They do like warning us at Leicester Station, but I suspect the people behind these warnings are lovers of music. A couple of years ago we were told to "Walk Don't Run," which brought to mind an instrumental by The Ventures. More recently these sings appeared on the steps, reminding me of an early Spencer Davis Group single...
Nick Clegg has sent the following email to party members this evening about the new counter terrorism measures taken by the Government. There is no doubt that had he not been constrained by Liberal Democrats, David Cameron would have gone ... Continue reading →
Mon 1st
22:03
An email on counter-terrorism measures from a Liberal Democrat should not make me despair...
Nick Clegg has sent the following email to party members this evening about the new counter terrorism measures taken by the Government. There is no doubt that had he not been constrained by Liberal Democrats, David Cameron would have gone much, much further and what has emerged is as liberal as it is likely to get. But I don't have to like it. Here is what Nick said: It is hard to avoid the news of the violence and humanitarian suffering coming from Iraq and Syria. I am appalled by the idea of British people travelling abroad to fight in ...
Anyone with an interest in unexplained phenomena (or the way that they can ultimately be explained) will enjoy the magazine Fortean Times. On its website it publishes a daily digest of weird news from around the world. Today's digest included my post on the homophobic monks of Brighton, Cambridge and Market Harborough.
When I discovered that a rock festival featuring Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Pink Floyd had been held at the Tulip Bulb Auction Hall, Spalding, in 1967, there was only one person I wanted to tell. Simon Titley would have loved the Lincolnshire connection with the summer of love and, when he laughed, he would be laughing with the incongruity of such an event, not at it. But Simon was already too ill and yesterday morning I learnt that he had died. As far as Liberator ever had an ideological centre, Simon provided it. His favourite theme, expressed in this Liberal ...
[IMG: Electric car charging] In addition to the proposal to extend free school meals, today the Liberal Democrats launched a significant part of the environmental section of the pre-manifesto document: Five green laws to protect the environment have been unveiled today as part of Liberal Democrat manifesto plans. The new laws will include legal targets for clean air and water, an end to dirty coal power stations and an ambitious decarbonisation target for the electricity sector. Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary & Climate Change Secretary said: "The environment has always been a top priority for the Liberal Democrats and ...
The City of the Saved houses every human being who ever lived... but some of its immortal Citizens need more. For the Remakers, one fiction above all exerts its fascination: a character existing in countless interpretations, many of them now recreated in the flesh and in business together as the Great Detective Agency. These are [...]
Mon 1st
20:42
Of course sterlingisation and debt default would mean we would pay more for our mortgages, loans and...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has been taking a bit of a pasting on social media from nationalists who don't like what he said in a tv interview yesterday. He argued what I thought was a pretty obvious point ... Continue reading →
Mon 1st
20:39Of course sterlingisation and debt default would lead to Scots paying more for loans, mortgages and ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has been taking a bit of a pasting on social media from nationalists who don't like what he said in a tv interview yesterday. He argued what I thought was a pretty obvious point that in a Scotland where we were using the pound without the protection of a lender of last resort and where Alex Salmond had led us to inglorious default on our share of the UK debt, our mortgages, car loans and credit cards would be more expensive than they are now. There are several reasons for this. First of all, ...
(several characters' genders are only mentioned so fleetingly that I can't remember what gender they were, and it didn't really matter for story purposes), but the nature of the story means that a large number of the characters are disabled or Native American, and there's also a general level of pleasing unemphasised diversity — only [...]
The Economist leads off its business section with a piece about the valuation of brands, and cites research suggesting that almost a third of the value of the S&P 500 index of companies stems from their brands. That is a mind-boggling amount of value, trillions and trillions. The article goes on to discuss how brands [...]
[IMG: US soldier clears mines in Iraq. Photo courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/3698302314/ - some rights reserved] Bizarre and brilliant: researchers are turning to plants in order to help clear minefields left behind after military conflicts. The idea is that the chemicals which leak out from mines are poisonous to some plants, so if you inspect the right plants over a suspect area, the patches of dead plants will then reveal where there are mines to be cleared: In the future, Manley said, he hopes there will be an Explosive Specific Index for plants, essentially a spectral catalog of how land mine ...
