It has emerged that Calderdale Council is having to suspend on street parking charges in Halifax and Skircoat due to drafting errors in the legal documents that make the charges enforceable. Furthermore it appears this error has been in place since 2008 when the Conservatives were running Calderdale Council. This means anyone who has been issued a parking fine since then for parking in Halifax on the road in this period is entitled to a refund. This does not effect double-yellows or loading parking bays, just on street parking. It's estimated the cost to the Council will be in excess ...
Twice previously on this blog, I've related tales of having put a card in to speak at Liberal Democrat Conference only for me not to be selected. You can read about those instances here and here. Well, today I broke my duck. I was called to speak in a debate on a motion containing measures to reform the banking market and availability of finance to small and medium sized enterprises. I spoke in favour of the motion, and an amendment that, in part, sought to promote the role of peer to peer lending in corporate lending. Here it is... Andrew ...
"The broad contours of Browne's argument are that we now live in "The Liberal Age" and that the Liberal Democrats are the only party with the instincts to deliver the policy needed to meet the challenges of that age. He offers the argument under five headings: freedom, opportunity, decentralisation, sustainability, and globalisation. He arrives at his conclusion via the construction of a platoon of straw men." Alex's Archives reviews Jeremy Browne's new book. Stephen Tall meets a Glasgow taxi driver. Tiffany Jenkins argues that our museums and art galleries are now too child-centred. In the late 1940s the White House ...
Work should start in January next year. Here's the council's latest statement supplied to your local councillors: In late March 2014 Aecom were commissioned to undertake a Desk Study and Preliminary Slope Stability Assessment as a result of the carriageway at Pemberton Road showing signs of cracking. The completed report was received late April and following a review of the report we engaged with a geotechnical consultant to prepare conceptual design recommendations. Due to the complex nature of land slips like this it takes time to identify the underlying causes and come up with a permanent solution. Following a site ...
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive at Mind: "This is a landmark moment for mental health. For too long, people accessing mental health services have not had the same right to timely treatment that we all expect if we have a physical health problem. We know from our work as part of the We Need to Talk coalition that, as a consequence, one in ten still wait over a year to access talking therapy. Today's announcement not only acknowledges the unfair imbalance that has long existed between physical and mental health services, it is the first clear commitment from Government to take ...
It is a nerve-racking business summing up a debate at a party conference. Will you be able to reply effectively on the podium? Will you think on your feet? Will you trip over the steps? But I have worked a long time to formalise the Lib Dem commitment to community banks - and now they have. I also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the work of Susan Kramer and John Sharkey and their colleagues in the Lords, who did the political spadework for this in recent years, and so successfully. As I got off the platform (see what ...
The Chair of Disability Labour, Cllr Laura Booth, has resigned from Stockport Labour, citing a "culture of systematic bullying in the local Labour party". Laura Booth was also the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove, a position she has now stood down from. Two other Labour councillors have been deselected by Stockport Labour Party and so will not be able to stand as Labour candidates next May: Paul Moss in Reddish and Brian Hendley in Davenport and Cale Green. This comes after a fourth councillor, Patrick McAuley, quit the Labour group less than two years ago. Even though Paul Moss ...
Here is the video shown to Conference showcasing the work that Norman Lamb has done on mental health which was shown before his speech.
Wed 8th
19:17
Reg's Dungeon of Gin Addled Lunacy is open for guests and convivial company - oh and drink
via Facebook
No major British political party has ever had a leader more committed to the cause of tackling mental health discrimination than Nick Clegg. Nick's first ever question in Prime Minister's Questions as party leader was about mental health services. And throughout my time as heath minister, I have always been able to rely on Nick's unwavering support for my work: on promoting parity of esteem for mental health; on tackling unacceptable standards of crisis care and support for children and young people; and in general raising the profile of an area of health that for far too long has been ...
Litter around these shops is a problem; a problem caused by those who drop it probably from items they have purchased in the shops. [IMG: rsz_photo0971] A suspect that the Council could brush it up twice as often as they do now (if they could afford to do so) and some folks would still treat the pavement as a litter bin. When you think of all the great work done by volunteers to spruce up Maghull (Maghull in Bloom Volunteers and Maghull Station Volunteers spring to mind) why do some residents volunteer to assist with creating a litter problem. It ...
