Tomorrow I may talk about yesterday but my brain really has not computed the stuff that went on yesterday... And I need to be a little less cross at my lovely nurse! Today has been an interesting challenge of just moving. Learning gently how to use the crutches along with rest and codine induced sleep. Living in a small house with steep stairs was my first big challenge at 1.30am.. My body took a while to start working fully in the water works department. But at 1.30am I needed to use the downstairs loo... My first real test of remembering ...
Wed 15th
23:23
Labour council leader condemns "abhorrent" immigration leaflet by Labour shadow minister
The Birmingham Post reports: The Labour leader of one of Britain's most multicultural cities has slammed a leaflet published by a Labour shadow minister for "abhorrent" comments about immigration. Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in the country, attacked an election leaflet distributed by Shadow Business Minister Liam Byrne, who is defending his seat of Birmingham Hodge Hill. And Sir Albert said there should be an apology for the comments in Mr Byrne's leaflet – which included a warning that immigrants would have to "earn their right to stay" in the UK by learning ...
The Liberal Democrat manifesto, published today, says "We will... outlaw caste discrimination" We had fought hard with others to insert a provision in the Equality Act to treat caste as an aspect of race, but the best we could achieve was to give the Government an obligation to make such an Order, without specifying a date for it, see http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/24/section/97. The Tories, under pressure from high caste Hindus, created a process involving two consultations, a feasibility study and other delaying mechanisms lasting two years, so that the law had not come into effect by the General Election. People who want ...
Let's have a brief look around the internet to see what people are saying about the Liberal Democrat manifesto: Independent organisations: The Institute of Fiscal Studies compared what the 3 main manifestos said on education: Overall, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are committed to protecting a larger part of education spending than are the Conservatives. In addition, the Liberal Democrats are committed to a faster increase in spending than the Conservatives in the period after 2017-18. Compared with Labour, the Liberal Democrats have only committed to protecting the 2-19 education budget (which they say is currently £49.2bn). Labour have instead ...
A spot of railway nostalgia porn for you.
Milestone Birthday for landmark Stockport Museum to be celebrated with a Chimney make-over and a 'Super Sunday' Birthday Party. Stockport's iconic Hat Works, the UK's only museum dedicated to the hatting industry, hats and headwear, turns 15 years old this April. Stockport Council is keen for this unique museum and landmark to look its best for the occasion and, in preparation, the Hat Works impressive and most prominent 200ft chimney is currently being repaired by steeplejacks, who are also repainting the giant letters that sign post the museum to everyone passing through Stockport Town Centre. To mark this milestone birthday, ...
A goldfinch... but not my goldfinch... I was sitting in our conservatory on Sunday morning, drinking tea, when I looked out at the bird feeder planted in the middle of the lawn and noticed a somewhat unusual looking bird with its beak searching for a free snack. "What's that?", I asked Ros, our household nature expert. She peered at it, slightly myopically - we both have eyesight which is less than optimal - and mused. Luckily, the wonders of the internet allowed me to establish that it was, in fact, a goldfinch. Goldfinches are quite attractive, with their red faces ...
We're two and a half weeks into the Campaign That Never Ends and we've finally got the manifestos from the five main parties all published. As I've said before, given that the election date was known a long time ago, there's no real reason why they couldn't have been released before now, but I'm not a well-paid political consultant who'll have explained to the party leaderships exactly why it was a good idea to wait this long before releasing their plans for the next five years to the public. The combined manifestos come to nearly 500 pages in total but ...
Lib Dems Believe Wordle 27 Freedom - opportunity for everyone
It's amazing what passes for news during an election campaign. Here are some of the best "non-stories" of the campaign: You know, buses break down sometimes. It happens and nobody goes and asks rival companies for comments. Except during an election, as the Standard writes about the Lib Dem bus breaking down in Brixton: Party officials said the vehicle developed an electrical fault as it made the trip back to central London following a campaign visit to East Sussex. Political rivals had little sympathy for the Lib Dems' plight, with the Conservative press office tweeting: "So it's true ... Lib ...
