After Coventry Cathedral, another post-nationalisation poster from the West Midlands.
Concillors Derek Hicks, Alex Watson and I have now had a series of meetings about the black hole that has been created on the A692 between Consett and the Grove. We've met with the Director of Neighbourhood Services, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the portfolio holder (aka County Council Cabinet member responsible) and can I tell you that the lights are set to go back on? Not yet. Possibly not at all. We've had a hearing on each occasion, but the only real progress we have made is an agreement that we can walk the route with the independent ...
The Liberal Party - a small group whose members opposed the merger with the SDP - has ended any doubts that it is a collection of fruitcakes. The Western Morning News reports that it has stood down its three parliamentary candidates in Cornwall and urged supporters to vote for Ukip. I hope those supporters will have more sense than the party's leaders and vote Liberal Democrat. Whatever our party's faults, it is far more Liberal than Ukip. Thanks to Joe Oliver on Twitter.
Reform on this scale needs to be across the board. But it's unfair to expect politicians to do it as they don't have the skill set. In a democracy 2.0 they would. Taking the politics out of politics may sound perverse. But it could restore our fortunes - and, ironically, our faith in politicians.James Palumbo's silly article has been rightly panned today in the Liberal Democrats and beyond. It seems that the use of "skill set" is a marker of idiocy well beyond The Apprentice. But there was a time when we Lib Dems were supposed to take Palumbo extremely ...
The BBC reports: A Suffolk councillor who is moving to the United States is refusing to stand down from his role, insisting he can do the job from almost 4,000 miles away. Brian Riley, Conservative county councillor for Hadleigh, is moving to North Carolina... The BBC has been unable to contact Mr Riley, but he told the East Anglian Daily Times while effectively "retiring" when he moves to America, he would fly back to the UK "every six or seven weeks". He has been suspended from the Conservative group.
The Delve family (who own Harry Tuffins) have applied for a petrol filling station on the corner of Bromfield Road and Coronation Avenue. They also plan to build a decent sized convenience store. If planning permission is given, should these be open 24 hours a day seven days a week? The South Planning Committee has [...]
The conclusions of the recent JRF report, The Cost of Cuts: the impact on local authorities and poorer communities, should come as no surprise. Its findings are that: cuts are contributing to rising levels of inequality; the scale and pace of cuts is undermining public service reform; long term preventative approaches are being undermined by the need for short-term savings; further cuts to council services in the face of rising demand are unsustainable; and central government should shift its emphasis from short term cuts to support longer term reforms and improved outcomes. Whilst it has the benefit of a three ...
We had a meeting of the Lighting Up Whickham group last night to press on with arrangements for the Whickham Community Festival. This year it will be on Saturday 4th July and the theme is the 1960s and 70s - flower power and flares. This will be the 4th annual festival and this year we will be having an extra event - a baking and jam making competition. Inevitably (as it was my suggestion) I
MPs have today voted by a majority of 254 in favour of plain packaging of tobacco. 367 MPs were in favour with 113 against in the free vote. Here is the full list of those who voted against the Government. LIB DEMS: Huge congratulations to Jeremy Browne and Simon Hughes (the only 2 Lib Dem MPs that opposed the measure). Inevitably some 37 Lib Dem MPs voted in favour of plain packaging (sigh) and it was particularly disappointing to see Ed Davey, Stephen Lloyd and Danny Alexander amongst those voting in favour of plain packs. David Laws and Norman Lamb ...
I'm a mild fan of Top Gear. I find it moderately amusing. It fills a hole in the corner of the living room. I prefer "Call the midwife". That said, I have been watching it since it was introduced by Angela Rippon and Noel Edmonds. We must await the outcome of the BBC enquiry into the "fracas" over the non-availability of late evening hot food in a posh hotel in North Yorkshire. I don't agree with the 400,000 idiots people who have signed Guido's stupid petition. HR procedures are actually important and deadly serious. It is conceivable that the incident ...
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has published its 10 Proposals for Planning in the next Parliament. As ever its proposals are pragmatic and make sense. A key message is the commitment to deliver the additional housing that England needs, and building places that work for the communities they encompass. As the lack of housebuilding [...]
