[IMG: Caron Lindsay and Stephen Tall have written wisely about tonight's news. It is telling that both, quite relevantly, quote from their previous posts on the subject. That indicates that we are running out of things to say on this (not in a good way). It is time to move forward, one might say "stagger forward", older and wiser as a party. The best thing we can say is that it is extremely regrettable that this all has an unresolved feeling about it. Due process, such as it exists, has been carried out in the last year or so. ...
Tue 19th
22:40
Tim Farron: I want the Liberal Democrats to become the "gold standard" for the way voluntary organis...
Since the allegations against Lord Rennard were first aired on Channel Four News, I've worked hard with members, activists, HQ staff and our parliamentary parties to fundamentally change the way our party treats these matters. We asked Helena Morrissey to look at our party's culture and practices and her report helped us to recognise our failings and set about correcting them. We have changed our rules and codes of conduct at every level, from grassroots members to parliamentarians so that everyone involved in the party is aware of their rights and responsibilities. We have changed how complaints are reported and ...
It's been announced tonight that the suspension of Lord Rennard's membership of the Liberal Democrats has been lifted, bringing to an end the disciplinary process against him. From the BBC: The former Lib Dem chief executive was suspended after being accused of bringing the party's name into disrepute for failing to apologise over sexual harassment claims. He apologised in May for his behaviour. A Liberal Democrat spokesman said the dropping of disciplinary proceedings had now brought the matter to a close. A Party spokesperson is quoted as saying: The Regional Parties Committee met this week to consider whether the party ...
Tue 19th
22:22
Rennard's suspension lifted today - but the Lib Dems lost control of this situation years ago
Tonight's news that Lib Dem peer and former chief executive Chris Rennard has had his membership un-suspended is unsurprising. The plain fact is the grounds on which the party had withdrawn his membership – that by declining to apologise to a number of women who have made allegations against him of sexual impropriety when requested brought the party into disrepute – simply wasn't tenable. (Former Lib Dem MP and lawyer David Howarth explained why here.) His un-suspension solves nothing, though. The inquiry into Lord Rennard's conduct by Alistair Webster QC found "the evidence of behaviour which violated the personal space ...
I have blogged before in praise of the 1967 film Our Mother's House and its score: Away from the film Delerue's music is pleasant, but in context I know of no score which so alters the mood of its film. Our Mother's House is a dark story of a family of children who conceal the death of their mother to avoid being taken into care. Just as the deception is about to be discovered there absentee father turns up and we discover things are not quite as they seemed. This could have been a distasteful film, yet the music - ...
The annual table of members allowances has recently been published by Sefton Council. Reports in the local press have given limited highlights. The full details (including those for previous years) are to be found towards the bottom of this section Alternatively you can go direct to the 2013/14 table. Most councillors make no claim for expenses (as opposed to allowances - effectively a salary) as, since 2007, they have to bear the cost of travel to committee meetings etc themselves. The only exception is that the cost of travel outside the Borough can be claimed for. My Birkdale colleague Councillor ...
Sky News reports this evening: Lord Rennard will face no further disciplinary action over claims of harassment by four women, the Liberal Democrats have said. The party said its Regional Parties Committee had decided not to proceed with the disciplinary process against the peer and lifted his suspension after meeting this week. The committee met to consider whether the party had been brought into disrepute by statements made by Lord Rennard, or on his behalf, following publication of a report by Alistair Webster QC into the allegations against him.That report is a little confused because, as the third paragraph makes ...
Sorry to have disappeared for so long. I've been to France and, even more onerous and about a hundred times more stressful, I've been exchanging contracts on a new house. Yes, as promised in a recent posting, I'm escaping the increasingly unhealthy smog of London. Packing and moving takes place over the next 48 hours, then I shall be taking more than a few days putting up shelves. How can I spare the time to do this? How do I get the flexibility to look after my home when I've got a busy workload? The answer is: I employ myself. ...
[IMG: Vodafone logo] I recently received a text message from 97885, claiming to be from Vodafone and asking me to reply and take part in a survey. However, that number isn't listed on Vodafone's page for numbers they make calls from and there isn't an equivalent page for numbers Vodafone sends texts from. One query to Vodafone's customer services later, it turns out 97885 is indeed a number they use for sending legit text messages out to people. So if you get one of these too, then hopefully this post will save you wondering or having to contact them to ...
