I won't be able to get all of the retro-Hugo material read before the closing date for voting (I've had health problems which mean my ability to concentrate has been diminished, and which also mean that I sadly won't be able to vote for the Campbells, which I consider more important than the retro-Hugos) but [...]
Kenneth Clarke - surely the real-life Peter Mannion? - was interviewed by Andy McSmith in Sunday Independent: He fears that the long shadow of the Iraq war is diminishing the UK as an actor on the world stage. He suspects that part of the reason David Cameron was defeated in the Commons when he proposed to punish the Syrian regime for using chemical weapons was a "sense of guilt" over Iraq. Clarke opposed the war at the time - unlike David Cameron and the majority of Tories - but acquits Tony Blair of the charge that he deliberately lied over ...
Like many people in the UK and elsewhere I've read in newspapers and on line, watched on TV and listened to the radio reports as the latest battles between Israel and the Palestinians trapped in Gaza have unfolded. I've not said very much, mainly because words fail me in the face of so much inhumanity and suffering. I'm not a great poet or artist, able to articulate the emotions that swirl
Tue 29th
22:30
Social Liberal Conference: Farron on the Radical challenge now the Regan/Thatcher/ Blair consensus i...
On the day Tim Farron's Beveridge lecture was a triumph. The 40 minutes speech was punctuated by warm and spontaneous applause and at the end the delegates rose to their feet without prompting to give him an extended ovation. The speech made folk feel better about themselves and their politics. It has been a rough time for those who come out of the radical tradition. Here, at last, was someone who was speaking about their dreams and hopes. The speech's great virtue was that it was forward looking. It was not picking over the bones of the coalition corpse. It ...
The Tramlink consultation ends on 17th August so do not delay in feeding in your views on the proposed route. You can find out all about the proposed extension from Wimbledon to Sutton and respond to the consultation through the dedicated website: www.suttonmertontramlink.wordpress.com. The consultation is being run by The Office for Public Management (OPM) and Dialogue [...]
I wanted to take on a small personal project. One that involved a commitment but not difficult and that involved something I already enjoy. Photography felt like a good option given I always feel I should do it more, and so having spotted a retweet from someone doing a One Photo a Day challenge it seemed [...]
... student life carries on much as normal for those of us who are on distance learning courses. This weekend I managed to submit the first Psychology of Organising assignment on time, and I'm now straight onto planning the second, which is due in at the end of August. Oh, and then there's the little matter of the dissertation proposal deadline approaching at the speed of a formula 1 driver lapping Silverstone. Other students may be well into their summer break by now, but for us mice on the distance learning treadmill there's no time to play. Not that I'm ...
Members of the Yorkshire Ridings Society (YRS) will meet at Micklegate Bar at 11.15 am to lead the annual walk around the 'Bar Walls' of York carrying the Yorkshire flag.The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will be read at the 4 Bars (Gate) starting at Micklegate Bar (West Riding) 11.39 followed by Bootham Bar (North Riding) Monk Bar (City) and Walmgate Bar (East Riding).The time 11.39 am for the first reading coincides with the number of years since the first written reference to the Ridings of York in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles. Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will be read in the ...
Donna nobis pacem Vaughan Williams's great cantata and plea for peace uses the words of John Bright the Liberal MP as the text for section five: The fifth section, which bears no title, starts with the baritone soloist and a quote from the John Bright speech with which he tried to prevent the Crimean War ("The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the land . . ."). The movement continues with somber quotes from the Book of Jeremiah, with the soprano and choir intervening with the Dona nobis pacem plea. The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the ...
[IMG: Bob Russell] Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester and probably the only Lib Dem MP to have walked into a football stadium and have the crowd start chanting nice things at him, has just joined Twitter. This makes him the 47th Lib Dem MP on the social network which has more active users than British newspapers have daily sales. He's @Bob4Colchester and you can follow all the Lib Dem MPs on Twitter via the list I curate.
New from the Deputy Prime Minister's office: You can also watch this on YouTube.
View Poll: Crocs (there might be an element of push-pollness here) ((also, knowing my f-list, several of you will want to tick "both" there, won't you...?)) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
[IMG: British soldiers on a training mission in Afghanistan - Some rights reserved by AN HONORABLE GERMAN] The Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Bill, currently going through report stage in the Lords, has a non-snappy title clearly not dreamt up with Public Relations in mind. It is however important as it includes creation of a Service Complaints Ombudsman and reform of Service complaints system. As we move into Report stage the Liberal Democrat team, including the valuable contributions of my Lib Dem colleague Martin Thomas (Lord Thomas of Gresford), concentrated on two amendments. One to ensure that a ...
