The Liberal Democrats monthly magazine Ad Lib is getting a makeover, starting with the edition being posted out to all party members this week: [IMG: Ad Lib cover November 2014] As you can partly tell from the cover, the new look sees a larger magazine concentrating more on policy, stories from the grassroots and campaign tips, with rather less of the food, music and assorted other 'lifestyle' type stories in the previous incarnation. Education and environment are smart policy areas to highlight given the interests of many party activists. I hope Lord Bonkers survives to the new regime and indeed ...
Tonight's West End Christmas Concert, Lights Switch On, Fireworks and Carnival was a great success with one of the largest turnouts of the 14 years we have run the event! Many thanks to all local residents who attended and to all who participated - our local primary schools and Harris Academy, Rockdee, Rev Andrew Greaves and all at Dundee West Church, Richard Prest - the Evening Telegraph's Editor who switched on the Christmas Lights, Robin Carstairs for great fireworks display, Nisa Extra in Perth Road for the food and drinks stand and for selection box gifts for children, Mains of ...
I have a pet peeve. Well, ok, I have more than one pet peeve as regular readers will know. But this one is reasonably high up the list. I'm thinking about people who deliberately misrepresent their number plates and more specifically, people who misrepresent them to such an extent that they become illegible, offensive or both. I followed one such miscreant driving a blue BMW through the centre of Derby this morning. When it was safe to do so, I pulled over to the side of the road, parked, and took a photograph of their number plate with the intention ...
In the next few days, a relaunched version of Ad Lib magazine will be landing on all Liberal Democrat members' doorsteps. It has been redesigned in accordance with feedback received from subscribers. It's bigger, brighter and bolder than before. [IMG: Screen Shot 2014-11-26 at 17.30.26] This issue contains a feature on the manifesto written by me, an in-depth feature on why canvassing is so important. I'm pleased to see that as I think the conversations we have with people are going to be more important in this election than the leaflets. I know that's a controversial view, but I know ...
I'd like to tell you that watching a planning public inquiry is fascinating - but my nose would grow out of control. So why did I spend half of last Thursday observing a planning inquiry? I needed to do so because they were discussing SAMDev, the county's blueprint for housing and employment sites. And specifically [...]
Today has seen the annual celebration of local government on Twitter organised by the Local Government Association in England and Wales. Using the tag #ourday council employees and councillors have been tweeting about the work that they do. The ALDC website has some more information: LGA Lib Dem Group Leader Gerald Vernon Jackson is encouraging Lib Dem councillors who have twitter accounts to support the LGA in raising the profile of local councils in England and Wales and the hard work you do locally as Liberal Democrat Councillors in your wards. It's also a good opportunity for you to use ...
[IMG: The new proposals for Barnes Hospital] The new proposals for Barnes Hospital A while back we gave planning permission for the latest proposals to save Barnes Hospital – converting the hospital building into apartments and building a mix of apartments and houses on the land around it so it all stacked up financially. As most of you will know, that didn't go ahead and the Barnes site has sat untouched since then (apart from some work to secure the site properly and to protect the hospital building from further deterioration). Despite all the efforts before to get the money ...
Liberal Democrat peer Sal Brinton recently used a Parliamentary question to raise one of the most popular and emotive arguments used against the propposed TTIP trade deal (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership): Baroness Brinton (LD): My Lords, there has been a great deal of scaremongering about the National Health Service and TTIP. Might it be helpful for BIS to highlight the EU directive on NHS procurement which makes it absolutely clear that the NHS will not be caught by TTIP contracts? Lord Livingston of Parkhead: That is absolutely correct. In fact, Commissioner de Gucht has been very clear: "Public services ...
Tough Day to be a Cornwall Councillor yesterday as we sat in the Chamber for almost 6 hours, most of which, depressingly, was dealing with the budget. Under 'news' on this site you will find the official Council press release but this is the human side, from me as a Councillor. I am a bank bencher and whilst I try to keep as informed as possible, I cannot manage to go to County Hall for every meeting to be part of every little discussion of every aspect of the budget. I have been to all the broad briefings and several ...