Rubbish and recycling collections in County Durham will take place as normal during the August bank holiday week. (w/c 25 August)
If you've been out and about during the day today you will probably have noticed the massive crane by the Primary School. During the day contractors have been installing new temporary classrooms into the Primary School to allow the flood damage to the school during the recent heavy rains (which was substantial - YouTube clip) to be repaired, without having to be rushed, and for the school to open as usual for the new term. My understanding is that the construction on the green is just temporary (to protect the surface from the weight of the crane) and will be ...
Britain is the only country in the G7 to meet the UN target for international aid spending. Next year we're at risk of spending less on international aid. Take a look at some of the reasons below and then say you'll back our campaign to project the UK aid: Back the Campaign If we want to continue meeting the target year after year we have to get 100 MPs to the Second Reading of my Private Member's Bill on 12th September. Labour, Conservative and SNP MPs all support the idea - add your name and say you'll help get your ...
Facebook, BBC News tells us, is testing a new feature that warns users of satirical content posted from sites like the Onion. But there is another and better way of solving this problem, as Chris Morris once demonstrated. Thanks to Neil Bomb'd on Twitter.
The Environment Agency provide maps to show the flood risk at your property. Take a look here (and be sure to read the notes to find out what it really means). [IMG: Cheadle and Gatley flood risk areas] Cheadle and Gatley flood risk areas
[IMG: st Andrews flag saltire scotland Some rights reserved by Fulla T] Willie Rennie has been writing for the Daily Express in response to Alex Salmond's invocation of Robert the Bruce yesterday. The First Minister has obviously given up on the detail and is sticking with the Big Picture aimed at emotional appeal. I've always been one for tugging on the heartstrings. I go on about it all the time. You do need to have some facts in there somewhere, though. It helps if those facts have some relation to the truth, as well. It's been annoying me for some ...
I go through phases on my adoration or otherwise of David Lloyd George (he's in my good books at the moment.) Whilst having a good humoured debate with a Tory on the merits or otherwise of David Lloyd George I came across these two you tube videos of the Welsh Wizard speaking. Enjoy.... Other rare audios of Liberal politicians (including Gladstone) speaking can be found over at the Liberal Democrat history group
Secret plans to save over £1 million have finally been exposed by the Liberal Democrats on Hertfordshire County Council. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Stephen Giles-Medhurst, has now forced the county to make public that their plan to close two household waste sites and cut opening hours at others, including closing them for two days a week, will cut the budget not by the £750,000 reported to councillors back in early July but over £1m. The Council had wanted this "saving" to be kept confidential despite having already awarded a contract to Amey Cespa. Stephen said: "We always knew the supposed ...
The Lib Dems are currently working with Stockport Council to progress a Compulsory Purchase Order on the Tatton Cinema site. Here is the development brief going out to anyone interested in developing the site.
Watch the new fun (yet educational) video from CGP Grey, which includes a spot-on section about driverless cars and also gives a mention to the robots that are now writing news stories: You can also watch this on YouTube.
[IMG: UKIP logo] Poor judgment: that's the reason UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson has given for referring to a Thai-born supporter as "ting tong from somewhere". I was "completely tired out": that's how Farage explained his statement during the European election campaign that he'd be concerned if Romanians moved in next door. Excuses, excuses. I don't know about you, but I don't ever consider whether or not to use a racial epithet. I don't think to myself, on balance I judge it right to refer to that person as "ting tong". It's not a question of judgment, poor or otherwise. It ...
I have no brief for any developer in Swansea but I am concerned with ensuring that we get the investment we need. That means working with developers and sometimes compromising to get things done. I was concerned therefore last Thursday to find the redevelopment of the unsightly and failing Parc Tawe complex being knocked off track by the intransigience of planners and a lack of leadership on the council itself. The difference of opinion centred on what can be sold in what is classed as an out-of-town shopping centre so as not to compromise another development nearby that is barely ...
Changes to candidate spending limits at UK Parliamentary general elections and local government elections in England and Wales UK Parliamentary general elections limits The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2014 makes changes to the candidate spending rules at UK Parliamentary general elections There are two separate constituency limits [...]
