[IMG: image] Nice photo of the old boy isn't it? Now, look. I'm a Republican. But I won't descend to a rant here, although I could very easily. Prince Charles is right about Putin. Indeed, Paddy Ashdown (and other commentators) said, more or less, the same thing two months ago. It's not outrageous to say that Putin's annexation of Crimea is similar to Hitler's annexation of Sudetenland. It is a statement of the bleeding obvious. But here's the thing. I agree with Prince Charles on this. But I detest his interventions on architecture and resent his undisclosed green ink letters ...
Earlier this week I quoted a Charnwood Borough Council document that says Woodhouse Eaves once contained "a remarkable number of recovery and convalescent homes". Chief among them was the Zachary Merton Convalescence Home, which was built to house injured war veterans. The home also contained a mental hospital wing known as Beacon Lodge. This home has long been derelict, but I believe it is still to be found in the woods above the village. Redevelopment is planned if it is not already taking place. Midlands Heritage has some striking photographs of the site. To find it I would have had ...
Now the polls have closed it is safe to pay tribute to Theresa May's extraordinary speech to the Police Federation conference yesterday. It is worth reading the whole thing, but this was the key passage: I do not want to have to impose change on you, because I want you to show the public that you want to change. I want you to show them that you have the best interests of the police and of the public at heart. But make no mistake. If you do not make significant progress towards the implementation of the Normington reforms, if the ...
Labour seat. Resignation
Conservative seat. Resignation
Labour seat. Resignation
Independent seat. Resignation
SNP seat. Resignation
Labour seat. Death
UKIP seat. Resignation.
Conservative seat. Resignation
Labour seat. Resignation
Conservative seat. Resignation
Conservative seat. Resignation
Labour seat. Resignation
Thu 22nd
22:00
What the Euro polls say: Will Ukip come first? Will the Lib Dems avoid a 5th-placed wipeout?
A staggering 25 opinion polls have been published in May for the European elections. I say staggering because, if past form is any guide, two-thirds of the public won't turn out to vote today. Nor do many people expect the result today to have much bearing on the general election in a year's time. Still, here are all 25: [IMG: euro polls may 2015] The average vote shares in May for the five main parties are: Ukip – 29% Labour – 27% Conservatives – 22% Lib Dems – 8% Greens – 7% Those figures would likely result in Ukip and ...
Hopes are growing for a pedestrian crossing on Old Street after councillor Viv Parry presented a case to Shropshire Council. We have been concerned about pedestrian safety in Old Street for some time. Drivers are often going at some speed as they come downhill out of the 20mph limit. Some put their foot down as [...]
[IMG: image] What at does a Liberal Democrat MP do on his birthday? Come in and phone bank at Scottish Liberal Democrat HQ, of course. He was rewarded with cake. Happy Birthday, Ming.
On his Telegraph blog, Dan Hodges is particularly cutting about Labour's failure to stand up to UKIP's racism. he is particularly critical of the Labour Party's failure to condemn Nigel Farage's racist comments about Romanians and their contention that assaults on the UKIP leader are a sign that members of the political establishment are ganging up to undermine him, and have actually helped him. He says that the evidence shows the contrary view to be true: The attacks on Ukip's racism have damaged them. Ed Miliband may not be aware of that, but Nigel Farage certainly is. That's why we've ...
Only about a third of people normally vote in European and Council elections. If you are one of the two thirds who hasn't made their way to the polling station yet, please read on. This stuff actually matters. Your MEPs ... Continue reading →
[IMG: Liberal Democrat badge - Some rights reserved by Paul Walter, Newbury, UK] Only about a third of people normally vote in European and Council elections. If you are one of the two thirds who hasn't made their way to the polling station yet, please read on. This stuff actually matters. Your MEPs and Councillors make decisions that affect your daily life, be it mobile phone charges on your holiday, potentially your job if it's funded by European money, or the care your parents receive or the quality of your local parks. Clearly I'd love it if you voted Liberal ...