Key line from Clegg: Britain "will have more" coalitions in the future – not confidence and supply. — George Eaton (@georgeeaton) October 8, 2014 It wasn't just Nick Clegg saying that – the preference for coalition over confidence and supply runs through all those with experience of trying out the former in this Parliament. All those in the Liberal Democrats, that is. It makes the point all the more that the real question to ask about hung Parliament is not who the Lib Dems would prefer. The maths is very unlikely to give the Lib Dems real equal choice as ...
Wed 8th
15:45
Nick Clegg's speech: 5 initial thoughts from me - and reaction from members and pundits
Nick Clegg has just delivered his seventh conference speech – you can read it here. Five quick thoughts from me: 1. It's rare to remember party leaders' speeches. However, I've a feeling this one will be remembered. Not necessarily stylistically — its rhetoric or his delivery — but for a government policy announcement: the emphasis on mental health-care which Nick made a centre-piece and which he has said will be on the front page of the party's manifesto. Yes, there were plenty of positioning soundbites. But, more importantly, this announcement demonstrated, better than any finely crafted words, the point of ...
Did you know that you can now search for Stockport planning applications, old and new, on a user-friendly map. You can see applications from the last 30 days, 3 years or everything that's on the database (pretty much every application since 2000), and click on a property to get the details. [IMG: SMBC Planning map]
For those of us who are a certain age the making of a feature film of Dads Army is a welcome development. The fact that it is to star Swansea's Catherine Zeta Jones, will guarantee it acres of coverage in the South Wales Evening Post. Ms Jones is to be joined by a cast that already includes Toby Jones and Bill Nighy in the lead roles of pompous Captain Mainwaring and his sardonic second-in-command Sergeant Wilson, the roles made famous by Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier in Jimmy Perry and David Croft's original TV show. The Guardian continues: Producers ...
Episode TwoInside the ICL... 'Daisy, why aren't you leaving?''I have left! There's nothing out there.''What do you mean, there's nothing out there?''I mean the warehouse is empty, deserted, derelict and the streets.. the roads beyond... it looks like a war zone out there... there's no one there!' Daisy can detect a note of hysteria creeping into her voice and can feel tears welling up under her eyelids.'Is this a joke?''NO, no it is NOT A JOKE. There's nothing there. It's as though World War Three broke out while I've been shut up in here... I don't know... and there's a ...
For those that have not been following my every word and movement I am currently in Japan as a Guest of CLAIR which is sort of the international wing of their LGA. I couldn't blog last night as I was ... Continue reading →
On Saturday October 11th I will be participating in the Walking Out Of Darkness 10 mile walk around the London Thames Path fundraising for the charity CLASP. CLASP raises awareness, support and funds for those suffering the stigma surrounding mental and stress related illness and suicide. The charity states that suicide is preventable with help and [...]
[IMG: Nick Clegg speaking at conference] Here's the text as press released, but note: Embargoed text of Clegg speech had 3 namechecks for Danny A, 1 for Lamb, 1 for Davey – but none for Cable or Farron. — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) October 8, 2014 Al Murray - he of Pub Landlord fame - said a great thing on Trafalgar Square in the days leading up to the Scottish referendum. I was there stood in the crowd with thousands of others and it really stuck in my mind. He said that there is something wonderfully vague about being British. After ...
[IMG: Clegg Speech] Here's the text of Nick Clegg's speech to the Lib Dems' autumn 2014 conference: Before I say anything else, I'm sure I speak on behalf of all Liberal Democrats when I say that our hearts and condolences go out to the family and friends of Alan Henning and David Haines for their tragic loss. These were good men. In the work they did they stood for hope and compassion - the things that everyone in this room believes are more important than anything else. We have to take on the cowards who took their lives. We have ...
Apart from a marathon day which included two speeches, chairing the strangest debate of this or any Conference entitled "The Unconstitutional Behaviour of the Federal Executive...." (five votes, by the way – it passed) and compering the Glee Club, it has been an odd Conference. While the conference wasn't as flat as the cardboard cut-out Nick Clegg, at times it was oddly uninspired. In no particular order, here are some thoughts..... 1. The party's tax and spend plans seem a mystery to much of the Party The effects of the fiscal package in the pre-manifesto may come as a shock. ...
That was the rather startling tweet from BBC South-East reporter Louise Stewart: Nick Clegg not executed on stage until 1320 #libdem14 — Louise Stewart (@BBCLouise) October 8, 2014
-Follow and keep in touch!The full text of Nick Clegg's speech, as he closes the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow. Before I say anything else, I'm sure I speak on behalf of all Liberal Democrats when I say that our hearts and condolences go out to the family and friends of Alan Henning and David [...]