[IMG: Care in the home Some rights reserved by British Red Cross] There are 6.5 million carers in the UK today looking after friends and family who started to need a little help to carry on their day to day lives. Sadly for both carers and those they care for, a little help can become a lot more as conditions deteriorate and people are able to do less for themselves. That one in eight of us is willing to selflessly prioritise the needs of our loved ones is truly inspirational. But too often as a society we seem to punish ...
The NHS in Greater Manchester is currently consulting with members of the public about its proposals for the future of some aspects of healthcare in Greater Manchester. This is a very important consultation which will affect how we receive healthcare in future years. In particular it will affect which hospitals we need to attend for some services. We are interested on your views on these proposals and are asking residents to take part in this short survey. [IMG: Screenshot 2014-08-19 11.25.36] Much of the emphasis in the review is about trying to ensure that as much healthcare as possible can ...
The Arab Spring began in late 2010 when violent and non-violent protest arose in many Arabic countries in the Middle East and North Africa. We have seen many disturbing acts on our television screens but who can forget those scenes in Libya when Colonel Gaddafi was executed or the violence in Egypt? I am sure we all have our own particular distressing scenes that we remember but let's take Syria where the civil war began as a protest against the government which was followed by violent crackdowns, and then protest became armed rebellion and war. Hezbollah gave support to the ...
[IMG: Sloths are cool] This little chap is a cutie, isn't he? He was the star of the email sent to Liberal Youth members kicking off the 2014 Annual Elections for which I am again the Returning Officer. I don't know yet how we're doing but I am really keen for an email from me to beat the open rates of previous sloth emails sent from Liberal youth and, of course, the notorious one featuring Ed Balls. Being involved in the running of Liberal Youth can be fantastic fun. It's a long time since I was eligible but I really ...
[IMG: Jennifer Aniston. Image courtesy of - some rights reserved] Welcome to the latest in my occasional series highlighting interesting findings from academic research. Today – how voters react to news that a celebrity has donated to a political cause: In new research, Anthony J. Nownes looks at how people react when given the information that celebrities have made contributions to the Republican and Democratic parties. He finds that when people dislike a celebrity, and that celebrity has contributed to a party, then they like that party less. He also writes that celebrities' political activities inform how people view ...
One very convenient services has disappeared from my life in the last few weeks and another is about to go. The one that's already gone is the delivery of the morning paper. We're all aware of the declining circulations of newspapers and magazines, not least from the frantic and often ludicrous attempts they make to try to maintain sales and revenues. All those silly supplements. There are so many sections of the Guardian I dispose of unread that buying it is probably the most environmentally unfriendly thing that I do. The "knock on" effect of this decline is becoming increasingly ...
Figures released today by the Office of National Statistics show that inflation fell from 1.9% to 1.6% in July. The rate fell more than was forecast, with economists expecting it to fall to 1.8%. Commenting on the latest inflation figures, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: "The fact that inflation has been below the Bank of England target for seven consecutive months shows that subdued inflation is now becoming the norm as the economy recovers. Eliminating the deficit fairly, and repairing the UK economy remains central to the role of Liberal Democrats in Government. "These encouraging ...
As next Monday is a bank holiday, bin collections will be put back a day. For example if your collection is due on Monday, it will be Tuesday .... etc Next week is a blue bin ( ie dry recyclable ) week
To flush or not to flush, that is the question for Thanet householders who now have to pay per litre for their water supply but whether Southern Water have any such qualms is a moot point, since twice this year, they've been caught short with their trousers down, just doing what comes naturally, which in their case is to pump thousands of gallons of toilet waste into the sea, a side effect of not investing enough in a system, that can cope with our local weather and rainfall. I followed up my earlier posting about Southern Waters appalling record on ...
Tue 19th
12:07
Cambridge MP wins Home Office battle over heavy-handed action against Studio Cambridge
Cambridge MP Julian Huppert has won a battle with the Home Office to get a leading language school's licence reinstated after it was suspended for no reason. Studio Cambridge, the city's oldest English language school for overseas students and an official TOEIC test centre, had its powers to issue visas revoked after another TOIEC centre was found to be offering fraudulent exams. Despite making no formal allegation against Studio Cambridge nor presenting any evidence, the Home Office took away its licence for two months while carrying out a review. Julian fought the move calling on the UK Visas and Immigration ...