The proportion of Liberal Democrat local council candidates candidates and councillors elected in England who are female rose in the 2014 elections, up on both 2013 and on the previous time the seats were contested (2010). However, the longer-term context is that, once allowing for the fluctuations year by year depending on which seats are up for election*, the numbers have been flat for 25 years. In 2014, 32.6% of Liberal Democrat candidates were female, up from 29.8% in 2013 and from 31.7% in 2010. The average this century has been 33.1%, however, as it also has been since 1990, ...
Last week I received an e-mail from a Maghull resident who, as you can read below, is utterly frustrated by the position that has been adopted over building on Sefton's Green Belt by our local rulers. As a critique of the bizarre situation that our rulers are putting Sefton residents in it is well worth a read:- There has been much said in print and e-mails written in connection with the Local Plan and often conflicting answers given, so I would be grateful of your honest answers to the situation as I see it. The facts are as follows; 1) ...
Wed 26th
16:20
Simon Hughes writes... Counter-terrorism bill - the Liberal Democrats are on the right track
The rise of the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq is one of the most serious and dangerous issues we have had to face since we came into Government. Whatever we call this organisation - IS, ISIL or Da'ish - we can't ignore their brutal activity. The graphic and disturbing images of violence coming from Syria and Iraq show the barbaric way this extremist group has perverted the Muslim faith. We also need to face up to the reality that this group has publicly announced its desire to bring its murderous ideology to the streets of Britain. The murder ...
So season six is in the can for the UK audience after Brent lifted the trophy last Friday night. It was a welcome return for the show after a rather disappointing season five, where the producers casted based on personality over food and that led to a bunch of being average chefs getting on to the show. So for fun (and for maybe the two people I know who watch MCA) – here is my list of my top ten favourite contestants, this isn't to say the ten best contestants, but my personal ten favourites chefs based both on personality ...
[IMG: Israel Jews Wall Photo by Premasager Rose] The Guardian reported this on Sunday: A controversial bill that officially defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people has been approved by cabinet despite warnings that the move risks undermining the country's democratic character. Opponents, including some cabinet ministers, said the new legislation defined reserved "national rights" for Jews only and not for its minorities, and rights groups condemned it as racist. The bill, which is intended to become part of Israel's basic laws, would recognise Israel's Jewish character, institutionalise Jewish law as an inspiration for legislation and delist Arabic ...
[IMG: Nick Clegg with 2010 manifesto at Glasgow 2014 by Liberal Democrats] Writing in the Express, Nick Clegg explains why he is making mental health a top priority for the Liberal Democrats: I have decided to make mental health one of my priorities for the next parliament, something no political party has ever done before. I want this commitment to continue to overhaul our mental health services on the front page of the Liberal Democrat manifesto at the next election. That will include setting up a fund to seek out the best new treatments and spread them across the NHS. ...
The best of ALDC content from the last week, including: Using infographics to enhance local campaigns News on the G8 Small Grants Programme Field Campaign Manual still available FAQs on legal issues, including call-ins, data protection and more Latest Facebook discussions ALDC Blog Easy Infographics ALDC Development Officer James Baker discusses the use of infographics [...]
You've seen the photos of yesterday's Christmas lights switch on in Whickham. Now see the video!
Those of us who have lived through the ecstasies of Torrington and Orpington can perhaps be forgiven an indulgent smile at UK's euphoria over its recent by-election successes. In 1958 the Liberal Party achieved its first by-election success of the post war period when Mark Bonham Carter snatched Torrington form the Tories with 38% of the vote. However this first of many "Liberal Revivals was short lived. In the general election of the following year we were back to 5.9% of the vote and just six MPs,who could proverbially hold their party meetings in a telephone box. Four years later, ...
