Some wonderful footage from the 1950s.
Defector: Mark Reckless. The news broke yesterday, whilst I was at a wedding, that Mark Reckless had defected to UKIP from the Conservative party. This was somewhat of a surprise to me but I really guess it shouldn't have For sometime I had believed that although stridently anti-EU and having rebelled against Coalition line time and again, Mark Reckless was Conservative through and through but his position would have meant that UKIP would be unlikely to win in Rochester and Strood in 2015 and would do very little to dent his voter base. I totally hadn't considered that he would ...
Tuesday Whilst I attribute my rude health to my annual bathe in the spring that bursts from the hillside above the former headquarters of the Association of Liberal Councillors in Hebden Bridge, and admit that a certain cordial sold to me (at no small cost) by the Elves of Rockingham Forest has done no harm, I like to visit the Westminster gymnasium from time to time to keep in trim. Who should I meet there this morning but our own Danny Alexander? He is not wearing glasses and his hair is now a rich chestnut. He nods to me whilst ...
I forgot to check, but I was due to have this First Person column printed in Friday's Leicester Mercury. Bring back proper local government Because the three party leaders panicked in the last week of the referendum and promised the Scottish parliament more powers, everyone is saying something must be done about England.Some want only English MPs allowed to vote on laws that affect only England. Others want an English parliament. And some want regional government. There is something to be said for all of these ideas, though English votes on English law would make little difference in practice. And, ...
If you asked most Liberal Democrat members to name ten of our MPs off the top of their heads, some would be no surprise. The likes of Vince Cable, Nick Clegg and Charles Kennedy have name recognition that stretches far beyond the Party itself. If there is a local MP who has made an impression, they might be in the frame. However, we have a number of MPs who have, perhaps, slipped under the radar during the period since 2010. It might be, in some quarters, seen as unfair to place Simon Wright in that category. He is a decent, ...
Long-time readers will remember that delivery round which Robin Meltzer sent me on in 2011. It was a compliment to me, he claimed. I had worried he had subsequently lost faith in my delivering capabilities so I was very reassured to see these signs festooning today's delivery round for Marilyn Mason in the by-election they have coming up in Kingston: [IMG: Wet paint sign in Kingston] However, before Marilyn's polling day there's a council by-election polling day in Haringey so it was a double-help day today: [IMG: Kingston and Haringey by-election leaflets] The Haringey by-election is polling this Thursday. Details ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our xxxth 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 (21-27 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. £20 to have my say on the ...
Here are the latest national voting intention figures from each of the main pollsters. To put the numbers into longer context, take a look at my database of polling figures going back to 1945, which is updated quarterly. Con Lab LibDem UKIP Green Con lead Fieldwork Method ComRes 29% 35% 7% 19% 4% -6% 24-26/9 Online ComRes 28% 35% 9% 17% 6% -7% 29-31/8 Phone ICM 33% 35% 10% 9% -2% 12-14/9 Phone Lord Ashcroft 27% 33% 9% 17% 6% -6% 19-21/9 Phone MORI 34% 33% 7% 15% 6% 1% 6-9/9 Phone Opinium 32% 34% 7% 17% -2% 23-26/9 Online ...
Labour has, at least since the early Blair years, been synonymous with vacuous slogans. "Britain deserves better" wasn't too bad - it was obvious what they were referring to. But what about the excruciating "hardworking Britain better off", "a future fair for all" and the ridiculous "forward not back"? Their current one is an absolute corker. Delegates at their Manchester conference were confronted with the latest exercise in spectacular vapidity - "together we can". Which naturally raises more questions than it does answer: together we can what? Destroy the economy? Launch illegal wars? Pretend to have working class friends? Dance ...
Sun 28th
18:02
We agreed temporary work to protect Ludlow's collapsed town wall but should we fell two trees?
On Thursday I spoke about the state of the town walls at Shropshire Council, following a question to Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow. It was not a very successful session, with the speaker refusing to allow me to set out the context of why work is urgent. However, Keith did agree to meet me and [...]
Spotted in Oakland ahead of the 2014 round of November elections in ballots: [IMG: Oakland Campaign Office sign] The use of handwritten signs to give a campaign a grassroots appearance has long been popular in American politics. It is one tactic though that hasn't become a successful import to British campaigning. Although hand drawn signs have been, are and still will be occasionally seen, the attempt to introduce them on a much larger scale was a flop. The reason? There was a poorly done New Labour attempt to make this a common tactic here, with party staff and well known ...
