At the last general election, support for the Liberal Democrats was buoyed by more than just Cleggmania: the party enjoyed particularly strong support from scientists and science commentators. Much of this was on the strength of Evan Harris's foregrounding of evidence-based policy and support for reform of the outdated libel laws that saw author Simon Singh sued by the British Chiropractic Association. In the run up to the election, the party was endorsed by Richard Dawkins, and polls by Nature and Chemistry World revealed a majority of their readers saw our party as those most likely to table science-friendly policies. ...
Today George Osborne has, yet again, invoked his own version of the politics of fear in his keynote speech to the Tory faithful today. Interestingly he chose to focus not on the subject which Lord Ashcroft thinks is losing the Tories support to UKIP – immigration; instead he chose a further assault on the welfare budget. The positive news about tackling international tax avoidance by the likes of Google – which is coincidentally the subject of investigation at EU level – will inevitably be lost in the hubbub. Next week we will hear plenty about Liberal Democrat efforts to really ...
This article first appeared in the online edition of InterLib, the magazine of Liberal International British Group (LIBG). The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is a past master at inventing Orwellian names for its military operations. "Protective Edge" sounds so reassuring and 100% defensive, but for the people on the receiving end in Gaza this summer [...]
The other day I blogged about the Channel 4 drama Brond from 1987. Since then, I have not only had a tweet from John Hannah, I have swapped tweets with the person who played the boy on the bridge in its extraordinary opening: But there is another television drama I remember from that year that is even more obscure. Some sources even maintain it was never shown, but I know they are wrong because I watched it. The Marksman was due to be shown in August 1987, but suddenly became controversial because of the Hungerford massacre. Here is Robin Corbett, ...
Cornwall Council is currently deciding on its budget for the next four years. The council needs to save £196 million and the authority cannot look the same again. It is, without doubt, the biggest challenge that has faced the council since it was founded in 2009. We are determined to make sure that everyone has their chance to comment on the budget proposals and we are genuinely listening to the views that people express. So on Wednesday we start a series of 19 public meetings, we meet tomorrow with the partners we do business with and we are holding meetings ...
I asked Tayside Contracts for an update with progress on the Riverside Drive works and was advised today as follows:It will be approximately two weeks before all traffic management is removed and there is complete unrestricted access - ie no traffic management in place. By the end of this week Riverside Approach should be open again to traffic providing access from Magdalen Green to and from Riverside Drive.The north footway will remain under construction until the 12th October, with all traffic management removed by 13/10/14.All the above is based on weather permitting and nothing unforeseen arising.
Last week, I highlighted the astonishing situation that at a council committee, the hapless SNP administration bulldozed through approval to consult communities on the detail of Conservation Area Appraisal documents without showing the content of the documents with the councillors who sit on that committee. One of the more bizarre things I have seen on the council over the years and rather highlighting that - how can I put this politely? - the SNP administration isn't exactly ministry of all the talents ... I made a complaint to the Chief Executive about this ridiculous state of affairs and earlier today ...
[IMG: libdemmanifesto 2010 wordle] I thought it might be an idea to get some discussion going about the key Conference debates which are now just days away. Arguably the most important of these is the motion on the Pre-Manifesto. It's our shop window to the country, the cornerstone of everything we say or do between now and May. Two and a half hours have been allocated for the debate on Tuesday morning. You can read the whole motion in the agenda. The key themes are published below: Conference therefore endorses policy paper 121, A Stronger Economy and A Fairer Society, ...
Wednesday The tang of autumn is in the air and the leaves (or so my private polling informs me) are turning. It is time to think of winter and how I shall heat the Hall. At one time I would simply have ordered so many sacks of nutty slack from my own mines in the North of Rutland, but Ed Davey gave me a disapproving look last time I mentioned them. So I have decided to use oil instead. I had assumed that, when I asked for quotes that from my own rigs on Rutland Water would come in as ...