[IMG: Libby - Some rights reserved by David Spender] The latest set of accounts for the Lib Dems have been published - I've uploaded it at the foot of this post. (You can compare it with last year's here.) Here are 5 points that struck me I read through the document. 1) Party bounces back from deficit to surplus Last year, the Lib Dems recorded a deficit of £410k (described then as a "disappointing result"). This year (ie, the year ending 31 Dec 2013), the party has recorded a healthy overall surplus of £439k, with £7.3m of income and £6.9m ...
Councillor Viv Parry and I have had a lot of reports of rats recently, especially from the bottom of Old Street, Temeside and Jockey Field. Some rats that have been found as dead as a Monty Python parrot, but others are scurrying around. Residents have asked whether Ludlow Skip Hire is to blame. Today, the [...]
Do you have any Park Homes in your ward? Please find below a request for information from Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: Dear Colleague A number of colleagues, particularly Annette Brooke, have raised with me the fact that DECC's existing policies on issues such as energy efficiency and application of [...]
Last week seems so long ago now, there is one less Monnery in the world, I have discovered how amazing Air Conditioning is, Alastair Cook has scored a few runs, all of these are important but I want to tell you a tale about how First Hull Trains dealt with my travel issues on Friday afternoon. Hat-tip folks, they dealt with it amazingly well. So my sister got married on Saturday, this meant of course that the family had to come from far and wide to get to the wedding in Hull. I had my train tickets for the Kings ...
Tue 29th
15:50
Stephen Williams writes ... Energy efficient homes, house building and minority rights for Cornwall
[IMG: Terraced housing] As we have now begun the summer recess, I wanted to write an update on the progress that has been made at the Department for Communities and Local Government in recent months. Despite differences in priority between our Conservative coalition partners we have made huge strides in key policy areas and I believe that we should be proud and confident highlighting these achievements on the door step. One of the most crucial recent breakthroughs has been in regards to zero carbon homes. As I am sure you are aware, if we are to meet our carbon emissions ...
Considerable concern has been expressed about the possibility of shale gas extraction through "fracking" in or around Bath. Research evidence has shown that fracking could damage the hot springs on which the tourism economy of Bath depends. Following extensive lobbying by Bath's MP Don Foster and Council Leader Cllr Paul Crossley, the Government has announced a new restrictions which
An educational charity called WORLDwrite contacted Lib Dem Voice recently with a link to their programme below. This was made by WORLDbytes, which is a "unique online Citizen TV channel set up and run by the education charity WORLDwrite. Dedicated to advancing new knowledge, skills and ideas, the charity promotes excellence in citizen reporting and provides free training to volunteer-learners which combines practical film making with tackling challenging issues." It offers a 6 week training programme for 16 – 25 year olds, so may well be of interest to any Liberal Youth readers. This is a video their volunteers made ...
People packed the exhibition on plans for housing in Foldgate yesterday. I know many people couldn't make the exhibition, so at the bottom of this post are slides of the exhibition boards courtesy of Turley Associates and Richborough Estates. Click for larger image Please bear in mind that that the exhibition was a pre-application consultation. [...]
Fears for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists as long-awaited work begins on Cambridge's Milton Road underpass today (Tuesday, July 28) have been expressed by Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Ian Manning. Cllr Manning, who represents East Chesterton, is worried that vulnerable road users could be put at risk as an alternative route means pedestrians have to cross the busy road at several points. The work also leaves cyclists competing with traffic for restricted road space. He will visit the site tomorrow (Wednesday, July 29) with County Council officers, residents and members of Cambridge cycling campaigners to see how traffic management is ...
Tue 29th
13:28
Nursery worker faces sack after starring as a Tunnock's tea cake on TV at Games opening ceremony whi...
The Mirror wins our Headline of the Day Award. But really, it could happen to anybody. I once worked with someone who was pictured on the front page of The Times greeting Michael Jackson at Heathrow when she was off sick.
This morning, I had a very useful and productive meeting with the tenants of Blackness Court at which we discussed a number of local issues including the following : Need to have overgrown foliage near Blackness Court trimmed as it is obstructing the handrail. I have taken this up with Home Scotland. Dumped items and litter round the communal bins in Rosefield Place. I have reported this to the City Council's Environment Department.
[IMG: AlistairCarmichael] Writing in the Scottish Daily Record, Alistair Carmichael praises that paper's "Missing Million" campaign. It seems 300,000 people have not registered to vote, and many others will probably not turn out on referendum day. The paper had already been urging readers to exercise their vote, with a 16 page pullout yesterday, and they are now actively tracking people who are not on the roll. Alistair writes: The Daily Record. There's a reason it's called Scotland's Champion and the "missing million" campaign shows why. On September 18, you, I and every other eligible voter will have the chance to ...