Liberal Democrat Manifesto 2015 - Stronger Economy. Fairer Society. Opportunity for Everyone. Top Priorities for the next five years.
This manifesto is a blueprint for a stronger economy and a fairer society. At its heart is one word that is absolutely central to what Liberal Democrats believe: opportunity. No matter who you are, where you were born, what sexuality or religion you are or what colour your skin is, you should have the same opportunity to get on in life. We want to tear down the barriers that stop you from reaching your potential. We want to smash the glass ceilings that keep you from achieving what you want to achieve. Your talent and your hard work, not the ...
With the main political party manifestos having been published and now available on their websites(*), I've read them all, cover to cover, in an attempt to discover their adult education and lifelong learning commitments, so that you don't have to. In summary: The Liberal Democrats have the best pledge – to establish a cross-party commission ... Continue reading »
[IMG: Nick Clegg 2015 manifesto photo by Liberal Democrats] When I first realised that the manifesto launch was going to take place in a nightclub, I was slightly concerned, given last year's lacklustre launch in the Ministry of Sound. Lessons have very clearly been learned from that launch. The backdrop was brightly coloured, the place was full of people. Even watching on the television, the atmosphere was clearly buzzing. One reporter even referred to it as "the love lounge." Until the technology failed him and cut the event short, Nick Clegg was on top form. If this party ever needed ...
The British Psychological Society's Research Digest blog has put together a collection of links to research that may help us understand what will be going through people's minds in the election campaign and at the polling station: Psychology tells us that not only are the parties competing with each other, they also have to contend with the foibles of human nature. Many of us like to think that we vote according to sound reason, perhaps for the good of the country, our own family's best interests, or by selecting the most fair and competent candidate. In fact, there's evidence that ...
New threats to Europe's birds and habitats directives highlight broader tensions - and opportunities - at the interface between conservation science and policy. Two years ago, the conservation community celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which currently protects more than 1,400 plant and animal species across the United States and its territories. It's one of the strongest and oldest laws for protecting biodiversity passed by any nation, and its rigorous, science-based approach to species conservation has delivered some remarkable successes. Many species have seen their numbers soar because of the act, including the wolf, black-footed ferret and ...
So the official Tory policy is to trounce LibDems and vice versa, but apparently not all activists got the memo pic.twitter.com/7joN2YrPxs — Robert Peston (@Peston) April 15, 2015
Wed 15th
16:28
Pramod Subbaraman, Edinburgh South Lib Dem candidate talks about need for greater diversity in polit...
Edinburgh South's Liberal Democrat candidate Pramod Subbaraman has given an interview to the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights blog. He talks about his background: I was born and raised in Southern India and moved to the UK in 2005 at the age of 28. I moved at that time as I was invited by the Department of Health to help fill the shortage of dentists in the English NHS. It was not an easy ride as there were a lot of hurdles erected for immigrants from outside the EU and that did take its toll, but I jumped over ...
Sometimes I think after 32 years on the Council I think I have seen it all. Yet even I have been staggered and astounded by the results of an employment tribunal which was given yesterday which involves the Mayor. Chesterfield ... Continue reading →
Here is ALDC's fifth and final pack of templates you need for the elections on 7th May. The contents of this pack are materials that will help you to get out the vote including blue/cream letters, Good Morning/Evening leaflets and knocking up leaflets. Although this is our final templates pack there will still be lots [...]
I have been reading the Lib Dem manifesto. Well, I had a couple of days to spare. And it is an impressive document. No political party can ever have written quite such a detailed manifesto before. I've been wondering why. In fact, the manifesto reveals what the Liberal Democrats have become after five years in coalition. Detail orientated. Deeply pragmatic. Determined to deal with the world as it is, not as it might be. It's great advantages are that some of the commitments are vital and bold - the commitment to zero-carbon Britain by 2050, for example. But there are ...