[IMG: image] Minister of State for Care and Support Norman Lamb MP picked up the prize for the "Best Use of Evidence" at the Political Studies Association Annual Awards, dubbed the "Oscars of Westminster". These were handed out at a dinner which took place last night at Church House, Westminster. The MP for North Norfolk was presented with the award for his work on mental health by former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone in front of a packed audience of high-profile academics, politicians, political campaigners and journalists. The judging panel, which included top political academics alongside Peter Kellner of YouGov, ...
Well, what a busy little while that was, eh? What with the Committee Elections and the election for the next Party President, it's been a busy and engaging time to be a Lib Dem. That said, there have been a few lessons to take forward, and I just thought I'd lay them out here. - The voting processes in these elections needs looking at. It turns out that the process here might not be quite as watertight as we'd like. Online voting emails were sent to all voting reps the Party had email addresses for - clearly, not all of ...
[IMG: Solzhenitsyn being painted - photo by thlerry ehrmann] On Monday, Theresa May introduced some new counter-terrorism measures to Parliament. Let's take two specifics which were mentioned: Requiring ISPs to retain and disclose user IP address details May announced: (The Bill) will therefore require internet providers to retain Internet Protocol — or IP — address data to identify individual users of internet services. This is meant to remedy a long-standing problem which both Nick Clegg and Julian Huppert have alluded to. That is, for investigators to be able to pinpoint mobile phone users of the internet. (Nick Clegg said in ...
Consett's much talked about roundabout Art will be seen in a new light after tonight. That's when the illumination of it will be switched on, from around 6.15. The project to create "gateway" artworks for Consett, started two and a half years ago. It was designed to pull in money from outside sources and to provide a piece which would reflect our industrial heritage, but also project a modern and forward looking image for our town. Funding was achieved, amongst others, from Aviva (Hermiston Park on which B&Q, Morrisons andd others are based is part of the Norwich Union Property ...
There is an awful lot of old nonsense written about the Health and Social Care Act. It is said that it was a mistake to put decision-making in the hands of GPs. Well, it did at least provide the foundations for shifting power away from the hospitals - though, of course, GPs are not really in control (they are providers and the CCGs are purchasers, so they can't co-ordinate properly, as they need to). It is said that it has opened up the NHS to privatisation. On the contrary, most of the marketisation measures were removed by the Lib Dems, ...
[IMG: Malcolm Bruce] The Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Party, Malcolm Bruce, is set to succeed Duncan Hames as chair of the Liberal Democrats Federal Policy Committee (FPC) after Duncan decided to stand down from the post and the committee. The FPC has rather more power in the party than policy groups in the other main parties, and it has to agree the party's general election manifesto. Both new and outgoing chair are more Orange Book that many in the party so ideologically this is not a major shift and says more about Duncan Hames having a marginal seat to ...
I've had complaints that HGVs keep trying to get down Raw End Rd which cuts off from Workhouse Ln despite their being signs to warn them not to go down there. The problem is they get stuck, or have to reverse on a residents drive which causes damage to it. I'm requesting that the Highways Department try to improve the signage in the hope that drivers will notice it and stop trying to head down the road.
The Warley ward forum is taking place on Monday 1st December at 6.30-7pm at Asquith Court. I hope you have a chance to come along to this meeting, it's really your chance to speak to your Councillors, and other agencies such as the Police to get an update on local news and issues and raise any problems or concerns that you or your neighbors have been experiencing. Thanks proposals that I put into the Council's budget each of the ward forums now has a small budget of £5,000 which it is able to put towards small grants for community groups. ...
[IMG: libby on the wall3] 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. The survey closed at 10am today. 747 party members responded – thank you – and we'll be publishing the full results here. Tim Farron's four-year stint as Lib Dem Party President finishes at the end of this year. The contest to succeed him was a three-way election between three female candidates: Sal Brinton, Daisy Cooper, and Liz Lynne. We asked a series of questions about the party ...
West Yorkshire looks set to obtain control of a host of new funding sources previously administered by central government. I wouldn't go so far however to say this is real devolution in the sense that Wales or Scotland have it, as there will be no new powers to create new laws, or raise new taxes. The deal is currently being hammered out by leaders of the new West Yorkshire Combined authority and its officers and government ministers and civil servants. Details of what it includes are being kept under wraps, although it seems likely to be extra powers in transport, ...
