Here's part of what Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, said on the BBC's World at One today: This is the worse type of politics for me. It is the politics that may appeal to people on the surface but it is financially illiterate...If any other party was launching a policy that effectively meant that poorer students would be subsidising city investment banking graduates, which is what this does, there would be protests in the streets and it would be led by the Labour party. I simply don't understand how they've launched this. Let's look at this very simply. It's ...
At the height of the tuition fees debacle, I seriously considered leaving the Liberal Democrats. At one time, I even considered joining the Labour Party. Yes, I was that annoyed/frustrated/angry – but it didn't take too much thinking for me to come to the conclusion that being in the fire would be even worse than ... Continue reading »
Eric Portman and Sheila Sim in a scene from Powell and Pressburger's A Canterbury Tale.
In a detailed report, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, on Labour's higher education funding plans, the Institute of Fiscal Studies concludes: The reform to HE funding announced by Labour on 27th February would: Leave university finances largely unaffected in the short run, but perhaps more susceptible to spending cuts in the longer run; Benefit higher income graduates; Leave the half of graduates with lower lifetime income largely unaffected; Increase the incentive for those who expect to have high income in future not to participate in the loan system at all; Boost "cash-in-pocket" for around half of students by up to ...
The real problem with tuition fees is that they are largely a PFI scheme, designed to get the debt off the government's books for a while — Jonathan Calder (@lordbonkers) February 27, 2015 This tweet, which I sent from platform 2 at Leicester station this morning, has received an extraordinary (for me) number of retweets. I think that is in part because Owen Jones was one of the first people to retweet it. But this is not the argument that was most often deployed against introducing and then increasing tuition fees. Those who opposed them said that fees would deter ...
Former Sunday Mirror editor Paul Connew explains on The Drum: It was a disastrous combination of Britain's draconian libel laws (generally so beloved of celebrities with unsavoury secrets and lawyers well aware of 'star-struck' juries), victims intimidated by Savile's celebrity status and powerful connections plus police indifferent to (or themselves intimidated by) allegations against the rich and powerful ... that conspired to protect Savile and other VIP abusers.
I can't say I have the best of relationships with the Aintree & Maghull Champion newspaper and because of clashes between us I don't have much contact with it these days. However, something odd is going on and it involves an anonymous e-mail, the Champion and me. Today I was contacted by the paper asking me to respond to some allegations about me which the paper acknowledges are anonymous. The allegation from the anonymous source is that I am likely to stand in future elections as something other than a Lib Dem. Who said this? I have no idea and ...
I don't often say this, but Ed Miliband has hit the ball for six as far as Labour's tuition fee pledge is concerned. Setting aside whether you agree with it or not, it is a political masterstroke. Whilst Labour's policy unit floor is littered with the fragments of previous broken promises on student finance, his £3,000 fee reduction has just become a clear 'red line' issue for Labour in the next Parliament. It is a promise he simply has to keep and, in spite of concerns from universities and claims from opponents about funding shortfalls, he has said how he ...
Times Like These – Flying Rodent argues that we take the Times far too seriously – indeed, the fact that its habitual grovelling to power isn't a national joke says a lot about us as a nation. A different cluetrain – Charles Stross on some of the factors that will drive the politics of the future. The history of a political surge – A Green perspective on the processes that have driven the recent growth in that party's membership. Disaster – Simon Wren-Lewis on the economic hole we're currently in, and not showing any signs of climbing out of. Has ...
We have submitted our response to the DUP's consultation on the Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill. Our response was based on responses we had to our own consultation. Overall, based on the responses we have had, and an analysis of the proposed legislation compared to the teaching of the New Testament, Faith and Pride [...]
Commenting on today's announcement from Labour, Vince Cable has said: Labour's policy is based on a soundbite, and as a result, is completely financially illiterate. It will do great harm to universities and create a costly black hole in the national budget. For a party presenting itself as a government in waiting they are showing staggering ignorance of how university finance works. Talk about the current system being unsustainable is rubbish. The OECD, who has no political axe to grind, said the English system is totally sustainable and works well. A £6,000 cut would wreck the financial sustainability of universities, ...
A fellow Wandle Valley Regional Park trustee, Cllr Andrew Judge from Merton Council has set up a petition 'No to Lee Valley Tax'. The petition states: Change the law to stop the payment of £1.6m precept money every year by residents of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth to the Lee Valley Regional Park and [...]
