So far today, the election themed correspondence and social media from the Liberal Democrats has involved 3 separate emails, a poster on social media, a silly but scarily compelling and satisfying game and a fabulous video. One thing in all of that that the party has missed is that this whole 100 days to go thing is a bit novel. We've known the date of this election since late 2010 when fixed term parliaments were introduced. Before then it was up to the Prime Minister to pick the date, usually at the time of maximum political benefit to their party ...
This afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending a meeting at The Shore, organised by Dylan Gowans and Reece Denyer, about having a Dundee Hogmanay 2015 event. It was a productive discussion and a summary of the meeting can be found on the Dundee's Hogmanay Facebook page here. Well done to Dylan and Reece for taking the initiative - I'll be helping in any way I can in the months ahead. Tonight, I attended the consultation meeting at Harris Academy on the proposal to close Menzieshill High School at the end of the 2015/16 academic year and include the Menzieshill ...
[IMG: Tessa Munt photo by Keith Edkins] BBC News reports: Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt has resigned as a parliamentary aide to Business Secretary Vince Cable after voting against the government on fracking. Ms Munt defied the party whip to support a rebel amendment calling for a moratorium on the extraction technique. The Wells MP initially said she intended to remain in her role despite breaching the principle of collective ministerial responsibility. But a spokesman for Mr Cable later confirmed she had quit as his aide. The spokesman said: "Tessa Munt has resigned from her position as parliamentary private secretary ...
Every year on Holocaust Memorial Day I go to a commemoration of some kind, usually at an embassy of one of the central or eastern European states, but this year was special — and not only because the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was being marked. Europe House, the London offices of the [...]
In 2010, before the election, Nick Clegg warned of 'Greek-style' strife on the streets of Britain if any Government pushed through policies that people did not vote for. Remember? Let's face it, nobody voted for 'coalition' policies in the end did they? But so it came to pass that UK austerity measures were passed and, suddenly, to question these was to be childish and unreasonable. Austerity politics was the grown up way of doing politics. TINA and all that. Now's there's another name in the political circles and it's Syriza. I read this article today in Libdemvoice and pondered upon ...
I've had broken sleep for the last five nights, so you get links today. Batman post tomorrow. How efficient can a Jupiter brain be? Americans are losing their faith and Republicans are to blame A.C. McGregor on why fracking is a stupid idea Andrew Rilstone has a new book out You've almost certainly already seen [...]
The Care Quality Commission (CCQ) are inviting you, anonymously or in person, to let them know about your experience of care in our local hospitals – whether that be good, bad or indifferent. The CCQ are about to do an inspection of the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust which runs our hospitals, and for people in North West Durham that means mainly Durham, Bishop Auckland and Shotley Bridge Hospitals, though for some it will also include Darlington Memorial Hospital as the southernmost hospital in the trust. Plenty of people are willing to enthuse or complain amongst friends and neighbours ...
Shocking to read that Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour government colluded with the Colonel Gaddafi government. The Guardian reports that Libyan Intelligence agents were allowed to operate in the UK. That a number of exchanges took place and close working. That rendition and torture resulted. The people who suffered this are suing UK government departments – MI5/6, Home and Foreign Offices. An attempt to have the case thrown out failed on Thursday. Truly shocking that a UK government could stoop so low.
Conservative hopes of capturing the Cheadle parliamentary seat from Mark Hunter suffered a blow yesterday when long-standing Conservative councillor for Bramhall South and Woodford Paul Bellis defected to UKIP. Bellis said he could no longer support Conservative policies nationally or locally. Stockport has never elected a UKIP councillor, so Bellis becomes their first in the borough. His defection is the fourth to affect the main opposition parties in Stockport in recent months after three councillors quit the Labour party last Autumn to sit as independents. Bellis' defection reduces the Conservatives to just nine councillors out of 63 on Stockport, with ...
The countdown starts today. Just 100 days left to ensure that any future government has a strong Liberal voice in it. That means a strong voice for social justice and economic responsibility, ensuring that we finish the recovery and do so fairly. But it also means a voice that will continue to stand up for a radical approach on issues like drugs policy, indiscriminate snooping and constitutional reform. Crucial issues, but ones that both Conservatives and Labour would happily sweep under the carpet and forget about altogether if they were given the chance. Top of these issues for me is ...
As a member benefit ALDC have posted the entire Election Law Handbook ( and a bit more besides) on the AskALDC section of the ALDC website. There are now searchable articles on 1.1 The Role of the Agent 1.2 Why Have an Agent? 1.3 Appointing an Agent 2.1 Who Can be a Local Government Candidate? [...]