Stephen Tall looks at Lord Ashcroft's poll of Lib Dem/Tory marginals on Liberal Democrat Voice. "I suspect ... this is the symptom of an underlying disease - that the media exists entirely within a Westminster bubble. Mr Collins thinks the deficit is a "real" problem not because there's empirical or theoretical evidence that it is, but simply because the groupthink of Very Serious People says so." Stumbling and Mumbling introduces us to the useful concept of 'bubblethink'. Europe's domination of the Ryder Cup means the event is losing popularity in America, explains Art Spander for Bleacher Report. Internet Curtains visits ...
Mon 29th
18:15
Ashcroft's poll of Lib Dem battleground seats: incumbency is alive and well but 2015 will be a survi...
Tory peer and pollster Lord Ashcroft has published his latest set of constituency findings. He polled some of the key Lib Dem / Tory and Lib Dem / Labour battlegrounds in the summer – he's now followed that up by looking at a further 22 seats. Of these, 2 are Lib Dem targets, 15 the party is defending against the Tories, and 5 against Labour. You can see the full results here [PDF]. Here are the headline findings: Of the 20 Lib Dem-held seats polled, the Lib Dems would retain just 6. The Tories would gain 7 and Labour would ...
Good news: Last Week Tonight is back. And this week it takes aim at Ayn Rand. The Russo-American philosopher and novelist who by openly advocating the value of selfishness wound up sounding like a satire of the argument for capitalism yet is inexplicably popular on the American Right. The left-leaning policy journalist Jonathan [...]
Judging from Twitter I can't be the only one who is despondent about the never ending message of 'hit the poor' that comes from the Tories. Yet again, young people are being hit through benefit cuts that will hit children and school leavers. The Tory line of thought is transparent -Why bother with these? They won't vote Tory anyway. Is the Tory party capable of any good ideas apart from 'bash the poor' and welcoming business with 'open arms'? Did these chaps really go to that top school called Eton and graduate from Oxbridge? The right-wing neoliberal ideology that they ...
[IMG: Aldes] At the last general election, support for the Liberal Democrats was buoyed by more than just Cleggmania: the party enjoyed particularly strong support from scientists and science commentators. Much of this was on the strength of Evan Harris's foregrounding of evidence-based policy and support for reform of the outdated libel laws that saw author Simon Singh sued by the British Chiropractic Association. In the run up to the election, the party was endorsed by Richard Dawkins, and polls by Nature and Chemistry World revealed a majority of their readers saw our party as those most likely to table ...
Hat-tip: @election_data @MichaelLCrick and there I was thinking @hopisen 's free pony politics was his invention: http://t.co/WgC2L3Nfbl — Rob Ford (Britain) (@robfordmancs) September 28, 2014
In a motion which runs to rather less than the character limit of a Tweet, the future of the English Party might be made to look something a bit less than secure on 8 November. The motion reads as follows; That the East of England Liberal Democrats become a state party on 1 January 2016. It must be said that the East of England does have some constitutional form here, in that it moved from one-year terms for its Executive Committee to two-year terms a few years ago - it was my idea and Regional Representatives seem to like it. ...
Mon 29th
15:58The Independent View: The Coalition Government's economic strategy - time for a rethink?
[IMG: Credit: Freefoto.com] The global financial crisis of 2008 has left Britain facing one of the most difficult periods in its economic history, as characterised by falling real wages and deepening poverty amongst the poorest members of our society. The actions taken by the Coalition Government since taking office in 2010 have arguably done little to tackle the social consequences of the economic downturn and have, in fact, exacerbated these problems, casting doubts on the validity of the government's economic strategy as a whole. Business groups have expressed a lack of confidence in the Coalition's shambolic handling of the economy ...
I'm pleased that my MP, Mike Wood (Batley and Spen) was one of the 43 who voted against the further bombing if Iraq, and note that four others represent constituencies within a ten mile radius of my home, viz: George Mudie (Leeds East) Linda Riorden (Halifax) Barry Sherman (Huddersfield) George Galloway (Bradford West). That's nearly an eighth of the total. Perhaps some clever geographer can demonstrate that, per head of population, or per hectare, there's a higher degree of sanity in our patch than anywhere else in the UK. Whatever the right thing to do in the Middle East, and ...
