I was delighted, along with Dundee LibDem colleagues, to welcome Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, to Dundee today. As well as media interviews and a walkabout in the West End, we also did door-knocking and speaking with local residents in Broughty Ferry. Here's some photographs from today : With Willie and local party secretary Daniel Coleman at Riverside Willie at Wave 102 Studios Outside Dundee Contemporary Arts in Nethergate
#90777004 / gettyimages.com Last summer I blogged about the former Imperial Typewriters factory in Leicester. That tale, with its racial politics, union militancy and outmoded products, tells us something important about Britain in the 1970s. This striking photograph must have been taken inside that factory.
Reading and its surrounds are in the midst of a pub closure crisis. The sudden departure of the landlord of the Lyndhurst and its closure on Sunday is the latest in a string of closures. I am writing this sat in Wokingham's Shute End headquarters, about to speak in my CAMRA role (strictly non-party political) in favour of Wokingham using an Article 4 Direction to force Enterprise Inns and Tesco to seek planning permission for their attempt to turn the Maiden Over in Earley – a successful pub in the Good Beer Guide – into yet another Tesco. There is ...
[IMG: Liberal Democrat badge - Some rights reserved by Paul Walter, Newbury, UK] The news that Lord Rennard has been welcomed back into the fold has engendered both despair and joy across the party. Those who 'never understood what the fuss was all about', those who are no longer sure they want to be part of a party that doesn't appear to live its values. Lester Holloway, among others, offers an excellent analysis of the wider implications. I have made no secret of my disappointment about the way this case has been handled from the start. As a party it ...
A depressing story from the Leicester Mercury: A black Leicestershire Police inspector has revealed he has been stopped and searched by fellow officers around 30 times while he was off duty. Inspector Nick Glynn told BBC Leicester he has often been subjected to the controversial policing practice by colleagues from other forces.The good news is that Inspector Glynn, who already advises Leicestershire Police on the use of stop and search powers, has been seconded to the College of Policing - a national body which oversees police training - to help reform the way they are used across the country.
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe: You can also watch this on YouTube.
Sefton Council Lib Dem Opposition Group Leader Cllr. Iain Brodie Browne 7th August 2014 Liberal Democrat response to the 'additional sites' consultation with regard to Sefton Council's draft Local Plan It may well be useful for us to start with a reminder of the Lib Dem approach to Sefton Council's Local Plan in terms of our previous detailed submission of 26th September 2013. From the headline issues in that earlier submission we will then frame our response to the additional sites for potential development, put forward by land owners and developers. This is what we said in September 2013:- Labour's ...
Haematology outpatients this morning below, with last time's in brackets. Platelets are within the normal range for the first time for ages, other values much the same as four weeks ago, outside the normal range but tolerable. Dr G acknowledged that deciding the hydroxycaranide dose was pure guesswork so it was left at six times a week.
The recession of 2008 and the years that followed had a devastating effect on people's finances. Unemployment soared and many factories reduced hours, preserving jobs but depressing pay. This was the situation I and my Lib Dem colleagues found ourselves in, when we entered government in 2010. These days Labour make it a habit to mention the "cost [...]
I have not watched the video of American journalist James Foley being beheaded by a militant from the so-called Islamic State, IS (previously known as ISIS). I don't need to, in order to share the revulsion and anger felt by most people in Britain, especially as the masked "executioner" in the video would appear to [...]
North Cornwall's Liberal Democrat MP Dan Rogerson has written to NHS England urging them to approve the expansion of Launceston Medical Centre without further delay. The centre's plans to expand to meet demand from people in and around the town are ready to go to the next stage, but things cannot progress until NHS England publish new guidelines covering the expansion of surgeries. In a letter to Dan Rogerson in early July, NHS England pledged to be able to assess the Centre's application to expand within a few weeks, but the necessary NHS guidelines have still not been published, despite ...
We have been asked by the Initiative for Carbon Accounting (ICARB) to make members aware of the upcoming ICARB Conference in Edinburgh on Friday 5th September. With an increasing focus on managing carbon emissions, and the various contributions that Liberal Democrats in local government are seeking to make to the topic, this is an organisation [...]
Here is a copy of an email I have sent to local residents this afternoon, about the situation in Gaza. please do get in touch if you are a local resident and want to discuss this further. The conflict and subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left over 400,000 civilians struggling to find food, water, or shelter. That's why the UK government has been one of the largest humanitarian aid donors to date. The Department for International Development - where I am a minister - has provided: £6m for basics (shelter and cooking equipment) £3m for healthcare £3m for the ...