On the Cornish Guardian website there is a story written by Graham Smith. He claims I answered a question which I did not and attributes words to me which I never said. Mr Smith rang me on Monday to tell me that he and a photographer intended to 'doorstep' me. He then asked me if I had any response to what the council had said. I asked him if we could speak off the record. He agreed. I then said that I would be updating my blog later that day. Mr Smith then asked me a question about the police ...
[IMG: Chrismas Recycling Rates]
On Sunday, LDV's Stephen Tall raised serious questions about the handling, by Cornwall Council, of allegations against Councillor Alex Folkes. Now BBC Cornwall reports a new development: An independent inquiry will examine a council's handling of allegations that one of its members was a "risk" to children, the BBC understands. Cornwall Council warned schools and clubs in Alex Folkes' Launceston ward not to allow him near children. Mr Folkes has denied any wrongdoing and said he was cleared by police in 2006 after his credit card was cloned. Political leaders at the council said it had now been agreed to ...
Laptop stands which tilt your keyboard to an ergonomically friendly angle tend to be worthy but clunky, especially for travel. Hence the appeal of the new EASEL laptop stand. It is made from two light pieces of wood that snap together tightly thanks to magnets, making it convenient to take on your travels. When separated, the two pieces make for a sturdy stand that improves your arm, back and neck posture with the angled keyboard. Neat. [IMG: Easel laptop stand] [IMG: Easel laptop stand] [IMG: Easel laptop stand] The Easel laptop stand is available from iSkelter. EASEL laptop stand Much ...
Does Sir Malcolm Rifkind actually understand the internet? As chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee he has pointed the finger at an un-named internet giant, later revealed to be Facebook, for failing to report a threat by Lee Rigby's killers. There seems to be an assumption, in the coverage of this, that Facebook actually knew about the threat. Hello? There are around 125 million posts a day on Facebook. It is totally unrealistic to expect Facebook to monitor all those posts and report suspicious ones. It's not a question of hunting for a needle in a haystack. It is ...
Yesterday at County Hall in Hertfordshire Conservatives failed to listen to two motions asking them to call a halt to their planned£1.7m of cuts to bus services in the County. After consulting with the public earlier this year and 13,000 people asking them to stop their planned cuts, they decided to ignore the resounding "No" [...]
[IMG: article-1269986-095F293E000005DC-777_634x440] Early-autumn, 1991. Little had changed on the popular music front since the late-80's, at least if you were living in a semi-post-apocalyptic part of North America at the time. Hair metal and bad synth pop dominated AM radio. It felt like it was going to go on forever, as if pop culture had lost the ability to evolve. Then it all, very suddenly, changed. A group from Seattle, who called themselves Nirvana, released a song called "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It sounded a lot like the Pixies, only with heavier guitars and a greater pop sensibility. Nothing all ...
Yesterday saw the publication of the Intelligence and Security Committee report into the events leading up to the murder of Lee Rigby. On reading it, one gets a sense of naivety from the members of the committee on how the Internet works, particularly when it comes to international jurisdictions. (Communications data is p139 onwards) Notably, the committee seemed surprised that wholly US companies did not consider themselves to be subject to UK laws. To emphasise that, here's an extract. 242. The UK Government has always asserted that the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) has implicit extra-territorial jurisdiction. The problem ...
