Writing on Liberal Democrat Voice, John Pugh (Lib Dem MP for Southport) draws an important historical parallel:Optimists point out that we could still hold up to 37 seats in the General Election if we just dig in properly,but we thereby effectively concede the overwhelming majority of the country to our political rivals and that is not a strategy for the future. We risk repeating the errors of the 1920s when a diminishing band of Coalition Liberal MPs intent and on their own survival tried to cling on, while the party in the country withered. Only when Grimond decades later urged ...
Martin Tod sums it up. Paddy will no doubt declare that all blogging is dangerous. socialise this: [IMG: add 'On Being A Party Of Government – Not A Party Of The Status Quo' a Del.icio.us] [IMG: add 'On Being A Party Of Government – Not A Party Of The Status Quo' a digg] [IMG: add 'On Being A Party Of Government – Not A Party Of The Status Quo' a Stumble Upon] [IMG: add 'On Being A Party Of Government – Not A Party Of The Status Quo' a FaceBook] [IMG: add 'On Being A Party Of Government – Not ...
Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe Borough Council. May I give a special welcome to the new readers that we have this week. 1. Hemlock Happening Next Saturday, from 1pm to 10.30pm, is the Hemlock Happening. This is now by far the largest free event in the borough and is one of the most widely anticipated events of the year. The event will be opened by my colleague Stan Heptinstall, the Mayor of Broxtowe, and hundreds of local people will be taking part. ...
It's been a mite hectic over the past couple of days so, as the sun was shining, Ros suggested that we might go out, with Harwich being the destination of choice. In a straight line, it isn't that far, but because of the estuaries of the Orwell (I still think of it as the Lower Gipping) and the Stour, you have to go as far south and west as Manningtree before you can final turn east. And, as it was such a nice day, instead of taking the fast road, we meandered down the A137, through Brantham, before heading out ...
Former Winchester candidate, Martin Tod has a very good analysis of the Clegg bunker's failings.
Last year they burned a wicker man at the Sin Eater Festival. This year they are going one better with a giant wicker rabbit.
[IMG: A poll worker opens a ballot box to begin vote-counting, 6 April.] Southampton City Council's website shows the details the results of the South-East region European Election results. The tabulated final results here and the detailed results by council area are here. photo by: oscepa [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
Yesterday the SLF AGM was held in Reading. Despite reports to the contrary no emergency motions were submitted and no resolutions passed. The claim in Andrew Rawnsley's piece in the Observer today stating that the SLF are planning to call...Read more ›
Sun 1st
15:45
John Pugh MP writes...Liberals must tackle rising social inequality and improve social cohesion
[IMG: Liberal Democrat badge - Some rights reserved by Paul Walter, Newbury, UK] The nice thing about Lib Dem Voice is that they print what you say rather than what they want you to say. After the disappointing General Election of 1987 I made the press ,when as Party Chairman of the only constituency in the England we had gained, I suggested it would be good for the party if David Steel stepped down and Paddy Ashdown took over. I think I got that one right. So understandably I thought long and hard before saying anything public on strategy and ...
Sun 1st
15:39
What do 'serious parties of government' do? And what does it mean for how the Lib Dems need to chang...
We've heard a lot from Nick Clegg and the people round him that we need to be a 'party of government'. Almost all Lib Dems agree with that - although many disagree strongly that this also means that we should stop being 'a party of change' and turn into a 'party of the status quo' - as our recent European campaign seemed to suggest. But let's focus on what we all agree on - and focus on the importance of being a 'serious party of government'. Here are a few thoughts on what other 'serious parties of government' do differently ...
I was saddened, but not surprised, to see in the Observer this morning that Frank Field, Kate Hoey and a few other UK Labour grandees have called on Ed Miliband to pledge to "constrain" EU labour mobility, i.e. undermine the principle of freedom of movement of people, which is a core element of the European [...]
[IMG: 7 ver 4 full] Many thanks to the 30,400 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here's our 7 most-read posts... European Election Results open thread (290 comments) by The Voice Some quick questions for LibDems4Change (151 comments) by Caron Lindsay EXCLUSIVE POLL: 54% of party members want Nick Clegg to stay as leader (125 comments) by Stephen Tall Why I was persuaded to back Lib Dems 4 Change (335 comments) by George Potter Breaking: Lord Oakeshott resigns from the Liberal Democrats (95 comments) by The Voice Research on impact of change of leader on 4 key ...
Bosavern Community Farm Spring Celebration Event on Saturday 31 May 2014 [IMG: Bosavern Community Farm Spring Celebration] People relax in the sun, enjoying the community's farm! On the last day of May I wandered along to Bosavern Community Farm for a relaxing lunch in the sun! I then wandered around with a couple of the Board members to see how things are progressing. Having been involved with the farm, in the background, since January 2010 I can see the progress and changes clearly. I think, for those more actively involved on a day to day basis, things can seem to ...