The Echo has the story – see link above:- [IMG: Mind the (funding) gap?] Mind the (funding) gap? Well this one has certainly done the rounds in recent years and the Echo is right to be sceptical of what will happen. Sadly, this fits with my long held view that Merseytravel has a history of over-promising and under-delivering. Having said that I am more confident about the running of it since Liam Robinson took over. The £70m lost on the appalling Merseytram project could well mean Merseytravel is less confident these days but either the aged rolling stock is ...
There has been some confusion, and consternation, amongst Lib Dems about whether the relocation of terrorist suspects has been agreed. The civil liberties questions such measures raise always raise issues in the Lib Dems, and relocation immediately invites comparison with control orders, which the party opposed. Speaking to senior Lib Dem sources they confirmed that "we have agreed to look at" relocation. They told me that this is being done at the request of David Anderson, who is responsible for monitoring government terror legislation. However, they al emphasised that at this point, whatever the Prime Minister has said, bringing back ...
Thought for the day: how come powerful vacuum cleaners have to be restricted by agreement of Europe's Governments – not, of course, just by the European Commission – while powerful cars have no such constriction? Could it be that those Governments are male dominated, and cars are "boys' toys", while those same politicians don't have much experience of household appliances? [IMG: Email]
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I sit here having just rejoined the Liberal Democrats. I was previously a member and considered getting active in my local area. I left because I felt dismayed by the type of politics that I was seeing happening around the country. UKIP were making gains in the European elections, every politician I hear or representative blamed other parties for the failures of the past. In 2010 I was very active within my personal capacity to do so. I delivered campaign material on the doors in all weathers. I had conversations with lifelong Conservative voters in an attempt to highlight the ...
[IMG: Bus Rally at Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway Poster] until November 2nd - Folkestone Triennial, various locations until May 8th 2015 - Your Country Calls exhibition, Folkestone Town Hall, Guildhall Street Wednesday 3rd - Triennial walking-tour, Quarterhouse, Tontine Street Saturday 6th - Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular, Leas Cliff Hall Sunday 7th - Bus Rally Day, Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Wednesday 10th - Triennial walking-tour, Quarterhouse, Tontine Street Wednesday 10th-Saturday 13th - Sailor Beware! Tower Theatre, North Road Thursday 11th - Jazz night with The Andy Mclean Band, The Grand, The Leas Friday 12th - The Great Misto Victorian ...
[IMG: Elm Tree Walk Green] Elm Tree Walk Green Three years ago Dacorum Borough Council announced a "Verge Hardening" Scheme to convert certain stretches of grass verge and parts of utility greens to extra car parking. Hardening the verge is a means to protect, or restore, the appearance of unsightly vehicle damaged verges. Hardening part of a utility green, if it is large enough, can achieve the same effect. Both can make significant contributions to difficult parking situations. The parking situation in at the end of Elm Tree Walk, off Silk Mill Way, Tring, has been difficult for a long ...
All children have a right to a happy childhood Reading the report on Rotherham, which I have now done twice, is very like reading the reports about Victoria Climbie and Baby Peter in Haringey. I know that in some ways ... Continue reading →
Andrew George hopes to cut Bedroom Tax through his Private Members Bill, due to be debated on Friday. He will take up key elements of the motion LibDems steered through Cornwall Council, trying to stop some people from being affected by this charge. He is trying to help the people willing to move to a smaller home but no suitable property is available and disabled people where their home has been especially adapted to meet their needs. If he can get enough M.P's to support his Bill, in my view, this will make it more likely the whole bedroom tax ...
The prospect of airport expansion is hugely controversial. It sparks an inevitable tug-o-war between those who see larger airports as key to economic growth, and those worried about the impact on the environment. Many people, including in my own party, are rightly concerned about the potential damage increased airport capacity could cause. These feelings can be particularly acute in London, especially around Heathrow, where residents endure noise and dread the prospect of more flights. Our Liberal Democrat pre-manifesto – set by our party's working groups and committees - looks set to include a commitment to no net increase in runways ...