[IMG: palestine] This sign held by a Palestinian child at a demonstration sums up the context and background of the present conflict in Gaza that has also led to violence and loss of life in the West Bank. This simple summary of the oppressive behaviour of the Israeli government shows how it amounts to State Terrorism. Western governments are reluctant to recognise this for what it is and our own political leaders (Cameron, Hammond, Miliband - and even our own Nick Clegg who has been much quieter than he was during the Cast Lead invasion of 2008) usually qualify any ...
It's a bit rich for Ed Miliband to complain that Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) puts people off politics. After all, he's responsible for almost half of it. His suggestion that that parliamentary PMQs should be supplemented by a citizen's version is yet another example of our politicians, frightened of taking responsibility themselves, trying to slough it of onto someone else - as with the obsession with referendums. The way to generate seriousness in PMQs and other Questions to Ministers is for parliament itself to reform the procedure. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Stop the silly nonsense of asking the ...
From the Leicester Mercury: A county councillor is to face trial after being charged with assaulting a woman. Tony Kershaw appeared before Loughborough magistrates yesterday for the case to be heard, but it was adjourned to a later date, to ensure police and medical witnesses were available. The 77-year-old has been suspended from County Hall's Conservative group pending the outcome of the case. He has denied assaulting a woman in Anstey on May 2.Mr Kershaw was suspended from the Conservative group "without prejudice" when he was charged in May. At the time he was chair of the county council's environment ...
I have been thinking for about 24 hours now that I should post about the Labour party's response to the domestic violence statistics and how nonsensical, counterproductive, and stupid it is. Given that I have been in that situation, and so has my mother, I think I can come at it from a position of some authority of experience. Given that I have also worked for the CAB and seen how the system fails victims of all genders and ages, I think I can say I have some authority there too. And as a feminist and activist, I could point ...
[IMG: House being built in Hampshire. Photo courtesy of http://www.freeimages.com/photo/634875 - some rights reserved] In my critique of Tim Farron's William Beveridge Memorial Lecture and the purpose which such a political speech should have, I mentioned my doubts over the way in which the Liberal Democrat Party President put housing at the centre of the political pitch he would like to see our party make. To be a successful high profile issue like this, two conditions need to be met. First, it needs to be an issue the public believes is important, or can be persuade to believe is important ...
LD Paulina Watson 609 (36.2%; +9.1%) Conservative 603 (35.9%; +2.9%) UKIP 311 (18.5%; -5.0%) Labour 117 (7.0%; -0.9%) Green Party 41 (2.4%; -1.0%) [Independent 0.0; 5.2%] Majority 6 Turnout 35.1% Liberal Democrat gain from Conservatives. Percentage change is since 2014.
I went to Marley Hill Community Centre on Thursday evening last week and was greeted by this sight when I arrived. Quite how this car managed to flip over so completely is not known by me. The police cleared the road within half an hour. By the time I left the community centre to deliver my Focus newsletters around the village, the car was gone and a workman from the council was sweeping up the
Our latest edition of our email newsletter eFocus was produced and distributed last week. It led with the Marley Hill opencast story but also covered a number of other issues, including the Coalition's improvements to the A1 in Gateshead. You can read eFocus on this link.
Tue 29th
10:04
The Zayn Malik Palestine tweet: are One Direction about to enter their "Revolver" phase?
[IMG: onedirection-beatles] Yesterday morning, in the wee hours in fact (how rock and roll), Zayn Malik of the boy band One Direction tweeted the following: #FreePalestine. This caused a shitstorm on Twitter, with many of the group's following signalling their approval by favouring or retweeting - but also a healthy number expressing deep discontent at the action. As you can imagine, many of the One Directionistas in Israel were less than impressed. But I have to take my hat off to the lad, if for nothing else simply being in a boy band and yet still expressing a controversial opinion. ...
Oh dear. Suspect I've done this twice today already. Only against people who were doing it themselves, mind (tags: ) Have your say on health services at consultation events (tags: ) People's PMQs would drive a further wedge between politicians and the public (tags: ) Why the best data in the world won't win you an election (tags: ) Why Cameron promoted anti-gay marriage MPs during reshuffle Depressing about local Tory membership falling because the tories voted for same sex marriage, even though Whittaker voted against. (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
[IMG: 1988] On 29th July, exactly 26 years ago, Paddy Ashdown was elected as the first leader of the newly merged Social and Liberal Democrats (which quickly settled down to being known as the Liberal Democrats). The leadership contest was between Paddy Ashdown and Alan Beith, who had my vote. But what a leader Paddy turned out to be! The Guardian marks the anniversary by airing an editorial of the day, part of which was a tribute to David Steel who had decided not to enter the leadership contest. David Steel had led the Liberal Party into the Alliance with ...