Pensioners can exchange faulty electric blankets for new ones at a multi-agency event on Friday (30) in Cambridge. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has teamed up with Age UK Cambridgeshire to run the winter safety Golden Age event from 10.30am until 3pm at Cambridge's Parkside Place Community Fire and Rescue Station. Residents aged 60 or over can take advantage of the offer. Pensioners are encouraged to bring their old electric blankets along to be tested to check it is safe and any electrical blanket that fails will be disposed of in exchange for a new one. To book an ...
Bath & North East Somerset Council's plans to invest almost £500,000 in improvements to Bath's Royal Victoria Park will get underway on January 19. The park, which attracts many thousands of visitors every year, features Botanical Gardens, lakes, floral and historical features as well as one of the biggest children's play areas in the South West. Work to improve the play area starts next week, and will include installation of a new slide and tower unit replacing the triple slide. This is part of a total investment of £255,000 into 11 play parks across the area. The work should be ...
The Bath and NE Somerset Council aims to substantially increase jobs and support local businesses through the Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area, which is designated as a key zone for economic growth by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership. To deliver the jobs requires an integrated approach to managing traffic flow in the city - including providing improved parking opportunities such as expanding long stay capacity at Park and Ride - enabling greater emphasis to be given to walking, cycling and bus services in the historic core and on key corridors. Reduction of city centre parking will not take ...
Lots of our members have been asking about Connect training. Obviously there will training available at Liverpool Federal conference 13-15th March and any remaining State and Regional conferences still to be held before the election. But for those who might not be able to get to these "Webinars" are a great way to build your [...]
[IMG: Digital Democracy] 'Open up!' was published yesterday and is the report of the Speaker's Commission on Digital Democracy. Liberal Democrats should pay it some attention, even though, sadly, we do not appear to have had any representation on the Commission itself. Its remit was to explore how to use digital technology to improve parliamentary democracy in the House of Commons, and increase democratic participation, which is surely something that we care about deeply. After a year of consulting with a huge range of organisations and listening to expert witnesses (including some familiar names like Richard Allan, Archy Kirkwood and ...
Just in case anyone outside the Palace of Westminster has been fooled by the recent deceitful diatribes that "MPs are lazy and given up on their Parliamentary duties" or "this final fifth year has turned us into a Zombie Parliament" I offer the following exchanges in the Lords today: Lord Grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on Parliament of the next general election date having been fixed as 7 May 2015 since the enactment of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): My Lords, it is a little too ...
Welcome to the latest in my occasional series highlighting interesting findings from academic research. Today, David Cutts, Ed Fieldhouse, Justin Fisher, Ron Johnston and Charles Pattie with data from the British Election Study on the impact of contacting voters. Our analyses of the 2010 election, using data supplied to us by the individual candidates' agents, found that the more people canvassing for a party in a constituency - both members and volunteer non-member supporters - the better its performance there. Canvassers having conversations with potential voters apparently wins them over. Other evidence sustains that. The 2010 British Election Study questioned ...
[IMG: Affordable homes for sale in Pendeen] Terrace of 3 two bed homes for sale at £116,500 to those with local connection 90% mortgages available for affordable homes in Pendeen. Lands End Peninsula CLT Ltd are proud of their first housing scheme for local people. The six 2 bed homes are excellent value at £116,500 and have to be viewed to be fully appreciated. I and fellow Board members would love to see you at the end of Moorland close, Pendeen on Saturday 31st January between 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The new homes form a new, small development called ...
LDHQ have released new key statistics for your literature and scripts. These statistics should replace any that you're currently using. One of the big changes in our top campaigns figures is that state pensions will, from April, be £950 more than under Labour. The update includes our most recent national figures - including the number [...]
Tax dodging is plain wrong. There can be absolutely no justification for the wealthy not paying what they owe. More than any other party, we know how important it is to have a fair tax system. Before the last elections, we pledged to lift the income tax threshold to £10,000. We have surpassed this by raising it to £10,600, lifting more than 3 million low earners out of paying income tax altogether. At the top, we've made sure more people pay their fair bit. We've set up a new special unit - the first of its kind - to tackle ...
