Figures uncovered by Liberal Democrats in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland suggest that there is enough spare cash in the council's coffers to give residents a council tax cut in this year's budget. For the last three years, the council has turned down extra government grant to freeze council tax, instead hiking tax for local people. To make up for raising the tax in previous years, Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour administration to use surplus reserves to give a tax cut this year - and still benefit from more than £600,000 a year in extra grant funding ...
I'd love to be regarded as just a person but in Northern Ireland I am not.The DUP look on me as a dirty blood, my doctors have a different thought.The DUP call me as promiscuous, but partners would tell them otherwiseThe DUP say I'm not child safe, despite niece and nephew's smiles.The DUP think I'm anti-Christian, yet I have a faith just like they themselves espouse. Yet even my church can't judge me on faith alone because of being gay I suppose. I've been called "one of them" by the new health minister to my face, Yet when we meet ...
[IMG: Jill Fraser and Caroline Pidgeon] Congratulations to Jill Fraser, the 2005 candidate in Holborn & St Pancras for the Liberal Democrats, who has now been selected to fight the seat again. Her selection reminded me of this tweet from a little while back from her: Oh dear I don't have first one of the 'necessary tools'. Whatever shall I do? pic.twitter.com/RZV1DsF8Lq — jill fraser (@jillfraser6) July 21, 2014
I suggested in yesterday's post on George Watson that his death may have gone unnoticed, but it seems that was not the case. There were obituaries in Times Higher Education, on the St John's College, Cambridge, website and (though it is no longer easily available) The Times. And the journalist and former England cricketer Ed Smith devoted an article to him in the New Statesman. This showed him as an academic as well as a politician: During the upheavals within English studies in the 1970s and 1980s, he was among the first and most strident opponents of deconstruction. He also ...
I was chuffed at the fall in number of residents claiming Jobseekers Allowance and benefits announced this week. Since 2010 over 2 million net additional new jobs have been created. What is particualrly gratifying is that vast majority are full time. In Dulwich and West Norwood figures show a dramatic reduction in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in our area. Down 984 in the last months to 2,344 or 3.7% of working aged people. The number for 18-24 year olds has fallen 185 in the last 12 months to 385. People unemployed for more than 12 months has ...
Birkdale Focus says that foisting mayors on Northern cities is a disgrace. At the end of October the Liberal Democrats won a significant council by-election in York. On the ALDC site Steve Galloway (who was the city's leading Liberal when I was a student there) tells us how it was done. Is your MP a potential defector? Dr Alun Wyburn-Powell and his handy six-point guide will help you judge. As Easy As Riding a Bike on the debate over cycle helmets. David Rudkin's 1974 television play Penda's Fen is "an unforgettable hybrid of horror story, rites-of‑passage spiritual quest and vision ...
According to Benjamin Franklin's over-used phrase, those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety. However compelling this pithy quote is, it masks the fact that you can increase both liberty and safety at the same time. This isn't an easy task. I don't think that anyone doubts the extraordinary pressure that Nick Clegg and other Lib Dems in government have come under when they deal with the Tories. But I certainly think that we have managed to do both. Thanks to the Lib Dems, this is the first government for ...
London is anticipated to grow from 8.5 million residents mid 2013 to 10.1 million residents within 22 years. That is a huge increase. It comes from the rise in births, fewer deaths and migration. We can not house 10.1 million people in London without either making new builds in London significantly taller or expanding London's footprint. In Southwark the Labour council is choosing to allow much taller buildings and many more of them. It is even proposing to remove the protection of suburban areas and allow skyscrapers to be considered in such places. House prices are already ridiculously high. 2013 ...
#2660690 / gettyimages.com I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I have had great fun this week watching the 1964 General Election results programmeon BBC Parliament. It was a real nail-biter. In the end it came down to two seats, or a majority of four for Labour. In fact, just an hour into the programme, with only a few seats declared, a huge caption came right across the screen saying "LIKELY MAJ LAB 40". Such a prediction was completely out of whack with the swings being announced at the time. But no comment was made and the programme sailed ...
[IMG: your vote matters lib dem leaflet] Earlier this year, I was planning a call with a colleague in South Africa when he said: "I can't do it on that day. It's Voting Day." I didn't realize that South Africans have a public holiday to vote. Perhaps that would be a good idea in the UK – some MPs are thinking that way. PoliticsHome reports: A report by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee is inviting responses from the public to further suggestions including introducing compulsory voting, online voting and lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The MPs ...
Seven principal by-elections were held yesterday. In Cambridge, Liberal Democrat candidate Viki Sanders gained a seat from Labour in Queen Edith's to add to the party's victory in the ward in May's local elections. Viki polled 36.5% of the vote to finish 143 votes clear of the Labour candidate. When summarising the win, Cambridgeshire County Councillor Amanda [...]
