Go onto the website of Yes Scotland and you will find them promising a 'fair and caring Scotland for all.' This is just one example of a recurring theme of the Yes campaign: Scotland must separate itself from England because its people have more caring and progressive values. This is mostly wishful thinking on their part. The graph below [...]
In an article for the New Statesman, Mehdi Hasan relates the following tragi-comic fact: Can you guess which books the wannabe jihadists Yusuf Sarwar and Mohammed Ahmed ordered online from Amazon before they set out from Birmingham to fight in Syria last May? A copy of Milestones by the Egyptian Islamist Sayyid Qutb? No. How about [...]
#2635295 / gettyimages.com If the late Labour leader had lived into the era of Who Do You Think You Are? his episode would have revealed a story to beat them all. Neal Ascherson tells it in his book Stone Voices: The Search for Scotland: John Smith's rather was the head teacher at Ardrishaig, a little town on Loch Fyne where the Glasgow mailboats used to end their run. But the family's roots lay a few miles further south, in a forgotten settlement called Allt Beithe in the hills beyond Tarbert. His cousin John Smith of Glendarroch has told the story ...
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 eloquently 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." ...
I sometimes post pictures of ghost signs here, but the best one I have seen is right here in Market Harborough. In fact it is in such good condition that you suspect it has been lovingly tended over the years. This is the same Monk's furniture shop that has the wonderful tiled front.
The post Top 10 Books appeared first on James Taylor.
Sun 7th
21:03
'Bizarre' case of Leicester man who turned to drug dealing to fund trip to get away from ex-girlfrie...
A local victory in Headline of the Day. Well done to the Leicester Mercury.
The Mail on Sunday says that Ed Miliband says that he would look at introducing border controls if he became prime minister of the rest of the UK after Scottish independence. The Labour Press Team denied this story on Twitter, but Reuters reported Miliband as saying something similar back in June. Back at the start of the year I wrote that purely negative arguments would not be enough for the No side to win the referendum: were I Scottish, if anything could convince me to vote for independence it would be being told that I could not afford it. I ...
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[IMG: key_bedroom-tax-reform] The Liberal Democrats have taken the first step in reforming the 'bedroom tax' by winning a crucial vote in Parliament. Under the proposals, which were passed in the House of Commons on 5th September, 2014, existing tenants will not be penalised when they cannot move into smaller accommodation because this is not available or where there is a serious medical reason for an additional room. Our plans mean that any financial penalty would go to the housing provider rather than the individual claimant. The new system would incentivise social landlords to reduce the number of tenants under-occupying their ...
I doubt many of you have failed to read Matthew Parris's column(£) from Saturday, or any of the furious reaction. The gist of his argument: Clacton is a nice place with nice people but going nowhere, and the Tories in particular are heading down a dead end if they pay heed to the sorts of opinions [...]
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 389th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (31 August – 6 September, 2014), together with a hand-picked quintet, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. A dog that isn't ...
[IMG: BuzzFeed] BuzzFeed is at the cutting edge of the development of the internet in many ways. Yet the second most popular method for sharing stories on BuzzFeed is that old workhorse, email. That's why when it comes to updating traditional campaign techniques for the 21st century, I so often talk about email. To make a success of it there is, in good Buzzfeed style, a list of four steps to follow, not to mention two crucial numbers. Or for a more traditional approach, there's always a book.
The news that the Yes campaign has taken the lead in a You Gov poll just 11 days before the referendum on Scotland's independence is worrying. Everyone is nervous and jittery. Yes campaigners, daring to hope that they are on ... Continue reading →
Sun 7th
17:03
How do those of us who want Scotland to stay in the UK turn things around after Yes poll lead?
The news that the Yes campaign has taken the lead in a You Gov poll just 11 days before the referendum on Scotland's independence is worrying. Everyone is nervous and jittery. Yes campaigners, daring to hope that they are on the verge of an historic victory will be motivated and scared in equal measures. For those of us who don't want to see our country split up, it's, well, squeaky bum time. However there is another poll today which shows No slightly ahead. The news is not all bleak. This is far from over, though. The atmosphere is tense and ...
Maurice and Diana's last day. Yesterday we went to Ham House in the morning, had lunch at the London Apprentice in Isleworth, then Strawberry Hill in the afernoon. Returned home to find my computer infected with a virus that was immune to AVG and apparently to all other anti-virus software. Maurice and I struggled to find a solution on the web, and the only site that claimed to have a solution we found was MiTechMate.com. As it was after 23.00 by that time we left the computer in safe mode overnight and returned to the problem this morning. The infected ...
