UKIP seat. Resignation For more information email info@southeastlibdems.org.uk
UKIP seat. Resignation LD Candidate is Gary Scott (gary.scott@northeastessexlibdems.org.uk). Phone to help: 01206 506611 or 0772 392 0007
Conservative seat. Death For more information contact: secretary@cmld.org.uk
UKIP seat. Resignation
Conservative seat. Death
A ridiculously moving record of the last day of London's trams, written and shot by John Krish. Isabella Pepper retells the legend of its making: Krish was asked by British Transport Films to attend the closing ceremony to shoot a short piece of film showing the final tram pulling into the depot and capture the moment the Chairman of London Transport shaking hands with the driver. However, Krish felt that there was an opportunity for something a little more celebratory given the event, so 'borrowed' multiple reels of stock film depicting trams in operation, and shot 8 more reels of ...
It appears Red Bull will have to pay up to $13 million in compensation to customers following a lawsuit claiming that its claims to be energising are BS. As the Atlantic explains: Red Bull differs from traditional soda only in that it contains taurine (an amino acid) and B-vitamins. Unless you are deficient in taurine or B-vitamins, [...]
My latest column for the Leicester Mercury. As ever in such pieces, I am poised uneasily between being a partisan and an analyst We're enjoying power for as long as we can Watching the coverage of the Liberal Democrat Conference in Glasgow I am struck by how cheerful everyone looks. By rights, they shouldn't be. At the last general election the Lib Dems polled 22 per cent of the vote: the last poll I saw had us on 7 per cent. Why this strange happiness? I can think of three reasons. First, we are rather enjoying being in government. Despite ...
So the prime way that David Cameron sees as giving greater power to the voters in England in a small "f" federal UK is English votes for English laws in Westminster. He is therefore short changing the people of England do not be fooled by him. In Scotland the Scottish MSPs can vote on Scottish laws in a chamber that is elected via a proportional voting system. Admittedly for the last 3 and a bit years that has been an SNP majority that the majority of voters didn't want but has in the past led to consensus politics. In Wales ...
It's very easy to say "something must be done about the Tatton" – anyone can do that. It's a lot tougher to actually get something done, with the site being privately owned. The Lib Dem team have been pursuing a twin-track strategy to getting the Tatton site developed. First, we've got the Council to start a Compulsory Purchase Order. It's not instant and it's not certain to succeed, but it gives us a really good chance of sorting out the site. Second, we remain open to the existing owners developing the site – as they've been saying they want to ...
During the Lib Dem Conference the Greens ran a very good social media campaign that profiled former Lib Dems who have joined them. With some polls putting us neck and neck with Natalie Bennett's party, how concerned should we be about the threat they pose to both our membership base and our electoral fortunes? In the same way that UKIP votes may cost the Tories winnable seats, is there a danger that a surge in support for the Greens in 2015 will cause further damage to our already fragile electoral prospects? I have it on reasonably good authority that the ...
At this year's Lib Dem conference I was very heartened by the attention my blog is now getting. It was amongst the five nominees for the Lib Dem Voice Blog of the Year – although I came a long way behind the winner, Jonathan Calder's very different, and long running Liberal England. It then made its way ) into Teads top one hundred blogs, coming in at 73, the tenth highest Lib Dem entry (and beating Liberal England as it happens). I also got some constructive feedback – first was that the blog did not work well when viewed on ...
Ah yes, the Shipping Forecast, a boon to mariners of all sorts, and a curiously beguiling element of the Test Match Special experience on Radio 4 - listeners on long wave have the commentary interrupted for it occasionally. Ros and I have, as part of our routine, the occasional dinner at the Pier Hotel, Harwich - Ros has business in the town in her role as a member of the Board of the Harwich Haven Authority. One evening, I had retired to use the facilities and, whilst in there, was surprised to hear a voice, even though there was nobody ...
Last Friday, I found myself at the cinema, which I have to say has become a rare occurrence in recent months. My friends Kayleigh and Becky took me to watch 'The Riot Club' - a film starring Max Irons, Sam Clifton and Douglas Booth. It is based on a play called 'Posh' by Laura Wade. It follows the fictitious dining club (The Riot Club) made up for Oxford's 'brightest and best' students. The club was set up in honour of a former student who lived life to excess, and the club has continued in his memory to gorge themselves on ...
Despite a last minute attempt to scrap criticisms of the big banks, the Lib Dems are now committed to a powerful programme to create a diverse local lending infrastructure in the UK. And most important of all, thanks to the Rebanking the UK debate yesterday, the Lib Dems are now clear about how this great diversification is going to be achieved. The big banks are going to pay for and mentor a new infrastructure of local banks, which will be geared up - and with the expertise they need - to lend money to a new UK mittelstand, the UK ...