The most likely outcome of the General Election will be another coalition Government, Liberal Democrats were told at a conference in Ipswich at the weekend. Baroness Ros Scott, who lives in Suffolk, said that the mould of single party Government at Westminster had now been broken. Addressing a packed audience of Liberal Democrat councillors and volunteers, she said;In the early months of the coalition government commentators predicted it would last just a few months. They were wrong. Let's not forget the difference that Liberal Democrats have made. The party has been able to deliver on many of its promises - ...
In the light of the statement issued by Cornwall Council earlier today, I have today written to all my colleagues on Cornwall Council with the following: Dear Colleagues Yesterday morning I met with the LADO - the council officer who oversees the process involved when there is a potential child protection issue. It was the first time I had been permitted to do so despite this starting back in October last year. This followed a fourth LADO group meeting held in secret last Tuesday to discuss the evidence I had provided which quite clearly proves my innocence. The LADO admitted ...
Keeping pace with accelerating communications technology is critical to staying alert to what people are saying about your brand The trick to making predictions is to pitch them a considerable distance into the future. Foreseeing the next decade imputes considerably more gravitas than calling the future tomorrow. It comes with the bonus that people will have long forgotten your prediction before they get to discover whether or not you were right - unless you are unlucky as Clifford Stoll was with his notorious 1995 essay 'Why the internet will fail'. But if we insist on shortening our vision to this ...
The Liberal Democrats have always strived to create an inclusive society regardless of background, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or any other different part of an individual's identity. And at the Lib Dem Diversity team we work hard all year round to ensure that our party reflects this diverse and inclusive culture that we believe in. That's why on the 7th and 8th March the Liberal Democrat Diversity Team are hosting a free BAME training weekend at the Liberal Democrats Head Quarters in order to reach out to young people from BAME communities. Successful applicants will get a chance to develop ...
A petition has been launched to reverse planned cutbacks to staffing at Ludlow's renowned Museum Resource Centre. Sign the petition here. Ludlow Museum Resource Centre staffing is to be reduced from three people to just a half time post based in Shrewsbury from April. The person in this post will serve the MRC as well [...]
I often lay in bed or sit on the loo or wherever and think to myself things like, 'what was I doing this time last year? five years ago? ten years ago?' and the ilk. Mostly to ask myself would I swap what I was doing at that exact moment for what I was doing then. I did this last night as I lay in bed and I idly thought to myself, 'what was I doing ten years ago?' and for once I could actually answer that question very accurately. I was doing something that would significantly shape who I ...
For once this is not a piece about constitutional reform. Instead I am referring to the condition of the mother of Parliaments, the Palace of Westminster, which requires £3 billion spent on it to bring it up to scratch. A BBC documentary to be broadcast next month is to highlight that the parlous state of the Houses of Parliament, includes leaking roofs, crumbling walls and plagues of mice, rats, moths and pigeons. In addition there are maintenance issues arising from this disrepair. The Times say that overflowing lavatories and blocked pipes in the House of Commons were left for more ...
Today various events across the UK mark Holocaust Memorial Day. From Lewis to Cornwall, thousands of people will remember the estimated eleven million victims of the Nazis' systematic and brutal killing machine - as well as those who have been killed in subsequent genocides. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will attend a Holocaust Memorial Day service this evening at Ayr Town Hall, just one of many gatherings which aims to honour those who died while reflecting on the effects of intolerance, discrimination and hatred. Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27th January annually to recall the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest ...
Repair and improvement works on the Kingsway School subway (passing under the A34 between Foxland Road and Broadway) will run over half term, scheduled to take five days from 16th February 2015, though if weather is especially bad the work may need to be extended. The proposed works incorporate both the East and the West Entrance Head/Wing Walls of the Kingsway School Subway, resolving the defects identified by recent Structural Inspections. These works include: Take down the existing fence to both the east and west entrance headwalls. Replace the existing fencing with a pre-fabricated Key-Klamp and mesh infill system, incorporating ...
Well, it is true that I'm a little disappointed that - despite three Lib Dem MPs signing a motion that would have imposed a moratorium on fracking until we know more about its effects on drinking water - only 52 MPs voted for it. But despite this failure, the reforms that were cobbled together do change pretty much everything. But I don't believe there will now be widespread fracking in this country. The local opposition will be too strong, and people's demand for pure drinking water - not least for their children - is too powerful. We don't have the ...
GDP figures Quarterly growth of 0.5% puts the UK in pole position to be the fastest growing G7 economy in 2014. Our economy is growing because we Liberal Democrats have anchored economic policy in the centre ground. In 2010 the last Labour government bequeathed the Country a bankrupt economy. We've driven through a host of Lib Dem inspired measures including income tax cuts for millions of working people, cutting the deficit fairly, boosting apprenticeships and investing in regional and local projects to rebalance the economy. Today's figures represent solid progress, especially with many of our key markets still suffering from ...