Sun 28th
16:59
#FACup, Second Qualifying Round - Boris Johnson, your boys took one hell of a beating... eventually
The two teams shake hands before the match, Marketmen in red, Tigers in orange and black, funnily enough So, three o'clock came, and Needham Market kicked off towards the new Les Ward stand, filled with home supporters anticipating most of the action to be at that end of the pitch. And, for ten minutes, London Tigers barely ventured out of their own half as the Marketmen pressed hard, creating, but not taking, two decent chances. It was, surely, only a matter of time before they broke through. And then, all of a sudden, with thirteen minutes gone, the Tigers struck ...
Reflections on Cornwall Council's draft budget, from a very personal perspective. There are lots of things that the Council is having to cut money from that worries me but the reality is, there is not enough money in the pot so we cannot provide all the services the people of Cornwall would like. If I am honest, I don't think any Councillor, no matter whether they are a member of a political party or independent is happy with what the Council is planning to do. I could go to Council meetings and object to most of the proposed cuts. It ...
[IMG: DSO40thAnnivesaryConcert] The DSO gave its first concert in 1972 and has performed an annual series of symphony concerts ever since. It has accompanied a long list of famous soloists, and over the years there have been many overseas visits and exchanges. Buy a ticket for all four DSO Concerts in the 2014-15 Season at a reduced rate. (Season Ticket Holders are guaranteed a seat at the Celebrity Concert in January) . Click dacorumso.org or call 01494 727240 Sunday 9 November 2014 – 3.30pm Centenary Theatre, Berkhamsted School, Kings Road Beethoven – Overture: 'Leonora' No 3, Haydn – Symphony No ...
[IMG: Conf 14 Training Guide] Every year, a few days before Conference, my brain goes into complete meltdown as I try to juggle all the competing demands on my time. There are usually at least 37 things going on in each time slot that I want to go to. Actually, that's 34 things that I want to do and 3 that I have to do. No wonder I look at Hermione Grainger's Time Tuner in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabahn so jealously. I shall try over the next few days to give you a flavour of what's on ...
Sun 28th
14:38#FACup, Second Qualifying Round - setting the scene as the Cup dream returns to Mid Suffolk
After my day out last season, sponsoring a home game of our local Ryman League, Division One North, football team - Needham Market FC - I had intended to take in a few more games this year. Sadly, our busy schedule combined with the fact that, when we were at home, Needham Market weren't, has meant that it hadn't been possible until yesterday. However, having got back from Gibraltar on Friday evening, I was able to go to yesterday's big FA Cup game at Bloomfields. Last year, the Marketmen made it to the Fourth Qualifying Round for the first time ...
Ever since he was a child, Brian Wilson had been fascinated by the concept of ESP. David Marks' mother had claimed psychic powers, and impressed many of the people in their community, including the Wilsons, when Brian was growing up. But when he came to write a song about it, he didn't think of Marks' [...]
I've said before that the political system in this country is broken, and at the risk of sounding like a hipster of reform, it's good to see that issues of how the British constitution works (or more accurately, doesn't work) have gone mainstream after the Scottish referendum. I've long thought that there are huge problems with the way this country is run, regardless of who's actually in power. I was involved in Charter 88 over two decades ago, and while there have been some tentative steps towards reform since then, we've never had a truly fundamental examination of the way ...
As in Scotland, health is a devolved matter in Wales: [IMG: NHS waiting list times] Data from the House of Commons Library.
[IMG: 7 ver 4 full] Many thanks to the 16,100 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here's our 7 most-read posts... English devolution – with maps (95 comments) by George Potter Salmond's bizarre public dig at critical commentator Torrance shows Scotland had a lucky escape (22 comments) by Caron Lindsay Paddy Ashdown warns of national civil unrest as gap between Westminster elite and people grows (61 comments) by Caron Lindsay By-election update: 47.2% swing in Guildford (45 comments) by ALDC No wow factor from Ed MIliband as he forgets part of his speech (35 comments) by Caron ...
Just to let you know that the Flock Together API now lets you quickly and easily add wards and other geographical data to the party's Salesforce membership reports. You can do the upload at http://api.flocktogether.org.uk/addareatodata.php.
[IMG: sundaypaps] Here's my selection of articles to inform and infuriate from this week's Sunday papers. First of all, David Cameron tells the Sunday Times (£) he wants to lead a government "unencumbered by Liberal Democrats." He can take it from here, he says. We all know what that means. Demolishing human and employment rights, more welfare cuts, a crazy EU renovation which probably won't give us the right to vote on what we have already but on a package of opt-outs, if such a thing is achievable which sees us with fewer protections in law than we have already. ...
The resignation of the Tory Minister for Civil Society, Brooks Newmark, after he sent a sexually explicit photo of himself to an undercover reporter from the Sunday Mirror has produced a salacious backdrop to today's opening of the Conservative Party conference, but I feel Mr Newmark deserves more sympathy than condemnation. He says himself that [...]