Neighbours can help each other save energy and money by signing up to Transition Streets, St AlbansCity and District Council's City Neighbourhoods Committee heard on 25 September. The Transition Streets community project enables neighbours in the same area to work together as a group to reduce their impact on the environment. Each group is provided with [...]
[IMG: selfdriving] I was at an LGA event yesterday on traffic and transport, and one of the subjects discussed during the day was future transport infrastructure, specifically in the context of driverless cars. It helped to crystalliza a few thoughts I've had on the subject, and also confirmed that other people have some thoughts in a similar direction so I'm not completely off the beaten track. I want to elaborate on a few of those thoughts, partly just to capture them, but also to see if they can spark any sort of debate or thoughts from others on the subject. ...
A packed house attended a special meeting in Yate to discuss getting young people more involved in politics. The visiting speaker was Cardiff Central MP and Government minister, Jenny Willott, who was first elected to Parliament at the age of 31, and at the time was one of the youngest MPs in the country. In addition, the meeting also heard from Eva Lily Fielding, aged 20, from Alveston, and Liam Monsell, also aged 20, from Thornbury who explained how young people see politics and why they believe it is important for them to get involved. Jenny Willott talked about her ...
On Sunday Andrew Marr challenged Nick Clegg with the question: "Surely that means you'll have to raise taxes?" "Yes, of course!" was Nick's prompt response: no hesitation, prevarication, evasions or avoidance - and he went on to list some of the taxes Liberal Democrats would like to increase (capital gains tax for one, reduction in pension tax relief for another.) In this and other interviews Nick showed himself to be direct, honest, brave, informed, unflappable and personable. This morning a BBC presenter on Radio 4's "Today" programme stated, without any qualification, that everyone acknowledges further cuts in government expenditure will ...
The use of Nick Clegg's conference speech today to launch a major new emphasis on mental health, seeking to give mental health parity of esteem with physical health in the NHS, has achieved what many of the Liberal Democrat policy proposals launched over the summer did: positive media coverage for the party. Indeed, in this case lots of very positive media coverage, including the front page of The Guardian (more details here): [IMG: Guardian front page on mental health] The problem, however, is the one I wrote about at the weekend in The opinion poll crosstabs lie: or why policy ...
Wed 8th
10:45Je ne regrette rien? Would Lib Dem members have voted for Coalition knowing what we know now?
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. Almost 600 party members responded to this set of questions - thank you - in a supplementary poll run last Thursday and Friday. Since the Coalition began, I've been asking the question about whether members support the party being in coalition with the Conservatives. Pretty consistently, across more than 20 separate surveys, around 80% have said yes. But I realise this question is, to some extent, skewed by the fact that we ...
Wed 8th
10:00Nick Clegg on the "great liberal cause" to boost mental health care: "I want this smack bang on the ...
[IMG: Nick clegg rally glasgow 2014] Nick Clegg will announce a new Coalition Government policy in his leader's speech to the Glasgow conference today – putting mental health provision on a par with physical health by announcing waiting time targets for people with mental health problems in England for the first time. He's expected to say later that "Mental health conditions are one of the last remaining taboos in our society, and yet they will affect one in four people" and to make three commitments: "if you are waiting for talking therapies to help with your depression, you will be ...
Frank Bruno hails Lib Dem mental health work (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
[IMG: The Times masthead] From the 2014 Times Power List of the 50 most influential Liberal Democrats: .@lfeatherstone up to number 7 in @thetimes red box power list of the most influential @LibDems pic.twitter.com/BJ9Ubkd1qj — Jenni Hollis (@JenniferHollis) October 7, 2014 Great also to see Caron Lindsay join the list this year – on which see Lib Dem Voice's write-up. And, ahem, this: 24. (+9) Mark Pack Commentator and blogger Pack is a key player in the Lib Dem blogosphere. Though he has left the Liberal Democrat Voice blog as co-editor, he remains a regular contributor. His daily email bulletin ...
Yes, it's the new film from the Liberal Democrats that you've all been waiting for: (On a serious note, the financial figures reports in the FFAC report are really rather good.) You can also watch this on YouTube.