I was very pleased to join Cllr Wendy Meikle and Cllr Patrick McCauley at the official opening of 20th Century Stores by Stockport's MP Ann Coffey today. Speaking to the traders it's clear that the marketplace is getting a real buzz around it with the historic market itself coming on leaps and bounds and the specialist shops around the outside – especially the expanding vintage offer – really starting to take off. [IMG: 20th Century Stores] [IMG: 20C_s5] [IMG: 20C_s4] [IMG: 20C_s3] [IMG: 20C_s2] [IMG: 20C_s1]
[IMG: Lottery balls] Hello again to a post I first wrote in 2009 about a topic that's still very relevant: how should you react when policy outcomes vary around the country? James Graham's typically pugnacious post about postcode lotteries has prompted me to write down a question that's been knocking around at the back of my mind: When you read about a public service varying from area to area (aka postcode lotteries), do you think: a. "This is a problem. We must introduce more measures to ensure that the service is driven by national standards", or b. "This is inevitable. ...
Well the NHS won't win them the election so now it is time to pull at the heartstrings against the other party. So Ed Miliband says that under a Labour government, they'll reduce tuition fees to a top level of £6,000. Hurray, Hurrah etc.... This sounds great and I have no doubt that when I watch the six o'clock news tonight it will be the lead story and it will sound great. The problem (as it often is) is that is you go beyond the headline, you'll notice that actually this tuition fees drop would actually most effect the rich ...
Details of Labour's tuition fees policy are emerging today. There is a proposed higher maintenance grant and higher interest rates for higher earning graduates. It will remain to be seen how much those two changes alter the regressiveness of the main proposal to reduce the fee cap to £6,000. That basic policy proposal is to take £2 billion from pension tax breaks and give it to graduates who earn 32% above the national average wage. This is because many graduates will not pay back their full tuition fees "loan" under the current scheme. So only those earning £35,000 or more ...
I found Tony's but not without effort. It was one of those annoying shitholes only found seeing out their commorancies in the cellars of Mayfair, the kind of pretentious dive that thinks because it's hard to find it must be a brilliant provider of the dining experience. Tony's is the type of establishment that doesn't put prices on its menus because if you have to enquire about the cost involved then you almost certainly won't be able to afford it, despite the cuisine they offer being the prevalent sort of French-Turkish-Mexican fusion thing no one in their right minds would ...
[IMG: Quinton Colour] Experienced Lib Dem campaigner Nigel Quinton is to fight the S W Herts Parliamentary Seat against the struggling Financial Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke. Nigel Quinton lives in Lemsford with his wife and two teenage daughters. He was brought up in a Liberal family, his mother being a Councillor for many years in Bristol and Lancaster. After graduating as a geologist, Nigel had a successful career in the tough world of oil exploration in a mix of large and small companies which included Hertfordshire based start-ups Dragon Oil and Sterling Energy. He has served as a ...
The key thing to remember when judging changes to the existing tuition fees policy is that many people will get their fees written off rather than paying them off in full. In fact, it's the possibility that it may be so many that the system ends up not saving very much money which has been a consistent thread of recent coverage. So reducing the headline fees figure for all those people simply means that they end up paying the same – but the sum that gets written off at the end is smaller, rather than larger. The only people who ...
There is so much to enjoy about this 1964 Labour leaflet for Robert Maxwell that I won't say much to get between you and enjoying it. Before becoming a newspaper tycoon and pension fund fraudster, Robert Maxwell was a Labour MP for Buckingham (yes, Buckingham) for six years until his defeat in 1970. This leaflet is from the election at which he got elected. Note in particular the footnote about the reputation of The Times on p.1, the ever-present complaint about the "skyrocketing price of houses" on p.3 and the photo with Montgomery on p.4. (Click on the images below ...
According to the Local Government Chronicle, "Cambridgeshire leader Steve Count (Con) said talks had taken place with Peterborough City Council about potentially forming a combined authority." Now as a Liberal Democrat, I am of course a huge fan of decentralisation, removing power and decision making from the bureaucrats in Whitehall and putting it in the [...]
Residents will be aware that work on the bridge has slowed down dramatically over the the last few weeks. This was due to problems with the finish on some of the precast concrete units, but these have now been solved. Another difficulty has been how to get the large tracked vehicle (the orange one in the photo) across to the other side of the line, because of the traffic restrictions on Besom Lane. It is now planned to take the big vehicle across the railway track at night this Saturday (28 Feb). Work should then proceed quickly. The concrete sections ...