I have invited John Tutte the Group Chief Executive of Redrow Homnes to debate with me issues in his reply to my challenge to him to heed the results of his consultation process over Sefton Park Meadowlands The exchange of ... Continue reading →
Thanks to Mark Reckless for reminding me of this single from 1977. Wreckless Eric (real name Eric Goulden) was a stalwart of Stiff Records in those days. He later fell out with the company and moved to France and then the United States, where he still plays.
[IMG: Wera Hobhouse] The Bath Chronicle reports: Former teacher Wera Hobhouse has been chosen as the Liberal Democrat's candidate for North East Somerset at next year's general election... She has a long record of successfully campaigning on local issues, having saved library buildings and helped deliver play areas when she was last a councillor. The Hobhouses are an old Somerset family, and Wera, who lives in Paulton, moved there to be closer to older family members once her children had grown and left home. She said: "... We have such a wonderful variety of towns and villages across this area, ...
A clear winner of our Headline of the Day Award. But which Newport is it? Newport in Gwent? Newport, Isle of Wight? No, it's Newport in Shropshire.
Sun 28th
09:52
New campaign aims to give women equal representation in Scotland's parliaments and councils
A cross-party campaign aimed at ensuring gender equality in the Scottish Parliament has been set up. The idea comes from Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale and Green MSP Alison Johnstone and has the support from MSPs across the political spectrum including Liberal Democrat Alison McInnes. Scotland on Sunday has the details: With Lord Smith of Kelvin's newly established commission examining the transfer of more powers to the Scottish Parliament, the group of six MSPs believes control over equality legislation should be moved from Westminster to Edinburgh. This would allow MSPs to introduce legal quotas to achieve a 50/50 ratio of females ...
In my spare time I have, for many years, performed the role of Returning Officer for Local Parties across the South East and, latterly, East of England. The job has seldom been glamorous, there are rarely hordes of candidates to consider - even in the good times - and there are inevitably seats where a candidate is parachuted in late in the day. This year, however, it has been particularly trying in some ways for, whilst the quality of applicants has remained high, the quantity has become troublingly low. In some parts of the country, advertisements have gone unanswered and ...
[IMG: davidcameron_markreckless] I'm on my way to Birmingham for Conservative Party conference at present. Looking forward to finding out what the mood is when I get there, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's not a million miles away from what I found in Manchester last week: slight feeling of doom, that things haven't panned out as expected, and now who knows where everyone will be this time next year. Because strangely it appears that neither of the two major parties in British politics thinks they are going to win the next general election. Yet that means hung parliament, with ...
Our September storytelling theme is "Where No Tae Go" - so please feel free to share a story, poem, or song! Or just come along and listen. Tuesday 30th September - 7pm-9pm, Burgh Coffee House,70 Commercial Street
Note which story the Telegraph has decided to put first and which second out of Mark Reckless and Brooks Newmark – and where RAF bombing Iraq features relative to Newmark too: [IMG: Sunday Telegraph frontpage - Reckless and Newmark] As I tweeted last night: So far struggle to see what Brooks Newmark has done that is a resigning matter. Not illegal; not coercive; not hypocritical. So why resign? — Mark Pack (@markpack) September 27, 2014 That's a view reinforced by reading more of the story this morning, which sounds like a case of a media outlet setting out to attempt ...
Whatever next? The Telegraph reports that an annimal charity has produced an official document for couples to decide what will happen to their pet should they split up. They say that the Blue Cross, an animal re-homing charity, has produced the official document for couples declaring what will happen to their pet should they split up. It also states the ownership, responsibilities and rights of a pet in the event of a marriage break up. The charity has found that one in four divorced couples in the UK has argued over the ownership of their pets when they split up, ...
The Western Mail reports that the new chair of the Swansea Bay City Region Sir Terry Matthews believes the area could become a world leader in the development of tidal energy technology: Sir Terry, who was asked by Business Minister Edwina Hart to chair the city region , said it was important that as many people as possible contributed to new ideas aimed at driving the competitiveness of the region - which covers the unitary authorities of Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Pembrokeshire. Newport-born Sir Terry said the region could also look to become a world-leading location in the ...
The future of our country shouldn't be decided in a closed cabinet committee, stitched up between members of the political class and then rushed through by January. Every man, woman, and child in the UK will have to live with the consequences for generations after todays politicans have shuffled off the political stage.I believe every UK citizen should have a say in how this country is governed. Unlock Democracy is currently campaigning for a Constitutional Convention to be held to take the critical decisions on our future out of the hands of politicians. Can you please spare a single minute ...
I took this photo in the toilet of the best pub in Kingston this evening...