I feel rather odd reviewing the fan writer category, because... well, partly because reviewing reviewers seems a little navel-gazey, but also because the fan-writer category is essentially the "best blogger" award, and being a blogger who occasionally writes about SFnal stuff myself makes any criticism look like sour grapes. But I've committed to covering everything [...]
The Daily Telegraph reports: A senior adviser to Lutfur Rahman, the extremist-linked mayor of Tower Hamlets, has said there will be street violence unless people stop questioning the manner of his re-election... Kazim Zaidi, Mr Rahman's publicly-funded political adviser at Tower Hamlets, wrote on a local blog: "If those who still seem unable to accept the result continue as they are, it will spill out onto the streets where even the cleverest machine politicians will not be able to manage it." Cllr Peter Golds, leader of the opposition on the council, said: "I am gobsmacked. This is actually a threat ...
Today is the 75th anniversary of the Royal Navy's worst peacetime tragedy, the the sinking of the submarine HMS Thetis with the loss of 99 lives in Liverpool Bay, off Llandudno. As the BBC report an accident happened during sea trials for the new vessel which had sailed from Wirral: There were 103 men on board on 1 June 1939, twice the usual number, with the Royal Navy crew swelled by engineers from ship builders Cammell Laird. Due to a combination of unfortunate circumstances, sea water flooded in and the boat nosedived and was unable to resurface. Because the boat ...
[IMG: Liberal Youth at Eastleigh - Some rights reserved by Helen Duffett] I joined the party in the autumn of 2012; I did so more out of interest than any burning zeal, on the basis that the Liberal Democrats were the party I disagreed with the least profoundly, on the smallest number of issues. In that time I've met wonderful, inspiring people, and come to feel increasingly that joining this party was one of my better ideas. We are at a time of profound reflection in the Party; with that in mind, in the spirit of shedding light and not ...
A micro-guide to the parties! What UKIP and Lib Dems do when they lose! When Lib Dems can expect to get over 50% in the Euros! What I thought of the BBC election coverage! And a cheery song! All this and more in short form from before, after and during the May elections. Most of us had a pretty rough time; everyone has their own worst story to tell, but I'd rather not think about my being ill, with Richard away, Elections of Doom looming, and bereavement. Instead, some of my coping mechanism: posting on Twitter like there's no tomorrow. ...
[IMG: Question mark] In an era of increasingly presidential-style politics, it's very tempting to fire the party leader when things go wrong - but would this actually help us for next year's general and local elections? To answer this, I feel we need to ask what made us successful pre-2010, what is actually going to work for us next year, will doing this be enhanced by having a different leader, and is there a better leader than the one we've got? There are two obvious reasons for our pre-2010 rise. One was that we were either 'not Labour' or 'not ...
[IMG: A newspaper. Photo credit: Rianne van Mourik on Stock.xchng] Much food for thought this week. There is a great deal about our party, but I want to start with a piece in the Observer by Barbara Frost, Chief Executive of Water Aid, and others, who point out that the two teenage girls in India might be alive today if they had access to a toilet in their own homes. They are far from alone in facing that daily risk. A report in the Times of India in February this year quoted the police in another district of Uttar Pradesh ...
Sun 1st
10:43
Alison McInnes calls for independent review as figures show 41% increase in prisoners kept in solita...
You may have noticed I don't have much time for the Scottish Justice Secretary, "Clear Desk" Kenny MacAskill. It's hardly surprising given that he seems to be the Fount of all Illiberality. In fact, he could teach Chris Grayling and ... Continue reading →
A number of residents have complained about cars parking on the corner of Canons Close and Marsden Road. The council is now to put white lines down to help drivers see traffic coming out of Canons Close.
It was nice yesterday to see Frome Road resurfacing nearly finished. It does show that Wansdyke Road, Barrow Road and other roads around them as well as Bloomfield Drive need resurfacing.
www.birkdalefocus.blogspot.co.uk/ Hear the story of a decent woman's fight against racism in Northern Ireland via Iain Brodie Browne's web site. The video link really makes you think how far some us have to travel to put a stop to the politics and indeed, where it shows itself, the religions that preach hate. Here is another unfortunate reference to Anna:- www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27630653 There is no place for racism in our society.
[IMG: Eastleigh railwayman statue - Some rights reserved by Mr. Ducke] It was a warm, sunny spring with just odd showers in May in Eastleigh. We had unbelievably good local election results. Twelve months on from the County elections, that in turn had followed on from the Eastleigh by-election, when UKIP gained 50% of the County seats in the Parliamentary seat, we expected to lose seats. The odds were that at least five and potentially seven seats could go out of the thirteen we were defending. In the end, we won all thirteen. This does not tell the story. On ...
A vague sense of connection to something beyond oneself is no substitute for the concrete bonds of organised religion. It does, however, seem to open one up to a belief in all kinds of nonsense. A few years ago I was part of a group of volunteers teaching in India. One weekend we took an [...]