For Simon Titley.
David Cameron could face a leadership challenge from his own backbenches if Scotland votes in favour of independence, as Tory rebels blame him for presiding over the break-up of the Union. The Independent understands that discussions have already taken place among Tory MPs considering standing a candidate against the Prime Minister if the Yes campaign is triumphant on 18 September. The idea of a 'stalking horse' triggering a leadership challenge is widespread in British political commentary. It's easy to see why: the idea of the brave challenger following in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher or Michael Heseltine to challenge an ...
The NFL season got underway the other night and tonight we are back with our usual Sunday night doubleheader. On Thursday Sky Sports showed us some of their plans for the 2014 season, the 20th that they have been coverage the league and I must say I'm quietly impressed with what they are doing. Here is an overview. Firstly they are making their analysts more permanent. In recent years it has been Nick Halling and latterly Neil Reynolds being joined by a seemingly random cast of others. This year it will be Shaun Gayle joining the team until Thanksgiving whereupon ...
[IMG: chinamap] This autumn conference in Glasgow, Aldes is teaming up with the Chinese Liberal Democrats to run a discussion panel on the challenges and opportunities for the UK's research sector in working with - or having to compete with - the rapid growth of China's science and technology industry. China now invests over 1.98% of its GDP in research and development: a higher proportion than both the UK and the EU average, and is on track to hit a target of 2.5% of GDP by 2020. It also produces over 10% of all scientific papers published worldwide. Though the ...
Sun 7th
13:36
And another policy while we wait: a Digital Bill of Rights - and a sensible change of tack from the ...
[IMG: Social network icons] With the Liberal Democrat pre-manifesto publication delayed until Monday (due to international events and meetings clashing with the original launch planned for last week), the party has kept the policy proposal production line chugging along. Today it's the proposal for a Digital Bill of Rights: A Digital Bill of Rights to protect people's privacy and give them more control over their data online would be introduced as part of a Liberal Democrat manifesto for the next election. The plans also include outlawing 'revenge porn' and the posting of intimate or pornographic photographs of a person without ...
God knows we've heard enough b✴llsh t over independence from self centred muppets in Scotland, Wales and in recent times, even a handful of wooly residents of Cornwall now consider themselves special. Scotland has been given the opportunity to take their whingeing to the Max. The obnoxious self loving pompous Alex Salmond (IMHO) was allowed to set the referendum question and the timing of the vote, and even given sixteen year olds the vote? All of this has been accepted by the establishment. We are now on the verge of a complete bloody mess which Cameron, Clegg, and the hopeless ...
Reg's Week - This Week After a couple of weeks floored by firstly the darkest depression; a particularly violent virus then the return (it never actually went that far way) of the darkest depression; there is much to do in the 'den'. My magazine pile has been growing at a quicker rate than my current ability to read them; yet I continue to buy them, So I am a month or two behind. Much like my outstanding bills really. So, we lost dear darling, Dickie, the other week. Such a loss, though we should never view it as such, he ...
[IMG: 7 ver 4 full] Many thanks to the 15,300 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here's our 7 most-read posts... One from June: Yes Scotland is a bit late to realise that Wings Over Scotland is bad news (24 comments) by Caron Lindsay Postponed: Lib Dem pre manifesto launch delayed owing to international situation (30 comments) by Stephen Tall Former Clacton UKIP candidate ousted by Douglas Carswell resigns Council seat and backs local Lib Dem Councillor (28 comments) by The Voice The Independent View – what are the most UKIP friendly Liberal Democrat seats? (27 comments) ...
Very nicely done: All of which echoes my more serious point: Why I love books.
A couple of tweets I've seen recently on my Twitter timeline: The 90% of Brits being forced to watch their country fall apart without having a vote do, at least, have this letter: http://t.co/5oC3up4azJ — Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) September 7, 2014 That's just the most recent two, but 'the rest of the UK should have a say about Scottish independence' is something I've seen in many forms over the past few years, and will probably get said a lot more times over the next eleven days. So, let's pose a couple of thought experiments. In 1991, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia ...
Sun 7th
10:38'Yes Scotland' takes first poll lead of campaign. Peaked too soon or Big Mo timed just right?
[IMG: st Andrews flag saltire scotland Some rights reserved by Fulla T] Two polls in the Scottish independence referendum debate were published last night. The one that's (understandably) getting all the attention is YouGov's showing a wafer-thin Yes lead, 51% to 49%. It's only the second poll to have found a pro-independence majority (the previous one was over a year ago). The other poll, commissioned by the SNP, continues to show No in the lead, 48% to 44%. Peter Kellner in the Sunday Times has a good summary of the factors that will likely decide the outcome in the final ...