In a Pink News exclusive, Nick Clegg has called for gay victims of the Nazis to be included in the planned national Holocaust memorial – the "first senior politician" to do so. Clegg: The symbol of the pink triangle, once intended as a badge of shame, today stands as an international symbol of freedom and pride. From the dark shadow of history rises a neon emblem of diversity and hope. Any memorial remembering the Holocaust should recognise the persecution of non-Jewish victims whilst maintaining the centrality of the six million murdered Jews. Read the full piece here. * Newshound: bringing ...
Commuters are waiting at Needham Market railway station for trains which will never arrive because a new information screen has not been installed, according to district councillor Wendy Marchant. She said when engineering works are in progress, which cause services to be cancelled, passengers are left in the dark. Rail replacement buses are often provided but they run through the High Street and don't stop outside the station so many passengers do not use them, Mrs Marchant added.This has been going on for some time, I went down there Saturday and there was no information about replacement buses. There was ...
In case you missed it in the last quarter of 2014, a Health Profile was published for Peterborough (see below). It showed that the health of people in Peterborough is generally worse than the England average. Deprivation is higher than average and about 23.6% (9,700) children live in poverty. Life expectancy for both men and [...]
I'm backing our local Lib Dem MP Dan Rogerson in his call to get Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner to step in to protect facilities at Launceston Police Station. It follows suggestions that the custody suite at the station could be closing. Dan Rogerson said: "When the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner chose to close the public enquiry desk at Launceston Police Station last year, we were told that other facilities at the station weren't under threat. It is worrying to now hear that the custody suite could be closing. I am concerned that this would be a ...
The Lib Dems continue to beat Labour in raising money from private individuals: every quarter for the last three years the Lib Dems have raised more from private individuals than Labour. Record fundraising levels: the last quarter was the Liberal Democrats' most successful ever for a period outside of a general election year. Meanwhile – remember that donations to the party made before the end of the month will be doubled.
The victory in Greece of anti-austerity party Syriza (in coalition with a hard right junior partner) has been warmly welcomed by anti-austerity commentators here. Perhaps jumping the gun a little regarding the difference between voting to end austerity and actually ending it, Zoe Williams in the Guardian talks of a "a successful, transformative movement". The gulf between Syriza and all the other parties was suddenly, dramatically clear: the leftwing party no longer thinks of the ECB as its dad. It does not seek its patience. It will not take its terms at any price. This is the necessary precondition for ...
Josh and I visited Auschwitz last year as part of a visit to Krakow. We'd considered before, whether we wanted to go, and I didn't endlessly want to, but we decided in the end that it would be a good idea to visit while we were there. My apprehension at going can be summed up quite simply - I'm not somebody for whom seeing things necessarily makes them more real. Seeing the wreck of the Titanic scattered across the ocean floor doesn't help me understand the horror, or the loss of life. Similarly, visiting Auschwitz didn't help me to understand ...
The Baptist Church has some capacity for people to attend the Thursday Luncheon Club for frail and elderly people living alone. They can provide transport, a freshly cooked meal, someone to talk to and an opportunity to meet other elderly people. Please follow this link for details If you know of anyone you think could benefit please contact the Church directly on office@cs-bc.org.uk or by phone on 01454 313023.
Last weekend the anti-establishment, far-left party Syriza won the general election in Greece, and did better than most people forecast. Under Greece's unique electoral system, which gives the largest party a bonus of 50 seats, they almost won an overall majority. Guardian journalists jumped for joy. For them it showed that their hated austerity policies can be challenged and beaten. Elsewhere there are quite a few calming voices; things can be worked out, seemed to be attitude. Both views are naïve. First, in fairness, a couple of positive things need to be said about Syriza. The Greeks have been badly ...
Last Sunday's appearance by Natalie Bennett on the Daily Politics, an interview in which she was thoroughly dismantled by Andrew Neil, has already become semi-legendary. For those of you yet to witness it, Bennett becomes completely unstuck. She has to fall back on the ultimate no-no for a politician: "All of the details are on our website". As the leader of a political party you are expected to know the facts, at least the top line stuff. Problem for the Greens is that they are unused to being under the type of scrutiny witnessed on Sunday. They'd better get used ...