[IMG: Clean Up Folkestone] Do you think Shepway District Council are keeping Folkestone clean? No? We agree. Join the Clean-Up Folkestone campaign today at http://shep.lib.dm/cleanupfolkestone Published and promoted by Tim Prater, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone, CT20 3BYPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
My LibDem colleague and friend Giles Goodall's take on the top EU appointments I blogged about at the weekend: The EU's new faces: good for Britain, good for Europe Giles Goodall is a member of the European Movement's National Council and has been a Liberal Democrat MEP candidate for South East England In [...]
Family of Ashya King are getting support from local MP Mike Hancock who has written to Hospital asking them to review the treatment offered — Peter Henley (@BBCPeterH) September 1, 2014
[IMG: Archway Tower. Photo courtesy of - some rights reserved] A long-derelict skyscraper near where I live is set to become part of a new trend in the British property market – private renting not from individual landlords but from firms. Completed in 1963, Archway Tower is one of those examples of 1960s architecture that gave 1960s buildings a bad reputation. It was also for a while home of my favourite generator of absurdly complicated paperwork, the Office of the Public Guardian (who just pip the Ministry of Justice to that accolade). Long since run down, and surrounded by ...
Cornwall Council has today published its proposals for saving £196m over the next four years and is asking members of the public, partner organisations and staff to give their views on the draft budget and come forward with any other ideas for saving money. The Council's aim is to strengthen its partnerships with the rest of the public and community sector in order to make as many savings as possible without cuts to frontline services. The authority is seeking to devolve at least £34m of services to town and parish councils and to work on integrating services currently run by ...
Over the last few days, the collapsed section of Ludlow's town wall behind St Laurence's Church has been vandalised, further threatening the stability of the graveyard and wall. The safety fences in the Garden of Rest have been damaged and some sections pushed to the ground. Sandbags and sheeting have been thrown down from the [...]
Mon 1st
13:15Danny Alexander sets out vision for more powers after a No vote in the Scottish referendum
[IMG: Danny, Charles, Willie in Inverness] On Friday night, Danny Alexander, Willie Rennie and Charles Kennedy held a public meeting in Inverness on the independence referendum. A key theme was what would happen in the event of a No vote. For Highland communities, rule from Edinburgh is every bit as dangerous as rule from London. Nowhere has this been as keenly demonstrated as through the centralisation of the Scottish police force. This has now led to armed police being present on routine duties on the streets of peaceful Highland towns and communities with the wishes of residents and the local ...
North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has branded SNP Ministers as armchair generals after the former deputy commander of NATO forces in Europe described the defence proposals contained in the independence White Paper as amateurish and dangerous. Sir Menzies was speaking after General Sir Richard Shirreff slammed the SNP's defence plans in a statement. Commenting, Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Why should we believe the armchair generals of the SNP on defence when those who have actually seen action are branding their White Paper proposals amateurish and dangerous? "One of the fundamental responsibilities of the state is to ensure the ...
The Liberal Democrat manifesto will include plans for five new laws to protect the environment, it has been announced today. The manifesto plans include include legal targets for clean air and water, an end to dirty coal power stations and an ambitious decarbonisation target for the electricity sector. Liberal Democrats in government have worked hard to keep the environment at the top of the agenda. The party wants to go further and build on their achievements in Government in areas including Britain's rise in renewable energy, the Green Investment Bank and record investment in our railways. The plans include new ...
Throughout September the force's Get Closer campaign will focus on encouraging victims who have experienced sexual assault or rape, to come forward and report it. The initiative aims to raise awareness that women, men, teenagers and children can all be victims and assaults can be committed by strangers, family members or friends. The key message to offenders is "if they say no, they mean no". Sexual assaults often go unreported because people are scared to talk to someone, feel as if they won't be listened to, or just don't know who to contact. The force will be working with the ...
Mon 1st
11:45Liberal Democrat Voice Awards 2014 - get your nominations in NOW, and never let it be said that we d...