Aberavon Liberal Democrats have re-selected Helen Ceri Clarke, who stood for the party in the Welsh General Election, as their candidate for the Westminster election in May 2015.
[IMG: 2013-08-dave-mancpride] The General Election next year may not be a happy occasion for the Liberal Democrats. If we find ourselves bruised and battered, depressed, demoralised, it will be hard to hold our heads up high and proclaim a strong liberal message. One thing that will keep us going is some old-fashioned, fun and inspiring community politics. The Liberal Democrats have the longest and proudest record of supporting and empowering LGBT+ people of any political party. We were the first to call for gay rights in a manifesto, the first major party to support same-sex marriage which we have delivered ...
Here's a copy of an article I've written for Left Foot Forward on Equal Marriage – the journey to it and what comes next. On Saturday the 29 March, I went to two fantastic weddings. On that historic day when all love finally become equal before the law, same-sex couples were able to get married - and hundreds did! At the second wedding I went to, which had a musical theme, a very poignant video was played before the ceremony. It showed a timeline of the steps towards securing rights for the LGBT+ community in the UK. It included the ...
I am pleased with the judgment issued today from the court of appeal. My concern is to stop people being imprisoned in secret. This judgment is an important step towards that objective. There are three key things Firstly, it recognises that a lot of people are still locked up without proper public scrutiny. Secondly, it adds to guidance and reinforces guidance to stop this happening.
SATURDAY 15th "New and New to You" Sale to raise funds for The Trevor Collins Foundation Charity. Aldbury Memorial Hall – 9am to 5pm. Any queries, phone Brenda on 01494 786827. Details of the Charity can be found at www.trevorcollinsfoundation.org.uk/ Peace & Remembrance Concert at the Church of St Peter & St Paul. The Oxford Male Voice Choir takes part in a concert of music, poetry and prose from the World War 1 era. Contact 01442 890574 for more details. Jazzexercise Mega Workout to raise money for Children in Need: 9am to 12pm at Green Park Centre, Aston Clinton (HP22 ...
The idea of recall caught Welsh media attention on Monday, when Kirsty Williams, Welsh Lib Dem leader, made the case for this form of direct democracy to apply to Assembly Members if 20% of local voters signed a petition. Direct democratic methods such as recall, referendums and petitions are increasingly popular, especially among those who least trust politicians. For many of these citizens, taking control into their own hands is preferable to either creating more politicians (mayors; assemblies) or giving the existing crop more powers. So as Westminster continues to debate a (limited) form of recall, it makes sense for ...
[IMG: Cambridge by-election] The result in yesterday's by-election in Queen Edith's (Cambridge) was: Lib Dem 933 36.5% (+1.2) Labour 790 30.9% (-8.8) Conservative 614 24.0% (+5.2) Green 222 8.7% (+2.4) This is the one ward in Cambridge City which is not in the constituency of Cambridge but in South Cambs, Andrew Lansley's constituency. It became a national target for Labour in 2012 – with a "tell Lansley what we think of his reforms of the NHS" campaign which overwhelmed the steady ward work of a good, long-standing councillor. The Labour councillor for Queen Edith ward resigned unexpectedly a month ago ...
Acocks Green's Claimant Unemployment fell by 32 to 718 in October. This is a fall of 282 over the past year, reducing the claimant rate from 7.7% to 5.5% in that time. The level of long term unemployed resumed its downward trend, falling by 10 to 290 and the number of youth claimants also fell by 10 to 180. Nationally, unemployment fell by 115,000 in the three months to September to 1.96 million. Total employment rose to 30.7m, another new record. What grabbed most attention was that real wages showed the first rise in 5 years - a mere 0.1% ...
Should Labour's John McDonnell lose the party whip if he fails to apologise for his comments about Esther McVey? After John McDonell's awful comments about Esther McVey, and his continuing refusing to apologise, many think he should be booted out of the Labour party. Have your say.
KCC Highways, Transportation & Waste has commissioned BMG, an independent market research company, to undertake a door-to-door survey from Saturday 15 November until the end of December. BMG Research canvassers will present to residents: Photo identification card Letter of authority from KCC KCC Highways, Transportation & Waste Business card FAQ Briefing sheet What can you expect? The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. The purpose of the survey is to find out your views on: Roads and pavements in Kent Local transport provision and infrastructure Waste management services Contact BMG Research on 0800 358 0337 to ask questions ...