[IMG: Stephen Williams] Last week I wrote about the event that Lib Dem Voice is running with the local government think-tank Localis, and we'd love it if some of our readers could join us. It will take place at 6.45pm on Tuesday 24th March at The Ideas Space, Clutha House, 10 Storey's Gate, Westminster, SW1P 3AY, which is just round the corner from HQ. Under the title "The local offer: what should the Lib Dems offer on devolution in their manifesto?", Stephen Williams, Minister for Communities, will lead the speakers. He will be joined on the platform by John Shipley, ...
I've told the story a number of times of the patient I met during the Barriers to Choice Review, but it looks like the right moment to tell it again. She had muscular dystrophy and had to see her consultant every six months, which meant a two-hour round trip plus half an hour or more in the waiting room. It meant going over a large river and paying a toll, and all she said when the doctor asked her how she was doing was: "I'm fine". What she really wanted was to check in occasionally by phone, and see him ...
Mike Beckett is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Scarborough and Whitby. He has found a novel way to tell voters about the sort of person he is – a cartoon drawn by his friend Nigel Roberts based on an original concept by Paula Dolphin. Some fascinating insights into the nature of modern politics, I'm sure you'll agree. [IMG: Michael Beckett, My Style of Politics] Just to be on the safe side, the imprint for the cartoon is: Legal imprint: promoted and published by Bob Jackman on behalf of Michael Beckett and the Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats, all at 3 ...
Ed Miliband must be wishing that Lord Mandelson could go back to Brussels. After all the former right-hand man of Tony Blair is not doing the new Labour leader any favours. According to today's Times, Labour's former business secretary is once more publicly questioning the chances of Mr Miliband winning enough seats after the May 7 vote to get a majority. He told a Retail Week conference: "[There will] almost certainly be a stalemate hung Parliament in two months' time.": Lord Mandelson said: "The two big parties in British politics have never polled a smaller share of the total vote ...
Wed 11th
15:55
To Save Everything, Click Here: Evgeny Morozov keeps you on your toes as you swing from agreeing to ...
[IMG: Macbook in use] Reading To Save Everything, Click Here: Technology, Solutionism, and the Urge to Fix Problems that Don't Exist by Evgeny Morozov is rather a rollercoaster ride as it swings from well-made criticisms of internet zealots through to arguments with large holes and contentious assumptions. [IMG: To Save Everything, Click Here - Technology, Solutionism, and the Urge to Fix Problems that Don't Exist by Evgeny Morozov - book cover] Given part of Mozorov's argument is that people are too ready to accept at face value self-confident statements about how the internet is and the world must adjust to ...
National Apprenticeship Week takes place from 9th-13th March 2015. The local Lib Dem team has been celebrating the news that 2 million apprenticeships have been created during the current parliament, thanks to the Lib Dems in Government. Across Bury this means that: – 8,150 apprenticeships have been created in Bury during the current parliament – 190 local businesses in Bury have received the £1,500 apprenticeship grant from the Government. Apprentices play an important role to help people, especially young people, develop new skills and qualifications whilst working and earning money. Apprenticeships are available in over 170 industries including aerospace, fashion, ...
Wed 11th
15:15
Martin Horwood MP writes...Justine Greening's revealing speech on International Development and what...
Yesterday the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development (DfID), Justine Greening, gave a speech outlining what she considered to be her achievements in government and giving us a hint at what the Conservatives would focus on in a future government. Greening's speech was kept very low key. This is partly because foreign aid is rarely headline news, but also because the Tory hierarchy are at pains to play down DfID's work under this government, even its very significant achievements. It was only in November that Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond told reporters that he thought the bill brought ...
LDHQ have issued new authorisation certificates today to Delegated Nominating officers around the country. If you are a DNO you need to make sure each Electoral Office you will be dealing with has a copy of this new form, They had been waiting for the Electoral Commission to confirm all the changes we have made to [...]
[IMG: Julian Huppert MP] Two bits of good news for anyone who wants to see Julian Huppert re-elected as MP for Cambridge. Firstly, he had to quickly increase his fundraising target after a steady flow of donations took him within easy grasp of his original aim very quickly after his Back Julian site was launched. He now hopes to raise £15,000 and is well on target to meet that. The positive video, showing a busy team waving placards with all the reasons to vote for Julian, from civil liberties, to equalities, to science, drug policy reform. Every one of us ...