Banes Council under my leadership continues to improve cycle and walking facilities around the area. Cycle improvement scheme is under way at the Globe roundabout and now a major pedestrian improvement is about to get under way in Bath City centr. Work to start on pedestrian improvements in Bath City Centre A project to improve life for pedestrians and make the centre of Bath more attractive will start on Monday 2 February when Bath & North East Somerset Council begins work to make Stall Street virtually traffic free during shopping hours. The Council wishes to create a safer and more ...
Residents urged to back gas safety proposals Bath & North East Somerset Council is urging residents to back a campaign which wants to give social landlords extra powers to make sure gas appliances in the properties they own are safe. Gas Access is calling for the law to be changed so that social landlords, such as housing associations and local authorities, who are legally responsible for the upkeep and safety of gas appliances have the power to force entry to a property to ensure vital repairs can be made to faulty appliances. It also wants an MOT-style safety check for ...
Substantial maintenance and repair work on the retaining walls on Kingsway at the Cheadle Royal junction will be done next month. The work starts on February 14th and is estimated to take ten days. The crews will work every day, including weekends, and the aim is to do as much as possible over half term. In addition, work will only take place from 9.30am to 3.30pm to minimise the impact. If the weather is especially bad, works may have to be extended by up to a week. [IMG: Kingsway Interchange] A lane on Kingsway will be closed in each direction ...
Why we don't have electronic voting - This article is dead on. Perhaps they should introduce it in the commons first, & get that right, before trying to roll it out to the electorate? (tags: ) Still think @davepage_mcr's "Some Thoughts on Online Voting" is the best article on e-voting ... even if it's not the most excitingly-titled piece, it's still spot on (tags: ) A VIEW FROM HAM COMMON: @JulianHuppert? Ask the PM this. (tags: ) The DUP demand to be included in the TV debates - will the Tories support them? (tags: ) If Famous Films Were About ...
Today, 100 days before polling day, sees a new poster launched by the Liberal Democrats, offering a straight road between the reckless borrowing offered by Labour and the reckless cuts of the Conservatives. [IMG: General Election Poster 270115s] Reinforcing the theme of building a stronger economy in a fairer society, Nick Clegg commented The Conservatives want to veer off from the sensible economic plan we have set in Coalition, towards much harsher cuts than necessary to public services, especially in education. And Labour want to take us in the direction of reckless borrowing, threatening the economic recovery. Britain needs a ...
Residents have expressed concern that lights on the path under the rail line, between Perth Road and Riverside Avenue (that runs to opposite Wright Avenue), are not working. There are six lights on this path of which only three are working. This is a frequently used path and I have contacted the City Council's Street Lighting Partnership seeking urgent repair.
First there was Peter Mandelson's words about Liberal Democrat tax policy. Now there is his warning to Labour to prepare properly for a possible hung Parliament: Labour must not repeat the mistake of 2010 and make only last-minute plans for the possibility of entering a coalition after the May election, Lord Mandelson has warned... "Some of us certainly contemplated beforehand what would happen if we lost our overall majority in 2010, but we did nothing about it, and during the weekend after polling day we had to make up in 48 hours what we had failed to do in the ...
Residential developers are targeting pubs to convert into homes, as many struggle to make ends meet. The Guardian newspaper cites figures from the Campaign for Real Ale, which show that 29 UK pubs a week are shutting down, double 2011's rate. Around a third of the 1,722 pubs which shut last year were in London and the South East - highlighting the sheer demand for homes within the region. [IMG: Former Cabbage Inn - closed] Former Cabbage Inn – closed This is a subject I have been following at a local level for some time now and yes our pubs ...
This time last year, I was idly browsing Lib Dem Blogs and found myself thinking, "it's all gone a bit quiet in here". So, I had a look through the archives and produced a table showing the number of active blogs, taken on 26 January in each year as follows;2006 - 55 (I joined the next day...)2007 - 1072008 - 2222009 - 1862010 - 2312011 - 2352012 - 2302013 - 1772014 - 127So, with a General Election just 101 days away, you might expect the greater interest in politics to create a bit more of a buzz. And, the number ...
At the AGM of the Dulwich Area Housing Forum - the forum for council tenants and leaseholders - Bill Newman gave his chairs annual report where he thanked delegates and council officers and then spoke about council housing... "When major works are carried out to our homes we have endured a project that should be making our homes "Warm, Dry and Safe" but it's not. We still have homes without insulated walls which are cold and damp resulting in the growth of mould. Condensation arising from badly fitted double glazing. Residents are being told that in a lot of cases ...
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