[IMG: GDP-growth blog] Liberal Democrats have cleared up Labour's economic mess with GDP now above pre-crash levels, new figures show. The UK economy is now larger than before the financial crisis in 2008 according to ONS quarterly data released today. It comes as the IMF predicted Britain will be the fastest-growing advanced economy in 2014. Lib Dem Treasury Minister Danny Alexander has said it vindicated the party's decision to form the coalition in 2010. Commenting, Danny Alexander said: "Today we are passing a major milestone on the long road back to full recovery. There is still a long way to ...
My cousin Sally is over from New Zealand, which involves a great deal of robust exchanges, mainly about child-rearing. Sally is scary but absolutely right. One of the things she asked me is whether the children have to sing patriotic, morale-boosting songs in school, like they do over there. In other words: is there an English equivalent of 'It's Cool to be a Kiwi'? I asked my ten-year-old and he couldn't think of an equivalent, and I must say I can't either. After all, we English do have an aversion to That Kind of Thing, and I'm not altogether sure ...
The record of Labour politicians and twitter is not good but at least Ed Balls has a sense of humour and the ability to laugh at himself. Nevertheless, the Independent has a bit of fun at his expense due to this self-tweeted picture of the Shadow Chancellor fondling a pigeon. They point out that less than a week since Ed Miliband took a stand against "photo-op politics", here is Ed Balls, doing precisely that. It could be argued of course that no politician is going to abandon a decent photograph just to appease their leader's misguided sancitmony and so it ...
This is a reminder that I welcome guest posts on Liberal England. And as you can see from the list of the 10 most recent guest posts below, I am happy to consider a wide range of subjects. If you would like to write a guest post for Liberal England yourself, please send me an email so we can discuss your idea. Bullying on Leicester City Council - Ross GrantPubs must help themselves if they are to survive - Matt WrightOne woman's view of being a senior citizen - Eileen Ward-BirchThe perfect Christmas gift for a carer - Jon PollardPolitic360: ...
I recently highlighted the need to repaint the bus stop road markings in Glamis Road, following the recent road resurfacing. Additionally, on behalf of residents, I raised the need for resurfacing at the Glamis Road/Blackness Road roundabout. The City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership has now updated me as follows: "Resurfacing works at the roundabout at Glamis Road/Blackness Road are programmed for the first week in November 2014. Regarding the road markings on the surface dressing side safety lines have been reapplied and remaining markings will be applied (this) week."
Boris Johnson is considering plans to charge all diesel vehicle drivers an extra £10 to drive in central London while other cities across the country are looking urgently at ways to cut diesel fumes in order to comply with clean air rules from Europe. The EC launched legal proceedings against Britain in February for breaching air pollution limits. Defra has admitted that unless tougher action were taken London, Birmingham and Leeds would be exposed to dangerous air pollution from vehicle exhausts until the 2030s. London's 'ultra-low emission zone' would also see petrol cars bought before 2006 charged the extra levy. ...
This evening's news that David Ruffley, my local Conservative MP, has announced that he will not be contesting next year's General Election is, I have to say, very good news for anyone who, like me, believes that there must be some standards for those in public life. When the news broke, courtesy of Guido Fawkes, that the police had been called and that a caution for common assault had been accepted, I was surprised that the story appeared not to attract very much interest. After all, given the acres of press coverage given over to accusations of sexual misconduct in ...
39 bus routes across Hertforshire are all under threat from the Conservative-run county council.The Conservatives have forced through a flawed consultation on bus cuts on County supported routes, wanting to cut buses after 6.30pm every day and cut all routes on Sundays.The County consultation on this is at https://consult.hertsdirect.org/bus-services/, but it provides no real options and also implies that some of these bus routes are subsidised to the cost of £9 a journey which is not true.When this was debated by the Council the Tories said these blanket cuts would save £700,000. Only after questioning was it revealed that the ...
[IMG: tatton small] Local readers of our website may remember our twin-track approach to getting the former Tatton Cinema site in Gatley sorted out. The site's privately owned and has stood empty for more than a decade, after the cinema closed down. Dickens, who own the site, have told us for well over a year that they're trying to come up with a development proposal. However, they've missed both our and their deadlines on a number of occasions. If they do bring something forward, that's fine – we'd want to look at it and progress it normally. If, though, we ...
New figures from the Government's official English Housing Survey reveal that private sector rents take up 40% of tenants' gross income. For those who own their homes, the figure is 20%, while social tenants paid 30% of their gross income on rent. The survey also found that despite the extra cost, private tenants live in the country's poorest-quality housing with a third of homes being in poor condition, compared with one in five of owner-occupied homes and 15% of social rented homes. Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said that the cost of renting made it harder for people to ...