Steps are being taken by St Albans City and District Council to help young people set up a cinema night and engage with the local democratic process. These are among a number of initiatives being implemented following discussions between local Youth Councillors and the Council's Youth Task and Finish Group. At a meeting on Tuesday 30 September, [...]
I see the Guardian is impressed with Nick Clegg's speech. They didn't like everything - how could they? - but they were right that it was a speech of confidence from a leader, as they said, "at ease with himself". I think this was right. It was impressively delivered and it was a powerful case, uncompromising in some respects. Even for someone like me who is instinctively nervous about 'split the difference' messages. I'm not sure the case for a middle way could have been put better. But then it was more than that. The final line of the speech ...
Three more road closures in town coming up: 1. Launceston Carnival - Saturday 11th October Don't forget that lots of the roads in town will be closed on Saturday evening for the carnival. See you there! 2. Windmill Hill, Launceston Timing: 17th to 28th November 2014 (24 hours, weekends included) Reason: Transformer replacement works Contact: Western Power Distribution, Tel: 0800 365 900 3. Riverside, Launceston Timing: 24th November to 12th December 2014 (24 hours, weekends included) Reason: Sewer lining works Contact: South West Water, Tel: 0844 346 2020 Tweet
[IMG: An election count - ballot papers being counted] You've probably noticed I quite often write about how British elections are run, how election law is changing and controversies that have kicked off. However, not all the stories appear on this blog or in my main Facebook/Twitter accounts. For a fuller range of stories (or if you just are interested in them and want to skip the pieces about toilet signage in Pizza Express and what Nick Clegg has got up to), take a look at my UK Election Law news Facebook page or follow @UKElectionLaw on Twitter. If you ...
The lack of Black and Asian members at federal conference was depressing and embarrassing. Glasgow was the most racially undiverse Lib Dem conference since I joined in 2006. Every TV scan of the audience showed a sea of white faces, even for equality debates. The day I went was no different. The message it sent Britain was that we are not a party that reflects modern multicultural society, and therefore probably don't care much for it. To add insult, the Federal Executive (FE) proposed committee quotas for women while ignoring BAME and other under-represented groups. Under this system the three ...
You may recall that last time we had federal party elections I did a Q&A for each candidate who could be bothered to send me answers for the elections to two of the federal committees - FCC & FPC*. This is because if we are going to vote on something I feel it's important for someone to make at least a token attempt to inform the electorate. This year, therefore, I am going to go one better and send out questions to candidates standing in ALL the federal elections except presidential** - FCC, FPC, FE, International Relations and ELDR delegation. ...
Thu 9th
16:44
I have decided to give The Black Dog a name: mainly due to the fact I don't really like to malign po...
via Facebook
Mark Pack at has written a typically perceptive account of the travails of the Liberal Democrats' Federal Executive, which had a pretty torrid Conference. He makes a number of suggestions as to how relations could be mended. Rounding off the omnishambles was the declaration twice from the podium that the FE wanted to use the final pre-election conference in Spring not to promote Liberal Democrat policy commitments in the Manifesto, but to indulge in internal navelgazing by returning to the two sets of constitutional amendments it should have put to Glasgow Conference - but failed to; as well as ...
The Liberal Democrat conference ended yesterday on its fifth day with the party leader, Nick Clegg, giving his speech. By then I was on the train home, wishing to save money on fares as well as arrive home at a decent hour – though I have read a text version of the speech, and seen the comments. It ended an uplifting conference for the party. While good for the spirits, has it answered doubts over the party and its leader? It is a step forward. The doubts centre around the party clearly articulating what it stands for. To date it ...
Former MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, who until June was a Vice President of the European Parliament with responsibility for human rights, has written about the current situation in Hong Kong. First he sets out the context: On the one hand, Conservative Eurosceptics cannot wait to escape from the obligations of the post-war European Court of Human Rights (not an EU body and inspired by the UK) while on the other there is a clamour for the people of Hong Kong to enjoy precisely those rights, under an agreement we made with China, but which Beijing is now breaking. When it became ...
[IMG: Hercule Poirot - YouTube screenshot] There are almost as many versions of who did - or didn't - do what and when over the one-member one-vote and gender quota gaffes by the Liberal Democrat Federal Executive (FE) as there are FE members. It would take the detective skills of Hercule Poirot combined with the phone and email databases of GCHQ to definitively cast a verdict on individual responsibilities, but take a step back from the individuals and there's a clear pattern of collective failure. In short, the FE has been poor at getting administrative details correct. Where the final ...