Last known Lib Dem dies in captivity - LOL (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
A variety of surveys are carried out into where people are happiest across the country and Stockport tends to come out pretty high on them. In the latest RightMove Happy at Home survey, Stockport residents were happiest of any of the 14 towns and cities surveyed across the North West and fourth happiest across the whole country. In fact, people who live in Stockport say they're much happier than our neighbours in Manchester – they came 91st out of 111 across the country compared to our fourth place. I wanted to dig down a bit further and see what makes ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention in the past couple of days... Despite election results, reason still rules Europe | Anatole Kaletsky Very good from @Kaletsky: "Despite election results, reason still rules Europe" http://reut.rs/1mDQImC British Politics and Policy at LSE – Claims by behavioural economists that our unconscious mind rules our behaviour lacks sufficient scientific evidence Are we conscious or unconscious decision-makers? The science jury is still out. http://bit.ly/1kXnzo6 Donna Tartt: Is this the year of The Goldfinch? | Books | The Guardian "Donna Tartt: Is this the year of The Goldfinch?" http://bit.ly/1mBBz5r 100% should be, ...
Watch the new video from Amnesty International UK: You can also watch this on YouTube.
The Western Mail reports that a cross-party committee of AMs has called for greater clarity in the remit of Finance Wales and flexibility to alter the interest rates it charges on loans to SMEs in any future funds: The report into the workings of the investment bank, which operates at arms length but is wholly-owned by the Welsh Government, makes 11 recommendations in total. They include: When designing future funds, both Welsh Government and Finance Wales, ensure that there is sufficient flexibility to adjust interest rates and to take advantage of state aid exemptions; It adopts the same levels of ...
Sun 1st
08:55Alison McInnes calls for independent review as figures show 41% increase in prisoners kept in solita...
[IMG: Prison fence] You may have noticed I don't have much time for the Scottish Justice Secretary, "Clear Desk" Kenny MacAskill. It's hardly surprising given that he seems to be the Fount of all Illiberality. In fact, he could teach Chris Grayling and Theresa May a thing or two. Actually, I might even rate Blunkett above him. If it's not presiding over court closures (operational matter for the Court Service says Kenny), indiscriminate use of armed police and massive rise in stop and search (operational matters for Police Scotland) and the appalling conditions at Cornton Vale women's prison (operational matter ...
Residents have complained to me about the condition of the embankment and trees at the top end of Millhall Crescent. I have asked the council's Environment Department if the council maintains this area and have been advised by the department:I will be looking into this further. In the meantime the guys will litter pick the area and if it does fall under this department we will go back later in the year and give it a good tidy up.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-27602618 The BBC has the story. The 1940′s & 1950′s saw city after city and town after town get rid of the tram network just as American cities disposed of their streetcars. In a number of European cities the thinking was a little more forward looking and they kept their trams. Now trams and indeed streetcars are making a significant come back because of traffic congestion and environmental considerations. What goes around comes around and with British Trams, especially those in seaside resorts like Blackpool and Southport, they used to do a circular tour for holiday makers.
Last week, Dundee City Council published details of councillors' salary and expenses claims for the financial year recently ended - 2013/14. My salary claim was the lowest of all 29 councillors as I have not accepted the last two salary increases, instead donating these (£550 per annum) to charity - the Dundee Festival Trust. I also claim no expenses whatsoever and have never done so throughout my 13 years as a councillor. You can see the full document the council published on all councillors' salary and expenses claims here.
The Times reports that Progress, a Blairite group associated with a number of MPs in Mr Miliband's team believes that the Labour leader is failing to convince voters that his party can be trusted with the economy and faces questions over his leadership qualities: An editorial on the Progess website said that Labour needed to improve on several fronts. "As in 1992, its failure to convince the electorate that it can be trusted with the economy undermines much else it tries to do," the article said. Labour, it added, lagged the Tories on economic competence and leadership. Those associated with ...
Sun 1st
00:56
YRS offer to provide Historic North Riding of Yorkshire signs at bridges over River Tees
As Chairman of the Yorkshire Ridings Society (YRS), I have today emailed Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Borough Council and Mr Neil Schneider, Chief Executive pointing out that YRS has offered to pay for traditional county signs to be erected at the bridges on the Yorkshire side of the River Tees in the Borough of Stockton. This was in response to Stockton Labour Candidate, Louise Baldock's call for "Welcome to Yorkshire" signs on the bridges in the Borough of Stockton on Tees. According to Saturday's Evening Gazette Stockton's Council Leader is willing to consider it following the overwhelming vote ...
Just a few links today, as I've been out watching the Rutles in Liverpool. Proper posts tomorrow. Alan Moore is doing some work for a new comics app, which will be licensed under the Apache license rather than being proprietary crap like Comixology Lee Griffin looks forward to the next year in politics You need [...]
View on YouTube As I am in Shrewsbury, it seems right to choose Ian Hunter, the town's greatest gift to rock, for my Sunday music video. Here is Ian Hunter fronting Mott the Hoople on a song kindly given to them by David Bowie. Legend has it that Mott the Hoople were the only band Queen ever supported. And the name? It is taken from an otherwise forgotten 1966 novel by Willard Manus.
