Conservative seat. Disqualification. Prospective Candidate: Christopher Bailey Contact: Christopher Bailey, Prospective Candidate, 01702 475811 or 07595 895905 christopherbailey@msn.com
Lab seat. Resignation. Prospective candidate: Matthew Holden Contact: Matthew Holden, 07771 172193 matthew_holden@live.co.uk http://broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk/en
There will be a memorial service for Mervyn Kingston, the co-counder of Changing Attitude Ireland, in St George's, High Street, Belfast, at 11.30am-12.30pm on Saturday 8 February. Mervyn, who died on 2 August 2013, was a pioneer of the gay Christian movement in Ireland. Faith and Pride merely builds on the work he started. Charles Kenny [...]
A year ago I quoted Mike Hancock's immortal words: ""Why this obsession with political prisoners in Azerbaijan?" A post by Daniel Hamilton on Trending Central shows that Hancock's attitude to human rights in Eastern Europe is far, far worse than that: Through thick and thin, he has been an outspoken supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former Hungarian MP Mátyás Eörsi who had the indignity of sitting beside Hancock in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said, "he is the most pro-Russian MP from among all of the countries of western Europe. When it came to debates ...
Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Abbott has condemned Labour councillors who today implied that crime in Redcar & Cleveland Borough is the result of benefit cuts.After falling considerably in 2012-13, this year's crime figures in the borough have so far shown a small increase overall.At today's Borough Council meeting Labour Councillor Ian Jeffrey blamed this on Government cuts to benefits. However, as Lib Dem Councillor Chris Abbott points out, most of the rise this year is due to anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, not people stealing food.Chris Abbott said:"Crime has fallen massively under the present Government. Today's figures from the Crime ...
Just look who the PM bumped into in Davos... Cameron bumps into an old political adversary at Davos... http://t.co/UbH6bnG2Ro pic.twitter.com/6x8blg4G7W — Tim Gatt (@TimGattITV) January 23, 2014
Thu 23rd
19:30
Time to start educating children about their rights after figures show Police stopped and searched 5...
Shocking figures show that police in Scotland have stopped and searched 750,000 people in the last year. The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research report also found that 500 children under 10 were stopped and searched in 2010 alone. This has caused concern from human rights and children's organisations.Scotland's Children's Commissioner, Tam Baillie, writing in the Herald said:On any reading, it is clear that young people are being targeted and there will be times when their rights are being infringed.In a the country that claims to be committed to children's rights and wants to be the best country in ...
The Eurosceptic cause has been well argued for lately, but has anyone considered the other viewpoint? There are two sides to every argument. No-one says the European Union is perfect, but there are considerable benefits to the UK's membership. Any British business has access to a market across 28 states of 500 million people, plenty of scope for growth. Businesses from outside the EU will locate in Britain to enjoy this access - resulting in investment and jobs. This trade has no tariffs or barriers, sets out an equal paying field of rules and regulations, and enables free trade to ...
A welcome follow-up to my post Dear Nick: please be unpopular and controversial. A senior* Liberal Democrat source close to Nick Clegg says: [IMG: Nick Clegg. Photo: Dave Radcliffe. Some rights reserved by Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg has been arguing for weeks in Government that Britain should consider joining a Syrian refugee burden sharing arrangement. This would be targeted assistance for the most vulnerable and providing refuge to those in need is one of Britain's greatest, oldest traditions. We are one of the most open-hearted countries in the world and Nick believes we have a moral responsibility to help. ...
One of Lib Dem councillors ask a question at last nights council assembly which elicited a shocking response: 54. QUESTION TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN;'S SERVICES FORM COUNCILLOR COLUMBA BLANGO How many incidents of children in care going missing for more than 24 hours have been recorded in each of the past four years? How many children are currently missing from care, and for how long have they been missing in each case? RESPONSE The issue of children going missing form care does cause us concern because when a child is missing there is a possibility that they could ...
The January Ringmer debate was about politics - does it have to be a grubby business? We didn't get to an answer to the question, though we did have a trawl through some of the things that happen in politics and the reasons why they might happen. Our non randomised survey of a few streets brought up this list of levels of trust. Profession Trustworthiness out of 10 Doctors 8.5 Royal Family 7.7 Teacher 7.7 Clergy 7.5 Police 7.1 Shopkeepers 7.1 Environmentalists 6.3 Lawyers 6.1 MI5/MI6 5.9 Economists 5.4 Entrepreneurs 4.9 Bankers 4.7 Estate Agents 4.4 Politicians 4.3 Politicians down ...
The Metro fights off the challenge from Rutland to win our Headline of the Day contest.
Shocking figures show that police in Scotland have stopped and searched 750,000 people in the last year. The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research report also found that 500 children under 10 were stopped and searched in 2010 alone. This has caused concern from human rights and children's organisations. Scotland's Children's Commissioner, Tam Baillie, writing in the Herald said: On any reading, it is clear that young people are being targeted and there will be times when their rights are being infringed. In a the country that claims to be committed to children's rights and wants to be the ...