Just back from a terrific Lib Dem conference in Glasgow. [IMG: Prue conference 2014] This is me making a speech on football. Not a likely subject for me, you might think, but I was enraged that an otherwise good motion about cleaning up some of the problems with football was worded in a way which suggested that only men play football. Grrrrrrrr. The highlight of the conference was not my speech, but Nick Clegg's on Wednesday afternoon. If you want to know why you should vote Lib Dem, have a listen. You can find it here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24150266
Dear Gatwick, We thank you for your sponsorship, free Wifi* and delicious snacks served up at numerous fringes at Lib Dem Conference but there is something you should really have known before to went to all the bother. So see us liberals see such major attention grabbing especially at a conference where you are an interested party as treating the electorate. Therefore you are part of the establishment trying to buy our affections. It is something that at times even the leaders of our party attempt and fail to achieve, not because we are a fickle lot, far from it ...
Get a will made for nothing more than a donation to charity! November is Will Aid month, and to get your Will drawn up by a local solicitor in return for a voluntary donation to charity you need to make an appointment now! Don't forget, during Will Aid month participating solicitors won't charge you for writing a basic Will. Instead, they will invite you to make a donation to Will Aid's nine charities. The suggested voluntary donations are £95 for a single Will, or £150 for a pair of 'mirror' Wills Find out more and where you can find a ...
[IMG: rsz_img] Their latest newsletter is above. Please click on it to enlarge. Their work follows the sad closure of Churchtown Library. Looks like a great project to me; let's hope it is a success and is backed by Sefton Council.
Thu 9th
15:01
Developers are trying to get their own way on housebuilding in Shropshire by undermining the local p...
Ludlow has a quota of 875 new homes built under Shropshire Council's blueprint for housing across the county, SAMDev. Now, property specialist Berrys is claiming the numbers here and elsewhere in Shropshire are only a minimum. The developers Berrys represents are not interested in building more houses than we are planning in Shropshire. There's no [...]
Following the decision by the Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg to agree the closure of many of the police front desks across Cornwall, I have written to him asking him to talk urgently to the council about whether the police could share front desks with the council via our one stop shop network rather than close down the service. Having easy access to the police is important to many residents and, while I understand the budget pressures facing the force, I am concerned that closing this many will have a significant impact on the local service. Cornwall Council is ...
The Guardian's Andrew Sparrow has once again collected together his thoughts on the ten main things we have learned from the last few days in Glasgow. Here are the first three: 1 - The Lib Dems have no desire to give up power. Given that the experience of being in coalition has been so electorally catastrophic, you might expect the party to have some regrets. But they don't, and there's no appetite for a spell in opposition. As well as a desire for another try at government, the Lib Dems are also assuming there's a good chance it will happen. ...
A whole host of cameras and cables have appeared around the streets of Launceston with a range of weird and wonderful ideas about what they might be for. The simple truth is that they are part of a major traffic survey taking place in the town. Cornwall Council is looking at whether our town needs any new roads, wider roads, a by pass or anything else. In order to make the case for any works - and to seek the funding to carry them out - the authority needs up to date and comprehensive traffic surveys and these cameras and ...
[IMG: Glee Club 2014] There's no question that the Liberal Democrats' traditional end of conference sing-a-thon is very marmite and Brussels Sprouts. I love it and am usually in my place for the start at 10 pm. This time, though, I didn't get there till nearly 1 in the morning. It took me from 11pm when I arrived back at the Crowne Plaza after going out for dinner till then to cover the short distance from the door to the room where it was taking place because I kept meeting friends and new people and chatting away to them. I ...
The Autumn 2014 Glee Club was my tenth (I think) where I was compere in some shape or form. But it has never got this sort of media coverage. The Telegraph had a nice picture of the late Simon Titley from the cover of the Liberator Songbook, though its bemusement at the evening was a curious mixture of trying to write a negative piece about the Lib Dems, tempered by the first sight of humanity in three weeks of party conferences. The Mail (to which I shall not link) made up what was sung, but also had some nice pictures. ...
Last week's work morning at Kennedy Way Pond had to be postponed - it was raining so much that it was too wet to work on the pond! It will now take place this Saturday, 11 October. The pond recently won an award in South West in Bloom for its range of flora and fauna. Volunteers will be carrying out general management works including vegetation clearance at this local wildlife haven. Meet at the Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre at 10.00am (parking is available at the Yate overflow car park also on the eastern side of Link ...