[IMG: iraq] I see myself as a small time politician who has an opinion on everything. But the proposed bombing of ISEL / ISIS (IS) worries me as I am conflicted as to what the right answer is. Does the term 'We've been here' before resonate? And how about 'We can't just stand back and let these atrocities continue'? Our record of being involved in the Middle East is very poor. On the last two Gulf wars we have demonstrated our military might but not foresight. We have demolished the perceived threat (although we still haven't found weapons of mass ...
LETTER TO DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 29/9/2014 Whilst out and about in my locality I obviously pick up on issues and problems and I don't claim a monopoly on reporting these in to Central Bedfordshire Council. So I just wondered what experience other folk have around our CBC area? Seems to me that there must be a manpower / financial problem in not getting attention to our housing estates. I would be obliged if by response, a CBC executive councillor would like to explain the reasons for the apparent neglect? These sample images were taken in my ward in Houghton Regis on ...
In order to bring the current dispute to a close the LGA, with cross-party agreement, proposed a two-year deal for both the LGA and unions to consult their members on. The Unison executive rejected the proposal. Please see here for a letter updating all leaders and chief execs on the latest developments in the ongoing [...]
Mon 29th
13:15Lib Dem members on intervention against ISIS: 59% back air strikes, 49% support sending troops
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 735 party members responded – thank you – and we're publishing the full results. Support for British intervention in Iraq and in Syria to stop ISIS MPs voted on Friday for limited British intervention in Iraq to combat the threat posed by the terrorist group Islamic State/ISIS. According to our survey of party members, that action has the backing of most Lib Dems. By a more than 2:1 majority – 59% ...
Mon 29th
12:25
Daisy Cooper: "We must re-assert our commitment to local government in its own right, not just as a ...
[IMG: Daisy Cooper being interviewed] I've previously run a series of guest posts from candidate for Liberal Democrat Party President Linda Jack. This week, it's the turn of Daisy Cooper whose guest posts will be appearing each lunchtime during the week. You can read Linda's previous posts here: Linda Jack sets our her plans for party reform: four problems to fix Linda Jack: too many of our members believe they are taken for granted, and that their hard work merely creates opportunities for a party elite Linda Jack: four ways to improve Lib Dem policy making I'm hoping to run ...
[IMG: student_ipad_school - 175] What are your current concerns about education policy? Please do raise them in the comments to this post. I'll be meeting with the Liberal Democrats Education Association (LDEA) committee on Sunday and will be able to quote them in discussions where appropriate. Personally I'll be focusing on two issues at conference. I'm very disappointed to see that my policy for reform to public sector regulation and in particular to Ofsted is not in the pre-manifesto. I'll be attempting to ensure that is addressed at the public sector reform debate on Sunday afternoon. I'll also be trying ...
My first impressions of Gibraltar were not, to be honest, very good ones. We had grabbed dinner at a restaurant in Casemates Square which was pretty ordinary, with poor service and, on a walk through the town after sunset, I noted that Main Street seemed to be populated entirely by groups of young men somewhat the worse for drink. It was a mite intimidating, and seemingly under-policed. However, Monday morning dawned bright and sunny, and we had a tour arranged by the Gibraltar Tourism Board to look forward to. Our guide, and driver, Ajessa collected us and showed us some ...
A few weeks ago I was travelling home from my holidays through the port of Calais. If you've been following the news recently you may have seen a story about how Calais is struggling with a massive influx of illegal immigrants attempting to make the sea crossing from France to the UK. The Mayor of [...]
Mon 29th
11:00Opinion: In London, community politics must be less about geography and more about life choices
[IMG: bicycle route sign] On September 22, my friend and London Region Lib Dem colleague Anthony Fairclough wrote in excellent fashion on these pages regarding the particular challenges, and hurdles, that are dampening the party's prospects in many parts of London. Anthony made many well informed and cogent points, but the one I wish to pay particular heed to is his reference to our party in the past assuming that we would win votes because we are the party of local campaigners, the party which gets casework done. While the UK is replete with Lib Dems who do the casework, ...