Shropshire Council has at last taken action over the Ludlow bus crisis. The good news is that there will now be a bus service from Monday 27 January. It will also be a low floor bus operated by Minsterley Motors, an excellent operator. The bad news is that I am horrified that the prediction I [...]
To the best of my knowledge, there is only one meeting at Blyth Town Council next week Planning & Development Committee, Thursday 30th January, 6:30 pm at Arms Evertyne House
David Cameron sent out an email yesterday, introducing his latest party political broadcast. The video may have been new, but other bits of the email seemed strangely familiar... When David
Yesterday Lords amendments came to the Commons for consideration. The Government has accepted the principle of my amendment on including Special Advisers (SpAds) in the regime of transparency about who lobbyists get to meet in government. However, the Conservative Party refuses to 'switch on' this provision at this stage, and probably for the duration of this Parliament. The Government therefore brought forward an amendment which will allow Ministers to bring those who meet SpAds into the register of lobbyists, but they will remain out for now. David Cameron says 'sunlight is the best disinfectant'. Since two of the big lobbying ...
Dear Nick, Please be unpopular and controversial. (No jokes about whether this is your expertise, please.) I'd like you to be unpopular – by backing Britain giving a safe home to more refugees from Syria, even though the public is against letting in as few as a few hundred. I'd also like you to be controversial – by backing Maajid Nawaz over the cartoon he tweeted, even though depicting Mohammed at all is very controversial with some Muslims. You'd be unpopular. You'd be controversial. You'd also be liberal. Yours etc. UPDATE: Dear Nick, Thank you for being unpopular
The UK economy has improved dramatically in the last six months. This is one of the most important developments in British politics. This week's good news on employment is just part of a wide spectrum of measures showing the economy's improving health. Economic commentary, with its narcissistic obsession with monetary policy, has concentrated on the implications for interest rates. But a more important question I whether the economy's recovery is sustainable. And the answer to that seems to be... not yet. And while it isn't government austerity has to be the priority. The political debate around the economy has focused ...
[IMG: Go sign - road sign from Mauritius. Image courtesy of Kingroyos. Some rights reserved Want to get a summary of new posts on this blog by email rather than having to check the RSS feed, stalk me on social media or manually come back to this site? Or fancy getting my monthly Liberal Democrat Newswire? Or even want both? Then my email list sign up form awaits. Usual points apply about how you can leave the email lists at any time and how I won't be selling your email address to a Chicago chemical supplies for plumbers firm ...
With the European election controlled period just starting many of us have been madly getting our pre-Euro Election literature out before the deadline! Calendars and Focuses have been flying out of the door. What that also means is that many of us are artworking the next tranche! So we thought it was wise to reiterate [...]
[IMG: Liberator Magazine cover] Sat in one of Parliament's grander committee rooms, trying to pay more attention to the proceedings of a Federal Policy Committee (FPC) meeting than to the art on the walls, I was recently waiting my turn to question a Liberal Democrat government minister about a recent government announcement. As the sequence of questions moved around the table, heading towards where I was sat, I was struck by a simple question: what was the point of what I was about to say? This wasn't an existential crisis about the purpose of humanity and the roles of committees ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Hard Evidence: how biased is the BBC? Con & Lab get 80% of BBC airtime. They won 65% of the public vote in 2010. http://bit.ly/1jDrqEA Matthew d'Ancona: Tony Blair's instincts on Iraq were right — and Syria proves it – Comment – London Evening Standard Whatever you think of @MatthewdAncona's piece, "Who interrupts the appeaser's meal?" is a stunning last line http://bit.ly/1f6GwBw
Labour seat. Death There is not a Liberal Democrat candidate
On Tuesday, Paddy Ashdown was sent to do the rounds of the media outlets as a robust voice of reason. He was on a bit of a mission to tackle the idea that the Liberal Democrats were showing themselves up as not fit for government. Of course, those commentators in the media making that point didn't balance it up with any credit for being 20% of the government but contributing so many decent policies. I mean, whatever you feel about the efficacy of raising the tax threshold as a means of tackling poverty, it's a promise kept. As is the ...
Thu 23rd
12:02
Another Google Privacy Flaw - Calendar Unexpectedly Leaks Private Information (Disclosed)
My wife likes to set reminders for herself in Google Calendar. [IMG: Email Pay Rise-fs8] Recently, she added a note to her personal Google Calendar reading "Email alice@example.com to discuss pay rise" and set the date for a few months from now. She'd had a discussion with her boss, Alice, and they'd agreed to talk about salary later in the year. A few moments later, Alice sent her a "Meeting Accepted" email. What... The...? Although pretty embarrassing, it could have been a lot worse. It could have been "Email mother-in-law@example.com with excuse why we can't see her" or perhaps "Email ...
He may not be quite as famous (yet) as Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver or Nathan Outlaw, but a top chef is moving to the Launceston area next month. Anton Piotrowski, the winner of 2012's Masterchef - The Professionals competition is to take over the Springer Spaniel pub at Treburley. This will be Anton's second pub - he has run the Treby Arms at Sparkwell in Devon for a number of years. I understand that he will be basing himself at the Springer Spaniel from now on. Anyone who saw Anton's cooking on the TV will know that his style is ...