[IMG: Direct mail] Following the news that Newcastle City Council wasted £50,000 on faulty electoral registration letters which had to be reissued, Maidstone Borough Council has now also been in the news for a similar problem. At least Maidstone's bill was smaller at £12,600: A total of 42,000 letters were delivered at the start of last week informing people of a new voter registration system. But they contained an error that meant people who had opted out of receiving junk mail were told they had signed up to receive such post. The mistake means another 42,000 letters had to be ...
Tue 19th
11:55Revenge porn: Ministry of Justice launches consultation, Hannah Thompson interviewed on Women's Hour
[IMG: Smartphone bar.] We've written about the issue of revenge porn extensively over the last few months, most recently covering the amendments introduced in the House of Lords which would make it illegal for abusive ex partners to upload intimate images to the internet without consent. Yesterday, the Ministry of Justice launched a consultation on the issue, saying: The Government is keen to understand more about the scale of this issue, whether incidents are being reported to the police or other authorities and, where they are, how these are being dealt with. This will allow us to understand whether more ...
Just to update residents about the issue the nuisance of pigeons which can be a problem on the Metrolink bridges over roads in the area. Following information from residents I have been working to get Metrolink to take action on the 'pedestrian' bridge near Prestwich Metrolink (not Fairfax Road, but the one nearer the station). Metrolink have agreed to repair the netting to deter pigeons from using the bridge.
Just to update people on a couple of issues around street cleaning in and around Simister Village. A number of people have commented on the need for additional cleaning in the Simister Green area. A clean has been arranged for next week. I would be grateful if people could let me know if issues persist. There also seems to be an issue with the mud and other waste from farm vehicles at one of the chicanes coming into the village which is not only causing the need for roads to need cleaning, but also a potential safety issue as cars ...
Friday I never liked the sound of this 'Bedroom Tax', not least because I have so many of the things myself. So I was glad to hear Clegg say the other day that no one will be forced to pay it unless they have turned down a move to another house. For myself, though a place with only a hundred bedrooms would be more manageable at my time in life, I cannot see me leaving the Hall - I would miss the lake, the haha and the triumphal monuments to Liberal by-election victories. Besides, I am in advanced negotiations about ...
[IMG: TringMemorialGardenAug14] Several years ago Dacorum Borough Council invested over £50,000 in a comprehensive redesign and improvement of the Tring Memorial Garden. With the pond relined and repaired, a new fountain, some judicious pruning and the removal of some of the less successful trees and – with the help of the Friends of Tring Memorial Garden – some new flower beds and imaginative planting, the gardens are once again a beautiful and attractive feature of the town of Tring. The whole area is now lighter, brighter, with better views and no furtive corners, peaceful and pleasant – and as a ...
[IMG: Kirsty Williams and Peter Black visit nurses] Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams has been on a mission for some time to ensure minimum nursing levels in Welsh hospitals. She explained on this site why this was important in a post in March this year. Evidence is increasing from across the world on the positive impact that nurse staffing levels have on patient care and the recruitment and retention of staff. Nurses who have fewer patients to tend are able to spend a greater amount of time with each patient and as a result can provide better care. If ...
Tue 19th
10:00
James Dyson in the Guardian: Engineers are the lifeblood of a country - and the UK doesn't have enou...
Sir James Dyson has written an article in the Guardian about the need in his business, and in the UK generally, of more engineers. Almost 3 million UK engineering jobs will be unfilled in the next six years, and Dyson needs 100 engineers in their R&D labs. For him the problem appears to be one of education and appreciation. "Yes, science is perceived as hard. But a bigger problem is that young people don't know what a career in science or engineering offers. An engineer is not a man in greasy overalls or a harebrained oddball (though I have a ...
Things You Only Know When Both Your Parents Are Dead - should not be this funny "You'll get Dad on your trousers" (tags: ) A citizen's income of £71 a week per person would make Britain fairer (tags: ) Lew Stringer Comics: New strip for Doctor Who Magazine! (tags: ) Woman sexually assaulted on a train in front of other passengers jesus. (tags: ) Parking charges in @calderdale scrapped by new Cabinet (tags: ) My child only rereads sci-fi and fantasy: how can I get him to read new books? Best. Problem page answer. EVER. (tags: ) New Doctor Who ...