... Today is polling day in the European and lots of local elections. Y'all know I want you to vote Lib Dem. I'd be really happy if you went out and voted Lib Dem. But I recognise that not all of my readership is of that persuasion, and I respect your democratic right to make up your own mind. If you're not going to vote Lib Dem, though, please do go and put some sort of mark on your ballot; even if you hate all politicians. If you spoil your ballot that sends a much more effective message than just ...
Not long after the pandas arrived at Edinburgh Zoo, Ros went to see them with her sister. It's a long way to Edinburgh from mid-Suffolk, but Ros was really keen, having never seen a panda up close before. Sadly, her effort was in vain, as one of the pandas was off display through ill health, and the other was on a high platform, meaning that you could only see its shoulder and one ear. Yang Yang, a very unusual panda indeed I had, in doing my pre-trip research, realised that the zoo at Schonbrunn, in Vienna's western suburbs, apart from ...
Positively Chris Living positively with HIV. I'm sharing my experiences to provide some insight into the reality of a life with HIV. My aim is to be open, honest, and informative, in the hope of reducing HIV related stigma, and to get people talking about a subject that many feel unable to discuss openly. Thanks...
[IMG: election day 2014] It's polling day here and, indeed, in the Netherlands, as four days of voting for the European Parliament kick off. And, just possibly, whilst the Liberal Democrats are predicted to suffer losses here in the United Kingdom, the groundwork for the appointment of a liberal as President of the European Commission might be being prepared. Christopher Flores, writing in the EU Observer, explains how; Should a left coalition be blocked, the left will likely rally around one candidate in hopes of salvaging the loss of the Parliament by being able to nominate a left-leaning candidate as ...
Blog Categories: My Degree Political Theory Vote: 1 vote + Vote up! - Vote down! [This was the last essay for my three modules this semester. I was somewhat unhappy with all three, which I shall post over the next few days, but this was probably the best of the three] "Every man has a property in his own person: this no body has any right to but himself" John Locke (1691: Ch II, § 27). This simple idea of a pre-political "natural right" to the security and integrity of the individual and their property forms the proto-liberal basis for ...
[IMG: BRITAIN EUROPEAN ELECTIONS] Because I spend a lot of my time convincing people that voting is worthwhile, I should begin by stating why I think voting today is important. Although people tend to treat it as an insignificant, the European Parliament has a lot more power than people tend to consider. Also, while it's done under the worst of all PR systems extant, the rather wretched closed list, the Euro elections are still proportional, so every vote really does count. If you do not want your parliament filled with people you disagree with, best get out there today and ...
[IMG: Orange_Book] It's 10 years since The Orange Book was published. Edited by David Laws and Paul Marshall it was widely regarded as an attempt by economic liberals within the Lib Dems to wrest back control of the party from social liberals. Both Laws and Marshall would argue their attempt at 'reclaiming liberalism' (the book's sub-title) was more about re-balancing liberalism as practised by the Lib Dems — that the party had grown intellectually lazy, happiest with simply saying 'tax more, spend more' as the answer to every public policy problem without thinking through how that would make people freer ...
8 Reasons Why E-Cigarettes Should Not Be Regulated As Medicines (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Here's the new film from the Liberal Democrats: You can also watch this on YouTube.
[IMG: Lib Dems winning here] If you're a Liberal Democrat activist, the chances are you're already pretty knackered. Your feet will be sore from walking or your voice hoarse from phoning or canvassing on the doorstep. If you're running a committee room, you will no doubt have already sworn many times at the technology. Elections are a long, brutal slog. As I walked past loads of people sitting outside the pub drinking cold beer on the way to phone bank last night, I did wonder why we all put ourselves through it. It's simple really. We really do want to ...