In Ealing, voters will make their choice on who should represent them on May 7th. Councillor Gary Malcolm Liberal Democrats in government have successfully turned around the poor state of the economy - where we were shedding over 1,000 jobs a day when we took over from Labour - into the fastest growing economy in the G8. We have a sound platform to continue the good work that the Liberal Democrats have done as part of the coalition government. Ealing has seen investment to improve many core services. We have delivered: £45 million to Ealing schools, since 2010, to benefit ...
I get a lot of spam email messages which I delete instantly, but one today caught my eye, with it reading (in its entirety): "Just a one-time public good announcement (there will be no further emails sent). "Check your computer setup. To avoid eye strain, make sure your monitor is centered in front of you, about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen near eye level. Keep the glass clean to avoid glare, and take time to adjust the brightness, contrast and font size to comfortable levels. Thanks so much." Different. And its made me clean my ...
Here's Nick Clegg talking from the back of the Big Yellow Bus about the main theme of our manifesto: Opportunity for ALL. That's what our manifesto is about. That's what the Liberal Democrats are about Posted by Nick Clegg on Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Episode SevenDog tired... Daisy slides the door to the kitchen pod tightly shut and whispers, 'Computer programme, can you hear me?''Yes. Why are you whispering?''I don't want Douglas to hear.''Douglas... I have been wondering why you haven't given me a name, after all this time.''Never mind that now! Look, I don't want him to know about you yet. I don't know whether I can trust him and at some point I am going to have to sleep. You can keep watch without him knowing.''Deception is never a good idea. Honesty is always the best policy for a peaceful mental state ...
[IMG: Books on a curved set of shelves] One of the reasons behind the 6 stories the media isn't writing about the election is that even excellent journalists are often so busy, and stretched across so many areas, that it is very hard for them to find the time to do anything but report stories that others serve up to them in some way. That's one of the reasons why, for example, the framing of stories about the state of our democracy is so relentlessly negative; there's no organisation putting out press releases celebrating the sort of good news that ...
Wed 15th
13:05That's not how we used to do politics in the Highlands: SNP candidate takes supporters on aggressive...
The very first election I was ever involved in was in 1983 in Caithness & Sutherland. It was the first election since Bob Maclennan had left the Labour Party and was standing for the SDP/Liberal Alliance. It's fair to say that there was a bit of bad blood from his former Labour colleagues. Not once, though, do I remember them coming round mob-handed and shouting at the people in our office. Their aggression was limited to filthy looks at hustings. What on earth has happened to the peaceable Highlands? I've just been speaking to members of Charles Kennedy's team in ...
Here's the Liberal Democrat manifesto in full. You can also get it in a range of accessible formats from the Lib Dem website, and I've previously published the costings behind the Lib Dem manifesto. I'll be covering some of its more interesting and surprising content in the next edition of Liberal Democrat Newswire; sign up for the free newsletter here. Download this document
The Liberal Democrat 2015 general election manifesto has been launched today. You can download a copy of the manifesto here Key points include: Opportunity for children: with investment in education from nursery to 19 and qualified teachers in every classroom Opportunity for young people: with more apprenticeships, discounted bus travel, a massive increase in housebuilding [...]
[IMG: Manifesto Lib Dem vision] The preamble to the manifesto looks at what Britain would look like in 2020 if Liberal Democrat policies were implemented. It certainly sounds like a country I want to live in. I am pleased to see that it is seen as a priority to tackle the culture of everyday sexism with decent, mandatory sex education. I certainly like the look of our "five year plan" – although I might have preferred it if we didn't call it something quite so Kremlinesque. Here it is in full. This manifesto is a five year plan to build ...
This morning the Hubble Space telescope discovered the detailed Tory plans for £12 billion of benefits cuts and how they will fund £8 billion of extra NHS spending. The details are in the centre of this remarkable image: * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist in Newbury and West Berkshire. He is part of the Liberal Democrat Voice team and blogs at Liberal Burblings.
You can read the whole manifesto here but here is Nick Clegg's foreword setting out its themes and how it builds on what the Liberal Democats have already delivered in government. Dear friend, When Liberal Democrats launched our 2010 General Election manifesto, few people expected that many of the policies it contained would be implemented by the next Government. But that's what happened: three quarters of those policies formed the backbone of the Coalition's programme. Front-page commitments like raising the Income Tax threshold and investing in the poorest schoolchildren through the Pupil Premium became flagship Coalition policies. With Liberal Democrats ...