Just an update on a number of services to help people with and affected by dementia in the Bury area – hope this is useful: Elms Dementia Cafe The Elms Dementia Cafe takes places 10.30am – 12.30pm at Elms Community Centre once a month. The upcoming dates are: - 12 September 2014 Fire Safety Talk with Bury Fire Service - 10 October 2014 Vicky Marden, Carers Service Officer – Help and Advice - 14 November 2014 Tracing Steps Ballroom Dancing - 12 December 2014 Musical Magic with LLE music service Dementia Family Fun Event Takes place at Elizabethan Suitel Bury ...
[IMG: michael-holding1_1357317a] Having attempted to unload a spare ticket to the Oval to see Day Three of the test against India on Sunday, a day that was ultimately the final one of the English test cricket summer, I travelled to the ground alone. I live about twenty odd minutes walk away, so this was less daunting than it sounds; still, having been rejected by most of the Westminster bubble (think of any political pundit, backbench MP, or director of a think tank and there's about a one in four chance they were asked if they were interested), it was a ...
[IMG: BerkTipPicWebWords] Secret plans to save over £1m have finally been exposed by the Liberal Democrats on Hertfordshire County Council. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Stephen Giles-Medhurst has found out, and now forced the County to make public, that their plan to close two household waste sites and cut opening hours at others, will save not the £750,000 reported to councillors back in early July, but over £1m. After discovering the true figures, Cllr Giles-Medhurst threatened to go public with it unless the council did. The Council had wanted this "saving" to be kept confidential despite having already awarded a contract ...
To help with the plans for the local history museum at the Town Hall Folkestone Town Council need your memories and stories of the Town Hall and the Folkestone Museum collections. Do you remember when the Town Hall had court rooms and prison cells? Did you ever perform on stage where the cinema now is? Do you have any special stories or memories of visiting the old Folkestone museum and the collections? Do you remember the Anglo Saxon skeleton, stuffed birds or the Victorian dress? Your memories and stories will help Folkestone Town Council with the second round of their ...
By the end of this month, you should receive a letter from South Glos Council telling you if you need to take action to join the new Electoral Register. Most people who are currently registered have been added to the new register automatically, and the letter will let you know if this applies to you. Some people have not been added to the new register automatically and these people will need to re-register. The letter will tell you if you are in this group, and what you need to do to re-register. The letters are a result of a new ...
[IMG: Danny Alexander at 10 Downing Street] Access to museums and galleries such as the British Museum, the Tate Modern, the Science Museum and the V & A will remain free under new Liberal Democrat proposals according to The Guardian which quotes Danny Alexander as saying: Our museums and galleries are some of the best in the world. They are a source of inspiration and education for millions across the country. As Liberal Democrats in government we've played our full part in making sure they have the funding and operating freedoms to widen access to all parts of society. The ...
A lot of nonsense gets talked about Israel and Palestine, some of it by me. In one of the first posts I stated that I believed Zionism was "an objectionable and misconceived project" in part because it "made Arabs atone for European sins." Vox's guide to myths surrounding the conflict explains why this line of thinking [...]
Further to the recent request made by myself and the City Council's Chief Executive to Post Office Limited about the possibility of temporary facility in Perth Road during the September closure period when modernisation work is being carried out at the Perth Road Post Office Branch, I spoke with the Post Office's Stakeholder Manager for Scotland last Friday about this and was advised yesterday as follows :Thank you for your time on the phone on Friday.I appreciate your concerns regarding Perth Road Post Office closure for refurbishment and would like to assure you that we have made every effort to ...
The odd places you find things. This photo was taken at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston, which somehow had rescued an old station nameplate from a Merseyrail Station:- [IMG: rsz_station_sign_found_at_ribble_steam_railway] The photo is amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
The Campaign for Real Ale has called for a change in legislation that would mean that a planning application is always needed before a pub is demolished or converted into another use, a change it believes would help protect the UK's pubs, which are closing at a rate of 31 a week. "It is utterly perverse that developers are able to demolish or convert a pub into a convenience store, or many other uses, without any requirement to apply for planning permission," stated CAMRA's Tom Stainer. The Guardian has run this story recently. The campaigning around the now closed Priory ...
Just a few links today. My anxiety has been playing up the last few days, so I've not had a chance to get much written... This sums up a lot of the problems I've had with films recently — Guardians of the Galaxy, the Star Trek reboots... basically every geek film of the last few [...]
