Trigger warning - violence and domestic abuse. This evening, Josh and I went to see the last showing of The Grand Budapest Hotel in Bath. We like going to the cinema, and we'd agreed to go with a friend. So, we went in and settled down to the trailers, and, as we always do, turned and nodded or shook our heads after each one to filter out what we'd like to see and what we'd happily miss. Enter, the hilarious and charming ad for 22 Jump Street. For those who haven't seen it's prequel - the hilarious and charming picture ...
If you had to teach politics to young children then what would you tell them? You might start with the present voting system. It may not be perfect - actually it isn't perfect but it is the method that we have of electing our representatives. The voting system does not reflect the voting intentions of the population as it isn't proportional but at least we have the opportunity to vote. Then I would tell the children how important it is to vote. If we didn't then we may lose democracy completely. Dictatorships have some benefits but there are no checks ...
I am now a nominated Liberal Democrat candidate not only in the European Parliamentary election for London, but in the local election for Enfield's Chase Ward. In both elections, I am standing for ideas, principles, and policies which I believe in and, in some cases, have even helped author. My campaign will not only promote the positive priorities I and the Liberal Democrats have for both Enfield and London, but many of the good things which we have already achieved. I will also be seeking to hold to account the Conservatives for putting at risk 3 million British jobs, prioritising ...
Peterborough Cathedral was closed to visitors for a wedding when I arrived there today, but I did not mind. The precincts and grounds here are well worth exploring in their own right - a maze of blind arches and later buildings built into Gothic ruins. Until the railways came Peterborough was small for a city and far less important than the nearby town of Stamford. The Cathedral and its grounds must have dominated it.
Two of the most original comic talents of recent decades appeared together on HIGNFY in December 1992. Peter Cook died in 1995 and Douglas Adams in 2001. [Add satirical comment about Angus Deayton's career here.]
From the North Devon Gazette: Colourful former MP Lembit Öpik rolled into Barnstaple on Thursday before hosting a hustings to challenge European candidates on motorcycling rights. The ex-Liberal Democrat MP and television celebrity now works for the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and was in town before heading to Bridge Motorcycles in Exeter to chair an event featuring five South West prospective MEP candidates.You may ask whether "colourful" is the mot juste here, but Lembit does have a good record on defending motorcyclists.
Work has started on building a new house on land at the end of Brentwood Drive, Gatley (on the South Park Road estate) and near to Gatley Station. We're glad to see the work progessing – the site has long been a problem for fly-tipping and vandalism so this should it brought into productive use. Planning permission was applied for late in 2012 and granted in early 2013. [IMG: photo (2)] [IMG: Selection_010]
An opportunity to enjoy a great night out and support the Mayor's charities: the Alzheimer's Society and Beechwood Cancer Care.
Tis the season for knocking on doors and every years brings a new crop of stories. I remember people who were 50's and 60's telling me tales of canvassing in their youth. The 1929 election was etched very clearly in their minds. I recall old Mrs Lindley explaining why it was essential that the government build reservoirs! I shall return to the Party's 1929 canvassing guild and its policy advice particularly around Industrial Policy and Peace but in this posting I shall just retell a few incidents from the last few weeks. Let us begin in a 1960's development full ...
Blog Categories: Economics Political Comment Vote: 0 votes + Vote up! - Vote down! I only vaguely remember in the late seventies people referring to Britain as the "Sick Man of Europe" For some reason I found myself needing to lookup British Gross National Income just now, and it struck me just how far down what one might call "old Europe" we are. Of the nine members in the EEC when we joined in 1973, we ranked 8th in 1980, and guess what, we "languish" in 8th still today. Of the "EU15" that were members in 1995, we ranked 10th ...
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and actually have no legal training whatsoever. The article below is my interpretation of the law, but it may be completely wrong. Also note that although this is my interpretation of the law as it stands, it does not mean I agree with the law. An interesting story has [...]
[IMG: forum1] LibDemVoice has two parallel sites. The first is our public blog, the thing you're reading now. The second is our private members' forum, which only current Lib Dem members can access. If you're a member and want to chat with fellow party members about any issue that's on your mind, then why not sign up? In addition, you'll be included in our regular surveys' of party members' views. Here's some of the most active discussions this past week: Labour on housing, tenants and landlords Delivery rounds and geocodes Newark: a new by-election to test the waters The Coalition ...
So the doorbell rang and I opened it. The person on the other side of the door said "Eugh! You're one of those." I asked, "One of those what?" "One of those perverts." came the reply. I looked down and checked my fly was done up. It was. It was then that I noticed my t-shirt. It was one of my Pride ones. The female person who had rung our doorbell had quickly jumped to conclusions. Thinking quickly I said, "Sorry, I have to go about my gay agenda for today, breakfast to be made (I had actually already had ...