[IMG: Ministry-of-sound-logo] What happens if you subtract politics from itself? That might sound like a particularly difficult question from a Taoist political theory exam, but it's something James Palumbo would like us to discover from the inside. (Yes, that's Baron Palumbo of Southwark, appointed such for his important contribution to contributions) Drawing on his experience of starting a business from scratch with only a large family trust fund and eight years experience working in the City behind him, he's decided that we don't need to be ruled by politicians any more (people with unelected seats for life in Parliament excepted, ...
Scill (Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning) have set up a new social group for anyone over 18 living in the Wallington South area to meet up with others and make new friends. The group meets every Thursday from 1.30 – 3.30pm at St Patrick's Church Hall, 47 Park Hill Road, Wallington SM6 0RU. [...]
The third last Prime Minister's Questions of this Parliament was just as ridiculous as we've come to expect. I lost patience with it at the moment when David Cameron got away with describing Ed Miliband as despicable. Now, I have many, many disagreements with the Labour leader. I'm also furious with Ed for countenancing some horrible personal attacks on Nick Clegg, not least that appalling Party Political Broadcast during the European elections last year. However, that was an ad hominem too far. Whatever his policy deficiencies, I think Ed is a decent enough bloke who does not deserve that sort ...
Each year the National Liberal Club in Westminster hosts a fundraising dinner for Liberal Democrat by-elections, named after one of the most famous of all: Orpington, seized from the Conservatives by the then Eric Lubbock in 1962. But last night's over-subscribed Orpington dinner had a special slant as it marked the 50th anniversary of David [...]
Jeremy Clarkson is a sacking away from becoming the most valuable free agent in the history of UK television. Should the BBC bite the bullet and part ways with one of the three presenters of Top Gear then they will have struck a decisive blow for the majority of people that I follow on twitter. The outpouring of sheer delight has been overwhelming. I'm pretty sure the Pupil Premium didn't get as much praise as Jeremy Clarkson's suspension and that is because the biggest problem with liberals is that anything they don't like, they believe that other people should not ...
THE BIG PICTURE Plan your polling day and GOTV strategy now. In years gone by getting out the vote was all about running an effective polling day operation and moving resources to more marginal wards. Since the number of postal voters has risen, the concept of "One election two polling days" developed. In elections since [...]
Wed 11th
11:37LibLink: Stephen Tall: Ignore the Liberal Democrats at your peril, and don't write them off
Stephen Tall has been writing for the Times' Red Box on Liberal Democrat prospects for the election. He makes the point that although commentators seem keen to ignore the party, we may yet be serious players in the next Parliament. However, the Lib Dems' 120+ polls reveal something Ashcroft's polling has neglected: naming the candidate makes a big difference for the Lib Dems. In seats as diverse as Labour-facing Cambridge and Tory-facing St Austell and Newquay, asking voters to think about whose name will actually appear on the ballot paper is enough to flip these seats into the Lib Dem ...
Our latest tabloid continues to be delivered by our members and campaigners in the Whickham area. Most have now gone through doors though we have a few patches left to do in my ward. The photo above was taken last week - my ward's leaflets packaged into their delivery patches. We have also experienced the arrival of Labour's election leaflets which they attempt to disguise as a "regular
Time for a visit to the US for today's trip down political literature's memory lane. This time it is Eugene McCarthy's unsuccessful bid to be the Democrat Presidential candidate in 1968 and his leaflet explaining the ballot lever positions to use in the Pennsylvania (I think) primary. 'How to vote' leaflets are so much simpler in Britain by comparison. [IMG: Eugene McCarthy 1968 leaflet] For more gems from past election leaflets, see my collection How leaflets used to look.
This month LDHQ are holding special Get Out The Vote workshops around the country. You'll be able to talk to local Connect experts, practice real-life scenarios, learn how to run a committee room and understand polling day stats. Sign up to your nearest workshop here – you can drop in between 10am and 4pm whenever it suits [...]
[IMG: Charles Kennedy by Catch21productions] Charles Kennedy recently visited a primary school in Ilford to talk about his life as an MP. Both he and the children seem to have enjoyed his visit. The Ilford Recorder has the details: Kennedy, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said he thoroughly enjoyed answering questions on his role. "I have for some time been looking forward to visiting Winston Way Primary School and I am very grateful for the invitation to do so. "Indeed, the pupils must have done their homework as the quality of questioning far outstretched what we often see ...