The Labour leader may have forgotten about the deficit when delivering his conference speech but that could be the least of his worries as one of the Labour Party's biggest donors have now rounded on it over its tax plans. The Times reports that Assem Allam, the owner of the Premier League football club Hull City, has derided Labour's plans as an economic "fallacy". He said that Mr Miliband's proposed income tax rises and mansion tax policy were a "disastrous decision". As if to add to his woes, the Labour Party national executive committee has denounced Miliband's plans to freeze ...
[IMG: Secret Plan] The Council leader claims Labour had drawn up a secret plan of buildings they were going to sell off. The leader of Calderdale Council has made the astonishing announcement that Labour had in secret drawn up a major plan to review and dispose of Council owned property. For a long time on Calderdale Council there has been an understanding that significant savings would have to be found from the management of our facilities and assets. However like many Councillors assumed this would be done in an open fashion in Consultation with the public. Instead it is claimed ...
And finally...this should be an easy one for any would-be satirist - why were these positioned around the conference venue?
Danny Alexander makes a point - Andrew Neil doesn't appear to be terribly impressed. What's Danny saying?
What does Ed Davey seem afraid of? What could he possibly be thinking?
This must be the only picture in existence of Paddy Ashdown giving Nick Clegg a hug. So what's going on here?
What is Nick so tight-lipped about?
I am writing this just before setting off for the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow. I enjoy party conferences, and this year I will speaking on subjects as varied as [...]
What is Jo saying? As some of you might know, I am seldom without my camera in hand - even at conference. Inevitably I take some pictures that are less than perfect and sometimes unintentionally amusing. I have a few such pictures and, as previously, am inviting captions from readers. The best entry received by next Thursday will be declared the winner although the only prize will be in the triumph of wit! OK, so let's kick off with this one - what is Jo Swinson saying?
Thu 9th
11:55
Tackling FGM and violence against women, promoting LGBT+ and disability rights - Conference speech 2...
This year at Liberal Democrat party conference I gave a speech on the work I'm doing in the Department of International Development. You can watch it in full here:
[IMG: 260px-Clacton_Pier_01_(Piotr_Kuczynski)] As voters take to the polls in the Essex seaside town that is the possible birthplace of a new chapter in British 21st century politics, the result is a foregone conclusion. Douglas Carswell will remain MP for Clacton after tomorrow, swapping his blue rosette for a purple one. A few weeks ago, before the date of the by-election had even been decided, I wrote a satirical piece about today's poll in which I had the Labour Party picking a joke candidate. And lo and behold, it was the Tories who went and did this. Politics, as ever, is ...
[IMG: Tim Farron speaking - Some rights reserved by Liberal Democrats] I am a fan of Tim Farron. His decency, thoughtfulness and authenticity add a great deal to our party and to our politics. He is also one of the party's best speakers. But I don't always agree with him. His speech to conference on Tuesday was very well-delivered. It also contained some interesting themes and observations. I was very pleased to hear Tim defend globalisation, though it is a shame he chose to do so so briefly: Don't get me wrong: the rewards of globalisation are real. The free ...
Late posting this one as I had to rush off straight after Nick Clegg's speech yesterday to make the 400 mile drive back to Bracknell! Here's my round-up of the final day of conference: Policy Motions The final day of conference was always going to be about one thing – the leader's speech – but [...]
Labour have opposed plans to create a new sixth form college for Calderdale. The plan for the college has been put together by Trinity Academy, who were bidding for governmental money to create the college as a free school. It seems sadly a combination of ideological opposition to free schools, and a successful lobbying campaign by some Head Teachers (perhaps worried their students might leave their sixth forms for a new college) encouraged Labour to pass a wrecking amendment to a Council motion seeking to back the college scheme. Labour tried to claim we needed more work to build consensus ...
[IMG: Wine bottles] First it was sports reporting: Every 30 seconds or so, the algorithmic bull pen of Narrative Science, a 30-person company occupying a large room on the fringes of the Chicago Loop, extrudes a story whose very byline is a question of philosophical inquiry. The computer-written product could be a pennant-waving second-half update of a Big Ten basketball contest... And the articles don't read like robots wrote them: "Friona fell 10-8 to Boys Ranch in five innings on Monday at Friona despite racking up seven hits and eight runs. Friona was led by a flawless day at the ...
This is the best article I have ever read about Glee Club. They actually seem to GET it! And I'm not just saying that because it features a picture of me propping up cardboard Cleggy - who went weak at the knees the moment he saw me and was totally legless by the end of the night (jokes here so predictable I can't even say who originated them but Paul Waugh was the first to say the legless one to me) (tags: ) Council suspends parking fees on Halifax streets due to huge legal blunder Oops (tags: ) Two more ...