Hi folks, I've had confirmation today that Albert Road is going to be resurfaced. This is a bit of good news, I've had complaints previously about the state of the road and is really did need doing. The follwing letter from Graham Dendle in the Highways department has been sent to residents in the area. ALBERT ROAD - CARRIAGEWAY RESURFACING Essential carriageway resurfacing works are planned for Albert Road between Highroad Well Lane and Back Staverton Street. Work is programmed to start on Thursday 4 November and finish Wednesday 17 December. Unfortunately, in order to carry out the works safely, ...
Unnoticed by many, the election for the next leader of the Liberal Democrats is already underway. Internal party elections are often a) boring, and b) a phoney war for something else, (as I have previously written for The Spectator.) The second rule certainly applies for the race to succeed Tim Farron as President of the [...]
[IMG: IMG_0923] Today sees the general release of the film The Imitation Game, a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing. By all accounts the film, with the leading role played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is set to be a great success. Oscars are already being talked about. But why am I drawing attention to this specific film? It would be tempting in my ministerial role to merely talk about the economic importance of films made in Britain and Britain's film industry as a whole. And indeed it is a creative industry that generates many skilled and well ...
The Pupil Premium is a flagship policy that the Liberal Democrats have delivered in Government. The purpose the Pupil Premium is allocate additional funding to schools based on the number of pupils they have which would be eligible for free school meals. We know that economic disadvantages children face early in life create inequality that last a lifetime. This is targeted spending to address that inequality at an early stage to ensure everyone no matter what their background gets an opportunity to make something of themselves and succeed in life. Over the next few weeks I will be taking it ...
Come out, come out whomever you are. Come on who has recently been putting out the leaflet below across Maghull & Lydiate? [IMG: Click on the image to enlarge it] Click on the image to enlarge it It's only days since a supposed contribution to Sefton's Local Plan from 'Lydiate Resident Group' was clarified as being simply the views of one person and here we are off on another odd adventure with this anonymous leaflet being widely circulated. My previous posting is via the link below:- Some of the 'facts' contained in it look rather odd to me and ...
Fri 14th
11:05
Clegg and Wallace highlight need for Lib Dem approach to foreign policy and criticise Conservative c...
There's a fair bit of "differentiation" in the air at the moment. Last week we had Norman Baker's resignation over difference in Home Office policy. Yesterday both Nick Clegg and Foreign Office Minister Lord William Wallace took time to highlight the fundamental differences in approach between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to international affairs. First, more casually, on his Call Clegg phone-in, Nick had a good go at the Tories on international development after Philip Hammond's comments in opposition to Michael Moore's Private Member's Bill which aims to enshrine the 0.7% aid target in law: And here's the thing because ...
Here's the first piece of good news... Viki Sanders gained a seat from Labour in a crucial city council by-election last night (comparison with 2012 result): Viki Sanders (Liberal Democrats): 933 votes (36%, +1%) Labour: 790 votes (31%, -9%) Conservatives: 614 votes (24%, +5%) Green: 222 votes (9%, +3%) [IMG: cambridge lib dems] It's a result which augers well for Julian Huppert's campaign to hold the Cambridge constituency the Lib Dems first won in 2005, a tough marginal which Labour has in its sights. [IMG: george watson - LOFTYIMAGES] Here's the second piece of good news... "Cambridge don leaves Liberal ...
It's time to make your nominations for the Chair's Community Awards 2015. The annual awards recognise and celebrate the huge contribution local unpaid volunteers make to our communities. The celebration will take place in March and you have until Friday 9th January to nominate your local "community hero". You can do it online at www.southglos.gov.uk/communityawards, call 01454 863019 or email communityawards@southglos.gov.uk
[IMG: ran] When it actually was the 1980's, as in when I was a child during the penultimate ten-year period of the 20th century, I really hated the pop music of the time. In fact, I still loathe a great deal of it. But as the decade recedes ever further from the present, I become more and more able to park my childhood pain and look as objectively as possible at the music of that era. Time heals all wounds, that cliché really does stand when it comes to music. As a result of this soulsearching over the tunes of ...
[IMG: Lynne FEatherstone 2007 Brighton conference by Liberal Democrats] Iain Dale, former Conservative candidate and blogger turned LBC Radio broadcaster, made the shock revelation this morning on his ConservativeHome diary: Next week, shock horror, I'm doing another political fundraiser. Brace yourselves. It's for Lynne Featherstone - yes, the Liberal Democrat MP. She's a mate and did sterling work on equal marriage, so I've decided to do it - and hang the consequences. All I need now is to do one for a Labour and UKIP MP or candidate, and I will truly be able to say that I have been ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention this week... The transience of the Tower of London poppies | Stephen Tall The transience of the Tower of London poppies http://bit.ly/1GTagQb 5 things Nick Clegg could do next | Stephen Tall "5 things Nick Clegg could do next" http://bit.ly/1B7vqJH > 4 months on with most ignored, reckon I can conclude Nick doesn't read my stuff Six Russell Group universities reject government loans for postgrad study | Higher Education Network | The Guardian Really struggling to understand Sheffield Uni's opposition to postgrad loans: http://bit.ly/1v2x9gV London schools: the central role of ...