Over the past few days there have been some interesting responses for the debate about Sefton's Budget. In Southport it is generally held to have been a disaster. One particularly perverse piece of spin has been put about, namely that because we managed to shame Labour into accepting a minor amendment to improve the cold weather provision for rough sleepers we should have supported the entire budget. Pause for a moment of thought. Consider if the Government had proposed legislation to, say, have an immigration policy the practical impact of which was to say if you were white you come ...
It looks like Sefton Council will finish the present financial year with money unspent and probably it will be a significant underspend. Yes, I know this seems odd with all the Council cut-backs but there you have it. So considering how much trouble there has been over library closures and the refusal of the Council, under its Labour rulers, to allow volunteers to run closing libraries the opposition Lib Dem group on Sefton made a budget proposal last week. Our plan was to set aside £250,000 of any 2014/15 underspend to assist those residents who are trying to set up ...
Last night I gave a speech on behalf of Sandgate Parish Council to Shepway Development Control Committee on application Y14/1343/SH for Land adjoining Well House, 41 Radnor Cliff. The committee passed the application unanimously. I said: "Good evening Councillors, "I've been asked to speak on behalf of Sandgate Parish Council, who decided at their 6th January meeting not to support the application before you. "The view of the Sandgate Planning Committee at their meeting was that: The plans were unclear on the scale of the development; that the design of the building was not in keeping with Principles 4 and ...
The Friends of Brimsham Park and Lake and local councillors celebrate their grant - and their haul of rubbish! The Friends of Brimsham Park and Lake and local councillors rolled their sleeves up last Saturday and did a really good spring clean of the park. What's more, the bulbs that were planted last autumn are popping up now, so the Park is well worth a visit, particularly on a sunny day. There's a lovely walk around the lake and good play facilities. Children love looking at the wooden fish sculpture - see whether they can spot the baby fish! The ...
The planning application for four houses on the site of Nutt Farm, Nutt Lane will be considered at the Planning Committee meeting NEXT Tuesday, 17 March 2015 at 7pm at the Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury. The reports for this committee can bhe viewed on the Council's website here at (you need to sroll down a long way to get to this application). My understanding (from speaking to representatives of the developer) is that the plans have been modified in some ways to seek to address some of the concerns raised by neighbours – including reducing the size of the ...
As reported last week Transport for Greater Manchester met last Friday to consider proposed changes to the bus network – mainly this affects the south west of Prestwich, but will also be of interest to residents who travel to these areas and use these bus routes for other journeys. Although here have been a couple of changes which do slightly improve the situation, the changes will now unfortunately happen. The changes are: 92 (Manchester – Carr Clough – Pilsworth – Bury) CLOSED 93 (Manchester – Carr Clough – Whitefield – Bury) Changed to just Manchester – Carr Clough ONLY – ...
Lib Dem private polling v Lord Ashcroft's polling (PLUS the sting in the tail for the party) (tags: ) Inflicting suffering on those in need is now at the heart of our benefits system (tags: ) Even as a Blairite, I wouldn't accept Tony's money - care to comment, @JoshFG? (tags: ) Benefit sanctions: Britain's secret penal system - covers no party in glory, this. (tags: ) Spring must be in the air: John Inverdale with another on-air shocker (tags: ) There is a "new" Jimi Hendrix song - bookmarking for my own purposes (tags: ) Mr. Bean Inserted Into ...
Often the debate on airports expansion in London and the South East focuses on Britain's connectedness with the wider world and our increasing need to be able to easily reach far flung emerging market destinations such as Brazil and China. That need is no doubt critical if we are to build a stronger economy in the future, but there's one important aspect of the debate that often gets neglected - Britain's internal domestic connectivity and the need to link places like Newquay, Inverness and Liverpool to our thriving capital city. Indeed I believe this important aspect of the debate goes ...
The 'Village Haul', vintage fairs that have been taking place for two years now at the Church Lane Community Centre have been told by Bury Council that they can no longer have a license to operate. Village Haul have been told by Bury Council that they have granted an exclusive franchise for vintage markets (apparently for Prestwich and Ramsbottom) to one organisation, with the result that nobody else will be granted a licence to hold fairs for the duration of the tender. [IMG: AZbWirccdCAJCzN-800x450-noPad] The team from Village Haul say: "We were given no notification about this vintage tender (although ...