Wed 15th
11:02In full: Nick Clegg's speech from the manifesto launch "Opportunity: we will break down barriers so ...
Lib Dems 'turning the page on generations of inequality' between mental and physical health http://t.co/tMqPD0sB34 pic.twitter.com/hJmysb8O2Q — ITV News (@itvnews) April 15, 2015 If there was ever a time when a party struggling in the polls needed its leader to be at the top of his game, this was it. And Nick Clegg smashed it. A passionate, rousing speech that would give any liberal goosebumps, talking about breaking down barriers for people, how people could have both a fairer society and a stronger economy. Thanks to Politics Home, here's the speech in full: Five years ago, the British people chose ...
Creating a Winning Here environment The media are going to try and write off our chances on May 7th. Voters need to believe we can win to vote for us – it's a lesson that has been learnt over many years. We need to create a micro-climate where voters will see us as contenders. A [...]
Tory housing policy ditches the Big Society and commits to anti-localism (tags: ) Can you tell which policy belongs to which party? I got 3 wrong, but they were all nationalist party ones (tags: ) 'Every low-paid interviewee knows their hourly rate to the penny' (tags: ) Owner of a Credit Card Processing company Is Setting a New Minimum Wage: $70,000 a Year (tags: ) Parents quizzed over bleach treatment for autism - Jesus wept. (tags: ) Presenting one of the greatest sporting puns ever (tags: ) Hans Blix: Britain's Trident plans 'completely pointless' (tags: ) I've got a better ...
Wed 15th
09:34UKIP's support is based on irrational fear of the unknown, leading to unBritish and unChristian beha...
Channel 4 News Factcheck is a place I often go to when I need a bit of sanity. On immigration, they have an excellent post. It reports that UKIP voters say immigration is their biggest worry. 83% of UKIP supporters say that immigration is their greatest concern, compared to 53% across the whole population. It goes on to say: The party's short list of 12 parliamentary seats they think they can win in next year's general election was reported by Sky News earlier this year. The target seats are: North Thanet, Forest of Dean, Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Aylesbury, East Worthing ...
Early morning users of the 96 bus will have noticed that the bus got significantly earlier this week. The early morning bus is now at 7.17am, when it used to be at 7.32. Although this is only 15 minutes earlier, it does give residents in Simister and down Heywood Road a very early start if they want to get to Manchester before 9.00am. The next bus is 8.40 which doesn't get to Manchester until 9.17am. (The first 495 doesn't leave Simister till 8am, which would again make a 9am arrive in Manchester difficult to guarantee using the Metrolink from Heaton ...
Wed 15th
09:21
Environment Agency objects on fuel pollution concerns to petrol station and supermarket at Rocks Gre...
The Environment Agency has formally objected to the application for a petrol station and supermarket on the outskirts of Ludlow. The agency is concerned about the petrol filling station (PFS) and the location of fuel storage tanks. In a letter sent to Shropshire Council on 13 April it says: Whilst we note that this application [...]
Last night, I participated in a very well-attended West End Community Council meeting. There was a highly informative presentation by Allan Watt, Dundee Waterfront Project Co-ordinator at Dundee City Council, on progress with the Waterfront project. There was also a useful update from local police and a discussion about other local issues. You can see more about the community council's work here.
GPs across Bury are taking a more active role in the diagnosis and care for patients living with dementia from this month onwards. It is important that people with dementia have regular check-ups and seek support as soon as possible if they develop any health concerns. GPs across Bury have now received additional training to equip them to both diagnose and provide care of people living with dementia and provide support to their carers, ensuring care is both co-ordinated and closer to home. [IMG: Screenshot 2015-04-15 09.09.54] To help assist and guide patients who have received a diagnosis, the NHS ...