[IMG: rsz_step_into_boots_-_westway_maghull_-_10_13] Whilst Boots have been chasing Ed Miliband about because of his anti-business policies I wonder if they could find a moment to address the issue I raised with them ages ago i.e. the lack of disabled accessible arrangements (a big step) up to their Maghull Westway shop. It's only been 14 months since I published the posting above!
[IMG: Lord George Mackie] We are grateful to David Steel for sending us his eulogy to Lord George Mackie who died at the age of 95 last week. One of the noticeable traits of George Mackie was his reluctance to talk about his wartime exploits in Bomber Command. We of a younger generation wanted to hear more of the events which led to his remarkable survival and the awards of the DSO and DFC, but the tales had to be coaxed out of him. He was never boastful. It is a huge privilege to be asked to speak here about ...
The Hands Off Our Packs "Stop the Nonsense: Plain Speaking on Plain Packaging" event was held on Tuesday night. What a joy it was. [IMG: MArk Littlewood southampton FC] All Forest shindigs are must-go-to events as far as we are concerned. They are lively and fun; the speakers are invariably excellent value; the alcohol flows; and the pavements/terraces/balconies are alive with smokers and non-smokers alike celebrating life, the universe and everything else. This event was no less fun, informative and innovative than we have come to expect. We had intended to write up the event in more detail, but Dick ...
So at last we know the full extent of the deal that has been done regarding the sale of Millennium House - a prime site within our city. I was accused in an extension of this note which I received ... Continue reading →
These are dark times for internet freedom in China. A government that has always been hostile to open debate and free flow of information has of late intensified its efforts. Indeed, one can debate whether residents of China are still accessing the internet or a massive intranet that covers their whole nation. This tragedy now has [...]
I'm pleased to announce on Monday, 2nd March, I will be the new Lib Dem Group Leader and Leader of the Opposition on Gateshead Council. Our current leader, Frank Hindle, told the group at the end of the Full Council meeting in December that he was stepping down and wanted a new leader elected before the start of the local election campaign. So on Monday 23rd February, we held the leadership
[IMG: Talk of the Glens] The Daily Mail has been casting a critical eye over a publication being delivered to voters across Danny Alexander's Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency by Danny's campaign team. Needless to say, the magazine, Talk of the Glens, does not meet with the Mail's approval. "Toe curling" and "garish" they call it. It is very nice of the Mail, however, to reproduce the magazine almost in its entirety. Their readers, who may have inadvertently recycled it, therefore get a second chance to see it. What the Mail doesn't realise is that Talk of the Glens has ...
Or rather what to do on Saturday 14th March: [IMG: Fringe meeting at Lib Dem conference] More details about the Lib Dem spring conference here.
[IMG: 7134884983_5301865c77_z] I've only just found the headspace to catch up with Tim Montgomerie and Stephan Shakespeare's The Good Right, an agenda for the modernisation of conservatism. I was reminded of it yesterday while reading Stephen Tall's final - and excellent as ever - post for ConservativeHome. The overarching aim of the project is to break away from the idea that the Conservative party is the party of the rich and seek to reinvigorate its mass appeal. The Good Right styles itself as a contribution to internal debate on the future direction of the Right, but it has generated a ...
Yes, it's that time of the year again, and the Big Spring Clean at Brimsham Park will be on Saturday 7 March. Meet in Coopers Road car park at 10 am for gloves, black bags, etc. Please wear suitable clothing. If you are unable to come along at 10 o'clock but are able to join us later, we will be glad to see you.
Ed Miliband is giving a speech in Leeds today, outlining Labour's tuition fee policy. In the usual Miliband way, it is heavy with hyperbole. "This is a disaster for them and a disaster for the future of Britain too - a country where the next generation is doing worse than their parents is the definition of a country in decline." I should note that he's referencing Coalition policy here, not his own (things haven't got that bad – yet). This is a line Labour have been spinning since the rise in tuition fees to £9,000 was introduced at the end ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention this week... Login On immigration @montie, alterntv definition of madness: "doing same thing over & over again & expecting diff results" http://bit.ly/18t1dZr Higher education funding: pulling the rabbit out of the hat | Stephen Tall To those saying "Yeah but you're a LibDem so hah!" on fees, here's what I wrote *10 years ago* http://bit.ly/1E2Lgq3 BBC News – Labour to reveal how it would fund cut in tuition fees Sigh, I see Labour has announced its idiot plan to cut tuition fees for well-off grads in 20 years' time http://bbc.in/1MXqvyD ...