[IMG: taxi sign] A taxi marshalling scheme has been introduced in Hemel Hempstead, to supervise the new taxi rank outside the Old Town Hall and to direct customers from night outings into licensed taxis and private hire vehicles. The scheme was suggested by licensed taxi drivers in the town to improve safety during late night periods and to help ensure the success of the night-time economy in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year. Ross Hill, Licensing Team Leader said: "We are pleased to introduce Dacorum's first taxi marshalling scheme, which will supplement the existing licensing enforcement operations carried ...
Uncensored 'suicide letter' sent from FBI to Martin Luther King made public for the first time "Why worry about GCHQ? If you've done nothing wrong you've nothing to fear..." (tags: ) A radio series worth listening to for both @hammerfilms fans AND Who fans starring VinnyP and The Cush and written by Bob Holmes? oh I'm THERE (tags: ) Workfare is now eating into white collar jobs (tags: ) Huge rise in sanctions for people with disabilities (tags: ) Screw Misogynist Matt & his shirt of sexism - Monica Grady the Meteorite Lady is the scientist whose reaction to Philae ...
From the Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee : The D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum will be open to the public tonight from 9pm to 10pm as part of Dundee's Christmas Light Night. As well as showing off D'Arcy's amazing collection of animals from around the world, this year we'll also be providing a musical interpretation of D'Arcy's work by playing a recording of The Road in its Unfoldings, a meta-passacaglia for wind symphony composed in 1996-7 by Joseph Klein, Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of North Texas College of Music. The piece is modelled on the ...
[IMG: Victorious Lib Dems in Queens Edith ward, Cambridge. Photo courtesy of https://twitter.com/GeorgePippas/status/533060220273311744] Good news for Julian Huppert's re-election prospects as his seat falls within Cambridge council too*: Queen Edith's (Cambridge) result: LDEM – 36.5% (+1.2) LAB – 30.9% (-8.8) CON – 24.0% (+5.2) GRN – 8.7% (+2.4) — Britain Elects (@britainelects) November 14, 2014 Congratulations to the winner, Viki Sanders: Viki Sanders, a sister in the fracture clinic at Addenbrooke's, served a four-year term on the city council between 2007 and 2011, deciding afterwards to support her daughter who was taking GCSEs at the time. She said: "I am ready to give back ...
On Thursday I made the trip up to Bury Town Hall for a meeting about Crime and Policing across Greater Manchester. At the time my fellow councillor Keith Holloway was also away – talking to other councils from around England about how we can best deliver adult social care. I represent Stockport on the Police and Crime Steering Group. There are representatives from all the ten GM councils plus the Police, the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Fire Service. The idea is simple: criminals don't respect council boundaries so neither can we; plus there are ways we can do ...
Today, the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee is doing something I don't recall any other Committee doing before it. It is publishing a report in draft, and asking for public feedback before making final recommendations. In announcing this initiative Graham Allen, the Committee's Chair, writes, "we raise issues around re-building our political parties, their funding, conduct of MPs, how the Media can work to improve public involvement, and how we can restore a sense of excite around our democracy". These are all clearly crucial issues for Liberal Democrats. Despite being dominated by Labour and Conservative MPs, ...
The BBC report that a cap on the amount that payday lenders can charge their customers has been announced by the City regulator. They say that from January payday loan rates will be capped at 0.8% per day of the amount borrowed, said the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) so that in total, no one will have to pay back more than twice what they borrowed, and there will be a £15 cap on default charges. This is good news, better late than never. It also demonstrates the commitment of the Coalition Government to dealing with this issue. To be fair ...
The latest unemployment figures for Wales show a slight increase in Welsh unemployment and a the historical gap in unemployment rates compared to the UK average remains. Unemployment across Wales rose in the last month by 4,000 whilst the UK as a whole saw a fall. Compared to this time last year, unemployment in Wales is down 1.1%, compared to 1.7% across the UK as a whole. The Welsh Workforce has grown from 1,457,000 to 1,472,000, but the unemployment rate has grown too from 94,000 (6.5% of the workforce) to 98,000 (6.6%). For months, the Welsh economy under Labour has ...
According to ITV: The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee has unanimously agreed to recommend: Online voting (including on smart phones) Quicker ways of registering to vote (including on the day of an election) A huge programme of devolution as well as mandatory voting Extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds Where to begin [...]