The Liberal Democrat Voice Awards will take place with its usual glamour and fun on the Saturday evening of the Glasgow Conference. Here's all the details: There will be a fantastic selection of Liberal Democrats presenting the awards. You can read about last year's ceremony, where Nick Clegg called us infuriating and inspiring here. We revamped the Awards last year and people seemed to like what we have done, so we've kept the format the same with one wee tweak. We think that we should give your imaginations free rein with the photoshopping and the parliamentarians so there's a separate ...
from BATPC. The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 came into effect in August 2014. This piece of legislation has amended relevant parts of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to increase the rights of members of the press and public to film, audio-record, take photographs, and use social media of any kind such as tweeting and blogging, and posting on Facebook and YouTube to report the proceedings of all council meetings that are open to the public. Unlike before, as far as parish and town councils are concerned, no prior permission is required as such to ...
I've never claimed that this blog provided any kind of authority on foreign affairs. Public services is the main area where I have things to say that I feel might be useful, and even then authority hasn't been exactly my strong point. But the prospect of some kind of open war between Western Europe and the Russians over the Ukraine has been talked up over the weekend by the Telegraph, and we don't need to be Telegraph readers to be nervous about that. I have been putting finishing touches to a book about the Christmas Truce in 1914 (to be ...
Here's a paradox. Britain's political party leaders are the most mediocre, as a set, that I can remember. At least in 2010 we had Gordon Brown: a disastrous prime minister, but one who at least had the moral authority to help lead the world from economic disaster in 2009. But next year's General Election looks to be the most interesting contest for a very long time. The shame for Liberal Democrats like myself is that we are bit part players, hoping to hang on to most of our parliamentary seats, but without playing much part in the national debate. But ...
Here is a link to their website and their claims of an improved service: http://www.govia.info/gtr/
Last week I wrote about how the verbal and physical abuse of No Campaigners by Yes supporters had brought a new low. However it looks as if No campaigners are determined the game of stupid one upmanship that has marked the independence debate. When it was £500 better off, £500 worse, then £600 better, £800 worse, £1,500 better, we can put it down to the fact that there are simply too many variable to reliably answer key economic questions reliably, so politics took over and that's just to be expected, however disappointing. However the abuse online demonstrated best by the ...
On 27th August as a party of the new Liberal Democrat media strategy of Manifesto by a Thousand Statements, in the name of the party it was announced that The Liberal Democrats have set out plans to introduce a trio of wealth taxes which will help to cut the deficit whilst ensuring fairness in our tax system. I fully understand the need to wipe out the deficit, and the need for the wealthiest to bear the greatest burden in achieving that, but let us not confuse that with making our tax system fairer. National Insurance is a tax on income. ...
And this is why I have anonymous comments screened on my blog It has taken me a long time to get myself away from the sort of mindset this comment espouses. It's not a healthy mindset. (tags: ) Scott Lynch responds to a critical "fan" letter from a racist, sexist idiot (contains swears) (tags: ) lib dems least likely to prefer flavour of crisps that makes your breath smell I note that Henderson's Relish flavour was not an option... (tags: ) Free school meals: Lib Dems promise to expand policy to all primary school pupils in next parliament (tags: ) ...
[IMG: Clacton] I don't know a lot about Clacton-on-Sea, having never been there personally. But I know a thing or two about polling, and the snap poll taken by Survation for the Mail on Sunday smells funny. It predicts the result of the Clacton by-election will be UKIP 64, Conservative 20, Labour 13, Lib Dem 2. Bollocks. The idea that UKIP are going to win by 44 points is fantasy beyond description. If it had UKIP winning by 10 points, that would be scary. That's possible, credible. The astronomical lead makes it obviously questionable. It is a small sample size, ...
Dr Who's incoherent attitude to its protagonist's pacifist tendencies is rapidly becoming one of its main weaknesses. *Spoilers ahead* "You can't beat a Dalek by being a good soldier; it's the perfect soldier!" warns Peter Capaldi's Doctor in an episode in which soldiery was to the fore. Clara's new flame turned out to be [...]