New sounds from South Africa and Nigeria's urban science fiction could change the future of technology and the city Strong stories or visions of the future stick around. The 1920s sci-fi fantasy of a jetpack commute still pops up in discussions about the future of technology, not to mention as an option on the Citymapper travel app. By co-opting or creating new visions of the future, it seems possible to influence the development of new products and services - from consumer tech to urban infrastructure. A new generation of African artists is taking over the mantle of Afrofuturist arts from ...
I have previously highlighted problems with the recycling centre at Roseangle overflowing (particularly the plastics bins) and constituents again highlighted this over the past couple of days, as reported in last night's Evening Telegraph. The centre was serviced and tidied at my request yesterday so is now looking a lot better:However, the substantive issue is that the facility either requires more bins or more regular servicing. The Environment Department's Head of Policy and Performance responded to me as follows yesterday on these points as follows: "With regard to the above issue, the ongoing concern seems to be the amount of ...
A new planning application has been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Application Number: 58484 Registration Date: 25/02/2015 Location: Brookvale Home, Simister Lane, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2SF Proposal: Installation of a ground mounted solar farm system comprising of 1920 PV modules and associated works Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further information or help with this. The details will be on the Council's website here. Tim
Throughout this parliament, we've heard a lot about Labour's 35% strategy. This mostly involves picking off ex-Lib Dems and getting them to vote Labour. I can see why this was appealing to them. Only problem is, the psephology of it doesn't quite work out. The Lib Dems have 56 seats at present (they had 57 after the 2010 general election. It is minus one as a result of the whip being withdrawn from Mike Hancock). 11 of these seats are in Scotland. Now once upon a time, Labour stood to gain several of these. No longer. Any Lib Dem losses ...
Dr Freeman From Sheena Wellington : Dr Fred Freeman: A Musical Introduction to the Scots Language The Wighton Centre invites you to an exciting talk about the Scots language by Dr Fred Freeman. Friday 13th March 2015 at 2pm at the Wighton Centre, Central Library. Dr Freeman is author of two books on Scottish poetry and over a 100 articles on Scottish literature, folk music and history. He is a producer and musical director of some 45 CDs, including the 12 volume collection of the Complete songs of Roberts Burns. He has taught at both the School of Scottish Studies ...
A new planning application has been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Application Number: 58490 Registration Date: 27/02/2015 Location: 44 Polefield Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2GN Proposal: Two storey extension at side and single storey extension at rear; Tiled canopy at front Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further information or help with this. The details will be on the Council's website here. Tim
Metrolink have written to local councillor's informing them that there is a rolling programme of overnight working between midnight and 5am from Sunday 8 March until Friday 8 May, 2015. The following locations will be affected at various times during this period: · Bury Metrolink stop to Radcliffe Metrolink stop · Radcliffe Metrolink stop to Heaton Park tunnel · Heaton Park tunnel to Queens Road Metrolink stop. This work, to install trackside equipment and cabling, forms part of the new Tram Management system which will provide essential service improvements and improved public information. No work will take place between 5am ...
Wed 11th
07:51
Decision on new petrol station and store in Ludlow delayed over concerns for safety of schoolchildre...
After a forty minute discussion, plans for a convenience store and a 24-hour petrol station on Bromfield Road, Ludlow were put on hold yesterday afternoon by Shropshire Council's South Planning Committee. The committee want more work to be done on pedestrian safety, especially for schoolchildren on their way to and from Ludlow School. The committee [...]
The Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed that the Liberal Democrat manifesto will contain the most far-reaching drug reform policies ever put forward by a major political party. At long last. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg made the commitment at an event alongside entrepreneur Richard Branson, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy. The manifesto will include commitments to: Adopt the approach used in Portugal, where those arrested for possession of drugs for personal use are diverted into treatment, education or civil penalties that do not attract a criminal record. Legislate to end the use of imprisonment for possession ...
After last night's announcement on my blog about Emma Farthing-Sykes taking up the Liberal Democrat mantel in Linlithgow and East Falkirk. Today I am delighted to announce that I have been selected as the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Sedgefield. It is a great delight to be able to continue to take the Liberal Democrat vision of a Stronger Economy and a Fairer Society, this time to the people of Sedgefield. Only the Liberal Democrats are capable of delivering both so that everyone can get on in life. Labour seem to neglect the economic quagmire they left after they ...