Britain doesn't know how good it's got it (tags: ) Britain's electoral system: The breaking point | The Economist (tags: ) Staying Safe on the Doorstep - a guide for canvassers by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust (tags: ) No Boys Allowed: School visits as a woman writer - this made me INCREDIBLY angry (tags: ) Community Pubs: A Liberal approach to small business (tags: ) It's Time To Talk About Why Our Young People Turn Against Their Country (tags: ) Do you know how much being an MP can cost? - the real problem is in the second half of ...
For most people, work plays a defining role in their lives. It provides structure, the money to live and enjoy life, and for the lucky ones, it can provide a sense of achievement and purpose. Every one of these elements is a component in supporting good mental health, and helps to explain in part the vicious cycle of mental ill-health and unemployment, as well as the critical role that employment can play in mental health recovery. But it's sadly not true to assume that work is always good for you mental health. Surveys have found the mild to moderate mental ...
[IMG: Girl high-fiving an adult] Alert! Alert! This child is having fun. Take action immediately. The BBC reports: A Dumbarton lollipop man has been banned by the local council from "high-fiving" children as they cross the road. Nkosana Mdikane, 74, is known as "Scotland's happiest lollipop man" due to his singing and dancing at work. What really makes the heart sink is the reason given by the council for banning a lollipop man from cheerfully doing his job and charming the children he's there to serve: All patrollers are instructed when crossing children over a road to remain static with ...
The Sun has already reported on the views of a senior energy consultant that Labour's proposed energy price freeze has already cost each household £70. They say that Tim Ham of Pearson Ham believes that the threat of a Labour Government freezing bills meant the "Big 6" suppliers are worried about cutting bills and then being unable to put them up if costs spiralled. He estimates that average gas bill, currently £695 a year, could be around 10 per cent lower if the energy market was allowed to operate without the threat of political intervention. He added that Labour's claim ...
Liberal Democrats have called for local people and their councillors to have a much greater say across the district on how play areas are managed. Liberal Democrat group leader Chris White said after Wednesday's evening's full council meeting: 'It is clear that there is an appetite in the community to have a detailed say on [...]
Dundee Art Society's Art 125 Exhibition is currently open daily at the Discovery Point Café Gallery. The society is celebrating its 125th year this year, and this show is dedicated to displaying the rich variety of talent, endowed on the city by their current members. It includes an eclectic mix of mostly realist styles, some abstract for variety and mixed media works. Members of Dundee Art Society range from professional artists to the majority of amateur artists, and the student; the works shown vary tremendously and provide something for every viewing preference, with works in watercolour, oil, gouache, pastel and ...
So Labour finally confirm their policy on tuition fees. A cap at £6,000 a year, funded by curtailing pension tax relief. So, this will mean that high earning graduates pay less, while low earning graduates pay the same. What baffles me, is that Labour's argument for the change is that graduates are not paying back the "loans" at the rate predicted, thereby 'loading more burden on the national debt/taxpayer'. But that is rather a foot-shooting argument. They are basically accepting that the post-2012 tuition fees scheme is not as onerous on graduates as they – Labour – said it would ...
Stockport's Lib Dem led council has ensured that there will be no increase in Council Tax for the fourth time in five years. This is a significant real-terms fall in council tax over that time, helping particularly families on low incomes. The Lib Dem budget is the latest step in transforming the council – a journey we started in 2009 when the then-Labour government told us about the cuts that were coming. Stockport Council will have £235 million to cover our day-to-day running costs for 2015/16. The money coming into Stockport as government grant is low, only £137 per head, ...
[IMG: Cllr. Iain Brodie Browne] Cllr. Iain Brodie Browne, Leader of the opposition on Sefton Council, has been doing a bit of number crunching since Sefton Council's Labour Leader, Peter Dowd, made some claims which Iain thought were erroneous at the last Council meeting about school places. Iain's checks on one particular school in Southport seem to prove that he was right to be sceptical of the Labour Leader's stats. I am aware of others doing similar number crunching on school places following Cllr. Dowd's speech which had quite a number of us scratching our heads about his claimed ...
The question of liberal policy on pubs has been sent to me by quite a few people. As someone who enjoys a good pint, and has lots of good breweries locally, I'm glad of the opportunity to answer. Pubs are vital community hubs in many areas of the UK, and Calder Valley is no exception. In the outlying villages the pubs are often the only community space there is, and in the towns they are the centre of all manner of events. [IMG: Alasdair Calder McGregorPPC] Pubs are in many ways emblematic of the Liberal approach to all small business. ...