[IMG: Network connections] This is leaving it very late in the Parliamentary cycle to make such a big switch if you ask me (compare the timing with the Lib Dem move to Connect): [Conservative Party Chairman] Shapps will also unveil Votesource, a replacement for the troubled Merlin voter contact database which CCHQ has developed in-house. The system will be accessible remotely both to reduce Association costs and make it possible for canvassers to access it from mobile devices on the doorstep and equipped to tie in with newer campaign tactics. Importantly, it will also be swifter than its sluggish predecessor. ...
[IMG: Pickles Clarke] Birmingham and Tory conference just go together in my mind somehow. I feel like it should be here every year. It's not the south and it's not the north, greatly advantageous. The ICC is business like, efficient, reflecting the party itself. Or at least the Conservative Party as some within see it. Increasingly, the party feels like two distinct forces being held together against each side's will. I was at a British Influence/Conservative Europe Reform Group joint hosted reception last night. Damien Green gave a really fantastic speech in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union. ...
Frank Cottrell Boyce: 'Finally, I'm on board the Tardis' - this is really beautiful Firstly, anyone who quotes Larkin in a piece about Doctor Who owns a piece of my heart forever. Secondly, the little quote from Russell T Davies' letter to his daughter just shows that whatever my issues with Rusty's writing, he GETS it. (tags: ) Syrian ambulance driver cares for cats abandoned by owners fleeing shelling in Aleppo A perfect shining example of both the worst and the best in humanity in one article. Horrible bombs and war; poor cats abandoned; lovely lovely man looking after them ...
I have just moved house, an unexpectedly stressful business which involves a good deal more wandering around with a screwdriver than I had intended. There I was pulling apart the crumbling casing for some hot water pipes, and what should I find - a copy of the Daily Mirror from 30 January 1981. Inside was a fascinating editorial castigating a poll in the Sun. This is what it said: "Forty-three per cent of voters with a telephone would vote for a centre party which doesn't exist - and isn't likely to.... The Mail said a centre party would get 30 ...
[IMG: House of Lords chamber] Chris Fox – Lord Fox, of Leominster in the County of Herefordshire – was one of six new Lib Dem peers announced in August. When I walked off the street and joined the Liberal Party in Leominster on my way home from school my aim was to help Roger Pincham in his campaign to win a seat in Westminster. With two elections that year we had plenty to do, and came so very close to winning. At that time, 40 years ago, Parliament seemed a world away and I would not have believed that today ...
According to Radical Bulletin in the new issue of Liberator (and I know of no more reliable source), the deputy prime minister's special advisers are known among disrespectful Liberal Democrat MPs as "Clegg's children".
Back in March of this year, I highlighted the need for Dundee to have a free public wi-fi offering as soon as possible and gave feedback from Dundee City Council on the matter. As I said at the time - as town and city wireless internet access becomes more common, more and more across the world are setting up free town/city centre wi-fi hotspots for their citizens and visitors and its something I am very keen to see implemented in Dundee. Many cities are discovering it's a good way to attract more visitors. Already local businesses from coffee shops, hotels ...
[IMG: Newspapers] It looks like Brooks Newmark, the Conservative minister who quit after he was drawn into sending an explicit personal photo after being sent a revealing photo himself, will be remembered for something other than his paisley pyjamas: press regulation. What form of newspaper regulation there will be in Britain to replace the discredited Press Complaints Commission (PCC) is still very much unsettled, with rival schemes being pushed on all sides. Which makes this very significant: Mark Pritchard, one of the MPs contacted by a Sunday Mirror reporter posing as a woman interested in sex, is to make a ...
There is a scene at the end of George Orwell's Animal Farm where the animals and the humans become indistinguishable. If this article by Carole Cadwalladr is to be believed the political conferences of the main political parties are much the same, clones and out-of-touch with the people they are meant to represent: There are any number of ways you can hold a conference but our political culture, our long history of parliamentary democracy, has produced a spectacle - common to all parties - that feels like something Disraeli might have come up with after attending a L'Oréal sales conference. ...