Residents have been understandably been alarmed that yellow crosses have appeared on a number of trees – the traditional mark to show that they are due to be felled. In fact these have been marked simply because NCP wishes to pollard them and there is no intention to fell. Chris has been in touch with the district council who have given assurances and apologised for the alarm caused.
[IMG: David Rendel - Some rights reserved by Martin Tod] Congratulations to former Lib Dem MP for Newbury, David, Rendel, who was last night selected by Lib Dem members in Somerton and Frome as the party's parliamentary candidate for the May 2015 general election. David will be attempting to retain David Heath's seat, won in 2010 with a majority of 1,817 over the Tories. The party has previously selected a PPC for the seat. Sarah Yong was selected in February this year, but stood down five months later. There had even been speculation that the party was gently arm-twisting David ...
Nick Barlow's Presidential manifesto (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Whichever way you look at it, deserved or not, the proposed pay rise for MPs is badly timed. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has announced that MPs' pay will rise by 10 per cent next year, taking their salaries to £74,000. This at a time when public sector workers are facing minimal rises if they get any at all. As the Telegraph says the package will include reductions in MPs pensions, which will switch from final salary to "career average" schemes, and cuts to their expenses. In addition resettlement payments for MPs voted out of office, worth tens of thousands ...
Here are the Liberal Democrat entries in the top 100 political blogs as ranked by EBuzzing. It's hello again to Andrew George MP this month but farewell (temporarily I hope) to Haringey Liberal Democrats, Steve Beasant and Freedom Central. 1 (3) Liberal Democrat Voice Up 2 2 (17) Mark Pack Up 8 3 (27) Stephen Tall Up 1 4 (30) Jennie Rigg Up 13 5 (45) Alex Marsh Up 5 6 (61) Paul Walter (Liberal Burblings) Down 2 7 (63) Mark Valladares (Liberal Bureaucracy) Up 16 8 (65) Zoe O'Connell (Complicity) Up 12 9 (72) Liberal England (Jonathan Calder) Up ...
For 6 years, Jim Wallace was Deputy First Minister in Scotland. On three occasions, he stood in as Acting First Minister. That Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition at Holyrood governed with a can-do attitude at a time of optimism. It delivered some pretty revolutionary things. Free personal care, decent freedom of information, no tuition fees, land reform, getting rid of Section 28 (or Section 2A as it was in Scotland and introducing proportional representation for local government which demolished old Labour fiefdoms. The 8 years of that coalition was focused on what could be done. The 7 since has been focused on ...
Sun 7th
09:06
Connecting two of the worst films ever made: Hieronymus Merkin and Garbage Pail Kids: The Movie
[IMG: Garbage Kids] I arrived in Wicker Park in the dead of winter. Chitown was under several feet of snow when my taxi pulled up in front of my Chicago Connection's place. Many a Chicago resident wanted to claim to live in Wicker Park at the time (it was so hip, Hollywood made a film starring Josh Harnett and Diane Kruger named after the neighbourhood. I've never seen it, so thus cannot comment on its quality or lack thereof. Frears' Chicago based film version of High Fidelity is based in Wicker Park also), but my Chicago Connection lived literally on ...
A campaign group which includes Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Muslim clergy as well as secularist campaigners, has demanded ministers ban faith schools from excluding pupils because of their beliefs – and make it illegal for them to refuse to employ staff from other religions. The Independent covered this story on 1st September. A welcome campaign but a better step forward would be to to put an end to religious based education funded by the state.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the exhibition and afternoon tea at Logie and St John's (Cross) Parish Church, as part of the church's celebration weekend to mark the centenary of the church building. The exhibition was really interesting as was the talk on the church's history and the tour of the building. Logie and St John's (Cross) plays an integral part in our local community and my best wishes to the church and its parishioners at this important time. Some photographs from yesterday : Part of the church exhibition The 26th Discovery Scouts' stand at yesterday's event
From Friends of Magdalen Green : The Roseangle playpark project has been short-listed for a Bank of Scotland Community Fund. This could be worth up to £3,000 for the project if we get a lot of votes in. The voting process has started and goes until the 10th October. It's free to vote and we need as many as we can possibly get. If you would please share as widely as you can. Here's how to vote : On-line - http://bos-cf.co.uk/GNFTweet #COMMFUND GNFText 'VOTE GNF' to 82332Bank of Scotland branches Many thanks!