[IMG: Tony Benn] I first wrote this in 2010 and thought it was time for a slight update and republication as I keep on finding myself thinking the same thoughts again. The late Tony Benn's lament that politics should be about issues, not personalities, is one echoed even by many who would struggle to find any issues on which they agreed with him. But it's not a view I share. Why? Because the detailed policies of election manifestos or conference speeches frequently get swept aside in power by events. It's not just the unexpected new event, it's also the fallibility ...
[IMG: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA] Liberal Democrats would maintain free access to national museums and galleries under their 2015 manifesto plans. The party would ensure free entry and continue to make this a condition of government funding. Museums and galleries play a crucial role in the cultural life of the UK, attracting millions of visitors each year and the Liberal Democrats want to see that continue. Commenting Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said: "Our museums and galleries are some of the best in the world. They are a source of inspiration and education for millions across the ...
[IMG: Scotland pipers band] How has our party got swept up into the negativity of Better Together, and how does one reconcile that negativity with the commitment of the Edinburgh agreement to negotiate in a cooperative way? The problem lies in a probably well-founded belief that discussing possible negotiations cooperatively in advance would lead to a realisation that they're perfectly practicable, that Scotland could achieve political independence while maintaining close social and other ties to rUK. Hence the refusal to pre-negotiate, the refusal to investigate options – for example, to ask for an official EU position on continued membership for ...
An American is at least three times more likely to be shot and killed by a police officer than a Briton is by a criminal. The ongoing violence in St Louis suburb of Ferguson seems to have produced much debate in the US. The clashes were ignited by the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man [...]
London property prices continue to be just a bit of an outlier, as the latest ONS statistics show: [IMG: London property prices] (Remember, though, that rents have been falling in real terms even in London.)
Wed 20th
13:15
Norman Lamb announces task force to tackle "unfit for purpose" mental health services for children a...
[IMG: Norman Lamb, Minister for Consumer Affairs] When your child suffers from a mental health problem, be it crippling, life limiting anxiety, devastating Depression, an eating disorder, schizophrenia or any other condition which causes them suffering and distress, you want them diagnosed and treated quickly and close to home. You want them to have that support for as long as they need it, not for it to be abruptly withdrawn at a particular date on the calendar. There is nothing more devastating for a parent than to see your child suffer. You need to have confidence that whatever medical condition ...
The Times carries a report today outlining the extraordinary events surrounding the Tower Hamlets Mayoral election as they are now being told to the High court. They sau that Britain's first elected Muslim mayor was accused in the High Court of exerting unlawful "spiritual influence" over voters, who were allegedly told that it was their religious duty to vote for him: They add that electors were told that they could hope for rewards in the afterlife if they voted for Lutfur Rahman, but might be punished in the next world if they supported his Labour rival, documents filed at the ...
As I write, I'm sitting opposite a brilliant young textiles artist called Honami. She's been in the UK from Japan studying, and I spent yesterday evening taking up cudgels on her behalf against Virgin Media - which has hit her with a bill for £150 for ending her internet contract a few months early. Now, this isn't an argument about whether or not Virgin has the right to enforce the terms of their voluminous contract. In fact, their manager explained to me that they actually have the right to charge the full £227 which they would have earned from the ...
[IMG: TV studio. Image courtesy of http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1426542 - some rights reserved] If there's one thing pretty much everyone in the party can agree on about the Chris Rennard story, it is that it shows how vitally important it is to have effective rules, properly administered. Central to that is the Party President, chair of the Federal Executive and - if they wish - a significant player in how the party is administered. Even on matters devolved to other areas of the party, the federal party is key - because it sets out common standards everyone has to follow (often via ...
[IMG: image] One of the superb, and very enjoyable, things about Liberal Democrat Voice, at the moment, is that there is excellent coverage of the Scottish debate. This is helped by having a Highlander co-editor, the great Caron Lindsay. There are about two interesting posts a day about Scotland at the moment in the run-up to the referendum. As honorary photo editor, or "photo-fairy" as I encourage the team to call me, this leaves me with a bijou problemette. At the height of our powers here at LDV Towers, we like to illustrate each post. But there are only so ...