As mentioned here, I broke my conference duck in Glasgow and spoke in a debate from the platform. The party has, and kudos to them, posted all speeches to YouTube and you can watch my four-minute, first-time effort here.
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe: You can also watch this on YouTube.
This week seems to have been dominated by posts about David Fincher's new film Gone Girl. While I was unconvinced by it, it did again show what a brilliant visual craftsman Fincher is. Here's the latest video from Tony Zhou explaining how he does it: Filed under: Uncategorized
Gone Girl is emphatically not a feminist film Disclaimer 1: Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, oh and spoilers. Disclaimer 2: I'm writing here about the film rather than [...]
Last night, I took part in the latest Friends of Magdalen Green committee meeting. We had a progress report on the Roseangle playpark campaign and also discussed the 2014 Friends of Magdalen Green Christmas Cards - more details to follow! The Friends are running another Soup and Pudding lunch at Dundee West Church, following on from the great success of last year's. It will take place on Saturday 15th November at Dundee West Church between 11.30am and 1.30pm - with stalls including home baking, crafts, books and a tombola.
Traditionally not many people turn up first thing on the last day – most are sleeping off Glee Club – but it would be a shame to miss the second emergency motion. After that the day builds up to the Leader's speech, with, unusually, no break for lunch and no lunchtime fringes. (I wonder how many of us will be finding ways of wasting our time in Glasgow because we had assumed it wouldn't be over until 3.30pm at the earliest?) So for the last time this year, do add your comments about any debates and speeches in the auditorium. ...
On Wednesday 15th October, the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden are holding another event as part of the Dundee Afternoon Lecture Series. Dr Andy Taylor of the James Hutton Institute will talk on 'Exploring Scotland's Forgotten Kingdom'. He will highlight new and exciting research on the fungi in Scotland, including how they respond strongly to our climate and how they may tell us about past glacial events. The talk will be in the D'Arcy Thomson lecture theatre in the University Tower Building at 2.15pm and admission is £2.
The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above. Yesterday's heavy rain brought flooding to one local community and it is a timely reminder of how prone low lying Sefton is to flooding. It was only a couple of years ago that Fouracres and Sefton Lane in Maghull were flooded and these flooding events are likely to to become more frequent due to global warming.
One thing I have noticed in recent times is that Labour don't have the heart to go in for many shouting sessions about the Coalition Government and these days, the odd mumbled derogatory remark about the cuts is about all you hear. Why is this? Well it's because Labour councillors know that if Labour wins the next General election it will impose greater cuts in public expenditure than the present Government. It's hard to rant and rave knowing this. But only a couple of years ago Labour were condemning all the austerity measures (caused by their mismanagement of the economy ...
More than 7,000 people from across the European Union have already signed the petition ... Will you join them? Catherine Bearder MEP met recently with members of the European Freelancers' Movement, who handed over supporters' signatures and delivered a Manifesto raising a strong voice in support of independent and self-employed workers. Almost 7,000 freelancers in 29 European countries joined the online campaign calling for improvements in EU policies affecting independent workers. "Freelancers and self-employed workers are a large and growing part of the European workforce, but we are ignored and isolated," said Joel Dullroy, campaign manager of the European Freelancers' ...
7.25am 8th October 2014 There has been an accident at the junction of Stafford Road with Mollison Drive (near Wilsons School) which has led to road closures. This will disrupt the morning commute and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes to work. The road is now open. The Sutton Guardian has more information here.
This briefing doesn't aim to be definitive. It can't be because a lot of matters are not yet resolved - including the crucial issue of Shropshire Council funding for youth provision in Ludlow. Yesterday evening, Ludlow East councillor Tracey Huffer chaired a meeting of the Ludlow Youth Partnership. The partnership is a loose and active [...]
Love had never been the most easy-going of bands, and by the time they recorded their second album, Da Capo, the relationships both within the band and between the band and the rest of the music business all seemed to be reaching breaking point. The catalyst for the intra-band problems was Arthur Lee and Bryan [...]
I'm usually busy at Liberal Democrat Conferences. Writing speeches - sometimes even getting called to make them. Writing chunks of policy - sometimes even proposing them. Not writing a blog looking at the telly, while policies I've had nothing to do with are debated without my vote or voice. One I'm in two minds over. One I'm proud of. One taking baby steps but going nowhere near far enough. One that's OK but should've been inspiring. One that's unjust, unaffordable and unworkable. And the big picture: the very few places where my party puts any money where its mouth is. ...