One of the key constitutional powers that separates democracies from other systems of government is the protection of people from arbitrary rule. Everyone, from the Monarch down is not above the law but equally, everyone should be entitled to the protections the law affords. This was put far more elequently in 'a man for all seasons' With this in mind, when I listen to the latest set of anti terror proposals today I will be testing them against this simple statement from the US constitution no person shall "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." ...
Just two and a half months ago, we had to report the desperately sad news that Simon Titley, stalwart of the Liberator collective, was seriously ill. Simon passed away yesterday morning. The thoughts of the LDV team are with all who were close to him. At this time of year, the Liberator Collective are busy preparing for Conference, putting together the Liberator Song Book and their pre-Confeernce magazine. The Glee Club will be full of emotion this year. Simon wrote several articles for this site as well as his regular Liberator previews which you can read here. I want to ...
The police have announced that they are reducing the opening hours at the Chipping Sodbury enquiry office from this week. It will be will be open Monday to Friday 10am until 6pm, but will be closed for lunch between 1.30pm and 2.15pm.
I made mention of the Coalition Government funding 90% of the cost of Maghull's second railway Station in a recent posting and them previously throwing a large amount of money at the presently being built Switch Island – Thornton (to be called Broomscross Road) link road. But there is a also a 3rd project that will 'benefit' Maghull and district that the Coalition has recently stumped up £5.5m (again around 90% of the cost) for. Makes you wonder why the Coalition seemingly loves throwing so much money at the East Parishes part of Sefton, does it not, especially as the ...
Residents have complained to me that some of the street lighting at Lower Pleasance, Douglas Street and Brewery Lane is obscured by foliage from overgrown trees. I took this up with the Street Lighting Partnership and have been advised :We have looked at the various streets mentioned. There are some areas where the trees are obscuring the light. We will get them cut back in the next couple of days.
Friends of Blackness undertakes both the Parent Council and Parent Teacher Association roles at Blackness Primary School. The Friends' AGM is at the school on Tuesday 9th September - details are available here.
[IMG: Gas cooker] Free school meals for all primary school children is today's Liberal Democrat proposal floated in the media: In an interview with The Independent, Mr Laws rejected criticism of the current programme to provide free meals for five- to seven-year-olds, and said the scheme would be rolled out for seven- to 11-year-olds in the lifetime of the next parliament if the Liberal Democrats are re-elected... Mr Laws was speaking as 16,500 infant and primary schools prepare to start serving free meals to five- to seven-year-olds this week - realising a commitment made by Nick Clegg as his party's ...
...I would humbly suggest that it should be this: Why I will be voting no thanks by Duncan Stephen But, then again, I am probably too late. You have probably read shed loads on it already. Cue: another nice picture of Scotland. This one is of Glencoe, which I took on my recent holidays. It features a few Japanese tourists. [IMG: image]
The Western Mail reports that the RSPCA in Wales has hit out at the Welsh Government for "disregarding" hundreds of views from the public on dog and puppy welfare rules, because they'd stemmed from a social media campaign it had started. They have criticised Ministers for labelling hundreds of consultation responses to proposed regulations on the maximum number of dogs under the care of one staff member in breeding establishments as "generic responses...circulated via social media", before not including them in the number opposed to its position: The changes in the regulations were proposed after a number of allegations came ...
Yesterday's Observer carries an editorial supposedly to correct the confusion felt by many English journalists between Newport and Cardiff. They are right, muddling up the two is no laughing matter, but couldn't they have researched the article a bit better? The comments point out two further errors within the article itself. The first is that the parody song Newport State of Mind is nothing to do with Goldie Lookin' Chain as the paper claims. In fact the lyrics reference a number of things that are nothing to do with Newport. That is why Goldie Lookin' Chain recorded a response Newport ...
When I am not wearing my self-sufficiency hat, I am wearing my local councillor hat. Alas, that restricts me (morally) when it comes to entering our local flower show. One of the sponsors of the Whickham Flower Show is Gateshead Council and were I to enter the competitions and win, it would look decidedly dodgy that the local councillor has won competitions put on by Gateshead Council.