Jericho House Yesterday, I attended the latest meeting of the Jericho House support group, a regular meeting at which a number of us discuss fundraising and other projects to support this important facility in the West End Ward, that assists those recovering from alcoholism. Following the recent great success of the "Drink! The Musical" starring Jericho House service users and staff, it was good to hear that an invitation has been extended to the play's team to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe. There was also a very positive report on activities including assistance Jericho House is getting from Enactus Dundee ...
It turned out to be a perfect illustration of the benefits of having Liberal Democrats in government. [IMG: Jo Swinson screenshot]
As the Lib Dem manifesto is launched, with a headline of giving opportunity to kids, which is much more inspiring than the Tory extend right to buy in middle of housing crisis caused by right to buy and Labour waffle on deficit, Nick Clegg has been talking to the Guardian's Patrick Wintour. His theme is that we know that the election is not going to give anyone an overall majority, and asks who people want to be walking into Downing Street with Cameron or Miliband. the looming question in the next phase of this campaign is whether there is to ...
Yesterday, I had a useful and constructive meeting with Elsie Turbyne, the new Managing Director of National Express Dundee (see right). In particular, I was keen to emphasise the need for low carbon buses particularly on the 28/29 and 17 routes that cover Lochee Road, given the air quality issues on part of the route. Ms Turbyne indicated that National Express is investing in new fleet this financial year which will bring in significant new/newer buses in the city. This will ensure all buses the company uses in Dundee are at least Euro 3 compliant. This is a good step ...
Wed 15th
08:31
The Lynton Crosby led Tory campaign is directed at UKIPers, not swing voters - which is why Cameron ...
I've never thought the Tories bringing back Lynton Crosby to run their 2015 election campaign was a good idea. I said so two years ago on the New Statesman website, comparing Crosby to Monty Panesar (makes sense in context, trust me). I now feel vindicated given the Tories' poor start to the campaign. But while the focus on both the negative and the personal have been poorly thought out aspects of the whole thing, I believe the key problem the Conservative campaign faces is that it's targeting the wrong people if it wants to stay the largest party in the ...
From the Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee : Saturday 18th April at 3pmRoom T8, Tower Building Victorian Animation - make your own Zoetrope Take a step back into the past and discover one of the earliest forms of animation. Create your own animated sequence with a zoetrope and learn about the history of these objects in this fun family workshop. Suitable for age 8 and over - children must be accompanied by an adult. The event is free but places are limited so please book via museum@dundee.ac.uk or 384310.
The Lib Dems have launched their General Election manifesto today. It puts opportunity at its heart and sets out a plan to ensure every child has a world-class education. The party has announced a major new commitment to protect education funding for every child. This means protecting education spending per pupil in real terms over the next parliament, increasing the education budget as a whole. This commitment provides an extra £2.5bn of funding for 2-19yr olds by 2020. This spending commitment will allow the Liberal Democrats to: – Put a qualified teacher in every classroom. – Recruit and retain more ...
[IMG: Odd one out] Click on the photo to enlarge it. With 3 blocks refurbished/rebuilt you can almost hear the 4th one saying 'when's my turn'? Seen from the platform of Bootle Strand Railway Station on Merseyrail's Northern Line from Liverpool to Southport. I understand the unrefurbished block is actually to be demolished. The photo is amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
Well this one has been doing the rounds for years but little has actually happened. There are two possibilities in the offing one to the north of Westway and one to the south of it. The northern redevelopment would be in Maghull Square that rather too 1960's shopping area owned by the Maghull Group. They laid out plans quite a few years ago to give it a facelift and potentially to demolition and rebuild the shop units at the back of the Square. Trouble is the recession intervened and no progress has been made at all. How will the Maghull ...
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The Welsh Liberal Democrats have announced plans for a new Help to Rent scheme targeting support at young working adults who still live with their parents but want to move out and rent their own place. Proposals put forward by the Welsh Liberal Democrats would mean young working people in Wales will be able to borrow up to £1,500 from the Welsh Government to go towards their tenancy deposit. To be eligible, tenants would need to be between 18-30 years old, in paid employment and not be home owners or seeking social housing tenancy. Loans would be paid back over ...
