Dem Whickham heartland of his constituency. He announced that on Saturday 18th January, he would be holding a surgery in the Village. Spotting the Labour party in Whickham is like trying to see the Loch Ness monster - sitings are rare and most can be explained as something else. So a genuine
Support for those with mental health problems has come a long way since 2010. Rectifying the profound injustice in the priority given to physical health over mental health has been one of my highest priorities as Health Minister - as I know that it was too for Paul Burstow. When at least one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life, making sure they get the support they need to live independent and fulfilled lives is essential in delivering a stronger economy and a fairer society. But there remains a very long way ...
Mon 20th
11:59
Why Chris Rennard should apologise, or stand down from the Lib Dems in the Lords and FPC
[IMG: Lord Chris Rennard] Whether or not someone should be in receipt of the party whip has never been just a matter of whether they have lost a criminal or civil legal action. At its most banal, the whip can get withdrawn when someone regularly votes against their own party - something that clearly does not involve any breach of the law. I was glad to hear that criminal charges were not to be brought against Chris Rennard. I worked for him for many years, and owe much of what I know about political campaigning to his expertise. I also ...
[IMG: Stapleford-new500] Euro candidate Issan Ghazni called on Lib Dems across the East Midlands region to campaign hard for a double-victory in a crucial council byelection. Ghazni made the call after spending another day in Stapleford North, on the outskirts of Nottingham, where a double byelection is due to take place this Thursday, 23rd January. He said: "We have a great chance of not just holding one seat but gaining another. We need each and every party member in the region to head down to Stapleford this week and particularly on election day." Ghazni made his second visit on Saturday, ...
Sometimes we hear the facile argument that principles are nothing without power. It is the justification for most political expediency and it leads directly to political transvestism and the hollow morality of Tony Blair. Yet there is another aspect of politics which is less obvious- that is less obvious to politicians. There is the question of- once having achieved power- how principles might be put into action. Famously, Blair himself suggested that he was just about competent at the political process by the time that he was leaving office. There are just so many obstacles, not least the obstruction of ...
The Williams Commission into Public Services has published its report this morning and it is a substantial one. The report itself is 353 pages long, the summary is 105 pages long. All the documentation can be found here. My view that reorganisation of local government should not be rushed into is set out here. Whilst my more extensive article on local government reorganisation, which has been published by the Electoral Reform Society this morning can be found here. The BBC set out the main points of the report including some of the options for reorganisation here. In truth though the ...
The Western Mail reports on a survey by the Consumer Association that finds a new low in customer satisfaction with gas and electricity suppliers. They say that the watchdog's latest annual energy company survey found that the overall customer satisfaction score has dropped from 49% last year to 41%: The score is one of the lowest recorded by Which? from all of its satisfaction surveys across a range of products and sectors. The consumer group said the survey exposed a market "that is falling short of its customers' needs" as satisfaction plummeted and the biggest companies fared worse than the ...
Here, if you want to cut to the chase, are my conclusions in the Guardian this morning about how to save the middle classes: "It means ratcheting down the price of property, rescuing pensions and standing up to the financial elite and those who seek total economic efficiency - for whom the relative independence of a middle tier is a glaring inefficiency, just as the working class was before them. "But the most important factor in the survival of the middle classes is going to be their own entrepreneurial zeal, to create the local businesses, local banks and local institutions ...
I appear to have upset most of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party, at least, if a recent e-mail is to be believed. Given that I haven't spoken to any of them for more than a month, and don't come into contact with them much, this may come as a bit of a surprise - it certainly did to me. The details aren't terribly important - they seldom are - but I was reminded of a dilemma which has troubled me for some time, i.e. who, or what, am I accountable to, and for what? The nub of the matter ...
Nick Clegg has been doing a round of media interviews this morning – the original purpose was to unveil the Coalition's mental health strategy, but they've been overshadowed by the continuing row over the allegations of sexual impropriety against Lord (Chris) Rennard. Lord Rennard has decided not to issue an apology to the women who have made complaints against him for any distress caused as recommended by Alistair Webster's independent report. The QC issued a further statement on Sunday explaining he thought it would be no more than "common manners" for an apology to be offered. Here's what Nick told ...
New Statement by Alistair Webster on the Rennard matter. Note points 5, 6 & 7 (tags: ) Lady Mark on Rachel Reeves (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
This week I'll be blogging about the dramatic rise of Pentecostalism. This a phenomenon that has given rise to very little discussion in the UK. That's a mistake. The millions of people – mostly living in poverty in the Global South – turning to this very different kind of Christianity constitutes one of the biggest [...]
In British politics there is one area of policy where popular sentiment and dire need strongly coincide. Banking reform. Opinion surveys seem to suggest that it is Chancellor Osborne's 'Achilles Heel'. Indeed, senior 'expert' LibDems have expressed concern over the last three years about the pace of reforms. Now Labour has jumped on the bandwagon, and may reap electoral benefits. YouGov polling of a few weeks ago found... ... 67% thought [regulation] was ineffective. Only 18% were confident that changes to the banking sector over the last few years were enough to stop a repeat of the banking crash. The ...
I can't believe MEP, Chris Davies has weighed in on the Rennard issue in this way. Here is what Davies said on Westminster Hour. "This is the equivalent of a few years ago, an Italian man pinching a woman's bottom. How much more must this man be made to suffer through the media condemnation that [...]
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, has announced that Iran has now been invited to attend the Geneva talks on the future of Syria, due to be held on Wednesday. That is welcome news, though it is a little odd that the significance was almost lost in the revelation that a whole host of other [...]