Last night I wrote a letter on my laptop. But I wasn't prepared to send it straight away. I know that there are times when you are angry about something you need to write it down, but think about it before pressing send, publish or sticking it into a envelope. (If you don't believe me you should see some of the drafts on this blog that never made it to the interwebs) Well yesterday the suspension of Lord Rennard's membership was lifted by Liberal Democrat HQ. So the letter I drafted was one that tendered my resignation for the Liberal ...
On Test Match Special a few days ago talk turned to the subject of fast bowling. The consensus was that there were many more fast bowlers around in the county game 20 or 30 years ago - most of them, of course, from overseas. But Jon Agnew said that the modern bowlers are convinced they are faster than anyone who has gone before them. Aren't today sprinters and throwers better than their predecessors? Let me offer a couple of pieces of evidence in favour of the idea that bowlers were faster 20 or 30 years ago. First, George Ferris. He ...
Last night, the Lib Dems announced they were bringing to an end any disciplinary proceedings into former Chief Executive Lord Rennard, who was accused of sexual harassment by party staff and activists. In a statement, party leader Nick Clegg said: The Liberal Democrats have taken a long, hard look in the mirror since these allegations were made last year and I am confident that the party has changed. How such a statement was written with a straight face, I will never know. That Rennard will be allowed to return as a Lib Dem member and working peer shows the party ...
I got the results of my excision biopsy yesterday morning. I've been told that I have a non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but that the prognosis is good with treatment – probably chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of both. I'm back at work today, feeling rather tired and distracted, but at least my neck is more comfortable now that the stitches have been removed. Thank you to everyone who has left messages of support in the comments of my last post, on twitter, through facebook, on the 'phone, by email – and some were delivered in person too! They were all greatly appreciated. ...
Seaton Council have, at best, been disinterested in the way that Chargers have besieged Chapel Street. Elected representatives and members of the public have raised their concerns with the Council and no effective action has been taken. I spoke about this issue a couple of years ago, and to be fair Sir Ron Watson (Indep) challenged the Council but no effective action was taken. Let us be clear this is not a matter of money, this is about the will to act. This morning I met Enda Rylands the Chair of the Southport BID. His organisation has recognised the problem ...
[IMG: Stephen Williams MP] Liberal Democrat Communities Minister has called for the FA, football clubs and the Police to work together to combat homophobia on football terraces. From Pink News: He said: "We need to stamp out homophobia on the terraces with the same vigour that we banished racism. It isn't acceptable that footballers still feel the need to hide their sexuality out of fear of abuse. "I want homophobia to be treated with zero tolerance just the same as racism and I want clubs, stewards, the police and FA to work even harder to achieve this aim. "Football clubs ...
Saturday How charming it must have been to see our own Duncan Hames carry his infant son Andrew through one of the Commons voting lobbies! Let me add at once that reliable observers agree that it was young Andrew who was cooing and not Duncan. Hearing of this incident put me in mind of some of the characters I encountered during my own time in the House. There was one old Tory who always carried a spaniel under his arm when he passed through to vote, while one of our chaps maintained that he had been granted the Freedom of ...
[IMG: Cornwall pic] I spent last week in Cornwall on holidays and loved it. I have to admit upfront to having a bit of a thing for the place. Partly it's the country's independent mindedness (literally - it has far more non-party affiliated councillors than any other part of England), partly its extremity (geographically, I mean), and also the fact that it doesn't look like anywhere else in the British Isles. It has trees you only get in Cornwall seemingly, and the landscape isn't like anything even throughout the rest of the West Country. Nearby where we were staying, there ...
Spending watchdog accuses DWP of hiding universal credit's failings (tags: ) New Favourite Tumblr klaxon! (tags: ) Interesting comparison of law enforecement techniques between US and UK in The Economist "Last year, in total, British police officers actually fired their weapons three times. The number of people fatally shot was zero. In 2012 the figure was just one. Even after adjusting for the smaller size of Britain's population, British citizens are around 100 times less likely to be shot by a police officer than Americans." (tags: ) Video: Men are buying women's beauty products all the time without knowing This ...
For this week's Build-Up Blog I've picked a campaign being run by Liberal Democrat controlled Sutton Borough Council. Our group on the Council has helped start a major clean streets campaign aimed at tackling litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling. At a time when many communication budgets have been cut back, this campaign is proving to [...]
The latest Community Learning prospectus for September 2014-July 2015 is now available offering a range of FREE part-time courses in our local area. These courses courses can help you gain a qualification, improve job skills, help your children's learning, and become more involved in your local community Courses include Maths, English, computer and IT skills, job seeking and interview skills, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), confidence building, wellbeing and more. How about "Getting the most from your tablet or iPad", for example? That's a 6 week course running at Yate Library. Click here to view the prospectus with ...