Sat 3rd
12:23
Lynne Featherstone on the need for clean cookstoves to transform the lives of women and girls
[IMG: Dr. Kalpana Balakrishnan tells Secretary Clinton more about the clean cookstoves effort in South India.] Earlier this week we told you of Paddy Ashdown's visit to Bangladesh to raise awareness of the need for clean stoves. This is also an area where Liberal Democrat International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone has been working and on Thursday, she spoke at a Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves conference in London. This issue is important because the World Health Organisation estimates that 4.3 million people lost their lives through being exposed to household air pollution, just from cooking dinner. The GACC was launched ...
Sat 3rd
12:22
Thank heavens for Nick Clegg, Danny Alexander and David Laws holding the Tories back on illiberal an...
I could give you the link to the Daily Fail story which, predictably, throws much more bile in The Cleggster's direction, but I'll stick with the Guardian story, which states that the Liberal Democrats have stopped the Tories introducing a ... Continue reading →
How the Lib Dem fixation with the powers of local government lead to a radical and unnecessary restructuring of the NHS Never Again by Nicholas Timmins is generally accepted to be the best account so far of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Andrew Lansley's massively controversial overhaul of the NHS. I'd been meaning [...]
Central Bedfordshire Council have just issued a press release asking people to think about voting in the European Elections. But three of the links in their press release takes me to a page that says Oops! Google Chrome could not find www.centralbedfordshire
Sat 3rd
10:57Norman Lamb: Ensuring good quality care is essential to Lib Dem mission for fairer society
[IMG: Stay Well At Home Service, Evesham, Britain] The BBC reports that those seeking to work in care homes will have to have a certificate before being allowed to look after people without supervision. New care workers will have to earn a training certificate within 12 weeks of starting a job in a hospital or care home, the BBC has learned. The initiative comes in from March next year in England for staff including hospital healthcare assistants. Topics will include infection control, dementia care and patient dignity. This follows an independent review, in the wake of the Stafford Hospital Scandal, ...
Because I am just an old romantic
'She had Spanx on': why the CPS dropped one rape case - as prosecution rate falls even further *rage* (tags: ) £250 raised to buy pint for Bath man filmed performing obscene gesture behind Nigel Farage (tags: ) 13 Surprisingly Honest Confessions From Scientists number 4, I think I love you (tags: ) Knife crime sentencing row in government by @extrabold (tags: ) Why Miliband's rent cap will make your rent increase (tags: ) The cut to legal aid is obstructing the right to a fair trial & preventing administration of justice (tags: ) Why Euro elections could kill off ...
[IMG: Letters Play Important Roles in our Lives] Dear UKIP voter Although you are probably not an avid reader of the Lib Dem Voice website, this letter may get to you through the usual 'viral' internet 'system. The opinion surveys suggest that there are three main reasons for people like yourself voting UKIP. First, a dislike of the EU and some of the 'daft rules' that they impose upon us as a nation. Second, a feeling that immigration is out of control in the UK, and a symptom of a wider malaise. Third and most importantly, a broader sense of ...
From the BBC: A UKIP local election candidate who tweeted "Islam is evil" and that homosexuality was an "abomination before God" faces suspension from the party. UKIP said it had started disciplinary proceedings against Harry Perry, who is standing for election in Stockport... The tweets came to light after Mr Perry sent private messages to a Lib Dem candidate on Facebook... The messages, which have been seen by the BBC, talk about how the mainstream political parties want to change the UK's culture "without the permission from the white indigenous population", and add: "Don't you know, Lisa, that God hates ...
Residents have complained to me about the poor road surface at the busy Blackness Road/Avenue and Balgay Road junction - see below:I have arranged to meet the local roads inspector on-site to discuss possible improvements here.
Sat 3rd
07:55
Southport and its railways - a victim of the 1960's Beeching era and Local Government reorganisation...
The 1960's loss of the Southport - Preston Line, should it still be there, would be laughed at these days but gone it has even though it was electrified to Crossens. It must rank as one of the most bizarre Beeching era losses. Then in the 1970's Southport suffered again, this time at the hands of local government reorganisation. Many hold the view that Southport was added into Merseyside as a party political fix and this is probably the case because the Borough of Sefton, which I led for 7 years, is geographically most odd. It is that odd geography ...
With Monday being a Bank Holiday, bin collections will be put back a day. So if your normal bin collection day is Monday, it will be put back to Tuesday ...etc As a reminder, this week is a Blue Bin (dry recycling ) week
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling on the Welsh Government to do more to tackle long term youth unemployment. Figures show that 17.5% of jobless young people have been unemployed for more than a year and figures released earlier this week show that more than one in ten 16 year olds leaving school are not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs). These are worrying statistics. The number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) remains above the UK average and one in ten 16 year olds leaving school after their GCSEs are classed as NEET. We all ...