I don't think I have ever used this blog to plead for votes before. I flatter myself that I am an independent thinker above being a cog in the party's press machine. However, as its polling day I hope you dear readers will forgive me a single undiluted, undisguised plea to vote Liberal Democrat. I [...]
Thu 22nd
08:45What Lib Dem members think about the way the Coalition is cutting spending to reduce the deficit
[IMG: Cut costs] 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. Over 830 party members responded – thank you – and we're publishing the full results. The economy is recovering but cuts to public spending are going to be with us for some time no matter who's in government. I wanted to test attitudes among Lib Dems to how the cuts are being handled. The questions below mirror those which have been asked by YouGov since summer 2010 (you can ...
Today is polling day, and for Bar Hill the polling station is the Village Hall. All you need to vote is your address, if you have the postcard from South Cambs (with you polling number on it) it makes things slightly quicker but if you don't have that you can just turn up with your address and ask to vote. Polling takes place up till 10pm tonight.
I make no apologies for having been so quiet on here over the past few weeks. It's been election time so there has been little going on at the town hall and few new announcements. What there has been is a lot of leaflet delivery and a lot of talking to voters across East Dulwich by Jonathan, Rosie and me. I've been hugely encouraged and gladdened by the conversations I've had. Whether you are voting for me and my colleagues or for someone else, I can only think of a couple of occasions where the discussion has been of the ...
Thu 22nd
07:00
.@scotlibdems are the only party fighting to keep Scotland in Britain and in the #EU #whyiamIN
I'm supporting George Lyon MEP today!
[IMG: Christian, Owen & Angelika] The team that's working to keep us IN.
A phrase I expect that will be heard often today. And no amount of "we are better off in Europe" or such bollix is going to convince a majority of British citizens. The claim that we as British citizens benefit from Europe is nonsense, jobs tell those 500 odd workers at Ford who have seen their work moved to Turkey or construction workers replaced with cheap East Europeans, education schools oversubscribed, health service swamped. Do Clegg, Cameron and Milliband really believe we are better off absorbing millions of East Europeans and being subservient to unelected officials in Brussels. We've had ...
[IMG: Lib Dems fighting for Sefton's Libraries] Lib Dems fighting for Sefton's Libraries [IMG: Fighting Labour's proposed £46 Green Bin Tax on Sefton households households.] Fighting Labour's proposed £46 Green Bin Tax on Sefton households. [IMG: Working with the community to try to save our Green Belt from Labour's development plans.] Working with the community to try to save our Green Belt from Labour's development plans. 3 very good reason for me (and you?) to vote Liberal Democrat today.
The Higher Education (Wales) Bill, which was published this week, has been designed to ensure that the quality and regulation of HE in Wales are enhanced, and I welcome the principles behind the proposals. "However, as always, the devil is in the detail and more will become known about the effects of the Bill as it passes through the scrutiny stages, which will begin shortly. The Minister has previously made a commitment to getting as much of the legislative detail as possible on the face of the Bill and will expect him to stand by that commitment. There have been ...
Or perhaps it is Tony Blair explaining the principles of New Labour.
Two news items from the Appleby Magna & Appleby Parva website - the villages are in the North West of Leicestershire: The proposed route for the second phase of HS2 has been announced, and if it is accepted the line will pass between Appleby Magna village and the M42.As part of the county council cutbacks, the No. 7 bus is to be replaced by a much reduced on-demand service.
Exaro has posted a video made by a woman who says she was raped in the 1960s by a man who later became a Conservative MP and a cabinet minister: The woman - known as "Jane" to protect her identity - told Exaro how the ex-minister, before he became an MP, tricked her into his flat, locked her in, then raped her. She was a 19-year-old student at the time. Jane believes his modus operandi was well practised and is convinced that she is not his only victim. We are identifying neither the former Conservative cabinet minister nor the alleged ...
Tonight's job was to write and send out edition number 85 of our email newsletter. It went to about 1700 addresses. You can read it on this link.