The DUP have a narrow view of the arts, I fully expect them to be up in arms about the play that I am writing.Currently we have the issue over The reduced Shakespeare Company. They are due to bring The Bible: The Complete Word of God Abridged to Newtownabbey's Theatre at the Mill next week for a two day run. Now if anyone who has ever seen any of The Reduced Shakespeare Company productions know whether the bard himself, the history of America, all the books you need to read whatever will know that all these works are abridged dramatisations ...
This is the second in a weekly series of posts to highlight key templates from our template File Library. This can be accessed by clicking on Members icon on the top bar, once you've logged into the website. This gives you four options 1. Advice 2. File Library 3. My councillor 4. Manage Membership Select [...]
Last week, there were two important developments in the fight to stop the abhorrent practice of female genital mutilation. This is a key priority for Lynne Featherstone as international development minister. First of all, the Sunday Times (£) reported that teachers are to be given training to help them identify girls who may be at risk of being subjected to FGM. Teachers will be requested to report any mention, for example, of ceremonies to become a woman. I was quite surprised that only one school in the country has a policy on preventing FGM and that so many teachers had ...
The licensing committee is due to make a decision next month (5th Feb) on the application to increase the hours alcohol is sold from the convenience store at 81 Garston Old Road. This is the one on the corner by the part at which Garston Old Road joins Darby Road. My colleague Richard Oglethorpe wrote to local people recently to let them know about the application. Information about what's planned and about the meeting is at this link.
Thu 23rd
09:56
LibLink: Giles Goodall - The EU has made strides towards LGBT equality but discrimination and isolat...
Over on Pink News, Giles Goodall, Lib Dem European Parliamentary candidate for South East England, argues that the EU has played a key role in strengthening LGBT rights, and can continue to have a positive impact on the challenges that remain. Here's an excerpt: On LGBT rights, voters face an important choice in May Equality is a European value, and over the years the EU has become a strong advocate for LGBT rights. We have the EU to thank for Europe-wide laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace and providing special protection for victims of homophobic and transphobic crime. EU pressure ...
The recent debate on the disciplinary structure of the Liberal Democrats has been fascinating, albeit in a "gosh, that's an awful train wreck, I hope that nobody's been too badly hurt" sort of way. And whilst I really don't have anything to say on the specifics of the matter, the question of the power of the Leader has intrigued me. There have been demands for action that seem, on the face of it, to be quite attractive. Something must, it seems, be done, although what exactly it should be, and by whom it should be done, is the subject of ...
I have rather belatedly read the findings of a fascinating report by the Sutton Trust (thanks, Dale) which arrived in my in-box just before Christmas - and it does give a worrying snapshot of middle class panic about schools. The report found that a third of professional parents have moved house to be near a better school. Now, the first thing to say is that I'm not about to condemn people for wanting the best school for their children. There is an irritating narrative around this which suggests that anyone who tries to choose a school is some kind of ...
three things everyone should understand about the internet (tags: ) Print out the Doctor Who version of Cards Against Humanity right now (tags: ) Comment Is Mee - tracking the most self-centred articles on CiF (tags: ) Terry Pratchett offers some advice on the subject of justice and mercy... ♡ Lady Mark, as wise and measured as ever ♡ (tags: ) Sex, Death & British Horror: @HammerFilms in the 1950s at the @mediamuseum I think I'm already going to something on that date :((( (tags: ) "He is not Jimmy Savile" | Too Much To Say For Myself (tags: ) ...
The manor house of Logie was apparently in existence prior to 1660, but from 1722-78 extensive alterations were carried out. The building was demolished in 1908. Cleghorn Street was named after William Cleghorn, manufacturer, who long occupied Logie House as tenant, and afterwards became proprietor of the estate of Logie. Following the removal of Logie House, tenements were erected on the most of the lands.
There needs to be a major improvement to cancer waiting times after figures released yesterday show that the Welsh Labour government's waiting times target have been missed yet again. The Welsh Labour government's target is for 95% of patients newly diagnosed with cancer 'via the Urgent Suspected Cancer route' to start definitive treatment within 62 days. However, in November, only 92% of patients were seen in that time. Once again the Welsh Labour government has missed its key cancer waiting times targets. Being diagnosed with cancer is a terrifying experience. It is disgraceful that people are being forced to wait ...
The Western Mail reports that a Welsh Government programme to boost small-scale renewable energy generation and create jobs in Wales is unlikely to achieve its targets. They say that according to the mid-term evaluation halfway through the Ynni'r Fro programme it is falling well short of its initial expectations: The authors write that "achievement against the targets for energy generation, reductions in greenhouse emissions and job creation has been minimal to date." In the Convergence region for example, against a generation target of 31 gigawatt hours (Gwh) no energy had been generated by September last year, and no jobs created ...