The Discretionary Rate Relief scheme supports voluntary and community groups in South Gloucestershire by paying part of their non-domestic rates bill. It's in addition to the mandatory rate relief - which South Glos Council has to give by law - awarded to registered charities/community amateur sports clubs. South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on possible changes as part of the savings it needs to make. You can find out more online and have until 24th December to comment.
Because this feels like the appropriate response to the situation.Filed under: Uncategorized
Here's a collection of my tweets from the hall during Nick Clegg's speech to Liberal Democrat Conference yesterday. Andrew [View the story "Clegg's Conference Speech" on Storify]
[IMG: Telephone] I've been pretty critical of the Interception of Communications Commissioner in the past, especially the slowness in responding to news stories, so this is very welcome news: Police forces across the country have been ordered to disclose full details about their use of controversial anti-terror laws to spy on journalists. Sir Paul Kennedy, the Government's Interception of Communications Commissioner, said he was launching a "full inquiry" into how police obtained telephone records to trace reporters' confidential sources. It was revealed at the weekend how officers used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa) to order telecommunications companies ...
[IMG: Nick clegg and norman lamb at scottish action mental health photo by dave radcliffe from the liberal democrats flickr stream] Based on my circumambulation of the Glasgow conference corridors, there were three highlights concerning mental health: 1. Oxford West and Abingdon conference representative, Matthew Sumption made his maiden speech in the pre-manifesto debate. He's currently taking time out from university study. But, my goodness me, what a brave young man he is. He basically stood up and said that he is undergoing treatment for mental illness. Now, to make your first conference speech in front of 800 people, and ...
I have long campaigned for local TV for Dundee and, now that, for example, STV Glasgow is up and running and STV Edinburgh scheduled to launch on 5 January 2015, I am pleased to note that the local TV licence for Dundee is now being advertised. Ofcom advises that "The closing date for applications for the Scottish areas of Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee, Forth Valley and Inverness, and the English areas of Carlisle and Stoke on Trent, is 23 October 2014." I am hoping there will be real interest in the local TV licence for Dundee.
The Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford (1928-1943) wins our Name of the Day Award. Well done Sir Edward Farquhar Buzzard.
This press release from Railfuture caught my eye and I think it will others too:- ***** The pressure group Railfuture is launching a campaign to reduce the impact on passengers when rail services are disrupted. "We all know rail disruption happens, but how it is handled remains the number one concern of rail passengers" said Chris Fribbins, Head of Railfuture's Passenger Group. "Most passengers will have their horror stories about journeys that went wrong, but they will also have examples of where it went well and the rail industry must learn from that experience. We want to spread the message ...
Dear Resident, It has been a busy month both here at home and in Westminster since my last monthly bulletin. Parliament returned for a short session and then broke up for the political party conferences, only to be recalled for the important vote on UK Armed Forces' action in Iraq. Between the commutes to and from London, I have been out and about meeting with local residents around Cheadle constituency. Parliament was recalled to vote on proposed action against Islamic State extremists (ISIS) in Iraq. Decisions to commit the UK Armed Forces into a conflict are the hardest and most ...
Thu 9th
07:43Developers gang up to claim Shropshire Council is 'gerrymandering' its housing land supply figures
Gerrymandering? Eleven housing developers and agents have clubbed together to fund a joint statement that accuses Shropshire Council of gerrymandering its housing data and of misinterpreting its own plans. It says the county has just three-and-a-half years' land supply, compared to the five-and-a-half years the council claims it has. I am not convinced that the [...]
A few days ago, I linked to a pay-what-you-want bundle of ebooks of writing advice, on the principle that all the writers were, if nothing else, people who managed to earn (in many cases very good) livings from writing, and so for the price there would probably be something useful in there for writers. Now [...]
Note from the county council A public consultation on proposed changes to Hertfordshire Library Service will run from 29 September to 7 December. In addition to completing questionnaires, residents will also have the chance to speak to Members and senior library managers at a series of drop-in sessions at libraries across the county. You can [...]
The BFI website describes Portrait of Queenie as a Short on the music provided by the landlady in a dockland pub in London. The story of Queenie Watts, blues singer of the Ironbridge Tavern, East India Dock Road. Whilst she sings, flashbacks show where she and her husband, Slim, were born, not more than a mile apart and tell of their meeting at school, separation in the war and of Slim's long struggle to earn enough money to buy the Ironbridge Tavern. Some of the professional and part-time performers at the pub are seen entertaining the visitors, many of whom ...