Free speech is a right, but a platform is not by @niamh_mcintyre - well said, well said. (tags: ) Vote early, vote often, vote Thurso (tags: ) A trafficked penguin, a creepy talking doll and trench warfare: Charlie Brooker on Christmas advertising (tags: ) Ibrahim Taguri makes the positive case for immigration (tags: ) The seven deadly sins of tweeting about politics (tags: ) Dr Alun Wyburn-Powell: UKIP policies could increase immigration (tags: ) How you can help fund a British Moon landing (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Wed 26th
08:54LibLink: Nick Clegg - ensure there is no benefit abuse while retaining free labour movement
[IMG: Nick clegg rally glasgow 2014] Writing in the Financial Times (registration needed), Nick Clegg argues in favour of immigration for work purposes from the EU, but lists a range of restrictions on benefits for those coming to the UK: Overwhelmingly, European migrants come here to work and pay taxes. The ability of people to move across Europe as easily as goods and services is a founding principle of the single market - and a right that millions of Britons have enjoyed. For the sake of British prosperity, we must protect it. That means showing people the rules are fair. ...
Tonight at 6.15pm, sees the start of the West End lights switch-on celebrations, as part of West End Christmas Fortnight. The West End Christmas Concert takes place at Dundee West Church, starting at 6.15pm. There will be musical contributions from all local primary and secondary schools. The Concert will be hosted by Rev Andrew Greaves. Local band "Rockdee" will also perform. Mains of Fintry Pipe Band will pipe everyone from the church to Seabraes for the Christmas Lights Switch-On. At 7pm, the West End Christmas Lights will be switched on at Seabraes by Evening Telegraph editor Richard Prest, ably assisted ...
#454551551 / gettyimages.com Liberal Democrat peer Sal Brinton recently made good use of a Parliamentary question to raise one of the most popular of the arguments used against the propposed TTIP trade deal (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership): Baroness Brinton (LD): My Lords, there has been a great deal of scaremongering about the National Health Service and TTIP. Might it be helpful for BIS to highlight the EU directive on NHS procurement which makes it absolutely clear that the NHS will not be caught by TTIP contracts? Lord Livingston of Parkhead: That is absolutely correct. In fact, Commissioner de Gucht ...
This impressively renovated building or more precisely collection of three buildings is well worth visiting. There are inside and outside photos of it on my Flickr site at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/15696046789/ www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/15843705065/ A previous posting of mine on this building is at:-
The Parish Church of Wigan is somewhat hidden away behind the main shopping streets but a peek behind the shops reveals a pleasing stone church and a war memorial of some significance. Posted as part of my war memorial theme for 2014. [IMG: rsz_wigan_war_memorial]
Wed 26th
07:29
Minster invites Shropshire MYPs to talks after mental health tops Youth Parliament Commons debate
In a guest post, Shropshire's MYPs Laura Sheldon and Rhys Hart talk about their days in the House of Commons, how civilised it was compared to bear pit of debates by mainstream MPs, but how difficult it can be to get to speak on your first day in the House. The debate was not just [...]
The Welsh Lib Dems are urging the Welsh Government to use its newly devolved powers around rail franchising to plan for the future with a Welsh Rolling Stock Strategy, investing in new train carriages and ensuring the future growth of our rail services. Around 73% of the existing fleet of carriages will be unable to operate after 2020 due to electrification, franchise renewal and EU accessibility legislation coming into force. The Welsh Lib Dems want the Welsh Government to put plans in place now to ensure this is done smoothly and efficiently. The call comes as the Welsh Labour Government ...
It is the case that the major parties tend to keep their policy and spending plans a closely guarded secret until the General Election campaign. But does this amount to keeping voters in the dark on unpopular plans or is it just judicious secrecy for fear that if the voters found out how dire things really were they would punish those with the honesty to tell them? The Resolution Foundation think tank seem to believe that it is the latter. For they have told the Independent that the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, should all be more open with the ...
I was going to get a California Dreaming post up tonight, and had a chunk of it written, but made the mistake of going online to check a fact, and that meant I saw some stuff in the news, and I ended up literally weeping for humanity, so you get links while I recover my [...]
Tuesday 25th November was the day we chose for the Christmas lights switch on in Whickham. Cut backs means Gateshead Council no longer pays for the Christmas lights and tree in the village. Instead, Lighting Up Whickham, a voluntary group set up to raise funds for the lights, now pays for the lights and arranges the switch on. I am a member of the group but my job today was to be the