[IMG: image] It is an hour and six minutes of your life you won't get back, but it is actually worth listening to this conversation between Danny Alexander and political commentator David Torrance as part of Dundee University's Five Million Questions project. David has just written a book on Federalism so it was obvious he was going to be quizzing Danny on that subject. It's also available on You Tube here. Enjoy. It's much better than a lot of the hot air around the independence referendum.
Israel's opponents regularly proclaim a Day of Rage against Israel. I am on the Tube to work and (even allowing for possible delays on the Northern Line), I therefore don't have day today to devote to rage. I only have a minute. So, with even The Guardian (hardly a pro-Israeli newspaper) having reported yesterday that: "The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was in jeopardy on Tuesday after rockets were fired from Gaza, triggering a swift military and political response from Israel", that clear, and simple reality (that, in the middle of a ceasefire - in the middle, indeed ...
I am presently trying to get to the bottom of why an ambulance which was called to a property in Lydiate on 9th August was very significantly delayed. The family of the patient has asked me to look into the matter and I have taken it up with the North West Ambulance Service. If any other Sefton Borough resident has experienced a problem with the North West Ambulance Service's response time recently please e-mail me with the details as this will help me understand whether this was a one off problem or part of a wider concern. My e-mail address ...
Jericho House Yesterday, I attended the latest meeting of the Jericho House support group, a regular meeting at which a number of us discuss fundraising and other projects to support this important facility in the West End Ward, that assists those recovering from alcoholism. Jericho's staff and service users are starring in a play that it is hoped will be performed during this year's West End Christmas Fortnight. We were pleased to hear yesterday that rehearsals are going well. Jericho House service users and staff are also participating in a car wash fundraiser (with thanks to Tesco who are hosting ...
Wed 20th
08:23
The Rennard affair: walking away in protest at the outcome only hands victory to our inadequate lead...
The lifting of Chris Rennard's suspension owes much to his campaining record, friends in high places and the inadequacies of the party's disciplinary process. Legally, he is not guilty of any wrongdoing. We all have our own views on what has passed. I spent best part of last night on social media trying to convince female party colleages not to tender their resignations in response to the outcome. The arguments I used are exactly those that pursuaded me to rejoin in May: you can only affect change from within; the principles on which the party is based are worth fighting ...
Too much democracy? Time for 21st century democracy. – An introduction by Martin Smith and Dave Richards to some of the themes of their book Institutional Crisis in 21st Century Britain , which I'm working through at the moment. Forget quotas for women MPs - time to limit the number of men – Rainbow Murray flips the debate on representation. Making policy for the policy invariant – How do you make policy if the people don't care what the results of that policy are? Public Statement on the Readmittance of Lord Rennard to the Liberal Democrats – Jennie Rigg says ...
An update on the long-running water leak on Hornsey Rise: Circle 33 has now been in touch and visited the location. It looks as if the leak is coming from a cupboard owned by Islington Council, so Circle 33 has now raised it with the council too. Fingers crossed.
Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, will visit Dundee later today to meet Dundee people to discuss the forthcoming referendum and Scottish Liberal Democrat plans for Home Rule for Scotland, within a federal United Kingdom. I am speaking this morning on Wave 102 News about this - you can hear the interview by clicking 'play' below :
I've not done one of these in ages, so since I've not got much to say tonight I thought I'd put together a new "cloudcast" of the music I've been listening to recently. The tracklisting is: Swingle Singers — Little David's Fugue Ann Magnusson — Old Enuf 2 B Yer Mom Tommy James — Midnight [...]
To the politically obsessed this might seem like an odd question. Of course political parties matter. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who take a more jaundiced view of politics: they'd argue that "they're all as bad as each other" and it doesn't matter who you elect the government always get in. The more recent revival of that argument would be that all the main political parties are signed up to some version of hegemonic neoliberalism, so it doesn't really make much difference who forms the government - you're going to get some version of the same ...
The party's headless chicken response to this whole farrago has been utterly disappointing, and Rennard's utter inability to see what damage he is doing to the party he claims to love due to his own massive entitlement complex is sickening in the extreme. We have already lost enough people over this - many of them, Susan G especially, worth ten of an over-rated & out-dated campaigns strategist - so I won't be leaving the party. It is true that Lord Rennard has not been found guilty of any crime in a court of law. He should not be subject to ...
